John Earle (professor)


John Earle was a British Anglo-Saxon language scholar. He was twice Rawlinsonian Professor of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Oxford.
Earle wrote more than a dozen books and was the author of Two Saxon Chronicles Parallel, and Anglo-Saxon Literature. Charles Plummer edited Earle's Two Saxon Chronicles Parallel, producing a Revised Text with notes, appendices, and glossary in 1892.

Early life and education

Earle was born at Elston, Churchstow, South Devon, on 29 January 1824, the oldest son of John Earle who was a farmer and landowner. Earle was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he obtained first-class honors in classics.

Career

Earle was elected a fellow in 1848 and in 1857 became rector of Swanswick, near Bath. Earle became a prebendary of Wells, which was a small cathedral city of Somerset, in 1871. His recreations were boating, riding and gardening.
Earle held the position of Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford as well as the rectory of Swanswick until his death.

Personal life and death

In 1863, he married Jane Rolleston, the daughter of Rev. George Rolleston.
His address in the 1903 Who's Who (UK) is listed as Swanswick Rectory, Bath, 84 Banbury Road, Oxford. He died there on 31 January 1903.

Positions held

  • Fellow of Oriel, 1848
  • College Tutor, 1852
  • Rector of Swanswick 1857
  • Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon 1849–1854
  • Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon 1876–1903
  • Prebendary of Wells since 1871
  • Select Preacher, Oxford University, 1873-1874
  • Rural Dean of Bath, 1873-1877