Humphrey Tyndall
Dean of Ely
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Ely
Installed	1591
Term ended	1614
Predecessor	John Bell
Successor	Henry Caesar
Other post(s)	Archdeacon of Stafford
Personal details
Born	1549
Died	12 October 1614(1614-10-12) (aged 64–65) Ely, England
Buried	Ely Cathedral
Denomination	Anglicanism
Spouse	Jane Russell (m.1593)
Alma mater	Christ's College, Cambridge

Humphrey Tyndall (also spelt Tindall; 1549 – 1614) was an English churchman who became the President of Queens' College, Cambridge, Archdeacon of Stafford, Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral and Dean of Ely.^[1]

Early life and family

Humphrey Tyndall descended from the noble, English, Tyndall family. He was the fourth son of Sir Thomas Tyndall of Hockwold, Norfolk and his second wife, Amy Fermor, daughter of Sir Henry Fermor of East Barsham, Norfolk.^[2]

Tyndall entered Cambridge University in 1555, matriculating at the age five or six as a pensioner of Gonville Hall. In 1563 he moved to Christ's College and became a scholar under Andrew Willet.^[2]

Clerical life

In 1572, Tyndall was ordained by Edmund Scambler, the bishop of Peterborough.^[2] Tyndall's clerical career began at Cambridge, and he was licensed as one of the preachers of the university in 1576.^[2] In 1577 he became Vicar of Soham in Cambridgeshire in 1577, a position he held until his death.^[2] He was also Chaplin to the Earl of Leicester, whom he married to Lettice Knollys privately on 20 September 1578.^[2]

In April 1586, he was installed as the Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral and prebend of Alrewas, and at the same time also to the archdeaconary in Stafford, offices he retained until his death. Between 1588 and 1599 he was Prebend of Southwell in Nottinghamshire.^[2]

In December 1591, Tyndall was installed as Dean of Ely and also as Rector of Wentworth in the Isle of Ely. He resigned the rectory in 1610 but remained as dean until his death in 1614.^[2]

Academic life

In 1567, Tyndall was elected as a fellow of Pembroke Hall and became junior bursar in 1570 and senior bursar in 1572. He was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1577, and of Doctor of Divinity, the highest of the degrees awarded by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, in 1582.^[1]

In July 1578, David Yale, a fellow from Queens' wrote to Lord Burghley, begging that if Dr Chaderton (the current President of Queens') were made bishop of Chester, the Earl of Leicester might not be allowed to exert his influence over the fellows in favour of Tyndall, whom he considered to be unfit to be president on account of his youth and inexperience.^[2] Despite this he was elected President of Queens' College in July 1579 on the recommendation and through the influence of Lord Burghley.^[2]

Tyndall served in the office of Vice-Chancellor of the university between 1585 and 1586.^[2]

Personal life

Tyndall married Jane Russell in 1593 and had one child who died at an early age. Jane outlived Tyndall and went on to remarry twice.

Tyndall died in Ely on 12 October 1614 aged 65 and left his books to his college. He was buried in Ely Cathedral on the south aisle of the choir. His tomb features a life-size brass effigy with the following inscription:

"In presence, government, good actions, and in birth,
Grave, wise, courageous, noble, was this earth;
The poor, the Church, the College say, here lies,
A friend, a Dean, a Master, true, good, wise."^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b "Tyndall, Humphrey (TNDL555H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Searle, William George (1871). The History of Queens' College of St Margret and St Bernard in the University of Cambridge. Part II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
^ Bentham, James (1812). The History And Antiquities of the Conventual And Cathedral Church of Ely: From The Foundation Of The Monastery, A.d. 673. To The Year 1771 (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 230.

Academic offices Preceded byWilliam Chaderton President of Queens' College, Cambridge 1579–1614 Succeeded byJohn Davenant Preceded byRobert Norgate Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1585–1586 Succeeded byJohn Copcot Church of England titles Preceded byThomas Bickley Archdeacon of Stafford 1586–1614 Succeeded byJohn Fulnetby Preceded byJohn Bell Dean of Ely 1591–1614 Succeeded byHenry Caesar

