Stephen Perse

[2] Ordained in May 1573, as a Church of England priest and deacon, he was subsequently permitted to change his fellowship to "physick" and took the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1581.

[citation needed] He gave money to the University Library, for the establishment of the road now known as Maid's Causeway, and for the public water supply from the springs at Nine Wells to Cambridge along the stream known as Hobson's Conduit.

[citation needed] In his will, Perse gave a significant sum of money for the establishment of "a Grammar Free Schoole", and adjoining almhouses for six poor widows.

The school was to teach five score scholars born in Cambridge, Barnwell, Chesterton or Trumpington, with some of the boys able to proceed to scholarships at Gonville and Caius College.

[7] His foundation is commemorated by a blue plaque at its original site (now the Whipple Museum) in Free School Lane.