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Matilda Sharpe - founder of Channing School
Matilda Sharpe (4 April 1830 – 30 April 1916)"Sharpe, Matilda (1830–1916)"
by Ruth Watts in ''
She was the daughter of Sarah Sharpe, an artist, and Matilda Sharpe (1830-1915)
National Portrait Gallery, 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
by Ruth Watts in ''
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from History of the British Isles, British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') ...
'', online edition, Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...
, 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2014. was a British writer, teacher, educational reformer and painter. She founded what is now Channing School
Channing School is an independent day school for girls at Highgate Hill in Highgate, North London. Channing School is a member of the Girls' Schools Association. The junior school is for pupils aged four to twelve and includes the Early Years ...
.
Life
She was the daughter of Sarah Sharpe, an artist, and Samuel Sharpe
Samuel Sharpe, or Sharp (1801 – 23 May 1832), also known as Sam Sharpe, was an enslaved Jamaican who was the leader of the widespread 1831–32 Baptist War slave rebellion (also known as the Christmas Rebellion) in Jamaica.
He was procla ...
who was a banker and an Egyptologist
Egyptology (from ''Egypt'' and Greek , ''-logia''; ) is the scientific study of ancient Egypt. The topics studied include ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end ...
. Her parents were Unitarian, rich and cousins.
She was a talented artist, exhibiting at the Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...
, but her vocation was teaching. During the 1870s she volunteered her time and money to several schools. She was an inspiring teacher and the leading New South Wales politician, William Holman
William Arthur Holman (4 August 1871 – 5 June 1934) was an Australian politician who served as Premier of New South Wales from 1913 to 1920. He came to office as the leader of the Labor Party, but was expelled from the party in the split o ...
, attributed his success to her teaching.
In Highgate
Highgate is a suburban area of N postcode area, north London in the London Borough of Camden, London Boroughs of Camden, London Borough of Islington, Islington and London Borough of Haringey, Haringey. The area is at the north-eastern corner ...
in north London
North London is the northern part of London, England, north of the River Thames and the City of London. It extends from Clerkenwell and Finsbury, on the edge of the City of London financial district, to Greater London's boundary with Hertfordshi ...
, she founded Channing House School (after Robert Spears' idea) and a Unitarian Chapel in Despard Road. She devoted most of her energy and her money to the school. She believed in education for all and taxing the rich to pay for it. She was keen on homilies and published books of these and a book of poetry.
She died at her home in Highgate in 1915. Several of her portraits are in the National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to:
* National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra
* National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred
*National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C.
*National Portrait Gallery, London
...
, London.National Portrait Gallery, 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
Selected publications
*''Old favourites from the elder poets, with a few newer friends. A selection by M. Sharpe.'' Williams and Norgate, London, 1881. Second revised edition, Methuen, 1912. An anthology of nine women poets, particularlyAnna Laetitia Barbauld
Anna Laetitia Barbauld (, by herself possibly , as in French, Aikin; 20 June 1743 – 9 March 1825) was a prominent English poet, essayist, literary critic, editor, and author of children's literature. A prominent member of the Blue Stockings ...
.
*''Never forget: A collection of precepts.'' Griffith & Farran, London, 1890.
*''The journey to paradise, or, flight of the soul to its maker. A heavenly day dream set down by Matilda Sharpe.'' Christian Life Office, London, 1899.
References
Further reading
*Sharpe, L. (1916) ''Memorials of Matilda Sharpe, 1830–1916''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Sharpe, Matilda 1830 births 1916 deaths Painters from London Heads of schools in London 19th-century English painters 20th-century English painters 20th-century British women artists Founders of English schools and colleges 19th-century British philanthropists 19th-century British women painters