Thomas Jex-Blake Explained

Thomas William Jex-Blake (1832–1915) was an Anglican priest and educationalist.^{[1] [2]}

He was born on 26 January 1832, the son of lawyer Thomas Jex-Blake and the brother of Sophia Jex-Blake, who was a pioneer in women doctors in the United Kingdom.^[3] He was educated at Rugby^[4] and University College, Oxford.^[5]

His career in education began with a school master position at Marlborough, which he left to become assistant master at Rugby. From 1868 to 1874 he was principal of Cheltenham College and from 1874 to 1887 headmaster of Rugby.

After this second period at Rugby, his working life solely as an Anglican minister began when he became rector of Alvechurch. In 1891 he was appointed dean of Wells,^[6] a post he held for two decades.

He died on 2 July 1915.^[7]

Personal life

He married Henrietta Cordery in 1857. They had nine daughters and two sons, among them educationalists Katharine Jex-Blake and Henrietta Jex-Blake, and doctors Bertha Jex-Blake and Arthur John Jex-Blake.^{[8] [9]}

References

1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=153-mc233&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18#-1 National Archives
2. http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/education/Deans.pdf Deans of Wells
3. Web site: Blake, Sophia Louisa Jex- (1840–1912), physician and campaigner for women's rights . 2022-09-29 . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/34189.
4. [Who's Who|“Who was Who” 1897-2007]
5. [The Times]
6. 'New Dean Of Wells'. The Times, 12 February 1959, Issue 54383, p. 12, col D.
7. 'Death Of Dr. Jexblake. Late Dean Of Wells.' The Times, 3 July 1915, Issue 40897, p. 11, col E.
8. Web site: Blake, Katharine Jex- (1860–1951), classical scholar and college head . 2022-09-29 . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/48441.
9. Web site: Blake, Thomas William Jex- (1832–1915), headmaster and dean of Wells . 2022-09-29 . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/34190.