Clement-Jones family 12/22 - Person Sheet
Clement-Jones family 12/22 - Person Sheet
NameRev Henry Montagu BUTLER DD , 802
Birth1833
Death1918
EducationHarrow and Trinity College Cambridge
FatherVery Rev George BUTLER , 7331 (1774-1853)
MotherSarah Maria GRAY , 8044
Spouses
Death1883
Marriage1861
ChildrenGertrude Maud "Queenie" Montagu , 801 (1880-1933)
 Agnes Isabel , 803 (1865-1949)
 Edward Montagu , 7329 (1866-1948)
 Arthur Hugh Montagu , 7330 (1873-1943)
 Edith Violet , 8047
Marriage1888
ChildrenJames Ramsay Montagu , 8046 (1889-1975)
 Gordon Kerr Montagu , 8049 (-1916)
 Nevile Montagu , 8050 (1893-1973)
Notes for Rev Henry Montagu BUTLER DD
Master of Trinity and Headmaster of Harrow and Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University.

from Venns

Adm. pens. (age 17), at TRINITY, July 30, 1850. 4th s. of George (1790), Dean of Peterborough (for whom see D.N.B.). B. July 2, 1833, at Gayton, Northants.
School, Harrow.
Matric. Michs. 1851; Scholar, 1853; Browne medal, 1853, 1854; Camden medal; Porson prize; B.A.
(Senr.
Classic) 1855; M.A. 1858; D.D. 1865.
Fellow, 1855.
Tutor, 1855-9. Master, 1886-1918.
Vice-Chancellor, 1889, 1890.
President of the Union, 1855.
Ord. deacon and priest (Lichfield) 1859; C. of St Mary's, Cambridge.
Head Master of Harrow School, 1860-85.
Chaplain to Queen Victoria, 1875-7. Chaplain-in-ordinary, 1877-1901; to George V, 1912.
Preb. of St Paul's, 1882-5. Dean of Gloucester, 1885-6. Hon. Canon of Ely, 1898.
Select Preacher at Oxford, 1877-1880, 1882 and 1899; at Cambridge several times from 1879-1906.
Lady Margaret Preacher, 1903.
D.C.L. (Oxford) 1907.
LL.D. (Glasgow) 1893.
LL.D. (St Andrew's) 1907.
Romanes Lecturer at Oxford, 1912.
Keenly interested in the cause of Working Class Education and helped to found a College for working men at Cambridge, 1855.
An ardent supporter of the University Extension scheme, and of the Workers' Educational Association.
One of the founders of the Church of England Purity Society, 1883; Chairman of the Executive Committee, 1885-99.
A champion of the cause of Women's Education; for some years a member of the Council of Girton College.
With Henry Sidgwick, supported the proposals of the Syndicate in favour of admitting women to the titles of degrees, 1897.
First President of the English Association, 1907.
A gift of eloquence, combined with a sense of humour and an amazing memory, caused him to be acclaimed 'as one of the best after-dinner speakers in England.' Held in singular reverence by his contemporaries for his simplicity of character and unfailing courtesy.
Author, Ten Great and Good Men; Sermons, etc.
Founded the Montagu Butler Prize, 1910.
Died Jan. 14, 1918, at the Lodge.
Buried at Harrow.
M.I. in the College ante-chapel.
For an appreciation of his work and character see Henry Montagu Butler by his son J. R. M. Butler.
Brother of Spencer P. (1846) and father of Edward M. (1885).
(D.N.B.)

From Wikipedia

Henry Montagu Butler (called Montagu; 2 July 1833 Gayton, Northamptonshire – 14 January 1918, Cambridge) was an English academic.

He was the son of a previous Headmaster of Harrow School, George Butler and his wife Sarah Maria née Gray. Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge,[1] he married Georgina Elliot in 1861. He married his second wife in 1888, a very young Agnata Frances Ramsay who in 1887 attained the highest marks in the Classical Tripos at Cambridge. He had two sons and three daughters by his first wife, and another son by his second wife - the historian Sir James Butler. A talented and versatile Latinist, Butler achieved fame as one of the most adept British composers of Latin (and Greek) verse in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Service

Similarly to his father he served as headmaster of Harrow (1859 to 1885). He was then appointed Dean of Gloucester Cathedral in 1885 and was also Master of Trinity College, Cambridge from 1886 to 1918, Vice Chancellor of the University, 1889-1890. As headmaster, he influenced many young people, including Stanley Baldwin (Prime Minister); Lord Davidson (Archbishop of Canterbury); Galsworthy of the Forsyte Saga; 10 bishops, including Bishop Gore; 17 judges; 4 viceroys; 12 governors; 12 ambassadors; 33 privy councillors; and 64 generals. He changed Harrow from a hide-bound and backward seventeenth century institution to a rebuilt and well-equipped contemporary school. He wrote one hymn, Lift up your hearts! We lift them, Lord, to thee in 1881. He died in Cambridge on 14 January 1918.[2]

Trivia

Butler's desk was donated to Duke Hospital by Dr. William John Dann in March 1938. After it had been moved to storage, circumstances led the school to refinish it and hence to discover the plaque telling of its historical significance.

Henry Montagu Butler was the first cousin once removed to Montagu Christie Butler, with whom he may easily be confused if either is referred to simply as "Montagu Butler".

A. C. Benson recounted how Butler fell asleep during a College meeting and awoke with the emphatic observation, "A strong case, tellingly put".

Family

Butler married twice. Firstly, on 19 December 1861, to Georgina Isabella Elliot (1839–1883), with issue:
Agnes J. Butler, b. 1865
Edward M. Butler, b. 1867
Edith Violet Butler (1869–1887)
Arthur Montagu Butler, b. 1873
Gertrude M. Butler, b. 1880
Secondly, in 1888 at St George's Hanover Square, to Agnata Frances Ramsay (1867–1931), with issue:
James Ramsay Montagu Butler (1889–1975)
Last Modified 3 Aug 2012Created 4 Mar 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh