Evan Evans (academic)
Encyclopedia
Evan Evans [academic] was Master of Pembroke College, Oxford
from 1864 to 1891, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1878 to 1882.
Evans was born in Cardiff in 1813, the second son of David Evans, a gentleman. He attended Cowbridge School
, and at the age of 18 went up to Jesus College, Oxford
, matriculating on 22 June 1831. He was awarded a scholarship by Pembroke College and migrated there. He obtained a Second Class in Literae Humaniores
in 1835, and his M.A. in 1838.
Evans was Philipps Fellow of Pembroke College from 1843 to 1864, serving as Tutor and senior Dean of the college. In 1851 he was appointed Vicegerent, and then on 3 March 1864 he was elected Master of the College and Canon of Gloucester, a combined position he held until his death in 1891, spending time in the vacation at his canonical residence in Gloucester. (This canonry was annexed to the Master's office, which "free standing" could not have afforded him a decent remuneration in this poor college: still a common practice in the late nineteenth century.) The choice of Master hovered between Evans and another tutor called Bartholomew Price, and a joker wrote, "We won't have Evans at any price / And as for Price, — O ’Eavens!" (In the end they had both, as Price succeeded Evans as Master 27 years later.)
Evans was a very popular Master of Pembroke, and the undergraduates affectionately called him "the Old Man". He took a keen interest in athletics, and supported his college at football and cricket matches. His obituarist in the Oxford Magazine wrote that he was a "kindly presence and a genial influence" who "never was known to say an unkind word of anyone".
Evans was also appointed to the new Oxford Local Board (for street improvements) on 16 November 1864.
Heads of Oxford colleges (unlike mere Fellows) were allowed to marry, and Evans very quickly took the opportunity. In the first quarter of 1865, when he was nearly 52, Evans married Mary Sophia Luxmoore, who was 29 years his junior. Her father was a cleric: he was Vicar of Barnstaple at the time of her birth, and Rector of Everdon in the Daventry at the time of their marriage there. Their three children were all born in Oxford and baptised as follows at St Aldate's Church
near Pembroke College: William Noble Evans (27 July 1867); Mary Beatrice Noble Evans (20 May 1869); and Lewis Herbert Noble Evans (26 October 1870).
On 9 December 1871 it was announced that Evans was appointed an Oxfordshire Magistrate.
Evans was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford on 5 November 1874, and on 18 October 1878 he became a Doctor of Divinity by decree. He served a four-year stint as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1878 to 1882, and during this period he granted the Randolph Hotel its first licence to serve alcohol, and received the key of the door when work on the new Examination Schools
was completed on 13 May 1882. He and his family were at home in the Master's Lodgings at Pembroke at the time of the 1881 census, looked after by six live-in servants, but his eldest son had already left home: aged only 13, William Noble Evans was a naval cadet on board HMS Dapper at Townstall near Dartmouth, Devon.
While Vice-Chancellor Evans headed a memorandum signed by 75 old boys of Cowbridge School urging that the endowment of the Headmaster should be increased in due proportion to the increased value of the lands bequeathed by Sir Leoline Jenkins to Jesus College, Oxford, which owned the school, nearly 200 years before. Hence Evans, after nearly half a century in Oxford, was still taking an interest in his South Wales roots and old school. When he was attending to his prebendal duties at Gloucester during the Long Vacation, he could have kept in touch with both the Cardiff area and with Oxford, as Gloucester is equidistant between the other two cities.
The portrait of Evan Evans that hangs in Pembroke College by Walter William Ouless
was subscribed for in 1883.
The 1891 census shows Evans at the Master's Lodgings in Pembroke College nine months before his death. He was now 77 and ill, with a nurse in residence, and Douglas Macleane wrote that towards the end "his failing powers curtailed his activity as Head of the college". His son Lewis spent census night with him, but his wife and daughter were away in a hotel in Barnstaple. Evans died at the Master's Lodgings at the age of 77 on 23 November that year, and was buried in a vault at Holywell Cemetery
(Plot H.84) on 29 November 1891.
Two windows in Pembroke College Chapel were added as a memorial to the late Master. At the foot of the windows is the following text: Mementote in Dño Evan Evans, S.T.P. [Sanctae Theologiae Professor] qui per xxvii annos huic Collegio benignissime praefuit et obdormivit in Xto ix Kal. Dec. A.S. [Anno. Salutis] mdcccxci. In cujus memoriam amici et sodales gratis animis haec vitreã ponendã curavere" ("Remember Evan Evans, Master, Doctor of Theology, who for 27 years headed this college in the kindliest way and died in Christ on 23 November [literally on the ninth day before the Kalends of December] in the year of our salvation 1891. In whose memory his friends and colleagues with grateful hearts had these windows put in place").
Evans's widow was living in Bushey, Hertfordshire at the time of the 1901 census and his daughter Mary Beatrice Evans, who was an artist, lived with her. His son Lewis Herbert Evans was the Vicar of St John's Church, Eton by 1911.
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
from 1864 to 1891, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1878 to 1882.
Evans was born in Cardiff in 1813, the second son of David Evans, a gentleman. He attended Cowbridge School
Cowbridge Grammar School
Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by a comprehensive school.Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling and refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins, it had close links with Jesus College, Oxford. The school took both...
