John Earle

John Earle Biography

John Earle (29 January 1824 – 31 January 1903) was a distinguished British linguist and Anglo‑Saxon scholar. He studied at Oriel College, Oxford, earning first‑class honours in classics, and was elected Fellow in 1848. In 1852 he served as College Tutor, and from 1857 he became Rector of Swanswick near Bath.

He was appointed Rawlinson (later Rawlinson and Bosworth) Professor of Anglo‑Saxon at Oxford twice—first from 1849 to 1854, and again from 1876 to 1903. Earle authored over a dozen influential works, including Two Saxon Chronicles Parallel (1865), later edited by Charles Plummer, *Anglo‑Saxon Literature* (1884), and *The Philology of the English Tongue* (1871).

Other notable works include A Book for the Beginner in Anglo‑Saxon (1877), *English Plant Names from the Tenth to the Fifteenth Century* (1880), *English Prose: Its Elements, History, and Usage* (1890), and *The Deeds of Beowulf* (1892). He also edited land‑charters, the Psalter of 1539, and *The Alfred Jewel*. Earle remained Rector at Swanswick and Professor until his death in January 1903.

Trivia About John Earle

• He served as Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo‑Saxon twice—first 1849–1854, then 1876–1903.
• Charles Plummer edited his *Two Saxon Chronicles Parallel*, releasing a revised scholarly edition in 1892.
• He combined academic work with parish service as Rector of Swanswick while holding the Oxford chair.
• His recreations included boating, riding, and gardening, as noted in Who’s Who 1903.

Famous Quotes by John Earle

• "Anglo‑Saxon literature stands as the oldest vernacular literature in modern Europe."
• "A study of English prose must begin with knowledge of its historic roots in Old English."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was John Earle best known for?

He pioneered scholarly studies of Old English at Oxford and authored foundational reference works used in Anglo‑Saxon philology.

What role did he hold at Oxford?

He twice held the prestigious Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo‑Saxon and served as Rector of Swanswick.

Critical Reception & Influence

Earle’s works were highly regarded in his lifetime and remain key references for scholars of Old English literature. His editorial precision and historical insight influenced generations of linguists and medievalists.

Why This Author Still Matters

His scholarship helped shape the study of Anglo‑Saxon texts, the academic canon of early English literature, and contributed significantly to the standardisation of historical English philology.

Related Literary Movements

Earle was part of the 19th‑century philological revival, Anglo‑Saxon scholarship movement, and comparative historical linguistics in Victorian Britain.

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