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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Tate (11 June 1771 – 1843) was the headmaster of Richmond School and canon of St Paul's Cathedral, London.[1]
James Tate | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 2 September 1843 72) | (aged
Other names | Dr Tate |
Education | Richmond School Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (MA) |
Occupation | Headmaster |
Employer | Richmond School |
Political party | Whig |
He was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire on 11 June 1771, the only surviving son of Thomas Tate, a working maltster originally from Berwick upon Tweed, and his wife, Dinah Cumstone, who came from a family of small farmers in Swaledale.[2]
Having attended two private schools, in May 1779, Tate entered Richmond School.[2] Whilst there, the headmaster Reverend Anthony Temple recognised his talent, and in 1784 found him a job as amanuensis to the rector of Richmond Francis Blackburne.[2] Enjoying access to Blackburne's library acted as a stimulus for Tate, who with Temple's help obtained a sizarship at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.[3]
Tate was appointed headmaster of Richmond School on 27 September 1796, the fulfillment of a childhood ambition.[3] Tate was responsible for transforming Richmond School into one of the leading classical schools of its day, and the leading Whig school, attracting boys from throughout the country, at a rate of 100 guineas a year.[2][4][5]
Between 1812 and 1833 six pupils a year on average proceeded to university. 21 of them became fellows, 13 of them at Trinity College, Cambridge.[6] They became so "successful, admired and feared" whilst at Cambridge that they earned the title of 'Tate's invincibles'.[2][7] Their number included George Peacock, Richard Sheepshanks, Marcus Beresford and James Raine.[8] Another pupil was Herbert Knowles.[9] Tate rejected corporal punishment for his pupils, and refused to rule by fear, but instead inspired in them a love of learning.
Tate was a widely respected classical scholar. Robert Surtees, the Durham antiquary, recalled a night spent with him quoting from The Iliad, and Sydney Smith, who by chance travelled in the same coach as Tate, declared to a friend that Tate was "a man dripping with Greek".[2] The Times printed a glowing obituary, noting that "as a teacher of classical learning, none of his contemporaries were more successful".[10]
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