Birmingham Polytechnic Institution
Encyclopedia
Birmingham Polytechnic Institution was a polytechnic
formed in 1843 in Birmingham
, England
. It was supported by leading Liberals
in the city such as George Dawson
. The Polytechnic mainly taught languages, chemistry and mathematics and had a library of 4,000 volumes. Charles Dickens
was among the visiting academics who gave speeches at the Polytechnic, he gave a speech for the Polytechnic in the Birmingham Town Hall in May 1846. Other guest lecturers included Sir Robert Peel
, who gave a lecture on Switzerland.
In 1845 the dramatist Douglas Jerrold presided over a meeting of the Polytechnic where its second literary soiree was held. He was presented with an "elegant gold ring" by the jewellers of the city and he gave what is said to have been his first public speech.
Although the Polytechnic had over 500 members at one stage, including over 100 women, support fell away with the institution not commanding as much support from the middle and working classes as had been hoped for. The Polytechnic closed in 1853.
Polytechnic (United Kingdom)
A polytechnic was a type of tertiary education teaching institution in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. After the passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 they became universities which meant they could award their own degrees. The comparable institutions in Scotland were...
formed in 1843 in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was supported by leading Liberals
Liberalism in the United Kingdom
This article gives an overview of liberalism in the United Kingdom. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
in the city such as George Dawson
George Dawson (preacher)
George Dawson was an English nonconformist minister.-Ministry:He was born in London and educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and the University of Glasgow....
. The Polytechnic mainly taught languages, chemistry and mathematics and had a library of 4,000 volumes. Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
was among the visiting academics who gave speeches at the Polytechnic, he gave a speech for the Polytechnic in the Birmingham Town Hall in May 1846. Other guest lecturers included Sir Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 3rd Baronet
Sir Robert Peel, 3rd Baronet GCB, PC was a British Peelite and later Liberal politician. The eldest son of the prime minister Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, he was educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford and entered the Diplomatic Service in 1844...
, who gave a lecture on Switzerland.
In 1845 the dramatist Douglas Jerrold presided over a meeting of the Polytechnic where its second literary soiree was held. He was presented with an "elegant gold ring" by the jewellers of the city and he gave what is said to have been his first public speech.
Although the Polytechnic had over 500 members at one stage, including over 100 women, support fell away with the institution not commanding as much support from the middle and working classes as had been hoped for. The Polytechnic closed in 1853.