Educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, London, he went up to Oxford soon after where he developed a long association with the Church and University first studying law; then holy orders; then vicar of St. Giles’ Church ; rector of Somerton; President of St John’s College; Vice-Chancellor of the University. In 1627 he was made Dean of Worcester and in 1632 was nominated to the bishopric of Hereford but never took up duties as in October the following year he was consecrated Bishop of London in succession to William Laud.

An old friend, Laud ensured Juxon came to prominence and persuaded Charles I to make him bishop of London in 1633 and, three years later, lord treasurer, the last English clergyman to hold both secular and clerical offices in the medieval tradition of clerical state service. As the first ecclesiastic to hold this key government post for 170 years, Juxon’s appointment intensified fears of a return to clerical rule, but although a conscientious administrator, he preferred persuasion to compulsion. Juxon’s unwavering commitment to Anglican values brought him close to the king, and he acted as Charles’s spiritual adviser until the very end, standing beside him on the scaffold.

During the Civil War, the bishop, against whom no charges were brought in parliament, lived undisturbed at Fulham Palace and generally lived quietly in the countryside until the restoration of Charles II in 1660, when he was appointed archbishop of Canterbury, but old age and infirmity made him little more than a figurehead. He had, however, the rare distinction, in an age of religious and political turbulence, of being widely loved and respected.

This portrait is a fine quality 19th century version of an earlier painting by an unknown artist, produced in the 17th century, of which various versions exist in institutions associated with the Juxon.