 He was educated at Ealing school.Having taken his degree at the University of Oxford (from Trinity College) in 1838, he was elected to a fellowship at Exeter College, Oxford, in 1840, of which from 1842 to 1846 he was fellow and tutor.He was ordained in 1841, was curate at Merton, Oxfordshire from 1846 to 1847, Bampton lecturer in 1859, and was Camden Professor of Ancient History from 1861 to 1889.