Richard Boys

Reverend Richard Boys MA (1785–1867) was a Church of England clergyman and author, most notable for his tenure as Chaplain on St. Helena at the time of Napoleon Bonaparte's exile there. A controversial figure during his time there, he also played a part in the mystery surrounding Napoleon's Death Mask.

Early life

Richard Boys was born in 1785, the fourth son of John Boys and Mary (née Harvey). He was educated at The King's School, Canterbury, afterward joining the Royal Engineers but later renewed his studies, going on to get an MA at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He was appointed chaplain to the East India Company and made junior chaplain at St. Helena in 1811.

St Helena

Chaplaincy

The forthright and uncompromising Boys quickly gained notoriety on the island. He had a fractious relationship with the Senior Chaplain, the Rev. Samuel Jones, to the point that in January 1815 the St Helena council minutes record an unspecified disagreement which had arisen between the two that was “productive of disgraceful effects” such as the council felt moved to order them to “abstain from further personal controversy, or circulation of written or printed letters referring to it on pain of suspension."

Richard Boys (cricketer)

Richard Boys (17 June 1849 – 4 January 1896) was an English cricketer active in 1877 who played for Lancashire. He was born in Aberdour, Fife and died in Burnley. He appeared in one first-class match as a righthanded batsman, scoring 13 runs with a highest score of 10, and held two catches.

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