William Walter Merry
Encyclopedia
William Walter Merry was an English
classical scholar, clergyman, and educator.
William Merry was born in Evesham
, Worcestershire
and was educated at Cheltenham College
and Balliol College
, Oxford, where he gained the chancellor's prize for a Latin
essay in 1858. He was fellow and lecturer of Lincoln College, Oxford
from 1859 and Rector (head) of the College from 1884. He was select preacher
to the University in 1878–79 and in 1889–90, and Whitehall preacher in 1883–84; public orator at Oxford from 1880 to 1910; a member of the Hebdomadal Council
(1896–1908); and Vice-Chancellor (1904–06).
For many years he was engaged in the preparation of editions of the classical authors, published by the Clarendon Press
, Oxford. Of these may be mentioned Homer
's Odyssey
(books i to xii, with James Riddell; second edition, 1886); a school edition of the same books and another of books xiii to xxiv — of the former 66,000 copies were sold, of the latter 16,000; a series of editions of the plays of Aristophanes
, begun in 1879. (Some of these have gone through several editions). Other works in classical literature are The Greek Dialects (1875) and Selected Fragments of Roman Poetry (second edition, 1901).
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
classical scholar, clergyman, and educator.
William Merry was born in Evesham
Evesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
and was educated at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
and Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, Oxford, where he gained the chancellor's prize for a 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...
essay in 1858. He was fellow and lecturer of Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
from 1859 and Rector (head) of the College from 1884. He was select preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
to the University in 1878–79 and in 1889–90, and Whitehall preacher in 1883–84; public orator at Oxford from 1880 to 1910; a member of the Hebdomadal Council
Hebdomadal Council
The Hebdomadal Council was the chief executive body for the University of Oxford from its establishment in 1854 until its replacement, in the Michaelmas term of 2000, by the new University Council...
(1896–1908); and Vice-Chancellor (1904–06).
For many years he was engaged in the preparation of editions of the classical authors, published by the Clarendon Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, Oxford. Of these may be mentioned Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
(books i to xii, with James Riddell; second edition, 1886); a school edition of the same books and another of books xiii to xxiv — of the former 66,000 copies were sold, of the latter 16,000; a series of editions of the plays of Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
, begun in 1879. (Some of these have gone through several editions). Other works in classical literature are The Greek Dialects (1875) and Selected Fragments of Roman Poetry (second edition, 1901).