Gresham College facts for kids
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Gresham College is a special learning place in London. It's not like a regular university because it doesn't have students or give out degrees. Instead, it offers lots of free talks and lessons to everyone!
This college was started way back in 1597 by a man named Sir Thomas Gresham. Each year, Gresham College holds over 140 free public lectures. Since 2001, you can even watch all their lectures online from anywhere in the world!
What is Gresham College?
Gresham College is a unique place for learning. It's known for sharing knowledge with everyone for free. People can come and listen to experts talk about many different subjects.
This college was created to help people learn and understand more about the world around them. It has been doing this for hundreds of years!
Expert Professors and Their Subjects
Gresham College has special teachers called professors. When the college first started, there were seven main subjects taught by these professors. These subjects were:
- Astronomy (the study of space and stars)
- Divinity (the study of religion)
- Geometry (the study of shapes and spaces)
- Law (rules and justice)
- Music
- Physic (old word for medicine)
- Rhetoric (the art of speaking well)
These subjects were very important in older universities. They covered basic knowledge like reading, writing, and math, along with more advanced topics.
Gresham College was very important during a time called the Enlightenment. This was when many new ideas about science and thinking came about. The college also helped start the famous Royal Society, a group of top scientists.
Some very famous professors taught here a long time ago. One was Christopher Wren, who taught about astronomy in the 1600s. He was also a famous architect! Another was Robert Hooke, who taught geometry from 1665 to 1704. He was a brilliant scientist too.
Back then, professors earned £50 a year. Their jobs were very specific. For example, the geometry teacher had to teach arithmetic in one term and different types of geometry in others. The astronomy teacher had to explain how the sky works and how to use tools like the astrolabe for sailors.
Today, three more subjects have been added to the college's list of professorships:
- Commerce (the study of business and trade), added in 1985.
- Environment (the study of our planet and nature), added in 2014.
- Information technology (the study of computers and digital information), added in 2015.
Today's professors usually teach for three years, sometimes four. They give six lectures each year. There are also visiting professors who give special talks. Many other experts also come to give single lectures.
Often, the lectures are held at the Museum of London. This museum has a bigger room, which is great for more people to attend the free talks.
Images for kids
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Frontage of Barnard's Inn Buildings
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Sir Thomas Gresham's grasshopper crest, used as a symbol of the College
