WOODTHORPE, ROBERT AUGUSTUS (1861-1931), a son of William Woodthorpe, was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, and attended Cooper's grammar school, London. Coming to Australia as a young man, he entered Moore Theological College, Sydney, was ordained in the Anglican church in 1886, and graduated at Sydney University (B.A. 1886; M.A. 1890, with first-class honours in philosophy). Woodthorpe was curate of Christchurch, Sydney (1885-89); and vice-warden and tutor of St Paul's College, Sydney University (1890-92). Coming then to New Zealand, he was vicar of Kumara (1892-94), chaplain to the Christchurch Maori mission (1894-96), vicar of Ashburton (1899-1902) and of St John's, Christchurch (1902-05); warden of Selwyn College, Dunedin (1905-07), and archdeacon of Oamaru (1913-17). In 1918 he was appointed lecturer in history and acting-professor of economics at Otago University and in 1923 professor. Retiring in 1925, Woodthorpe died in Sydney on 27 Nov 1931. He was the author of a number of works on philosophic, economic and political subjects, and was a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Economic Society. In 1891 he married Alice, daughter of Richard Meares of Sydney.

Cycl. N.Z., iii; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Sydney Morning Herald, 30 Nov 1931.

Reference: Volume 2, page 268

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