Robert Harris (President of Trinity)

Robert Harris (1581–1658) was an English clergyman, known as a Puritan preacher, member of the Westminster Assembly, and President of Trinity College, Oxford.

He was born into a large family to parents John Harris, yeoman, (whose family had originally come from Shropshire ) and Elizabeth Hyron at Broad Campden, Gloucestershire. He was educated at the free schools of Chipping Campden and Worcester. He matriculated, aged 15, at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 10 June 1597, when his relative Robert Lyster aka Lyson was principal. In order to obtain tuition in philosophy, he taught Greek and Hebrew. He graduated B.A. on 5 June 1600, and though originally intended for the law, decided to enter the church.

When in 1604 the university was dissolved on account of the plague, Harris went home and preached his first sermon at Chipping Campden. In 1606 he married Joan Whateley, the sister of his friend and vicar of Banbury, William Whateley and subsequently raised a large family of at least a dozen children, including Dr. Malachi Harris M.A. D.D. who was, amongst other things, chaplain to Mary Princess of Orange and Charles II.

Returning to Oxford Robert studied theology for ten years, and graduated B.D. on 5 May 1614. In 1614 Sir Anthony Cope offered him the living of Hanwell, Oxfordshire, and Hanwell parsonage became a resort for Oxford students.

Harris won fame as a preacher at St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Saviour's Southwark, and other London churches, as well as in his own neighbourhood. He was a staunch Puritan and Parliamentarian. On 25 April 1642 he was chosen one of the lovely divines to be consulted by Parliament, and on the occasion of a public fast (25 May) preached before the House of Commons.

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