Thomas Arnold
Encyclopedia
Dr Thomas Arnold was a British
educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church
Anglican movement. He was headmaster of Rugby School
from 1828 to 1841, where he introduced a number of reforms.
, the son of William Arnold, an inland revenue officer, and his wife Martha Delafield. He was educated at Lord Weymouth's Grammar School, Warminster (now Warminster School
), Winchester and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
. There he excelled at Classics and was made a fellow of Oriel in 1815. He was headmaster of the school in Laleham
before moving to Rugby.
in 1828, after some years as a private tutor, turned the school's fortunes around, and his force of character and religious zeal enabled him to turn it into a model followed by the other public schools, exercising an unprecedented influence on the educational system of the country. Though he introduced history, mathematics and modern languages, he based his teaching on the classic languages. "I assume it as the foundation of all my view of the case, that boys at a public school never will learn to speak or pronounce French well, under any circumstances", so it would be enough if they could "learn it grammatically as a dead language". Physical science was not taught, since in Arnold's view "it must either take the chief place in the school curriculum, or it must be left out altogether". He developed the Praeposter (prefect) system in which order was kept in the school by the top, sixth, form who were given powers over every part of the school, carefully managed by himself. The novel, Tom Brown's Schooldays
portrays a generation of boys "who feared the Doctor with all our hearts, and very little besides in heaven or earth; who thought more of our sets in the School than of the Church of Christ, and put the traditions of Rugby and the public opinion of boys in our daily life above the laws of God".
party. In 1841, he was appointed Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford. His 1833 Principles of Church Reform is associated with the beginnings of the Broad Church
movement.
, Cornwall
. They had three daughters and four sons, including the poet Matthew Arnold
, the literary scholar Tom
, and the author William Delafield Arnold
. Their eldest daughter Jane Martha married William Edward Forster
, and when William Arnold died in 1859, leaving four orphans, the Forsters adopted them as their own, adding their name to the children's surname. One of these children was Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster
, a Liberal Unionist member of parliament
, who eventually became a member of Balfour
's cabinet.
Arnold bought the small estate of Fox How, near Ambleside
in the Lake District
in 1832, and spent many of his holidays there. He is buried at Rugby chapel.
Thomas the Younger's daughter Mary Augusta Arnold, became a famous novelist under her married name of Mrs Humphry Ward, whilst Tom's other daughter, Julia, married Leonard Huxley
, the son of Thomas Huxley
and their sons were Julian
and Aldous Huxley
. Julia Arnold also founded in 1902 Prior's Field School a still existing girl's school in Godalming, Surrey.
He died suddenly of a heart attack in the midst of his growing influence.
, is considered one of the best works of its class in the language and added to his growing reputation. A popular life of him by the novelist Emma Jane Guyton
also appeared. In 1896 his bust was unveiled in Westminster Abbey
alongside that of his son, Matthew
and the Times
asserted that "As much as any who could be named, Arnold helped to form the standard of manly worth by which Englishmen judge and submit to be judged". However, his reputation suffered as one of the Eminent Victorians
in Lytton Strachey
's book of that name published in 1918.
A more recent public school headmaster, Michael McCrum of Tonbridge School
and Eton College
in the 1960s through 1980s, and also a churchman and Oxbridge academic (Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
and Vice-Chancellor), wrote a biography and reappraisal of Arnold in 1991. McCrum was steeped in the significance of Rugby and of public schools; he too had briefly been a master at Rugby and was married to the daughter of another former headmaster.
More recently, a biography entitled Black Tom has been written by Terence Copley
. Both McCrum and Copley have sought to restore some of the lustre to the Arnold legacy which has been heavily under attack since Strachey's sardonic appraisal.
A. C. Benson
once observed of Arnold that, "A man who could burst into tears at his own dinner-table on hearing a comparison made between St. Paul
and St. John
to the detriment of the latter, and beg that the subject might never be mentioned again in his presence, could never have been an easy companion".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church
Broad church
Broad church is a term referring to latitudinarian churchmanship in the Church of England, in particular, and Anglicanism, in general. From this, the term is often used to refer to secular political organisations, meaning that they encompass a broad range of opinion.-Usage:After the terms high...
Anglican movement. He was headmaster of Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
from 1828 to 1841, where he introduced a number of reforms.
