SIR HENRY MAINE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1255, 15 March 1878, Page 3

SIR HENRY MAINE.

The following note on Trinity Hall, and its newly appointed master, is from the London “ Times,” and will be interesting to old Cantabs; —

The new Master was born in 1822, and at the usual ago entered Pembroke College, Cambridge. His undergraduate career was one of remarkable brilliance, as will be seen by an enumeration of the honors he obtained during his University course. In 1842 he obtained Sir William Browne’s medal for a Greek ode, the Camden Medal, and the Chancellor’s Medal for English Poetry. In the year following he was elected Craven Scholar, and was awarded Sir William Browne’s medal for a Latin ode and epigrams. He graduated in 1844, when he attained the distinction of Senior Classic, Senior Chancellor’s Classical Medallist, and likewise obtained mathematical honours as a Senior Optime. It is rather singular that so eminently distinguished a career should not have been rewarded with a Fellowship. The authorities of Trinity Hall, however, offered to Mr Maine the office of Tutor of that college, which lie accepted, and he became a member of Trinity Hall and discharged the duties of Tutor for a few years. In 1847 ho was selected as Regius Professor of the Civil Law on the retirement of the Rev. ,T. W. Geldart, a half-brother of the late Master, from that office. The promotion of Mr Maine to a Professorship at the early ago of 25 was an exceptional advancement. He, however, only held the appointment until 1854, when he relinquished it to undertake the duties of Reader of Jurisprudence and Civil Law in the Inns of Court. Mr Maine had been called to the Ear in 1850, and in 1862 he was appointed a Legal Member of the Supreme Council of India. During the seven years he resided in India he originated and succeeded in carrying out some important legislative reforms. Soon after his return to England, in 1869, he was elected Corpus Professor of Jurisprudence in the University of Oxford, an appointment he now bolds. In 1871 his services in our Eastern Empire were recognised by his appointment as a member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India, and in the following year her Majesty* was pleased to confer upon him the distinction of a Knight Commander of the Star of India. In 1875 Sir Henry Maine delivered the Rede Lecture at Cambridge, the subject being “ The Effects of Observation of India on Modern European Thought.” This lecture attracted considerable attention, and was published in a pamphlet form. As an author Sir Henry Maine is [well known by his work on “Ancient Law,” and the companion volume on “ Tillage Communities.” His return to Cambridge after an absence of thirty years will be a matter of congratulation, as it is anticipated bo will take an active part in the administrative work of the University. Trinity Hall was founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich, and Sir Henry Maine is the thirty-fifth master. Among ids predecessors may be mentioned Bishop Gardiner (the last ecclesiastic who held the office), Walter Haddon, John Cowell, Sir Nathaniel Lloyd, Sir James Marriott, Sir Thomas lo Blanc, and Sir Herbert Jen tier Fust.