Donald Struan Robertson
Encyclopedia
Donald Struan Robertson was a classical scholar, particularly noted for his work on Apuleius
, and for 22 years the Regius Professor of Greek
at the University of Cambridge
.
Robertson won a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge
and was placed in the first class of both parts of the Classical Tripos
, graduating in 1908. Having won several prizes as an undergraduate, he competed for, and in 1909 won, a Trinity fellowship with a dissertation on the manuscript tradition of Apuleius's Apologia which he illustrated with stories from Apuleius's Metamorphoses.
The whole of Robertson's academic life, from undergraduate to retirement, was spent at Trinity. Interrupted only by war service, where he was commissioned in the Royal Army Service Corps
rising to the rank of major, Robertson lectured and supervised at Trinity until in 1928 he succeeded A. C. Pearson
as the Regius Professor of Greek., holding the chair until 1950.
Robertson published his first book, A Handbook of Greek and Roman Architecture, in 1929; however, the work for which he is best remembered is his text of the Metamorphoses of Apuleius, published in the Budé
series in three volumes between 1940–45.
Robertson was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
in 1940; he received honorary degrees from the universities of Durham, Glasgow, and Athens.
By his first wife, who was killed during the Second World War, Robertson was the father of Charles Martin Robertson
, an eminent scholar of Greek vase painting.
Apuleius
Apuleius was a Latin prose writer. He was a Berber, from Madaurus . He studied Platonist philosophy in Athens; travelled to Italy, Asia Minor and Egypt; and was an initiate in several cults or mysteries. The most famous incident in his life was when he was accused of using magic to gain the...
, and for 22 years the Regius Professor of Greek
Regius Professor of Greek (Cambridge)
The Regius Professorship of Greek is one of the oldest professorships at the University of Cambridge. The chair was founded by Henry VIII in 1540 with a stipend of £40 per year, subsequently increased in 1848 by a canonry of Ely Cathedral....
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Life
After education at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
Robertson won a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
and was placed in the first class of both parts of the Classical Tripos
Classical Tripos
The Classical Tripos is the taught course in classics at the University of Cambridge, equivalent to Literae Humaniores at Oxford. It is traditionally a three year degree, but for those who have not studied Latin and Greek at school a four year course has been introduced...
, graduating in 1908. Having won several prizes as an undergraduate, he competed for, and in 1909 won, a Trinity fellowship with a dissertation on the manuscript tradition of Apuleius's Apologia which he illustrated with stories from Apuleius's Metamorphoses.
The whole of Robertson's academic life, from undergraduate to retirement, was spent at Trinity. Interrupted only by war service, where he was commissioned in the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
rising to the rank of major, Robertson lectured and supervised at Trinity until in 1928 he succeeded A. C. Pearson
Alfred Chilton Pearson
Alfred Chilton Pearson was an English classical scholar, noted for his work on Greek tragedy.-Life:After education at King's College School and Highgate School Pearson went up to Christ's College, Cambridge to read classics where he graduated in 1883...
as the Regius Professor of Greek., holding the chair until 1950.
Robertson published his first book, A Handbook of Greek and Roman Architecture, in 1929; however, the work for which he is best remembered is his text of the Metamorphoses of Apuleius, published in the Budé
Collection Budé
The Collection Budé, or the Collection des Universités de France, is a series of books comprising the Greek and Latin classics up to the middle of the 6th century...
series in three volumes between 1940–45.
Robertson was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 1940; he received honorary degrees from the universities of Durham, Glasgow, and Athens.
By his first wife, who was killed during the Second World War, Robertson was the father of Charles Martin Robertson
Martin Robertson
Charles Martin Robertson was a British scholar of classical art and archaeology and poet. He was the elder son of Donald Struan Robertson and Petica Coursolles, née Jones , who hosted a literary salon. Martin Robertson, as he was always known, attended the Leys School and Trinity College Cambridge...
, an eminent scholar of Greek vase painting.