John Knight Fotheringham
Encyclopedia
John Knight Fotheringham FBA (14 August 1874 – 12 December 1936) was a British
historian who was an expert on ancient astronomy
and chronology
. He established the chronology of the Babylonian dynasties.
J.K. Fotheringham was educated at the City of London School
and Merton College, Oxford
, where he held an exhibition
and received first class degrees in Literae Humaniores
(1896) and modern history
(1897). During 1898–
1902, he held a senior demyship
at Magdalen College, Oxford
and started to study ancient chronology. In 1904, he was appointed a lecturer in classical literature at King's College London
and taught there until 1915.
Fotheringham was a Fellow at Magdalen College (1909–16). He was a Reader in ancient history at the University of London
(1912–20). He was later Reader in ancient astronomy and chronology at the University of Oxford
(1925–36).
J.K. Fotheringham edited Saint Jerome
's version of Eusebius
in 1923.
He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
in 1933. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
historian who was an expert on ancient astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and chronology
Chronology
Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events".Chronology is part of periodization...
. He established the chronology of the Babylonian dynasties.
J.K. Fotheringham was educated at the City of London School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
and Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, where he held an exhibition
Exhibition (scholarship)
-United Kingdom and Ireland:At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Westminster School, Eton College and Winchester College, and various other UK educational establishments, an exhibition is a financial award or grant to an individual student, normally on grounds of merit. The...
and received first class degrees in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
(1896) and modern history
Modern history
Modern history, or the modern era, describes the historical timeline after the Middle Ages. Modern history can be further broken down into the early modern period and the late modern period after the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution...
(1897). During 1898–
1902, he held a senior demyship
Demyship
A demyship is a form of scholarship, specifically at Magdalen College, Oxford. Oscar Wilde, Lewis Gielgud, Lord Denning andT. E. Lawrence were famous recipients. It is derived from demi-socii or half-fellows. Magdalen's founder, William of Waynflete, originally provided them for the College...
at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
and started to study ancient chronology. In 1904, he was appointed a lecturer in classical literature at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and taught there until 1915.
Fotheringham was a Fellow at Magdalen College (1909–16). He was a Reader in ancient history at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(1912–20). He was later Reader in ancient astronomy and chronology at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(1925–36).
J.K. Fotheringham edited Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is a Christian church father, best known for translating the Bible into Latin.Saint Jerome may also refer to:*Jerome of Pavia , Bishop of Pavia...
's version of Eusebius
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
in 1923.
He 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 1933. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
.
Selected books
Fotheringham published a number of papers and books, including the following:- The Bodleian Manuscript of Jerome's Version of the Chronicle of Eusebius, editor (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1905)
- The History of England, from Addington's Administration to the Close of William IV's Reign 1801–1837, Volume XI, with George Charles BrodrickGeorge Charles BrodrickThe Honorable George Charles Brodrick was an Oxford historian and author who became Warden of Merton College, Oxford....
(Longmans, Green, 1906) - Marco SanudoMarco SanudoMarco Sanudo was the creator and first Duke of the Duchy of the Archipelago, after the Fourth Crusade.Maternal nephew of Venetian doge Enrico Dandolo, he was a participant in the Fourth Crusade...
, conqueror of the Archipelago, with L.R.F. Williams (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1915) - CleostratusCleostratusCleostratus was an astronomer of ancient Greece. He was a native of Tenedos, and the Chaldean astronomer Naburimannu may have been a contemporary of him. He is believed by some scholars to have introduced the zodiac and the solar calendar to Greece from Babylonia. Censorinus Cleostratus (ca....
(London: Clay, 1920) - Historical eclipses (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1921)
- The calendar (London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1929)
- Ancient astronomy and chronology (The Oxford MagazineThe Oxford MagazineThe Oxford Magazine is a review magazine and newspaper published in Oxford, England. It was established in 1883 and published weekly during Oxford University terms....
, 1930)