George Rawlinson (23 November 1812 – 6 October 1902) was a British scholar, historian and Christian theologian.
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Life
Rawlinson was born at Chadlington, Oxfordshire, the son of Abraham Tysack Rawlinson and the younger brother of the famous Assyriologist, Sir Henry Rawlinson. His father was a breeder of racehorses, and bred the winner of the 1841 Derby. Rawlinson was educated at Ealing School. Having taken a First in Literae Humaniores at the University of Oxford (from Trinity College) in 1838, he was elected to a fellowship at Exeter College in 1840, where he was a Fellow and tutor from 1842 to 1846. He was ordained in 1841, was curate at Merton, Oxfordshire from 1846 to 1847, was Bampton Lecturer in 1859, and was Camden Professor of Ancient History from 1861 to 1889.
In his early days at Oxford, Rawlinson played cricket for the University, appearing in five matches between 1836 and 1839.
He was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1869.
In 1872, he was appointed canon of Canterbury, and after 1888 he was rector of the rich City of London benefice All Hallows, Lombard Street. In 1873, he was appointed proctor in Convocation for the Chapter of Canterbury.
In 1846, he married Louisa Chermside, daughter of Sir Robert Alexander Chermside. The couple had twelve children and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1896.
After two years of failing health, Canon Rawlinson died at his residence in Cathedral precincts, Canterbury, on 6 October 1902 from a sudden syncope.
Family
Source:
Abraham Tysack Rawlinson (Father)
Eliza Eudocia Albinia (Mother)
Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, 1st Baronet (Older brother)
Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson (Nephew)
Sir Alfred Rawlinson, 3rd Baronet (Nephew)
Henry Creswicke (Maternal grandfather)
Abraham Rawlinson (Paternal great uncle)
George Ernest Rawlinson (Son)
Alice Georgiana Rawlinson (Daughter)
Merial Eudocia Rawlinson (Daughter)
Mary Louisa Rawlinson (Daughter)
Marguerite Jane Rawlinson (Daughter)
Eleanor Katherine Rawlinson (Daughter)
Ethel Elisabeth Amy Rawlinson (Daughter)
Edward Creswicke Scott Rawlinson (Son)
Sister Louisa Henrietta Rawlinson (Daughter)
Edith Gertrude Rawlinson (Daughter)
Lionel Seymour Rawlinson (Son)
Charles Brooke Rawlinson (Son)
Publications
One of his earliest works is his English translation of The Histories of Herodotus, 1858–60, complete with short notes and other scholarly additions. It also includes contributions of special articles about history, archaeology, and race from his brother Sir Henry Rawlinson and Sir John Gardner Wilkinson. Formidably titled "The History of Herodotus. A new English version, edited with copious notes and appendices. Embodying the chief results, historical and ethnographical, which have been obtained in the progress of Cuneiform and Hieroglyphical discovery," it became the leading edition of The Histories at Oxford for many years.
His other chief publications include:
The Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World, 1862–67
The Sixth Great Oriental Monarchy (Parthian), 1873
The Seventh Great Oriental Monarchy (Sassanian), 1875
Manual of Ancient History, 1869
Historical Illustrations of the Old Testament, 1871
The Origin of Nations, 1877
History of Ancient Egypt, 1881
Egypt and Babylon, 1885
History of Phoenicia, 1889
Parthia, 1893
Memoir of Major-General Sir HC Rawlinson, 1898
His lectures to an audience at Oxford University on the topic of the accuracy of the Bible in 1859 were published in later years as the apologetic work The Historical Evidences of the Truth of the Scripture Records Stated Anew.
He was also a contributor to the Speaker's Commentary, the Pulpit Commentary, Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, and various similar publications. He was the author of the article "Herodotus" in the 9th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica.