Henry Montagu Butler
Encyclopedia
Henry Montagu Butler 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
, 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, Montagu Butler achieved fame as one of the most adept British composers of Latin (and Greek) verse in the 19th and 20th centuries.
(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.
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".
Secondly, in 1888 at St George's Hanover Square, to Agnata Frances Ramsay (1867–1931), with issue:
He was the son of a previous Headmaster of Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, George Butler
George Butler (headmaster)
George Butler was an English schoolmaster and divine, headmaster of Harrow School from 1805 to 1829.Son of Weeden Butler , George Butler was educated at the Chelsea school where his father taught and proceeded to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he graduated senior wrangler in 1794...
and his wife Sarah Maria née Gray. Educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and 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...
, 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
James Ramsay Montagu Butler
Sir James Butler was a British politician and academic.Butler was born at Trinity College, Cambridge, where his father was master of the college. Butler attended Harrow School and then Trinity College...
. A talented and versatile Latinist, Montagu 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 HarrowHarrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
(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
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
(Prime Minister); Lord Davidson
Randall Thomas Davidson
Randall Thomas Davidson, 1st Baron Davidson of Lambeth GCVO, PC was an Anglican bishop of Scottish origin who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1903 to 1928.-Background and education:...
(Archbishop of Canterbury); Galsworthy
John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy OM was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include The Forsyte Saga and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter...
of the Forsyte Saga; 10 bishops, including Bishop Gore
Charles Gore
Charles Gore was a British theologian and Anglican bishop.-Early life and education:Gore was the third son of the Honourable Charles Alexander Gore, and brother of the fourth Earl of Arran...
; 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
Lift Up Your Hearts!
Lift up your hearts! is an English hymn written in 1881 by H. Montagu Butler. The words echo the English translation of the Sursum corda, a part of the communion liturgy in Christian churches.-Music:...
in 1881. He died in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
on 14 January 1918.
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
Montagu C. Butler
Montagu Christie Butler, was a British academic, librarian and musician. A winner of several prizes at the Royal Academy of Music in London, he was a harpist and a versatile music teacher skilled in playing various musical instruments, as well as a teacher of voice and of musical composition.He...
, with whom he may easily be confused if either is referred to simply as "Montagu Butler".
A. C. Benson
A. C. Benson
Arthur Christopher Benson was an English essayist, poet, and author and the 28th Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge....
recounted how Butler fell asleep during a College meeting and awoke with the emphatic observation, "A strong case, tellingly put".
Family
Henry Montagu 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 ButlerJames Ramsay Montagu ButlerSir James Butler was a British politician and academic.Butler was born at Trinity College, Cambridge, where his father was master of the college. Butler attended Harrow School and then Trinity College...
(1889–1975)