Background
He was the son of James Horrocks of Wakefield, Yorkshire, England.
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James Horrocks
Edit ProfileEducation
He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1755 with the degree of B. A. , and received that of M. A. in 1758.
Career
He became usher in the Wakefield School in 1757. In 1761 he was licensed to preach in Virginia, and the next year he became master of the grammar school connected with the College of William and Mary. His career in Virginia reflected the turbulent spirit of the period. When he was chosen president of the college in 1764, much bitterness was engendered because the visitors ignored Mr. Graham, who had taught there twenty years, on account of his activities against the two-penny act. Furthermore, it appears, Horrocks had stooped to win. The visitors of the college had previously inaugurated rules which greatly curtailed the rights of the president and professors and which provided that they might be removed from office at the will of the visitors. The members of the faculty, including Horrocks, had vigorously protested; but Horrocks swore obedience to the objectionable statutes as the price of election, and afterwards apologized to the faculty for doing so. "Thus, " wrote Commissary Robinson, "Mr. Horrocks has obtained a profitable and honorable Post by favour granted to compliance" (Perry, post, p. 518).
Nevertheless his administration was reasonably successful. The scholar and Revolutionary patriot, Richard Bland, wrote in 1771 that Horrocks had been a "tolerable Pedagogue in the Grammar School of Our College but unfortunately for his reputation, as well as for the College, he was removed from the only place he had abilities to fill to be President of the College. This laid the Foundation for his other exaltations, and by a Sycophantic Behavior he has accumulated unto himself" the offices of rector of Bruton Parish, commissary of the Bishop of London, and member of the Council of the Colony (William and Mary Quarterly, post, January 1897, p. 154).
In 1771 he raised a storm in the colony by advocating the establishment of an American episcopate, an institution not wanted by Virginians because it would curtail some of their cherished rights. Horrocks summoned the clergymen (about one hundred) to consider the scheme. Only eleven complied; and four of these opposed the plan. A war on paper ensued. Finally, in July 1771, the House of Burgesses declared unanimously against an American episcopate. Bland and others believed that Horrocks was simply scheming to become "First Right Reverend Father of the American Church". Not long afterwards, driven by ill health, he left with his wife for England.
He died on the way at Oporto, Portugal.
Achievements
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
His obituary in the Virginia Gazette of July 23, 1772, describes him as "a gentleman well versed in the several branches of sound learning, particularly mathematics, and eminently possessed of those virtues which increase in value as they are farthest from ostentation. "
Connections
References
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Born
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Died
March 10, 1772 (aged 38) -
Nationality
American -
Religion
Anglican