Background
David Durell, son of Thomas Durell, was born of a prosperous family in Jersey in 1728.
David Durell, son of Thomas Durell, was born of a prosperous family in Jersey in 1728.
In March 1747, Durell entered Pembroke College, Oxford and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1750 and Master of Arts
He went to Cowbridge School in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, 1741-1747. in 1753, becoming a Fellow of the new Hertford College that year. On 12 November 1757 he was appointed Principal of Hertford College. He held concurrently with his principalship a vicarage in Sussex and (from 13 January 1767) a canonry in Canterbury Cathedral.
On Tuesday 8 October 1765, Durell was invested as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
His tenure is notable for the expulsion of six students from Street Edmund Hall for holding unauthorized prayer meetings Durell died on 16 October 1775 and was buried at the church of Street Peter-in-the-East in Oxford, now the library of Street Edmund Hall.