Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hartcliffe, John
HARTCLIFFE, JOHN, D.D. (1651–1712), schoolmaster, a native of Harding, near Henley-on-Thames (Wood), was educated on the foundation at Eton, and in 1667, while still at school, matriculated at Oxford as servitor at Magdalen College. He is described in the university books as aged 16, and son of John Hartcliffe of Windsor. He did not go into residence, but entered as a commoner a few months later at St. Edmund's Hall, in the following year was elected to King's College, Cambridge, whence he graduated B.A, 1672, M.A.1676, becoming fellow there, and in 1689 proceeding D.D. In 1681 he became headmaster of Merchant Taylors' School through, it is said, the interest of his uncle, Dr. John Owen. In the five years of his mastership he had under his care William Dawes, subsequently archbishop of York; Wilcocks, bishop of Rochester; Philip Stubbs, the divine; and Edmund Calamy, the nonconformist historian. He resigned his post in 1686, and three years later endeavoured to procure, through court interest, the provostship of King's. The college, however, successfully resisted William III's attempt to force upon them a provost whom they themselves had not chosen. As some consolation Hartcliffe was made canon of Windsor in 1691, and retained that post until his death on 16 Aug. 1712. Between 1654 and 1695 Hartcliffe published several sermons, among them being a 'Discourse against Purgatory,' 1685 (attributed to Dr. John Tillotson). Besides this he translated part of Plutarch's 'Morals' ('How a Man may receive Advantage and Profit from his Enemies,' 1691); but his chief work was 'A Treatise of Moral and Intellectual Virtues,' London, 8vo, 1691; 2nd edition, 1722.
[Harwood's Alumni Eton. p. 258; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 790; Wilmot's Life of Hough, p. 50; Nichols's Anecd, i. 63; Lyte's Hist. Eton College, 251-2; Bloxam's Magd.Coll. and James II (Oxf. Hist. Soc. Publ.) 272.]