# List of headmasters at Colchester Royal Grammar School

This table lists the official (not de facto) appointment and end dates of the headmasters of Colchester Royal Grammar School, 1530 to present. Until the New Scheme of 1899, all headmasters had to be in holy orders; most were local clergy. (Res. signifies resigned.)
| Tenure | How ended | Headmaster | Notes |
| Between First and Second Royal Charters (1534–1584) ||||
| Mentioned 1540 | | Robert Cock | |
| Mentioned 1553 | | Robert Wrennald | |
| Mentioned 1558 | | Richard Whittall | |
| Unknown - 14 April 1574 | Res. | Thomas Lovell | |
| 14 April 1574 - Unknown | | William Barkely, Gent. | |
| 1572–1577 | | Thomas Smeton | |
| Post-Second Royal Charter (1584 - 1899) ||||
| 10 Jan 1583–1587 | | Edward Watson, M.A. | |
| March, 1587 - November, 1588 | Res. | Samuel Harsnett, M.A. | Gives name to school house |
| 12 November 1588 – 1598 | | Samuel Bentley, M.A. | |
| 1598 - 1598 | | Theophilus Field | Only recognised in single source. |
| 18 December 1598 – 22 April 1637 | Died | William Kemp(e), M.A. | |
| 20 May 1637 - 1637 | Removed | Jonas Proost (Proast) | Approved by the Bishop of London on date given; Never appointed. |
| 9 September 1637 – 17 January 1643 | Res. | William Dugard, M.A. | Gives name to school house. Previously Headmaster of Stamford School. |
| 30 June 1643 – 1647 | | Thomas Waterhouse, M.A. | |
| 7 February 1648 – 24 June 1659 | Res. | Nathaniel Seaman, M.A. | |
| 24 June 1659 – 11 November 1662 | Res. | John Ruting, M.A. | Born Jan Ruytinck. |
| 11 November 1662 – 25 March 1664 | Res. | Edward Burles, M.A. | |
| 7 June 1664 – 17 July 1671 | Res. | Lewis Griffin, M.A. | |
| 17 July 1671 – 21 November 1684 | Res. | James Cranston, M.A. | |
| 21 November 1684 – 23 September 1695 | Res | William Slinger, M.A. | |
| 23 September 1695 - c. 1702 | | Richard Reynolds, M.A. |
| 1702–1723 | Died | Thomas Allen, M.A., B.D. | |
| 18 April 1723 – 24 January 1726 | Died | William Turner, M.A. | Previously Headmaster of Stamford School. |
| 15 March 1726 – 1727 | Res. | David Comarque, M.A. | Family entirely French. |
| 20 December 1727 – 25 December 1776 | Died | Palmer Smythies, M.A. | |
| 15 April 1777 – 1 January 1779 | Res. | Samuel Parr, M.A. | Gives name to school house. |
| January, 1779 - April, 1806 | Res. | Charles Hewitt, M.A. | |
| 27 September 1806 - January, 1835 | Died | Edward Crosse, M.A. | |
| 23 March 1835 – 19 August 1839 | Died | John Saunders, M.A | |
| 3 January 1840 - April, 1851 | Res. | John Dunningham, M.A. | |
| 4 February 1852 – 20 October 1870 | Died | William Wright, M.A., L.L.D., D.C.L. | |
| 15 December 1870 – 12 April 1892 | Res. | Charles Lawford Acland, M.A. | |
| April, 1892 - May, 1899 | Res. | John Thomas, M.A. | Temporary Headmaster during the dispute over the introduction of a new scheme. Shaw Jeffrey did not recognise him as being a 'full' Headmaster. |
| 1899–1900 | Temp. | G. J. Yates, M.A. | Temporary Headmaster during the dispute over the introduction of a new scheme. Shaw Jeffrey did not recognise him as being a 'full' Headmaster and he continued under Shaw Jeffrey as 'Senior Master' until 1906. |
| Post-New Scheme (1899–present) ||||
| 1 September 1900 - July, 1916 | Res. | Percy Shaw Jeffrey, M.A. | First lay headmaster. Gives name to school house. |
| 1 September 1916 - July, 1937 | Res. | Harry James Cape, M.A., B.A., B.Sc. | |
| 1 September 1937 - July, 1947 | | Arthur William Fletcher, M.A. | |
| 1948–1968 | | Jack Elam, M.A. | |
| 1968–1984 | Res. | Stanley Gardner, M.A., B.Litt., D.Phil. | |
| 1985–2000 | Res. | Stewart Francis, M.A. | |
| 2000–2015 | Res. | Ken L. Jenkinson, M.A. | |
| 2015–present | N/A | John Russell | |

## Sources

* Martin, G. H. (March 1947). "The History of Colchester Royal Grammar School". The Colcestrian.