Meanwhile, he taught himself classics in his spare time, and when he entered University College London carried off both the Greek and Latin prizes.

He was entered at Gray's Inn in 1830, but gave up his legal studies for a post at University College School and began to write on classical subjects.

A parallel Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography[5] appeared in 1857, with some leading scholars of the day associated with the task.

He sat on the Committee enquiring into questions of copyright and was for several years registrar of the Royal Literary Fund.

He died on 7 October 1893 in London,[12] and is buried in a family grave on the eastern side of Highgate Cemetery.