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Appointed chaplain to Princess Mary, wife of Prince William of Orange, in 1679. He argued with William and in 1680 he returned to England to become one of King Charles II's chaplains. While in this post he refused to receive Nell Gwyn at Winchester in 1683. He was made Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1685. In 1688 he was one of seven bishops who signed a petition to King James II for him to reconsider his policy of religious tolerance to Catholics; and was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London. When William and Mary took the throne in 1689, he considered himself bound by his oath of allegiance to James, refused to take the oath to them and was deprived of his office.

National Portrait Gallery, London

London

Title

Thomas Ken

Date

c.1700

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 75.6 x W 62.9 cm

Accession number

1821

Acquisition method

Given by James D. C. Wickham, 1918. On long-term loan to Lyme Park, Cheshire

Work type

Painting

National Portrait Gallery, London

St Martin’s Place, London, Greater London WC2H 0HE England

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Artist or maker

F. Scheffer

active 1707–1711

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Thomas Ken (1637–1711), Bishop of Wells (1684–1690) The Bishop's Palace & Gardens
Thomas Ken (1637–1711), Bishop of Bath and Wells (1685–1690) New College, University of Oxford
Thomas Ken (1637 –1711), Bishop of Bath and Wells Winchester College
Thomas Ken National Portrait Gallery, London
Bishop Ken New College, University of Oxford