Charles Anthon
Encyclopedia
Charles Anthon was an American
classical scholar.
in 1815, he began the study of law
, and in 1819 was admitted to the bar
, but never practiced. In 1820 he was appointed assistant professor of Greek
and Latin
in his old college
, full professor
ten years later, and at the same time headmaster of the grammar school
attached to the college, which post he held until 1864.
Dr. Anthon's work was carried on by his successor, Henry Drisler
.
) because of his interactions with Martin Harris concerning a fragment of Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon. The fragment was later known as the Anthon Transcript
. According to Harris, Anthon wrote Harris a letter of authenticity declaring the fragment to contain true Egyptian characters. Anthon was also reported to have confirmed the translation of these characters as correct. When informed that an angel of God had revealed the characters to Joseph Smith, Anthon tore up the authentication. Anthon later claimed that he recognized a hoax and never wrote a letter of authenticity.
, who attempted to use the acquaintance with him to gain a national reputation in literature and journalism as well as publication in 1845 of Poe's collected stories through Harper and Brothers. This was, however, unsuccessful due to an accusation of plagiarism against Poe.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical scholar.
Life
After graduating with honors at Columbia CollegeColumbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1815, he began the study of law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, and in 1819 was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
, but never practiced. In 1820 he was appointed assistant professor of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
in his old college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, full professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
ten years later, and at the same time headmaster of the grammar school
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School
Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School is the oldest non-sectarian private school in the United States, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan , in New York City, New York...
attached to the college, which post he held until 1864.
Works
He produced, for use in colleges and schools, a large number of classical works, which enjoyed great popularity, although his editions of classical authors were by no means in favor with schoolmasters, owing to the large amount of assistance, especially translations, contained in the notes. He also wrote A Manual of Greek Literature from the Earliest Authentic Periods to the Close of Byzantine Era providing a list of all Greek writers in that period, with a summary of their life and works and a bibliography of editions then in use. The overview is still useful today, but outdated. His intention to provide a similar volume for Latin Literature was never fulfilled.Dr. Anthon's work was carried on by his successor, Henry Drisler
Henry Drisler
Henry Drisler was an American classical scholar, born on Staten Island, New York, USA.Drisler graduated at Columbia College in 1839, taught classics in the Columbia grammar school for four years, and was then appointed tutor in classics in the college...
.
Anthon Transcript
Charles Anthon is famous among members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as MormonsMormons
The Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, a religion started by Joseph Smith during the American Second Great Awakening. A vast majority of Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a minority are members of other independent churches....
) because of his interactions with Martin Harris concerning a fragment of Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon. The fragment was later known as the Anthon Transcript
Anthon Transcript
The Anthon Transcript is a small piece of paper on which Joseph Smith, Jr. wrote several lines of characters. According to Smith, these characters were from the Golden Plates and represent the Reformed Egyptian writing that was on the plates...
. According to Harris, Anthon wrote Harris a letter of authenticity declaring the fragment to contain true Egyptian characters. Anthon was also reported to have confirmed the translation of these characters as correct. When informed that an angel of God had revealed the characters to Joseph Smith, Anthon tore up the authentication. Anthon later claimed that he recognized a hoax and never wrote a letter of authenticity.
Acquaintance with Poe
Dr. Anthon was a friend and correspondent of Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, who attempted to use the acquaintance with him to gain a national reputation in literature and journalism as well as publication in 1845 of Poe's collected stories through Harper and Brothers. This was, however, unsuccessful due to an accusation of plagiarism against Poe.
Reference and instructional works
- Charles Anthon, Elements of Latin Prosody and Metre, New York: Swords (1824). online
- A classical dictionary: containing a copious account of all the proper names mentioned in ancient authorsLemprière's Bibliotheca ClassicaThe Bibliotheca Classica , or Classical Dictionary containing a full Account of all the Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors is the best-known work of John Lemprière, an English classical scholar. Edited by various later scholars, the dictionary long remained a readable if not absolutely...
etc., by J. Lemprière, D.D.John LemprièreJohn Lemprière , English classical scholar, lexicographer, theologian, teacher and headmaster...
, 5th American edition, corrected and improved by Charles Anthon (1825). online - Richard ValpyRichard Valpy-Biography:He was born the eldest son of Richard and Catherine Valpy in Jersey. He was sent to schools in Normandy and Southampton, and completed his education at Pembroke College, Oxford. In 1777 he took orders. After holding a mastership at Bury, in 1781 he became head master of Reading grammar...
