Sheldon, Gilbert, Archbishop of Canterbury (1598 -1677)

Gilbert Sheldon was the younger son of Roger Sheldon of Stanton in Staffordshire. His father, who was of an ancient family, is said to have served Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury as a “menial servant”. He was educated at Oxford University, where he matriculated 1 July 1614, took his B.A. from Trinity College 27 November 1617, and his M.A. on 28 June 1620, he incorporated at Cambridge in 1619, and was elected a Fellow of All Souls' College Oxford in 1622. He was ordained the same year. He took his B.D. 11 November 1628, and his D.D 25 June 1634, having been elected Warden of All Souls' in March 1626. A sympathiser of William Laud's and a strong anti puritan, he was ejected by the Visitors in 1648, but was quietly reinstated in 1659 on the death of his parliamentary successor. In 1660, he became Dean of the Chapel Royal and Bishop of London, and in 1663, Archbishop of Canterbury. The Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford was built through his generosity and dedicated by him in 1669.