HAWTREY

hawtrey, edward craven (1789-1862), english educationalist, was born at burnham on the 7th of may 1789, the son of the vicar of the parish. he was educated at eton and king's college, cambridge, and in 1814 was appointed assistant master at eton under dr keate. in 1834 he became headmaster of the college, and his administration was a vigorous one. new buildings were erected, including the school library and the sanatorium, the college chapel was restored, the old christopher inn was closed, and the custom of "montem," the collection by street begging of funds for the university expenses of the captain of the school, was suppressed. he is supposed to have suggested the prince consort's modern language prizes, while the prize for english essay he founded himself. in 1852 he became provost of eton, and in 1854 vicar of mapledurham. he died on the 27th of january 1862, and was buried in the eton college chapel. on account of his command of languages ancient and modern, he was known in london as "the english mezzofanti," and he was a book collector of the finest taste. among his own books are some excellent translations from the english into italian, german and greek. he had a considerable reputation as a writer of english hexameters and as a judge of homeric translation.