ETON COLLEGE. One of the oldest and most famous public schools in England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI. as "The College of the Blessed Mary of Eton beside Windsor." The establishment was constituted for a provost, ten priests, four clerks, six choristers, twenty-five poor grammar scholars, a master, and twenty-five poor infirm men, and was provided for out of the royal demesne lands and the estates of certain alien priories. The whole plan was modeled on that of Winchester, and contemplated a con nection between Eton and King's College (q.v.), Cambridge, such as existed between Winchester and New College, Oxford. In 1441 a supplemen tary charter was lzranted to the new foundation, and the college buildings were begun, but were not entirely finished until 1523. The first head master of the school, later one of its most muni ficent benefactors, was Bishop Wayntlete (q.v.). The college has had a lung and honorable history. Its roll of worthies comprises many great names, especially during the eighteenth century. It in eludes Sir Robert Walpole, Robert Harley (Earl of Oxford), 'Henry Saint John (Viscount Boling broke), the elder Pitt, Lord North, Charles James Fox, Ilorace Walpole, the Duke of Wellington, the poet Gray and Shelley, and Gladstone. The in creasing value of the estates of the college, to gether with additional gifts, has made it very ca It hy. By the Public Schools Act of 1868, the original foundation was greatly modified. The governing, body now consists of a provost and ten fellows, nominated by an electorate. which in eludes such bodies as Oxford and Cambridge universities. 'There are a number of scholarships
besides those on the regular foundation, and the plan of connecting Eton with King's College was so far carried out that a number of scholarships at the Cambridge college are exclusively for Eton men. Scholars still reside in college, but the majority of the students, some 900 in all. live out of college. These are known as oppiduas. There are two schools, an upper for the older boys, and a lower for the younger, managed by a head-master and an assistant, or lower master. The teaching force is large. Here, as at most English public schools, the education is largely classical, though here, as elsewhere, natural sci ence, mathematics, history, the modern languages, and the like have made places for themselves in the last half century. The buildings are very beautiful. They consist of two groups, of which the older, containing the chapel, hall, and library, the apartments of the provost, master, and fel lows, inclose two quadrangles. The boys' library and sleeping apartments form the new buildings attached to the northern side of the older group. Consult Gray, Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton (London, 1747). For worthies of Eton consult Creasy, Eminent Etonians (London,1848). a se ries of brief biographies of its principal members, with a sketch of the college. For general history of the school consult Maxwell-Lyte, History of Eton College (London, 18'89). See also MONTEM CUSTOM,