# Kenneth Wheare

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Wheare
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Wheare.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Wheare
> Source revision: 1342539705
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Historian and academic administrator

Sir Kenneth Wheare CMG FBA Born 26 March 1907 Died 7 September 1979(1979-09-07) (aged 72) Academic work Discipline Political science Sub-discipline Government constitutions British Commonwealth Institutions Christ Church, Oxford University College, Oxford All Souls College, Oxford Exeter College, Oxford

**Sir Kenneth Clinton Wheare**, [CMG](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George), [FBA](/source/Fellow_of_the_British_Academy) (26 March 1907 – 7 September 1979)[1] was an Australian academic, who spent most of his career at [Oxford University](/source/Oxford_University) in England.[2] He was an expert on the constitutions of the [British Commonwealth](/source/British_Commonwealth).[3] He advised constitutional assemblies in former British colonies.[4]

## Early life and family

Wheare was educated at [Scotch College, Melbourne](/source/Scotch_College%2C_Melbourne)[1] and was later a student at [Ormond College](/source/Ormond_College), [Melbourne University](/source/Melbourne_University) and [Oriel College, Oxford](/source/Oriel_College%2C_Oxford), gaining a [first class degree](/source/First_class_degree) in [Philosophy, Politics and Economics](/source/Philosophy%2C_Politics_and_Economics) and also undertaking postgraduate study. He met his wife Joan (1915–2013) when he was her tutor.[5] One of their sons is [Tom Wheare](/source/Tom_Wheare). Another son is [Henry Wheare](/source/Henry_Wheare), the champion British rower who later became a leading intellectual property lawyer in Hong Kong.

## Career

In 1934, Wheare was made a university lecturer in colonial history at the University of Oxford, and joined [Christ Church, Oxford](/source/Christ_Church%2C_Oxford) with a research lectureship. During his four years at Christ Church, he concentrated his research on the effects of the [Statute of Westminster 1931](/source/Statute_of_Westminster_1931) and the first edition of his *The Statute of Westminster and Dominion Status* was published in 1938. In 1939, he was elected [fellow](/source/Fellow_(Oxbridge)) of [University College, Oxford](/source/University_College%2C_Oxford) to fill the post of [tutor](/source/Tutorial_system) in politics that had been vacated by [John Maud](/source/John_Redcliffe-Maud%2C_Baron_Redcliffe-Maud).[6]

In 1944, Wheare was elected the first [Gladstone Professor of Government](/source/Gladstone_Professor_of_Government) at [All Souls College, Oxford](/source/All_Souls_College%2C_Oxford).[6] He was Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Children and the Cinema from 1947 to 1950 and chaired a committee to examine [film censorship in the United Kingdom](/source/Film_censorship_in_the_United_Kingdom).[1][7] The Wheare committee's findings published in 1950 led to the introduction of a compulsory certificate, [X (Explicit Content)](/source/X_rating), allowing only those aged 16 and older to enter.[7] Another outcome of the Wheare report was the creation of the [Children's Film Foundation](/source/Children's_Film_Foundation).[8]

In 1956, he became [Rector](/source/Rector_(college)) of [Exeter College, Oxford](/source/Exeter_College%2C_Oxford). A [gargoyle](/source/Gargoyle) of his likeness is carved on the Bodleian Library, visible from the Exeter College Fellows' Garden.[1]

Wheare was Chairman of the [Rhodes Trust](/source/Rhodes_Trust) (1962–69), President of the [British Academy](/source/British_Academy) (1967–71), Chancellor of the [University of Liverpool](/source/University_of_Liverpool) from 1972. He was also a [Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford](/source/Vice-Chancellor_of_the_University_of_Oxford) from 1964 to 1966.[9]

In 1948 he had contributed *Abraham Lincoln and the United States* to the "Teach Yourself History" series.

In June 1973, Wheare was shortlisted for appointment as [Governor-General of Australia](/source/Governor-General_of_Australia),[10] but was overlooked by then-prime minister [Gough Whitlam](/source/Gough_Whitlam) in favour of Sir [John Kerr](/source/John_Kerr_(governor-general)).

