Leonard Hutchinson facts for kids
Leonard Hutchinson was an important leader at University College in Oxford, England. He was the Master of the college for many years in the 1500s. A Master is like the head or principal of a college.
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Who Was Leonard Hutchinson?
Leonard Hutchinson was a smart scholar who lived a long time ago. He passed away in 1554. Before he became Master of University College, he was a Fellow at another college called Balliol College, Oxford. A Fellow is a senior member of a college, often a teacher or researcher.
His Time at University College
Hutchinson first joined University College as a Fellow around 1514 or 1515. Soon after, in 1518, he became the Master of the college. He held this important job for a very long time – 28 years! This was quite unusual for that period in history.
Other Roles and Homes
Besides leading University College, Hutchinson also had other jobs. He was a rector (a type of church leader) in a town called Bladon from 1534 to 1541. He was also a vicar (another church leader) in Yarnton from 1535 to about 1540. Both of these places are near Oxford.
When he first became Master, Hutchinson lived in a special apartment in the college's main tower. Later, in 1531, he moved to a bigger home nearby on High Street. He also helped some members of his family become Fellows at the college.
Big Changes at University College
During Hutchinson's time as Master, something very important happened at University College. The first commoner undergraduates started studying there. An undergraduate is a student who is working towards their first degree. Before this, the college was mostly for postgraduate students, who were already graduates and doing more advanced studies.
This change meant that University College started teaching students from the very beginning of their university journey. This is how most colleges at the University of Oxford work today. Hutchinson helped the college grow and become more like the universities we know now.
Retirement and Later Life
Leonard Hutchinson stopped being the Master of University College in 1546. He then lived for another eight years, passing away in 1554. It was not very common for people in those days to retire from such a big job and live many years afterward.
