St. John's College, Cambridge

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27320

Title

St. John's College, Cambridge

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Robert Forsyth Scott offers a comprehensive visual and historical tour of St. John's College, Cambridge. This volume details the college's architecture, from the iconic Gateway to the serene 'Wilderness,' while weaving in rich narratives of its scholars, medical traditions, and social life across four centuries.

Summary up to 500 words

Robert Forsyth Scott's *St. John's College, Cambridge* offers a comprehensive history of the institution founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort. The narrative traces the college's evolution from its inception as a historic foundation marked by independence and strong corporate feeling to its status as a prestigious academic center. Scott details the architectural development, beginning with the original gateway and the 1599 Second Court funded by the Countess of Shrewsbury, followed by the 1827 New Court designed in the Perpendicular Gothic style. The text highlights the college's enduring reputation as a training ground for medical men, citing luminaries such as William Gilbert, whose treatise *De Magnete* is considered a scientific classic, and Henry Briggs, who advanced the calculation of logarithms. The book chronicles the college's resilience through turbulent historical periods, including the Civil War, Puritan rule under the austere Anthony Tuckney, and the controversy surrounding Nonjuror Fellows who refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary. Scott balances architectural description with biographical sketches of Masters and Fellows, illustrating how the society maintained its integrity despite political upheavals and the ejection of members during the Commonwealth. Social life is explored through the rise of organized sports, notably the founding of the Lady Margaret Boat Club in 1825, which played a pivotal role in establishing the annual Oxford-Cambridge boat race. The narrative also covers the establishment of the Walworth Mission, reflecting the college's commitment to social outreach. Through its blend of architectural history, biographical detail, and social commentary, the work captures the enduring academic prestige and unique corporate spirit of St. John's College.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27320.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg27320.epub

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Categories

• History