Thomas Gaisford

He was born at Iford, Wiltshire, and entered the University of Oxford in 1797, becoming successively student and tutor of Christ Church. In 1811 he was appointed regius professor of Greek in the university. Taking orders, he held (1815-1847) the college living of Westwell, in Oxfordshire, and other ecclesiastical preferments simultaneously with his professorship. From 1831 until his death, he was dean of Christ Church.

As curator of the Bodleian and principal delegate of the Oxford University Press, Gaisford was instrumental in securing the co-operation of distinguished European scholars as collators, notably Bekker and Dindorf. Among his numerous contributions to Greek literature may be mentioned, Hephaestion's Encheiridion (1810); Poëtae Graeci minores (1814-1820); Stobaeus' Florilegium (1822); Herodotus, with variorum notes (1824); Suidas' Lexicon (1834); Etymologicon magnum (I848). Eusebius's Praeparatio (1843) and Demonstratio evangelica (1852). In 1856 the Gaisford prizes, for Greek composition, were founded at Oxford to perpetuate his memory.

This entry is updated from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.