John Ratcliffe (clergyman)

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John Ratcliffe (also spelled Radcliffe) (1700–1775) was an English clergyman who became Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, in 1738 and served there until his death. He was the son of a clergyman, Robert Ratcliffe, and was educated at Abingdon School (John Roysse's Free School). He earned a BA in 1722 and an MA in 1725 at Pembroke, followed by a BD in 1737 and a Doctor of Divinity in 1739. He became Master of Pembroke on 23 February 1738.

Pembroke’s leadership has a close link with Abingdon School: seven Old Abingdonians were masters at Pembroke between 1710 and 1843. Besides Ratcliffe, the others were Colwell Brickenden (1709–1714), Matthew Panting (1714–1738), William Adams (1775–1789), William Sergrove (1789–1796), John Smyth (1796–1809), and George William Hall (1809–1843). Ratcliffe was also rector of Coln Rogers (1739–1775) and canon of Gloucester (1739–1775). He served as Steward of the OA Club in 1747.