Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Claughton, Piers Calverley
CLAUGHTON, PIERS CALVERLEY (1814–1884), bishop of Colombo, son of Thomas Claughton (M.P. for Newton, Lancashire, 1818-25, who died in 1842), born at Haydock Lodge, Winwick, Lancashire, on 8 Jan. 1814, was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he graduated B. A. in 1835, and M.A. in 1838. He won the prize for the chancellor's prize essay in 1837, was fellow and tutor of University College from 1837 to 1842, public examiner in 1842 to 1844, and select preacher in 1843 and 1850. He was ordained in 1838, and appointed rector of Elton, Huntingdonshire, in 1845, where he introduced harvest festivals, which have since been so popular. He remained at Elton until 1859, when he was appointed the first bishop of St. Helena. During his tenure of that bishopric he took part at the Cape synod in the condemnation of Bishop Colenso. In 1862 he was translated to the see of Colombo, which he successfully administered for eight years. On his return to England in 1870 he was appointed archdeacon of London and canon of St. Paul's, and as practical coadjutor to the Bishop of London he worked indefatigably. On the death of the Rev. G. R. Gleig in 1875 he succeeded to the post of chaplain-general of the forces. In all his offices he showed himself a most kindly, hard-working, and conscientious prelate. He took a leading part in the debates of convocation, as to the importance of which body he published a letter addressed to Lord Derby in 1852. His other publications were: 'A Brief Examination of the Thirty-nine Articles,' 1843, 8vo; 'A Catechism, in six parts, for the Sundays in Lent,' 1847, 12mo; 'Charges to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of London,' 1872 to 1878; 'Our Missions, a Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury,' 1873, 8vo; and occasional sermons published between 1840 and 1877. He died on 11 Aug. 1884, at 2 Northwick Terrace, Maida Hill, London, and was buried at Elton. A tablet to his memory has been placed in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral. It contains a medallion portrait, and is near the memorial of Sir John Goss.
[Guardian, 13 Aug. 1884, p. 1202; Illustrated London News, 16 Aug. 1884, p. 155; Honours Register of Oxford, 1883; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1884; Lancashire and Cheshire Historical and Genealogical Notes, iii. 103.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.69
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 3 | i | 13 | Claughton, Piers C.: for in 1870 he was read he was in March 1871 |
| 22 | for death read resignation |