Portal:University of Oxford

The Principal and Fellows of Jesus College form the college's governing body. The Principal must be "a person distinguished for literary or scientific attainments, or for services in the work of education in the University or elsewhere", and has "pre-eminence and authority over all members of the College and all persons connected therewith". The Principal's Lodgings (entrance pictured) are in the first quadrangle of the college. The current Principal, Lord Krebs, was appointed in 2005 and is the 30th holder of the office. Professorial Fellows are those Professors and Readers of the university who are allocated to the college. One of these professorships is the Jesus Professor of Celtic, which is the only chair in Celtic studies at an English university. Official Fellows are those who hold tutorial or administrative appointments in the college. Past Official Fellows include the composer and musicologist John Caldwell, the historians Sir Goronwy Edwards and Niall Ferguson, the philosopher Galen Strawson and the political philosopher John Gray. There are also Senior and Junior Research Fellows. Principals and Fellows who retire can be elected as Emeritus Fellows. The college can also elect "distinguished persons" to Honorary Fellowships. (Full article...)

Thomas Jefferson Hogg (1792–1862) was a British barrister and writer best known for his friendship with the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. They became friends while studying at University College, Oxford, and remained close until Shelley's death. They collaborated on several literary projects at Oxford, culminating in their joint expulsion following the publication of one controversial treatise. Hogg became a barrister and met Jane Williams, who became his common law wife; they had two children together. The family settled in London, although Hogg's legal career meant that he often had to travel away from home. While living in London Hogg made the acquaintance of several well-known writers, and he published literary works of his own, including two entries on Greek literature in the Encyclopædia Britannica. His best-known work was The Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley, an unfinished biography of the poet, criticised for portraying him negatively. Hogg received an appointment to a government commission on municipal corporations and became a revising barrister. His legal career was moderately successful, but he was often frustrated by his failure to attain his goal of becoming a professor or judge. (more...)

New College was established in 1379 by William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, and stands on Holywell Street and New College Lane to the east of the city centre. It was founded in conjunction with a school, Winchester College, with the intention that students from Winchester would progress to New College, and both institutions have buildings by master mason William Wynford. At the time of its foundation, it was the largest Oxford college, and now has about 420 undergraduates and 180 postgraduates. The buildings include a large chapel, in which the college choir of boys (educated at the nearby New College School) and men sing regular services. The large grounds include part of the old Oxford city wall, and the college is still inspected once every three years by the Lord Mayor to ensure that the college is maintaining the wall as William of Wykeham promised. New College Boat Club represented Great Britain in the 1912 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal for rowing. Former students include the politician Tony Benn, archbishop Henry Chichele (founder of All Souls College), the judge Lord Goff of Chieveley, and the actor Hugh Grant. Past or present fellows include Richard Dawkins, Marcus du Sautoy, Isaiah Berlin and H. L. A. Hart. (Full article...)