Reginald Walter Macan

Who was Reginald Walter Macan?

Reginald Walter Macan D.Litt. was a classical scholar. He was a Fellow and then, from March 1906, Master of University College, Oxford. He was only the second layman Master of the College after Anthony Gate, Master from 1584–1597.

Reginald Macan was originally from Dublin, Ireland, and retained his Irish accent until the 1890s. He was an undergraduate at University College, Oxford, and then a "Student" of Christ Church after obtaining his degree. He came back to University College as a Fellow and Tutor in 1884 until becoming Master of the College. He retired in 1923.

Macan had a reputation as a heretic early in his career, but delivered addresses in the chapel at University College at least annually. Like his predecessor as Master, James Bright, he was nicknamed the "Mugger" by students.

Macan applied archaeological discoveries to the study of ancient history. He produced a major set of books on Herodotus. He also wrote A History of Persia.

In 1913, he visited New York and spoke at the Sphinx Club about Rhodes Scholars at Oxford University.

In 1881 Macan married Mildred Healey; they had three daughters, one of whom Agatha Perrin married Eric Forbes Adam. He lived on Boars Hill south of Oxford.