# Newcastle Scholarship

The Newcastle Scholarship is an annual prize awarded at Eton College in England for the highest performance in a series of special written examinations taken over the course of a week. It was instituted and first awarded in 1829 and is the college's most prestigious prize. Originally focused on both Divinity and Classics (which is now examined separately), the main prize now covers philosophical theology, moral theory, and applied ethics.

## History

The scholarship was instituted and first awarded in 1829 on the initiative and benefaction of Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle. The Statutes, recorded in 1841, state:
'The design and object of these Scholarships is to promote and encourage a Religious education and sound and useful Learning in general among the Scholars of Eton School, including particularly accurate Scholarship in Greek and Roman literature but most especially and principally to inculcate a thorough knowledge of the Evidence, Doctrines and Precepts of the Christian Religion.'
The winner of the Newcastle Scholarship was awarded a cash prize of £250, a considerable sum in 1829, while the runner-up received a gold medal. Originally a series of up to twelve examinations in the ancient languages and in knowledge of Biblical texts, the Scholarship was split into two in 1977, becoming one Prize for Divinity and one for Classics.

## Exam format

Since 1987 the Newcastle Scholarship has been an examination in philosophical theology, moral theory, and applied ethics. Candidates sit two three-hour papers after Long Leave (the mid-term break) in the Lent Half (the winter term). Each paper consists of about 12 questions divided into two sections. Candidates must answer three questions in each paper, at least one chosen from each section.
Since its foundation, many distinguished British theologians and philosophers have been invited to examine the Newcastle. In 1840 William Gladstone was one of the examiners, together with Lord Lyttelton. In addition to setting the papers and marking the scripts, they choose a set book on a theme of their choice, upon which candidates are examined.

