When sixteen years of age, on the 9th of July, 1704, he was admitted a member of Corpus Christi College, Oxford,[1] where his brother Lewis received his education.  It seems, however, that, after the example of that brother, as also of his brother Theophilus, he early relinquished a literary, for a military profession; and aspired to make his way in the world, “tam Marte quam Minerva.”

[Footnote 1:  The record of his admittatur, in the University Register, is,—­“1704, Jul. 9, term.  S. Trin.  Jacobus Oglethorpe, e C.C.C. 16.  Theoph. f.  Sti.  Jacobi, Lond.  Equ.  Aur. filius natu minor.”  That is, “In Trinity Term, July 9, 1704, James Oglethorpe, aged 16, youngest son of Theophilus Oglethorpe, of St. James’s, London, was admitted into Corpus Christi College.”]

His first commission was that of Ensign; and it is dated in 1710; and he bore that rank in the army when peace was proclaimed in 1713[1].  In the same year he is known to have been in the suite of the Earl of Peterborough[2], ambassador from the Court of Great Britain to the King of Sicily and to the other Italian States; whither he was fellow traveller with the Rev. Dr. George Berkeley, his Lordship’s Chaplain[3].  Highly honorable was such a mark of favor from his Lordship; and peculiarly pleasant and instructive, also, must have been such companionship with the amiable and excellent clergyman; and it afforded opportunity of concerting plans of usefulness, of beneficence, and of philanthropy, the object and tendency of which were apparent in the after life of each[4].

[Footnote 1:  Biographical Memoir in the European Magazine, Vol.  VIII. p. 13.]

[Footnote 2:  NICHOLS, in the Literary Anecdotes of the XVIIIth Century, Vol.  II. p. 19, says, “he was aid-de-camp;” but as that was the title of a military rank, rather than of an attendant on a diplomatic ambassador, I have substituted another term, which however may embrace it, if it be really proper.]

[Footnote 3:  Dr. Berkeley, in a letter to Thomas Prior, Esq., dated Turin, January 6, 1714, n.s. says that he travelled from Lyons “in company with Col.  Du Hamel and Mr. Oglethorpe, Adjutant General of the Queen’s forces; who were sent with a letter from my Lord to the King’s mother, at Turin.” Works of GEORGE BERKELEY, D.D., with an Account of his Life.  Dublin. 1704. 2 vols. 4to.  Vol.  I—­p. xxx]

[Footnote 4:  Appendix III.]

In 1714 he was Captain Lieutenant in the first troop of the Queen’s guards.  By his fine figure, his soldierly deportment and personal bravery, he attracted the notice of the Duke of Marlborough; whose confidence and patronage he seems long to have enjoyed, and by whom, and through the influence of the Duke of Argyle, he was so recommended to Prince Eugene, that he received him into his service, first as his secretary, and afterwards aid-de-camp.  Thus near the person of this celebrated general, full of ardor,