Neile, Richard (1562-03-01 - 1640-10-31)

Richard Neile, son of Paul (d.1574) and Sybile Neile (later Newell, d. 1611), was baptized in Westminster on 11 March 1562. He attended Westminster School before matriculating at St John’s College, Cambridge in 1580; he graduated B.A. in 1584 and proceeded M.A. in 1587, B.D. in 1595, and D.D. in 1600. He was ordained deacon and priest in 1589. He was presented to the Cheshunt vicarage in 1590, and served as household chaplain around this time for Lord Burghley and later Robert Cecil. He was made rector of Toddington in 1580 and treasurer and canon of Chichester Cathedral in 1698 and 1604 respectively. He became royal chaplain and clerk of the closet in 1603. He was rector of Southfleet from 1608-10 and of Clifton Campville from 1612. Neile was installed as dean of Westminster in 1605, bishop of Rochester in 1608, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry in 1610, and bishop of Lincoln in 1614. He was promoted to the wealthier diocese of Durham in 1617, where he led an intellectual circle that took on the name of his residence, Durham House. He was made rector of Droxford in 1628, vicar of Hambledon in 1629, and rector of Bishops Waltham in 1631. Neile was consecrated bishop of Winchester in 1629 and archbishop of York in 1632. Neile sat on the Privy Council but did not publish or preach often; he maintained a close relationship with William Laud, who came up under Neile. He died at the age of 78 in York on 31 October 1640 and was buried in York Minster, survived by his wife Dorothy (m.c.1605, d.1647) and son Sir Paul Neile (b. 1613, d. 1682x1686).