University Archives
John Hymers, of Brandesburton
John Hymers (1803-1887) was born in Ormesby, North Yorkshire, in 1803, the son of a farmer. He was educated at Sedbergh and St John's College, Cambridge, becoming second wrangler in 1826. He became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1838. He was a mathematician, whose publications were largely about calculus, conic sections and equations theory. In 1841 he was awarded a doctorate in divinity and became Lady Margaret Professor and in 1848 he was elected President of St John's College. In 1852 he left for the rich college living of Brandesburton in the East Yorkshire. He did not marry and in the final years of his life he became close to the family of his sister. His niece, Esther Jane Jackson, became his housekeeper and eventually a major beneficiary of his will. The papers held all relate to his will and include details of his rents and tithes and investments in railway stocks and shares. Many of the 350 items are letters about various family and charitable bequests, most especially the £50,000 bequest to Hull Corporation for the foundation of Hymers College in Hull. [DDCV/214]