Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/24

 well as at Balliol. In 1873 he graduated B.A. and M.A. In 1874 he was elected a fellow and tutor of Balliol. From that time till his resignation, only a few days before his death, he was a mainstay of the administration and teaching of his college. At first he taught mainly Latin and Greek scholarship; in his later years Greek history was his principal subject. He won the affection and confidence of his pupils by his unceasing efforts for their welfare and by the cheerfulness with which he bore his physical disabilities. He became Jowett lecturer in Greek in 1895, and was librarian of the college from 1881 to 1897, and in 1882 served as junior bursar.

Throughout his life Abbott was constantly engaged in writing in addition to his college work. He was well versed in German, and besides Curtius's 'Elucidations of the Students' Greek Grammar' (1870) he translated Max Duncker's 'History of Antiquity' (6 vols. 1877-81). He also assisted Miss Sarah Francis Alleyne (d. 1885) in English versions of Duncker's 'History of Greece' (2 vols. 1883-6) and Zeller's 'Outlines of Greek Philosophy' (1885). He was editor of 'Hellenica' (1880; 2nd edit. 1898), a collection of essays on Greek themes, and was general editor of the 'Heroes of the Nations' series, to which he contributed a life of Pericles (1891). Other works were 'Elements of Greek Accidence' (1874) and an index to Jowett's translation of Plato (1875). With Lewis Campbell [q. v. Suppl. II] he wrote the biography of his life-long friend, Benjamin Jowett, Master of Balliol (1897). His most important literary work is his 'History of Greece' in three volumes (1888-1900), admirable alike for its learning, sound judgment, and simple and lucid style. The sceptical view of the 'Iliad' and 'Odyssey,' which regards them as purely works of poetical imagination, has nowhere been more ably presented, and the presentation well illustrates Abbott's independent method in treating historical problems.

Abbott, who was made LL.D. of St. Andrews in 1879, maintained his activities till a few weeks before his death at Malvern on 3 Sept. 1901. He was buried at Redlands cemetery, near Cardiff.



À BECKETT, ARTHUR WILLIAM (1844–1909), humorist, third son of [q. v.], was born at Portland House, North End, Fulham, in October 1844. His godfather was [q. v.], the father of Sir [q. v. Suppl. II]. [q. v. Suppl. I] was his elder brother. Arthur was educated first at Honiton and then at Felsted from January 1858 to December 1859 (, Alumni Felsted.). While at Felsted he contributed to the 'Braintree Times'; and later he was a favourite chairman of Old Felstedians. Palmerston nominated him in 1862 to a clerkship in the war office, but he soon migrated to the post office, and left the civil service in 1865 to engage in journalism. From 1871 to 1874 he was private secretary of the duke of Norfolk. Subsequently he became a student of Gray's Inn, 13 June 1877, and was called to the bar 3 May 1882, but he obtained no practice.

His vocation for the press showed itself early. At twenty he was assisting (Sir) Francis Burnand on the 'Glow-Worm,' a penny evening humorous paper, with which he was associated till 1868. He afterwards edited a satirical weekly, 'The Tomahawk.' At twenty-two, with the aid of his brother Gilbert, he wrote a 'Comic Guide to the Royal Academy' (1863-4). Good verbal spirits were the mainspring of his humour. Later he edited the 'Britannia' magazine (1868-70) and acted as special correspondent to the 'Standard' and the 'Globe' during the second period of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, when he was arrested at Amiens and astonished a court of French officers by his jocularity. In 1871, after experience in the volunteers, he was given a company in the king's own light infantry militia, and for a short time in 1896 edited the 'Naval and Military Magazine.' From 1891 to 1895 he was also editor of the 'Sunday Times,' under the directorship of Sir Augustus Harris. His best work was done in connection with 'Punch,' of which he claimed that his father was part-originator and founder. Tom Taylor first invited him to contribute in May 1874; in August 1875 he was called to the table, and for the following twenty-seven years he was an ardent devotee. His 'Papers from Pump Handle Court, by A Briefless Junior' (in continuation of the jeu d'esprit of his father) were much quoted. After Burnand's promotion to the editorship in 1880 he occasionally acted as locum tenens. His withdrawal from 'Punch' under pressure in June 1902 left some resentment, and he projected and edited through 1902-3 a rival comic paper, 'John Bull,' which met with no success. Apart from his 'Punch' work he wrote 'About Town,' '£. s. d.,' and some melodramatic novels,