Roger Ascham, an English scholar, born in Yorkshire in 1515, died Dec. 30, 1568. He was of humble parentage, and was brought up by Sir Anthony Wingfield, with whose sons he was educated. In 1534 he graduated at St. John's college, Oxford, where he gained a fellowship. Ascham early embraced Protestant principles. In 1537 he became a college tutor, and was appointed by the university to read Greek in the public schools. When Henry VIII. founded a Greek lectureship Ascham was appointed to it, and in 1544 was made university orator, a post which obliged him to prepare all addresses and write the complimentary and business letters to great men. For this his elegant Latinity particularly qualified him. In 1548 Ascham was appointed teacher of learned languages to the lady Elizabeth, afterward queen. He continued in her household two years, when he quitted her suddenly from a pique against persons in her establishment. In 1550 he was appointed secretary to Sir Richard Morysine, the English ambassador to the emperor Charles V., which appointment he retained for three years, until the death of Edward VI. and the ambassador's recall.

While abroad, he travelled in Germany, visited Italy, and wrote the results of his travels in " A Report and Discourse of the Affaires of Germany." On his return in 1553 he was appointed Latin secretary to the queen, and on the death of Mary he was continued in his office by Elizabeth, who required his services as tutor in the languages, in which he read with her several hours each day. He wrote a small treatise on archery, entitled "Toxophilus," and dedicated it to Henry VIII., who ordered him an annual pension of £10 for it. He also wrote "The Scholemaster," a treatise on the study of languages, which was first published by his widow. His letters to Oxford during his stay abroad were also collected and published. His works were published entire, Oxford, 1703, and his English writings, London, 1815, with a life by Dr. Johnson.