William Malim

William Malim (1533–1594) was an English academic, schoolmaster and Neo-Latin author.

Life Malim was born at Staplehurst in Kent. He was educated at Eton College, and went on to King's College, Cambridge, where he was admitted a scholar, 14 August 1548. Three years later he was made a fellow. He graduated B.A. in 1553, and M.A. in 1556. On 11 January 1555 he was discommuned for a fortnight, but for what offence is not known.

Malim found time for foreign travel; on his own account he visited Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and other eastern cities. On 14 January 1559 he was directed by his college to study civil law. But he discontinued the study on his appointment as headmaster of Eton in 1561, in succession to William Barker, and resigned his fellowship at King's soon afterwards. While at Eton he drew up a Consuetudinarium, or account of the rules and observances of the college, probably composed, with a view to the visit of the royal commissioners in 1561.

Malim seems to have been a severe head-master. It was in his time that the cases of flogging, followed by the escape of some scholars from Eton, occurred, which suggested to Roger Ascham, in 1563, the composition of his Scholemaster. He is said to have remained ten years at Eton. He was made prebendary of Biggleswade in Lincoln Cathedral, 3 April 1569. At Christmas 1573 he was appointed High Master of St Paul's School, London. Less than seven years later he petitioned Lord Burghley for another preferment; but he remained at St. Paul's till 8 November 1581, when a successor was appointed.

One of the sets of verses in Geoffrey Whitney's Choice of Emblemes, 1586, p. 152, is addressed to Malim.