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1912 - Jack French died at a dinner of the Conservative Club. He had served the College for fifty years, since the age of 17 or 18, first employed as a servant in 1862, before rising to Under-porter, Porter, Butler, Kitchen Manager, and sometime caterer.

College Magazine, No. 12 March 1913
“The other loss was a very severe one. The newly-appointed President [AC Benson] had signalised his accession to his office by a supper to the College servants, and the Butler, Jack French, presided at it with his accustomed tact and good humour. He was forced to leave it rather early, in order to keep an engagement, and walked down to the Conservative Club, where he was a very familiar figure; he spoke to a couple of friends, and in a moment rolled over from his chair, dead: the cause was afterwards found to be valvular disease of the heart. He was buried on the 27th and the first part of the service took place in the College Chapel, the Master officiating; besides the family and private friends, including the Mayor, were present.
Man and boy, Jack French had been a devoted servant and friend to the College for fifty years. His father was once Head Porter, and he too, started at the gate, but was comparatively soon transferred to the buttery, where he spent the rest of his life, rising finally to be Butler and Kitchen Manager. He had many interests outside the College, such as politics, and a share in a catering business, which very successfully supplied the Royal Show for some years, but his heart was above all things in the welfare of Magdalene, and it is certain that nobody rejoiced more at its latter-day prosperity than Jack French. A neat brass to his memory has been placed in the Ante-Chapel by the President.

See MCCA/MCPH/3/1 32a for a photograph

Daughter of James Griffin, 2nd Baron Griffin of Braybrooke, sister and co-heir of Edward, 3rd Baron Griffin of Braybrooke. She was a direct descendant of Lord Audley.
Her first marriage was to her cousin Henry Neville/Grey; her second in 1741 to John Wallop, MP (1690-1762), governor of the Isle of Wight, 1st Earl of Portsmouth (his second wife).
She secured the Mastership for her husband’s grandon, Barton Wallop; and meanwhile placed George Sandby in office under bond to resign when Barton Wallop was of age – the resignation duly took place in 1774.
Died without issue; the visitorship then passed to her nephew, Sir John Griffin Whitwell, later 1st Baron Braybrooke.

Appointed College Porter in 1872 (with a salary of £100 pa, plus grass fines and half the gate fines, and increased by £10 pa in 1876), though he had already been employed by the College for many years, as he was given a gratuity of £15 in 1869, in consideration of long service (B/441, pp 221, 228, 232, 240). Fleet probably died in office in 1885, when James Stearn was appointed Head Porter.

Portrait of George Fleet MCWA/A/50

Appointed as cook in 1875 [MCGB/4/2/1] and was the last of the cooks to run the kitchens as an independent business. On his retirement in 1901 the College took the kitchens in-house (being the last College to do so). This decision as guided by the then Steward A.S. Ramsey. He purchased the cooking utensils and crockery owned by Swannell which was valued at £700.

1841 Census – his father, George Swannell’s occupation is listed as ’Cook’ and the family were living in King St

1851 Census - his father, George Swannell’s occupation is listed as ’Cook’ and the family were living in Fitzroy St

His father was George (aged 48), his mother was Mary Ann (aged 33)
William was 14 and listed as an errand boy
John (aged 13), Elizabeth Sarah (aged 11), Thomas (aged 7)
Rachel Hayles - servant

1861 Census – William’s occupation is listed as ‘Cook’ and he was married to Hannah and living on Histon Rd

1871 Census – same as the 1861 census but with the addition of children:
William G (aged 9), Elizabeth (aged 4)
William Hewson (nephew aged 18)
John A.W. Culpin (boarder aged 18)

1881 Census – Now living at 74 Castle St with his wife Hannah, his daughter Elizabeth and their domestic servant Emma Smith (aged 15)

1891 Census – Had moved to Huntingdon Road
Servant was now Eliza Beldam

1901 Census – Living at 6 Huntingdon Rd
Listed as ‘widow’
Occupation ‘Head College Cook’
Living on his own and two servants - Lucy Baker (aged 50) and Annie Adams (aged 23)

William died on 16 September 1902 at Carnarvonshire. He left to Elizabeth Hannah Sarah Robinson (his daughter and the wife of the Revd Henry Edwin Robinson) effects worth £14865 5s 4d

Born in Histon, near Cambridge, in 1855, son of William, an agricultural labourer, and Louisa.

