Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Levinz, Baptist

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473752Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 33 — Levinz, Baptist1893Gordon Goodwin

LEVINZ, BAPTIST (1644–1693), bishop of Sodor and Man, born in 1644 at Evenley, Northamptonshire, was youngest son of William Levinz of Evenley, Northamptonshire (Baker, Northamptonshire, ii. 617). His brothers Creswell and William are noticed separately. He matriculated at Oxford from Magdalen Hall on 11 April 1660, and was elected demy of Magdalen College on 29 July 1663, and probationer fellow on 1 Aug. 1664. He graduated B.A. in 1663, M.A. in 1666, B.D. in 1677, and D.D. in 1683. He became junior dean in 1675, senior dean of arts in 1676, senior proctor on 5 April 1678, bursar in 1677, founder's chaplain in 1678, and dean of divinity in 1679. He was Whyte's professor of moral philosophy in the university from 27 March 1677 until 1682. On 8 Dec. 1675 he was made prebendary of Wells, in 1680 curate of Horsepath, near Oxford, in 1682 rector of Christian Malford, Wiltshire, and on 15 March 1684-5 was consecrated bishop of Sodor and Man. In 1687 he would have been elected president of Magdalen instead of John Hough [q. v.] had he not, by the advice probably of Sir Creswell Levinz [q. v.], and in a manner not thought honourable (cf. Magdalen College and King James II, Oxf. Hist. Soc. pp. 13, 15 seq.), withdrawn his candidature before the election. On 3 Aug, 1691 he was chosen prebendary of Winchester. He died of fever at Winchester on 31 Jan. 1692-3, and was buried in the cathedral. By his marriage, on 3 July 1680, to Mary (1663-1730), daughter of Dr. James Hyde, principal of Magdalen Hall, he was father of William (1688-1706), demy of Magdalen, and Mary (1690-1724), who married in 1707 Matthew Frampton, M.D. Hearne describes both Levinz and his wife as handsome and proud.

Levinz contributed to 'Epicaedia Universitatis Oxoniensis in obitum Georgii Ducis Albemarliae,' 1670.

[Wood's Athenae Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 882; Bloxam's Reg. of Magd. ColL Oxford, v. 255-9; Wood's Life and Times. ed. Clark (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) ii, 343. &c.; Hearne's Notes and Collections (Oxf. Hist. Soc.)]

G. G.