Robert Froude

Portrait of Froude's mother, Phillis Hurrell, painted in 1762 by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Minneapolis Institute of Art Robert Hurrell Froude (1771–1859) was an English Anglican priest, Archdeacon of Totnes in Devon, from 1820 to 1859. From 1799 to his death he was rector of Denbury and of Dartington in Devon.

Origins Froude was born at Wakeham Farm who was followed in 1804 by his son Rev John Froude II (1777-1852), Vicar of Molland-cum-Knowstone, an extreme example of the "hunting parson".

Career Froude matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford, in 1788, graduating B.A. in 1792, and M.A. in 1795. He was rector of Denbury when he assumed his new parish at Dartington in 1799.

His marriage to Margaret Spedding produced eight children, who included Richard Hurrell Froude who was involved in the formation of the Oxford Movement; the railway engineer and acclaimed hydrodynamicist William Froude and the historian James Anthony Froude. A graduate of Oriel College, Oxford, for many years he was the Rector of Dartington .