John Fountayne

John Fountayne, M.A. (Cantab.), DD, (1714–1802) was a Church of England clergyman and the longest serving Dean of York.

Fountayne was the younger of two sons of John Fountayne. He was raised at Melton Hall, in High Melton, the family seat which he inherited upon the death of his elder brother in 1739 and which he immediately set about substantially rebuilding.

He graduated M.A. from St Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1739 and was later awarded a Doctorship of Divinity from the same college in 1751.

Having served as prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral from his graduation, he was first appointed a Canon at St. George's Chapel, Windsor in 1741., and was later preferred as Dean of York, a position which he held from 1747 to his death in February 1802.

Noted as quite a politically astute Dean, he held on to office by moving with the political wind, as recounted by his friend, the author, Laurence Sterne.

John Fountayne married three times, firstly to Ann Bromley, daughter of William Bromley, speaker of the House of Commons in 1744 and by whom he had no issue. Following Ann's death in 1746, he married Frances Maria Whichcote, of Harpswell, Lincolnshire, by whom he had one daughter, also named Frances Maria.

Upon Frances' death in 1750, he thirdly married Ann Montagu, in 1754, the only daughter of Charles Montagu of Papplewick, Nottinghamshire. This marriage produced two sons and three daughters, all of whom the except the middle daughter died unmarried. There are memorials to all these family members in Melton Church.

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