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William Whewell

1794-1866.  Master; scientist, philosopher, theologian, historian of science. The statue by Woolner was executed for the College in 1872.

Whewell spent his whole adult life at Trinity, coming up as an Exhibitioner in 1812, and dying as Master in 1866, after falling from a horse.  He was Professor of Mineralogy, and subsequently of Philosophy (then called “moral theology and casuistical divinity”), and endowed a chair of International Law; he was also interested in architecture and, having presciently bought the land, he signed the contract for, and contributed financially to, the Gothic courts east of Trinity Street named in his honour but built in “the worst period of Victorian architecture".

He is mainly remembered for his encouragement of the study of the moral and natural science; he also coined many scientific terms, including the word scientist.  As well as being a polymath with a prodigious memory, Whewell was as powerful physically as his statue suggests.  “It is a well-authenticated Trinity tradition that Whewell, when Master, jumped up the Hall steps at one leap, a feat that is very seldom accomplished even by youthful athletes.”