Edmund Larken Explained

Edmund Roberts Larken (1809–1895) was an English cleric and Christian socialist, a patron of radical causes and author on social matters. Along with other unconventional views, he was noted as possibly the first parish priest of his time to wear a beard.[1]

Life

Larken's father, Edmund Larken (1766–1831[2]), worked for the East India Company. His sister Eliza married William Monson, 6th Baron Monson;[3] his brother Arthur Staunton Larken (1816–1889), the third son, was known as an officer of arms, becoming Portcullis Pursuivant and then Richmond Herald.[4]

Larken matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford in 1829, graduating B.A. in 1833, and M.A. in 1836.[5] He was ordained deacon in 1833, and priest in 1834. At Oxford he considered himself a follower of Richard Whateley.[6] He became rector of Burton by Lincoln, remaining there from 1843 to 1895; he was presented to the living by his brother-in-law Lord Monson.[6] In an invasion scare in 1859, a Lincolnshire rifle corps was raised and Larken was chaplain in it.[7] An unsuccessful campaign was mounted for him to become Dean of Lincoln in 1860.[8]

Interests

Larken was interested in the socialist ideas of Charles Fourier, including an account of them with one of his sermons in 1842.[9] He collaborated with John Minter Morgan on schemes for village settlement.[10] In 1847 he became chairman of a building society, of which George Boole was a director.[11] Larken and Boole also worked together in the 1850s on a plan to reduce the impact of prostitution in Lincoln.[12] Other involvements were with the Leeds Redemption Society and a co-operative flour mill.[6]

Larken worked with Matilda Mary Hays and Elizabeth Ann Ashurst on a project to translate George Sand's works into English. It came to an end in 1847 due to lack of support.[1] [13] He joined the Social Reform League in 1850 and the Association for the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge in 1851.[14] He associated with the radicals of his time, and backed The Leader financially. At his house Thomas Archer Hirst encountered George Holyoake.[15]

Works

Family

Larken's eldest son was a medical doctor in the Indian Army, dying at age 26.[20] The third son (born 1844) was Francis Roper,[21] who was the father of Vice-Admiral Sir Frank Larken[22] and Hubert Larken, the Archdeacon of Lincoln.[23] Other children included daughters Annie Frances[24] and Henrietta.[25]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Rosemary Ashton, G. H. Lewes: An unconventional Victorian (2000), pp. 88–9.
  2. Web site: The Discovery Service. The National. Archives. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
  3. [Charles Mosley (genealogist)|Mosley, Charles]
  4. Web site: Richmond Herald | British History Online. www.british-history.ac.uk.
  5. Literary Gazette 4 June 1836; Google Books.
  6. Hill, pp. 149–50; Google Books.
  7. Hill, p. 76; Google Books.
  8. Hill, p. 260; Google Books.
  9. Hock Guan Tjoap, George Henry Lewes: a Victorian mind (1977), p. 22; Google Books.
  10. Francis Barrymore Smith, Radical Artisan: William James Linton, 1812-97 (1973), p. 94; Google Books.
  11. Hill, p. 130 and note; Google Books.
  12. Hill, p. 138 note 4; Google Books.
  13. Web site: George Sand Association, Bibliography of Works in Translation.. https://web.archive.org/web/20120208102449/http://people.hofstra.edu/david_a_powell/gsa/GSS_biblio_translate_1845-1961.htm. dead. February 8, 2012.
  14. Edward Royle, Victorian Infidels: the origins of the British secularist movement, 1791-1866 (1974), p. 149 and p. 146; Google Books.
  15. [James A. Secord]
  16. Web site: Sermons on the Commandments. Edmund Roberts Larken (M A., Rector of. Burton-by-Lincoln.). November 30, 1837. Google Books.
  17. Web site: IISH catalogue entry..
  18. Web site: The necessity of toleration to the exercise of private judgment, a sermon. Edmund Roberts. Larken. November 30, 1847. Google Books.
  19. [Samuel Halkett]
  20. Web site: Roll of Honour - Lincolnshire - Burton by Lincoln, St Vincent's Church. www.roll-of-honour.com.
  21. Cuthbert Wilfrid Whitaker, A register of S. Nicholas College, Lancing, from its foundation at Shoreham in August, 1848 to the commencement of the month of November, 1900 (c. 1900), p. 58; archive.org.
  22. News: Obituary: Admiral Sir Frank Larken – The War Against Turkey 1915–18. . 22 January 1853 .
  23. [Arthur Charles Fox-Davies]
  24. Pine, L. G. (ed.) Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 17th edition. (London: Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1952), p. 1940
  25. Townend, Peter. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 18th edition. volume 3. (London: Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1965–1972) p. 617

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