Frederick Augustus Dixey, 1855-1935

Abstract

Dr. F. A. Dixey, who died on January 16, 1935, in his eightieth year, was born on December 9, 1855, at No. 3 New Bond Street, which at that time included a house as well as the business premises of his father, Adolphus Dixey, and his grandfather, C. W. Dixey, optician to Queen Victoria. Later the family moved to Highgate, living near the Schafers, and Dixey’s sister Maud became the first wife of the late Sir Edward Sharpey-Schafer. He was educated under Dr. Dyne at Highgate School, where he was in the sixth form with R. C. Lehmann, the great athlete, coach of many famous crews, and charming writer on the staff of Punch ; also with L. G. Pike, who rowed in the Cambridge boat. In 1874, Dixey was elected to a classical scholarship at Wadham College, Oxford, graduating in 1878. His failure to take high honours in Classical Moderations and the Final School of Natural Science (Zoology) is probably to be explained by his inability to make the most of the limited time allowed for the answers.