Alexander Gill the Elder (7 February 1565 – 17 November 1635), also spelled Gil, was an English scholar, spelling reformer, and high-master of St Paul's School, where his pupils included John Milton. He was the author of an English grammar, which was written, however, in Latin.
He was born in Lincolnshire 7 February 1565, admitted as a scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in September 1583, and earned a B.A. in 1586 and an M.A. in 1589. Wood believed that he was a schoolmaster in Norwich, where he was living in 1597. On 10 March 1607-8 he was appointed high-master of St. Paul's School, succeeding Richard Mulcaster. Milton was among his pupils from 1620 to 1625.[1]
He had two sons, George and Alexander (b. 1597), and a daughter, Annah. George Gill would eventually become ordained.
In 1628, his son Alexander was overheard drinking to the health of John Felton, who had stabbed George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham was a favorite of King Charles I, but hated by the public. Felton was widely acclaimed as a hero for assassinating him.[2] Gill the Younger was sentenced to have both ears removed and was fined £2000. However, his father intervened directly with William Laud. This effort managed a remission of the punishment inflicted by the Star Chamber.[3] Alexander Gill the Younger would later become a noted scholar in his own right.
Gill the Elder died at his house in St. Paul's Churchyard 17 November 1635, and was buried 20 November in Mercers' Chapel. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth.[1]
Works
Grammar
Logonomia Anglica, qua gentis sermo facilius addiscitur, London, by John Beale, 1619, 2nd edit. 1621, was his English grammar dedicated to James I. Gill's book, written in Latin, opens with suggestions for a phonetic system of English spelling (see below). In his section on grammatical and rhetorical figures Gill quotes freely from Edmund Spenser, George Wither, Samuel Daniel, and other English poets.[1] It was more comprehensive than earlier works, and devoted attention to syntax and prosody.[4] An edition was produced in 1903 by Otto Luitpold Jiriczek;[5] a facsimile of the 1619 edition was published in 1972.
Phonetic change suggestions
Among the suggested changes to make English more phonetic were the following :
Revive the Anglo-Saxon signs ð (eð) and þ (þorn) for the two sounds of th
A Treatise concerning the Trinitie of Persons in Unitie of the Deitie (written at Norwich in 1597), London, 1601; reprinted 1635. This was an addressed to Thomas Mannering, described as an Anabaptist.[1]
Sacred Philosophie of the Holy Scripture, London, 1635, a commentary on the Apostles' Creed.[1]
A further work, referred to in Gil's Sacred Philosophie as "[t]he second part of Logonomia which I call Logicke", is lost. According to Gil, it "was especially meant to be an helpe to them that needed helpe for the understanding of [Sacred Philosophie]". The work which, despite its name, was distinct from Logonomia Anglica, probably dates from the period between the second edition of Logonomia Anglica (1621) and the Sacred Philosophie.[7]
Notes
^ abcdeStephen, Leslie, ed. (1890). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. xxi. New York: Macmillan. p. 353. entry "GILL, ALEXANDER, the elder"
^David Masson (1859). The life of John Milton: narrated in connexion with the political, ecclesiastical, and literary history of his time. Macmillan and co. pp. 151–.
^Ute Dons, Descriptive Adequacy of Early Modern English Grammars (2004), p. 10.
^Alexander Gill's Logonomia Anglica nach der Ausgabe von 1621
^The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, David Crystal
^Poole, William (2018). "The Literary Remains [of] Alexander Gil the Elder (1565-1635) and Younger (1596/7-1642?)" (PDF). Milton Quarterly. 51 (3).
External links
Gil, Alexander (1621) [1619]. Logonomia Anglica (second ed.). London: John Beale.
Gil, Alexander (1635). The Sacred Philosophie of the Holy Scripture. London: Joyce Norton and Richard Whitaker.
