1.
Pembroke College, Oxford
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Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2015, Pembroke had a financial endowment of £46.9 million. Pembroke offers the study of almost all the courses offered by the university, dame Lynne Brindley, former head of the British Library, has been Master of the College since 2013. In the early century, the endowment of Thomas Tesdale—a merchant from nearby Abingdon –. Following its foundation, the college proceeded to expand around Broadgates, built in stages through the seventeenth century out of the local Cotswold limestone, space restrictions saw the south-side of the Quad built directly on top of the old City Wall. The Chapel was designed and built by William Townsend, although the interior was redesigned by Charles Kempe—a Pembroke graduate—in 1884. The Chapel which is used for regular worship bears his name. Further expansion of the came in the 1960s, after the closure of Beef Lane to the north of Chapel Quad. The private houses north of the road were acquired by the College in a piecemeal fashion. The new area is now known as North Quad, which was opened in 1962. A modern annex, built near to college on the banks of the Isis at Grandpont, provides accommodation for thirty six graduates, named the Geoffrey Arthur Building, the building was named for the diplomat Sir Geoffrey Arthur — a former master of the college. In April 2013 the Duke of Kent officially opened two new quadrangles, with new buildings including a 170-seat multi-purpose auditorium, a new cafe, art gallery, both James I, as founder of the college, and the Earl of Pembroke are commemorated in the arms. The former, representing the union of the crowns as James I of England and James VI of Scotland, is symbolised by the rose, the three lions rampant are taken from the Earl’s personal coat arms. Pembroke offers a range of courses, covering almost all the subject areas offered by the university, Literae Humaniores, Geography. In particular, the college has had an involvement with Economics, as well as Management Studies. The college has maintained a relationship with the Saïd Business School. In March 2002 two Oxford fellows resigned after allegations that they had offered a place to the child of an undercover reporter in return for a donation to the college library. The journalist alleged that he had taped a conversation where he posed as the father of a fictitious son, Pembroke runs its own access schemes entitled Pem-Brooke and Pembroke North which work with disadvantaged students from London and areas of the North
2.
Abdullah II of Jordan
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Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein has been king of Jordan since the 1999 death of his father, King Hussein. According to Abdullah, he is a 41st-generation direct descendant of Muhammad since he belongs to the Hashemite family and he was born in Amman as the first child of King Hussein and his second wife, British-born Princess Muna Al-Hussein. Shortly after his birth, Abdullah was named the crown prince, King Hussein transferred the title to his brother, Prince Hassan, in 1965 and returned it to Abdullah in 1999. Abdullah began his schooling in Amman, continuing his education abroad and he assumed command of Jordans Special Forces in 1994, and became a major general in 1998. In 1993 Abdullah married Rania Al-Yassin, and they have four children, Crown Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma, the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum, is his brother-in-law by marriage. Although Jordan is a monarchy, the king holds wide executive and legislative powers and is commander-in-chief of the Jordanian Armed Forces. Abdullah embarked on aggressive economic liberalization when he assumed the throne, in 2011, large-scale protests demanding reform erupted in the Arab world. Although many of the led to civil wars in other countries, Abdullah responded quickly to domestic unrest by replacing the government. He introduced proportional representation to the Jordanian parliament in 2016, a move which he said would lead to a parliamentary government, although local opposition groups called his reforms inadequate, other observers praised them. Abdullah is popular locally and internationally for maintaining Jordanian stability, and is known for promoting interfaith dialogue, the third-longest-serving Arab leader, he is regarded by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center as the most influential Muslim in the world. Abdullah is custodian of the Muslim and Christian sacred sites in Jerusalem, Abdullah was born in Amman on 30 January 1962 to King Hussein during Husseins marriage to his British-born second wife, Princess Muna Al-Hussein. He is the namesake of his great-grandfather, King Abdullah I, Abdullah says that he is the 41st direct descendant of Muhammad through the Hashemite dynasty, which ruled Mecca for over 700 years and has ruled Jordan since 1921. The Hashemites, the oldest ruling dynasty in the Muslim world, are the second-oldest-ruling dynasty in the world, since Hussein had a daughter from his first marriage, Abdullah became heir apparent to the Jordanian throne under the 1952 constitution. Due to political instability, King Hussein appointed his brother Prince Hassan as his heir apparent in 1965, three more children followed Abdullah from Husseins marriage to Princess Muna, two from the kings third marriage and four from his fourth. Abdullah has four brothers and six sisters, seven of whom are half-siblings and he began his schooling in 1966 at the Islamic Educational College in Amman, and continued at St Edmunds School in England. Abdullah attended high school at Eaglebrook School and Deerfield Academy in the United States and he began his military career at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1980, while he was a training officer in the Jordanian Armed Forces. After Sandhurst, Abdullah was commissioned as a lieutenant in the British Army and served a year in Britain. Abdullah was admitted to Pembroke College in 1982, where he completed a one-year special-studies course in Middle Eastern affairs
3.
