Universities

Universities

Apart from the few years when Northampton (1261-1265) and Stamford (1333-1335) had their own universities, the only ones authorised to grant degrees in England or Wales before 1832 were at Cambridge and Oxford. The young men who studied there before the 19th century sometimes arrived at a considerably earlier age than is now normal. Many originated from Northamptonshire or lived in the county later in life.

Students were not recruited from a random cross-section of society but nor were their families necessarily well-to-do, particularly if they had attended a school which provided education free of charge and a schoolmaster or other patron provided helpful connections. Graduates might become members of professions such as clergy, lawyers and teachers but not exclusively so; others can be found working in trade, agriculture or sunk into misfortune and poverty.

Lists of members of the two universities, containing details such as parentage, birthplace, previous school and degrees granted, can be found online for the matriculation (enrolling) periods and surname groups shown below:

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