Madan, Geoffrey Spencer (1895-1947), belletrist and collector and creator of aphorisms

Born in Oxford, the son of Falconer Madan, a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford and Bodley's Librarian, and Frances Jane Hayter.
He had a sister, Ethel, who married Charles Fox Burney.

He was educated at Summer Fields School, Oxford, Eton College (to which he won the top scholarship in 1907) and Balliol College, Oxford.
While still at school he earned a day's holiday for the whole school by the excellence of his account of Eton written in Herodotean Greek, and embarked on a correspondence and friendship with A. C. Benson.
Madan went up to Balliol College in 1913 to read Classics.

In 1914 Madan's university career was interrupted by the First World War. He was commissioned in the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, and was wounded in the Mesopotamian campaign in 1916.

In 1919 Madan married Marjorie, the daughter of Sir Saxton Noble, Baronet. In 1920 Marjorie gave birth to their one child, Nicola.

Between 1920 and 1924 Madan was employed in the City of London; but in 1924 a severe attack of meningitis forced him to retire. A private income enabled him to devote the remainder of his life to his interests, which included wine, old silver and above all books.

Madan's daughter Nicola married Gordon Campbell, later Lord Campbell of Croy.

Madan died suddenly in London on 6 July 1947 aged 52.

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