He was educated at Rugby under Dr. Arnold, where he became the lifelong friend of his school-fellow, Arthur Penrhyn Stanley,[3] and Balliol, where he was elected Fellow in 1838[4] and was President of the Oxford Union.
Meanwhile, Lake's linguistic abilities had led to his appointment by Lord Panmure as a member of the commission of 1856, to report on military education on the continent.
His theological position was that of a moderate high churchman, and in 1880 he joined Dean Church and others in endeavouring to induce Gladstone and Archbishop Tait to bring forward legislation modifying the Public Worship Regulation Act.
He exercised an important influence over Durham University of which he was warden, and education in the north of England generally owed much to his efforts.
[3] Lake published nothing separately but a few sermons and a pamphlet, "The Inspiration of Scripture and Eternal Punishment, with a preface on the Oxford Declaration and on F. D. Maurice's Letter to the Bishop of London," 1864.