Robert Pinck 1573-1647

Robert PINCK 1573-1647

Biographical Note

Born (probably) at Kempshott, Hampshire, the son of Henry Pincke, a landowner. Fellow of New College, Oxford 1596, BA 1598, MA 1602, BMed 1612, BD and DD 1620. Senior proctor of Oxford University 1610. Warden of New College 1617; rector of Stanton St John, Oxfordshire 1620. Delegate for the reform of University statutes 1629, delegate for the University Press 1633, Vice-Chancellor 1634. Pinck was a defender of academic privileges, a supporter of Laud, and a royalist who became involved in military activities in Oxford in 1642, leading to his brief imprisonment by order of Parliament. He was Vice-Chancellor again in 1643-44.

Books

Pinck bequeathed to New College (along with other benefactions) all his books in folio and quarto not held by the College; the remainder of his library was given to his nephew John Hutton, then a student at New College (d.1652). He also bequeathed £20 to Winchester College, and £10 to the Bodleian Library, for the purchase of books. All the books given to or bought for institutions were to have a gift plate inserted. In the late 1620s he also donated money to Winchester College to fund the conversion of a disused chapel into a library. Ca. 170 books were given to New College.

Sources

• Buxton J. and P. Williams, New College Oxford 1379-1979, 1979.
• Hegarty, A. J. "Pinck, Robert (bap. 1573, d. 1647), college head." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.