Kingsley, Charles (1819-1875), novelist and Church of England clergyman

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Kingsley, Charles (1819-1875), novelist and Church of England clergyman

12 June 1819 - 23 January 1875

In July 1835 Magdalene established a closed scholarship for men from the newly founded King's College, London. Charles Kingsley studied at King's between 1836-1838 but found living at home increasingly restrictive. He left King's and at first entered Trinity College but migrated to Magdalene after winning the scholarship from where he matriculated at Easter 1838. He studied mathematics before getting a First in the Classics Tripos in 1842. He looked back on his years at Magdalene as spent largely 'in drink, horses, gambling, cards, and prize-fighting'. He was a keen oars-man but always remained in the second boat.

Believed to have been resident in C 8 First Court (where Benson placed a small commemorative plaque). Rector of Eversley from 1844, but best known as a novelist (Yeast, The Water babies, etc). Regius Professor of Modern History (whose lectures were moralistic rather than scholarly), 1860-1869. He was not a Fellow, and, when resident, lodged outside the College until 1863; thereafter, his visits to Cambridge appear to have been occasional – he dined perhaps twice a term.

Arms in Hall glass, E2. Memorial brass in Chapel.

Crunich, P., Hoyle, D., Duffy, E., and Hyam, R.,A History of Magdalene College Cambridge 1428-1988

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography