Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Trollope, Arthur William
TROLLOPE, ARTHUR WILLIAM (1768–1827), headmaster of Christ's Hospital, baptised on 30 Sept. 1768, was the son of Thomas Trollope, who was descended from the younger branch of the ancient Lincolnshire family [see under Trollope, Edward]. He was entered at Christ's Hospital in 1775 and received his education there till 1787, when he matriculated from Pembroke College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1791, M.A. in 1794, and D.D. in 1815. He was a classical scholar of no mean reputation. In 1791 he obtained the second chancellor's classical medal, in 1792 he received the second members' prize for middle bachelors, and in 1793 he gained the first members' prize for senior bachelors. In 1795 he was awarded the Seatonian prize for an English poem, the subject being the ‘Destruction of Babylon.’ In 1796 he was appointed vicar of Ugley and perpetual curate of Berden in Essex. In 1799, on the resignation of James Boyer, he was elected headmaster of Christ's Hospital. In 1814 he was presented to the rectory of Colne-Engaine in Essex by the governors of Christ's Hospital, and resigned his former preferments, Ugley and Berden. As headmaster Trollope showed unwearied assiduity, and was rewarded with unusual success. Bred up under the antiquated discipline of Boyer, he was apt sometimes to display unnecessary severity. But his learning and his faculty for imparting instruction enabled him to train many distinguished scholars. Among his pupils were Thomas Mitchell (1783–1845) [q. v.], Thomas Barnes (1785–1841) [q. v.], the editor of the ‘Times,’ George Townsend [q. v.], and James Scholefield [q. v.] At the time of Trollope's resignation all the assistant classical masters and the master of the mathematical school had formerly been his pupils. He resigned his post on 28 Nov. 1826, and was succeeded by the second master, John Greenwood. On the occasion of his retiring he was presented with a silver cup by his former pupils. He died at Colne-Engaine rectory on 24 May 1827. He married the daughter of William Wales [q. v.], master of the mathematical school. By her he had a numerous family.
His eldest son, William Trollope (1798–1863), author, was born on 29 Aug. 1798. He was admitted to Christ's Hospital in September 1809, and proceeded to Pembroke College, Cambridge, whence he graduated B.A. in 1821 and M.A. in 1824. He was appointed fourth classical master of Christ's Hospital in December 1822, and third classical master in 1827. He resigned his post in 1832, and was instituted vicar of Wigston Magna in Leicestershire on 25 Sept. 1834. He retained the vicarage until 1858, when he resigned it and removed to Green Ponds in Tasmania, where he became incumbent of St. Mary's Church. He died at Green Ponds on 23 March 1863. Trollope was the author of several exegetical works upon the New Testament. In 1828 he published the first volume of his ‘Analecta Theologica, sive Synopsis Criticorum: a Critical, Philological, and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament,’ London, 8vo; the second volume appearing in 1834. A new edition of both volumes appeared in 1842. This was followed in 1837 by an annotated edition of the Greek text of the New Testament, London, 8vo, of which new editions were issued in 1850 and 1860. A separate edition of the Acts appeared in 1869, of St. Luke in 1870, and of St. Matthew in 1871. He supplemented these works in 1842 by issuing a ‘Greek Grammar to the New Testament and to Later Greek Writers,’ London, 1841, 8vo; new edit. 1843.
Other works by Trollope are: 1. ‘Pentalogia Græca,’ London, 1825, 8vo. 2. ‘Iliad of Homer with English Notes,’ London, 1827, 2 vols. 8vo; 5th edit. 1862. 3. ‘Notæ Philologicæ et Grammaticæ in Euripidis Tragœdias,’ London, 1828, 2 vols. 8vo. 4. ‘History of Christ's Hospital,’ London, 1833, 4to. 5. ‘Belgium since the Revolution of 1830,’ London, 1842, 8vo. 6. ‘Death of Athaliah: a Scriptural Drama,’ London, 1843, 12mo (translated from Racine). 7. ‘S. Justini Apologia Prima,’ London, 1845, 8vo. 8. ‘S. Justini cum Tryphone Judæo Dialogus,’ London, 1846–7, 8vo. 9. ‘Questions and Answers on the Liturgy of the Church of England,’ Cambridge, 1846, 8vo; 11th edit. by Foakes-Jackson, 1889. 10. ‘Questions and Answers on the Thirty-nine Articles,’ Cambridge, 1850, 18mo; 9th edit. by Ketchley, 1893 (Gent. Mag. 1863, ii. 108; Lockhart, Exhibitioners of Christ's Hospital, 1885, p. 41).
[Gent. Mag. 1827, ii. 85; William Trollope's Hist. of Christ's Hospital (with portrait), pp. 141–2; Lockhart's Exhibitioners of Christ's Hospital, p. 35.]