Balliol College (pronounced /ˈbeɪlɪəl/), founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.
Traditionally, the undergraduates are amongst the most politically active in the university, and the college's alumni include three former prime ministers. H. H. Asquith (a Balliol undergraduate and British Prime Minister) once wryly described Balliol men as possessing "the tranquil consciousness of an effortless su...
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Balliol College (pronounced /ˈbeɪlɪəl/), founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.
Traditionally, the undergraduates are amongst the most politically active in the university, and the college's alumni include three former prime ministers. H. H. Asquith (a Balliol undergraduate and British Prime Minister) once wryly described Balliol men as possessing "the tranquil consciousness of an effortless superiority". Adam Smith, a graduate student of the college, is perhaps its best known alumnus. During Benjamin Jowett's Mastership in the 19th century, the College rose from its relative obscurity to occupy the first rank of colleges, and indeed continues to play a prominent role. In 2006, 45.1% of finalists got First Class Honours degrees, a higher proportion than any other Oxford college has ever achieved, and was placed second in the Norrington Table. As of 2006, Balliol had an endowment of £78 m.
The College was founded in about 1263 ...
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