William Thomas Arnold

William Thomas Arnold (1852–1904) was an Australian-born, English writer and journalist. He was a writer for The Manchester Guardian for seventeen years.

Arnold was born at Hobart, Tasmania, on 18 September 1852, eldest son and second child of Thomas Arnold; his mother was Julia, daughter of William Sorell, registrar of deeds, Hobart, and his elder sister was the novelist Mrs. Humphry Ward. On the return of his parents to England in 1856 Arnold lived mainly with his father's relations at Fox How, Ambleside. From 1862 to 1865 he was at the Oratory School, Birmingham, where his father was classical master under John Henry Newman. When Thomas Arnold left the Roman Catholic church, his son was sent to Rugby School, where he lived for a year with the headmaster, Frederick Temple, and then in September 1866 entered Charles Arnold's house. He matriculated on 14 October 1871 at University College, Oxford, then under the mastership of George Bradley, and was elected to a scholarship in 1872. He took a second class both in honour moderations (in 1873) and in lit. hum. (in 1875). After graduating B.A. in 1876 Arnold settled at Oxford, combining literary work with private coaching.

In 1879 Arnold became a journalist, joining the staff of the Manchester Guardian and settling in Manchester; he wrote for the paper for 17 years. He was a Gladstonian liberal in politics, and a combative participant in the long Irish Home Rule controversy of 1885–95. He helped to develop the literary section of the Guardian and he encouraged local artists, taking part in the establishment of the Manchester School of Art. His house at Manchester was the centre of a political, literary, and artistic circle.

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