John Bramhall, DD (1594 – 25 June 1663) was an Archbishop of Armagh, and an Anglican theologian and apologist. He was a noted controversialist who doggedly defended the English Church from both Puritan and Roman Catholic accusations, as well as the materialism of Thomas Hobbes.
Early life
Bramhall was born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, the son of Peter Bramhall (died 1635) of Carleton. He matriculated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1609, and graduated B.A. 1612, M.A. 1616, B.D. 1623, D.D. 1630. He was ordained around 1616 and was presented with a Yorkshire living, South Kilvington, by Christopher Wandesford. In 1623, he participated in a public discussion at Northallerton with Hungate, a Jesuit, and Houghton, a Catholic priest. Tobias Matthew, archbishop of York, made him his chaplain; he was also sub-dean of Ripon.
Family
His marriage to a clergyman's widow, Ellinor Halley, gave him a fortune and a library. Their children included:
- Sir Thomas Bramhall, bart., who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Paul Davys, and died without issue.
- Isabella married Sir James Graham, son of William Graham, 7th Earl of Menteith; her daughter, Ellinor, or Helen, married Sir Arthur Rawdon, of Moira, lineal ancestor of the Marquis of Hastings.
- Jane married Alderman Toxteith of Drogheda.
- Anne married as his second wife Sir Standish Hartstonge, 1st Baronet, one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland)