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Martin Joseph Routh (September 18, 1755 – December 22, 1854) was a classical scholar, devout churchman and President of Magdalen College, Oxford University, for 63 years from 1791 until his death aged 99. He is thought to be the earliest-born British person ever photographed. This was taken on his 99th birthday in September 1854. He is known for the invaluable academic advice: “Always verify your references.” Samuel Parr, a noted literary figure of the time, said in 1814 that “Martin Routh is of the right stamp; orthodox but not intolerant; profound, not obscure; wary, not sceptical; very, very, very learned; not pedantic at all.” Perhaps more pertinently he was the brother of Sophia Sheppard, wife of Thomas Sheppard a Doctor of Divinity also from Magdalen College. She left her husband’s former college extensive land, part of the manor of All Farthing, in Earlsfield. The college began to develop it for housing from the early 1930s, naming it after places and people that were connected with it. Magdalen is one of the wealthiest colleges in Oxford.
