William Gershom Collingwood (William Gershom Collingwood)

William Gershom Collingwood

Author, Artist, Antiquary. After a brilliant academic career at Oxford, where he was a pupil of John Ruskin, he married and settled at Gillhead, Windermere. He was influenced by Ruskin and William Morris, from whom he derived a life-long interest in Norse settlement, art and language. His interest in art and Scandinavia prompted his research into the Pre-Norman Crosses of Cumbria and the North of England. In 1927 he published “Northumbrian Crosses of the Pre-Norman Age”, illustrated with his own drawings. He was also an accomplished musician, climber, swimmer and walker. Collingwood was Ruskin’s secretary from 1881 onwards. After Ruskin’s death, he became Professor of Fine Art at University College, Reading. He edited a number of Ruskin’s texts and published a biography of Ruskin in 1893. He was a member of the Viking Club and served as its president. His study of Norse and Anglican archaeology made him widely recognized as a leading authority. He later developed another career – that of novelist. “Thorstein of the Mere, A Saga of the Northmen in Lakeland” is considered his finest novel. It was the favourite childhood book of Arthur Ransome, who later became Collingwood’s friend.  (bio by: julia&keld)  Family links:  Spouse:  Edith Mary Isaak Collingwood (1857 – 1928)*  Children:  Barbara Crystal Collingwood Gnosspelius (1887 – 1961)*  Robin George Collingwood (1889 – 1943)* *Calculated relationship

Born

  • August, 06, 1854

Died

  • October, 10, 1932

Cemetery

  • St Andrew Churchyard
  • Cumbria
  • England

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