, The Elements of Greek Grammar, with additions by C. Anthon, 8th edition (1833). online - Charles Anthon, A Grammar of the Greek Language (1838). online; revised and corrected by the Rev. J.R. Major, D.D., London: Thomas TeggThomas Tegg-Early life:He was the son of a grocer, born at Wimbledon, Surrey, on 4 March 1776, and was left an orphan at the age of five. He was sent to a boarding school at Galashiels in Selkirkshire. In 1785 he was bound apprentice to Alexander Meggett, a book-seller at Dalkeith. He ran away, sold chapbook...
(1840). online - Charles Anthon, A System of Greek Prosody and Metre: for the use of schools and colleges (1839). online; (1842) online
- Charles Anthon, A System of Latin Prosody and Metre, from the Best Authorities, Ancient and Modern, Harper and Brothers (1842).online
- Charles Anthon, First Greek lessons: containing all the inflexions of the Greek language, together with appropriate exercises in the translating and writing of Greek, for the use of beginners. Anthon's Greek Lessons, Part I (1842). online
- Charles Anthon, An Introduction to Greek Prose Composition. Anthon's Greek Lessons, Part II (1842). online
- Charles Anthon, First Latin Lessons, containing the most important parts of the grammar of the Latin language, together with appropriate exercises in the translating and writing of Latin, for the use of beginners. Anthon's Latin Grammar, Part I (1838). online, (1846 printing)
- Charles Anthon, An Introduction to Latin Prose Composition. Anthon's Latin Grammar, Part II (1842). online
- Charles Anthon, A Classical Dictionary, containing an account of the principal proper names mentioned in ancient authors, Harper and Brothers (1842). online
- A new abridgement of AinsworthRobert Ainsworth (lexicographer)Robert Ainsworth was an English Latin lexicographer, and author of the well-known compendious Dictionary of the Latin Tongue. He was born at Eccles, near Salford, Lancashire in September 1660...
's dictionary: English and Latin, for the use of grammar schools, by John Dymock, LL.D., new American edition with corrections and improvements by Charles Anthon, Philadelphia: Butler & Williams (1844). online - Charles Anthon, A System of Latin Versification, in a series of progressive exercises (1845). online
- A school dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities, abridged from the larger dictionary by William Smith, LL.D.William Smith (lexicographer)Sir William Smith Kt. was a noted English lexicographer.-Early life:Born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents, he was originally destined for a theological career, but instead was articled to a solicitor. In his spare time he taught himself classics, and when he entered University College...
, with corrections and improvements by Charles Anthon, LL.D. (1846). online - Charles Anthon, A system of ancient and mediæval geography for the use of schools and colleges (1850). online
- Charles Anthon, A Manual of Roman Antiquities, with numerous illustrations (1851). online
- Charles Anthon, A Manual of Grecian Antiquities, with numerous illustrations (1852). online
- Charles Anthon, A Manual of Greek Literature from the Earliest Authentic Periods to the Close of Byzantine Era (1853). online
- A copious and critical English-Latin lexicon, founded on the German-Latin dictionary of Dr. by Joseph Esmond Riddle and Thomas Kerchever ArnoldThomas Kerchever ArnoldThomas Kerchever Arnold was an English theologian and voluminous writer of educational worksArnold was born in 1800. His father, Thomas George Arnold, was a doctor of Stamford. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, was seventh junior optime in the mathematical tripos of 1821, and was...
, first American edition, carefully revised, and containing a copious dictionary of proper names from the best sources, by Charles Anthon, LL.D., New York: Harper and Brothers (1856). online - A Latin-English and English-Latin dictionary: for the use of schools, chiefly from the lexicons of FreundWilhelm FreundWilhelm Freund was a German Jewish philologist, born at Kempen. He studied education at Berlin and Breslau, and was chiefly occupied in teaching till 1870, when he retired in order to devote himself to his literary pursuits...
, Georges, and Kaltschmidt, by Charles Anthon (1859). online - A School Grammar of the Latin Language by C.G. ZumptKarl Gottlob ZumptKarl Gottlob Zumpt was a German philologist from Berlin. Educated at Heidelberg and Berlin, he was from 1812 to 1827 a schoolmaster in Berlin, and in 1827 became professor of Latin literature at the University of Berlin.His chief work was his Lateinische Grammatik , which stood as a standard work...
