Rugby School is a school in Rugby, Warwickshire, England and is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. It was founded in 1567 using an endowment from Lawrence Sheriff, the grocer to Elizabeth I, and meant to be a free grammar school for local boys. Famed educator Thomas Arnold was headmaster of the school from 1828–1841. He introduced reforms including teaching history, mathematics, and modern languages and developed the prefect system of managing the school. His reforms were copied by other prestigious schools. Famous students include Neville Chamberlain, Lewis Carroll, Matthew Arnold, and Salman Rushdie. The school is also the birthplace of Rugby football in 1845.