240; Eclectic Review, 1831, p. 237; Notice by J. W. Williams in Evans and Hurndall's Pulpit Memorials, pp. 343–80; Pulpit, xvi. 250–2, 365. The best account of his powers as a preacher are by H. R. Reynolds, D.D., ‘In Memoriam,’ in the Evangelical Magazine, 1877, pp. 726–7, and by Paxton Hood, ‘Our Pulpit Models,’ in the Preacher's Lantern, 1871, pp. 1–11, 69–75; information from Miss Parsons of Harrogate.]
PARSONS, JOHN (d. 1623), organist and composer, is said to be the son of Robert Parsons (d. 1570) [q. v.], musician. In 1616, upon the recommendation of the dean of Westminster, he was elected one of the parish clerks and organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster. On 7 Dec. 1621 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey, receiving 16l. yearly, besides 36l. 13s. 4d. for the charge of the children. Parsons died in 1623, and was buried on 3 Aug. in the Abbey cloisters. He was survived by his wife Jane, and his children—William, Dorothy, and Thomasine. The following lines by Camden refer to John Parsons:
Death, passing by and hearing Parsons play,
Stood much amazed at his depth of skill,
And said, ‘This artist must with me away’
(For death bereaves us of the better still),
But let the quire, while he keeps time, sing on,
For Parsons rests, his service being done.
A burial service by Parsons is preserved among the Barnard MSS. in the Royal College of Music.
[Authorities cited for article Parsons, Robert; Camden's Remains, 1674, p. 549; Chester's Westminster Registers; will registered in the court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, proved 21 Nov. 1623.]
PARSONS, JOHN (1742–1785), physician, son of Major Parsons of the dragoons, who resided principally in Yorkshire, was born at York in 1742. He was educated at Westminster School, being admitted a king's scholar in 1756. In 1759 he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated on 19 June. He graduated B.A. 27 April 1763, and M.A. 6 June 1766. As an undergraduate he contributed a Latin ode to the ‘Oxford Poems’ (1761) on the death of George II. He subsequently studied medicine at Oxford, London, and Edinburgh, evinced a preference for natural history and botany, and while at Edinburgh in 1766 was awarded the Hope prize medal for the best Hortus Siccus. In 1766 (or 1767) he was elected the first professor of anatomy on the foundation of Drs. Freind and Lee at Christ Church, Oxford, though still without a medical degree. He graduated M.B. on 12 April 1769, and M.D. 22 June 1772. He was elected reader in anatomy in the university in 1769, physician to the Radcliffe infirmary 6 May 1772, and first clinical professor on Lord Lichfield's foundation 1780–5. Under his direction a commodious anatomical theatre was built at Oxford. Parsons was admitted a candidate of the Royal College of Physicians on 30 Sept. 1774, and fellow exactly a year later, 30 Sept. 1775. In 1784 he delivered the Harveian oration.
He died of fever on 9 April 1785, and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, where there is a white marble gravestone to his memory. In July 1772 ‘Dr. John Parsons’ was married to Miss Anne Hough (Gent. Mag. 1772, p. 390).
[Munk's Coll. of Phys.; Welch's Alumni Westmon. p. 364; Wood's Hist. and Antiquities, ii. 886, iii. 516; Hervey's Oratio ex Harvæi instituto for 1785; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1714–1886; ‘A Select Account of the late Dr. John Parsons, professor of anatomy in the university of Oxford,’ 1786, reprinted from the Edinburgh Medical Commentaries, x. 322.]
PARSONS, JOHN (1761–1819), bishop of Peterborough and master of Balliol College, Oxford, was son of Isaac Parsons, butler of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and his wife Alice (both of whom are buried in the cloisters of that college). Born in the parish of St. Aldates, Oxford, he was baptised in St. Aldates church on 6 July 1761. He received his early education, first at the school attached to Christ Church, and subsequently at Magdalen College school. In his sixteenth year he was admitted at Wadham on 26 June 1777, and was elected a scholar of the college on 30 June 1780. He graduated B.A. in 1782, and M.A. in 1785. His other degrees were B.D. and D.D., both in 1799. He was elected fellow of Balliol on 29 Nov. 1785, and in July 1797 was presented by the college to the united livings of All Saints and St. Leonard's, Colchester. On 22 Jan. 1798 he married Miss Elizabeth Parsons, probably a cousin, at St. Aldates church, and on the 14th of the following November he was elected master of Balliol. That office he held till his death. From 1807 to 1810 he was vice-chancellor of the university.
With the mastership of Dr. Parsons the real revival of Balliol, and it may be said of the university generally, began. He made the college examination a reality, and thus, in conjunction with Dr Eveleigh, provost of Oriel, he gave the lead to the university in making the examinations, which had degenerated into a discreditable farce, also a reality. In conjunction with Dr. Eveleigh
