Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sandford, Daniel (1766-1830)
SANDFORD, DANIEL (1766–1830), bishop of Edinburgh, second son of the Rev. Daniel Sandford of Sandford Hall, Shropshire, was born at Delville, near Dublin, on 1 July 1766. He was descended from Robert, eldest son of Francis Sandford [q. v.] On the death of his father, his mother removed to Bath in 1770, and young Sandford was educated at the grammar school there. After receiving some private tuition at Bristol he matriculated as a commoner at Christ Church, Oxford, on 26 Nov. 1783, under Dr. Cyril Jackson, and was preferred to a studentship by the bishop of Oxford. In 1787 he won the college prize for Latin composition, and graduated B.A. He proceeded M.A. in 1791 and D.D. in 1802. In 1790 he was admitted to deacon's orders, and served curacies at Sunbury and Hanworth. In 1792 he removed to Edinburgh, where he opened an episcopal chapel. It was attended by English families residing in the city. In 1818 he removed to St. John's, the leading Scottish episcopal church in Edinburgh. On 9 Feb. 1806 he was consecrated bishop of Edinburgh, in succession to Dr. Abernethy Drummond. The appointment of an English presbyter to an episcopate in Scotland was viewed by many with suspicion, and provoked much discussion. But the appointment was in every way a success. As a member of the episcopal college he was regarded by his brother prelates with affection and respect, and he rendered valuable assistance in the preparation of the canons by which the episcopal church of Scotland is governed. He died at Edinburgh, after many years of feeble health, on 14 Jan. 1830, and was buried in the ground adjoining his chapel. On 11 Oct. 1790 he married Helen Frances Catherine (d. 1837), eldest daughter of Erskine Douglas, son of Sir William Douglas, bart., of Kelhead. He had three sons and four daughters. The eldest son, Erskine Douglas (1793–1861), was sheriff of Galloway. The second and third sons, Sir Daniel Keyte [q. v.] and John (1801–1873) [q. v.], are noticed separately.
Sandford was the author of: 1. ‘ Lectures on Passion Week,’ 1797, Edinburgh, 8vo; 2nd ed. 1821, Edinburgh, 12mo; 3rd ed. 1826, Edinburgh, 12mo. 2. ‘Sermons chiefly for young Persons,’ 1802, Edinburgh, 12mo. 3. ‘Sermons preached in St. John's Chapel,’ 1819, Edinburgh, 8vo. 4. ‘Remains,’ 2 vols. 1830, Edinburgh, 8vo. He also contributed articles to the ‘Classical Journal.’
[Memoir prefixed to Remains, written by Archdeacon Sandford; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886; Gent. Mag. 1830; Burke's Landed Gentry.]