Henry Marten (educator)
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Kennett Marten KCVO (28 October 1872 – 11 December 1948) was the Provost of Eton and the private tutor of Queen Elizabeth II
.
Henry Marten was born with his twin sister Isabel in Kensington
, London
. He was the younger son of Sir Alfred Marten
and his wife, Patricia. Marten entered Eton College
, and from there matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford
, in 1891. In 1895, he graduated with a first class degree in modern history, and accepted an offer from Edmond Warre
to return to Eton to teach history.
He was a founder member of the Historical Association
in 1906. In 1912, he published The Groundwork of British History with his co-author, G. Townsend Warner, which became "one of the most used school textbooks of the first half of the twentieth century". Other collaborative works included The Teaching of History in 1938.
In 1925, Marten narrowly missed becoming Master of Magdalene College, in Cambridge
, when he was recommended as a possible candidate to Lord Braybrooke, but the College Fellows opposed the appointment in preference for another candidate, A. S. Ramsey. Braybrooke chose to appoint neither, and instead A. B. Ramsay, who was lower master at Eton, got the job. With Ramsay gone from Eton, Marten rose into Ramsay's vacated post. Further promotions followed, to vice-provost in 1929, and provost in 1945.
In 1938, Marten began instructing Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II)
in constitutional history. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1945 New Year Honours
, and received the accolade
from King George VI
on 4 March 1945, on the steps of Eton College Chapel.
He died unmarried at the Provost's lodge at Eton, where the Marten Library is named after him. The library contains his collection of books, which he bequeathed to Eton on his death.
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
Henry Marten was born with his twin sister Isabel in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was the younger son of Sir Alfred Marten
Alfred Marten
Sir Alfred George Marten, Kt., QC, MP was an English politician and barrister. He was Member of Parliament for Cambridge, between 1874 and 1880, as a member of the Conservative Party...
and his wife, Patricia. Marten entered Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, and from there matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, in 1891. In 1895, he graduated with a first class degree in modern history, and accepted an offer from Edmond Warre
Edmond Warre
Edmond Warre C.V.O. was an English rower and headmaster of Eton College from 1884-1905.Warre was born in London, the son of Henry Warre, of Bindon House, near Wellington. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, where he had a distinguished career, taking a double first...
to return to Eton to teach history.
He was a founder member of the Historical Association
Historical Association
The Historical Association is an organisation founded in 1906 and based in London, England. The goals of the Historical Association are to support "the study and enjoyment of history at all levels by creating an environment that promotes lifelong learning and provides for the evolving needs of...
in 1906. In 1912, he published The Groundwork of British History with his co-author, G. Townsend Warner, which became "one of the most used school textbooks of the first half of the twentieth century". Other collaborative works included The Teaching of History in 1938.
In 1925, Marten narrowly missed becoming Master of Magdalene College, in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, when he was recommended as a possible candidate to Lord Braybrooke, but the College Fellows opposed the appointment in preference for another candidate, A. S. Ramsey. Braybrooke chose to appoint neither, and instead A. B. Ramsay, who was lower master at Eton, got the job. With Ramsay gone from Eton, Marten rose into Ramsay's vacated post. Further promotions followed, to vice-provost in 1929, and provost in 1945.
In 1938, Marten began instructing Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II)
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in constitutional history. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1945 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, and received the accolade
Accolade
In the Middle Ages, the accolade was the central act in the rite-of-passage ceremonies conferring knighthood.-Ceremony:...
from King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
on 4 March 1945, on the steps of Eton College Chapel.
He died unmarried at the Provost's lodge at Eton, where the Marten Library is named after him. The library contains his collection of books, which he bequeathed to Eton on his death.