Benjamin Parsons Symons

Benjamin Parsons Symons (28 January 1785 – 12 April 1878) was an academic administrator at the University of Oxford in England.

Benjamin Symons was born in Cheddar, Somerset, the son of John Symons of Cheddar. He matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, on 2 February 1802, was admitted as a scholar on 25 October 1803. He graduated with a BA degree on 14 October 1805 and received an MA degree on 7 July 1810. He was elected a Probationer Fellow at Wadham College on 30 June 1811 and was admitted as a Fellow on 2 July 1812. He graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity on 22 April 1819. He was bursar of the College from 1814 to 1823, after which he became sub-warden. On 23 January 1831 he obtained the degree of Doctor of Divinity and on 16 June of that year he was elected Warden of the College. He was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from 1844 to 1848. He resigned the wardenship on 18 October 1871, but continued to reside in Oxford until his death in 1878.

Symons did not follow the high-church Anglican Oxford Movement prevalent at Oxford, and was regarded as the leader of the evangelical wing in later life. He was buried in the ante-chapel at Wadham College and bequeathed £1,000 to the College to establish an exhibition. His portrait was hung in the College hall.

Further reading

• Davies, C.S.L., ‘Symons, Benjamin Parsons (1785–1878)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26895
• Gardiner's Registers of Wadham, ii. 224.
• Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886.
• Ward's Men of the Reign, p. 867.
• The Times, 13 April 1878.