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Samuel Butcher (classicist) facts for kids

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Samuel Henry Butcher - The illustrated London news. v. 138 pt.1 scan page 8 (cropped)
Samuel Henry Butcher, a smart scholar and politician.

Samuel Henry Butcher was an important Anglo-Irish person who lived from 1850 to 1910. He was a brilliant classical scholar, meaning he studied ancient Greek and Roman languages and cultures. He was also a politician and a member of the British Parliament.

Prof Samuel Butcher's grave, Dean Cemetery
The grave of Professor Samuel Butcher in Edinburgh.

Samuel Butcher's Early Life and Education

Samuel Henry Butcher was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 16, 1850. His father, also named Samuel Butcher, was a Bishop (a high-ranking church leader) in a place called Meath. His mother was Mary Leahy.

Samuel went to a school called Marlborough College in England. After that, he earned a spot at Trinity College, Cambridge, which is a very famous university. He studied there from 1869 to 1873. He was a top student, earning the highest honors in his studies of ancient languages.

Samuel Butcher's Career and Work

After finishing his studies, Samuel Butcher became a fellow at Trinity College in 1874. This meant he was a senior member of the college, often teaching or doing research.

In 1876, he got married to Rose Julia Trench. Because of the rules at the time, he had to leave his position at Trinity College when he married. He then became a fellow and teacher at University College, Oxford, another famous university, where he worked until 1882.

From 1882 to 1903, Samuel Butcher was a Professor of Greek at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He taught students all about the ancient Greek language and its history. He lived in Edinburgh during this time.

Samuel Butcher: A Politician

Besides being a scholar, Samuel Butcher also became a politician. In 1906, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridge University. This meant he represented the university in the British Parliament. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He served as an MP until he passed away.

He was also the President of the British Academy from 1909 to 1910. The British Academy is a group that supports and promotes studies in the humanities and social sciences.

Samuel Butcher's Later Years

Samuel Butcher died in London on December 29, 1910. His body was brought back to Scotland and buried in the Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh. He was buried next to his wife, Rose Julia Butcher, who had passed away in 1902. His grave has a special stone shaped like a Celtic cross.

Samuel Butcher's Family

Samuel Henry Butcher had a younger brother named John Butcher, 1st Baron Danesfort, who also became a well-known person. Samuel and his wife, Rose Julia, did not have any children.

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