William Delafield Arnold
Encyclopedia
William Delafield Arnold (7 April 1828 – 9 April 1859) 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
. Not long after his father's death in 1842, William, a student at Rugby School, was involved in the writing of the official rules of rugby that are still in effect today: "Rugby Rules were written on August 28, 1845 by three students, William Delafield Arnold, WW Shirley and Frederick Hutchins" (http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/laws.htm). Later, William served as an educational administrator in Punjab
, in British India, where one of his biggest achievements was to enact a law separating church and state in public schools. As a result, Hindus who attended these schools were no longer required to study the Koran. This policy would later go on to influence public schools in England as well. While working in India, William wrote several articles for "Fraser's Magazine," mainly on "the India question" (see bibliography). In 1853, William published a novel of Anglo-Indian
life, Oakfield; or, Fellowship in the East
, which explores the inherent "common ground" between spiritual traditions East and West, while also predicting the "mutiny" that would occur shortly after. The character in "Oakfield" is dying of disease contracted in India, while its author is afflicted with the same disease. William died aged thirty-one, at Gibraltar
, on his way home from India. Matthew Arnold's poem "A Southern Night" mourns his early death. William's orphaned children were adopted by his sister Jane Martha and her husband William Edward Forster
.
His eldest son Edward Penrose Arnold-Forster (1851 – 19 January 1927), was a manufacturer in Yorkshire and deputy lieutenant for the West Riding. Another son Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster
became a Cabinet minister in the Balfour
government.
Note: Arnold's novel, "Oakfield: Fellowship in the East," can be found in its entirety in Google Books:
He was the fourth son of Thomas Arnold
Thomas Arnold
Dr Thomas Arnold was a British educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement...
, the 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:...
. His older brothers included the poet and critic 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...
and the literary scholar Tom Arnold
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...
. Not long after his father's death in 1842, William, a student at Rugby School, was involved in the writing of the official rules of rugby that are still in effect today: "Rugby Rules were written on August 28, 1845 by three students, William Delafield Arnold, WW Shirley and Frederick Hutchins" (http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/laws.htm). Later, William served as an educational administrator in Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, in British India, where one of his biggest achievements was to enact a law separating church and state in public schools. As a result, Hindus who attended these schools were no longer required to study the Koran. This policy would later go on to influence public schools in England as well. While working in India, William wrote several articles for "Fraser's Magazine," mainly on "the India question" (see bibliography). In 1853, William published a novel of Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
life, Oakfield; or, Fellowship in the East
Oakfield; or, Fellowship in the East
Oakfield; or, Fellowship in the East is a novel by William Delafield Arnold, first published in 1853. The book is one of the earliest novelistic accounts of life in British India, and its plot strongly mirrors the biography of its author...
, which explores the inherent "common ground" between spiritual traditions East and West, while also predicting the "mutiny" that would occur shortly after. The character in "Oakfield" is dying of disease contracted in India, while its author is afflicted with the same disease. William died aged thirty-one, at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, on his way home from India. Matthew Arnold's poem "A Southern Night" mourns his early death. William's orphaned children were adopted by his sister Jane Martha and her husband William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster PC, FRS was an English industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal Party statesman.-Early life:...
.
His eldest son Edward Penrose Arnold-Forster (1851 – 19 January 1927), was a manufacturer in Yorkshire and deputy lieutenant for the West Riding. Another son 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:...
became a Cabinet minister in the Balfour
Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
government.
Note: Arnold's novel, "Oakfield: Fellowship in the East," can be found in its entirety in Google Books:
- Vol. 1: http://books.google.com/books?id=ZHsQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA84&dq=oakfield+volume+one&hl=en&ei=eAA6Tb7BLISq8AalltXuCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=oakfield%20volume%20one&f=false
- Vol. II: http://books.google.com/books?id=KbYBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=oakfield:+fellowship+in+the+East&hl=en&ei=KP85TYr2BYOC8ga76c3zCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false