Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Malden, Henry

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
1446441Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 35 — Malden, Henry1893Warwick William Wroth

MALDEN, HENRY (1800–1876), classical scholar, born in 1800, was the fourth son of Jonas Malden, surgeon, of Putney. He was educated privately, first at the school of the Rev. William Carmalt at Putney, and afterwards by the Rev. M. Preston at Aspenden Hall, near Buntingford, Hertfordshire, where Macaulay was a fellow-pupil (Trevelyan, Life of Macaulay, chap. i.) In October 1818 he entered Trinity College, Cambridge. He won the Craven scholarship in 1821, being bracketed with Macaulay and George Long (1800–1879) [q. v.], and was chancellor's classical medallist in 1822. He graduated B.A. 1822, M.A. 1825, and was elected fellow of Trinity in 1824. While at Cambridge he wrote for ‘Knight's Quarterly Magazine’ on Longus (No. II.) and on the later Greek philosophy (No. III.) He was also the author of a poem, ‘Evening,’ published in a volume edited by Joanna Baillie [q. v.] In 1824 he was strongly recommended for the post of rector of the Edinburgh Academy, but failed to obtain it. In 1831 he succeeded George Long as professor of Greek at University College (then the University of London), and filled this chair till his resignation in 1876. He took an active part ‘in promoting the compromise that led to the erection, in 1836, of the University of London as an examining body, and the incorporation of the Gower Street institution as University College.’ He published in 1835 (London, 8vo) an essay ‘On the Origin of Universities and Academical Degrees,’ which was written as an introduction to the report of the argument before the privy council in support of the application of the University of London for a charter empowering it to grant degrees.

In 1833 Malden was appointed, jointly with Thomas Hewitt Key [q. v.], head-master of University College school, but resigned in 1842. His death took place on 4 July 1876 at his residence in Belsize Square, South Hampstead. A Malden medal and scholarship (of the value of about 20l.), open to men and women, were established in 1878 by the subscribers to the Malden memorial fund. The medal, by M. Macphail, bears a portrait of Malden (Wroth, Engr. Personal Medals in Brit. Mus. 1887, p. 20), and there is also a portrait of him in University College, painted by Lawlor, and presented by the subscribers to the fund.

Malden was a man of a gentle and retiring disposition. His scholarship was ‘singularly elaborate and minute.’ He was a contributor to the ‘Philological Museum,’ edited by Connop Thirlwall In 1830; to the ‘Classical Museum,’ edited by Dr. Leonard Schmitz between 1843 and 1850; and to the ‘Transactions of the Philological Society.’ He also published in 1830 a ‘History of Rome to B.C. 390’ (Society for Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, 8vo).

[Athenæum, 15 July 1876, p. 81; Men of the Time, 9th edit. 1875; Martin's Handbook of Biog.; Testimonials for Rectorship of Edinb. Acad. (in Brit. Mus. Library); Grad. Cantabr.]

W. W.