Description
Chair used by William Wales during his time as Master of the Royal Mathematical School at Christ’s Hospital, Newgate Street, London.  The front stretcher shows signs of wear due to the occupier’s feet resting on it.  A brass plate is inset at the back of the chair with the inscription below.

History
As Master of the Royal Mathematical School, 1775-1798, William Wales taught mathematics, astronomy and navigation, principally to the scholars known as ‘King’s Boys’, who were destined for naval careers as officers.
Founded by Edward VI, son of Henry VIII, in 1552, Christ’s Hospital school was established at the site of the Greyfriars in Newgate Street, London, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, for the education of the poor orphans and street children of the city.  Then in 1673, during the age of enlightenment when the country was seeking a stronger maritime presence in the world, Charles II established the Royal Mathematical School within Christ’s Hospital.   The school remained in Newgate Street for 350 years, and in 1902 moved to Horsham in Sussex to new premises.  Some of the fabric along with a lot of the interior was moved to Horsham at this time.   

Inscription

CHAIR
USED BY WILLIAM WALES FRS
Sometime Head Mathematical Master of
Christ’s Hospital,
Acting astronomer on the ‘Resolution’
During Captain Cook’s
Second Voyage Round the World
1772-5

GPS Co-ordinates:    51.043969, -0.362891

References
Wales, Wendy.  Captain Cook’s Compute: The Life of William Wales FRS (1734-1798).  Hame House.  2015. 

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