Lane, George Martin, 1823-1897

George Martin Lane (1823-1897) was Pope Professor of the Latin Language and Literature at Harvard. He taught at Harvard from 1851 to 1894 and set a precedent as the first faculty member to be pensioned upon retirement. Lane's association with Harvard was life-long: he was a Cambridge native, attended Harvard as an undergraduate, and taught at Harvard for 43 years.

From the description of Papers of George Martin Lane, 1797-1897. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 76972805

George Martin Lane (1823-1897) was Pope Professor of the Latin Language and Literature at Harvard. He taught at Harvard from 1851 to 1894 and set a precedent as the first faculty member to be pensioned upon retirement. Lane's association with Harvard was life-long: he was a Cambridge native, attended Harvard as an undergraduate, and taught at Harvard for 43 years.

Lane was born December 24, 1823 in Charlestown, Massachusetts to Martin and Lucretia Lane. During his infancy, the family moved to Cambridge, where Lane was to spend the majority of his life. He earned his Harvard A.B. in 1846. As a student, he was a member of the Hasty Pudding Club, the Porcellian Club, and the Institute of 1770. He is the author of The Lone Fishball, a satirical song that remained a Harvard student favorite for many years. It was popular to such an extent that Lane's friend and colleague Francis James Child expanded it into an Italian-style operetta Il pesceballo. Soon after graduation, Lane accepted a one-year position as a substitute teacher of Latin at Harvard.

From 1847 to 1851, Lane studied in Germany. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Göttingen.

Lane returned to Harvard and was appointed Professor of Latin in 1851. He married Frances Eliza Gardiner of Shelfter Island, New York, in 1857. They had three children: Gardiner Martin Lane, Louisa Greenough Lane, and Katherine Ward Lane. Two years after the death of his first wife, Lane married Fanny Bradford Clark.

His appointment as Pope Professor of Latin Language and Literature began in 1869. In 1894 he retired, was given an LL.D., and became Pope Professor Emeritus. His Latin Grammar was not published during his lifetime, but his colleague Professor Morris H. Morgan completed the work and pubilshed it in 1898.

• 1823: Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts
• 1846: Graduates from Harvard College.
• 1846 - 1847 : Instructs classes at Harvard
• 1847 - 1851 : Studies in Germany
• 1851: Ph.D. from University of Göttingen
• 1855, July: The Lone Fishball is published anonymously in Harper's New Monthly Magazine
• 1857: Marries Frances Eliza Gardiner
• 1869: Appointed Pope Professor
• 1876: Frances dies
• 1878: Marries Fanny Bradford Clark
• 1894: Retires from Harvard
• 1897 June 30: Dies in Cambridge, Massachusetts
• 1898: A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges published

Below is a list of members of George Martin Lane's family. Each name is preceeded by their relationship to him.

From the guide to the Papers of George Martin Lane, 1797-1987 (inclusive), 1850-1900 (bulk), (Harvard University Archives)