## Winners

Distinguished winners of the Newcastle Scholarship have included Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy (1831), William Johnson Cory (1841), William Ralph Inge (1879), M. R. James (1882), Patrick Shaw-Stewart (1905), Arthur Rhys-Davids (1916), Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone (1925), Douglas Hurd (1947), William Waldegrave (1965, previously Provost of Eton College) and Kwasi Kwarteng (1992). Those who have become professional classicists include Roger Mynors (1922), Charles Willink (1946), Adrian Hollis (1958), Richard Jenkyns (1966) and Armand D’Angour (1976).
The following is a list of winning Scholars, and Medallists (runners-up) since 1946. They are listed with their post-nominals earned at the school: "KS": King's Scholar; "OS": Oppidan Scholar; "MS": Music Scholar; "ME": Music Exhibitioner.
"ma" indicates the elder of two brothers at the school, or exceptionally the eldest of three or the second of four or more; "mi" similarly indicates the second of two or three, or the third of four or more.
| Year | Scholar | Medallist |
| 1946 | C. W. Willink, KS | T. J. Burrows, KS |
| 1947 | D. R. Hurd, KS | S. Goldblatt, KS |
| 1948 | C. L. Drage, OS | S. M. Haskell, KS |
| 1949 | S. M. Haskell, KS | S. H. Willink, KS |
| 1950 | S. H. Willink, KS | M. C. Stokes, KS |
| 1951 | S. L. Egerton, KS | M. C. Stokes, KS |
| 1952 | M. Mortimer, KS | W. J. A. Wickham, OS |
| 1953 | S. L. Hugh-Jones, KS | R. C. Palmer, KS |
| 1954 | R. B. O’G. Anderson ma KS | P. M. O. Stafford, KS |
| 1955 | N. P. Bayne, KS | C. M. K. Taylor ma KS |
| 1956 | E. L. Hussey, KS | P. T. S. Carson, KS |
| 1957 | M. Elliott, KS | A. S. Hollis, KS |
| 1958 | A. S. Hollis, KS | T. R. Adès, KS |
| 1959 | T. R. Adès, KS | J. P. Steele, KS |
| 1960 | K. A. O. Fulton, KS | G. A. D. Emerson, KS |
| 1961 | G. A. D. Emerson, KS | J. V. Kerby, KS |
| 1962 | R. J. A. Carnwath ma OS | P. T. Hutchinson, KS |
| 1963 | F. M. Prideaux, KS | R. J. Lane Fox, OS |
| 1964 | A. G. Foster-Carter, KS | R. J. Lane Fox, OS |
| 1965 | The Hon. W. G. Waldegrave, OS | The Hon. A. J. L. Bruce, OS |
| 1966 | R. H. A. Jenkyns, KS | N. S. R. Hornblower, KS |
| 1967 | J. W. Waterfield, KS | N. S. R. Hornblower, KS |
| 1968 | The Hon. P. C. H. Snow, KS | O. W. A. Barnes, KS |
| 1969 | S. P. M. Mackenzie, KS | M. P. R. Wormald, KS |
| 1970 | R. R. Oliver, OS | The Hon. A. D. A. Macdonald, OS |
| 1971 | The Hon. A. W. R. Morrison, KS | A. J. Pemberton, KS |
| 1972 | A. J. Pemberton, KS | J. D. Leigh Pemberton ma OS |
| 1973 | H. C. Lawson-Tancred, KS | S. G. Barber, OS |
| 1974 | M. J. Lyall Grant, OS | J. H. Leigh Pemberton ma OS |
| 1975 | H. C. Eyres, KS | The Hon. G. S. Monck OS |
| 1976 | A. J. D’Angour ma KS | M. A. Anderson KS |
| 1977 | A. A. J. Monson ma OS | N. I. Macpherson, KS |
| 1978 | D. W. K. Anderson, KS | M.R.V. Southern KS |
| 1979 | J. W. Mackinnon, KS | J. W. R Cummings, KS |
| 1980 | P. D. P. Barnes ma OS | M. Brandreth, KS |
| 1981 | K. K. Nath, KS | G. T. S. Davson, KS |
| 1982 | G. T. S. Davson KS | A. D. T. Cromartie, KS |
| 1983 | H. J. B. Smith, KS | A. D. T. Cromartie KS |
| 1984 | D. W. Runciman, OS | J. F. Boff, KS |
| 1985 | S. H. Mandelbrote, KS | A. J. N. Roxburgh KS |
| 1986 | P. S. Drinkall, OS | J. W. Rees-Mogg |
| 1987 | B. J. Smith ma OS | W. G. Wringe, KS |
| 1988 | H. R. M. Dimbleby | C. R. Heatly, KS MS |
| 1989 | J. B. R. Reppas ma KS | T. G. M. Mitcheson, OS |
| 1990 | E. W. J. Lamb | N. J. I. Kind, KS |
| 1991 | T. P. Elias, KS | D. K. Renton, OS |
| 1992 | K. A. A. Kwarteng, KS | F. F-T. Chen, OS |
| 1993 | D. A. S. Hugh-Jones, KS | A. C. Warr, OS |
| 1994 | I. N. M. Wright, KS | A. C. E. Ruck Keene, OS |
| 1995 | T. D. Calvocoressi, OS | R. J. Starling, KS |
| 1996 | P. M-T. Sohmen, KS ME | S. Krishnan, KS |
| 1997 | R. A. Eliott Lockhart, OS | R. V. Gowan ma KS |
| 1998 | N. T. Shah, KS | L. P. C. Geddes |
| 1999 | C. P. W. Fielding, OS | N. T. Shah, KS |
| 2000 | J. D. J. Neicho, KS | M. J. Pappenheim, KS |
| 2001 | H. H. Briance, OS | A. Grenfell ma KS ME |
| 2002 | O. J. C. Bridge | H. H. Briance, OS |
| 2003 | J. C. Dacre ma K.S | H. J. Ellis, OS |
| 2004 | H. C. R. Donati, OS | T. C. Wingfield, OS |
| 2005 | H. C. R. Donati, OS | F. J. O. Spring |
| 2006 | N. H. J. Gaisman OS ME | A. H. White mi KS |
| 2007 | M. I. L. Osman | A. T. P. Parham mi |
| 2008 | G. K. Kotecha, KS | J. H. F. Roxburgh, KS |
| 2009 | A. A. Nadeem, KS | R. Mehan, OS |
| 2010 | A. A. Cornish, KS | D. J. F. C. Leung, KS MS |
| 2011 | W. J. Gowers, KS | H. Xu, KS |
| 2012 | M. A. P. Seely, KS | H. Xu, KS |
| 2013 | H. C. Elliott ma KS | S. A. P. Norman ma OS ME |
| 2014 | C. J. Styles | A. A. Groes, OS |
| 2015 | B. P. Barnard | W. Baker |
| 2016 | J. Choo-Choy | M. Woernle ma OS |
| 2017 | L. Fraser-Taliente OS | L. Li KS |
| 2018 | K. Power KS | A. F. Warley |
| 2019 | G. Conradie KS | P. D. Anderson |
| 2020 | F. A. W. Kirkby MS | W. I. S. Ferguson ma |
| 2021 | M. K. N. DeLorenzo ma KS | J. Chang, KS MS |
| 2022 | M. K. N. DeLorenzo ma KS | R. C. Z. Power OS |
| 2023 | A. M. H. McCallum KS | A. R. A. McIntyre OS ME |
| 2024 | E. W. H. Brown OS ME | R. P. M. McKee |

