Argentinian Adventures
At the age of 16, Isaac sailed to Argentina in a cargo/passenger ship in 1869. He reportedly travelled with some of his father’s friends, against his mother’s wishes. Isaac arrived alone in Rosario, at William Wheelwright’s house, with a letter of introduction from his father. William Wheelwright was a highly successful businessman in the world of ships and trains.
Wheelwright gave Isaac a job as an apprentice telegraphist at the Central Argentine Railway and allowed Isaac to live in one of his own houses. Isaac studied English teaching at the night school of the Reverend Thomas Wood. The inspiration of the famous Methodist Reverend, inspired Isaac into the teaching profession. It was at night school that Isaac met his future wife, Anna Margaretha Jockinsen. Anna was born to German parents in London, after her father (an engineer) was exiled from Germany. They married in 1876, when Isaac was 23, and on 26 May 1878 their first child, Claudio Lorenzo Newell, was born.
Both Anna and Isaac graduated as English teachers in 1878 and worked at the city’s Colegio San Bartolomé. In November 1884, Isaac and Anna founded the Anglo Argentine Commercial College. Isaac rented Wheelwright’s house where he had stayed years earlier after arriving in Rosario. Initially it was just for primary education but soon developed into secondary education. Years later Isaac managed to buy the property from Wheelwright. Isaac and Anna's School was open to the diverse groups that populated the local area, without distinguishing between those who could pay the fee and those who could not. This was unusual practice at the time.
Isaac, Anna, and Ernesto Edwards designed the Anglo Argentine Commercial College shield. The Wheel of Mercury to represent the Roman god of communication and commerce, and the Lamp of Wisdom to represent the establishment and the student’s quest for academic excellence. The symbols were placed on coloured backgrounds: red from the British flag (birthplace of Isaac) and black from the German flag (birthplace of Anna). The flags of Britain and Argentina were included to complete the shield.
Wheelwright gave Isaac a job as an apprentice telegraphist at the Central Argentine Railway and allowed Isaac to live in one of his own houses. Isaac studied English teaching at the night school of the Reverend Thomas Wood. The inspiration of the famous Methodist Reverend, inspired Isaac into the teaching profession. It was at night school that Isaac met his future wife, Anna Margaretha Jockinsen. Anna was born to German parents in London, after her father (an engineer) was exiled from Germany. They married in 1876, when Isaac was 23, and on 26 May 1878 their first child, Claudio Lorenzo Newell, was born.
Both Anna and Isaac graduated as English teachers in 1878 and worked at the city’s Colegio San Bartolomé. In November 1884, Isaac and Anna founded the Anglo Argentine Commercial College. Isaac rented Wheelwright’s house where he had stayed years earlier after arriving in Rosario. Initially it was just for primary education but soon developed into secondary education. Years later Isaac managed to buy the property from Wheelwright. Isaac and Anna's School was open to the diverse groups that populated the local area, without distinguishing between those who could pay the fee and those who could not. This was unusual practice at the time.
Isaac, Anna, and Ernesto Edwards designed the Anglo Argentine Commercial College shield. The Wheel of Mercury to represent the Roman god of communication and commerce, and the Lamp of Wisdom to represent the establishment and the student’s quest for academic excellence. The symbols were placed on coloured backgrounds: red from the British flag (birthplace of Isaac) and black from the German flag (birthplace of Anna). The flags of Britain and Argentina were included to complete the shield.
Isaac was among several British immigrants who brought football to Argentina, which now has the fifth-oldest football league in the world, created in 1891. Isaac commissioned a leather ball from Porteño importer George Burton, and his students soon enjoyed playing football as part of the sporting life of the College. It was very common for football matches to be set up among the students in the courtyard of the College. The enthusiasm for the sport meant that it quickly outgrew the courtyard where they kicked about. A parcel of land next to the College was bought to play football on instead.
A sports organisation was founded, called Club Atlético Newell’s School, which had its playing field located behind the school. Registered matches include 17 July 1897 vs another School; 6 May 1899 vs Central Argentine Railway Athletic Club (later to be known as Rosario Central, Newell’s Old Boys main rivals); and 10 June 1899 also vs Central Argentine Railway Athletic Club.
In 1900 Isaac, who was already ill, delegated the leadership of the school to his eldest son, Claudio, and his wife, Katie.
In November 1903, Isaac's former students – led by his son Claudio – founded Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys, the name honouring the life and work of his father.
Isaac Newell died on the 16 October 1907 in Rosario, Argentina, accompanied by the sweet melody of Ernesto Benítez's violin, a music teacher at the College. Isaac now rests in the Rosario Protestant Cemetery, about a mile from the 40,000-capacity Estadio Marcelo Bielsa ground where Newell’s Old Boys play. Each year, members of the Newell’s Old Boys Cultural Department join family members at the cemetery for a remembrance service on Isaac’s birthday.