College he numbered among his pupils the Duke of Gloucester and Spencer Perceval, and was generally known as the chief wit and mimic of academic society. His popularity led to his election as public orator in 1788, and during his tenure of that office to 1798 he often preached before the university, and took part in county politics. Through Perceval's recommendation he was appointed by Pitt, on 26 May 1798, to the mastership of Trinity, in order that his strong discipline might correct some abuses which had crept into its administration; but it appears from the college records that there had been some informality in his admission, as a second grant was obtained from the crown, and he was admitted 'according to due form' on 4 July 1798. He was vice-chancellor of the university for the year 1799-1800. Perceval, the prime minister, selected Mansel for the bishopric of Bristol, to which he was consecrated on 30 Oct. 1808, and in his capacity of chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster the same 'friend' presented him to the rich rectory of Barwick-in-Elmet in Yorkshire. He died at the master's lodge, Trinity College, on 27 June 1820, aged 68, and was buried in the chapel on 3 July. His portrait, painted by T. Kirkby and engraved by W. Say, was published on 1 May 1812 by R. Harraden & Son of Cambridge. A second portrait, etched by Mrs. Dawson Turner from a sketch by G. H. H., a private plate, is dated in 1815 (W. Millar, Biog. Sketches, i. 43). His arms, impaling those of the see, are on the organ screen in Bristol Cathedral (Leversage, Bristol Cathedral, ed. 1888, p. 51).
Mansel was the author of two sermons (1810 and 1813), and Spencer Perceval addressed to him in 1808 a printed letter in support of his bill for providing additional curates. His jests and verses obtained great fame. Many of his epigrams and letters have appeared in 'Notes and Queries,' 2nd ser. ix. 483, x. 41-2, 283-4, xii.221, 3rd ser. xil 485; in Gunning's 'Reminiscences,' i. 55-56, 194-5, 317, ii. 101; and in Bishop Charles Wordsworth's ' Annals of my Early Life,' pp. 69-70. Rogers expressed the wish that some one would collect his epigrams, as they were 'remarkably neat and clever.' A manuscript collection of them is known to have been in the possession of Professor James Cumming [q. v.], rector of North Runcton, Norfolk, at his death in 1861. Some poems to him by T. J. Mathias are in the latter's 'Poesie Liriche,' 1810, and 'Odæ Latinos.' One, supposed to be addressed to him by a parrot which he had neglected, was printed separately.
[Gent Mag. 1820, pt. i. p. 637; Le Neve's Fasti, i. 221, iii. 611, 616, 670; Walpole's Perceval, i. 58, 285; Dyce's Table Talk of Rogers, p. 60; Annual Biography, vi. 440-1; Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, iv. 426, 461, 469, 462, 490; information from the Rev. Edward Peacock of Frome, and from Aldis Wright, esq., fellow of Trin. Coll. Cambridge.]
MANSELL, FRANCIS, D.D. (1579–1666), principal of Jesus College, Oxford, third son of Sir Francis Mansell, bart., and his first wife, Catherine, daughter and heir of Henry Morgan of Muddlescombe, Carmarthenshire, was born at Muddlescombe, and christened on Palm Sunday, 23 March 1678-9. He was educated at the free school, Hereford, and matriculated as a commoner from Jesus College, Oxford, 20 Nov. 1607. He graduated B.A. 20 Feb. 1608-9, M.A. 6 July 1611, B.D. and D.D. on 3 July 1624, and stood for a fellowship at All Souls in 1613 'as founder's kinsman, but that pretension being disliked, came in at the next election' (Life, by Sir Leoline Jenkins). On the death of Griffith Powell, 28 June 1620, Mansell was elected principal of Jesus College, and was admitted by the vice-chancellor in spite of protests from other fellows who had opposea the election. On 13 July Mansell expelled three of his opponents from their fellowships, and on the 17th, by the authority of the vice-chancellor, he proceeded against a fourth. His position does not, however, appear to have been secure, and before the expiration of the year he resigned the principalship and retired to his fellowship at All Souls. His successor, Sir Eubule Thelwall, having died on 8 Oct. 1630, Mansell was a second time elected principal. In the same year he became rector of Easington, Oxfordshire, and in 1631 of Elmley Chapel, Kent, prebendary of St. Davids, and treasurer of Llandaff.
Mansell's second tenure of office was marked by considerable extension of the college buildings. Thelwall's library, which does not seem to have been satisfactory, was pulled down, and the north and south sides of the inner quadrangle were completed. Mansell was indefatigable in collecting contributions, and from his own purse enriched the college with revenues and benefices. He was compelled to leave Oxford in 1643 to look after the affairs of his brother Anthony, who had been killed at the battle of Newbury, and for the next few years rendered efficient help to the royalist party in Wales. He returned to look after the college interests when the parliamentary visitation opened in 1647. He was ejected from the principalship and retired to Llantrithyd, Glamorganshire, where he was subjected to considerable persecution and annoyance at the hands of
