Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Humphreys, Humphrey
HUMPHREYS, HUMPHREY, D.D. (1648–1712), bishop successively of Bangor and Hereford, eldest son of Richard Humphreys (a royalist officer who served throughout the civil war), by Margaret, daughter of Robert Wynn of Russailgyfarch, Carnarvonshire, was born at Penrhyn, Clandraeth, Merionethshire, on 24 Nov. 1648. He became a student of Jesus College, Oxford, in 1665, was afterwards elected fellow, and graduated B.A. 19 Oct. 1669, and M.A. 12 Jan. 1672-3. He was appointed chaplain to Dr. Humphrey Lloyd, bishop of Bangor, and became rector of the parishes of Llanfrothen and Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, and of Llaniestin, Carnarvonshire. On 22 May 1679 he proceeded to the degree of B.D., and on 16 Dec. 1680 he was installed dean of Bangor. On 5 July 1682 he was created D.D. at Oxford, and in 1689 he was appointed bishop of Bangor in succession to Dr. Humphrey Lloyd, and was consecrated on 30 June at Fulham. Dr. William Lloyd, bishop of St. Asaph, and the members of parliament for Wales thanked William III for selecting Humphreys for the see. Humphreys was translated to Hereford in November 1701, and dying on 20 Nov. 1712 was buried in Hereford cathedral, where a monument with a Latin inscription was erected to his memory.
He was 'excellently well versed in the antiquities of Wales,' and enjoyed the reputation of being, after Edward Lhuyd [q.v.], the best Celtic scholar of his time (Caius, Vindiciæ Antiq. Acad. Oxon. ed. Hearne, ii. 646). He married the third daughter of Robert Morgan, D.D., bishop of Bangor. A daughter married John, son of William Lloyd, the deprived bishop of Norwich [q.v.]
His works are: 1. 'A Sermon preach'd before the House of Lords [at Westminster Abbey] on 30 Jan. 1695-6, being the Martyrdom of K. Charles I,' Lond. 1696, 4to. 2. 'Additions to and corrections of Anthony à Wood's Athenæ and Fasti Oxonienses.' Printed by Hearne in his edition of Caius's 'Vindiciæ' (Oxford, 1730), ii. 605-78, from a copy given to him by Thomas Baker, B.D. (1656-1740) [q. v.] These notes are incorporated in Dr. Philip Bliss's edition of the 'Athenæ.' 3. 'A Catalogue of the Deans of Bangor and St. Asaph.' Drawn up for the use of Anthony à Wood, and printed in Hearne's edition of Otterbourne and Whetehamstede (Oxford, 1732), ii. 719-32. Hearne also mentions a 'Discourse concerning the Antiquities of St. Winifrid's Well.'
[Abbey's English Church and its Bishops, i. 162; Bedford's Blazon of Episcopacy, p. 15; Caius, Vindiciæ (Hearne), ii. 638, 645, 646; Gent. Mag. 1826, ii. 586; Godwin, De Præsulibus (Richardson), p.498; Havergal's Fasti Herefordenses, p. 33; Hearne's edit, of Otterbourne and Whetehamstede, ii. 725; Hearne's Collections, ed.Doble (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), i. 225, 325; Le Neve's Fasti: ii. 305, 331, 370, 384; Rawlinson's Antiq. of the Cathedral of Hereford, p. 222; Willis's Survey of Cathedrals, ii. 530; Wood's Life (Bliss), p. xcvi; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss.), pref. p. 14, ii. 62, 890, iv. 895, Fasti, ii. 305, 331, 370, 384.]