Henry Bright (teacher)

Henry Bright (1562–4 March 1626/1627) was Headmaster at King's School, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher. Probably educated at King's Worcester himself, he went on to Brasenose College, Oxford as a "plebeian" and then to Balliol College, where he took a BA (1584) and MA (1587).

Starting at King’s Worcester in 1689, he also held a number of preferments in the Church, including at Broadwas (1591–1607), Tredington (1607-), a canonry at Hereford Cathedral (1607-) and Worcester Cathedral (1618-).

Fuller claims that "this Master Bright [was] placed by divine Providence in this city in the Marches that he might equally communicate the lustre of grammar learning to youth both of England and Wales". Pupils did attend the school from both countries. The school under Bright also provided yearly "exhibitions" of 2/- for pupils he sent to colleges at Oxford and Cambridge.

His reputation was also echoed by Anthony Wood in his Fasti Oxoniensis:

He had a most excellent faculty in instructing youths in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, most of which were afterwards sent to the universities, where they proved eminent to emulation. He was also an excellent preacher, was resorted to far and near ... The posterity of this Hen. Bright do now live in genteel fashion in Worcestershire.

Bright is principally remembered for the pupils he taught and frequently sent to Balliol many of whom became well known. They include:

Bright's epitaph, written by Joseph Hall (then Dean of Worcester), can be found in Worcester Cathedral and is quoted by Fuller.

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