(July 22, 1844-August 29, 1930)
Born in London, United Kingdom
Anglican priest
Dean (1876-1889) and Warden (1903-30) of New College, Oxford
Namesake for spoonerisms in which parts of two words are switched
Spoonerisms credited to him include:
'The Lord is a shoving leopard'
Telling a groom, 'It is kisstomary to cuss the bride'
Referring to Victoria as 'our queer old dean'
Celebrating the end of WWI with 'We'll have the hags flung out'

His head was described as too large for his body.
He probably never said most of the spoonerisms attributed to him.
As his reputation for malaprops grew, he castigated a crowd that came to one of his lectures with 'You don't want a speech. You only want to hear me say one of those... things.'

Scientist Julian Huxley said he possessed 'that rare quality which I can only describe as saintliness.'
Historian Arnold Toynbee said he 'looked like a rabbit but was as brave as a lion.'
Huxley noted he was 'the direct or indirect cause of a considerable addition to the world's stock of good-natured laughter.'

Credit: C. Fishel

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