REV RALPH HEATHCOTE

Ralph Heathcote was born at Barrow upon Soar in 1721, where his father was curate. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge; took holy orders, and in 1748 was made vicar of Barkby, near Leicester. He became assistant preacher of Lincoln's Inn in 1753 and succeeded his father (also Ralph) as vicar of Sileby in 1765. In the following year he became rector of Sawtry- all-Saints in Huntingdonshire and was made a prebend in the collegiate church in Southwell in 1768. Two decades later in 1788 he succeeded as vicar-general of Southwell peculiar.

However, it was as a prolific writer of books, sermons, tracts and biographies that he was to become famous. His works cover everything from religious subjects, astronomy and even to a Justice of the Peace manual. His marriage to Margaret Mompesson in 1750 gave him financial independence and with that he immersed himself in to London literary society. He was friends with the writer and publisher John Nichols for whom he wrote a number of pieces in his 'Biographical Dictionary' series.

Although Heathcote owned property in Sileby, he lived in London, only coming back to the midlands in 1785 where he divided his time between Sileby and Southwell. Due to his many other interests, he often left Sileby parish work to his curates. He died on the 28th May 1795.

Further Reading:
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Heathcote,_Ralph

The history and antiquities of the county of Leicester : Vol. 3, Part 1- https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p15407coll6/id/6757/rec/2