William Axon
Encyclopedia
William Edward Armytage Axon (1846–1913) was a librarian and antiquary, and a journalist for Manchester Guardian. He contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography
under his initials W. E. A. A.
on Sunday. He had begun life as a boy in the Manchester Reference Library, and was early drawn to literary pursuits. Later he wrote much on the folklore and historical associations of Lancashire and Cheshire, and the antiquaries of these counties made him their president. Besides this, as a member of the English Dialect Society he wrote many tales and sketches illustrating the dialect and customs of the county in which he lived. He was also the author of Cobden as a Citizen (1907). He had been for 30 years on the literary staff of the Manchester Guardian, and for his general literary work was distinguished by the University of Manchester, which conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1913. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
, an honorary LL.D. of Wilberforce University
, and had contributed articles to the Encyclopædia Britannica
, the Dictionary of National Biography
, the American Encyclopædia, and Notes and Queries
.
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
under his initials W. E. A. A.
Biography
Dr William Axon was best known as an antiquary and a bibliographer, but his interests were extremely varied. He was a prominent member of the Anti-Tobacco League, and was also an ardent vegetarian. As honorary secretary of the Manchester and Salford Sunday Society he took a prominent part in the agitation for the opening of the Manchester librariesManchester Library & Information Service
There are 23 public libraries in Manchester, England, including the famous Central Library in St Peter’s Square, as well as a fleet of mobile libraries.The oldest community library still in use is Levenshulme Library in South Manchester, built in 1903...
on Sunday. He had begun life as a boy in the Manchester Reference Library, and was early drawn to literary pursuits. Later he wrote much on the folklore and historical associations of Lancashire and Cheshire, and the antiquaries of these counties made him their president. Besides this, as a member of the English Dialect Society he wrote many tales and sketches illustrating the dialect and customs of the county in which he lived. He was also the author of Cobden as a Citizen (1907). He had been for 30 years on the literary staff of the Manchester Guardian, and for his general literary work was distinguished by the University of Manchester, which conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1913. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
, an honorary LL.D. of Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
, and had contributed articles to the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
, 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...
, the American Encyclopædia, and Notes and Queries
Notes and Queries
Notes and Queries is a long-running quarterly scholarly journal that publishes short articles related to "English language and literature, lexicography, history, and scholarly antiquarianism". Its emphasis is on "the factual rather than the speculative"...
.
Edited works
- 1886: The Annals of Manchester: a chronological record from the earliest times to the end of 1885. Manchester: J. Heywood, Deansgate and Ridgefield ("The volume now offered to the public, as a revised edition of the Manchester Historical Recorder, is virtually a new work ...". - preface.)
- Collected sermons, 1631-1659 Volume 1 edited by John Eglington Bailey. Completed by William E. A. Axon (1891)
- Collected sermons, 1631-1659 Volume 2 edited by John Eglington Bailey. Completed by William E. A. Axon (1891)
Contributions to the DNB
- Ashworth, John
- Banks, George Linnaeus
- Bellot, Thomas
- Bennis, George Geary
- Blythe, John Dean
- Bowers, George Hull
- Bradberry, David
- Brandwood, James
- Brittain, Thomas
- Brooke, Henry
- Brookes, Joshua
- Brotherton, Edward
- Bruen, John
- Butterworth, James
- Calvert, Charles
- Calvert, Thomas
- Canne, John
- Castillo, John
- Caw, John Young
- Clayton, John (1754-1843)
- Cole, Thomas (1628-1697)
- Crestadoro, Andrea