James John Hornby
Encyclopedia
John James Hornby C.V.O.
(18 December 1826 – 2 November 1909) was an English rower
, and headmaster of Eton College
from 1868 to 1884.
, the third son of Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby
and his wife Sophia Maria Burgoyne, eldest daughter of Sir John Burgoyne
. He was educated at Eton, where he did not row, but played in the Eton cricket eleven in 1845.
and rowed bow
for Oxford
in the second Boat Race of 1849, which Oxford won on a foul by bumping Cambridge when Cambridge were in Oxford’s water. He was No. 3 in the O.U.B.C. crews that won the Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
in 1850 and 1851 when there was no Boat Race on the Tideway
in either year. In 1850, he became a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford
. In that year, he won the University Pairs and Fours, and the Silver Goblets at Henley with J.W. Chitty. In 1851 he rowed again for Brasenose in the Ladies' Challenge Plate
, Stewards' Challenge Cup
, and Visitors Challenge Cup. He went Head of the River at Oxford in 1852. He had also become known as a fine skater and one of the best Alpine climbers of the day.
as Principal of Bishop Cosin’s Hall
until 1864 when he returned to Brasenose as classical lecturer. Students long after recalled with pleasure the animation of his Virgil
lectures and his excellent way of teaching Latin
prose. He was also made Senior Proctor. In 1865 Hornby was the first to ascend the northwest ridge of the Silberhorn
. In 1867, he was appointed Second Master of Winchester College
which was seen as a stepping stone to the headmastership of Eton, which had become vacant. He remained at Winchester little more than a year, and was then appointed Headmaster of Eton, in succession to Dr. Balston. His appointment was made possible by the conclusions of the Northcote Commission which had removed restrictions among educational endowments, among which was the tradition that the Eton headmaster should come from King’s College, Cambridge.
, at Eton in the early 1880s, recalled: “In spite of the swishings I got, I liked the headmaster, Hornby, the perfectly mannered and sonorously-voiced old English gentleman. Handsome, alert, witty, a great athlete in his day, a good judge of wine, and the finest after-dinner speaker I ever listened to, with a charm of manner I have never forgotten.” Hornby retired in 1884 to take the post of provost of Eton and was succeeded by another Etonian and Balliol oarsman, Edmond Warre
. Hornby had also become a Doctor of Civil Law and a Queen’s Chaplain. As chairman of the Governing Body, he presided over the meetings at the time of Dr. Warre's resignation, when the Rev. the Hon. Edward Lyttelton
was elected Warre's successor. He remained provost until his death in 1909, to be succeeded again by Warre.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(18 December 1826 – 2 November 1909) was an English rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, and headmaster of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
from 1868 to 1884.
Early life
Hornby was born at WinwickWinwick
Winwick may refer to:*Winwick, Cambridgeshire, England*Winwick, Cheshire, England*Winwick, Northamptonshire, England...
, the third son of Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby
Phipps Hornby
Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, GCB was a prominent and experienced British Royal Navy officer of the nineteenth century. Hornby served on frigates throughout most of his wartime experience, which included witnessing the Nore Mutiny first hand aged 12 in 1797...
and his wife Sophia Maria Burgoyne, eldest daughter of Sir John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
. He was educated at Eton, where he did not row, but played in the Eton cricket eleven in 1845.
Rowing
Hornby went to Balliol College, OxfordBalliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
and rowed bow
Bow (rowing)
Bow is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing. It is used to refer to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.-Bow:...
for Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
in the second Boat Race of 1849, which Oxford won on a foul by bumping Cambridge when Cambridge were in Oxford’s water. He was No. 3 in the O.U.B.C. crews that won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in 1850 and 1851 when there was no Boat Race on the Tideway
Tideway
The Tideway is a name given to the part of the River Thames in England that is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock and is just under long...
in either year. In 1850, he became a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. In that year, he won the University Pairs and Fours, and the Silver Goblets at Henley with J.W. Chitty. In 1851 he rowed again for Brasenose in the Ladies' Challenge Plate
Ladies' Challenge Plate
The Ladies' Challenge Plate is one of the events at Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. Crews of men's eight-oared boats below the standard of the Grand Challenge Cup can enter, although international standard heavyweight crews are not permitted to row in the...
, Stewards' Challenge Cup
Stewards' Challenge Cup
The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry....
, and Visitors Challenge Cup. He went Head of the River at Oxford in 1852. He had also become known as a fine skater and one of the best Alpine climbers of the day.
Academic career
In 1853, Hornby went to Durham UniversityDurham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
as Principal of Bishop Cosin’s Hall
University College, Durham
University College, commonly known as Castle, is a college of the University of Durham in England. Centred around Durham Castle on Palace Green, it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham's colleges. As with all of Durham's colleges, it is, independently of the University, a listed body...
until 1864 when he returned to Brasenose as classical lecturer. Students long after recalled with pleasure the animation of his Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
lectures and his excellent way of teaching Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
prose. He was also made Senior Proctor. In 1865 Hornby was the first to ascend the northwest ridge of the Silberhorn
Silberhorn
The Silberhorn is a pyramid-shaped mountain in the Bernese Alps, to the northwest of the Jungfrau of which it is a satellite peak.A first attempt to reach the summit of the Silberhorn was made in June 1863 by M. v. Fellenberg from the Stufensteinalp on the east side of the valley of Lauterbrunnen...
. In 1867, he was appointed Second Master of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
which was seen as a stepping stone to the headmastership of Eton, which had become vacant. He remained at Winchester little more than a year, and was then appointed Headmaster of Eton, in succession to Dr. Balston. His appointment was made possible by the conclusions of the Northcote Commission which had removed restrictions among educational endowments, among which was the tradition that the Eton headmaster should come from King’s College, Cambridge.
Eton headmaster and provost
With the restrictions gone, Hornby was the first to exercise the increased independent authority of the headmaster, He “taught Eton the art of self-government" and in sixteen years' Headmastership was very successful. As he had not been an Eton master, he had to overome a certain amount of resentment by his good work, sympathetic temper and his pleasant manners. Guy NickallsGuy Nickalls
Guy Nickalls was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics as a member of the British eight that won gold, won 22 events at Henley Royal Regatta and won the Wingfield Sculls three times....
, at Eton in the early 1880s, recalled: “In spite of the swishings I got, I liked the headmaster, Hornby, the perfectly mannered and sonorously-voiced old English gentleman. Handsome, alert, witty, a great athlete in his day, a good judge of wine, and the finest after-dinner speaker I ever listened to, with a charm of manner I have never forgotten.” Hornby retired in 1884 to take the post of provost of Eton and was succeeded by another Etonian and Balliol oarsman, Edmond Warre
Edmond Warre
Edmond Warre C.V.O. was an English rower and headmaster of Eton College from 1884-1905.Warre was born in London, the son of Henry Warre, of Bindon House, near Wellington. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, where he had a distinguished career, taking a double first...
. Hornby had also become a Doctor of Civil Law and a Queen’s Chaplain. As chairman of the Governing Body, he presided over the meetings at the time of Dr. Warre's resignation, when the Rev. the Hon. Edward Lyttelton
Edward Lyttelton
Rev. Hon. Edward Lyttelton was an English sportsman, schoolmaster and clergyman. He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Middlesex as well as representing the England national football team.-Life:...
was elected Warre's successor. He remained provost until his death in 1909, to be succeeded again by Warre.