Biography
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CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF C.S. LEWIS
1898(Courtesy of the C.S. Lewis Foundation)
Clive Staples Lewis was born on November 29 in Belfast,
Northern Ireland, to Albert J. Lewis (1863-1929) and Florence Augusta
Hamilton Lewis (1862-1908). His brother Warren Hamilton Lewis had been
born on June 16, 1895.
1905
The Lewis family moved to their new home, "Little
Lea," on the outskirts of Belfast.
1908
Flora Hamilton Lewis died of cancer on August 23, Albert
Lewis' (her husband's) birthday. During this year Albert Lewis' father and
brother also died. In September Lewis was enrolled at Wynyard School,
Watford, Hertfordshire referred to by C.S. Lewis as "Oldie's
School" or "Belsen". His brother had entered in May 1905.
1910
Lewis left "Belsen" in June and, in September,
was enrolled as a boarding student at Campbell College, Belfast, one mile
from "Little Lea," where he remained until November, when he was
withdrawn upon developing serious respiratory difficulties.
1911
Lewis was sent to Malvern, England, which was famous as
a health resort, especially for those with lung problems. Lewis was
enrolled as a student at Cherbourg House (which he referred to as "Chartres"),
a prep school close by Malvern College where Warnie was enrolled as a
student. Jack remained there until June 1913. It was during this time that
he abandoned his childhood Christian faith. He entered Malvern College
itself (which he dubbed "Wyvern") in September 1913 and stayed
until the following June.
1914
In April, Lewis met Arthur Greeves (1895-1966), of whom
he said, in 1933, "After my brother, my oldest and most intimate
friend." On September 19, Lewis commenced private study with W.T.
Kirkpatrick, "The Great Knock," in Great Bookham Surrey, with
whom he was to remain until April 1917. William T. Kirkpatrick (1848-1921)
was former Headmaster of Lurgan College, County Armagh, Northern Ireland,
from 1874-99. Albert Lewis had attended Lurgan from 1877-79 and later was
Kirkpatrick's solicitor. After Kilpatrick retired from Lurgan in 1899, he
began taking private students and had already successfully prepared Lewis'
brother, Warnie, for admission to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.
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