William Blackstone
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Sir William Blackstone SL KC was an English jurist, judge and Tory politician of the eighteenth century. He is most noted for writing the controversial Commentaries on the Laws of England, born into a middle-class family in London, Blackstone was educated at Charterhouse School before matriculating at Pembroke College, Oxford in 1738. After switching to and completing a Bachelor of Civil Law degree, he was made a Fellow of All Souls, Oxford on 2 November 1743, admitted to Middle Temple, and called to the Bar there in 1746. Blackstone is considered responsible for completing the Codrington Library and Warton Building, on 3 July 1753 he formally gave up his practice as a barrister and instead embarked on a series of lectures on English law, the first of their kind. In November 1765 he published the first of four volumes of Commentaries on the Laws of England, considered his magnum opus and he remained in this position until his death, on 14 February 1780. Blackstones controversial legacy and main work of note is his Commentaries, designed to provide a complete overview of English law, the four-volume treatise was repeatedly republished in 1770,1773,1774,1775,1778 and in a posthumous edition in 1783. Legal education in England had stalled, Blackstones work gave the law at least a veneer of scholarly respectability, williams father, Charles Blackstone, was a silk mercer from Cheapside, the son of a wealthy apothecary. He became firm friends with Thomas Bigg, a surgeon and the son of Lovelace Bigg, after Biggs sister Mary came to London, Charles eventually persuaded her to marry him in 1718. This was not seen as a match for her, but the couple lived happily and had four sons. Charles and Henry, both fellows of New College, Oxford and took holy orders. Their last son, William, was born on 10 July 1723, although Charles and Mary Blackstone were members of the middle class rather than landed gentry, they were particularly prosperous. Tax records show Charles Blackstone to have been the second most prosperous man in the parish in 1722 and this, along with Thomas Biggs assistance to the family following Charles death, helps explain the educational upbringing of the children. William Blackstone was sent to Charterhouse School in 1730, nominated by Charles Wither, William did well there, and became head of the school by age 15. However, after Charles death the family declined, and after Mary died the familys resources largely went to meet unpaid bills. William was able to remain at Charterhouse as a poor scholar, Blackstone revelled in Charterhouses academic curriculum, particularly the Latin poetry of Ovid and Virgil. He began to note as a poet at school, writing a 30-line set of rhyming couplets to celebrate the wedding of James Hotchkis. He also won a medal for his Latin verses on John Milton, gave the annual Latin oration in 1738. On 1 October 1738, taking advantage of a new scholarship available to Charterhouse students, Blackstone matriculated at Pembroke College, Blackstone was particularly good at Greek, mathematics and poetry, with his notes on William Shakespeare being included in George Steevens 1781 edition of Shakespeares plays
4.
