William Leonard Courtney

William Leonard Courtney (1850 – 1 November 1928) was an English writer, philosopher and journalist whose 38-year career encompassed work on the Daily Telegraph and Fortnightly Review.

Early life and education

Courtney was born at Poona, India, the youngest of three sons and three daughters born to William Courtney, of the Indian Civil Service, and Ann Edwardes, daughter of Captain Edward Scott, RN. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford, where he was a contemporary of F H Bradley.[1][2]

Career

In 1873, he became headmaster of Somersetshire College, Bath. Returning to New Oxford in 1876 he became a tutor in philosophy at New College, where his essays on Plato gained attention. Philosophical studies such as The Metaphysics of John Stuart Mill (1879), Studies in Philosophy (1882), and Constructive Ethics (1886) were written during this period. With Benjamin Jowett he helped with the foundation of the New Theatre.[3]

In 1890 Courtney joined the Daily Telegraph, beginning a 38 year career on Fleet Street, writing general articles as well as drama and literary criticism. From 1894 he became editor of the Fortnightly Review.[4] Books during this time included The Feminine Note in Fiction (1904). His plays were not commercially successful.[1][5]

Personal life

In 1874, he married Cordelia Blanche Place; they later had seven children. Cordelia died in 1907. In 1911, William married Janet Elizabeth Hogarth (Janet E. Courtney).[3] Janet (27 November 1865 - 24 September 1954), who was born in Barton-on-Humber, was a scholar, writer, and early feminist. A grandson, through his son Geoffrey Stuart Courtney, a diplomat and soldier, was the actor Nicholas Courtney.[6]

Works

References

  1. 1 2 Matheson, PE. 'Courtney, William Leonard', in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  2. ↑ "Courtney, William Leonard, (5 Jan. 1850–1 Nov. 1928), Fellow, New College, Oxford, 1876; editor of the Fortnightly Review, 1894; formerly on editorial staff of the Daily Telegraph; retired; director of Chapman & Hall, Ltd". Who Was Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U195076. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1.
  3. 1 2 Obituary, The Times, 2 November, 1928
  4. ↑ Courtney, J. The making of an editor: W. L. Courtney, 1850–1928 (1930)
  5. ↑ Marriott, Sir John (1928). "In Memoriam: WL Courtney". Fortnightly. 124 (744): 721–729.
  6. ↑ "Nicholas Courtney".


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