In the centenary year of the battle of Trafalgar it is well to recall the fact that the Chaplain of the Victory was a member of the College. The Rev Alexander John Scott (B.A. 1790), While he held that post being also private secretary and interpreter to Lord Nelson. Alexander John Scott was the son of Robert Scott, a lieutenant R N., who retired on half-pay and engaged in ship-building and foreign trade; his mother was a Miss Jane Comyn, related to the family of Vaughan, of Golden Grove.
A, J. Scott was born 23 July 1768 and was baptized at St Mary’s, Rotherhithe, 11 August 1768. After being a short time at a school at Alton, he was nominated by King George III to the Charterhouse. He was admitted to St John's 10 March 1786. his first day of residence being 5 May 1786. He was admitted a scholar on Mr Platt’s foundation 3 November 1789, and took his degree (without honours) in the Lent Term of 1790. He was ordained Deacon 30 November 1791 by the Bishop of Chichester, and Priest in the following year. In the spring of 1793 he sailed as chaplain in the Berwirk with his father’s friend, Sir John Collins. From that time till the battle of Trafalgar he served nearly continuously as a Naval Chaplain. He had a great talent for acquiring languages, and this, with a natural turn for diplomacy, made him widely known in the Fleet. Through Sir John Collins he made the acquaintance of Captain Horatio Nelson of the Agamemnon. In 1795 he became chaplain to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, to whom, at the battle of Copenhagen, he was chaplain on the Royal George, and interpreter and translator to the expedition. Lord Nelson employed Scott to draw up the articles of the celebrated Convention of Copenhagen, the arrangement of which required the most delicate management. For this he received no official acknowledgment, for his warrant as interpreter and translator was Signed by the Commander-in-Chief, without authority from the Admiralty. What Lord Nelson thought of his services may be gathered from the following testimonial:
"These are to certify that the Rev Mr Scott was employed by me in arrangement of the Convention at Copenhagen, and Mr Scott upon every occasion showed his readiness and ability in translating French and German papers, and as he has suffered by being employed in the public service by Sir T. Duckworth, I really think him a very proper object for the consideration of Government.
“ I have such a high opinion of Mr Scott’s ability and honour that, if he is well enough, I should feel happy, on being appointed to a foreign command, to have him as my foreign secretary, and to be confidentially employed with business to foreign ministers. “ NELSON AND BRONTE.”
Scott became chaplain on the Victory in 1803, and remained with Lord Nelson till the final scene. He returned with Lord Nelson’s body to England and sat up with it every night for more than a week whilst it lay in state at Greenwich.
He then retired from the service. He was admitted to the degree of M.A. at Cambridge 5 February 1806. For this he had to reside a Term at Cambridge. He created so favourable an impression of his knowledge and theological erudition that the University petitioned the King for a Mandate to dispense with the interval of twelve years which at that time had to elapse between the M.A. and D.D. degrees. This corresponds to our present practice of conferring a D D. degree Honoris Causa. By kind permission of the Vice-Chancellor and Registry we are enabled to print this Mandate, which is as follows:
GEORGE P.
Trusty and welbeloved we greet you well. Whereas Our
Vice Chancellor and several other Heads of Colleges in Our University of Cambridge have certified to Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, Chancellor of Our said University, that Alexander John Scott, Inspector (sir. really Inceptor) in Arts of Saint John’s College is a person of good learning and morals, and properly qualified for the Degree of Doctor in Divinity; which he is now desirous of obtaining; but having been for several years past employed in our service, and thereby hindered ’till lately from proceeding to the degree of Master of Arts he cannot be admitted to the said Degree of Doctor in Divinity without our Most Gracious Letters Mandatory, dispensing with Our Statutes in his behalf: And the said Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, having certified to Us, that Our granting such Letters Mandatory in favour of the said Alexander John Scott that he may be Doctor in Divinity, will be no way prejudical, either to the University in general, or to any College in particular, We have thought fit in the most effectual manner to recommend the said Alexander John Scott to you for the Degree of Doctor of Divinity aforesaid, Willing and Requiring you upon the receipt hereof to confer the same upon him with all Rights and Privileges thereunto belonging, he paying the accustomed Fees, and performing the usual Exercises, or giving sufficient caution for the performance of the same and so not doubting of your ready compliance therein We bid you heartily farewell. Given at Our Court at Saint James’s the fifth day of March 1806. In the forty-eighth year of Our Reign. By His Majesty’s Command SPENCER.
