Founding of Selwyn College, Cambridge

Background. Following the death of George Augustus Selwyn in 1878, Cambridge scholars established the Selwyn Memorial Committee, with Charles Abraham as secretary, to create a college in his memory. Selwyn, a former scholar of St John's College and participant in the 1829 Boat Race, played an important role in the establishment of New Zealand as its first bishop.

Charter and Object. Queen Victoria granted a Charter of Incorporation on 13 September 1882, sealed on the same date. The charter defined the college's purpose as providing academic education for students willing to live economically, combining sober living, high culture, and Christian training based on Church of England principles.

Early Operations. Construction of Old Court began in 1880, with the foundation stone laid in 1881. The college officially opened in October 1882, initially functioning as a Public Hostel rather than a full college. Its first 28 undergraduates joined the Master and Fellows, with fees kept low to accommodate students who could not afford typical Oxbridge costs.

Governance Setup. Before the charter was granted, key governance roles were established. Arthur Lyttelton was formally elected as the first Master on 10 March 1879. Additionally, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archibald Tait, was invited to become the Visitor on 28 June 1878, setting up the administrative framework for the new institution.