Cureton

Cureton, William (1808-1864), a great Syriac scholar, born at Westbury in Shropshire, was educated at Newport grammar school and at Christ Church, Oxford, of which house he was a chaplain. He was appointed assistant-librarian at the Bodleian, and in 1834 he became assistant keeper of MSS. at the British Museum. In 1849 he was appointed Canon of Westminster and rector of St. Margaret's church. Among his services to literature was the elucidation of some epistles from St. Ignatius to St. Polycarp and others, discovered at Nitria. These he published with notes and a translation, and their appearance involved him in much controversy. He also discovered the remains of a recension of the four Gospels, and made many other contributions to Oriental scholarship.