James Bass Mullinger
Encyclopedia
Dr. James Bass Mullinger (1834 or 1843–November 22, 1917), sometimes known by his pen name
Theodorus, was a British author, historian, lecturer and scholar. A longtime university librarian and lecturer at St. John's College, Cambridge, Mullinger was the author of several books detailing the college's history and similar academic subjects. He was also a contributor to many periodicals of the Victorian era
, most especially, Cambridge History of Modern Literature
, the Dictionary of National Biography
and Encyclopedia Britannica.
His best known effort, History of the University of Cambridge Down to the Decline of the Platonists (1873), was a three-volume history of the university and was considered the definitive work on the subject at the turn of the 20th century
. It is today considered a landmark publication in British university history.
and educated at University College, London, and then admitted as a sizar
at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1862. He graduated with double honours in 1866, having taken both the Classical
and Moral Science Triposes
, and subsequently won the Le Bas, the Hulsean, and the Kaye Prizes.
For a time he was a lecturer at Bedford College, London but eventually decided to teach at his alma mater. Returning to Cambridge, he became Birkbeck lecturer on Ecclesiastical History
at Trinity College
, and was a lecturer to the Teachers' Training Syndicate on the "History of Education
" for ten years. He held a university lectureship in history and was librarian
of the historic Library of St. John's College
for a number of years.
He authored a number of books while at Cambridge, many of which related to the history of the institution, including Cambridge Characteristics in the 17th Century (1867), The Ancient African Church: Its Rise, Influence, and Decline (1869), The New Reformation, A Narrative of the Old Catholic Movement from 1870 to the Present Time (1875) and The Schools of Charles the Great and the Restoration of Education in the Ninth Century (1877). In 1881, he and Professor Samuel R. Gardiner co-authored Introduction to the Study of English History and, in 1897, collaborated with Rev. J. Howard B. Masterman a treatise
on "The Age of Milton," which passed through seven editions. His last two books were History of St. John's College, Cambridge (1901) and Was Ben Jonson Ever a Member of Our College? (1904).
His best known work, however, is the three-volume "History of the University of Cambridge Down to the Decline of the Platonists". This project took him well over three decades, Mullinger being devoted to his academic responsibilities as well as being a regular contributor to many encyclopedias and journals
of the period, with the first volume of the "History of Cambridge" being published in 1873, the second in 1888 and the final one in 1911. The following year, he received the honorary degree
of Doctor of Literature from the University.
Among the publications he worked on included the Cambridge History of Modern Literature
, Cambridge Modern History
, the Dictionary of Christian Antiquities, Dictionary of National Biography
and Encyclopedia Britannica. Although he lived much of his life as "somewhat of a retired scholar", Mullinger enjoyed traveling abroad and compiled a collection of "fine photographs of buildings of architectural value". He died at Cambridge on November 22, 1917, at the age of 74.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Theodorus, was a British author, historian, lecturer and scholar. A longtime university librarian and lecturer at St. John's College, Cambridge, Mullinger was the author of several books detailing the college's history and similar academic subjects. He was also a contributor to many periodicals of the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, most especially, Cambridge History of Modern Literature
The Cambridge History of English and American Literature
The Cambridge History of English and American Literature was originally published by Cambridge University Press in 1907–1921. The 18 volumes include 303 chapters and more than 11,000 pages edited and written by a worldwide panel of 171 leading scholars and thinkers of the early twentieth century...
, the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
and Encyclopedia Britannica.
His best known effort, History of the University of Cambridge Down to the Decline of the Platonists (1873), was a three-volume history of the university and was considered the definitive work on the subject at the turn of the 20th century
Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
. It is today considered a landmark publication in British university history.
Biography
James Mullinger was born in Bishop's StortfordBishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
and educated at University College, London, and then admitted as a sizar
Sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1862. He graduated with double honours in 1866, having taken both the Classical
Classical Tripos
The Classical Tripos is the taught course in classics at the University of Cambridge, equivalent to Literae Humaniores at Oxford. It is traditionally a three year degree, but for those who have not studied Latin and Greek at school a four year course has been introduced...
and Moral Science Triposes
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
, and subsequently won the Le Bas, the Hulsean, and the Kaye Prizes.
For a time he was a lecturer at Bedford College, London but eventually decided to teach at his alma mater. Returning to Cambridge, he became Birkbeck lecturer on Ecclesiastical History
Ecclesiastical History
Ecclesiastical History or ecclesiastical history may refer to:*Ecclesiastical history *Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum by Bede*Church History , pioneer work on the Christian Church by Eusebius of Caesarea...
at Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, and was a lecturer to the Teachers' Training Syndicate on the "History of Education
History of education
The history of education its part of the past and present teaching and learning. Each generation, since the beginning of human existence, has sought to pass on cultural and social values, traditions, morality, religion and skills to the next generation. The passing on of culture is also known as...
" for ten years. He held a university lectureship in history and was librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
of the historic Library of St. John's College
St John's College Old Library, Cambridge
The Old Library of St John's College, Cambridge connects to Third Court, and was built between 1623 and 1628, largely through the donations and efforts of two members of the College, the Bishop of Exeter, Valentine Carey and John Williams, Lord-Keeper and Bishop of Lincoln.When the College first...
for a number of years.
He authored a number of books while at Cambridge, many of which related to the history of the institution, including Cambridge Characteristics in the 17th Century (1867), The Ancient African Church: Its Rise, Influence, and Decline (1869), The New Reformation, A Narrative of the Old Catholic Movement from 1870 to the Present Time (1875) and The Schools of Charles the Great and the Restoration of Education in the Ninth Century (1877). In 1881, he and Professor Samuel R. Gardiner co-authored Introduction to the Study of English History and, in 1897, collaborated with Rev. J. Howard B. Masterman a treatise
Treatise
A treatise is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay, and more concerned with investigating or exposing the principles of the subject.-Noteworthy treatises:...
on "The Age of Milton," which passed through seven editions. His last two books were History of St. John's College, Cambridge (1901) and Was Ben Jonson Ever a Member of Our College? (1904).
His best known work, however, is the three-volume "History of the University of Cambridge Down to the Decline of the Platonists". This project took him well over three decades, Mullinger being devoted to his academic responsibilities as well as being a regular contributor to many encyclopedias and journals
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
of the period, with the first volume of the "History of Cambridge" being published in 1873, the second in 1888 and the final one in 1911. The following year, he received the honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Doctor of Literature from the University.
Among the publications he worked on included the Cambridge History of Modern Literature
The Cambridge History of English and American Literature
The Cambridge History of English and American Literature was originally published by Cambridge University Press in 1907–1921. The 18 volumes include 303 chapters and more than 11,000 pages edited and written by a worldwide panel of 171 leading scholars and thinkers of the early twentieth century...
, Cambridge Modern History
Cambridge Modern History
The Cambridge Modern History is a comprehensive modern history of the world, beginning with the 15th century age of Discovery, published by the Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom and also in the United States....
, the Dictionary of Christian Antiquities, Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
and Encyclopedia Britannica. Although he lived much of his life as "somewhat of a retired scholar", Mullinger enjoyed traveling abroad and compiled a collection of "fine photographs of buildings of architectural value". He died at Cambridge on November 22, 1917, at the age of 74.