METCALFE, FREDERICK (1815–1885), Scandinavian scholar, fifth son of Morehouse Metcalfe of Gainsborough, was born in 1815, and elected scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1834, whence he graduated B.A. in 1838 as junior optime, with a second class in classics. On 28 Nov. 1844 he was incorporated at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he held a fellowship from 1844 to 1885. In 1845 he graduated M.A. and was ordained deacon, receiving priest's orders in the following year. For a short time he was head-master of Brighton College, and on his return to Oxford in 1849 became bursar of Lincoln College and incumbent of St. Michael's, Oxford, a living in the gift of his college. In 1851 he became sub-rector, and in 1853 Greek lecturer at Lincoln, and in 1855 he graduated B.D. He died on 24 Aug. 1885.
Metcalfe, who was an accomplished Scandinavian scholar, was twice an unsuccessful candidate for the professorship of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. He frequently spent his summer holidays in Norway, Sweden, or Iceland, and his books had considerable influence in bringing these countries to the notice of the student, the sportsman, and the tourist. His principal works are:
- 'The Oxonian in Norway,' 1856; 2nd ed. 1857.
- 'The Oxonian in Thelemarken,' 2 vols. 1858.
- 'A History of German Literature,' 1858.
- 'The Oxonian in Iceland,' 1861.
- ' The Englishman and the Scandinavian,' 1880.
He also translated Bekker's 'Charicles' and 'Gallus,' and edited some classical school books.
[Works in Brit. Mus. Libr.; Cat. Cambridge Graduates, 1800-84; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886; Oxford Mag. 21 Oct. 1885; Times, 29 Aug. 1885.]
METCALFE, JAMES (1817–1888), lieutenant-colonel Indian army, a natural son of Lord Metcalfe [see Metcalfe, Charles Theophilus, Baron Metcalfe; cf. Gent. Mag. 1846, pt. ii. p. 536], was born in 1817, educated at Addiscombe Military Seminary, and in 1836 was appointed to the late 3rd Bengal native infantry, of which regiment he was adjutant from 1839 to 1846. On the death of his father in the latter year he inherited a fortune of 50,000l. (Gent. Mag. ut supra). He was aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Dalhousie from 1848 to 1853. On the outbreak of the mutiny he was appointed interpreter to the commander-in-chief. In that capacity, as well as in that of aide-decamp and commandant at headquarters, he went through the mutiny with Sir Colin Campbell, lord Clyde [q. v.], 'whose side he never quitted from the day he joined him in Calcutta in 1857 until Clyde left Paris for England in 1860' (Shadwell, Preface, i. p. x). Metcalfe was made C.B., with the brevet of lieutenant-colonel, and had the mutiny medal and clasps. He retired in 1861, and died at Harcourt Terrace, London, S.W., 8 March 1888. Metcalfe married in 1852 José Eliza, daughter of Evelyn Meadows Gordon, Bengal civil service.
[Gent. Mag. 1846, pt. ii. pp. 534-6; L. Shadwell's Life of Lord Clyde; Broad Arrow, 17 March 1888.]
METCALFE, NICHOLAS (1475?–1539), archdeacon of Rochester, and a distinguished patron of learning, was the son of Richard Metcalfe, esq., of Beare Park, in the parish of Aysgarth, Richmondshire, and of 'an ancient and numerous family ' (Baker, Hist. of St. John's College, p. 109). He was educated at Cambridge, probably at Michael-house. He graduated B.A. in 1494, B.D. in 1504, and D.D. in 1507. He appears early to have gained the notice of Fisher, bishop of Rochester, to whom he was chaplain, and through whose influence he was constituted archdeacon of Rochester in 1515. On 30 July 1517 he was presented to the living of Woodham Ferris in Essex, and in the following year was elected master of St. John's College, Cambridge. In this capacity he greatly contributed to the advancement of that society as a home of scholarship and learning, and attracted to it numerous benefactions. Roger Ascham, who was especially indebted to his discerning patronage, describes him as one who 'was parciall to none, but indifferent to all; a master for the whole, a father to every one in that college' (Scholemaster, ed. Mayor, p. 160). Baker characterises him as 'a man of equal industry and conduct, skilful in business, and fitted for government ' (Hist. of St. John's College, p. 85). In common, however, with his patron, Fisher, and other eminent promoters of university reform, Metcalfe could not bring himself to recognise the royal supremacy in matters of doctrine, while he openly opposed Henry's divorce from Catherine. He was accordingly con-
