J. E. C. (James Edward Cowell) Welldon

Born on 25 April 1854, James Edward Cowell Welldon was an English clergyman and scholar. He was educated at Eton and King’s College, Cambridge, and built an early reputation as a classicist and teacher before becoming headmaster of Harrow School.

Welldon later took on major church appointments, serving as Bishop of Calcutta from 1898 to 1902. After returning to England, he became Dean of Manchester and then Dean of Durham, holding senior roles that placed him at the center of religious and public life for many years.

Alongside his church work, he was also known as a writer and lecturer, with interests that included education, religion, and classical learning. He died on 17 June 1937, leaving behind a career that joined scholarship, school leadership, and high office in the Church of England.