Neville Richard Murphy

Neville Richard Murphy[1] (3 March 1890 – 15 July 1971)[2] was Principal of Hertford College, Oxford from 1939 to 1959.

Life and career

Murphy was educated at Christ's Hospital and Brasenose College, Oxford. During World War I he served as an officer in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. A classicist and horologist,[3] he was a fellow and tutor at Hertford College, Oxford, from 1919 to 1939, and Principal of Hertford from 1939[4] to 1959.[5]

The official history of Oxford University uses Murphy as an example of an eccentric don: he was known as the "undisclosed principal" because of his reticence and for repairing watches for undergraduates better than the college porter.[3]

His book, The Interpretation of Plato's Republic, was published by Oxford University Press in 1951.[6]

His portrait by Stanley Spencer hangs in the Senior Common Room at Hertford College.[7]

Academic offices
Preceded by Principal of Hertford College, Oxford
1939–1959 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ Wiki Art
  2. ^ "Obituary Mr Neville Murphy" The Times Friday, July 16, 1971 Issue 58226 p.14
  3. ^ a b The History of the University of Oxford: Volume VIII: The Twentieth Century. Oxford University Press. 7 April 1994. ISBN 9780198229742. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Principal Of Hertford College" The Times Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1939 Issue 48444 p.6
  5. ^ Anon (2017). "Murphy, Neville Richard". Who's Who. A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.157854. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  6. ^ The interpretation of Plato's Republic. 1951. OCLC 761500. Retrieved 7 September 2020 – via WorldCat.
  7. ^ Kennedy, Maev (21 September 2014). "'Dead white men' make way for women at Oxford". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2020.


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