Presidents of Queens' College, Cambridge

v t e Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cambridge
15th century	Thomas Ashwell Henry Stockton Nicholas de Swaffham Nicholas Gay William Millington John Roclyffe Thomas Stoyle William Uttyng William Smyth Edmund Conisborough Thomas Stoyle William Towne Thomas Tuppin John Riplingham John Camberton William Rawson William Stockdale John Dolman Henry Rudd John Smith John Smith Henry Babington
16th century	John Fisher Humphrey Fitzwilliam Geoffrey Knight John Smith Richard Burton John Eccleston William Robson William Buckenham Thomas Thompson John Fawne John Eccleston Robert Dowsing Edmund Natares John Watson Edmund Natares Thomas Stackhouse John Edmunds Thomas Green Henry Bullock Edmund Natares John Edmunds William Buckmaster John Watson Simon Haynes John Crayford Francis Mallet George Day William Buckmaster John Edmunds Francis Mallet Richard Standish John Edmunds Richard Standish John Edmunds Sir Thomas Smith John Madew Matthew Parker John Madew William Bill Matthew Parker Walter Haddon John Madew Andrew Perne Edward Hawford Edwin Sandys John Young William Glyn Cuthbert Scott Andrew Perne John Pory Robert Brassey Edmund Cosyn Andrew Perne Henry Harvey Philip Baker Francis Newton Edward Hawford Robert Beaumont John Stokes Robert Beaumont Roger Kelke Richard Longworth John Young John May John Whitgift Roger Kelke Thomas Byng John Whitgift Andrew Perne John Still Roger Goad Richard Howland Thomas Byng John Hatcher Andrew Perne William Fulke John Bell Richard Howland Robert Norgate Humphrey Tindall John Copcot Thomas Legge Thomas Nevile Thomas Preston Robert Some Thomas Legge John Still John Duport Roger Goad John Jegon Robert Some John Jegon
17th century	John Duport William Smith John Cowell Richard Clayton Samuel Harsnett Roger Goad Thomas Jegon John Duport Fogge Newton Barnabas Gooch (or Goche) Valentine Cary Clement Corbet Samuel Harsnett Owen Gwyn John Hills John Richardson William Branthwaite John Gostlin Robert Scott Samuel Ward Leonard Mawe Jerome Beale Thomas Paske John Mansell John Gostlin Henry Smyth Thomas Bainbridge Matthew Wren Henry Butts Thomas Comber Benjamin Lany Richard Love William Beale Henry Smyth Thomas Comber Ralph Brownrigg John Cosin Richard Holdsworth Ralph Brownrigg Thomas Hill John Arrowsmith Anthony Tuckney Thomas Horton Benjamin Whichcote Samuel Bolton Richard Minshull Lazarus Seaman John Lightfoot Theophilus Dillingham John Worthington John Bond William Dillingham Henry Ferne Henry Ferne Edward Rainbowe William Dillingham James Fleetwood Anthony Sparrow Francis Wilford John Howorth James Fleetwood Edmund Boldero James Duport John Breton Robert Mapletoft William Wells John Spencer Edmund Boldero Isaac Barrow Sir Thomas Page Thomas Holbech Francis Turner John Eachard Humphrey Gower Nathaniel Coga John Copleston Henry James Samuel Blyth William Saywell John Peachell John Balderston John Montagu John Covel James Johnson Charles Roderick Gabriel Quadring George Oxenden William Stanley Thomas Browne John Eachard Henry James Sir William Dawes Thomas Green Richard Bentley
18th century	Thomas Richardson Charles Ashton George Bramston Sir John Ellys Bardsey Fisher John Balderston Edward Lany John Covel Charles Roderick Nathaniel Lloyd Gabriel Quadring John Adams Thomas Green Thomas Sherlock Daniel Waterland William Grigg Sir Thomas Gooch Thomas Crosse Andrew Snape William Savage John Davies Joseph Craven Robert Lambert John Frankland Robert Lambert Matthias Mawson Charles Morgan Roger Long William Towers John Adams John Wilcox William Richardson John Whalley Edward Hubbard Sir Edward Simpson William Sedgwick Robert Smith William George Kenrick Prescot George Rooke Edmund Castle Francis Parris Thomas Chapman Edmund Keene John Wilcox Philip Yonge Hugh Thomas Edmund Law John Sumner John Green Lynford Caryl Sir James Burrough George Sandby Robert Plumptre Peter Godard William Elliston John Barnardiston William Samuel Powell John Smith Sir James Marriott John Hinchliffe William Richardson John Sumner James Brown William Cooke Lynford Caryl Hon. Barton Wallop Richard Farmer John Chevallier Hugh Thomas Robert Plumptre William Colman Lowther Yates John Barker Richard Beadon John Torkington Peter Peckard Joseph Turner Sir James Marriott William Elliston Richard Farmer Francis Barnes William Pearce William Craven Thomas Postlethwaite Isaac Milner William Colman Lowther Yates Philip Douglas Richard Fisher Belward Robert Cory Humphrey Sumner William Lort Mansel William Gretton
19th century	Joseph Proctor Humphrey Sumner Martin Davy John Torkington Joseph Turner William Pearce Francis Barnes Edward Pearson Isaac Milner Philip Douglas Thomas Browne John Davie Robert Cory William Chafy George Thackeray John Kaye James Wood William Webb George Neville William Frere Christopher Wordsworth William French Henry Godfrey John Lamb Thomas Le Blanc Joseph Proctor Christopher Wordsworth Martin Davy Gilbert Ainslie William Chafy George Thackeray John Graham William Webb Joshua King William French George Archdall Gilbert Ainslie Thomas Worsley William Hodgson Ralph Tatham John Graham George Archdall William Whewell William Hodgson Robert Phelps Ralph Tatham Henry Philpott Robert Phelps Henry Wilkinson Cookson James Cartmell George Corrie Richard Okes James Pulling Thomas Geldart Edwin Guest William Whewell Henry Philpott William Henry Bateson Latimer Neville George Phillips Edward Atkinson Henry Wilkinson Cookson James Cartmell William Hepworth Thompson Edward Atkinson John Power Henry Wilkinson Cookson Samuel Phear Edward Atkinson John Power Edward Perowne James Porter Norman Macleod Ferrers Charles Swainson Charles Taylor Charles Edward Searle Henry Montagu Butler John Peile Augustus Austen Leigh Charles Smith Alexander Hill William Chawner
20th century	Adolphus Ward Frederic Chase Edward Beck Ernest Stewart Roberts Arthur James Mason Robert Forsyth Scott Stuart Alexander Donaldson M. R. James Thomas Fitzpatrick Arthur Shipley Peter Giles Edmund Pearce Albert Seward George Weekes Thomas Fitzpatrick Allen Beville Ramsay Will Spens J. F. Cameron Godfrey Wilson Henry Roy Dean Ernest Alfred Benians John Archibald Venn Thomas Hele Henry Thirkill Charles E. Raven Sydney Castle Roberts Sir Lionel Whitby Henry Willink Brian Downs Edgar Adrian Herbert Butterfield Ivor Jennings John Boys Smith Arthur Armitage Eric Ashby Owen Chadwick William Alexander Deer Jack Linnett Rosemary Murray Alan Cottrell Peter Swinnerton-Dyer Harry Hinsley John Butterfield Richard Adrian, 2nd Baron Adrian Michael McCrum
Full-time	Sir David Williams Sir Alec Broers Dame Alison Richard Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Stephen Toope

