John Hough (bishop)

He is best known for the confrontation over his election as President at Magdalen College, Oxford that took place at the end of the reign of James II of England.

[3] When Henry Clerke died in 1687, there was a wide field of candidates as President of Magdalen College, but King James was determined not to have an anti-Catholic chosen.

James recommended Anthony Farmer, a reputed Catholic, making the proposal one day after he announced universal religious toleration.

Hough was elected President in 1687, but was then officially replaced by Parker, after the prerogative Court of Ecclesiastical Commission was brought into the matter.

Parker then was put into place over protests, but died, early in 1688, and his successor was Bonaventure Giffard, Catholic vicar-apostolic, 26 Fellows of Magdalen having by then been deprived of their fellowships over the business.

Portrait by Godfrey Kneller , 1690