Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ayscough, Francis
AYSCOUGH, FRANCIS, D.D. (1700–1766), divine, was born at St. Olave's, Southwark, in 1700, became a member of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, on 28 March 1717, and graduated M.A. in 1723. After taking orders he was admitted probationer fellow of his college on 16 Jan. 1727, and after two years of probation became a candidate for an actual fellowship. Without giving any reason the president and majority of the fellows voted against his admission; whereupon Ayscough appealed to the visitor, the Bishop of Winchester. The college pleaded that they had a right to make elections to fellowships without being responsible to the visitor, but the plea was overruled by the bishop, and the college was compelled to receive Ayscough and pay the costs of the proceedings. In 1735 he took the degree of D.D., and in the following year published 'A Sermon preached before the House of Commons on Friday, 30 Jan. 1735-6, being the anniversary of the martyrdom of King Charles I.' In 1740 he became clerk of the closet to Prince Frederick, and was presented by him to the rectory of Northchurch, Berkhampstead. The right of presentation was disputed by the chapter of Windsor, but the case was decided in the prince's favour. At Oxford he had been tutor to Lord Lyttelton, whose sister he married. By Lord Lyttelton's influence he was for a time preceptor to George III before his accession, and to his brother Edward, Duke of York. Finally he was appointed dean of Bristol. He was dead before October 1766, when a notice of him appeared in the 'London Magazine.' He left a son [see Ayscough, George Edward].
[Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, iii. 181, viii. 433, ix. 531; Proceedings of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in the case of Mr. Ayscough Vindicated, 1730 ; Catalogue of Graduates of Oxford from 1659 to 1814; S.D.U.K. Biog. Dict.; Rawlinson MSS. v. 218.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.11
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 294 | i | 11 | Ayscough, Francis: for 1766 read 1763 |
| 44-6 | for Bristol . . . . Magazine' read Bristol in 1761. He died 16 Aug. 1763 |