James Franck Bright

Biography

Franck Bright was born in London, England, the son of the physician Richard Bright. He was educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford, (he gained an Oxford Master of Arts {MA Oxon} in 1851 and a Doctor of Divinity {DD}) and was then a schoolmaster at Marlborough College, where he was Head of the Modern Department for sixteen years. Bright became a history tutor at Balliol College in 1872, Dean of University College in 1874, and Master of University College from 1881 to 1906. He died at Ditchingham, Norfolk, UK.

Bright wrote a history of Victorian England, "The Growth of Democracy", and a biography of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. He was a progressive leader at Oxford, helping to improve teaching standards and arguing that theological degrees could be awarded to non-members of the Church of England. In 1882, Bright was one of the first dons at Oxford University to allow women students to attend his lectures, in University College Hall.

In addition to academic activities, Bright was a member of the Oxford City Council, and Treasurer of the Radcliffe Infirmary. He was also shot by a lady in an incident at University College, but survived.

The Shelley Memorial was installed during Bright's mastership, celebrating the life of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822), an alumnus of University College. At an opening ceremony on 14 June 1893, Lady Jane Shelley, the widow of the poet's son Percy Florence Shelley (1819–1889), presented the Master with a golden key, giving access to the chamber containing the memorial. Bright described Shelley as "the rebel of eighty years ago", "the hero of the present century", and "a prophet who prophesied good things, and not bad".

Some of Bright's sermon manuscripts are held in the University College archives.

Selected works