In 1877 he was appointed under-porter [MCGB/4/2/1] and rose to Head Porter serving the College for 43 years before his retirement in 1918.

1881 census – he was living at 30 Albert Street. He was married, to Elizabeth Foreman who was five years older. Their first child, four-month old Sydney James, had been born around the turn of the year.

1891 census - they had moved to number 1 Albert Street. A second son, Ernest had been born in 1883, followed by two daughters, Louisa in 1886 and Laura in 1889.

1911 census - three children were alive and two had died, suggesting there had been a fifth baby that did not survive infancy. Ernest, their second son, was eighteen in 1901, and working as a kitchen porter, although the college that employed him is not known. We might expect him to disappear from the family home as he made his life of his own, but the fact that Sydney's death notice in 1917 describes him as "only son" of James and Elizabeth suggests that Ernest had died before 1911. Louisa and Laura both trained as dressmakers.

Sydney Stearn served in the Royal Navy during the First World War and was killed in 1917.

James Stearn found it hard to cope after the death of his son. He retired, early in 1918, at the age of 63. The Fellows presented their outgoing Head Porter with a clock.

He died on 10 July 1918.

For more information see Ged Martin's article James Stearn: The Head Porter who Died of Grief

https://gedmartin.net/martinalia-mainmenu-3/344-magdalene-college-cambridge-notes-james-stearn

Born 5 May 1796 the third son of Hugh, Earl Fortescue, of Castle Hill, near South Molton, Devon.
School - Eton

Admitted Fellow-Commoner at Magdalene on 14 January 1814
Matriculated Lent, 1814; M.A. 1816
Fellow

Rector of Anderby with Cumberworth, Lincs., 1821-35
Canon Residentiary of Worcester, 1834-69
Rector of Poltimore with Huxham, Devon, 1835-69
Master of St Oswald's Hospital, Worcester, 1847-69

13 April 1842 married Sophia, daughter of Henry Nevile, Rector of Cottesmore, Rutland

Died on 3 January 1869

Born in Liverpool and was the son of the Robert Alexander Bickersteth and Ellen Constance Wilson, of Borwick Lodge, Outgate, Ambleside. Educated at Eton. Admitted as a pensioner at Magdalene College on 7 October 1924. His tutor was A. S. Ramsey. MA 1931.

After leaving Magdalene he trained at Wells Theological College.
1928 deacon
1929 priest

1928-1932 his first curacy was at Christ Church, Waterloo, Liverpool.

22 Nov 1931 he was made curate of Christ Church, Whitehaven with his primary responsibility being St Peters, Kells.

In 1933 he was defrocked for "immoral conduct".

He visited New York with his brother. He is shown, on the electoral register, as living in Paddington in London in the late 1930s.

He died in 1945.

Thomas Riddel was the cook of Magdalene College, 1799-1826.

On his appointment in 1799 (succeeding William Winder) he secured a substantial rise in the cook's wages from £7 to £12 10s 0d along with £5 for coals.

In 1826 he left the College and set up as a beer retailer in Magdalene Street.

Born in 1856 the second son of Jeremiah Creswell (Magdalen Hall, Oxford), of 5, Lansdowne Villas, East Down Park, Lee.
School - Blackheath

Admitted pensioner at Magdalene 1 October 1874
Matriculated Easter 1875; Scholar
B.A. (Class. Trip., 1st Class) 1879; M.A. 1882
Fellow and tutor
Steward

Esquire Bedell, 1893-9
Fellow of King's College, London, 1885-99.
Author of Life and Poems of Lefroy

Died on 7 December 1899, aged 43, at Lugano, Switzerland

Born in 1837 the second son of Thomas Matthew, of Wisbech, Cambs

Admitted pensioner at Magdalene on 28 June 1856

Matriculated Michaelmas 1856
B.A. (8th Wrangler) 1861; M.A. 1864
Fellow, 1861

Sometime a private tutor in Westmorland.
Assistant Master at Queen Elizabeth's School, Ipswich, 1861-3
Librarian of Magdalene, 1863
Tutor, 1865-96
President, 1876-96
Junior Proctor, 1873

Admitted at Lincoln's Inn, 15 November 1867

Called to the Bar, 17 November 1870, but never practised.