## Recent Examiners

| Year | Examiner | Set Text |
| 1988 | Professor John MacQuarrie (Christ Church, Oxford) | Peace Studies: The Hard Questions |
| 1989 | Canon Brian Hebblethwaite (Queens’ College. Cambridge) | Mahoney, Bioethics and Belief |
| 1990 | Professor Stephen Prickett (Glasgow University) | Prickett, What do the Translators Think They are Up To? |
| 1991 | Rabbi Julia Neuberger | Webster, A Brief History of Blasphemy |
| 1992 | The Rt Revd Stephen Sykes (Bishop of Ely) | Report on Faith in the Countryside |
| 1993 | Professor Basil Mitchell (Oxford University) | Sacks, The Persistence of Faith |
| 1994 | Sir Anthony Kenny (Rhodes House, Oxford) | Casey, Pagan Virtue |
| 1995 | Professor Stephen Clark (Liverpool University) | Regis, Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition |
| 1996 | Dr Janet Martin Soskice (Jesus College, Cambridge) | Sacks, Faith in the Future |
| 1997 | Dr Graham Ward (Peterhouse, Cambridge) | Weil, Gravity and Grace |
| 1998 | Professor David Pailin (Manchester University) | Mesle, Process Theology |
| 1999 | Professor Peter Lipton (King's College, Cambridge) | Nagel, Mortal Questions |
| 2000 | Professor Ann Loades MBE (Durham University) | Pelikan, Jesus through the Centuries |
| 2001 | Mr Michael Proudfoot (Reading University) | Warnock, Imagination and Time |
| 2002 | Professor John Webster (Christ Church, Oxford) | MacIntyre, Dependent Rational Animals |
| 2003 | Professor Roger Trigg (Warwick University) | Fukuyama, Our Posthuman Future |
| 2004 | Professor Anthony O'Hear (Birmingham University) | Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion |
| 2005 | Professor George Pattison (Christ Church, Oxford) | Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling |
| 2006 | Dr Fraser Watts (Queens’ College, Cambridge) | James Proctor, Science, Religion and the Human Experience |
| 2007 | Dr Susan Parsons (Universities of Cambridge and Nottingham) | Anselm, Proslogion |
| 2009 | Dr Douglas Hedley (Clare College, Cambridge) | Kant, The Moral Law |
| 2010 | Professor John Cottingham (Reading University) | Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality |
| 2011 | Dr Paolo Crivelli (New College, Oxford) | Plato, Phaedo |
| 2012 | Dr Dave Leal (Brasenose College, Oxford) | Ryle, The Concept of Mind |
| 2013 | Professor Derek Matravers (Emmanuel College, Cambridge) | Williams, Morality |
| 2014 | Dr William Wood (Oriel College, Oxford) | Pascal, Pensées |
| 2015 | Dr Clare Carlisle (King's College, London) | Lear, Radical Hope |
| 2016 | Dr Jonathan Loose (Universities of London and Cambridge) | Plantinga, Knowledge and Christian Belief |
| 2017 | Professor John Skorupski (Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of St Andrews) | Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy |
| 2018 | Professor Jens Timmermann (Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of St Andrews) | Kant, The Conflict of the Faculties |
| 2019 | Professor Sarah Coakley (Emeritus Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge) | Fricker, Epistemic Injustice |
| 2020 | Professor Oliver O'Donovan (Emeritus Professor of Christian Ethics, Edinburgh) | Augustine, On the Nature of the Good and Scheler, Repentance and Rebirth |
| 2021 | Dr Daniel Hill (Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Liverpool) | H.L.A. Hart, Law, Liberty and Morality |
| 2022 | Professor Edward Harcourt (Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy, Keble College, Oxford) | Iris Murdoch, The Sovereignty of Good |