Thomas Hewitt Key facts for kids
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Thomas Hewitt Key (born March 20, 1799 – died November 29, 1875) was an English expert in classical studies. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, a group of important scientists.
Life and Work
Thomas Hewitt Key was born in London, England. He studied at Cambridge University and graduated in 1821. From 1825 to 1827, he was a founding professor of pure mathematics at the University of Virginia in the United States. During his time there, he owned at least one enslaved person.
After returning to England, he became a professor of Latin at the new University of London in 1828. In 1832, he became a headmaster at the University College School. He later became the sole headmaster and also a professor of comparative grammar. He held these jobs until he passed away. He also worked as a secretary for the College of Preceptors in London.
Key's Important Ideas
Key is well known for changing how classical languages were taught. He brought in the "crude-form" system. This system focused on teaching the basic, unchanged form of words, similar to how Sanskrit grammarians taught. He put this system into his book, Latin Grammar, published in 1846.
In another book, Language, its Origin and Development (1874), he supported the idea that language started from sounds that imitated things, like "buzz" or "meow." This is called the onomatopoeic theory.
His Contributions and Legacy
Key's Latin Dictionary, which came out in 1888, was criticized for its information about word origins. However, he was a respected member of the Royal Society and the president of the Philological Society. He wrote many articles for the Transactions of this society.
Thomas Hewitt Key was the great-grandfather of two famous British authors, Rumer Godden and Jon Godden. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery in London.