, and at the age of 18 went up to Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, matriculating on 22 June 1831. He was awarded a scholarship by Pembroke College and migrated there. He obtained a Second Class in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1835, and his M.A. in 1838.
Evans was Philipps Fellow of Pembroke College from 1843 to 1864, serving as Tutor and senior Dean of the college. In 1851 he was appointed Vicegerent, and then on 3 March 1864 he was elected Master of the College and Canon of Gloucester, a combined position he held until his death in 1891, spending time in the vacation at his canonical residence in Gloucester. (This canonry was annexed to the Master's office, which "free standing" could not have afforded him a decent remuneration in this poor college: still a common practice in the late nineteenth century.) The choice of Master hovered between Evans and another tutor called Bartholomew Price, and a joker wrote, "We won't have Evans at any price / And as for Price, — O ’Eavens!" (In the end they had both, as Price succeeded Evans as Master 27 years later.)
Evans was a very popular Master of Pembroke, and the undergraduates affectionately called him "the Old Man". He took a keen interest in athletics, and supported his college at football and cricket matches. His obituarist in the Oxford Magazine wrote that he was a "kindly presence and a genial influence" who "never was known to say an unkind word of anyone".
Evans was also appointed to the new Oxford Local Board (for street improvements) on 16 November 1864.
Heads of Oxford colleges (unlike mere Fellows) were allowed to marry, and Evans very quickly took the opportunity. In the first quarter of 1865, when he was nearly 52, Evans married Mary Sophia Luxmoore, who was 29 years his junior. Her father was a cleric: he was Vicar of Barnstaple at the time of her birth, and Rector of Everdon in the Daventry at the time of their marriage there. Their three children were all born in Oxford and baptised as follows at St Aldate's Church
St Aldate's Church
St Aldate's is a Church of England parish church in the centre of Oxford, in the Deanery and Diocese of Oxford. The church is on the street named St Aldate's, opposite Christ Church and next door to Pembroke College. The church has a large congregation and has a staff team of about 35 which...
near Pembroke College: William Noble Evans (27 July 1867); Mary Beatrice Noble Evans (20 May 1869); and Lewis Herbert Noble Evans (26 October 1870).
On 9 December 1871 it was announced that Evans was appointed an Oxfordshire Magistrate.
Evans was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford on 5 November 1874, and on 18 October 1878 he became a Doctor of Divinity by decree. He served a four-year stint as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1878 to 1882, and during this period he granted the Randolph Hotel its first licence to serve alcohol, and received the key of the door when work on the new Examination Schools
Examination Schools
The Examination Schools of the University of Oxford are located at 75–81 High Street, Oxford, England.The building was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson , who also designed the cricket pavilion in the University Parks...
was completed on 13 May 1882. He and his family were at home in the Master's Lodgings at Pembroke at the time of the 1881 census, looked after by six live-in servants, but his eldest son had already left home: aged only 13, William Noble Evans was a naval cadet on board HMS Dapper at Townstall near Dartmouth, Devon.
While Vice-Chancellor Evans headed a memorandum signed by 75 old boys of Cowbridge School urging that the endowment of the Headmaster should be increased in due proportion to the increased value of the lands bequeathed by Sir Leoline Jenkins to Jesus College, Oxford, which owned the school, nearly 200 years before. Hence Evans, after nearly half a century in Oxford, was still taking an interest in his South Wales roots and old school. When he was attending to his prebendal duties at Gloucester during the Long Vacation, he could have kept in touch with both the Cardiff area and with Oxford, as Gloucester is equidistant between the other two cities.
The portrait of Evan Evans that hangs in Pembroke College by Walter William Ouless
Walter William Ouless
Walter William Ouless, RA was a British portrait painter from Jersey. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1877 and a full member in 1881....
was subscribed for in 1883.
The 1891 census shows Evans at the Master's Lodgings in Pembroke College nine months before his death. He was now 77 and ill, with a nurse in residence, and Douglas Macleane wrote that towards the end "his failing powers curtailed his activity as Head of the college". His son Lewis spent census night with him, but his wife and daughter were away in a hotel in Barnstaple. Evans died at the Master's Lodgings at the age of 77 on 23 November that year, and was buried in a vault at Holywell Cemetery
Holywell Cemetery
Holywell Cemetery is next to St Cross Church in Oxford, England. The cemetery is behind the church in St Cross Road, north of Longwall Street.-History:...
(Plot H.84) on 29 November 1891.
Two windows in Pembroke College Chapel were added as a memorial to the late Master. At the foot of the windows is the following text: Mementote in Dño Evan Evans, S.T.P. [Sanctae Theologiae Professor] qui per xxvii annos huic Collegio benignissime praefuit et obdormivit in Xto ix Kal. Dec. A.S. [Anno. Salutis] mdcccxci. In cujus memoriam amici et sodales gratis animis haec vitreã ponendã curavere" ("Remember Evan Evans, Master, Doctor of Theology, who for 27 years headed this college in the kindliest way and died in Christ on 23 November [literally on the ninth day before the Kalends of December] in the year of our salvation 1891. In whose memory his friends and colleagues with grateful hearts had these windows put in place").
Evans's widow was living in Bushey, Hertfordshire at the time of the 1901 census and his daughter Mary Beatrice Evans, who was an artist, lived with her. His son Lewis Herbert Evans was the Vicar of St John's Church, Eton by 1911.