John Chevallier facts for kids
John Chevallier (born in Great Casterton on June 10, 1730 – died in Cambridge on March 14, 1789) was an important academic in the 1700s. He was the Master of St John's College, Cambridge from 1775 until he passed away. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1776 to 1777. He was even a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special group for scientists.
Early Life and Education
John Chevallier was born in a place called Great Casterton. His father, Nathaniel Chevalier, was a clergyman. John went to Stamford School first. After that, he studied at St John's College, Cambridge. This is where he earned several university degrees. He got his BA in 1750 or 1751, his MA in 1754, his BD in 1762, and finally his DD in 1777. These degrees show how much he studied and learned!
A Special Honor: The Royal Society
In 1754, John Chevallier was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists and thinkers. People are chosen for their important contributions to knowledge. He was picked because of his "known Zeal for the Newtonian Philosophy." This means he was very enthusiastic about the ideas of Isaac Newton, especially how the world works through science and math. He was also known for being the first person to promote these ideas in Lisbon, Portugal.
Leading Roles at Cambridge University
John Chevallier held two very important leadership roles at the University of Cambridge. From 1775 until his death, he was the Master of St John's College. Think of the Master as the head or principal of a college within the university. It's a big responsibility to lead a college and its students.
He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1776 to 1777. The Vice-Chancellor is like the chief executive officer of the entire university. This role involves overseeing all the colleges and making big decisions for the whole university. These positions show how respected and influential John Chevallier was in his time.
