Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hoare, William Henry
HOARE, WILLIAM HENRY (1809–1888), divine, born on 31 Oct. 1809, was second son of William Henry Hoare (1776–1819) of Broomfield House, Battersea, Surrey, by Louisa Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Gerard Noel Noel, bart., of Exton, Rutlandshire (Edward Hoare, Pedigree of Hore and Hoare, p. 49). He graduated B.A. in 1831 as a member of St. John's College, Cambridge, was a wrangler, obtained a first class in the classical tripos, and was bracketed with Dean Blakesley for the chancellor's medals. In 1833 he was elected fellow of his college, and proceeded M.A. in 1834. He became in 1841 curate of All Saints, Southampton, but ill-health prevented him from accepting any of the livings which were offered to him. He devoted himself to study, became a good Hebrew scholar, and took part in the Colenso controversy. Subsequently he acted for some time as commissary to the Bishop of Newcastle, New South Wales, was diocesan inspector of the diocese of Chichester, and the founder and secretary of the Worth Clerical Association. He died on 22 Feb. 1888 at Oakfield, Crawley, Sussex, which he had purchased, and where he lived after 1848, and was buried on the 29th in Worth churchyard (Guardian, 7 March 1888, p. 336). By his marriage on 17 July 1834 to Araminta Anne, third daughter of Lieutenant-general Sir John Hamilton, bart., K.T.S. [q. v.], he had three sons and one daughter.
Hoare was author of: 1. ‘Harmony of the Apocalypse with the Prophecies of Holy Scripture, with Notes,’ 8vo, London, 1848. 2. Three pamphlets, reissued together in 1850 with the general title of ‘Present Position of the Church,’ &c. 3. ‘Outlines of Ecclesiastical History before the Reformation,’ 18mo, London, 1852; 2nd edit. 1857. 4. ‘The Veracity of the Book of Genesis, with the Life and Character of the inspired Historian (with an appendix by Dr. Kurtz),’ 8vo, London, 1860. 5. ‘Letter to Bishop Colenso, wherein his objections to the Pentateuch are examined in detail,’ 8vo, London, 1863; 4th edit. same year, printed with the 2nd edit. of the treatise which follows. 6. ‘The Age and Authorship of the Pentateuch considered; in further reply to Bishop Colenso; part II.,’ 8vo, London, 1863.
[Times, 25 Feb. 1888, p. 7; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1888, p. 605; Brit. Mus. Cat.]