WATTS-DUNTON

William STUBBS (1825-1901) was an historian and Anglican Bishop. He was Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford. Algernon SWINBURNE (1837-1909) was a Poet, Playwright, Novelist and Critic. Watts-Dunton is often remembered as the friend and minder of Swinburne whom he rescued from alcoholism. Stubbs was Swinburne's tutor for a time. As the Oxford DNB puts it: "He spent the first months of 1860 at Navestock in Essex studying law and medieval history with the Revd William Stubbs (1825-1901), later bishop of Oxford." Swinburne's leaving Oxford temporarily for this studious rural retreat in Essex was apparently instigated at the behest of Benjamin Jowett, Master of Balliol College, Oxford. Swinburne had matriculated at Balliol in January of 1856. Bishop Stubbs later remarked that Swinburne was "the most singular young man I have ever known" (quoted in R. Rooksby's biography A.C. Swinburne: A Poet's Life).