v t e Archdeacons of Stafford and of Lichfield
High Medieval (Stafford)	Robert William Helias Ralph de Thamewood Alan Henry Marshal Alexander Henry de Loundres Helyas Robert of Gloucester William of York R. de Langdon Robert of Stafford Richard de Mepham Thomas de Cantilupe Adam Paine Rayner de Vichio/Florence
Late Medieval (Stafford)	John de Brunforte Robert de Patrika John Clarel William de Apeltre Roger de Depyng Richard de Birmingham Roger de Dorkyng John de Marisco William de Grenburgh John de Sulgrave John de Outheby Richard de Toppeclyve Henry Davyd John Fyton Thomas Barton John Fyton (again) William de Admondeston Ralph Prestbury Roger Wall John Wendesley Thomas Hawkins William Moggys William Duffield Edward Willughby John Wardroper Adam Grafton Geoffrey Blythe John Blythe Nicholas Heath John Redman
Early modern (Stafford)	John Dakyn Richard Walker Thomas Bickley Humphrey Tyndall John Fulnetby Martin Tinley Francis Coke Nathaniel Ellison Thomas Allen James Brooks Edmund Law John Carver William Brereton Robert Nares George Hodson Henry Moore
Late modern (Stafford)	John Iles Melville Scott Robert Hodgson Charles Blakeway Hugh Bright Robert Hodson William Parker Basil Stratton Richard Ninis (became Archdeacon of Lichfield)
Lichfield	Richard Ninis (previously Archdeacon of Stafford) George Frost Chris Liley Simon Baker Sue Weller (designate)

v t e Deans of Ely
Early modern	Robert Steward Andrew Perne John Bell Humphrey Tyndall Henry Caesar/Adelmare William Fuller William Beale Richard Love Henry Ferne Edward Martin Francis Wilford Robert Mapletoft John Spencer John Lambe John Wickart Charles Roderick Robert Moss John Frankland Peter Allix Hugh Thomas William Cooke
Late modern	William Pearce James Wood George Peacock Harvey Goodwin Charles Merivale Charles Stubbs Alexander Kirkpatrick Lionel Blackburne Patrick Hankey Michael Carey Allan Shaw William Patterson Michael Higgins Michael Chandler David Pritchard (Acting) Mark Bonney

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	United States