Myrmidon Club
Encyclopedia
The Myrmidon Club is a dining club
elected from the male undergraduate members of Merton College, Oxford
. Founded in 1865, it is one of the handful of such clubs with an almost continuous existence from the second half of the 19th century. It is thought to be the model for the Junta, the fictional club in Max Beerbohm
's Zuleika Dobson
, of which the Duke of Dorset was for some time the sole member.
For the origin of its name, see Myrmidons
.
The Club, which formerly had rooms in the High Street but whose territorial ambitions are now confined to a cupboard in College, is intermittently out of favour with the authorities. Its colours are purple, gold and silver.
Describing Lord Randolph Churchill
's membership of the Club towards the end of the 1860s, T.H.S.Escott wrote:
Notable members include:
Dining club
A dining club is a social group, usually requiring membership , which meets for dinners and discussion on a regular basis. They may also often have guest speakers...
elected from the male undergraduate members of 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...
. Founded in 1865, it is one of the handful of such clubs with an almost continuous existence from the second half of the 19th century. It is thought to be the model for the Junta, the fictional club in Max Beerbohm
Max Beerbohm
Sir Henry Maximilian "Max" Beerbohm was an English essayist, parodist and caricaturist best known today for his 1911 novel Zuleika Dobson.-Early life:...
's Zuleika Dobson
Zuleika Dobson
Zuleika Dobson, full title Zuleika Dobson, or, an Oxford love story, is a 1911 novel by Max Beerbohm, a satire of undergraduate life at Oxford. It was his only novel, but was nonetheless very successful...
, of which the Duke of Dorset was for some time the sole member.
Myrmidons
The Myrmidons or Myrmidones were legendary people of Greek history. They were very brave and skilled warriors commanded by Achilles, as described in Homer's Iliad. Their eponymous ancestor was Myrmidon, a king of Thessalian Phthia, who was the son of Zeus and "wide-ruling" Eurymedousa, a...
.
The Club, which formerly had rooms in the High Street but whose territorial ambitions are now confined to a cupboard in College, is intermittently out of favour with the authorities. Its colours are purple, gold and silver.
Describing Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
's membership of the Club towards the end of the 1860s, T.H.S.Escott wrote:
- "There is a certain monotony in the chronicle of the doings at these feasts. In all cases there are the same narratives of proctors' invasions, youthful concealments in coal-cellars, varied sometimes by the incarceration of indiscreet waiters in pantries or ice safes ; or encounters with proctors and bull-dogs, tempered by conflicts with the city police."
Notable members include:
- Max BeerbohmMax BeerbohmSir Henry Maximilian "Max" Beerbohm was an English essayist, parodist and caricaturist best known today for his 1911 novel Zuleika Dobson.-Early life:...
- George BinneyGeorge BinneySir George Binney was a noted arctic explorer and Royal Naval Reserve commander. During World War II, he led or was involved in efforts, including Operation Rubble, to procure supplies of Swedish ball bearings for Britain....
- Brigadier Lorne Campbell VCLorne MacLaine CampbellBrigadier Lorne MacLaine Campbell VC, DSO & Bar, OBE, TD was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:Lorne MacLaine Campbell was the eldest of three...
- Lord Randolph ChurchillLord Randolph ChurchillLord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
- Andrew IrvineAndrew Irvine (mountaineer)Andrew "Sandy" Comyn Irvine was an English mountaineer who took part in 1924 British Everest Expedition, the third British expedition to the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest....
- Sir George MallabyGeorge Mallaby (public servant)Sir Howard "George" Charles Mallaby, KCMG, OBE , was an English schoolmaster and public servant. He received the US Legion of Merit in 1946 and was knighted in 1958...
- Reginald MaudlingReginald MaudlingReginald Maudling was a British politician who held several Cabinet posts, including Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had been spoken of as a prospective Conservative leader since 1955, and was twice seriously considered for the post; he was Edward Heath's chief rival in 1965...
- Airey NeaveAirey NeaveAirey Middleton Sheffield Neave DSO, OBE, MC was a British soldier, barrister and politician.During World War II, Neave was one of the few servicemen to escape from the German prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle...
- Anthony NuttallAnthony NuttallAnthony David Nuttall was an English literary critic and academic.Nuttall was educated at Hereford Cathedral School, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Merton College, Oxford,where he studied both Classical Moderations and English Literature...
- Reginald Turner
- Edward VaizeyEdward VaizeyEdward Henry Butler Vaizey is the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries in the UK, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State post with responsibilities in both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills .He was elected...
- Angus WilsonAngus WilsonSir Angus Frank Johnstone Wilson, CBE was an English novelist and short story writer. He was awarded the 1958 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for The Middle Age of Mrs Eliot and later received a knighthood for his services to literature.-Biography:Wilson was born in Bexhill, Sussex, England, to...