Benjamin Jowett

Benjamin Jowett was a renowned English classical scholar, theologian, and influential university administrator during the Victorian era. He served as Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Oxford and later as Master of Balliol College, Oxford, which he transformed into a leading academic institution. Jowett is best remembered for his pioneering translations of the works of Plato and Thucydides, which made these foundational texts accessible to a wider English-speaking audience. His tenure at Oxford was marked by advocacy for university reform and broader educational access, though his liberal theological views occasionally brought him into conflict with the Anglican Church establishment.

Early life and education

Benjamin Jowett was born in Camberwell, then a suburb of London, into a family of modest means. He received his early education at St Paul's School, where he excelled in classics, before winning a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford in 1836. At Oxford, he distinguished himself academically, taking a first-class degree in Literae Humaniores and being elected a fellow of Balliol College in 1838. His early academic success was followed by his ordination as a deacon in the Church of England in 1842, aligning with the college's requirement for fellows to be in holy orders.

Academic career

Jowett was appointed to the prestigious Regius Professor of Greek chair at Oxford in 1855, a position he held for over two decades. His professorial lectures were noted for their clarity and modern approach to classical texts. In 1870, he was elected Master of Balliol College, a role in which he exerted profound influence, raising academic standards, expanding the college's buildings, and attracting talented students from diverse social backgrounds, including from the Indian Civil Service. He was a central figure in the movement for university reform, advocating for the abolition of religious tests and supporting the Oxford University Act 1854. His theological essays in Essays and Reviews (1860) provoked controversy, leading to a formal condemnation by the Convocation of Oxford University and accusations of heresy.

Works and translations

Jowett's most enduring scholarly contributions are his translations of classical Greek philosophy and history. His multivolume translation of the Dialogues of Plato (1871) was a landmark publication, praised for its readable prose but later critiqued for its interpretative freedom. He also produced a widely used translation of the History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. Among his other significant works are a translation of the Politics of Aristotle and The Epistles of St. Paul, reflecting his dual interests in classics and theology. These translations were instrumental in shaping the study of Greek philosophy and ancient history in British universities and beyond.

Influence and legacy

Jowett's legacy is most palpable in the modern character of Balliol College, which he established as a model of academic excellence and meritocracy, influencing the development of other colleges at Oxford and Cambridge. His educational philosophy, emphasizing tutorial teaching and broad learning, left a lasting mark on the Oxford tutorial system. The famous aphorism "Never retreat, never explain, never apologise; get the thing done and let them howl" is often attributed to him, encapsulating his determined approach. His translations remained standard texts for generations, and his efforts in university reform helped pave the way for a more secular and inclusive University of Oxford.

Personal life and character

Described as reserved and somewhat austere, Jowett was a lifelong bachelor who dedicated himself entirely to his college and scholarly work. He maintained a close, though often demanding, relationship with his students, many of whom, like the poet Algernon Charles Swinburne and future Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, achieved great prominence. He enjoyed friendships with notable contemporaries such as Alfred Tennyson, Matthew Arnold, and Florence Nightingale, with whom he discussed theology and social reform. In his later years, he lived at Headley Park in Hampshire, where he died in 1893. He is buried in St. Sepulchre's Cemetery in Oxford.

Category:1817 births Category:1893 deaths Category:English classical scholars Category:English translators Category:Academics of the University of Oxford Category:Masters of Balliol College, Oxford Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford