Randall Davidson

Infobox Archbishop of Canterbury|
Full name = Randall Davidson


caption = Randall Thomas Davidson, by Leslie Ward, 1901.
birth_name =
began = 1903
term_end = 1928
predecessor = Frederick Temple
successor = Cosmo Lang
birth_date = April 7, 1848
birthplace =
death_date = May 25, 1930
deathplace =
tomb = Anglican Portal

Randall Thomas Davidson, 1st Baron Davidson of Lambeth, KCVO (April 7, 1848 – May 25, 1930) was an Anglican clergyman of Scottish origin who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1903 to 1928.

Life

He studied at Harrow School and University of Oxford and served as chaplain to Archibald Campbell Tait when Tait was Archbishop of Canterbury and married Tait's daughter. After Tait's death he remained at Lambeth Palace as Chaplain to Edward White Benson when he became Archbishop of Canterbury. A favourite of Queen Victoria, Davidson was appointed Dean of Windsor at a very young age. He was subsequently Bishop of Rochester and Bishop of Winchester before becoming Archbishop of Canterbury in 1903.

He played a major part in the funeral ceremonies for Queen Victoria in 1901, taking care, along with Dr. James Reid, of the wake at Osborne House, Isle of Wight. He was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to retire, all his predecessors having died in office.

References

*G. K. A. Bell "Randall Davidson"