Endorsed: Alexr John Scott to be Doctor in Divinity.
Jam Admissionem quam Orationem obtinuit 21 Mart. 1806. Dr Scott’s signature in the Subscription Book is as follows: Alexander John Scott, D.D. Coll. Johns, March 19, 1806
Dr Scott had obtained the Vicarage of Southminster in Essex from the Governors of the Charterhouse. He obtained the Vicarage of Catterick in Yorkshire in 1817, and held both until his death at Ecclesfield 24 July 1840. His youngest daughter Margaret married Dr Alfred Gatty, Vicar of Ecclesfield, and his grand-daughter Juliana Horatia Gatty, afterwards the wife of Major Alexander Ewing, is well~known for her short stories.
From the Google book - The Eagle: A Magazine Supported by Members of St. John's College, Volume 27, 1906.
A, J. Scott was born 23 July 1768 and was baptized at St Mary’s, Rotherhithe, 11 August 1768. After being a short time at a school at Alton, he was nominated by King George III to the Charterhouse. He was admitted to St John's 10 March 1786. his first day of residence being 5 May 1786. He was admitted a scholar on Mr Platt’s foundation 3 November 1789, and took his degree (without honours) in the Lent Term of 1790. He was ordained Deacon 30 November 1791 by the Bishop of Chichester, and Priest in the following year. In the spring of 1793 he sailed as chaplain in the Berwirk with his father’s friend, Sir John Collins. From that time till the battle of Trafalgar he served nearly continuously as a Naval Chaplain. He had a great talent for acquiring languages, and this, with a natural turn for diplomacy, made him widely known in the Fleet. Through Sir John Collins he made the acquaintance of Captain Horatio Nelson of the Agamemnon. In 1795 he became chaplain to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, to whom, at the battle of Copenhagen, he was chaplain on the Royal George, and interpreter and translator to the expedition. Lord Nelson employed Scott to draw up the articles of the celebrated Convention of Copenhagen, the arrangement of which required the most delicate management. For this he received no official acknowledgment, for his warrant as interpreter and translator was Signed by the Commander-in-Chief, without authority from the Admiralty. What Lord Nelson thought of his services may be gathered from the following testimonial:
"These are to certify that the Rev Mr Scott was employed by me in arrangement of the Convention at Copenhagen, and Mr Scott upon every occasion showed his readiness and ability in translating French and German papers, and as he has suffered by being employed in the public service by Sir T. Duckworth, I really think him a very proper object for the consideration of Government.
“ I have such a high opinion of Mr Scott’s ability and honour that, if he is well enough, I should feel happy, on being appointed to a foreign command, to have him as my foreign secretary, and to be confidentially employed with business to foreign ministers. “ NELSON AND BRONTE.”
Scott became chaplain on the Victory in 1803, and remained with Lord Nelson till the final scene. He returned with Lord Nelson’s body to England and sat up with it every night for more than a week whilst it lay in state at Greenwich.
He then retired from the service. He was admitted to the degree of M.A. at Cambridge 5 February 1806. For this he had to reside a Term at Cambridge. He created so favourable an impression of his knowledge and theological erudition that the University petitioned the King for a Mandate to dispense with the interval of twelve years which at that time had to elapse between the M.A. and D.D. degrees. This corresponds to our present practice of conferring a D D. degree Honoris Causa. By kind permission of the Vice-Chancellor and Registry we are enabled to print this Mandate, which is as follows:
GEORGE P.
