Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Gifford, Edwin Hamilton

by Gabriel Stanley Woods

GIFFORD, EDWIN HAMILTON (1820–1905), archdeacon of London and theologian, born at Bristol on 18 Dec. 1820, was sixth son of Richard Ireland Gifford by his wife Helen, daughter of William Davie of Stonehouse, Devonshire. After education at Elizabeth's Grammar School, Plymouth, he was admitted to Shrewsbury School in 1837, under Benjamin Hall Kennedy [q. v.], and in 1839 he proceeded to Cambridge, winning a scholarship at St. John's College. He had a distinguished university career. In 1842 he won the Pitt University scholarship, In 1843 he graduated B.A. both as senior classic and fifteenth wrangler in the mathematical tripos. In the same year he won the chancellor's medal, and was a fellow of his college from 4 April 1843 till 20 March 1844. He proceeded M.A. in 1846, and D.D. in 1861. In 1843 he returned to Shrewsbury as second master, and in 1848 he was appointed headmaster of King Edward's School, Birmingham. He proved a worthy successor of James Prince Lee [q. v.], and resigned in 1862 owing to ill-health. Gifford, who had been ordained in 1844, was honorary canon of Worcester (1853-77). In 1865 he became chaplain to Francis Jeune [q. v.], bishop of Peterborough, who presented him to the rectory of Walgrave, Northamptonshire. He subsequently held the post of examining chaplain to two successive bishops of London, Jackson and Temple. In 1875 he accepted the benefice of Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, and in 1877 was made an honorary canon of St. Albans. |In 1883 he was nominated to the prebend of Islington in St. Paul's Cathedral, and the following year he succeeded Piers Calverley Claughton [q. v.] as arch-deacon of London and canon of St Paul's.

Though Gifford was select preacher at Cambridge (1864, 1869) and at Oxford (1879, 1890–1) he was not an effective preacher. He was better known as a scholar than as an ecclesiastic. On 24 April 1889 Gifford resigned his archdeaconry, and retired to Arlington House, Oxford, where he continued his studies to the last. In 1903 he was elected an honorary fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. He died in London on 5 May 1905.

Gifford married (1) in 1844, Anne, daughter of John Yolland of Plymouth; (2) in 1873, Margaret Symons, daughter of Francis Jeune, bishop of Peterborough and sister of Francis Henry Jeune, baron St. Heller [q. v. Suppl. II]. He had issue one daughter.

Gifford's contributions to biblical and patristic learning, which were marked by insight and accuracy, included:

1. 'Voices of the Past' (1874), the Warburtonian lectures delivered at Lincoln's Inn 1870-4.
2. 'The Epistle to the Romans' (1881) in the 'Speaker's Commentary.'
3. 'Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremy' (1888) in the same series.
4. 'Authorship of Psalm cx.' (1892; 3rd edit, 1895).
5. 'The Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem' (1894), revised translation in vol vii. of Nicene and Post-Nicene Library.
6. Eusebius's 'Præparatio Evangelica' (1903), 5 vols., text and translation.

[The Times, 6 May 1905; Guardian, 10 May 1905; Church Times, 12 May 1905; Shrewsbury School Register (1734–1908), 1909; Baker, History of St. John's College, Cambridge, 1869, i. 316; The Eagle, June 1905; Theologische Literaturzeitung, 24 Oct. 1903.]

G. S. W.