Thomas Gaisford (1779-1855)

Thomas Gaisford was born at Iford Manor in Wiltshire in 1779, son of John Gaisford, a wealthy clothier. He was educated at Hyde Abbey School, Winchester and then went on to Christ Church Oxford in 1797. He became a tutor at Christ Church and was also ordained as a clergyman. In 1812 he was appointed as Regius Professor of Greek. He married Helen Douglas in 1815 and they had five children. Helen died in 1830 and in 1832 he married Jane Jenkyns. In 1829, Gaisford was offered the bishopric of Oxford but declined it. From 1831 until his death, he was Dean of Christ Church.

Gaisford was industrious in producing a number of editions of classical and patristic texts. As professor of Greek, he also served for many years as one of the curators of the Bodleian Library, Oxford and as delegate to the (University) Clarendon Press, and was influential in both roles. Under his guidance, the Bodleian’s collection of classical and patristic works continued to grow. He himself compiled a catalogue of the Greek manuscripts in the Bodleian and encouraged Coxe to compile a similar catalogue of manuscripts in the various Oxford colleges. He actively promoted the University Press programme of publication and maintained contact with a large number of influential scholars, both in England and abroad.

Gaisford died in 1855 at Oxford and is buried within Christ Church cathedral.