Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Bodington, Nathan
BODINGTON, Sir NATHAN (1848–1911), vice-chancellor of Leeds University, born at Aston, Birmingham, on 29 May 1848, was only son in a family of one son and one daughter of Jonathan Bodington (1794-1875), miller, by his wife Anne Redfern (1818-1894). He entered King Edward's School, Birmingham, in 1860, and thence proceeded to Oxford as a scholar of Wadham College in 1867. He won the Hody exhibition for Greek in 1870, and in the following year a first class in the final classical school. Graduating B.A. in 1872, he proceeded M.A. in 1874. After holding successively assistant masterships at Manchester grammar school and Westminster school, Bodington was elected in 1875 fellow and tutor of Lincoln College, Oxford, and lecturer at Oriel College. His fellowship was of the old kind which lapsed unless its holder took holy orders within a fixed period. Bodington, who remained a layman, ceased to be a fellow of Lincoln in 1885; the college elected him to an honorary fellowship in 1898.
Meanwhile he had left Oxford in 1881 to become the first professor of Greek at Mason College, Birmingham. He only retained the chair for one session, being appointed in 1882 professor of Greek and principal of the Yorkshire College, Leeds. With the steady growth of the Yorkshire College Bodington's life was thenceforth identified. Founded in 1874, the college was exclusively concerned with science till 1878, when an arts course was added to the curriculum and the college became a place of education in all branches. In 1884 it was united with the Leeds school of medicine, and in 1887 was admitted as a constituent member of the Victoria University, a federation of Owens College, Manchester, and University College, Liverpool, which had been established in 1880. From 1896 to 1900 Bodington served as vice-chancellor of the Victoria University, and when in 1903 Manchester and Liverpool obtained charters for separate universities, he actively promoted the foundation of an independent University of Leeds. With the help of Lord Ripon [q. v. Suppl. II], afterwards first chancellor of the university, he was successful in raising a fund of over 100,000l., which it was stipulated should be subscribed before the royal charter was granted. On the inauguration of the newly constituted university (18 Aug. 1904) Bodington resigned his chair of Greek, and was nominated vice-chancellor. In this capacity he did much to bring the university into touch with the typical industries of Leeds, by providing the appropriate scientific and technical instruction. At the same time be always strove hard to secure a wider appreciation of art and literature as an integral part of the university course of study. His administrative ability was generally recognised in the county, and he took an active interest in the educational development of the West Riding and in archaeological discovery. He was a zealous member of the territorial association, a magistrate of the West Riding from 1906, and president of the Leeds literary and Philosophical Society (1898-1900). Victoria University conferred on him the hon. degree of Litt.D. in 1895, and Aberdeen that of LL.D. in 1906. Bang Edward VII opened the new university buildings at Leeds in June 1908, and in the following November conferred the honour of knighthood on Bodington. He died after a short illness at Headingley, Leeds, on 12 May 1911, and was buried there. He married on 8 Aug. 1907 Eliza, daughter of Sir John Barran, first baronet, of Chapel Allerton Hall, Leeds. She survived him without issue.
[The Times, and Yorkshire Post, 13 May 1911; the Gryphon, the Journal of the University of Leeds, May 1911; private information from Lady Bodington.]