Scottish teacher, priest and compiler of educational books
William Fordyce Mavor (1 August 1758 – 29 December 1837) was a Scottish teacher, priest and compiler of educational books, many of which passed through numerous editions. He also invented a system of
shorthand, which he explained in a treatise entitled 'Universal
Stenography’, first published in 1779. He is buried in the church at
Woodstock, Oxfordshire, where there is a commemorative plaque.
Life
William Fordyce Mavor was born in
New Deer,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland. In 1775 he became an assistant at a school in
Burford,
Oxfordshire, and he later taught at Woodstock. After providing writing tuition to the children of
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough, he obtained a title for
holy orders in 1781. Eight years later, he obtained the vicarage of
Hurley, Berkshire, which he retained until his death, and was awarded an
LL.D (Law) degree by
University of Aberdeen. Subsequently, thanks to the Duke, he became rector of
Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, which he exchanged in 1810 for the rectory of
Bladon-with-Woodstock. He became headmaster of Woodstock
Grammar School in July 1810.[1]
Mavor was first elected mayor of Woodstock in 1808, and went on to hold mayoral office in the town 10 times.[1]
Published works
Mavor is perhaps best remembered for The English Spelling Book, first published in 1801 and with many later editions. His other writings are:
The Springs of Parnassus, or Poetic Miscellanies, 1779.
Poetical Cheltenham Guide, 1781.
The Geographical Magazine, 2 vols., 1781, published under the name of Martyn.
Dictionary of Natural History, 2 vols., 1784, issued under the same pseudonym.
The Youth's Miscellany, or a Father's Gift to his Children, 1797 (reprinted in 2 vols. 1805 and 1814).
Historical Account of the most celebrated Voyages, Travels, and Discoveries from the time of Columbus to the present period, 25 vols. 1798–1802.
The British Tourists, or Traveller's Pocket Companion through England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland,’ 6 vols. 1798–1800, a series of tours by various authors. The third edition of 1809 contained a reprint, with alterations and omissions, of Mavor's Tour in Wales in 1805, which had been published anonymously by
Sir Richard Phillips in 1806.
The British Nepos, or … Lives of Illustrious Britons, 1798 (many editions).
Elements of Natural History, 1799.
The Young Gentleman's and Lady's Magazine, 2 vols., 1799.
Natural History, London, 1800 (2nd edit. 1801).
The Lady's and Gentleman's Botanical Pocket Book, 1800.
Select Lives of Plutarch, abridged, 1800.
The Modern Traveller, with illustrative notes, 4 vols., 1800.
Classical English Poetry for the use of young persons, 1801, edited with
Samuel Jackson Pratt.
The New Speaker, or English Class Book, 1801.
Universal History, ancient and modern … to the General Peace of 1801, 25 vols., 1802–1804.
The Eton Latin Grammar, with explanatory notes, 1809.
General View of the Agriculture of Berkshire, London 1809, undertaken for the
Board of Agriculture.
The Mother's Catechism; or first principles of Knowledge, 1809.
Catechism of General Knowledge, 1809.
The Catechism of Health, 1809.
Collection of Catechisms, 2 vols., 1810.
General Collection of Voyages and Travels, 28 vols., London 1810.
The Garland: a selection of short poems … a new edition, London 1812.
Catechism of the Biography of some of the more eminent Britons, London 1820.
Catechism of the History of Scotland and of Ireland … with an Appendix respecting Wales, London 1820.
Mavor also published a new edition of
Anthony Blackwall's Introduction to the Classics, 1809. He abridged Bourgoanne's State of Spain (1812), and edited with notes and a glossary
Thomas Tusser's Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandrie (1812). A selection of his works was published as Miscellanies (Oxford, 1829).[1]