Hensleigh wedgwood biography sample

​WEDGWOOD, HENSLEIGH (1803–1891), philologist, grandson of Josiah Wedgwood [q. v.] of Etruria, was the youngest son of Josiah Wedgwood of Maer Hall, Staffordshire.

He was born at Gunville, Dorset, in 1803, and educated at Rugby. He matriculated from St. John's College, Cambridge, and graduated from Christ's College B.A. in 1824 and M.A. in 1828. He took a high mathematical degree (1824); but in the classical tripos, initiated the same year, his name occupied the last place, giving occasion to the title ('the wooden wedge') by which the classical equivalent of the mathematical 'wooden-spoon' continued to be known for sixty years.

He was a fellow of Christ's College (1829-30).

Hensleigh wedgwood biography sample

After leaving Cambridge he read for the chancery bar, but never practised, and in 1832 he was appointed police magistrate at Lambeth. This gave occasion to the most characteristic action of his life. Becoming convinced that the administra