Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gretton, William
GRETTON, WILLIAM (1736–1813), master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, son of John Gretton of Bond Street, London, born in 1736, was educated at St. Paul's School and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1758 and proceeded M.A. in 1761. Having taken holy orders, he was presented in 1766 to the vicarage of Saffron Walden, Essex. In 1784 Lord Howard of Walden appointed him his domestic chaplain. He was subsequently presented to the rectory of Littlebury, Essex, of which county he was in the commission of the peace, and was made archdeacon on 2 Dec. 1795. In 1797 he was elected master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and was vice-chancellor of the university in 1800-1. He died on 29 Sept. 1813.
[Gardiner's Admission Reg. of St. Paul's School; Gent. Mag. 1766 p. 344, 1784 pt. ii. p. 719, 1795 pt. ii. p. 1062, 1797 pt. ii. p. 1137, 1800 pt. ii. p. 1118, 1813 pt. ii. p. 405; Grad. Cant.; Le Neve's Fasti Eccl. Angl.]