'The tenure of his College tutorship extending over 31 years was marked by a combination of exceptional qualifications, an intuitive aptitude for discernment of character, sound judgment, and a courtesy which invited confidence and rendered difficulties more easy of adjustment. No man ever came to him for guidance without receiving sympathy and help, and his many pupils remember with gratitude the infinite pains he took to adapt his lectures to their needs.'

Married in 1894.

Died 6 October 1896: 'He was taken ill while dining with the Master of Trinity Hall, and expired in a few minutes.'

Arms in Hall glass, W2.

Born in Walesby, Lincs. in 1681. Son of Henry Waterland, Rector of Walesby

Admitted sizar at Clare College on 4 May 1699
Matriculated 1699
B.A. 1702/3; M.A. 1706
D.D. from Magdalene, 1725

Fellow of Clare, 1705-14
Fellow of Magdalene, 1714-24
Brother of Daniel Waterland, Master of Magdalene College who appointed him Bursar and Steward in c. 1718
Senior Proctor, 1721-22

Incorporated at Oxford in 1724
Ordained priest (Ely) 30 May 1708
Vicar of St Peter's, Cambridge, 1711-18
Vicar of St Giles', Cambridge, 1711-20
Vicar of Longstanton All Saints' and Longstanton St Michael's, Cambridgeshire, 1720-64
Minister of St Benetfink, London

Died in Hackney, 18 March 1764

Master of Magdalene College, 1690-1713

Son of Gabriel Quadring of Frisby, Lincolnshire
Probably attended Alford school
Admitted pensioner at Magdalene College aged 17 on 22 May 1657
B.A. 1660/1
M.A. 1664
D.D. 1691 (Lit. Reg.)

Fellow and President
Taxor, 1666
Senior Proctor, 1670-71
Master, 1690-1713
Vice-Chancellor, 1691-92, 1711-2

His Mastership was dominated by fund raising for the new building [now known as the Pepys Building] and he made little or no impact in the university at large
Incorporated at Oxford in 1669.

Ordained priest (Peterborough) on 20 September 1668
Rector of Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 1691

Died in 1713

Born in Helston, Cornwall in 1778, son of Edward
Schools - Helston and Shacklewell

Admitted sizar at Jesus College on 10 July 1794
Matriculated Michaelmas 1795; Scholar, 1796; B.A. 1799; M.A. 1802

Fellow of Magdalene, 1803; Tutor

Vicar of Bishopstone, Wilts., 1816
Vicar of Constantine, Cornwall, 1817-56
Prebendary of Salisbury

He married:
(1) Sophia
(2) 22 Nov, 1821, Catherine Groube, daughter of John Boulderson, of St Mawnan, and had issue

Died at Constantine on 25 Aug 1856

The first Buttery book in which Edward Mills writes his name begins in 1789 [MCAD/14/2/1/28].

It was recorded at a meeting of the Master and Fellows on 7 March 1799 that the College had been defrauded by the late Butler Edward Mills to a very considerable amount and they resolved to use all legal means to recover the amount of that fraud [MCGB/4/2/1 pg. 181].

His name is written in the front of the Buttery Books [MCAD/14/2]. The first time it is written on the inside page is in MCAD/1/4/2/3 which covers 1672-76.

The Buttery Book, 1686-1690 [MCAD/14/2/6] is the first one in which Edward Townsend has written his name.

Educated at Southwell School, Nottinghamshire and Trinity College, Cambridge (admitted pensioner, 3 October 1793).

MA from Magdalene in 1802

He was a Fellow of Magdalene College from 1802-1814, and President from 1805-1810.

