William Henry Stowe

Who was William Henry Stowe?

William Henry Stowe, scholar and journalist, eldest son of William and Mary Stowe, was born at Buckingham on 1 January 1825. After attending a school at Iffley, near Oxford, he spent six months at King Edward's School, Birmingham. Leaving at Easter 1840, he studied medicine for three years at Buckingham, but, finding the pursuit uncongenial, entered at Wadham College, Oxford, in January 1844. At Oxford he was intimately associated with George Granville Bradley, John Conington, and other members of the Rugby set. In 1848 he was placed in the first class in the final classical school with Edward Parry and William Stubbs. After occupying himself for two years in private tuition at Oxford, he began in 1851 a connection with The Times by contributing literary articles, among them a comparison of the characteristics of Thackeray and Dickens. In March 1852 he obtained an open fellowship at Oriel College, and afterwards entered at Lincoln's Inn.

In May 1852 John Walter, the proprietor, gave him a permanent post on the staff of The Times. His work for the paper was mainly confined to literary subjects, although he wrote many leading articles on miscellaneous topics.