Walter Headlam

{{Short description|British classical scholar and poet (1866–1908)}}

{{Short description|British classical scholar and poet (1866–1908)}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}

[[Image:Walter George Headlam 1884.jpg|thumb|right|Walter George Headlam in 1884]]

[[Image:Walter George Headlam 1884.jpg|thumb|right|Walter George Headlam in 1884]]

'''Walter George Headlam''' (15 February 1866 – 20 June 1908) was a British classical scholar and poet, perhaps best remembered for his work on the ''[[Herodas#Herodas.27 mimes|Mimes]]'' of [[Herodas]]. He was described as "one of the leading Greek scholars of his time."

'''Walter George Headlam''' (15 February 1866 – 20 June 1908) was a British classical scholar and poet, perhaps best remembered for his work on the ''[[Herodas#Herodas.27 mimes|Mimes]]'' of [[Herodas]]. He was described as "one of the leading Greek scholars of his time."

Headlam was born at 24 Norfolk Square, Hyde Park, London in 1866, the second son of Edward Headlam (1824–1882), a [[fellow]] of [[St John's College, Cambridge]], a [[barrister]] and the Director of Examinations in the Civil Service Commission, and his wife, Mary Anne Johnson Headlam (née Sowerby) (born 1837). Through his mother he was descended from the classical scholar [[Richard Bentley]], Master of [[Trinity College, Cambridge]].N. G. Wilson, 'Headlam, Walter George (1866–1908)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33784, accessed 13 June 2013]

Headlam was born at 24 Norfolk Square, Hyde Park, London in 1866, the second son of Edward Headlam (1824–1882), a [[fellow]] of [[St John's College, Cambridge]], a [[barrister]] and the Director of Examinations in the Civil Service Commission, and his wife, Mary Anne Johnson Headlam (née Sowerby) (born 1837). Through his mother he was descended from the classical scholar [[Richard Bentley]], Master of [[Trinity College, Cambridge]].N. G. Wilson, 'Headlam, Walter George (1866–1908)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33784, accessed 13 June 2013]

He attended [[Elstree School]] in Hertfordshire and [[Harrow School]], where the headmaster was Dr [[Henry Montagu Butler|H. M. Butler]], later Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. On leaving Harrow Headlam studied at [[King's College, Cambridge]] from 1884 to 1887 where he gained a [[First class degree#First-class honours|First]] in the [[Classical Tripos]], as well as receiving a number of other academic awards including seven [[Browne medal | Browne medals]] for Greek and Latin odes and epigrams and the [[Richard Porson|Porson Prize]].Headlam, Walter George in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958 At Cambridge he became a member of a small society of friends known as the Twice a Fortnight Club, often abbreviated to TAF; this was made up of students from King's College and [[Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity College]] who would meet every Sunday evening for supper. Fellow members included [[James Kenneth Stephen]], [[Stanley Mordaunt Leathes]], [[M. R. James]] and [[Henry Babington Smith]]. King's College appointed him a fellow in 1890 after which he took up a teaching post within the college.[http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=CA34ADDC28451668BBB9183E5555A19C.journals?fromPage=online&aid=3602128 ''Dr Walter Headlam, 1866–1908'' The Classical Review/Volume 22/Issue 05 /August 1908, pp 163–164] Despite his eccentricity and scholarship he was extremely popular with his students, possibly because of their common interest in cricket, music, and hunting.

He attended [[Elstree School]] in Hertfordshire and [[Harrow School]], where the headmaster was Dr [[Henry Montagu Butler|H. M. Butler]], later Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. On leaving Harrow Headlam studied at [[King's College, Cambridge]] from 1884 to 1887 where he gained a [[First class degree#First-class honours|First]] in the [[Classical Tripos]], as well as receiving a number of other academic awards including seven [[Browne medal]]s for Greek and Latin odes and epigrams and the [[Richard Porson|Porson Prize]].Headlam, Walter George in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958 At Cambridge he became a member of a small society of friends known as the Twice a Fortnight Club, often abbreviated to TAF; this was made up of students from King's College and [[Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity College]] who would meet every Sunday evening for supper. Fellow members included [[James Kenneth Stephen]], [[Stanley Mordaunt Leathes]], [[M. R. James]] and [[Henry Babington Smith]]. King's College appointed him a fellow in 1890 after which he took up a teaching post within the college.[http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=CA34ADDC28451668BBB9183E5555A19C.journals?fromPage=online&aid=3602128 ''Dr Walter Headlam, 1866–1908'' The Classical Review/Volume 22/Issue 05 /August 1908, pp 163–164] Despite his eccentricity and scholarship he was extremely popular with his students, possibly because of their common interest in cricket, music, and hunting.

==Academic work==

==Academic work==

From 1890 Headlam concentrated much of his work on the ancient Greek tragedian [[Aeschylus]], publishing translations and papers on his plays.

From 1890 Headlam concentrated much of his work on the ancient Greek tragedian [[Aeschylus]], publishing translations and papers on his plays.

Headlam gained his [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)|MA]] in 1891, and was awarded the degree of DLitt in 1903. In 1906 he applied for the post of [[Regius Professor of Greek (Cambridge)|Regius Chair of Greek]], one of the oldest [[List of Professorships at the University of Cambridge|Professorships]] at the [[University of Cambridge]], the chair having been founded by [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] in 1540. Shy by nature, to his discomfort his application required that he should deliver a public lecture, which he gave on the second chorus of [[Aeschylus]]' ''[[Aeschylus#Agamemnon|Agamemnon]]''. Although Headlam did not gain the post he admired the successful candidate, the [[Classics|Classicist]] [[Henry Jackson (classicist)|Henry Jackson]]. Headlam's lecture was greatly admired and his name became known in Classical circles.HEADLAM, Walter George" (1907). Who's Who, 59: p. 811

Headlam gained his [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)|MA]] in 1891, and was awarded the degree of DLitt in 1903. In 1906 he applied for the post of [[Regius Professor of Greek (Cambridge)|Regius Chair of Greek]], one of the oldest [[List of Professorships at the University of Cambridge|Professorships]] at the [[University of Cambridge]], the chair having been founded by [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] in 1540. Shy by nature, to his discomfort his application required that he should deliver a public lecture, which he gave on the second chorus of [[Aeschylus]]' ''[[Aeschylus#Agamemnon|Agamemnon]]''. Although Headlam did not gain the post he admired the successful candidate, the [[Classics|Classicist]] [[Henry Jackson (classicist)|Henry Jackson]]. Headlam's lecture was greatly admired and his name became known in Classical circles.HEADLAM, Walter George" (1907). Who's Who, 59: p. 811