Benjamin Woodroffe

Benjamin Woodroffe (1638–1711) was an English cleric and college head.

Life The son of the Rev. Timothy Woodroffe, he was born in Canditch Street, St. Mary Magdalen parish, Oxford, in April 1638. He was educated at Westminster School, and was elected to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1656, matriculating on 23 July 1656. He graduated B.A. 1 November 1659, M.A. 17 June 1662, and he was incorporated at Cambridge in 1664. From about 1662 he was a noted tutor at Christ Church, and in 1663 he studied chemistry with Anthony Wood, John Locke, and others, at Oxford under Peter Staehl. He was admitted Fellow of the Royal Society on 7 May 1668.

Woodroffe was appointed chaplain to James, Duke of York in 1669, and served with him when the duke was in command of HMS Royal Prince in the battle of Sole Bay on 28 May 1672. It led to his appointment as chaplain to Charles II in 1674, and to advancement in the church. He became lecturer to the Temple Church in November 1672, and through the influence of the Duke of York was installed canon of Christ Church on 17 December 1672. On 14 January 1673 he proceeded B.D. and D.D. O Livro da Oração Commun (English prayer-book and Psalms translated into Portuguese by Woodroffe and R. Abendana, Judæus), 1695. Examinis et examinantis examen, adversus calumnias F. Foris Otrokocsi, 1700. Daniel's Seventy Weeks explained, 1702. De S. Scripturarum Aὐταρκείᾳ, dialogi duo inter Geo. Aptal et Geo. Marules præside Benj. Woodroffe Græce, 1704.

He also published individual sermons and poems in Oxford collections.

Family On 15 November 1676 Woodroffe obtained a licence to marry Dorothy Stonehouse of Besselsleigh, Berkshire, a sister of Sir Blewett Stonehouse, with a reputed fortune of £3,000. They went to live at Knightsbridge, so as to be near the court.

Woodroffe married, as his second wife, Mary Marbury, sister and one of the three coheiresses of William and Richard Marbury.