Newman , Francis William , 1805-1897 , Professor of Latin

Francis William Newman was born in London and educated at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating with a double first in 1826. As a young man he travelled in the Middle East before settling to an academic career. After holding positions in Bristol and Manchester, he became Professor of Latin at University College London in 1846, retaining the post until 1862. Newman aslo wrote widely on classical and religious topics and was a staunch supporter of women's rights and women's education. He returned to south-west England in 1866 and continued to write extensively while living in retirement at Weston-super-Mare. Unlike his elder brother, John Henry Newman (who converted to Roman Catholicism and became a cardinal), Francis Newman came to be sceptical of religious teaching, rejecting bibical authority and Christian dogma, but still considered himself to be a Christian.