Memorial to Alexander Francis Kirkpatrick in Ely Cathedral

Alexander Francis Kirkpatrick (25 June 1849 – 22 January 1940) was Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge (1882–1903) and the third Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge (1898–1907).

Life

Kirkpatrick was born at Lewes, East Sussex, only son (with three daughters) of Rev. Francis Kirkpatrick, and was educated at Haileybury and Trinity College, Cambridge.

He also served as Canon of Ely (1882–1903), Dean of Ely (1906 -1936), Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Winchester (1895–1903) and General Editor for Old Testament and Apocrypha of the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (1892–1929), to which he contributed the commentaries on 1 and 2 Samuel and the Psalms. In his introduction to the book of Psalms, he observed that "they repeat the whispers of the Spirit of God, they reflect the very light of the Eternal Wisdom".

In 1884, Kirkpatrick married Julia Mary (1858–1943), daughter of Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, rector of Exbury, Hampshire. They had five sons and a daughter.

Church of England titles
PrecededbyCharles StubbsDean of Ely 1906–1936SucceededbyLionel Blackburne
Academic offices
PrecededbyThomas JarrettRegius Professor of Hebrew, Cambridge University 1882–1903SucceededbyR. H. Kennett
PrecededbyJohn SelwynMaster of Selwyn College, Cambridge 1898–1907SucceededbyRichard Appleton
PrecededbyArthur James MasonLady Margaret's Professor of Divinity 1903–1907SucceededbyWilliam Inge