## Honours

Kenneth Wheare was appointed [Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George) (CMG) in 1953 and was [knighted](/source/Knight_Bachelor) in 1966.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*][1] In 1952, he was elected a [Fellow of the British Academy](/source/Fellow_of_the_British_Academy) (FBA), the United Kingdom's [national academy](/source/National_academy) for the humanities and social sciences.[6] He gave the British Academy's 1974 Master-Mind Lecture.[11][12]

In 2017, [Oxford Brookes University](/source/Oxford_Brookes_University) named a newly rebuilt lecture hall after Wheare.[13]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ADB_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ADB_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ADB_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ADB_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ADB_1-4) Poynter, J. R. ["Wheare, Sir Kenneth Clinton (1907–1979)"](https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wheare-sir-kenneth-clinton-12005). *[Australian Dictionary of Biography](/source/Australian_Dictionary_of_Biography)*. National Centre of Biography, [Australian National University](/source/Australian_National_University). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-522-84459-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-522-84459-7). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1833-7538](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1833-7538). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [70677943](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/70677943). Retrieved 14 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Beloff, Max (2004). ["Wheare, Sir Kenneth Clinton (1907–1979) (subscription required)"](https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31822). *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/31822](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F31822). Retrieved 9 January 2020. (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Markwell, Donald](/source/Donald_Markwell) (2016). *Constitutional Conventions and the Headship of State: Australian Experience*. Connor Court. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1925501155](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1925501155). Appendix 3: Two Constitutional Scholars: Sir Kenneth Wheare and Dr [Eugene Forsey](/source/Eugene_Forsey).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Getachew, Adom (2019). [*Worldmaking after Empire: The Rise and Fall of Self-Determination*](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv3znwvg). Princeton University Press. p. 122. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/j.ctv3znwvg](https://doi.org/10.2307%2Fj.ctv3znwvg). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-691-17915-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-17915-5). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [j.ctv3znwvg](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv3znwvg).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Joan Wheare: Rebel with many causes"](http://www.fordmail.co.uk/news/community/obituaries/obits/10789899.Rebel_with_many_causes_who__was_Oxford___s____urban_guerilla___/). *[Oxford Mail](/source/Oxford_Mail)*. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PBA_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PBA_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-PBA_6-2) [Marshall, Geoffrey](/source/Geoffrey_Marshall_(constitutionalist)) (1982). ["Kenneth Clinton Wheare, 1907-1979"](https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/1205/67p491.pdf) (PDF). *Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the British Academy* (67). The British Academy: 490–507. Retrieved 26 May 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-screen_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-screen_7-1) ["Wheare Report, The (1950)"](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/592670/index.html). *Screenonline*. Retrieved 12 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-guardian_8-0)** Roberts, Andrew (9 September 2010). ["How the Children's Film Foundation once dominated Saturday morning cinema"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/sep/09/childrens-film-foundation). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Previous Vice-Chancellors"](http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/vc/position/previousvice-chancellors/). UK: [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford). Retrieved 14 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Kelly, Paul (2015). *The Dismissal: A Groundbreaking New History*. Melbourne: Penguin Random House Australia. p. 69. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781760142032](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781760142032).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Master-Mind Lectures"](https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/lectures/listings/master-mind-lectures/). *The British Academy*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Wheare, K. C. (1975). ["Walter Bagehot"](http://publications.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/pubs/proc/files/60p173.pdf) (PDF). *Proceedings of the British Academy*. **60**: 173–197.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["New hall named in honour of Sir Kenneth Wheare"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190710123330/https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/new-hall-named-in-honour-of-sir-kenneth-wheare/). UK: [Oxford Brookes University](/source/Oxford_Brookes_University). 23 June 2017. Archived from [the original](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/new-hall-named-in-honour-of-sir-kenneth-wheare/) on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

