William Emerton Heitland

William Emerton Heitland (21 December 1847 – 23 June 1935) was an English classicist at Cambridge University who was described as having a passionate desire to attain the truth.

Life

Heitland's father, Arthur Allan Heitland, youngest child of Major William Peter Heitland of the Madras Pioneers, was a farmer and his mother, Mary Browne of Colkirk House, Lady of Nowers Manor in Hindringham, was the daughter of Riches Repps Browne (1791-1823) more commonly known as Repps Browne, a Norfolk gentleman by his wife Mary Jex (1800-1839) of Fulmodeston in Norfolk. Heitland was admitted a pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1867, a Craven scholar, 1869, B.A (Senior Classic), 1871, M.A, 1874, Fellow, 1871-1935 and Tutor, 1883-93. He married Margaret Bateson at Marylebone in 1901, she was the daughter of William Henry Bateson, master of St John's College in 1901; she lived between 1860 and 1938.

He is buried in the Ascension Parish Burial Ground, Cambridge. with his wife Margaret Heitland, a journalist and stalwart of the suffragette movement.

At the time of his death, his estate was valued at £26519 4s. 4d. One third of the residue of Heitland estate help establishing a fund named after him.

Published works

A Letter to a Lady; or, A Word with the Female Anti-Suffragists. Cambridge: Elijah Johnson, 1908.

The Roman Republic, 3 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1909.

A Short History of the Roman Republic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1911.

“Democratic”: a Discursive Study. Cambridge: Bowes & Bowes, 1915.