John Thomas Becher

John Thomas Becher
Rev. John Thomas Becher of Southwell
Born	1770
Died	1848
Nationality	British

The Rev. John Thomas Becher (born 1770 died 1848), was an English clergyman, social reformer and Vicar-General of Southwell Minster from 1818 to 1840.

John Thomas Becher was the eldest son of Michael Becher and his wife Catherine(née French) of Cork, Ireland. Branches of the Becher family established themselves at Bristol and at Southwell. The ‘Bristol’ Bechers were heavily involved in shipping which included slave trading activities. The ‘Southwell’ Bechers were important as local land agents, squires and parsons for generations. John Thomas Becher was sent to Westminster School at the age of 14 in 1783, becoming a King’s Scholar in 1784. In April 1788 was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn, but shortly afterwards moved to Christchurch, Oxford where he took his B.A. in 1792 and proceeded to M.A. in 1795. He appears to have moved to Southwell by 1792, and after ordination in the Church of England he became Perpetual curate of Thurgarton and Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire in 1799. In 1801 he became vicar of Rampton, Nottinghamshire and in 1802 of Midsomer Norton in Somerset.

In January 1802 Becher married Mary, daughter of the Rev. William Becher, a relative, who was a Prebendary of Southwell Minster. Becher had Hill Hill House in Easthorpe, Southwell, built for them to live in.

He became a friend of Byron when the poet was staying at Southwell during his Cambridge vacations; and at his advice Byron suppressed his first privately printed volume. Extracts of poems written to Becher by Lord Byron are given below

Poems by Lord Byron to the Rev. J.T. Becher
Dear Becher, you tell me to mix with mankind;
I cannot deny such a precept is wise;
But retirement accords with the tone of my mind:
I will not descend to a world I despise.

But Becher! you’re a ‘reverend pastor’,
Now take it in consideration,
Whether for penance I should fast,or
Pray for my ‘sins’ in expiation.

Candour compels me, BECHER! to commend
The verse, which blends the censor with the friend;
Your strong yet just reproof extorts applause
From me, the heedless and imprudent cause;
For this wild error, which pervades my strain,
I sue for pardon,–must I sue in vain?