Thomas Dagger Adams (15 January 1884 – 20 November 1953) was a New Zealand academic who was professor of classics at the University of Otago from 1917 to 1948.

[2] From 1897 to 1902, Adams was educated at Otago Boys' High School, where he excelled both academically and in sports: he won the junior fives championship; captained the 1st XI cricket team in 1902; and was named dux in 1901.

[1][9] During his tenure at Otago, he served in various roles, including chair of the professorial board and dean of the arts faculty.

[1] Outside of the university, he was prominent in public life in Dunedin, serving as chair of the Knox College council, president of the Shakespeare Club, president of the Otago Institute for the Arts and Sciences, and patron of the Dunedin Repertory Society.

[11] Adams' time at Otago was interrupted during World War I, when he enlisted voluntarily in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in early 1917.