In 1802 he was appointed Steward, Librarian, and Registrar (he took on the duties of Bursar when Rev Thomas Paley was ill in 1805). He referred to himself as the Pepys Librarian.

Curate of Long Sutton, Hants
Curate of St Peter's, Duxford, 1806
Curate of St John's, Duxford, 1807
Rector of Darlaston, Staffordshire, 1814-1834

Married Marianne, daughter of Benjamin Maddock of Nottingham

Master of Magdalene College, 1713-1740

Born in Walesby, Lincolnshire on 14 February 1682/83. Second son of Henry, Rector of Walesby
School - Lincoln

Admitted sizar (age 16) at Magdalene on 30 March 1699
B.A. 1702/3; M.A. 1706; B.D. 1714; D.D. 1717 (Com. Reg)

Made a Fellow in 1704 and served as Master between 1714 and 1740
Vice-Chancellor of the University, 1715-6

Incorporated at Oxford in 1724

Ordained Deacon at Peterborough on 3 June 1705 and priest, on 9 March 1706/7
Curate of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, 1707-8
Rector of Ellingham, Norfolk, 1713
Rector of St Augustine, Paul's Gate, London, 1721-30
Chancellor of York, 1722-40
Prebend of Windsor, 1727-40
Vicar of Twickenham, 1730-40
Archdeacon of Middlesex, 1730-40

He was author of many learned works. ‘Few names, recorded in the annals of the Church of England, stand so high in the estimation of its most sound and intelligent members, as that of Dr Waterland… this distinguished writer’ (Van Mildert, William, The Works of the Rev. Daniel Waterland, D. D.: to Which Is Prefixed a Review of the Author's Life and Writings, Volume 1, p.1).

Married Theodosia, daughter of John Tregonwell, of Anderton, Dorset

Died on 23 November 1740 or 23 December 1740. Buried at Windsor

College Magazine
Article: ‘Student counselling, eighteenth-century style’ by Ged Martin, College Magazine, No. 26 (1981-82) pp. 45-49
Article by Eamon Duffy, College Magazine, No. 33 (1988-89) pp. 22-26

Educated at Pembroke College. Lecturer in Natural Sciences at Magdalene, and University Demonstrator in Chemistry, from 1931. Made a Fellow in 1938.
Research on chemical warfare during the war, working on various ‘ nerve gases’; and after the war a regional scientific adviser on Civil Defence.
Director of Studies in Natural Sciences and Medicine, 1931-1973. Praelector or Deputy Praelector, 1949-1978. President, 1967-1973. Senior Proctor, 1943-1944.

In his honour rice pudding can always be requested at Magdalene as it was the only thing he could stomach after his wartime experiments.

Further reading:
Obituary: College Magazine No. 28 (1983–84) pp. 1-3 (P. J. Grubb)
Article: 'The Chemistry of B. C. Saunders', College Magazine, No. 56 (2011–12), p. 64-68

Born 1 July 1945. Educated St John’s School, Leatherhead and St Catharine’s College Cambridge (Exhibitioner 1964).
Lecturer, Dept of Modern Subjects, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, 1967–69.
Fellow of St Catharine’s (Research Fellow 1970, Official Fellow 1972),
University Assistant Lecturer, 1972
University Lecturer in English,1978
Fellow of Magdalene College (Official Fellow 1978, Emeritus Fellow 2012)
Pepys Librarian and Keeper

Obituary: College Magazine, No. 65 2021-2021

Fellow and President of Magdalene College.

English clergyman, principal Cambridge University librarian (Protobibliothecarius), antiquary, draughtsman and gifted amateur artist. He created one of the first catalogue raisonnés (for the works of the artist Marten van Heemskerck). An antiquary who collected ancient Roman coins and published papers on architecture, sepulchres and coffins. In 1816, he bought and restored the Leper Chapel in Cambridge. Has been described as 'one of the most distinguished but least loved Fellows of the College'.

