John Snell facts for kids

Sir John Snell (1629 – 6 August 1679) was an important Scottish man who helped students go to university. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and his father was a blacksmith. Sir John Snell is best known for starting the Snell Exhibitions, which are special scholarships for students from the University of Glasgow to study at the University of Oxford.

Early Life and Career

John Snell went to the University of Glasgow when he was young, from 1642 to 1644. After his studies, he became involved in the English Civil War. He joined the group called the royalists, who supported the King. He even fought in some battles, like the Battle of Worcester.

After the war, he found safety in Cheshire. There, he met a powerful man named Sir Orlando Bridgeman. John Snell became Sir Orlando's clerk, which is like an assistant. As Sir Orlando became a judge and a very important legal official, John Snell also got promoted to higher roles in the court.

Later Life and Legacy

Later in his life, Sir John Snell worked for the Duke of Monmouth. He was the Duke's secretary and helped manage his large land holdings in Scotland.

Sir John Snell passed away in Oxford in 1679. He was buried in St Cross Church, Oxford. In his will, he left money to create a special fund. This fund was meant to help students from the University of Glasgow continue their studies at a college in Oxford.

In 1693, a court decided that Balliol College at Oxford would be the place where these students would go. This fund became known as the Snell Scholarship. Many students have benefited from this help over the years. A very famous person who received a Snell Scholarship was Adam Smith, who became a well-known economist.