Mackail, John William (1859–1945)

Scottish classical scholar. His works include a prose translation of the Eclogues and Georgics, Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology 1890, and Latin Literature 1895. His lectures at Oxford were published in the volumes The Springs of Helicon 1909, Lectures on Greek Poetry 1910, and Lectures on Poetry 1911. The Approach to Shakespeare 1930 is a volume of criticism.

He was born in Bute and educated at Ayr Academy, Edinburgh University, and Balliol College, Oxford. He won the Newdigate prize, and was elected to a fellowship at Balliol, but in 1884 he entered the education department of the civil service where he remained until his retirement 1919. In 1906 he was appointed professor of poetry at Oxford.