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William Robert Woodman (1828– 20 December 1891), was Supreme Magus of theSRIA and one of three co-founders of theHermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Woodman was a medical doctor, horticultural expert and occultist. He was also a member of several metaphysical orders in England.
Woodman was born inEngland in 1828. He studied medicine and was licensed in 1851 and volunteered as a surgeon duringNapoleon III'scoup d'état.
Afterwards, he set up his own medical practice atStoke Newington where he also served aspolice surgeon. He had a love forgardening and was a prominent horticulturalist and flower exhibitor. Inheritance left him with some property inExeter. He retired there in 1871 to pursue his gardening aspirations, but moved back to London in 1887. TheRoyal Horticultural Society erected a memorial for his grave inWillesden.[1]
He was appointed Grand Sword Bearer of theUnited Grand Lodge of England, and he held high rank in many esoteric orders, including theRed Cross of Constantine.[1]
Woodman was admitted into the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia on 31 October 1867 and appointed to the office of Secretary General in February 1868. He was co-editor for the society's journal,The Rosicrucian. In 1876, he was appointed Junior Substitute Magus, and in 1877 he was appointed Senior Substitute Magus. When Robert Little died in April 1878, Woodman became Supreme Magus. Under Woodman, the order expanded from London to the rest of England and was extending its influence toAustralia and America.[1]
In 1887 he was given the honorary grade of Exempt Adept, of theIsis-Urania Temple of theGolden Dawn, founded in 1888,[2] in which he held the office of Imperator. His mottos in the order wereMagna est Veritas et Praelavebit (5=6, "Great is the Truth and it shall Prevail") andVincit Omnia Veritas (7=4, "Truth Rules All").[1]
Woodman is the least known among the three founders of the Golden Dawn because he died before the creation of the Golden Dawn's second order[3] In the Golden Dawn, no one was appointed to take his place in the Triad of Chiefs: Westcott became Praemonstrator andMathers, Imperator.[1]
Woodman died suddenly on 20 December 1891 in London after a brief illness. He was 63. He left behind a letter namingWilliam Wynn Westcott as his successor to the SRIA and donating a portion of his library to the society.