SMALRIDGE, GEORGE, son of Thomas Smalridge, Lichfield, Staffs., dyer; b. 18 May 1662; adm.; KS 1678; elected to Christ Church, Oxford 1682, matr. 18 Dec 1682, Westminster Student 18 Dec 1682 – void 1700, Tutor 1687-97, Junior Censor 1693, Senior Censor 1694-5; BA 1686; MA 1689; BD 1698; DD 1701; author, Auctio Davisiana, 1689; with Francis Atterbury (qv) and Anthony Alsop (qv) assisted Charles Boyle in the production of Dr. Bentley’s Dissertations on the Epistles of Phalaris, 1698; ordained; Prebendary of Lichfield 12 Jun 1693-1714; Minister of Broadway Chapel, Westminster 1698-1713; Deputy to Regius Prof. Divinity, Oxford 1700-7; Chaplain in Ordinary to Queen Anne 1710; Canon of Christ Church, Oxford 6 Sep 1711 – Jul 1713, Dean from 18 Jul 1713; Dean of Carlisle 3 Nov 1711 – Jul 1713; consecrated Bishop of Bristol 4 Apr 1714; Lord Almoner Mar 1714 – Nov 1715, when he was dismissed for refusing to sign declaration against the Pretender; the “famous Dr. Smalridge”, as Swift called him, was the most popular bishop of his day; Steele speaks of him in The Tatler as “abounding in the sort of virtue and knowledge which makes religion beautiful”, while Whiston declared him to be one of the most learned and excellent persons in the kingdom; Busby Trustee 14 Feb 1701/2; an edition of sixty of his sermons was published in 1726; he and Robert Freind (KS 1680, qv) married sisters; m. 18 Jul 1700 (IGI) Mary, dau. of Rev. Samuel De L’Angle DD, Prebendary of Westminster and Vicar of Steventon, Berks.; d. 27 Sep 1719. Buried Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. DNB.