Walter Besant (1836–1901)

Writer and campaigner for authors’ rights. Entered King’s College, London, in 1854. Moved to Christ’s College, Cambridge, in 1855; BA 1859. Mathematics master, Leamington College. Senior professor, Royal College, Mauritius. Secretary to the Palestine Exploration Fund, 1868–86. Prime mover in establishing the Society of Authors in 1883. Wrote novels and several volumes on the history of London. Knighted, 1895.