Robert Carr (bishop)

Robert James Carr (1774–1841) was an English churchman, Bishop of Chichester in 1824 and Bishop of Worcester in 1831.

Born 9 May 1774 and christened 9 June at Feltham, London he was the eldest son of the Reverend Colston Carr, at the time vicar of Feltham, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Bullock. His elder sister, Elizabeth Ann, married James Martin Lloyd, later Sir James Lloyd, 1st Baronet and his younger brother was Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry William Carr, KCB. His father, later vicar of Ealing, was chaplain first to the King's younger brother Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and, after his death, to the King's younger son, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn.

He received his primary education at a school his father ran in Twickenham, before being sent to Merchant Taylors' School, London. From there he went up in 1792 to Worcester College, Oxford, gaining the degrees of BA in 1796, MA in 1806 and both BD and DD in 1820.

Following his father and grandfather into the Church of England, he was ordained priest in 1798 by the Bishop of Salisbury and held various appointments until 1804, when he became vicar of Brighton. A busy fishing port and holiday resort, it was where the Prince of Wales, the future King George IV, spent much time and a friendship began between the two men which lasted for life.

When the Prince became King in 1820, he was able to advance his friend, who was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Closet, Dean and Canon of Hereford and Canon of Salisbury Cathedral and of Chichester Cathedral. Four years later he was consecrated bishop of Chichester, giving up his posts at Brighton and Salisbury. In 1827 he was promoted to Clerk of the Closet and in 1828 was made a canon of St Paul's Cathedral, giving up his posts at Hereford.

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