Henry Sanderson Furniss, 1st Baron Sanderson
Encyclopedia
Henry Sanderson Furniss, 1st Baron Sanderson (1868–1939) was the third Principal of Ruskin College.
Furniss was born in London
on 1 October 1868, the elder son of Thomas Sanderson Furniss (1833–1912) and Thomas' wife and second cousin Mary Sanderson (d. 1899). Like his eldest sister, May, Furniss was discovered to be blind
from a very young age, possibly as a result of ophthalmia neonatorum
at the time of his birth. Two younger siblings had normal eyesight. Furniss's eyesight allowed him to distinguish large objects but he was never able to read. Fortunately, private tutoring (made possible by his family's wealth) allowed him to gain an education that led ultimately to a distinguished academic career in economics
.
Furniss graduated from Hertford College, University of Oxford
with a Master of Arts degree. From 1907 to 1916 he was a lecturer at Ruskin College; from 1916 to 1925 he served as the Principal of the College.
While working in Oxford, Furniss was an active participant in the Socialist Fabian Society
. In 1919 he ran unsuccessfully in the General Election as the candidate for the Labour Party
in Oxford.
Furniss was created 1st Baron Sanderson, of Hunmanby
, county York, on 18 June 1930 in recognition of his distinguished career in education. In the late 1930s he was a member of the Parliamentary Pacifist Group.
Furniss married Averil Dorothy Nicholl on 23 January 1902. He died in London, on 25 March 1939. There were no children from his marriage.
Furniss was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 1 October 1868, the elder son of Thomas Sanderson Furniss (1833–1912) and Thomas' wife and second cousin Mary Sanderson (d. 1899). Like his eldest sister, May, Furniss was discovered to be blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
from a very young age, possibly as a result of ophthalmia neonatorum
Ophthalmia neonatorum
Neonatal conjunctivitis, also known as ophthalmia neonatorum, is a form of bacterial conjunctivitis contracted by newborns during delivery. The baby's eyes are contaminated during passage through the birth canal from a mother infected with either Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis....
at the time of his birth. Two younger siblings had normal eyesight. Furniss's eyesight allowed him to distinguish large objects but he was never able to read. Fortunately, private tutoring (made possible by his family's wealth) allowed him to gain an education that led ultimately to a distinguished academic career in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
.
Furniss graduated from Hertford College, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
with a Master of Arts degree. From 1907 to 1916 he was a lecturer at Ruskin College; from 1916 to 1925 he served as the Principal of the College.
While working in Oxford, Furniss was an active participant in the Socialist Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
. In 1919 he ran unsuccessfully in the General Election as the candidate for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in Oxford.
Furniss was created 1st Baron Sanderson, of Hunmanby
Hunmanby
Hunmanby is a large village , which was classified as a town until the 1960s, and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England...
, county York, on 18 June 1930 in recognition of his distinguished career in education. In the late 1930s he was a member of the Parliamentary Pacifist Group.
Furniss married Averil Dorothy Nicholl on 23 January 1902. He died in London, on 25 March 1939. There were no children from his marriage.
External links
- A photograph of Lord Sanderson, taken in July 1930, is available as item NPG x84696 in the National Portrait Gallery (London). This image can be accessed at http://www.npg.org.uk