The boy's education, so far as his school life was concerned was
partly conducted at Hereford and partly at Colchester. He does not,
however, seem to have derived much benefit from the hours which he
passed in the schoolroom. But it was delightful to him to spend his
holidays on the farm at Playford, where his uncle, Arthur Biddell,
showed him much kindness. The scenes of his early youth remained
dear to Airy throughout his life, and in subsequent years he himself
owned a house at Playford, to which it was his special delight to
resort for relaxation during the course of his arduous career. In
spite of the defects of his school training he seems to have
manifested such remarkable abilities that his uncle decided to enter
him in Cambridge University. He accordingly joined Trinity College
as a sizar in 1819, and after a brilliant career in mathematical and
physical science he graduated as Senior Wrangler in 1823. It may be
noted as an exceptional circumstance that, notwithstanding the
demands on his time in studying for his tripos, he was able, after
his second term of residence, to support himself entirely by taking
private pupils. In the year after he had taken his degree he was
elected to a Fellowship at Trinity College.
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