Cheltenham
College

EDWARD McLAUGHLIN (1838-1912), my great-grandfather, like myself, was educated at Cheltenham College. This print shows College as it looked when it opened in 1843 on a site bought from Lord Northwick. It was the first public school to be founded in Queen Victoria's reign. In College's early days more caning was applied than learning, and boxing was more prized than scholarship. It is therefore likely that the future major-general was sent to Cheltenham in order to toughen him up for the army.

A committee consisting of Captain Frederick Robertson and four other Cheltenham residents had issued shares in the enterprise. They ruled that only persons "moving in the circle of gentlemen" should be eligible as shareholders, "no retail trader being under any circumstances to be considered."

Ownership of each of the 650 shares conferred the right to nominate a pupil for admission. Captain Robertson nominated Edward. Careful reading of the nomination form, reproduced below, reveals a great deal about English society of the time.

               

© 2006 G. Harry McLaughlin.
Reproduction or transmission, in whole or in part, for other than personal use is prohibited without advance permission from Dr. G. H. McLaughlin.