Classicist, Fellow of St. Johns College Cambridge. Educated at Dedham Grammar School and Shrewsbury School. He graduated BA as Senior Classic in 1871 and was immediately elected a Fellow of the College. He was College Lecturer in classics 1871-85 and Tutor 1883-93. He was a prolific author, mostly of classical works. His most distinguished publications were 'Agricola', 1921 on agricultural labour in antiquity, and the 'History of the Roman Republic' in 1909, which in its day was compared to Mommsen's work.

Adm. pens. at ST JOHN'S, May 8, 1863. [Youngest] s. of the Rev. Richard (1810)[and Ann]. Born at Barrow-on-Soar, Leics. Bapt. Aug. 27, 1844. [School,Shrewsbury.] Matric. Michs. 1863; Scholar, 1865; Carus Greek Testament prize,1865 and 1868; Prizeman; B.A. (35th Wrangler and 9th Classic) 1867; Moral Sci. Trip., 1st Class, 1867; Theol. Exam., 1st Class, 1868; Scholefield Prize, 1868; Hebrew Prize, 1868; Crosse Scholar, 1869; Tyrwhitt Hebrew Scholar, 1870; M.A. 1870. Fellow, 1868-74. Fellow of Emmanuel,1891-1916. Hon. D.D., Edinburgh, 1897. Lecturer in Theology, 1874-91. Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History, 1891-1916. Gifford Lecturer at Edinburgh,1903-5. Ord. deacon (Durham) 1891; priest, 1892. Author, Studies of Arianism; Selections from Early Christian Writers; Selections from Past and Present; The Arian Controversy; Early Christian History; The Knowledge of God (Gifford Lectures); The Sacrifice of Thankfulness; The Eye for Spiritual Things; co-editor of the Cambridge Mediaeval History, 1911-16. Collected the radulae of snails, dissecting them from specimens sent from all over the world. Bequeathed his main collection to the Natural History Museum, S. Kensington. Died Nov. 14, 1916, at his residence, 8 Scroope Terrace, Cambridge. Brother of Thomas Heitland (1858). He was buried in St Giles's cemetery, Cambridge, on 26 June 1935.
(additional bio by Martin Packer)