W. L. Courtney

William Leonard Courtney (5 January 1850 – 1 November 1928) was an English writer, philosopher and journalist. From 1876 to 1890 he taught philosophy at New College, Oxford University. From 1890 until his death in 1928 Courtney had a successful career as a journalist, editor and drama and literary critic, working principally for The Daily Telegraph and The Fortnightly Review. He was a published author of over twenty works and a playwright.

Early life

William Leonard Courtney was born on 5 January 1850 at Poona, India, the son of William Courtney, of the Indian Civil Service, and Ann Edwards (née Scott). He was the youngest of six children, having two brothers and three sisters.

William was educated at the Somersetshire College at Bath. The prestigious Somersetshire College was located at The Circus, a circle of townhouses in Bath, and had been founded in 1858 when a private home was converted to school rooms and offices. The school's stated aim was to provide for the sons of gentlemen "a course of education similar to that of our best public schools, with more attention to individual boys than their larger numbers render possible".

Academia

In 1868 Courtney was admitted as a scholar to University College, Oxford University. After a successful undergraduate career in which he achieved a first-class grade in the classics course Literae Humaniores, Courtney was elected to a fellowship at Oxford's Merton College. However Courtney wished to marry and all four tutorial fellowships allowed for married men at Merton were already filled. During 1873 the position of headmaster at his old school, Somersetshire College, became vacant and Courtney's academic successes induced the governors to offer him the position. He accepted the offer, resigned his fellowship and left Oxford for Bath.