Venn: Adm. pens. (age 18) at TRINITY, June 1, 1768. Re-adm. as a ‘Ten-year man,’ June 2, 1774. S. of Thomas, of London. B. there [Feb. 11, 1750]. School, Westminster. ' Matric. Michs. 1768; B.D. 1784; D.D. 1789. Ord. deacon (London) Feb. 24, 1773; priest, Dec. 21, 1779. Leaving Cambridge owing to lack of means, became an Assistant Master at Harrow, 1769. Head Master, 1785-1805, in succession to his brother-in-law, Dr Benjamin Heath. He greatly raised the character of the school, and the number of the boys increased from 150 to 350-400. Very successful as a teacher and as a Head Master, stressing the literary side of scholarship. A firm disciplinarian but a kind master, and appears to have been the first Head Master who exempted the higher forms from flogging. His pupil, Lord Byron, refers to his rule in Hours of Idleness, and in a note to Childe Harold, IV. 75. R. of Aldwinkle, Northants., 1778-1806. R. of Pilton, 1794-1806; resigned. Retired to Cockwood, near Dawlish, Devon, and devoted himself to farming and landscape-gardening. Took a great interest in Charles Kean, the actor, and helped to establish him at Drury Lane Theatre. Prebendary of Wells, 1812-34. Married, Aug. 5, 1775, Louisa, dau. of Benjamin Heath, D.C.L., of Exeter. He left a MS. Journal of his tours through Ireland, Cumberland, Wales and Shropshire. Died Jan. 9, 1834, aged 84, at Cockwood. Buried at St Leonard's, Exeter.
| Year | Type | Name as Recorded | Location | Office/Status | Full Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1773 | Appt(Licensing) | Drury, Joseph | Gt Stanmore / | Curate | View |
| 1773 | Ordi(ordination) | Drury, Joseph | / | deacon | View |
| 1773 | Disp-Ord | Drury, Joseph | / | View | |
| 1779 | Ordi(ordination) | Drury, Joseph | / | priest | View |
| 1779 | Disp-Ord | Drury, Joseph | / | View | |
| 1788 | Appt(Institution) | Drury, Joseph | Aldwinckle St. Peter's / | Rector | View |
| 1794 | Disp(Dispensation) | Drury, Joseph | Pilton / | Rector | View |
| 1794 | Appt(Institution) | Drury, Joseph | Pilton / | Rector | View |
| 1794 | Disp-App | Drury, Joseph | Aldwinckle St Peter / | Rector | View |
| 1806 | Appt(Resignation) | Drury, Joseph | Aldwinckle St. Peter / | Rector | View |
| 1806 | Vac(resignation) | Drury, Joseph | Pilton / | Rector | View |
| 1806 | Appt(Resignation) | Drury, Joseph | Pilton / | Rector | View |
| 1806 | Vac(resignation) | Drury, Joseph | Aldwinckle St. Peters / | Rector | View |
| 1812 | Appt(Institution) | Drury, Joseph | Wells Cathedral / Prebend or Canonry of Dultingcot | Prebendary | View |
| 1834 | Vac(Death) | Drury, Joseph | Wells Cathedral / The Prebend or Canonry of Dultingcot als Finghurst | Prebendary | View |