Early life and education
Arnold was born on the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, the son of William Arnold, an inland revenue officer, and his wife Martha Delafield. He was educated at Lord Weymouth's Grammar School, Warminster (now Warminster School
Warminster School
Warminster School, originally called Lord Weymouth's Grammar School, is a co-educational independent day and boarding school at Warminster, Wiltshire, for students aged three to eighteen...
), Winchester and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
. There he excelled at Classics and was made a fellow of Oriel in 1815. He was headmaster of the school in Laleham
Laleham
Laleham is a village in the borough of Spelthorne, in the county of Surrey in South East England and adjoins Staines. It is within the historic boundaries of Middlesex. To its south is Laleham Park by the River Thames, across green belt farmland to its north and south east are Ashford and...
before moving to Rugby.
Rugby School
Arnold's appointment to the headship of Rugby SchoolRugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
in 1828, after some years as a private tutor, turned the school's fortunes around, and his force of character and religious zeal enabled him to turn it into a model followed by the other public schools, exercising an unprecedented influence on the educational system of the country. Though he introduced history, mathematics and modern languages, he based his teaching on the classic languages. "I assume it as the foundation of all my view of the case, that boys at a public school never will learn to speak or pronounce French well, under any circumstances", so it would be enough if they could "learn it grammatically as a dead language". Physical science was not taught, since in Arnold's view "it must either take the chief place in the school curriculum, or it must be left out altogether". He developed the Praeposter (prefect) system in which order was kept in the school by the top, sixth, form who were given powers over every part of the school, carefully managed by himself. The novel, Tom Brown's Schooldays
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Tom Brown's Schooldays is a novel by Thomas Hughes. The story is set at Rugby School, a public school for boys, in the 1830s; Hughes attended Rugby School from 1834 to 1842...
portrays a generation of boys "who feared the Doctor with all our hearts, and very little besides in heaven or earth; who thought more of our sets in the School than of the Church of Christ, and put the traditions of Rugby and the public opinion of boys in our daily life above the laws of God".
Oxford University
He was involved in many controversies, educational and religious. As a churchman he was a decided Erastian, and strongly opposed to the High ChurchHigh church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
party. In 1841, he was appointed Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford. His 1833 Principles of Church Reform is associated with the beginnings of the Broad Church
Broad church
Broad church is a term referring to latitudinarian churchmanship in the Church of England, in particular, and Anglicanism, in general. From this, the term is often used to refer to secular political organisations, meaning that they encompass a broad range of opinion.-Usage:After the terms high...
movement.
Writings
His chief literary works are his unfinished History of Rome (three volumes 1838-42), and his Lectures on Modern History. Far more widely read were his five books of sermons, which were admired by a wide circle of pious readers including Queen Victoria.Family
He married Mary Penrose, daughter of the Rev. John Penrose of PenrynPenryn, Cornwall
Penryn is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Penryn River about one mile northwest of Falmouth...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. They had three daughters and four sons, including the poet Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
, the literary scholar Tom
Tom Arnold (academic)
Tom Arnold , also known as Thomas Arnold the Younger, was a British literary scholar.- Life :He was the second son of Thomas Arnold, headmaster of Rugby School, and younger brother of the poet Matthew Arnold...
, and the author William Delafield Arnold
William Delafield Arnold
William Delafield Arnold was a British author and colonial administrator.He was the fourth son of Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School. His older brothers included the poet and critic Matthew Arnold and the literary scholar Tom Arnold...
. Their eldest daughter Jane Martha married William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster PC, FRS was an English industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal Party statesman.-Early life:...
, and when William Arnold died in 1859, leaving four orphans, the Forsters adopted them as their own, adding their name to the children's surname. One of these children was Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster
Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster
Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster PC , known as H. O. Arnold-Forster, was a British politician and writer. He notably served as Secretary of State for War from 1903 to 1905.-Background and education:...
, a Liberal Unionist member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, who eventually became a member of Balfour
Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
's cabinet.
Arnold bought the small estate of Fox How, near Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
in 1832, and spent many of his holidays there. He is buried at Rugby chapel.
Thomas the Younger's daughter Mary Augusta Arnold, became a famous novelist under her married name of Mrs Humphry Ward, whilst Tom's other daughter, Julia, married Leonard Huxley
Leonard Huxley (writer)
Leonard Huxley was an English schoolteacher, writer and editor.- Family :His father was the zoologist Thomas Henry Huxley, 'Darwin's bulldog'. Leonard was educated at University College School, London, St. Andrews University, and Balliol College, Oxford. He first married Julia Arnold, daughter of...
