Richard Holdsworth

Richard Holdsworth (or Houldsworth, Oldsworth) (1590, Newcastle-on-Tyne – 22 August 1649) was an English academic theologian, and Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1637 to 1643. Although Emmanuel was a Puritan stronghold, Holdsworth, who in religion agreed, in the political sphere resisted Parliamentary interference, and showed Royalist sympathies.

Richard Holdsworth was the son of Richard Holdswourth, Vicar of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and baptised at St Nicholas, Newcastle on 20 December 1590. He entered St. John's College, Cambridge as a scholar in 1607, graduated B.A. in 1610, and became a Fellow in 1613.

He was chaplain to Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet. He was rector of St Peter-le-Poor, London in 1624.

He was in 1629 the first Gresham College divinity lecturer appointed from the Puritan camp; he held the position until 1637. A London reputation brought him the presidency of Sion College in 1639. He became Archdeacon of Huntingdon.

He was a member of the Westminster Assembly. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, for two years, and Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, from 1643. He lost his position as Master of Emmanuel, because of expressed royalist opinions; and was briefly imprisoned by Parliament.

He was appointed Dean of Worcester by the King, in 1647. It is also claimed that the King wanted to appoint him Bishop of Bristol; this is mentioned by Thomas Fuller. Given the wartime conditions, these appointments could have been taken up only with difficulty.

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