Richard Allestree (1619-1681) (also Allestry) was a royalist divine and provost of Eton College, son of Robert Allestree, and a descendant of an ancient Derbyshire family. He was born at Uppington in Shropshire and educated at Coventry, and later at Christ Church, Oxford, under Richard Busby. He entered as a commoner in 1636, was made student shortly afterwards,...Richard Allestree (1619-1681) (also Allestry) was a royalist divine and provost of Eton College, son of Robert Allestree, and a descendant of an ancient Derbyshire family. He was born at Uppington in Shropshire and educated at Coventry, and later at Christ Church, Oxford, under Richard Busby. He entered as a commoner in 1636, was made student shortly afterwards, and earned the degree of B.A. in 1640 and of M.A. in 1643. At the Restoration he became canon of Christ Church, as a Doctor of Divinity and city lecturer at Oxford. In 1663 he was made chaplain to the king and regius professor of divinity. In 1665 he was appointed provost of Eton College, and proved himself to be a capable administrator. He introduced order into the disorganized finances of the college and procured the confirmation of Laud’s decree, which reserved five of the Eton fellowships for members of King’s College. His additions to the college buildings were less successful; for the “Upper School,” constructed by him at his own expense, was falling into ruin almost in his lifetime, and was replaced by the present structure in 1689. Allestree died on the 28th of January 1681, and was buried in the chapel at Eton College, where there is a Latin inscription to his memory. - From A Puritan's Mind | more | less