Fun Facts Friday: Charles Stuart Calverley

Charles Stuart Calverley (22 December 1831 – 27 February, 1884) was an English poet and writer, considered one of the most brilliant man of his time.

1)      He was born as Charles Stuart Blayds in Worcestershire.

2)      When he went to Oxford, Mr. Calverley was known as a daring and high-spirited student.

3)      He was also known for concentrating more on his social life than academic career.

4)      A story is told about Mr. Calverley winning Oxford’s Chancellor’s prize for Latin verse. It is said he was locked in his rooms for an entire afternoon, not letting him out until he write a poem they all agreed would win the prize.

5)      Eventually though, this favorite student and a brilliant scholar was expelled from Oxford.

6)      After his expulsion, he changed his last name to Calverley (his grandfather changed it to Blayds, but Charles and his father changed it back) to avoid consequences and finished his schooling at Christ’s College, Cambridge.

7)      To this day, Mr. Calverley is the only undergraduate to win the Chancellor’s prize for Latin verse in both universities.

8)      He won the Craven scholarship in 1854, the Camden medal in 1853 and 1855, the Browne medal (Greek ode) in 1855, and the members’ prize for a Latin essay in 1856.

9)      He fell hard on his head sometimes in 1866-67 and never recovered.

10)   During the last years of his life, he lived as an invalid.

Zohar – Man of la Book