Monier Monier-Williams is elected, after a fiercely…
December 1860 CE
The election comes at a time of public debate about Britain's role in India in the wake of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Opinions are divided on whether greater efforts should be made to convert India or whether to remain sensitive to local culture and traditions.
Both men have battled for the votes of the electorate (the Convocation of the university, consisting of over thirty-seven hundred graduates) through manifestos and newspaper correspondence.
Williams had laid great stress in his campaign on the intention of the original founder of the chair, that the holder should assist in converting India through dissemination of the Christian scriptures.
Müller's view was that his work on the Rig Veda is of great value for missionary work, and had published testimonials accordingly.
He also wants to teach wider subjects such as Indian history and literature to assist missionaries, scholars, and civil servants—a proposal that Williams had criticized as not in accordance with the original benefactor's wishes.
The rival campaigns had taken out newspaper advertisements and circulated manifestos, and different newspapers had backed each man.
Although generally regarded as the superior to Williams in scholarship, Müller has the double disadvantage (in the eyes of some) of being German and having liberal Christian views.
Some of the newspaper pronouncements in favor of Williams are based on a claimed national interest of having an Englishman as Boden professor to assist with the work of governing and converting India.
Special trains to Oxford are provided on the day of the election for non-residents to cast their votes.
At the end of the hard-fought campaign, Williams wins by a majority of over 220 votes.
Hereafter, he will help to establish the Indian Institute at Oxford, receive a knighthood, and hold the chair until his death in 1899.
Müller, although deeply disappointed by his defeat, will remain in Oxford for the rest of his career, but will never teach Sanskrit here.
The 1860 election is the last time that Convocation will choose the Boden professor, as this power will be removed in 1882 as a result of reforms imposed by Parliament.
As of 2017, the professorship was still in existence as the last remaining Sanskrit professorship in the United Kingdom.
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