William Sewell's 'Reminiscences', 1866-1874

William Sewell was born at Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight and educated at Winchester College and Merton College, Oxford. He was a Fellow of Merton College from 1827 until 1862, serving as Tutor of Merton 1831-1853, and Fellow and Sub-Rector of Exeter College, Oxford 1835-1853. He was White's Professor of Moral Philosophy in 1836. In 1843, he founded the school, St Columba's College at Rathfarnham in Ireland. 

In 1847, he co-founded St Peter's College, Radley, with Robert Corbet Singleton. He became Radley's third Warden in 1853. He resigned in 1861. He served as Perpetual Curate of St Nicholas, Carisbrooke, on the Isle of Wight, from 1861 until his death at Litchfield Hall, near Manchester, in 1874.

He began writing his 'Reminiscences' during an extended trip to Germany, following his retirement from academic life, as a gift for his nephews and nieces and for Radley College. The original diaries could not be traced in 1943, however, a copy had been made at some stage; this typescript was made from that copy by Radley College for the school's centenary in 1947.

Singleton's diary of the founding of Radley College can be read here

Copyright. The heirs of William Sewell & Radley College