Henry Sidgwick

Henry Sidgwick (1838-1900) was a philosopher and economist in the utilitarian tradition. His book The Methods of Ethics appeared in 1874. From 1883 he held the Knightbridge chair of moral philosophy at Cambridge until his death.

Trinity College

Sidgwick studied at Trinity College, and in 1859 he finished as senior classic and 33rd wrangler. The college elected him to a fellowship that year, and for a decade he lectured there in classics. In 1869 he moved to a lectureship in moral philosophy and resigned his fellowship, because he felt unable in conscience to make the religious declaration the college then required. After the religious test was removed, Trinity elected him a fellow again in 1885. He had also joined the Cambridge Apostles while he was a student there.

Newnham College

Sidgwick was among the organisers of the lectures for women that began in Cambridge, and he is credited with the suggestion that led Anne Clough to open a house of residence for students. That house, for five women, grew into Newnham College. The first building of the college went up in 1875 on the site off what is now Sidgwick Avenue. Sidgwick married Eleanor Balfour in 1876, and when the North Hall was added in 1880 he lived there for two years. After Clough's death in 1892 Eleanor became principal, and the couple lived at the college for the rest of his life.

Sidgwick Avenue

The university says the road is named after Henry and Eleanor Sidgwick. Sidgwick Avenue runs between Grange Road and Queen's Road, with Newnham, Ridley Hall, Selwyn and the Sidgwick Site along it. That site, which holds the faculties of Law, History, Economics and Politics among others, also takes his name.

Visiting

Newnham and the Sidgwick Site can be seen from Sidgwick Avenue, and Trinity College is covered on its own page.