Trusty and welbeloved we greet you well. Whereas Our
Vice Chancellor and several other Heads of Colleges in Our University of Cambridge have certified to Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, Chancellor of Our said University, that Alexander John Scott, Inspector (sir. really Inceptor) in Arts of Saint John’s College is a person of good learning and morals, and properly qualified for the Degree of Doctor in Divinity; which he is now desirous of obtaining; but having been for several years past employed in our service, and thereby hindered ’till lately from proceeding to the degree of Master of Arts he cannot be admitted to the said Degree of Doctor in Divinity without our Most Gracious Letters Mandatory, dispensing with Our Statutes in his behalf: And the said Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, having certified to Us, that Our granting such Letters Mandatory in favour of the said Alexander John Scott that he may be Doctor in Divinity, will be no way prejudical, either to the University in general, or to any College in particular, We have thought fit in the most effectual manner to recommend the said Alexander John Scott to you for the Degree of Doctor of Divinity aforesaid, Willing and Requiring you upon the receipt hereof to confer the same upon him with all Rights and Privileges thereunto belonging, he paying the accustomed Fees, and performing the usual Exercises, or giving sufficient caution for the performance of the same and so not doubting of your ready compliance therein We bid you heartily farewell. Given at Our Court at Saint James’s the fifth day of March 1806. In the forty-eighth year of Our Reign. By His Majesty’s Command SPENCER.
Endorsed: Alexr John Scott to be Doctor in Divinity.
Jam Admissionem quam Orationem obtinuit 21 Mart. 1806. Dr Scott’s signature in the Subscription Book is as follows: Alexander John Scott, D.D. Coll. Johns, March 19, 1806
Dr Scott had obtained the Vicarage of Southminster in Essex from the Governors of the Charterhouse. He obtained the Vicarage of Catterick in Yorkshire in 1817, and held both until his death at Ecclesfield 24 July 1840. His youngest daughter Margaret married Dr Alfred Gatty, Vicar of Ecclesfield, and his grand-daughter Juliana Horatia Gatty, afterwards the wife of Major Alexander Ewing, is well~known for her short stories.
From the Google book - The Eagle: A Magazine Supported by Members of St. John's College, Volume 27, 1906.
In the centenary year of the battle of Trafalgar it is well to recall the fact that the Chaplain of the Victory was a member of the College. The Rev Alexander John Scott (B.A. 1790), While he held that post being also private secretary and interpreter to Lord Nelson. Alexander John Scott was the son of Robert Scott, a lieutenant R N., who retired on half-pay and engaged in ship-building and foreign trade; his mother was a Miss Jane Comyn, related to the family of Vaughan, of Golden Grove.
A, J. Scott was born 23 July 1768 and was baptized at St Mary’s, Rotherhithe, 11 August 1768. After being a short time at a school at Alton, he was nominated by King George III to the Charterhouse. He was admitted to St John's 10 March 1786. his first day of residence being 5 May 1786. He was admitted a scholar on Mr Platt’s foundation 3 November 1789, and took his degree (without honours) in the Lent Term of 1790. He was ordained Deacon 30 November 1791 by the Bishop of Chichester, and Priest in the following year. In the spring of 1793 he sailed as chaplain in the Berwirk with his father’s friend, Sir John Collins. From that time till the battle of Trafalgar he served nearly continuously as a Naval Chaplain. He had a great talent for acquiring languages, and this, with a natural turn for diplomacy, made him widely known in the Fleet. Through Sir John Collins he made the acquaintance of Captain Horatio Nelson of the Agamemnon. In 1795 he became chaplain to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, to whom, at the battle of Copenhagen, he was chaplain on the Royal George, and interpreter and translator to the expedition. Lord Nelson employed Scott to draw up the articles of the celebrated Convention of Copenhagen, the arrangement of which required the most delicate management. For this he received no official acknowledgment, for his warrant as interpreter and translator was Signed by the Commander-in-Chief, without authority from the Admiralty. What Lord Nelson thought of his services may be gathered from the following testimonial:
"These are to certify that the Rev Mr Scott was employed by me in arrangement of the Convention at Copenhagen, and Mr Scott upon every occasion showed his readiness and ability in translating French and German papers, and as he has suffered by being employed in the public service by Sir T. Duckworth, I really think him a very proper object for the consideration of Government.
