James Gardiner

James Gardiner (1637 – 1 March 1705) was an English bishop of Lincoln.

Life He was the son of Adrian Gardiner, apothecary, of Nottingham. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1649, taking the degrees of B.A. 1652–3, M.A. 1656, and D.D. 1669. On the Restoration he obtained favour at court, became chaplain to the Duke of Monmouth, chaplain to the guards, and received the crown living of Epworth, Lincolnshire.

In 1671 he received the sub-deanery of Lincoln from Thomas Fuller, replacing Robert Mapletoft. While holding this office he rebuilt his official residence, which had been reduced to ruins by the parliamentary forces on the storming of the castle and close in 1644. On the death of Michael Honywood in 1681, he was recommended for the deanery of Lincoln by Archbishop William Sancroft, but unsuccessfully, it having been promised to Daniel Brevint. On the serious illness of the latter in 1685, Gardiner applied to the archbishop for his support for the anticipated vacancy, which, however, did not occur till 1695. He was survived by three sons, James Gardiner the younger, William, and Charles, and two daughters.