Henry Reichel

Sir
Henry Reichel
Born
Henry Rudolf Reichel

October 11, 1856
Belfast, Ireland
DiedJune 22, 1931(1931-06-22) (aged 74)
Biarritz, France
Burial place
Whitechurch, Rathfarnham, Ireland
Other nameHarry Reichel
EducationBalliol College, Oxford, M.A.
OccupationsAcademic administrator and educator
Years active1880–1931
Employer(s)Jesus College, Oxford

All Souls College, Oxford
University College of North Wales
University of Wales

Coleg Harlech

Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel (11 October 1856 – 22 June 1931), was an Irish academic administrator. He was a founder and vice chancellor of the University of Wales and the first principal of University College of North Wales, now Bangor University, serving in this capacity for 43 years. He was also the president of Coleg Harlech.

Early life

Reichel was born in Belfast, Ireland, on 11 October 1856. He was the second son of Mary Brown (née McCrackedn) and Charles Parsons Reichel, professor of ecclesiastical history at Dublin University and Bishop of Meath.

Reichel was educated at Christ's Hospital in Horsham, West Sussex, England. He then attended Balliol College, Oxford, receiving an M.A. in 1875.

Career

"Harry" Reichel was a Fellow at Jesus College, Oxford. He was then had two appointments as a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, where he lectured in modern history from 1880 until 1895.

He was appointed the first principal of the University College of North Wales, in Bangor in 1888 when he was 28 years old. His many accomplishments include creating the school of agriculture, the school of forestry, the department of music, and the school of theology. He also raised more than 100,000 pounds for college buildings.

Reichel helped establish the University of Wales in Cardiff, Wales, serving as its vice chancellor for six terms, from 1889 to 1901, 1905 to 1907, 1911 to 1913, 1917 to 1921, and 1926 to 1927. After 43 years, he retired in September 1927 as rector emeritus from the University College of North Wales. He had planned on retiring in the fall of 1924, but extended his service at the request of the Governors of University College of North Wales. He then became president of Coleg Harlech, a new adult education center in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales.

He was the chairman of the Board of Examinations for Educational Handbook, starting in 1898 and continuing until at least 1913. He was also a member of the Moseley Commission who went to the United States in 1903 and consulted on educational issues in Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand, he spent the summer of worked on the federal system of the National University of New Zealand and its four colleges as chairman of the Royal Commission of University Education. He was also a member of the Consultative Committee of the New Zealand Board of Education from 1907 to 1915.

Honors

In June 1901, Reichel received an honorary doctorate (LL.D) from the University of Glasgow during the university's 450th jubilee. He was Knighted by King Edward VII in 1907. He received an LL.D. from the University of Wales in July 1928.

Personal life

Reichel married Charity Mary Pilkington on February 1, 1894. She was the daughter of Henry Mulock Pilkington, a Queens Counsel, from Tyrellspass, County Westmeath, Ireland. She died on November 11, 1911.

Reichel was a member of the Savile Club and was a founder of the Bangor Musical Club. He was also a supporter of the Welsh Folk-Song Society. He enjoyed rifle shooting, golf, and cycling. He was elected president of the Welsh League of Nations Union, a grassroots peace movement, in May 1928.

Reichel died on 22 June 1931 while on a holiday at Biarritz, France. He was buried in Whitechurch, Rathfarnham, Ireland.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sladen, Douglas Brooke Wheelton; Lawson, William John; Oakes, Charles Henry; Addison, H. R (1913). Who's Who (65th ed.). London: Adam & Charles Black. p. 1677 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ↑ D'Arcy, Charles Frederick (1934). The Adventures of a Bishop: A Phase of Irish Life: a Personal and Historical Narrative. London: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 297 – via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 Poulton, Sir Edward Bagnall (1911). John Viriamu Jones and Other Oxford Memories. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. p. 282 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Evans, David Emrys. "Reichel, Sir Harry (Henry Rudolf) (1856 - 1931), first principal of University College, Bangor". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) p. 735 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
  6. 1 2 3 "Tribute to Sir Harry Reichel. Honorary Degree from Welsh University". Liverpool Daily Post. 25 July 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Life Works for Wales. A Pioneer of Light and Learning. Passing of Sir Harry Reichel". Western Mail. Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales. 26 June 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Sir Harry Reichel". The Times. No. 45858. London, England. 25 June 1931. p. 16. Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Great Educationist". Manchester Evening News. 18 December 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Sir Harry Reichel's Retirement". The Manchester Guardian. 30 September 1927. p. 6. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Personal Notes". The Education Outlook and Education Times. 76 (6): 240. June 1924 – via Google Books.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Sir Henry Reichel". The North Wales Weekly News. Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, Wales. 12 July 1907. p. 14. Retrieved 14 July 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Wales--University College of North Wales Bangor". The University Bulletin. 5 (1): 33. December 1925.
  14. ↑ "Glasgow University Jubilee". The Times. No. 36481. London. 14 June 1901. p. 10. Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 3 4 A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage, and Companionage. Harrison & Sons. 1917. p. 2715 – via Google Books.
  16. ↑ "Music in Wales". The Musical Times: 748. 1 August 1921 – via Google Books.