​SYMONS, BENJAMIN PARSONS (1785–1878), warden of Wadham College, son of John Symons of Cheddar in Somerset, was born at Cheddar on 28 Jan. 1785. He matriculated from Wadham College on 2 Feb. 1802, was admitted a scholar on 25 Oct. 1803, graduated B.A. on 14 Oct. 1805 and M.A. on 7 July 1810, and was elected a probationer fellow on 30 June 1811. He was admitted a fellow on 2 July 1812, and graduated B.D. on 22 April 1819. He filled the office of bursar from 1814 to 1823, in which year he became sub-warden. On 23 Jan. 1831 he obtained the degree of D.D., and on 16 June of the same year he was elected warden. From 1844 to 1848 he was vice-chancellor of the university.

Symons was unaffected by the high-church movement at Oxford, and was in later life regarded as the leader of the evangelical party. To Wadham he proved an able head of the old-fashioned autocratic type. He resigned the wardenship on 18 Oct. 1871, but continued to reside in Oxford till his death on 12 April 1878. He was buried in the ante-chapel, and bequeathed 1,000l. to the college to found an exhibition. His portrait is in the college hall.

E. I. C.