Charles Burney (schoolmaster) facts for kids
Charles Burney (born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on December 4, 1757, and died in Deptford, Kent, on December 28, 1817) was an important English scholar. He was a schoolmaster, a church leader, and even a chaplain to King George III. He ran schools for boys in Hammersmith and Greenwich.
Contents
Burney's Early Life and Schooling
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Charles Burney was born in London. His father, also named Charles Burney, was a famous music historian. Charles had several siblings, including his sister Fanny Burney, who became a well-known novelist and diarist. His brother James Burney was an explorer.
Charles went to Charterhouse School in London. Later, he studied at Gonville and Caius College at the University of Cambridge. He left the university early due to some problems related to debts. In 1781, he earned a special degree from King's College, Aberdeen.
Burney loved books and collected many rare ones. He gathered about 13,000 rare books and old writings. In 1817, he sold this huge collection to the British Museum. Today, these books are kept in the British Library and are known as the Burney Collection.
Running a School and Becoming a Scholar
In 1782, Burney started working as a teacher at a private school in Chiswick. This school was run by William Rose. A year later, in 1783, Burney married Rose's daughter, Sarah.
When William Rose passed away in 1786, Charles Burney took over the school. He moved it first to Hammersmith, and then to Greenwich in 1793. Many important naval and military officers studied at his school.
A Student Rebellion
Burney was known for being very strict. This strictness once led to a rebellion by about 50 boys at his school. One student wrote a letter describing what happened. The boys gathered food, games, and even weapons. They then barricaded themselves inside a room.
Burney tried to get them to open the door, but they refused. He used a ladder to look over the door and see them. Finally, as he was about to cut the door open, the boys gave in. Burney rushed in and a small fight broke out. But soon, the boys calmed down. Burney then gave them a choice: be expelled or be forgiven. More than 40 boys were forgiven, and only two were sent home.
In 1813, Burney handed the school over to his only child, Charles Parr Burney. His son continued to run the school until 1833.
Becoming a Respected Scholar
Charles Burney became very famous as a scholar of ancient Greek. He published several important works on the subject. In 1802, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of scientists.
He also made up with Cambridge University, which gave him a master's degree in 1808. This happened when he became an Anglican priest. He quickly rose through the ranks in the Church of England. He became a rector in two different places and served as a royal chaplain to the King. He also became a prebendary at Lincoln Cathedral. Charles Burney passed away at the age of sixty.
See also
- Burney Collection of Newspapers