, translated and adapted by Leonhard Schmitz, corrected and enlarged by Charles Anthon (1859). online - A new classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, mythology and geography, partly based upon the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and MythologyDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and MythologyThe Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology is an encyclopedia/biographical dictionary.- Characteristic :...
by William Smith, LL.D., revised, with numerous corrections and additions, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. (1862). online
School editions with commentary
- C. Crispi Sallusti opera, omissis fragmentis, omnia: ad optimorum exemplarium fidem recensita, animadversionibus illustravit P. Wilson, LL.D., 4th ed. recensuit notasque suas adspersit Charles Anthon, New York: Carvill (1825). online; Charles Anthon, C. Crispi Sallustii de Catilinae conjuratione belloque Jugurthino Historiae, New York: Carvill (1829) online; 4th ed., Boston (1833) online; Sallust's Jugurthine War and Conspiracy of Catiline, with an English Commentary, and Geographical and Historical Indexes, 6th ed., New York: Harper and Brothers (1837) online; 6th ed. (1838) online; 10th ed. (1854) online
- Charles Anthon, Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War; and The First Book of the Greek Paraphrase; with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, Plans of Battles, Sieges, Etc., and Historical, Geographical, and Archaeological Indexes, Harper and Brothers (1838). online (1862 printing)
- Charles Anthon, Q. Horatii Flacci Poëmata, New York: Carvill (1830). online; The Works of Horace, with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, Harper and Brothers (1839); new edition (1849) online (1857 printing)
- The Greek Reader, by Frederic Jacobs, new edition, with English notes, critical and explanatory, a metrical index to Homer and Anacreon, and a copious lexicon. By Charles Anthon. (1840). online
- Charles Anthon, The Aeneid of Virgil, with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, a Metrical Clavis, an Historical, Geographical, and Mythological Index, Harper and Brothers (1843). online
- Charles Anthon, M. Tullii Ciceronis Orationes Selectae, ex recensione Jo. Aug. Ernesti.Johann August ErnestiJohann August Ernesti was a German Rationalist theologian and philologist.He was born at Bad Tennstedt in Thuringia, where his father, Johann Christoph Ernesti, was pastor, besides being superintendent of the electoral dioceses of Thuringia, Salz and Sangerhausen...
, with an English commentary, London: Priestley (1837) online; new edition, London (1846) online; Select Orations of Cicero, with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, new edition, New York: Harper and Brothers (1845). online; new edition (1849) online - Charles Anthon, The De senectute, De amicitia, Paradoxa, and Somnium Scipionis of Cicero, and the Life of Atticus by Cornelius Nepos, with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory (1848). online
- Charles Anthon, The First Six Books of Homer's Iliad with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, A Metrical Index, and Homeric Glossary, Harper and Brothers (1851). online; The first three books of Homer's Iliad, according to the ordinary text, and also with the restoration of the digammaDigammaDigamma is an archaic letter of the Greek alphabet which originally stood for the sound /w/ and later remained in use only as a numeral symbol for the number "6"...
, new edition by Benjamin Davies, London (1854) online - Charles Anthon, The Anabasis of Xenophon, with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, Harper and Brothers (1852). online
- Charles Anthon, Cornelius Nepos with Notes, Historical and Explanatory, Harper and Brothers (1852). online (1871 printing)
- Charles Anthon, The Germania and Agricola, and also Selections from the Annals, of Tacitus, with English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, (1847). online (1852 printing); (1853) online
- Charles Anthon, The Satires of Juvenal and Persius with English Notes Critical and Explanatory, from the Best Commentators, Harper and Brothers, (1857). online
- Hubert Ashton HoldenHubert Ashton HoldenHubert Ashton Holden , English classical scholar, came of an old Staffordshire family. He was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Trinity College, Cambridge...
, M.T. Ciceronis De Officiis libri tres, with marginal analysis and an English commentary, first American edition corrected and enlarged by Charles Anthon, (1859). online - Charles Anthon, An English commentary on the Rhesus, Medea, Hippolytus, Alcestis, Heraclidae, Supplices, and Troades of Euripides (1877). online
External links
- http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/anthonletter.htm
- Anti-Mormon view of Anthon's testimony regarding Mormonism
- Pro-Mormon view of Anthon's testimony regarding Mormonism
- http://www.mlloyd.org/gen/navarre/text/anthon.htm
- http://www.eapoe.org/misc/letters/t3706010.htm
- http://www.eapoe.org/works/letters/p4410000.htm
- http://www.eapoe.org/misc/letters/t4411020.htm