William Henry Denham (W. H. D.) Rouse (30 May 1863 – 10 February 1950) was a pioneering British teacher who advocated the use of the Direct Method of teaching Latin and Greek. Born in Calcutta India on 30 May 1863, Admitted Christ's College as pensioner 1882, Rouse gained a double first in the Classical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, where he also studied Sanskrit. He became a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge in 1888.
After brief spells at Bedford School and Cheltenham College, he became a schoolmaster at Rugby School, where he encouraged Arthur Ransome - against his parents' wishes - to become a writer.In 1902 Rouse was appointed Headmaster of The Perse School, Cambridge.
Rouse is perhaps most famous today for his plain English prose translations of Homer's ancient Greek epic poems Odyssey (1937) and Iliad (1938). He is also recognized for his translations of Plato's Dialogues, including The Republic, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo.
Rouse died in Hayling Island on 10 February 1950. The portrait is a photograph of the original in the Perse School. [Wikipedia and PBR]
See also cc00190
