John Hanbury Angus Sparrow

John Sparrow (1906-1992) was an English academic and barrister.

Education

He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford.

Academic Career

He was elected Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford (1929). He became Warden of All Souls (1952-77) in an election in which he famously defeated A. L. Rowse. He was also Fellow of Winchester (1951-81) and Honorary Fellow of New College (1956-1992).

Legal Career

Sparrow was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple (1931, Honorary Bencher 1952), practising in the Chancery Division (1931-39, 1946-51).

Publications

He published more than fifty books and essays on topics including epigraphy, painting, and Latin and English poetry.

One of his most well known remarks was describing the dog as "That indefatigable and unsavoury engine of pollution".

Bibliography

• Annan, Noel, The Dons (London: HarperCollins, 1992), pp. 193-208
• Bowra, Maurice, Memories 1898-1939 (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1966), pp. 179-82
• Lowe, John, The Warden: A Portrait of John Sparrow (London: HarperCollins, 1998)

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