In his book Roger Ascham, Giorgio Miglior characterizes his subject as “The humanist on the margins of political power”, and indeed Ascham’s life story is marked by a curious - and recurring - discrepancy between his close proximity to the great and powerful of Tudor England and his more modest accomplishments as a scholar, educator, and courtier.

Ascham (pronounced Askam) was born in 1515 or 1516 in North Yorkshire, the second son of John and Margaret Ascham. His earliest education came from his father and Sir Anthony Wingfield, a local nobleman in whose house young Roger lived. Recognizing the young boy’s promise, Wingfield first provided Ascham with tuition in his home and then later under

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First published 06 October 2004

Citation: Olsen, Thomas. "Roger Ascham". The Literary Encyclopedia. 6 October 2004.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=162, accessed 20 November 2009.]