History Jesus College, Oxford

1 history

1.1 foundation
1.2 17th century
1.3 18th , 19th centuries
1.4 20th century

history
foundation


the college s founder, queen elizabeth i, shown in portrait in college hall

jesus college founded on 27 june 1571, when elizabeth issued royal charter. first protestant college founded @ university, , oxford college date elizabeth s reign. first new oxford college since 1555, in reign of queen mary, when trinity college , st john s college founded roman catholic colleges. foundation charter named principal (david lewis), 8 fellows, 8 scholars, , 8 commissioners draw statutes college. commissioners included hugh price, had petitioned queen found college @ oxford might bestow estate of maintenance of scholars of wales trained in letters. college intended education of clergy. particular intention satisfy need dedicated, learned clergy promote elizabethan religious settlement in parishes of england, ireland , wales. college has since broadened range of subjects offered, beginning inclusion of medicine , law, , offers full range of subjects taught @ university. letters patent issued elizabeth made clear education of priest in 16th century included more theology, however:

...to glory of god almighty , omnipotent, , spread , maintenance of christian religion in sincere form, eradication of errors , heresies, increase , perpetuation of true loyalty, extension of literature of every sort, knowledge of languages, education of youth in loyalty, morality, , methodical learning, relief of poverty , distress, , lastly benefit , well-being of church of christ in our realms, [...] have decreed college of learning in sciences, philosophy, humane pursuits, knowledge of hebrew, greek , latin languages, ultimate profession of sacred theology, last time come, created, founded, built, , established....

price continued closely involved college after foundation. on strength of promised legacy, worth £60 year on death (approximately £15,300 in present-day terms), requested , received authority appoint new college s principal, fellows , scholars. financed building work in college s front quadrangle, on death in 1574 transpired college received lump sum of around £600 (approximately £153,000 in present-day terms). problems bequest meant not received in full 25 years. college had no other donors @ time, many years college had buildings no revenue .

17th century

monument sir eubule thelwall, 1630, in jesus college chapel, oxford.

the main benefactor, other king, eubule thelwall, ruthin, north wales, became principal in 1621; succeeded in securing new charter , statutes college james i, having spent £5,000 of own money on hall , chapel, earned him title of second founder. thelwall died on 8 october 1630, aged 68 , buried in jesus college chapel monument erected memory brother sir bevis thelwall (page of king s bedchamber , clerk of great wardrobe).

other benefactions in 17th century include herbert westfaling, bishop of hereford, left enough property support 2 fellowships , scholarships (with significant proviso kindred shallbe preferred before anie others ). sir eubule thelwall (principal 1621–30) spent of own money on construction of chapel, hall , library college. library, constructed above over-weak colonnade, pulled down under principalship of francis mansell (1630–49), built 2 staircases of residential accommodation attract sons of welsh gentry families college.

the tombstone of leoline jenkins in college chapel

the english civil war destroyed corporate life of college. mansell removed position principal , michael roberts installed. after restoration, mansell briefly reinstated principal, before resigning in favour of leoline jenkins. jenkins (principal 1661–73) secured long-term viability of college. on death, in 1685, bequeathed large complex of estates, acquired largely lawyer friends over-mortgaged landowners of restoration period. these estates allowed college s sixteen fellowships , scholarships filled first time – officially, sixteen of each had been supported since 1622, college s income small keep occupied simultaneously. in 1713, bequest of welsh clergyman , former student edmund meyricke established number of scholarships students north wales, although these available welsh students.

18th , 19th centuries

an 1837 engraving of first quadrangle

the 18th century, in contrast disruption of 17th century, comparatively quiet time college. historian of college, j. n. l. baker, wrote college records time tell of little routine entries , departures of fellows , scholars . napoleonic wars saw reduction in numbers of students , entries in records purchase of muskets , other items college members serving in university corps. after war, numbers rose, average of twenty new students per year between 1821 , 1830. however, debts owed college had increased, perhaps due economic effects of war – 1832, college owed £986 10s 5d (approximately £84100 in present-day terms). during first half of 19th century, academic strength of college diminished: scholarships not awarded because of lack of suitable candidates, , numbers fell: there 7 new entrants in 1842. ernest hardy wrote in history of college in 1899 had been becoming increasingly evident years... exclusive connection wales ruining college place of education.

a royal commission appointed in 1852 investigate university. college wished retain links wales, , initial reforms limited despite wishes of commissioners: scholarships limited particular parts of wales opened whole of wales, , half of fellowships awarded remain open welshmen if , long principal , fellows shall deem expedient interests of education in connection principality of wales . scholarships @ college, except two, , exhibitions still restricted students wales. numbers of students @ college still fell, despite prizes being awarded success in university examinations. daniel harper, principal 1877 1895, noted continuing academic decline. speaking in 1879, noted fewer students college reaching high standards in examinations, , more welsh students choosing study @ other oxford colleges in preference jesus. further royal commission appointed. led further changes @ college: in 1882, fellowships reserved welshmen made open all, , half (instead of all) of 24 scholarships reserved welsh candidates. thereafter, numbers gradually rose , non-welsh element @ college increased, 1914 half of students welsh.

20th century

during first world war, college in ordinary sense ceased exist . 129 students in summer of 1914, numbers dropped 36 in spring of 1916. refugee students belgium , serbia lodged in empty rooms in college during 1916, , officers of royal flying corps resided august 1916 december 1918. after war, numbers rose , fellowships added in new subjects: history (1919 , 1933); theology (1927); physics (1934); second fellowship in chemistry (1924); , modern languages (lectureship 1921, fellowship 1944). improved teaching led greater success in university examinations , prizes.

harold wilson

in inter-war years (1918–39) jesus seen small college , of backwater; attracted relatively few pupils public schools traditionally seen prestigious. college did, however, attract many academically able entrants grammar schools (particularly in northern england , scotland). among these grammar-school boys harold wilson, later become prime minister of united kingdom. during second world war, many of fellows served in armed forces or carried out war work in oxford. college remained full of students, though, provided lodgings students other colleges buildings had been requisitioned, , housed officers on military courses.

the college had own science laboratories 1907 1947, overseen (for last 3 years) physical chemist david chapman, fellow of college 1907 1944. @ time of closure, last college-based science laboratories @ university. named sir leoline jenkins laboratories, after former principal of college. laboratories led scientific research , tuition (particularly in chemistry) becoming important part of college s academic life. brochure produced opening ceremony noted number of science students @ college had increased rapidly in recent years, , provision of college laboratories assist tuition of undergraduates, attracting jesus college graduates of university of wales wished continue research @ oxford. link between 1 of college science lecturers , imperial chemical industries (ici) led 17 students joining ici between 2 world wars, some, such john rose, reaching senior levels in company. laboratories became unnecessary when university began provide centralised facilities students; closed in 1947.

the quatercentenary of college, in 1971, saw opening of old members buildings in third quadrangle. further student accommodation has been built @ sports ground , @ site in north oxford. in 1974, jesus among first group of 5 men s colleges admit women members, others being brasenose, wadham, hertford , st catherine s; between one-third , one-half of undergraduates women. long-standing rivalry nearby exeter college reached peak in 1979, 7 police vehicles , 3 fire engines involved in dealing trouble in turl street. sir john habakkuk (principal 1967–84) , sir peter north (principal 1984–2005) both served terms vice-chancellor of university, 1973 1977 , 1993 1997 respectively.