Walter Ashburner (1864-1936)
of London & Florence, Italy; Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Oxford
He was born in Boston and came to England with his family in 1872. He was educated at University College School and at University College London. From 1883 to 1887 he studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford. After graduation, he remained in Oxford as a Fellow of Merton College. In 1892, he was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn. While living in London, he served on the Committee of Management and the Council of University College, during which time he came to know the poet A.E. Housman with whom he corresponded (1898-1930) - fifteen of their letters were published.
Like his aunt, Mrs. George Ashburner, (who built "Villa La Scagliola" on Lake Maggiore), he had a great love of Italy and Italian culture and in 1903 he retired and moved to Florence where he helped establish the British Institute of Florence (1917). He returned to Oxford in 1926 as Professor of Jurisprudence but was forced to resign for reasons of health and returned to Florence where he died in February 1936. He published a notable edition of Rhodian Sea-Law (1909) and a facsimile reproduction of an important Aristotle manuscript in 1927. He had a great love of books, particularly early printed works, and built an important collection, which, after his death, was sold by Hoepli in Lucerne, 1938.
Like his aunt, Mrs. George Ashburner, (who built "Villa La Scagliola" on Lake Maggiore), he had a great love of Italy and Italian culture and in 1903 he retired and moved to Florence where he helped establish the British Institute of Florence (1917). He returned to Oxford in 1926 as Professor of Jurisprudence but was forced to resign for reasons of health and returned to Florence where he died in February 1936. He published a notable edition of Rhodian Sea-Law (1909) and a facsimile reproduction of an important Aristotle manuscript in 1927. He had a great love of books, particularly early printed works, and built an important collection, which, after his death, was sold by Hoepli in Lucerne, 1938.