Academic offices Preceded by Eric Arthur Barber Rector of Exeter College, Oxford 1956–1972 Succeeded by Greig Barr Preceded by Walter Fraser Oakeshott Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1964–1966 Succeeded by Kenneth Turpin

v t e Rectors of Exeter College, Oxford 1318–1566 John Parys Stephen de Pippecote John de Sevenaysshe John de Kelly Richard de Pyn Henry de Tiverton William Dobbe William de Palmorna John de Blankeswille Robert de Trethewy John Halle John Wiseburg Robert de Clyste Robert Blakedon John Otery Thomas de Kelly William Franke John Dagenet Robert de Lydeford Martin Lydeford John More Thomas Worth Thomas White Richard Browne Lawrence Stevine William Talkarn William Slade Thomas Dyre Thomas Hyndeman Richard Mark or Marks Helias Stoke Robert Marschel John Gynne John Jakys Richard Penwyne Geoffrey Prentys John Cowling John Schute Thomas Noreys William Penbegyll William Fylham William Grene Walter Trengoff Benedict Brente William Fylham John Alwarde Henry Whitehead John Alwarde Ralph Morewyll Edmund Fitchet John Colyforde William Palmer John Rowe John Rygge John Lyndon John Westlake John Evelyn Richard French Walter Windsor William Mogys William Thomas William Baron William Major Richard Bradleghe William Mylplaysh John Orelle William Meryfeld James Babbe John Smythe Thomas Ruer Richard Panter Richard Roberd John Atwell Thomas Michell John Rugg Gerendus Raffe William Bery Symon Todde John Rigge Thomas Vyvyan William Smythe Philip Bale Edmund Fletcher John Bere John Pekyns John Bery John Dotyn John French Henry Laurence Augustine Crosse William More William Corindon Stephen Marks Philip Randell Robert Newton John Neale 1566-1887 Thomas Glasier Thomas Holland John Prideaux George Hakewill John Conant Joseph Maynard Arthur Bury William Paynter Mathew Hole John Conybeare Joseph Atwell James Edgcumbe Francis Webber Thomas Bray Thomas Stinton Henry Richards John Cole John Collier Jones Joseph Loscombe Richards John Prideaux Lightfoot 1887- William Jackson Jr Lewis Richard Farnell Robert Ranulph Marett Eric Arthur Barber Sir Kenneth Clinton Wheare Greig Barr The Lord Crowther-Hunt Sir Richard Norman Marilyn Butler Frances Cairncross Sir Rick Trainor Andrew Roe