“ I have such a high opinion of Mr Scott’s ability and honour that, if he is well enough, I should feel happy, on being appointed to a foreign command, to have him as my foreign secretary, and to be confidentially employed with business to foreign ministers. “ NELSON AND BRONTE.”
Scott became chaplain on the Victory in 1803, and remained with Lord Nelson till the final scene. He returned with Lord Nelson’s body to England and sat up with it every night for more than a week whilst it lay in state at Greenwich.
He then retired from the service. He was admitted to the degree of M.A. at Cambridge 5 February 1806. For this he had to reside a Term at Cambridge. He created so favourable an impression of his knowledge and theological erudition that the University petitioned the King for a Mandate to dispense with the interval of twelve years which at that time had to elapse between the M.A. and D.D. degrees. This corresponds to our present practice of conferring a D D. degree Honoris Causa. By kind permission of the Vice-Chancellor and Registry we are enabled to print this Mandate, which is as follows:
GEORGE P.
Trusty and welbeloved we greet you well. Whereas Our
Vice Chancellor and several other Heads of Colleges in Our University of Cambridge have certified to Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, Chancellor of Our said University, that Alexander John Scott, Inspector (sir. really Inceptor) in Arts of Saint John’s College is a person of good learning and morals, and properly qualified for the Degree of Doctor in Divinity; which he is now desirous of obtaining; but having been for several years past employed in our service, and thereby hindered ’till lately from proceeding to the degree of Master of Arts he cannot be admitted to the said Degree of Doctor in Divinity without our Most Gracious Letters Mandatory, dispensing with Our Statutes in his behalf: And the said Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, having certified to Us, that Our granting such Letters Mandatory in favour of the said Alexander John Scott that he may be Doctor in Divinity, will be no way prejudical, either to the University in general, or to any College in particular, We have thought fit in the most effectual manner to recommend the said Alexander John Scott to you for the Degree of Doctor of Divinity aforesaid, Willing and Requiring you upon the receipt hereof to confer the same upon him with all Rights and Privileges thereunto belonging, he paying the accustomed Fees, and performing the usual Exercises, or giving sufficient caution for the performance of the same and so not doubting of your ready compliance therein We bid you heartily farewell. Given at Our Court at Saint James’s the fifth day of March 1806. In the forty-eighth year of Our Reign. By His Majesty’s Command SPENCER.
Endorsed: Alexr John Scott to be Doctor in Divinity.
Jam Admissionem quam Orationem obtinuit 21 Mart. 1806. Dr Scott’s signature in the Subscription Book is as follows: Alexander John Scott, D.D. Coll. Johns, March 19, 1806
Dr Scott had obtained the Vicarage of Southminster in Essex from the Governors of the Charterhouse. He obtained the Vicarage of Catterick in Yorkshire in 1817, and held both until his death at Ecclesfield 24 July 1840. His youngest daughter Margaret married Dr Alfred Gatty, Vicar of Ecclesfield, and his grand-daughter Juliana Horatia Gatty, afterwards the wife of Major Alexander Ewing, is well~known for her short stories.
From the Google book - The Eagle: A Magazine Supported by Members of St. John's College, Volume 27, 1906.
A, J. Scott was born 23 July 1768 and was baptized at St Mary’s, Rotherhithe, 11 August 1768. After being a short time at a school at Alton, he was nominated by King George III to the Charterhouse. He was admitted to St John's 10 March 1786. his first day of residence being 5 May 1786. He was admitted a scholar on Mr Platt’s foundation 3 November 1789, and took his degree (without honours) in the Lent Term of 1790. He was ordained Deacon 30 November 1791 by the Bishop of Chichester, and Priest in the following year. In the spring of 1793 he sailed as chaplain in the Berwirk with his father’s friend, Sir John Collins. From that time till the battle of Trafalgar he served nearly continuously as a Naval Chaplain. He had a great talent for acquiring languages, and this, with a natural turn for diplomacy, made him widely known in the Fleet. Through Sir John Collins he made the acquaintance of Captain Horatio Nelson of the Agamemnon. In 1795 he became chaplain to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, to whom, at the battle of Copenhagen, he was chaplain on the Royal George, and interpreter and translator to the expedition. Lord Nelson employed Scott to draw up the articles of the celebrated Convention of Copenhagen, the arrangement of which required the most delicate management. For this he received no official acknowledgment, for his warrant as interpreter and translator was Signed by the Commander-in-Chief, without authority from the Admiralty. What Lord Nelson thought of his services may be gathered from the following testimonial:
"These are to certify that the Rev Mr Scott was employed by me in arrangement of the Convention at Copenhagen, and Mr Scott upon every occasion showed his readiness and ability in translating French and German papers, and as he has suffered by being employed in the public service by Sir T. Duckworth, I really think him a very proper object for the consideration of Government.
