Widdrington, Ralph

Ralph Widdrington (d. 1688) was born at Stamfordham, Northumberland, the younger son of Lewis Widdrington, and brother of Sir Thomas Widdrington (d. 1664), Speaker of the House of Commons. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1635, and M.A. in 1639, and become a fellow. In 1647 he was appointed taxer of the university, and in 1650 public orator. He became regius professor of Greek at Cambridge in 1654. He was presented to the rectory of Thorp by the dean and chapter of Lincoln in February 1661, and became Lady Margaret's professor of divinity at Cambridge in March 1673. In December 1675 he was instituted to the rectory of Great Munden, Hertfordshire. He died on 10 June 1688. Many of Widdrington's Latin letters and copies of verses, published on official occasions between 1637 and 1685, were deposited in the various university collections.