v t e Vice-chancellors of the University of Oxford 13th century 1230 Elyas de Daneis 1270 Robert Steeton 1288 John Heigham 14th century 1304 John de Oseworhd 1311 Walter Gifford 1325 Richard Kamshale 1333 Richard FitzRalph 1336 John de Ayllesbury 1337 John de Reigham 1347 Hugh de Willoughby 1348 William de Hawkesworth 1367 John de Codeford 1368 John de Codeford 1377 Robert Aylesham 1382 Fr Peter Stokes 1386 Henry Nafford or Yafford 1389 John Lyndon 1391 John Ashwardby 1394 Richard Ullerston 1396 Nicholas Faux 1397 William Farendon or Faringdon 1399 John Snappe and others 15th century 1401 William Farendon 1404 Griffin Kirkadam 1405 William Farendon 1406 John Whytehede 1407 John Orum 1422 John Daventry 1426 Richard Roderham 1430 Thomas Eglesfield 1431 Richard Roderham 1433 John Burbach or Hurbach 1434 Thomas Gascoigne, Christopher Knolles, John Burbach 1435 John Burbach, Thomas Bonyngworth 1436 John Burbach, Thomas Greneley 1437 John Gorsuch, Thomas Greneley 1438 John Gorsuch, William Hawtrine 1439 John Gorsuch, John Burbach, Thomas Southam, Thomas Gascoigne 1440 John Gorsuch 1441 John Gorsuch, Robert Thwaits, William Babington 1442 William Grey, William Babington, John Gorsuch, William Westkarre 1443 William Dowson, William Westkarre 1444 William Dowson, Richard Hall, William Westkarre 1445 William Dowson, John Selot 1446 William Westkarre, John Moreton, William Dowson 1447 John Burneby, William Dowson 1448 John Burneby 1449 John Willey, John Burneby, William Dowson 1450 Richard Ringstede, John Beke, Roger Bulkeley, John Van 1451 John Beke, John Van 1452 John Beke, Thomas Tweyn or Yweyn alias Chalke, Thomas Saunders 1453 Luke Lacock, Robert Thwaits, Thomas Saunders 1454 Thomas Tweyn, Thomas Saunders 1455 Thomas Twynge alias Bonifaunt 1456 Thomas Saunders 1457 Thomas Chippenham 1458 Walter Wynhale, Thomas Twynge 1459 John Danvers, Thomas Jaune or Jane 1460 Thomas Tweyn 1461 William Ive, Roger Bulkeley 1462 William Ive 1463 John Watts, Thomas Chaundler, David Husband, John Mulcaster 1464 Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Chaundler, Roger Bulkeley, John Caldbeck, Thomas Person 1465 Thomas Smith, Robert Ixworth, John Caldbeck, Thomas Chaundler 1466 Thomas Chaundler, John Caldbeck, Thomas Stevyn, Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Hill 1467 Thomas Chaundler, Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Walton 1468 Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Jaune 1469 Robert Tulley, Thomas Jaune 1470 Thomas Stevyn 1480 John Lane, William Sutton 1481 Richard Fitzjames, William Sutton 1482 Robert Wrangwais, William Sutton 1484 Richard Mayew, Thomas Pawnton 1485 Richard Mayew 1486 John Taylor 1487 Richard Estmond 1488 John Coldale 1489 John Coldale 1490 John Coldale 1491 Richard Fitzjames, John Coldale 1492 John Coldale 1493 Robert Smith 1497 William Atwater 1498 Thomas Harpur 1499 David Hays, William Atwater, Thomas Chaundeler 16th century 1500 William Atwater 1501 Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders alias Shakspeere 1502 William Atwater, Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders 1503 John Thornden or Thornton, John Kynton, Simon Grene alias Fotherby 1504 John Kynton, Robert Tehy or Thay 1505 Simon Grene, John Roper, John Adams 1506 John Thornden, William Fauntleroy 1507 John Thornden or Thornton, John Avery, John Kynton 1508 William Fauntleroy, John Thornden 1509 William Fauntleroy 1510 John Thornden, John Mychell 1511 William Fauntleroy, Thomas Drax, John Roper, John Cockys, Edmund Wylsford 1512 Edmund Wylsford, William Fauntleroy, John Kynton 1513 William Fauntleroy, John Kynton, John Thornden 1514 John Thornden, Lawrence Stubbs, Edmund Wylsford, Hugh Whytehead 1515 Edmund Wylsford 1516 Lawrence Stubbs 1517 Richard Duck or Doke 1518 Richard Duck or Doke 1519 Richard Barnack, Richard Duck or Doke 1520 William Broke or Brook, Richard Benger 1521 Richard Benger 1522 Richard Benger 1523 Thomas Musgrave 1527 Martin Lyndsey, John Cottisford 1528 John Cottisford 1531 Henry White 1532 John Cottisford, William Tresham 1547 Walter Wright 1550 William Tresham 1551 Owen Oglethorpe 1552 James Brookes or Brooks, Richard Marshall 1553 Richard Marshall 1554 John Warner 1555 Richard Smyth 1556 William Tresham, Thomas Raynolds 1557 Thomas Raynolds, Thomas Whyte 1558 William Tresham 1559 