Thomas Browne
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Sir Thomas Browne was an English polymath and author of varied works which reveal his wide learning in diverse fields including science and medicine, religion and the esoteric. Brownes writings display a deep curiosity towards the world, influenced by the scientific revolution of Baconian enquiry. Brownes literary works are permeated by references to Classical and Biblical sources as well as the idiosyncrasies of his own personality, the son of a silk merchant from Upton, Cheshire, he was born in the parish of St Michael, Cheapside, in London on 19 October 1605. His father died while he was young and he was sent to school at Winchester College. In 1623 Browne went to Oxford University and he settled in Norwich in 1637 and practiced medicine there until his death in 1682. Brownes first literary work was Religio Medici and this work was circulated as a manuscript among his friends. It surprised him when an edition appeared in 1642, since the work included several unorthodox religious speculations. An authorised text appeared in 1643, with some of the controversial views removed. The book is significant in the history of science because it promoted an awareness of up-to-date scientific journalism, Brownes last publication during his lifetime were two philosophical Discourses which are closely related to each other in concept. The other discourse in the diptych is antithetical in style, subject-matter, in Religio Medici, Browne confirmed his belief, in accordance with the vast majority of seventeenth century European society, in the existence of angels and witchcraft. He attended the 1662 Bury St, in 1671 King Charles II, accompanied by the Court, visited Norwich. During his visit, Charles visited Brownes home, a banquet was held in the Civic Hall St. Andrews for the Royal visit. Obliged to honour a local, the name of the Mayor of Norwich was proposed to the King for knighthood. The Mayor, however, declined the honour and proposed Brownes name instead, Sir Thomas Browne died on his 77th birthday,19 October 1682. His Library was held in the care of his eldest son Edward until 1708, the auction of Browne and his son Edwards libraries in January 1711 was attended by Hans Sloane. Editions from Sir Thomas Brownes Library subsequently became included in the collection of the British Library. His skull became the subject of dispute when it was removed from his lead coffin when accidentally re-opened by workmen in 1840. It was not re-interred until 4 July 1922 when it was registered in the church of Saint Peter Mancroft as aged 317 years
5.
Walter Norris Congreve
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General Sir Walter Norris Congreve, VC, KCB, MVO, DL was an English Army officer in the Second Boer War and the First World War, and Governor of Malta 1924-1927. He received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British, Walter Norris Congreve was the son of William and Fanny E. Congreve of Castle Church, Stafford. He was educated at Twyford School, Harrow School and Pembroke College, Congreve was commissioned a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade on 7 February 1885 and promoted to captain on 6 December 1893. The Second Boer War started in October 1899 with a Boer offensive into the British-held Natal, Congreve arrived in South Africa and was posted as a brigade major in the Ladysmith relief force. He was present at the Battle of Colenso when British troops commanded by Sir Redvers Buller attempted to cross the Tugela River to relieve the city of Ladysmith. The Boers repelled all British attempts to cross the river, and was forced to retreat in one of their biggest defeats of the war. Some of the horses and drivers were sheltering in a donga about 500 yards behind the guns, captain Congreve, with two other officers, and Corporal George Edward Nurse retrieved two of the guns. All four received the VC for this action, then, although wounded himself, seeing one of the officers fall, Congreve went out with Major William Babtie, RAMC, who also received the VC for this action, and brought in the wounded man. About 500 yards behind the guns was a donga in which some of the few horses, the intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire. Captain Congreve, Rifle Brigade, who was in the donga, assisted to hook a team into a limber, went out, being wounded, he took shelter, but, seeing Lieutenant Roberts fall, badly wounded, he went out again and brought him in. Captain Congreve was shot through the leg, through the toe of his boot, grazed on the elbow and the shoulder, and his horse shot in three places. Wounded, Congreve did not take part in the relief of Ladysmith in February 1900, but he was back in service later that year. He served as adjutant in an established colonial mounted infantry regiment which, with the leave of Lord Roberts, was named after his Chief of Staff. Kitcheners Horse was employed, with distinction, in the operations undertaken by Lord Roberts in February 1900 for the relief of Kimberley and his advance on Bloemfontein and later Pretoria. Lord Kitchener took over the command of British forces in South Africa in November 1900. He was promoted to major on 21 December 1901, and on the day received a brevet promotion as lieutenant-colonel in recognition of services in South Africa. Following the end of hostilities in early June 1902, he left Cape Town on board the SS Orotava together with Lord Kitchener and he was mentioned in a despatch by Lord Kitchener in June 1902. After the Boer War Congreve held a series of posts in Britain
