Gorley Putt

Samuel Gorley Putt OBE FRSL (9 June 1913 – 24 April 1995), was a British academic, author and stood as a Liberal Party candidate, but failed to win a seat, at the 1945 General Election. He actively discouraged people from using his first name, Samuel, and was known as simply Gorley Putt.

Samuel Gorley Putt

OBE, FRSL
Born(1913-06-09)9 June 1913
Brixham, Devon, England
Died24 April 1995(1995-04-24) (aged 81)
Oakington, Cambridgeshire, England
OccupationAcademic and author
NationalityBritish
EducationTorquay Grammar School
Alma materChrist's College, Cambridge and Yale University
PeriodMid- to Late-twentieth century
SubjectEnglish language and literature
Notable worksA Reader's Guide to Henry James (1966)
A Preface to Henry James (1986)

Background

He was the son of Poole Putt and Ellen Blake Gorley of Brixham, Devon. His father had been killed during the later part of the First World War when his ship was torpedoed. He was educated at Torquay Grammar School and won a scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge where he received a First Class Honours in both parts of the English tripos. In 1934, with assistance from the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship he attended Yale University where he obtained his first MA. Putt's View from Atlantis released in 1955 recollected his experiences in America.

Professional career

1st Class English Tripos Pts I and II, MA 1937, Cambridge; Commonwealth Fund Fellow, MA 1936, Yale. BBC Talks Dept, 1936–38; Warden and Sec., Appts Cttee, Queen’s Univ. of Belfast, 1939–40; RNVR, 1940–46, Lieut-Comdr; Warden and Tutor to Overseas Students and Director International Summer School, Univ. Coll., Exeter, 1946–49; Warden of Harkness House, 1949–68 and Director, Div. of International Fellowships, The Commonwealth Fund, 1966–68. Chm., 1964–72, Vice-Pres., 1972–78, English Assoc. Visiting Professor: Univ. of Massachusetts, 1968; Univ. of the South, Sewanee, 1976; Univ. of Pisa, 1979; Texas Christian Univ., 1985. Member: English-Speaking Union, London Cttee, 1952–57; UK-US Educational Commn: Travel Grants Cttee, 1955–64; Cttee of Management, Inst. of US Studies, London Univ., 1965–69. FRSL 1952. Cavaliere, Order of Merit of Italy, 1980

In 1968 he became a Fellow, of Christ’s College, Cambridge; Senior Tutor from 1968–78 and Praelector from 1976–80.[1]

Political career

He was Liberal candidate for his home constituency, the Torquay Division of Devon at the 1945 General Election.

General Election 1945[2] Electorate 72,973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Williams 25,479 48.9
Labour George Cornes 13,590 26.1
Liberal Lt. Samuel Gorley Putt 13,003 25.0
Majority 11,889 22.8
Turnout 71.4
Conservative hold Swing

He did not stand for parliament again. In 1966 he was awarded the OBE.

Publications
  • Men Dressed As Seamen, [1943]
  • View from Atlantis, [1955]
  • (ed) Cousins and Strangers, [1956]
  • Coastline, [1959]
  • Scholars of the Heart, [1962]
  • (ed) Essays and Studies, [1963]
  • A Reader’s Guide to Henry James, [1966]
  • The Golden Age of English Drama, [1981]
  • A Preface to Henry James, [1986]
  • Wings of a Man’s Life, [1990]
  • Arthur Mizener, [1991]

References
  1. ‘PUTT, S(amuel) Gorley’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 14 Dec 2013
  2. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, Craig, F. W. S.


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