George Long (scholar)

George Long (4 November 1800 – 10 August 1879) was an English classical scholar, barrister, and author.

Long was born in Poulton, Lancashire. He was educated at Macclesfield Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was Craven Scholar and senior classic, graduating BA in 1822. He was elected a fellow of Trinity College in 1823.

In 1828, he accepted a professorship of ancient languages at the newly founded University of Virginia, where he also served as professor of moral philosophy. He returned to England in 1831 and was appointed professor of Greek at University College London, a position he held until 1842. He was called to the bar in 1837 but never actively practiced.

Long was a prolific writer and editor. His works included translations of Plutarch's Lives (with George Bell), Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, and Epictetus' Enchiridion. He also edited classical texts and produced numerous articles for Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, and Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. His other notable works include An Elementary Grammar of the Latin Language, France and Its Revolutions, and The Decline of the Roman Republic.

Long was a strong advocate for classical education and believed in the importance of rigorous scholarship. He died in Brighton in 1879. His legacy rests on his contributions to classical scholarship, his numerous publications, and his dedication to education.