John Percival

John Percival (27 September 1834 – 3 December 1918) was the first headmaster of Clifton College, where he made his reputation as a great educator. In his 17 years at Clifton numbers rose to 680. He accepted the presidency of Trinity College, Oxford, to recover from his years at Clifton. It was from Trinity that he went to Rugby to become headmaster of Rugby School before becoming Bishop of Hereford.

Early life

Percival was born in Brough Sowerby, near Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland, England. He was raised on his uncle's farm after the death of his mother when he was very young. He was educated at Appleby grammar school, before winning a scholarship to The Queen's College, Oxford, in 1854. He obtained first-class degrees in classics and mathematics and was elected to a fellowship by the college in 1858. Recuperating from overwork in Pau, France, in the following winter, he met Louisa Holland, whom he married in 1862.

Career in education

Percival was ordained deacon in 1860 and was offered a position as a master at Rugby School by the headmaster, Frederick Temple. In 1862, Percival was appointed the first headmaster of Clifton College in Bristol, on Temple's recommendation. Percival made this new school into a leading public school and he was also involved with other educational work in the city, helping to found Clifton High School for Girls (established in 1877).

In February 1868, John and Louisa Percival formed a Committee in Bristol to promote the Higher Education of Women, which arranged lectures and other classes from 1870 to help prepare women to prepare for the Higher Education Cambridge Examination. By 1876 this programme had developed to the point that Percival felt able to propose the foundation of University College, Bristol. With Percival's influence, this became 'the first town in England to possess a University College open alike to men and women.'