Walter Hamilton (Master of Magdalene College)
Encyclopedia
Walter Hamilton was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he was awarded a first-class BA degree in Classics. He was Craven Scholar in 1927, Chancellor's Classical Medallist in 1928 and Porson Prizeman and Craven Student in 1929, and was a fellow of Trinity between 1931 and 1935. He was also an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Manchester
from 1931-32. He was an Assistant Master at Eton
from 1933 to 1946, and was Master in College
there from 1937 to 1946. In 1946 he returned to Trinity College, serving as Fellow and Classical Lecturer until 1950, and as a tutor from 1947.
In 1950 Hamilton became headmaster of Westminster School
, and in 1957 became headmaster of Rugby School
, a position he held until 1966. In 1967 he was elected Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
, serving in that position until 1978, and became an honorary fellow of the college on retirement.
Hamilton's academic and public service positions included:
He translated Ammianus Marcellinus
's The Later Roman Empire as well as Plato
's Symposium
, Gorgias
, and Phaedrus and
Letters VII and VIII
.
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...
, where he was awarded a first-class BA degree in Classics. He was Craven Scholar in 1927, Chancellor's Classical Medallist in 1928 and Porson Prizeman and Craven Student in 1929, and was a fellow of Trinity between 1931 and 1935. He was also an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
from 1931-32. He was an Assistant Master at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
from 1933 to 1946, and was Master in College
Master in College
Master in College is the title of the master responsible for College, the oldest boarding house at Eton College, which is reserved for the seventy King's Scholars....
there from 1937 to 1946. In 1946 he returned to Trinity College, serving as Fellow and Classical Lecturer until 1950, and as a tutor from 1947.
In 1950 Hamilton became headmaster of Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, and in 1957 became headmaster of Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, a position he held until 1966. In 1967 he was elected Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, serving in that position until 1978, and became an honorary fellow of the college on retirement.
Hamilton's academic and public service positions included:
- Editor of the Classical Quarterly
- Chairman of the Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund Scholarship Committee (1953-59)
- Member of the Headmasters' Conference
- Member of the Board of Governors of Shrewsbury School (1968-81)
- Member of the Governing Bodies Association (1969-74)
- Member of the Executive Committee of the British Council (1958-70)
- Member of the Council of the Senate of Cambridge University (1969-74).
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (1957)
- Awarded an honorary D.Litt by Durham University (1958).
He translated Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus was a fourth-century Roman historian. He wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from Antiquity...
's The Later Roman Empire as well as Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
's Symposium
Symposium (Plato)
The Symposium is a philosophical text by Plato dated c. 385–380 BCE. It concerns itself at one level with the genesis, purpose and nature of love....
, Gorgias
Gorgias (dialogue)
Gorgias is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato around 380 BC. In this dialogue, Socrates seeks the true definition of rhetoric, attempting to pinpoint the essence of rhetoric and unveil the flaws of the sophistic oratory popular in Athens at this time...
, and Phaedrus and
Letters VII and VIII
Epistles (Plato)
The Epistles of Plato are a series of thirteen letters traditionally included in the Platonic corpus. Their authenticity has been the subject of some dispute, and scholarly consensus has shifted back and forth over time...
.