Alfred Hackman (1811–1874) was sub-librarian at the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

Early life

Hackman was born at

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea. The area faces Wandsworth ...

, southwest of London, on 8 April 1811. His father, Thomas Hackman, was the parochial

vestry A vestry was a committee for the local secular and ecclesiastical government for a parish in England, Wales and some English colonies which originally met in the vestry or sacristy of the parish church, and consequently became known colloquiall ...

clerk in Fulham, giving him access to the powerful

Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

William Howley William Howley (12 February 1766 – 11 February 1848) was a clergyman in the Church of England. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1828 to 1848. Early life, education, and interests Howley was born in 1766 at Ropley, Hampshire, whe ...

. Through Howley's influence, Alfred Hackman matriculated as a

servitor In certain universities (including some colleges of University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh), a servitor was an undergraduate student who received free accommodation (and some free meals), and was exempted from paying fees for lecture ...

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniqu ...

on 25 Oct. 1832. Hackman was educated in France, and then spent several years as an usher in a boarding-school run by his father. Hackman graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1837 and then received a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

degree in 1840.

Career

Through the influence of

Thomas Gaisford Thomas Gaisford (22 December 17792 June 1855) was an English classical scholar and clergyman. He served as Dean of Christ Church from 1831 until his death. Early life Gaisford was born at Iford Manor, Wiltshire, and educated at Hyde Abbey Scho ...

, curator of the Bodleian library, Hackman obtained a temporary post there in 1837, and was connected with the library for more than thirty-five years afterwards. In 1837, Hackman also became chaplain of Christ Church College in Oxford, and

curate A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'') ''of souls'' of a parish. In this sense, "curate" means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy w ...

to the Reverend Henry Gary at St. Paul's Church in Oxford (now a student coffehouse). Hackman was appointed by his college

vicar A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pref ...

of Cowley, near

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, in 1839, and was from 1841 to 1873 a

precentor A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is ''præcentor'', from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" (or alternatively, "first ...

at Christ Church. From 1844 to 1871 Hackman was vicar of St. Paul's, where he exercised a considerable influence as a preacher, not only on his own parishioners, but also on the undergraduates of the university, who were attracted by his earnestness and quaint vivacity. Hackman attended to his parish, with his free time largely occupied by his duties in the Bodleian Library, where in 1862 he was appointed sub-librarian. Hackman published ''A Catalogue of the Collection of the Tanner MSS. in the Bodleian,'' 4to, Oxford, 1860,.

Death

In 1873, Hackman retired from the library and Christ Church due to poor health. He died, unmarried, in his brother's house in the village of

Long Ditton Long Ditton is a residential suburb in the Borough of Elmbridge, Surrey, England on the boundary with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London. In medieval times it was a village, occupying a narrow strip of land. Neighbouring settlem ...

, Surrey, on 18 Sept, 1874. He is buried at St. Sepulchre's Cemetery in Oxford.

References

External links

The grave of Alfred Hackman in St Sepulchre's Cemetery, Oxford, with biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hackman, Alfred 1811 births 1874 deaths People from Fulham English librarians People associated with the Bodleian Library Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Burials at St Sepulchre's Cemetery