James Bass Mullinger facts for kids

James Bass Mullinger (born in 1834 or 1843 – died November 22, 1917) was a British writer and historian. He was also known by his pen name, Theodorus. Mullinger worked for many years as a librarian and teacher at St. John's College, Cambridge.

He wrote several books about the history of the college and other academic topics. He also wrote for many magazines and encyclopedias from the Victorian era. These included the Cambridge History of Modern Literature and Encyclopædia Britannica. His most famous work is a three-volume book called History of the University of Cambridge Down to the Decline of the Platonists. It was considered the most important book on the subject for a long time.

Early Life and Education

James Mullinger was born in a town called Bishop's Stortford in England. He went to University College, London for his early studies. Later, in 1862, he joined St. John's College, Cambridge.

He worked very hard and graduated with honors in 1866. He studied both classical subjects and moral sciences. Mullinger also won several important awards, like the Le Bas, Hulsean, and Kaye Prizes.

Teaching and Library Work

For a short time, James Mullinger taught at Bedford College, London. But he soon decided to return to his old university, Cambridge. There, he became a special lecturer on Ecclesiastical History at Trinity College.

He also taught about the "History of Education" for ten years. This was part of a program to train teachers. Mullinger also held a teaching position in history at the university. For many years, he was the librarian at the famous Library of St. John's College.

His Important Books

While at Cambridge, James Mullinger wrote many books. Most of them were about the history of the university. Some of his books include:

• Cambridge Characteristics in the 17th Century (1867)
• The Ancient African Church (1869)
• The New Reformation (1875)
• The Schools of Charles the Great (1877)

In 1881, he worked with Professor Samuel R. Gardiner on a book called Introduction to the Study of English History. Later, in 1897, he wrote with Rev. J. Howard B. Masterman on "The Age of Milton." This book was very popular and had seven different editions. His last two books were History of St. John's College, Cambridge (1901) and Was Ben Jonson Ever a Member of Our College? (1904).

The History of Cambridge University

Mullinger's most famous work was the three-volume History of the University of Cambridge Down to the Decline of the Platonists. This huge project took him over 30 years to finish. He was also busy with his teaching duties and writing for many encyclopedias.

The first part of his History of Cambridge came out in 1873. The second part was published in 1888, and the final part in 1911. The next year, the university gave him an honorary degree. This meant he was recognized as a Doctor of Literature for his great work.

Other Contributions

James Mullinger wrote for many important publications. These included the Cambridge History of Modern Literature and the Cambridge Modern History. He also contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography and Encyclopædia Britannica.

Even though he spent much of his life as a quiet scholar, Mullinger loved to travel. He collected many beautiful photographs of old buildings. He passed away in Cambridge on November 22, 1917.