Randall Davidson

Randall Thomas Davidson, 1st Baron Davidson of Lambeth, GCVO ( born April 7, 1848 in Edinburgh, Scotland, † May 25 1930 in London) was an Anglican clergyman of Scottish descent. He was a prominent speaker in parliamentary debates on morality and national issues.

Davidson was educated at Harrow School and Oxford University, where he graduated in 1871. 1875 Davidson was ordained as dean. He first worked as a chaplain of Archibald Campbell Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury as this was, and married Tait's daughter Edith. After Tait's death, he remains in Lambeth Palace as chaplain of his successor, Edward White Benson.

As a confidant of Queen Victoria Davidson was appointed in his early years as Dean of Windsor in 1883 with the St. George's Chapel. He was in another Bishop of Rochester and of Winchester, before he was in 1903 as a successor of Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury.

He had an important role in the funeral ceremony for Queen Victoria in 1901, he took care of along with Dr. James Reid at the vigil at Osborne House, Isle of Wight.

Davidson was the first Archbishop of Canterbury, who resigned. All his predecessor died in office. After retiring in 1928, he was appointed 1st Baron Davidson of Lambeth, of Lambeth in the County of London, appointed to the peer.

Writings

• Life of Archbishop Tait, 2 volumes (1891 )
• The Lambeth Conferences of 1867, 1878, and 1888 ( 1896)
• The Christian Opportunity ( 1904)
• Captains and Comrades in the Faith (1911 )
• The Character and Call of the Church of England (1912 )
• The Testing of a Nation (1919)