Editing Edwin Abbott Abbott (section)

== Early life and education==
Edwin Abbott Abbott was the eldest son of [[Edwin Abbott (educator)|Edwin Abbott]] (1808&ndash;1882), headmaster of the Philological School, [[Marylebone]], and his wife, Jane Abbott (1806&ndash;1882). His parents were first cousins.

He was born in London and educated at the [[City of London School]] and at [[St John's College, Cambridge|St John's College]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]],<ref>{{cite book | editor-last=Malden | editor-first=Richard | editor-link=Richard Malden | title= Crockford's Clerical Directory for 1920 |edition=51st | location= London | publisher= The Field Press| pages=1 | year=1920 }}</ref> where he took the highest honours of his class in [[classics]], [[mathematics]] and [[theology]], and became a [[fellow]] of his college. In particular, he was 1st [[Smith's Prize|Smith's prizeman]] in 1861.<ref>{{acad|id=ABT857EA|name=Abbott, Edwin Abbott}}</ref>{{efn|group=notes|name=venn-error|This seems to be an error by Venn: Colby's preface to Abbott's ''Flatland'' states that Abbott was 7th ''Senior Optime'', ''Senior Classic'' and 1st Chancellor's Medallist in 1861; William Steadman Aldis was 1st Smith's Prizeman in 1861.}}