Edward White Benson

Educated at King Edward's School in Birmingham and Trinity College , Cambridge , Benson began his career as a schoolmaster at Rugby School in 1852. In 1859 Benson was chosen by Prince Albert as the first Master (headmaster) of Wellington College , Berkshire, which had been built as the nation's memorial to the Duke Of Wellington . Benson was largely responsible for establishing Wellington as a great English public school, closely modelled on Rugby School, rather than the military academy originally planned. He later served as Chancellor of Lincoln Minster from 1872-77, and Bishop of Truro from 1877-82.

Benson told Henry James a simple, rather inexpert story he had heard about the ghosts of evil servants who tried to lure young children to their deaths. James recorded the hint in his '' Notebooks '' and eventually used it as the starting-point for his classic ghost story, '' The Turn Of The Screw ''.

Benson and his wife Mary Sidgwick Benson , the sister of philosopher Henry Sidgwick , had six children, none of whom ever married. Their fifth child was the novelist E. F. Benson . Another son was A C Benson , the author of the lyrics to Elgar 's Land Of Hope And Glory and master of Magdalene College , Cambridge. Their six and youngest child, Robert Hugh Benson , converted to Roman Catholicism and wrote several novels. His daughter Margaret Benson was an artist, author and amateur Egyptologist .

Benson died from Cardiovascular Disease in 1896.

Information About ™

Edward White Benson

Information About ^{^™}