John Howson

For the Australian media personality, see John-Michael Howson.

For the Dean of Chester, see John Howson (priest). For several 19/20th-century musicians, see Howson family.

John Howson (c. 1557 – 6 February 1632) was an English academic and bishop.

The Right Reverend John Howson
Bishop of Durham
Diocese	Diocese of Durham
In office	1628–1632
Predecessor	George Montaigne
Successor	Thomas Morton
Other posts	Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1602)[1] Bishop of Oxford (1619–1628) Lord Lieutenant of Durham (1628–1632)
Personal details
Born	c. 1557 Farringdon Without, London, England
Died	(1632-02-06)6 February 1632
Buried	St Paul's Cathedral[1]
Nationality	English
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Jane Floyd (married 10 August 1601 at Black Bourton)[1]
Children	at least one, Anne Farnaby
Education	St Paul's School, London
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford

Ordination history of John Howson
History Episcopal consecration Date 9 May 1619
Source(s):[1]

John Howson, engraving by Martin Droeshout

Life

He was born in the London parish of St Bride's Church, and educated at St Paul's School.^[1]

He was a student and then a canon of Christ Church, Oxford, and Vice-Chancellor in 1602. James I of England appointed him to Chelsea College.^[2] He became rector of Brightwell Baldwin in 1608.^[3]

Conflicts in Oxford with Calvinist clergy led to his being accused in 1615 before the King of popery, by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was able to convince the King that the charges were misplaced, and began to rise in the hierarchy, where he was an influence on the Arminian side.^[4] He was Bishop of Oxford from 1619, and Bishop of Durham from his translation there in September 1628.

He was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral in London, but the grave and monument were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. His name appears on a modern monument in the crypt, listing important graves lost in the fire.

Works

• Remarriage Be Not Permitted After Adultery (1602)^[5]
• Certain sermons made in Oxford, anno Dom, 1616 (1622)

Family

His daughter Anne married Thomas Farnaby.^[1]