Hugh Kendal 1763 - 1781

Described by Buscot as " ...frail in body , and gentle in mien." A portrait of him hung in the 'Ref' at Cotton. He was known as a hard flogger. Hugh was trained at Douai and was previously Bursar at Standon Lordship.

Thomas Southworth 1781 - 1793

A cousin of Hugh Kendal. His ancestor , Saint John Southworth , was an English Martyr. One day the pupils noticed that he swapped places in the refectory with his Chaplain , John Kirk. Thomas had asked the Bishop to relieve him of the burden of responsibility and Kirk took up the Presidency.

John Kirk 1793-1797

Described as 'a great Divine.' Kirk studied in Rome and his rule was described by a boy as 'benign and paternal.' He was tall and strong. He left Sedgley to take up a position as secretary to the Midland District Vicar Apostolic Charles Berington. John was present when Berington suffered the apoplexy that claimed his life when riding home from Sedgley Park. Kirk's diaries are housed in the Archives of the Birmingham Archdiocese.

Thomas Southworth 1797-1816

Thomas was called upon by the Bishop to take over from Kirk. Now had more confidence and introduced better food. His kindness towards the boys was copied by all the Masters. Died in office in 1816 , well loved by all who knew him.

Joseph Birch 1816-1821

Born in Lichfield. Professor of Greek , Latin and French. Despite his name , was not a great user of the cane. Tall and well built but developed tubercolosis in 1820. Went to Clifton , Bristol to recover but never made it. Buried in Trenchard Street Crypt , Bristol.

Walter Blount 1821-1836

Appointed President after Bowdon turned it down. Blount had a missionary zeal about him but he was no scholar and no disciplinarian either. He decided to save money to the neglect of the school buildings. Bowdon picked up the bill later. It was impossible not to like him as he was affable and kind. Towards the end of his life became depressed and anxious. Laid down his Presidency and stayed as a guest of the Park for a little while before his mental health worsened , dying at his sister's house in Stourbridge.

Joseph Bowdon 1836-1844

Greatest of all Sedgley Presidents. Turned it down on two occasions due to his humility but once in post saved the school almost ruined by Blount's lack of investment. Loved by the boys and spent his own fortune developing the buildings and ensuring the continuation of Sedgley after his death. Cotton College honoured him by naming a House after him. ( See : Notabilities)

Henry Smith 1844-1848

Vice President under Bowdon , who had nothing but praise for him. Spent four years as President before he felt a call to religious life as a Cistercian Monk , in Leicestershire. Took the name Father Robert. Apart from attending the 1863 Centenary Celebrations , was rarely seen or heard of again, despite being a founder member of Old Parkers Association.

James Brown 1848-1851

Vice President under Henry Smith. Reorganised the system of Studies and introduced the annual Retreat. Almost managed to persuade Lord Dudley to sell the Park to the school authorities. At this point in 1851 he was appointed the first Bishop of Shrewsbury. Negotiations fell through when Flanagan took over.

Thomas Flanagan 1851-1853

Arrived from Oscott to replace James Brown. Was more interested in writing his 'History of the Catholic Church in England' and though well liked , little happened during his rule , apart from a Reading Room being built. Returned to Oscott as Prefect of Studies in 1853.

George Rolfe 1853-1861

His brother John was President of St. Edmund's College. Born 1809 in Sheffield. An Old Parker , he was Canon of Westminster Chapter before being 'lent' to Sedgley on the return of Flanagan to Oscott. He was no disciplinarian and the boys took advantage of his gentle nature. He loved conjuring tricks and would delight the boys with his sleight of hand.  Returned to Westminster once the 21 year lease ran out.

James Moore 1861-1873

Born 1812 in Wolverhampton. The last President of Sedgley Park. Fatherly but aloof from the boys. He was 'The President'. Had served as Vice under Flanagan and Rolfe. Pretty hopeless at preaching or writing a sermon. Seldom preached and when he did he read from work created by his brother , John. In his rule , oil lamps were replaced by gas. Moves were afoot to leave Sedgley Park and in 1867 he wrote stating that Cotton Hall would be a good place to transfer to. In 1872 typhoid broke out and the School closed its doors for a time. James was a close friend of Sedgley historian F.C. Husenbeth. Their health delined together. Husenbeth wrote that had no one to speak to apart from his two parrots , being as he was confined to bed. Old Husenbeth was found dead in bed one morning soon after. James Moore died a few months later in June 1873. He was buried at Cotton , following a Requiem Mass.