Benjamin Parsons Symons

Benjamin Parsons Symons (28 January 1785 – 12 April 1878) was an academic administrator at the University of Oxford in England.

Benjamin Symons was born in Cheddar, Somerset, the son of John Symons of Cheddar.^[1] He matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, on 2 February 1802, was admitted as a scholar on 25 October 1803. He graduated with a BA degree on 14 October 1805 and received an MA degree on 7 July 1810. He was elected a Probationer Fellow at Wadham College on 30 June 1811 and was admitted as a Fellow on 2 July 1812. He graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity on 22 April 1819. He was bursar of the College from 1814 to 1823, after which he became sub-warden. On 23 January 1831 he obtained the degree of Doctor of Divinity and on 16 June of that year he was elected Warden of the College.^[2] He was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from 1844 to 1848.^[3] He resigned the wardenship on 18 October 1871, but continued to reside in Oxford until his death in 1878.

Symons did not follow the high-church Anglican Oxford Movement prevalent at Oxford, and was regarded as the leader of the evangelical wing in later life.^[1] He was buried in the ante-chapel at Wadham College and bequeathed £1,000 to the College to establish an exhibition. His portrait was hung in the College hall.

References

Further reading

• Davies, C.S.L., ‘Symons, Benjamin Parsons (1785–1878)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26895
• Gardiner's Registers of Wadham, ii. 224.
• Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886.
• Ward's Men of the Reign, p. 867.
• The Times, 13 April 1878.