, the son of Thomas Huxley
Thomas Huxley
Thomas Henry Huxley PC FRS was an English biologist, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution....
and their sons were Julian
Julian Huxley
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS was an English evolutionary biologist, humanist and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century evolutionary synthesis...
and Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
. Julia Arnold also founded in 1902 Prior's Field School a still existing girl's school in Godalming, Surrey.
He died suddenly of a heart attack in the midst of his growing influence.
Reputation
The biography, Life of Arnold, published two years after his early death by one of Arnold's former pupils Arthur Penrhyn StanleyArthur Penrhyn Stanley
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley was an English churchman, Dean of Westminster, known as Dean Stanley. His position was that of a Broad Churchman and he was the author of works on Church History.-Life and times:...
, is considered one of the best works of its class in the language and added to his growing reputation. A popular life of him by the novelist Emma Jane Guyton
Emma Jane Guyton
Emma Jane Guyton or Worboise , was an English novelist and editor.Guyton was born Emma Jane Worboys in Birmingham on 20 April 1825 to George Baddeley Worboys , a gunsmith, and his wife, Maria Lane . She was a lifelong Congregationalist. She attended boarding school and may have worked as a governess...
also appeared. In 1896 his bust was unveiled in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
alongside that of his son, Matthew
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
and the Times
Times
The Times is a UK daily newspaper, the original English language newspaper titled "Times". Times may also refer to:In newspapers:*The Times , went defunct in 2005*The Times *The Times of Northwest Indiana...
asserted that "As much as any who could be named, Arnold helped to form the standard of manly worth by which Englishmen judge and submit to be judged". However, his reputation suffered as one of the Eminent Victorians
Eminent Victorians
Eminent Victorians is a book by Lytton Strachey , first published in 1918 and consisting of biographies of four leading figures from the Victorian era. Its fame rests on the irreverence and wit Strachey brought to bear on three men and a woman who had till then been regarded as heroes and heroine...
in Lytton Strachey
Lytton Strachey
Giles Lytton Strachey was a British writer and critic. He is best known for establishing a new form of biography in which psychological insight and sympathy are combined with irreverence and wit...
's book of that name published in 1918.
A more recent public school headmaster, Michael McCrum of Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
and 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"....
in the 1960s through 1980s, and also a churchman and Oxbridge academic (Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
and Vice-Chancellor), wrote a biography and reappraisal of Arnold in 1991. McCrum was steeped in the significance of Rugby and of public schools; he too had briefly been a master at Rugby and was married to the daughter of another former headmaster.
More recently, a biography entitled Black Tom has been written by Terence Copley
Terence Copley
Terence Copley was a British academic and author. Terence Copley was Professor of Educational Studies at the University of Oxford, England and also Emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University of Exeter, England.He was Professor of Religious Education at the University of Exeter...
. Both McCrum and Copley have sought to restore some of the lustre to the Arnold legacy which has been heavily under attack since Strachey's sardonic appraisal.
A. C. Benson
A. C. Benson
Arthur Christopher Benson was an English essayist, poet, and author and the 28th Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge....
once observed of Arnold that, "A man who could burst into tears at his own dinner-table on hearing a comparison made between St. Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
and St. John
John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is the conventional name for the author of the Gospel of John...
to the detriment of the latter, and beg that the subject might never be mentioned again in his presence, could never have been an easy companion".
Works
- The Christian Duty of Granting the Claims of the Roman Catholics (pamphlet) Rugby, 1828.
- Sermons Preached in the Chapel of Rugby School, London: Fellowes, 1850 (original 1832).
- (translator), The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, (3 vols.) London: Fellowes, 1845.
- Principles of Church Reform, Oxford: Fellowes,1833.
- History of Rome, London: Fellowes, 1838.
- Sermons: Christian Life, its Hopes, Fears and Close, London: Fellowes, 1842.
- Sermons: Christian Life, its Course, London: Fellowes, 1844.
- The Interpretation of Scripture, London: Fellowes, 1845.
- Introductory Lectures on Modern History, London: Longmans, Green & Co, 1842.