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January 29, 2023
alexander, gill, elder, february, 1565, november, 1635, also, spelled, english, scholar, spelling, reformer, high, master, paul, school, where, pupils, included, john, milton, author, english, grammar, which, written, however, latin, alexander, gillborn7, febr. Alexander Gill the Elder 7 February 1565 17 November 1635 also spelled Gil was an English scholar spelling reformer and high master of St Paul s School where his pupils included John Milton He was the author of an English grammar which was written however in Latin Alexander GillBorn7 February 1565LincolnshireDied17 November 1635 1635 11 17 aged 70 LondonResting placeMercers Chapel LondonNationalityEnglandOther namesAlexander GilAlma materCorpus Christi College OxfordOccupation s Scholar School MasterKnown forWriting on spelling reform Teaching John MiltonSpouseElizabeth GillChildrenThree Contents 1 Life 2 Works 2 1 Grammar 2 1 1 Phonetic change suggestions 2 2 Theological works 3 Notes 4 External linksLife EditHe was born in Lincolnshire 7 February 1565 admitted as a scholar of Corpus Christi College Oxford in September 1583 and earned a B A in 1586 and an M A in 1589 Wood believed that he was a schoolmaster in Norwich where he was living in 1597 On 10 March 1607 8 he was appointed high master of St Paul s School succeeding Richard Mulcaster Milton was among his pupils from 1620 to 1625 1 He had two sons George and Alexander b 1597 and a daughter Annah George Gill would eventually become ordained In 1628 his son Alexander was overheard drinking to the health of John Felton who had stabbed George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham Buckingham was a favorite of King Charles I but hated by the public Felton was widely acclaimed as a hero for assassinating him 2 Gill the Younger was sentenced to have both ears removed and was fined 2000 However his father intervened directly with William Laud This effort managed a remission of the punishment inflicted by the Star Chamber 3 Alexander Gill the Younger would later become a noted scholar in his own right Gill the Elder died at his house in St Paul s Churchyard 17 November 1635 and was buried 20 November in Mercers Chapel He was survived by his wife Elizabeth 1 Works EditGrammar Edit Logonomia Anglica qua gentis sermo facilius addiscitur London by John Beale 1619 2nd edit 1621 was his English grammar dedicated to James I Gill s book written in Latin opens with suggestions for a phonetic system of English spelling see below In his section on grammatical and rhetorical figures Gill quotes freely from Edmund Spenser George Wither Samuel Daniel and other English poets 1 It was more comprehensive than earlier works and devoted attention to syntax and prosody 4 An edition was produced in 1903 by Otto Luitpold Jiriczek 5 a facsimile of the 1619 edition was published in 1972 Phonetic change suggestions Edit Among the suggested changes to make English more phonetic were the following Revive the Anglo Saxon signs d ed and th thorn for the two sounds of th Use of the letter ŋ eŋ 6 Theological works Edit Gilpublished two theological works A Treatise concerning the Trinitie of Persons in Unitie of the Deitie written at Norwich in 1597 London 1601 reprinted 1635 This was an addressed to Thomas Mannering described as an Anabaptist 1 Sacred Philosophie of the Holy Scripture London 1635 a commentary on the Apostles Creed 1 A further work referred to in Gil s Sacred Philosophie as t he second part of Logonomia which I call Logicke is lost According to Gil it was especially meant to be an helpe to them that needed helpe for the understanding of Sacred Philosophie The work which despite its name was distinct from Logonomia Anglica probably dates from the period between the second edition of Logonomia Anglica 1621 and the Sacred Philosophie 7 Notes Edit a b c d e Stephen Leslie ed 1890 Dictionary of National Biography Vol xxi New York Macmillan p 353 entry GILL ALEXANDER the elder Bellany Alastair 2004 Felton John d 1628 assassin Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford England Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 9273 Subscription or UK public library membership required David Masson 1859 The life of John Milton narrated in connexion with the political ecclesiastical and literary history of his time Macmillan and co pp 151 Ute Dons Descriptive Adequacy of Early Modern English Grammars 2004 p 10 Alexander Gill s Logonomia Anglica nach der Ausgabe von 1621 The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language David Crystal Poole William 2018 The Literary Remains of Alexander Gil the Elder 1565 1635 and Younger 1596 7 1642 PDF Milton Quarterly 51 3 External links EditGil Alexander 1621 1619 Logonomia Anglica second ed London John Beale Gil Alexander 1635 The Sacred Philosophie of the Holy Scripture London Joyce Norton and Richard Whitaker Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexander Gill the Elder Wikiquote has quotations related to Alexander Gill the Elder Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Gill the Elder amp oldid 1135110258, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
