Ker , William Paton , 1855-1923 , literary scholar

William Paton Ker was born in Glasgow in 1855. He studied at Glasgow Academy, Glasgow University and Balliol College, Oxford University. He then became Professor of English Literature at the University College of South Wales, Cardiff in 1883 and in 1889 was appointed Professor of English Language and Literature at University College London (UCL). In 1879, Ker was appointed to a fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford and in 1920 was appointed to the Chair of Poetry at Oxford. While at UCL, Ker was responsible for setting up an Honours School of English and organising the Department of Scandinavian Studies. He had a passion for mountain climbing and fell walking. He died in 1923.