Thomas Hewitt Key was born in London on the 20th of March, 1799. 

 He was the youngest son of Dr. Key, a London Physician, and half-brother 

 of Charles Aston Key, the eminent surgeon. 



T. H. Key was sent to the Eev. Samuel Dewe's school at Buntingford 

 in Hertfordshire, where he remained nearly ten years. From this school 

 he went to St. John's College, Cambridge ; but he removed to Trinity 

 College, Cambridge, during his undergraduateship, and obtained a scholar- 

 ship in his new college. He took his degree in 1821, and was nineteenth 



wrangler, 



Mr. Key's inclination was to go to the bar ; but in compliance with the 

 wish of his father, to whom he was a most dutiful and affectionate son, 

 he began to prepare for the medical profession, and he studied nearly two 

 years at Guy's Hospital; but his purpose was changed by the acceptance of 

 the Professorship of Mathematics in the University of Virginia, IT. S., under 

 the following circumstances. In the summer of 18 24 an agent from the State 

 of Virginia came to England to choosef our professors for the new University 

 of Virginia, which had been established by the Legislature at Charlottes- 

 ville in a central position in the State, and near Monticello, the residence 

 of Mr. Thomas Jefferson. The course of instruction was planned by Mr. 

 Jefferson, himself a Virginian, and once President of the United States. 

 He was the Rector of the new University, and even the architect, though 

 he was then past eighty years of age. He also made out a catalogue 

 of valuable books for the university library, and the agent was empowered 

 to purchase the books in England. Mr. Jefferson, as Eector and head of 

 the Board of Visitors, superintended the affairs of the University till his 

 death in 1826. In the simple inscription which he left for his tomb on 

 the hill named Monticello, he describes himself as " the author of the De- 

 claration of Independence, the act for Religious Toleration, and the Hector 

 of the University of Virginia." The Presidency of the United States is 

 not mentioned. Mr. Jefferson thought that it was a greater honour to 

 have been the active founder of a University in his native State ; and he 

 expected that it would be a great benefit to the country. Fifty years of 

 experience have confirmed his expectations, and the University of Virginia 

 is now a valuable school. 



Mr. Key before leaving England married Miss Sarah Troward, daugh- 

 ter of Richard Ironmonger Troward, who was solicitor for the prosecution 

 in Warren Hastings's trial. This happy marriage continued to his death, 

 and he had the rare felicity of celebrating his golden wedding on the 28th 

 of September, 1874. 



In Virginia Mr. Key was a successful teacher of mathematics, a science 

 for which he had a great natural capacity, and he was much beloved by 

 his pupils. In the summer of 1825, during the absence of the Professor 

 of Ancient Languages, Mr. Key, in addition to his own classes, taught 

 the Greek and Latin classes in the University. He left Charlottesville 

 in 1827 much regretted, and returned to London. During his residence 



