b. 22 May 1817. d. 11 June 1896. Nationality: English.
Translator, editor, novelist, and Scandinavian scholar. Born in St. Vincent, West
Indies. Educated at King’s College, London, and Magdalen Hall, Oxford. Received his
DCL in 1852. Employed as the secretary to the British envoy and travelled to Stockholm,
Sweden (1841-1845). Developed an interest in Scandinavian literature and mythology.
Returned to England in 1845 and became assistant editor of *The Times*. Married Fanny
Louisa Delane on 4 April 1846. Contributed to *Blackwood’s Magazine*, translating
Norse to English. Professor of English literature and modern history at King’s College
(1853). Travelled to Iceland (1862) and was the co-author of *An Icelandic–English
Dictionary* (1873). Knighted in 1876. Member of the Athenaeum. Connected with major
figures in literary circles including Matthew Arnold, John Sterling, William Makepeace
Thackeray, John Stuart Mill, Julius Hare, and Thomas Carlyle. Biographical information:
*ODNB*. (CC)