Charles Oliphant 1666-1719

Charles OLIPHANT 1666-1719

Biographical Note

Born in Edinburgh, son of Charles Oliphant, clerk in the Court of Session there. MA Edinburgh University 1684, and studied at Leiden and the University of Rheims where he graduated MD in 1691. He set up as a physician in Edinburgh, and became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1693. He published a number of medical tracts during the 1690s before moving to London in 1708; he became MP for Ayr 1710-19, and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1713. He was appointed physician to the Prince of Wales in 1714.

Books

Oliphant's library was auctioned in London after his death, 12.12.1720. The sale catalogue contains 1313 lots, divided between Latin medical and mathematical books (215 lots), libri miscellanei (including books in Greek, Latin, French, Spanish and Italian (761) and English books (332). There were also 5 manuscript lots, one of which is described as a finely-illuminated liturgical manuscript; the titlepage mentions "several MSS. with miniatures, very finely painted".

Characteristic Markings

None of Oliphant's books have been identified.

Sources

• History of Parliament.
• Charles Oliphant, Wikipedia.
• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• Bibliotheca Oliphantana, London, 1720, ESTC t10292.