The Cambridge Apostles, 1820-1914: Liberalism, Imagination, and Friendship in British Intellectual and Professional Life 1st Edition
by W.C. Lubenow
Queer Places:
Harvard University (Ivy League), 2 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA 02138
University of Cambridge, 4 Mill Ln, Cambridge CB2 1RZ
Frank Eustace Anderson (November 2, 1844 – July 15, 1880) was born in Merrimac, United States, on November 2, 1844, as the son of John Anderson of Boston, USA. Coming from a well-to-do family, his early life and education took a dramatic turn following an ugly divorce between his parents, leading him to break ties with his father. Financially cut off, he came to depend on his patron, William Everett, to cover his expenses during his time abroad.
Anderson initially studied at Harvard College, where he earned his A.B. in 1865. He then proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was admitted as a pensioner on October 11, 1865, matriculating in October 1865, becoming a scholar in 1868, and earning his B.A. in 1869 through the Classical Tripos, alongside receiving an M.A. from Cambridge. His intellectual pursuits later extended to further studies at Heidelberg and Berlin. During his time at Trinity, he was introduced into the famous intellectual society known as the Cambridge Apostles under the patronage of William Everett. While there, his single-hearted devotion to classical study was noted to have been somewhat drawn toward the philosophical and social problems of the day investigated by the club, and his brilliance was recognized by Henry Jackson, the vice-master of Trinity and Regius Professor of Greek, though he did not test well.
Following his studies in Germany and with Everett's assistance, Anderson returned to academic life in the United States, serving as a tutor at Harvard from 1870 to 1873 and subsequently as an assistant professor of Greek from 1873 to 1878. Paul Shorey notably considered him his favorite Greek instructor at Harvard. As an educator, he taught Greek as a living language, approaching it thoroughly through critical, grammatical, literary, and historical dimensions. He also significantly championed American classical study abroad, successfully making English Hellenists aware of the resources and value provided by Professor William Watson Goodwin while pointing out defects in British training. Beyond teaching, he contributed to academic discourse, publishing a review of "Goodwin's Greek Grammar" in the North American Review in April 1871.
However, the intense demands of his teaching exacted a heavy physical and psychological toll on him. This strain was compounded when his father's business was destroyed by a fire, causing Anderson to experience a severe collapse. After emerging from this breakdown, he attempted to transition into a business career as a businessman, but this venture failed. He subsequently traveled to Leipzig, where, depressed and alone, he passed away at the age of 35 in 1880, bringing a tragically short and brilliant career to an end.
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The Cambridge Apostles, 1820-1914: Liberalism, Imagination, and Friendship in British Intellectual and Professional Life 1st Edition by W.C. Lubenow |
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