Editing Hertford College, Oxford (section)

=== Richard Newton's Hertford College ===
On 28 July 1710, the Rev [[Richard Newton (academic)|Richard Newton]] was admitted principal of Hart Hall. Newton was a well-connected, energetic, educational reformer. He was appointed principal from 'a very peaceful retirement' as Rector of [[Sudborough]], where he was personal tutor to two brothers, who were both destined to be prime minister — [[Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle|Thomas Pelham-Holles]] and [[Henry Pelham]] — bringing the younger with him to Hart Hall. He dedicated himself to raising the hall from debt and securing a firmer financial endowment. Newton planned to redesign the hall around a proper [[quadrangle (architecture)|quadrangle]], with a tutor, or ''angler'', and students living in each angle, and common buildings along the sides. However, only two buildings in his design were ever built: one angle in the south-east corner of the Old Quadrangle (nowadays known as the Cottage), and his simple stone Chapel on the south side (consecrated 25 November 1716), which now serves as the college's Library. These buildings were financed entirely from Newton's pocket, to the sum of around £2000 (around £{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|2000|1716|r=-3}}}} adjusted for inflation).<ref name=Hamilton />{{rp|pp. 40–41}}

In 1720, Newton published his ''Scheme of Disciplines'' laying out his scheme of education with a view to obtaining a charter of incorporation,<ref>The full title is, ''Scheme of Discipline with Statutes intended to be established by a Royal Charter for the education of the youth in Hart Hall, in the University of Oxford''</ref> and, on 18 May 1723, he presented his petition for a charter. The proposal met immediate opposition, especially from Exeter College, exercising its old rights, and All Souls, desiring to expand northward onto the hall's land. In addition, the appointments of principals for the various halls had established itself in a game of promotion, and a few would-be principals opposed the plan. [[John Conybeare]], then a Fellow of Exeter, and later Bishop of [[Bristol]], was Newton's most ardent opponent, penning the book ''Calumny Refuted'' against Newton's reforms. After years of struggle, Richard Newton's statutes were accepted on 3 November 1739, and the charter incorporating 'the Principal and Fellows of Hertford College' (''Principalis et Socii Collegii Hertfordiensis'') was received on 8 September 1740.<ref name=Hamilton />{{rp|pp. 42–63}}

Newton's Hertford was a relatively spartan college, having received no real endowment. Meals were simple and cheap, and the principal insisted on eating the same as everyone else. Students were expected to work hard, and, where Newton found the university's education lacking, he supplemented it with disputations within the college. Newton allowed gentlemen-commoners to matriculate at the college, but they paid double fees for the same accommodation and food as the others. They were originally allowed to wear their coloured gowns and tufted caps, but Newton eventually made them wear the ordinary black gown. Thus, many a well-to-do family sent their sons to Hertford College to instil in them some disciplined education, unlike the privileged wining and dining had by gentlemen-commoners in other colleges.<ref name=Hamilton />{{rp|pp. 64–81}}