Palmer, Dr John, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge

Master of Magdalene College, 1595-1604

John Palmer was born in Kent. He matriculated at St John's College in 1567. BA in 1572 and became a Fellow in 1573. MA in 1575.
In 1580 he was incorporated at Oxford University. He was Proctor of his college from 1587 to 1588. He was awarded DD in 1595.

1595-1604 Master of Magdalene College
1597-1607 Dean of Peterborough from 1597 to 1607
1605-1607 Prebendary of Lichfield

Palmer was imprisoned for debt, and died in prison in June 1607

Palmer made a clandestine marriage to Katherine Knevit, daughter of William Knevit of Little Vastern Park, Wiltshire on 29 March 1593

Palmer resigned the Mastership in 1604. The true reason for his resignation isn't clear but his protracted absences from Magdalene were an issue. Chiefly famous as a debtor and a place-seeker but as a Master, he appears to have been attentive when he was in residence, and the register records his careful oversight of College business. After he left he was voted a a payment as a 'gratuitie', implying that his departure wasn't acrimonious.

Cunich, P., Hoyle, D., Duffy, E., Hyam, R., A History of Magdalene College Cambridge, 1428-1988

Wikipedia