Charles Anthon

Charles Anthon

Photo by Mathew Brady
Born November 19, 1797(1797-11-19)
New York City
Died July 29, 1867(1867-07-29) (aged 69)
Nationality American
Alma mater Columbia College of Columbia University
Occupation Classical scholar, professor, headmaster of the Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School

Charles Anthon (November 19, 1797, New York City – July 29, 1867) was an American classical scholar.

Contents

Life

His father, George Christian Anthon, was a German physician who served in the British Army during the American Revolution until the surrender of Detroit in 1788. He attained the rank of surgeon general, resigned, married the daughter of a French officer, and settled in New York City.[1] The son, after graduating with honors at Columbia College in 1815, began the study of law, and in 1819 was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. In 1820 he was appointed assistant professor of Greek and Latin in his old college, full professor ten years later, and at the same time headmaster of the grammar school attached to the college, which post he held until 1864.

Works

He produced, for use in colleges and schools, a large number of classical works, which enjoyed great popularity, although his editions of classical authors were by no means in favor with schoolmasters, owing to the large amount of assistance, especially translations, contained in the notes. He also wrote A Manual of Greek Literature from the Earliest Authentic Periods to the Close of Byzantine Era providing a list of all Greek writers in that period, with a summary of their life and works and a bibliography of editions then in use. The overview is still useful today, but outdated. His intention to provide a similar volume for Latin Literature was never fulfilled.

Dr. Anthon's work was carried on by his successor, Henry Drisler.

Anthon Transcript

Main article: Anthon Transcript

Charles Anthon is famous among members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) because of his interactions with Martin Harris concerning a fragment of Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon. The fragment was later known as the Anthon Transcript. According to Harris, Anthon wrote Harris a letter of authenticity declaring the fragment to contain true Egyptian characters. Anthon was also reported to have confirmed the translation of these characters as correct. When informed that an angel of God had revealed the characters to Joseph Smith, Anthon tore up the authentication. Anthon later claimed that he recognized a hoax and never wrote a letter of authenticity.

Acquaintance with Poe

Dr. Anthon was a friend and correspondent of Edgar Allan Poe, who attempted to use the acquaintance with him to gain a national reputation in literature and journalism as well as publication in 1845 of Poe's collected stories through Harper and Brothers. This was, however, unsuccessful due to an accusation of plagiarism against Poe.

Publications

Reference and instructional works

School editions with commentary

Brothers

His brother John Anthon was a noted jurist. His brother Henry Anthon (1795-1861) was a noted clergyman.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Anthon, John". Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. 1900. 

External links

Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Charles Anthon.