Background
The son of John Wallace or Wallis of Croglin, Cumberland, he was born at Castlenook, South Tindale, in the parish of Kirkhaugh, Northumberland, in 1714.
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John Wallis
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Education
He matriculated at The Queen"s College, Oxford, on 3 February 1733, graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1737, and proceeded Master of Arts
Career
Having taken holy orders, Wallis held a curacy for a few years in the Portsmouth area. He then became curate of Simonburn, Northumberland. On the death of its rector in 1771, the living was given to the overbearing James Scott who, it was said "had more regard for his spaniels than his curate".
In 1775 Wallis acted as temporary curate at Haughton-le-Skerne, and in the same year was appointed to Billingham, near Stockton-on-Tees, where he remained till midsummer 1792, when illness obliged him to resign.
In 1779 Thomas Pennant tried without success to secure him some preferment, from the Bishop of Durham. About two years before his death a small estate fell to him by the death of a brother, and Bishop Shute Barrington allowed him an annual pension from the time of his resigning the curacy of Billingham.
Wallis then removed to the neighbouring village of Norton, where he died on 19 July 1793. He left a collection of books, mainly on natural history.
Wallis"s wife of 56 years, Elizabeth, survived until 1801.
The match was considered very happy.
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Quotations: "had more regard for his spaniels than his curate".