“ I have such a high opinion of Mr Scott’s ability and honour that, if he is well enough, I should feel happy, on being appointed to a foreign command, to have him as my foreign secretary, and to be confidentially employed with business to foreign ministers. “ NELSON AND BRONTE.”
Scott became chaplain on the Victory in 1803, and remained with Lord Nelson till the final scene. He returned with Lord Nelson’s body to England and sat up with it every night for more than a week whilst it lay in state at Greenwich.
He then retired from the service. He was admitted to the degree of M.A. at Cambridge 5 February 1806. For this he had to reside a Term at Cambridge. He created so favourable an impression of his knowledge and theological erudition that the University petitioned the King for a Mandate to dispense with the interval of twelve years which at that time had to elapse between the M.A. and D.D. degrees. This corresponds to our present practice of conferring a D D. degree Honoris Causa. By kind permission of the Vice-Chancellor and Registry we are enabled to print this Mandate, which is as follows:
GEORGE P.
Trusty and welbeloved we greet you well. Whereas Our
Vice Chancellor and several other Heads of Colleges in Our University of Cambridge have certified to Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, Chancellor of Our said University, that Alexander John Scott, Inspector (sir. really Inceptor) in Arts of Saint John’s College is a person of good learning and morals, and properly qualified for the Degree of Doctor in Divinity; which he is now desirous of obtaining; but having been for several years past employed in our service, and thereby hindered ’till lately from proceeding to the degree of Master of Arts he cannot be admitted to the said Degree of Doctor in Divinity without our Most Gracious Letters Mandatory, dispensing with Our Statutes in his behalf: And the said Augustus Henry, Duke of Grafton, having certified to Us, that Our granting such Letters Mandatory in favour of the said Alexander John Scott that he may be Doctor in Divinity, will be no way prejudical, either to the University in general, or to any College in particular, We have thought fit in the most effectual manner to recommend the said Alexander John Scott to you for the Degree of Doctor of Divinity aforesaid, Willing and Requiring you upon the receipt hereof to confer the same upon him with all Rights and Privileges thereunto belonging, he paying the accustomed Fees, and performing the usual Exercises, or giving sufficient caution for the performance of the same and so not doubting of your ready compliance therein We bid you heartily farewell. Given at Our Court at Saint James’s the fifth day of March 1806. In the forty-eighth year of Our Reign. By His Majesty’s Command SPENCER.
Endorsed: Alexr John Scott to be Doctor in Divinity.
Jam Admissionem quam Orationem obtinuit 21 Mart. 1806. Dr Scott’s signature in the Subscription Book is as follows: Alexander John Scott, D.D. Coll. Johns, March 19, 1806
Dr Scott had obtained the Vicarage of Southminster in Essex from the Governors of the Charterhouse. He obtained the Vicarage of Catterick in Yorkshire in 1817, and held both until his death at Ecclesfield 24 July 1840. His youngest daughter Margaret married Dr Alfred Gatty, Vicar of Ecclesfield, and his grand-daughter Juliana Horatia Gatty, afterwards the wife of Major Alexander Ewing, is well~known for her short stories.
From the Google book - The Eagle: A Magazine Supported by Members of St. John's College, Volume 27, 1906.
Inscription
"Waiting for the adoption - the redemption of our body" Here lie buried. Alexander John Scott. D.D. Vicar of Catterick and Southminster. and Chaplain to Admiral Lord Nelson. on board H.M.S. Victory at Trafalgar. He died July 24. 1840. aged 72.
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