Background
Freind, eldest son of the Review William Freind (also Friend), rector of Croughton, Northamptonshire, was born there, and at an early age was sent to Westminster School, where he was admitted on the foundation in 1680.
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Robert Freind
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He obtained his election to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1686, and graduated Bachelor of Arts 1690, Master of Arts
Career
1693, and Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity 1709. Freind served the office of proctor in 1698, and in the following year was appointed under-master of Westminster School in the place of Michael Maittaire. In 1711 he succeeded Thomas Knipe as the head-master, and in the same year was presented to the rectory of Witney in Oxfordshire.
Freind was appointed a canon of Windsor by letters patent dated 29 April 1729, and was installed a prebendary of Westminster Abbey on 8 May 1731.
On his retirement from the head-mastership in 1733 he was succeeded by John Nicoll, who had served nearly twenty years as the under-master of the school. Freind died on 7 August 1751, aged 84, and was buried in the chancel of Witney Church.
There were two portraits of Freind at Christ Church, the one in the hall being painted by Michael Dahl. There is also in the library of the college a bust of Freind, executed by Michael Rysbrack in 1738.
A portrait of Freind was also preserved along with the portraits of the other headmasters at Westminster School.
Freind was sociable, a scholar, and a successful schoolmaster. His circle included Francis Atterbury. Matthew Prior and Jonathan Swift.
With Atterbury and other old Westminster boys he helped in the production of Charles Boyle"s attack on Richard Bentley.
Freind"s niece, however, married a son of Bentley. Freind married Jane, only daughter of Doctor Samuel De l"Angle, prebendary of Westminster, whose son, John Maximilian De l"Angle, became the husband of Freind"s sister, Anne.
Freind had four children, three of whom died under age. The other, William Freind, succeeded his father in the living of Witney, and became dean of Canterbury.
