These doubts, as we learn from one of his contemporaries, who afterwards became Mr. It was at about this time that the smooth and satisfactory progress of his life was for a moment interrupted: he began to be troubled by religious doubts. It is true that, as a schoolboy, a certain pompousness in the style of his letters home suggested to the more clear-sighted among his relatives the possibility that young Thomas might grow up into a prig but, after all, what else could be expected from a child who, at the age of three, had been presented by his father, as a reward for proficiency in his studies, with the twenty-four volumes of Smollett's History of England? His career at Oxford had been a distinguished one, winding up with an Oriel fellowship. The son of a respectable Collector of Customs, he had been educated at Winchester and at Oxford, where his industry and piety had given him a conspicuous place among his fellow-students.

Arnold seemed to justify the prediction of the Provost of Oriel, and the choice of the Trustees. He was elected therefore received, as was fitting, priest's orders became, as was no less fitting, a Doctor of Divinity and in August, 1828, took up the duties of his office.Īll that was known of the previous life of Dr. Thomas Arnold he would 'change the face of education all through the public schools of England,' they hesitated no longer: obviously, Mr.

Hawkins, the Provost of Oriel, predicting that if they elected Mr. Thus it was natural that when the twelve noblemen and gentlemen, who had determined to be guided entirely by the merits of the candidates, found among the testimonials pouring in upon them a letter from Dr. Reform was in the air-political, social, religious there was even a feeling abroad that our great public schools were not quite all that they should be, and that some change or other-no one precisely knew what-but some change in the system of their management, was highly desirable. In 1827 the headmastership of Rugby school fell vacant, and it became necessary for the twelve trustees, noblemen and gentlemen of Warwickshire, to appoint a successor to the post.

Was tom arnold on small wonder show