Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Littlewood, William Edensor
LITTLEWOOD, WILLIAM EDENSOR (1831–1886), miscellaneous writer, born at London 2 Aug. 1831, was only son of George Littlewood, printer, of London, by Catherine, his wife. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, which he entered on 12 June 1850. He gained in 1851 the chancellor's medal by an English poem of more than average merit on Gustavus Adolphus, printed in ‘A Complete Collection of English Poems,’ Cambridge, 1859, 8vo. He graduated B.A. in 1854, taking a third class in classics and being bracketed thirty-fifth wrangler. He proceeded M.A. in 1860, was ordained deacon in 1857, and priest in 1858. He was curate of St. John's, Wakefield, in 1857–61, head-master of Hipperholme grammar school, Halifax, Yorkshire, 1861–8, curate of Southall, Middlesex, 1868–70, perpetual curate of Ironville, Derbyshire, 1870–2, vicar of St. James's, Bath, 1872–81, and afterwards home missionary in charge of St. Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London. He died on 3 Sept. 1886. Besides various contributions to the ‘Sunday at Home,’ Littlewood published: 1. ‘A Garland from the Parables,’ a volume of religious verse, London, 1858, 8vo. 2. ‘Essentials of English History,’ London, 1862, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1865. 3. ‘An Elementary History of Britain’ (in ‘Cassell's Primary Series’), London, 1869, 8vo. 4. ‘England at Home. Being a familiar Description of the principal Physical, Social, Commercial, and Topographical features of England and Wales,’ London, 1870, 8vo. 5. ‘Essentials of New Testament Study. Intended as a Companion to the New Testament’ (a work of considerable and well-digested learning), London, 1872, 8vo; 6. ‘Down in Dingyshire,’ 1872. 7. ‘The Story of the Wanderer,’ 1874. 8. ‘Lovely in their Lives: a book for earnest boys,’ London, 1876, 8vo. 9. ‘The Visitation of the Poor: a practical Manual for District Visitors,’ &c., Bath, 1876, 16mo. 10. ‘Bible Biographies, or Stories from the Old Testament,’ London, 1878, 8vo.
[Robinson's Merchant Taylors' School Reg.; information from the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge; obituary notice in the Record, 10 Sept. 1886; Grad. Cant.; Cambr. Univ. Cal. 1852–61; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1886; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Kirk's Suppl. to Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.]