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William Boultbee Sleath

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William Boultbee Sleath, 1813 engraving

William Boultbee Sleath (c. 1763 – 21 October 1843) was an English teacher and clergyman who was headmaster of Repton School from 1800 to 1830.[1]

Sleath was born in Broughton, Leicestershire around 1763, and attended Rugby School. On leaving school in December 1778, he was immediately appointed assistant master at the same school.[2] Sleath was later educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, obtaining a B.D. in 1797.[3] He continued as a master at Rugby until he was elected headmaster of Repton School in 1800. In 1802 he obtained a D.D. degree.[1] During his 30-year period as head of Repton school, he both raised its standards and significantly increased the number of students.[4]

He was known as an excellent teacher, and as an erudite scholar, distinguished for his researches in Anglo-Saxon England.[1] It was said of him that "Dr. Sleath's conversation was always entertaining and instructive and he did not at any period of his life possess the virtue of taciturnity".[2] After his retirement in 1830 he was given the vicarage of Willington and the mastership of Etwall Hospital, an almshouse. He died on 21 October 1843 aged 80.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The Rev. W.B. Sleath, D.D.". The Gentleman's magazine, Volume 174. F. Jefferies. 1843. p. 92-92.
  2. ^ a b William Lucas Collins (1867). The public schools: Winchester--Westminster--Shrewsbury--Harrow--Rugby; notes of their history and traditions. W. Blackwood and sons. p. 357.
  3. ^ "Sleath, William Boultbee (SLT786WB)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  4. ^ Anthony W. D. Larkum (2009). A Natural Calling: Life, Letters and Diaries of Charles Darwin and William Darwin Fox. シュプリンガー・ジャパン株式会社. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4020-9232-9.