Whitehead wanted to go to Balliol College, Oxford, to study mathematics but his mathematics teacher at Eton did not think that he stood a chance of winning a scholarship. Whatever the reasons it made his desired progress harder than it might otherwise have been. His personal popularity got him elected to Pop, and his athletic prowess won him a place in the cricket second eleven, his fives colours and a silver cup at boxing.Īnother reason why he failed to shine academically may have been due to an inner sadness at being separated from his parents. His exuberance, gaiety and intelligence made him many friends and his irrepressible high spirits and disregard for authority sometimes strained the patience of his tolerant and long suffering housemaster. One reason why this outstanding mathematician only appeared "good" at school was a whole range of other interests which occupied him :. If he had worked harder he might have won a scholarship to Eton.ĭespite the lack of a scholarship to Eton, Whitehead was successful in the Entrance Examination and began a happy period at Eton where he specialised in mathematics, yet never showed himself as a mathematical genius. of above average intelligence, good at games, prone to be careless in his work, but with a great capacity for enjoying life. Henry did quite well at primary school, both academically, socially and in sport. it was a very peaceful place and he would recall going for drives with his grandmother in her carriage and seeing the horsedrawn buses in town. Henry's childhood in Oxford was a quiet one since :. It would not be until his father retired when Henry was sixteen years old that they returned to England. His parents then returned to India and Henry saw little of them while he was growing up. It was at that age that his parents brought him back from India and left him in the care of his maternal grandmother who lived in Oxford. His mother had studied mathematics at Oxford University, being one of the early women undergraduates, while the famous mathematician and philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead, was his uncle.Īlthough Henry was born in India he lived in England from the age of about eighteen months. However, Henry Whitehead's family also had strong academic connections in particular there was a strong tradition of mathematical excellence. His mother, Isobel Duncan, was the daughter of the Rector of Calne, Wiltshire, so Henry came from a family deeply involved with the Church. Biography Henry Whitehead's father was The Right Rev Henry Whitehead, Bishop of Madras (now Chennai ) in India.
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