# Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Hicks, Edward Lee

​HICKS, EDWARD LEE (1843–1919), bishop of Lincoln, was born at Oxford 18 December 1843, the elder son of Edward Hicks, who was in business in Oxford, by his wife, Catherine Pugh, also of Oxford. He was educated at Magdalen College School, and at Brasenose College, Oxford, which he entered as a scholar in January 1862. He gained a first class in classical moderations in 1863, and in literae humaniores in 1866. In the latter year he passed on to Corpus Christi College, the first lay fellow of that college to be elected by examination. He won ​the Craven scholarship in 1867, and the Chancellor's Latin essay prize in the next year. Hicks was notably successful as a tutor for classical moderations at Corpus from 1866 to 1873. Quiet and reserved in youth, he grew in confidence, charm, and versatility with years. He was one of the first of English scholars to see the importance of epigraphy to ancient history. An accident, which compelled him to use crutches for some years and made exercise difficult, was turned to the best account: he worked hard at the study of Greek inscriptions, and found his recreation in vocal and instrumental music. ‘Perhaps with the exception of Bywater’, wrote Sir Samuel Dill, at that time one of his colleagues at Corpus, ‘no young Oxford man of that time had anything like his erudition in Greek.’
Hicks was ordained deacon in 1870 and priest in 1871, and in 1873 he took the Corpus living of Fenny Compton in Warwickshire. In a quiet agricultural village he could still pursue epigraphy: he edited The Collection of Ancient Greek Inscriptions in the British Museum (1874–1890), and produced his Manual of Greek Historical Inscriptions (1882) which became a standard text-book. But he now came into close contact with the life-problems of humble folk, and his interest in these grew rapidly. He was a devoted country clergyman, somewhat of the Charles Kingsley type. In 1876 he married Agnes Mary, daughter of the Rev. Edwin Trevelyan Smith, sometime vicar of Cannock, Staffordshire. They had four sons and two daughters.
Agricultural depression and the fall in the value of tithe made it necessary for Hicks to leave Fenny Compton for the sake of his growing family, and in 1886 he was elected principal of Hulme Hall, Manchester, a Church of England hostel in connexion with Owens College. Here he continued his archaeological studies and gave lectures at Owens College. But he also found time for much religious and social work; and to this he gave himself wholly from 1892, when he accepted a canonry of Manchester cathedral, together with the living of St. Philip's, Salford. In religion Hicks combined evangelical fervour with the love of a beautiful, well-ordered service and with a sympathetic attitude to modern criticism. For eighteen years he wielded a great influence as a pastor in the slums of Salford, a preacher at Manchester Cathedral, and a temperance orator throughout the north of England. He threw himself into the political agitation carried on by Sir Wilfrid Lawson [q.v.] and the United Kingdom Alliance.
This militant teetotalism and his sympathies with pacificism and female suffrage delayed Hicks's ecclesiastical promotion; but in 1910 Mr. Asquith offered him the bishopric of Lincoln. It was not easy for one who was suspect as a radical reformer to succeed the beloved Edward King [q.v.], and Hicks was already sixty-six. His humour, courtesy, tolerance, and lightly-worn learning gradually conquered hostile prejudices, and the devotion with which he visited all parts of his diocese encouraged and stimulated his clergy. His ideals are set forth in his visitation charge, Building in Troublous Times (1912). He sorrowfully approved of the participation of his country in the European War; but it shattered many of his hopes and bereaved him of his eldest son. His health failed early in 1919, and he resigned his see, but died at Worthing, 14 August, before his resignation had taken effect.
[J. H. Fowler, Life and Letters of Edward Lee Hicks, 1922; personal knowledge.]
J. H. F.