Copleston, Edward, 1776-1849

Edward Copleston was born in 1776 in Offwell, Devon, a parish in which his father was the rector. He was educated privately and gained a scholarship to Corpus Christi College, Oxford (B.A. 1795) at the age of 15. In 1793, he was awarded the chancellor's prize for Latin hexameters for 'Marius in tuguaio ruinarum Carthaginensium' [Marius amid the ruins of Carthage]. He became a fellow of Oriel College, Oxford in 1795 (M.A. 1797). He was made Professor of Poetry in 1802, a post he held until 1812. From 1814 to 1828 he was Provost of Oriel College. His ecclesiastical career began as vicar of St Mary's, Oxford in 1800. He was Bishop of Llandaff from 1828 until his death, when he was buried in the ruined cathedral of Llandaff.

From the guide to the Manuscript of a poem entitled 'Marius in tuguaio ruinarum Carthaginensium' in Latin by Edward Copleston (1776-1849), 1793, 1793, (The University of Nottingham)