William Edward Buckley

William Edward Buckley (9 October 1817 – 18 March 1892) was a Church of England clergyman, an academic who taught both classical languages and Old English, and also a journalist. He was Rawlinsonian Professor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Oxford from 1844 to 1849.

Early life Buckley was the fourth son of Joseph Buckley (died 1858), of the Crescent, Salford, and later of Ordsall Hill, by his marriage to Jean, a daughter of Frazer Smith of Stromness, Orkney, and was the grandson of John Buckley. He was one of eight children, who all survived to adulthood and were still living in 1874. In 1817 Joseph Buckley was boroughreeve, and in 1825 he moved his family to Devon. Another of his sons, Joseph Buckley, also went into the church and became Rector of Sopworth, Wiltshire.

Buckley was educated at Tiverton Grammar School, Exeter School, and Brasenose College, Oxford,

Career In 1842 Buckley became a Fellow of Brasenose College and from 1844 to 1849 was also Rawlinsonian Professor of Anglo-Saxon, succeeding Henry Bristow Wilson. In 1853 he was appointed as Rector of Middleton Cheney and became a rural dean. and in 1884 was elected as its vice-president. One obituary said of him "A man of many friends, he was an excellent talker, full of geniality and good stories". His books were sold in two sales at Sotheby's, in February 1893 and April 1894, for a total of £9,420.

Selected publications The Old English Version of Partonope of Blois (Roxburghe Club, 1862) Cephalus and Procris: Narcissus (London: Nichols & Sons, 1882) The Kings Prophecie: or, Weeping joy. Expressed in a poem, to the honor of Englands too great solemnities (London: Nichols & Sons, 1882) The Brasenose Calendar: A List of Members of the King's Hall and College of Brasenose in Oxford (1509-1888) (University Press, Oxford, 1888)