John Warner 1560 Francis Babbington 1561 Francis Babbington 1562 Thomas Whyte 1564 John Kennall 1567 Thomas Cowper 1570 Thomas Cowper 1571 Lawrence Humphrey 1576 Herbert Westfaling 1577 William Cole 1578 Martin Culpepper 1579 Tobias Matthew 1580 Arthur Yeldard 1581 William James 1582 Robert Hovenden 1583 Thomas Thornton 1584 John Underhill 1585 Edmund Lilly 1586 Daniel Bernard 1587 Francis Wyllis 1588 Martin Heton 1589 Nicholas Bond 1590 William James 1592 Nicholas Bond 1593 Edmund Lilly 1596 Thomas Ravys 1598 Thomas Singleton 1599 Thomas Thornton 17th century 1600 George Abbot 1601 George Ryves 1602 John Howson 1603 George Abbot 1604 John Williams 1605 George Abbot 1606 Henry Airay 1607 John King 1611 Thomas Singleton 1614 William Goodwyn 1616 Arthur Lake 1617 William Goodwyn 1619 John Prideaux 1621 William Piers 1624 John Prideaux 1626 William Juxon 1628 Accepted Frewen 1630 William Smyth 1632 Brian Duppa 1634 Robert Pincke 1636 Richard Baylie 1638 Accepted Frewen 1640 Christopher Potter 1641 John Prideaux 1642 John Prideaux in absentia (duties performed by Robert Pincke and then John Tolson as Pro-Vice-Chancellors) 1643 John Tolson, Robert Pincke 1645 Samuel Fell 1648 Edward Reynolds 1650 Daniel Greenwood 1652 John Owen 1657 John Conant 1660 Paul Hood 1661 Richard Baylie 1662 Walter Blandford 1664 Robert Say 1666 John Fell 1669 Peter Mews 1673 Ralph Bathurst 1676 Henry Clerk 1677 John Nicholas 1679 Timothy Halton 1682 John Lloyd 1685 Timothy Halton 1686 John Venn 1687 Gilbert Ironside 1689 Jonathan Edwards 1692 Henry Aldrich 1695 Fitzherbert Adams 1697 John Meare 1698 William Paynter 18th century 1700 Roger Mander 1702 William Delaune 1706 William Lancaster 1710 Thomas Brathwait 1712 Bernard Gardiner 1715 John Baron 1718 Robert Shippen 1723 John Mather 1728 Edward Butler 1732 William Holmes 1735 Stephen Niblett 1738 Theophilus Leigh 1741 Walter Hodges 1744 Euseby Isham 1747 John Purnell 1750 John Browne 1753 George Huddesford 1756 Thomas Randolph 1759 Joseph Browne 1765 David Durell 1768 Nathan Wetherell 1772 Thomas Fothergill 1776 George Horne 1780 Samuel Dennis 1784 Joseph Chapman 1788 John Cooke 1792 John Wills 1796 Scrope Berdmore 1797 Edmund Isham 1798 Michael Marlow 19th century 1802 Whittington Landon 1806 Henry Richards 1807 John Parsons 1810 John Cole 1814 Thomas Lee 1818 Frodsham Hodson 1820 George William Hall 1824 Richard Jenkyns 1828 John Collier Jones 1832 George Rowley 1836 Ashhurst Turner Gilbert 1840 Philip Wynter 1844 Benjamin Parsons Symons 1848 Frederick Charles Plumptre 1852 Richard Lynch Cotton 1856 David Williams 1858 Francis Jeune 1862 John Prideaux Lightfoot 1866 Frances Knyvett Leighton 1870 Henry George Liddell 1874 James Edwards Sewell 1878 Evan Evans 1882 Benjamin Jowett 1886 James Bellamy 1890 Henry Boyd 1894 John Richard Magrath 1898 Sir William Reynell Anson 1899 Thomas Fowler 20th century 1901 David Binning Monro 1904 William Walter Merry 1906 Herbert Warren 1910 Charles Buller Heberden 1913 Thomas Banks Strong 1917 Herbert Edward Douglas Blakiston 1920 Lewis Richard Farnell 1923 Joseph Wells 1926 Francis William Pember 1929 Frederick Homes Dudden 1932 Francis John Lys 1935 Alexander Dunlop Lindsay 1938 George Stuart Gordon 1941 Sir William David Ross 1944 Sir Richard Winn Livingstone 1947 William Teulon Swan Stallybrass 1948 The Very Reverend John Lowe 1951 Sir Cecil Maurice Bowra 1954 Alic Halford Smith 1957 John Cecil Masterman 1958 Thomas Sherrer Ross Boase 1960 Arthur Lionel Pugh Norrington 1962 Walter Fraser Oakeshott 1964 Kenneth Clinton Wheare 1966 John Norman Davidson Kelly 1966 Kenneth Turpin 1969 Alan Bullock, Lord Bullock of Leafield 1973 Sir John Habakkuk 1977 Sir Rex Richards 1981 Sir Geoffrey Warnock 1985 Lord Neill of Bladen 1989 Sir Richard Southwood 1993 Sir Peter North 1997 Sir Colin Lucas 21st century 2004 John Hood 2009 Andrew D. Hamilton 2016 Louise Richardson 2023 Irene Tracey

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Japan Italy Czech Republic Netherlands Korea Sweden Poland Israel Catalonia Belgium Croatia Academics CiNii People Trove Australia Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenneth Wheare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Wheare) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Wheare?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.