Banchoff, Thomas

Edwin Abbott Abbott was born in London on December 20, 1838. He was the eldest son of Edwin Abbott (1808–1882), headmaster of the Philological School, Marylebone, and his wife, Jane Abbott (1806–1882). His parents were first cousins.

He was educated at the City of London School and at St John's College, Cambridge, where he took the highest honors in classics, mathematics and theology, and became a fellow of his college. In particular, he was 1st Smith's prizeman in 1861. In 1862 he was ordained in the Church of England. After holding masterships at King Edward's School, Birmingham, he succeeded G. F. Mortimer as headmaster of the City of London School in 1865 at the early age of twenty-six. Here he oversaw the education of future Prime Minister H.H. Asquith. He was Hulsean lecturer in 1876. Twenty four years of work placed him among the acknowledged heads of his profession and made his school famous with the Universities.

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