John Rosewell (headmaster)
Encyclopedia
John Rosewell was Headmaster of Eton College
, England
(1671–1682).
, Northumberland
. He matriculated at Magdalen Hall
, Oxford
, 2 April 1652, and subsequently moved to Corpus Christi College
, Oxford. He received his B.A. degree from Corpus Christi, 16 October 1655, was elected fellow in 1656, and received his M.A., 17 March 1658/9. John (Johannes) Rosewell was ordained as a Deacon
at Christ Church Cathedral
, Oxford on 31 March 1661. He received his B.D., 31 October 1667 and was incorporated at Cambridge
, 1668.
) to be elected to the position. He was a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and was held in high esteem for his learning. Rosewell seems to have greatly increased the reputation of the school, and is styled by one of his pupils, ludimagister celeberrimus (renowned schoolmaster). An old manuscript records in 1678 that 'then it was that the foundation of its (Eton’s) present grandeur was laid'.
and Oppidans
are given separately. In this list also, brothers were distinguished by the style of major, minor, and mininuis, and so forth, as at the present day.
at Windsor
, and in 1682 resigned the Headmastership. According to a rumour of the day his resignation was caused by his falling into a fit of melancholy madness, in consequence of having killed a boy by immoderate flogging, and fancying that the King's messengers were coming to arrest him. The story does not sound very probable, and the less so as he was elected a fellow of Eton
in 1683.
His successor as Headmaster was Charles Roderick, Etonian
and Kingsman
, who had been Usher.
, Oxford. He died on 30 October 1684.
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"....
, 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...
(1671–1682).
Education
John Rosewell received his early education at Berwick-upon-TweedBerwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. He matriculated at Magdalen Hall
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, 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...
, 2 April 1652, and subsequently moved to Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, Oxford. He received his B.A. degree from Corpus Christi, 16 October 1655, was elected fellow in 1656, and received his M.A., 17 March 1658/9. John (Johannes) Rosewell was ordained as a Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
at Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
, Oxford on 31 March 1661. He received his B.D., 31 October 1667 and was incorporated at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, 1668.
Early years
While at Corpus Christi, in the period 1653–54, Rosewell was prescribed for 'a very hot stomach' by the apothecary, Jeremiah Webbe. From 1666, he made regular contributions to the ‘New Building’, Corpus Christi College, reaching a total of £744 by February 1668.Reputation
Rosewell succeeded Thomas Montague as Headmaster of Eton in 1671 and was the last 'alien' (non EtonianEton 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"....
) to be elected to the position. He was a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and was held in high esteem for his learning. Rosewell seems to have greatly increased the reputation of the school, and is styled by one of his pupils, ludimagister celeberrimus (renowned schoolmaster). An old manuscript records in 1678 that 'then it was that the foundation of its (Eton’s) present grandeur was laid'.
First list of Eton School
During his period as Headmaster, in 1678, a list of the school was produced — the earliest complete list extant — giving the names of 207 boys, 78 of whom were in College. No other list is forthcoming for another forty years. It is written, not printed, on a half sheet of parchment. The seventh form had long been abolished, the sixth being the highest. In each form, except the sixth, the names of CollegersKing's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
and Oppidans
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
are given separately. In this list also, brothers were distinguished by the style of major, minor, and mininuis, and so forth, as at the present day.
Resignation
In 1678, Rosewell obtained a canonryCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, and in 1682 resigned the Headmastership. According to a rumour of the day his resignation was caused by his falling into a fit of melancholy madness, in consequence of having killed a boy by immoderate flogging, and fancying that the King's messengers were coming to arrest him. The story does not sound very probable, and the less so as he was elected a fellow of Eton
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"....
in 1683.
His successor as Headmaster was Charles Roderick, Etonian
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"....
and Kingsman
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
, who had been Usher.
Will
John Rosewell wrote his will on 24 June 1684 leaving his valuable library to Corpus Christi College, Oxford; £300 for ‘the benefit and use of Eton College School’; £200 to the Church of Windsor; £50 to his ‘kinsman’ William Rosewell (Eton Scholar and later Master of King’s College School, Cambridge); £40 to the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed; and £20 towards the erecting and building of a Chapel for St Mary Magdalen HallMagdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, Oxford. He died on 30 October 1684.