Article: 'Portrait of a Magdalene Artist: Thomas Kerrich', by D. Robinson College Magazine vol. 47 (2002-03) pp. 53-64

At Magdalene from 1964 to 1967

Second son of Sir John Acton. Entered Magdalene as a Fellow-Commoner in July 1819 but as a Roman Catholic, he could not proceed to a degree. The Test Act excluded Roman Catholics from the University and from taking degrees at this time, but was not a bar to residence in Magdalene as a Fellow Commoner.

Entered the service of papal government, elevated to the Sacred College in 1837, and became a Cardinal in 1842. During the pontificate of Gregory XVI he was consulted on all British questions. In December 1845. He was sole witness to the famous papal audiences with Czar Nicholas I.
Cardinal Acton was the uncle of Lord Acton, Regius Professor of Modern History.

In the College Magazine
Article: 'Magdalene's Cardinal and his Family. A Study in Scarlet', College Magazine, No. 46 (2001-02), pp. 95-106 (D.J.H. Murphy)

Admitted to Magdalene College aged 20 on 28 July 1881. Pensioner.

2nd son of the Rev. Lord Edward Henry Julius of Wighill Park, Tadcaster, Yorks and Jane, daughter of Henry Dowker, of Laysthorpe, Yorks. Born 6 August 1860.
School - Eton
Matriculated Michaelmas 1881. Cricket 'blue,' 1882-5 (Capt., 1885).
Succeeded his father as 7th Baron Hawke, of Towton, Yorks. on 5 December 1887.
J.P. for the West Riding.
Served in the 3rd Battalion, The Green Howards, retiring in 1894 with the rank of Hon. Major.

Captain of the Yorkshire Cricket XI, 1883-1910; of the England team on two South African tours; President of the M.C.C., 1914-18.
Received the Freedom of Scarborough.
Author, Recollections and Reminiscences.

Died 10 October 1938 in Edinburgh.

Matriculated in 1865. He was sent down for the remainder of term on 26 May 1869 after a fight near the railway station. He failed to return to College.
Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, 1880-1890.
Captain William O’Shea, MP, brought a divorce case against his wife who was Parnell’s long-term mistress and this destroyed Parnell’s political career.

The College has an annual Parnell Visiting Fellowship.

Further reading about Parnell's time in Cambridge please see Ged Martin's articles on his website: https://www.gedmartin.net/martinalia-mainmenu-3?task=blogcategory&id=3
and College Magazine, No. 6, (1961-62), pp. 13-16.

Richard Ladborough was a Fellow of French at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and Pepys Librarian. He specialised in the Enlightenment era of French literature, and donated a wealth of such books to the College which are now held by the Old Library. Friend and correspondent of C.S. Lewis.

Obituary: Magdalene College Magazine and Record, New Series No. 16: 1971-72, p. 3

Matriculated from Magdalene in 1913. Made a Fellow in 1920; Appointed Pepys Librarian, 1920-1926, Life Fellow, 1963.
Librarian of the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, 1926–1958, and Deputy Keeper of the Royal Archives from 1930.
Author of Everybody's Pepys (1926).

Obituary in the College Magazine, vol. 21, 1976-77, pp. 8-10

See also: the College Magazine vol. 56, 2011-12), pp. 60-63, 'Morshead and Kelly' by R. Luckett.

Educated at Lancing College and in 1916 joined the Royal Artillery serving in France during the First World War.
In 1919 he matriculated at Magdalene and studied Classics. He achieved Firsts in both parts of the Tripos and was President of the Boat Club.
In 1923 he was elected a Bye-Fellow and joined the University Press as Assistant Printer.
In 1927 he returned to Magdalene as a Fellow and Tutor and Lecturer in Classics.

WWII - Temporary Administrative Officer, Air Ministry, 1940 - 44.
In 1942 he married Louise May Bywaters and they had two sons and a daughter.

Senior Tutor, 1945 - 1964
Director of Studies in Classics, 1945 - 1969
President, 1962 - 1967
He continued to interview admissions candidates after reaching the age of 70, and died in the middle of one such interview.

Obituary: College Magazine, No.13, 1968-69, pp. 1-5 (F. McD Turner)