Difference between revisions of "Edward Lhwyd 1659/60?-1709"

Latest revision as of 08:00, 23 February 2022

Edward LHWYD / LHUYD 1659/60?-1709

Biographical Note

Born at Loppington, Shropshire, illegitimate son of Edward Lloyd of Llanforda, Oswestry. Matriculated at Jesus College, Oxford 1682, but did not graduate (though given an MA, 1701); became associated with the newly formed Oxford Philosophical Society, led by Robert Plot, first Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, whose assistant he became in 1687, and who he succeeded as Keeper in 1691. His extensive endeavours as an antiquary and naturalist led him to produce a catalogue of British fossils (Lithophilacii Britannica, 1699), to tour Wales to revise the Welsh section for a new edition of Camden’s Britannia, and to advance understanding of early British languages through his Glossography, the first (and only published) volume of a projected Archaeologia Britannica (1707). He corresponded extensively with other contemporary scholars, and was described by Hans Sloane as the best naturalist in Europe.

Books

Lhywd assembled an important collection of Welsh manuscripts, sold to Sir Thomas Sebright in 1715, after several other abortive expressions of interest; many of these manuscripts were subsequently given, in the late 18th century, to Trinity College, Dublin or to Thomas Johnes of Hafod. Others were dispersed by auction at the Sebright sale (Leigh & Sotheby, 6.4.1807). ca.100 manuscripts from the Hafod collection were destroyed by fire in 1807.

The extent of Lhwyd’s holdings of printed books is unclear; Hearne described his collection as “bad and of no great account” (despite several being “curious and valuable”), while a late 18th century description refers to printed books of great worth. It seems that his library was split between Oxford and Wales (the latter part, in 1728, being said to be in the possession of Robert Foulkes, Rector of Llanbedr). The books in Oxford were given to the University, in lieu of debts owed by Lhwyd. Ca.50 surviving vols, mostly in Oxford collections, were identified in an account published in 1979. Examples: Bodleian 8vo.V.108.Art, 8vo.V.102.Art, 4to.D.13.Med.

Characteristic Markings

Inscription of Edward Lhuyd (Blickling Hall E. Gibson, Chronicon Saxonicum, Oxford, 1692)

Lhwyd regularly inscribed his name on titlepages, in English or Latin, sometimes adding date and other details of acquisition. He commonly annotated his books with comments on the text.

Sources

Rees, E. & G. Walters, The dispersion of the manuscripts of Edward Lhuyd, Welsh History Review 7 (1974), 148-78.
Roberts, B. Edward Lhuyd’s collection of printed books, Bodleian Library Record. 10 (1979), 112-27.
Roberts, Brynley F. "Lhuyd [Lhwyd; formerly Lloyd], Edward (1659/60?–1709), naturalist and philologist." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

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 ====Biographical Note====
-Born at [[place of birth::Loppington, Shropshire]], illegitimate son of [[family::Edward Lloyd]] of [[location::Llanforda, Oswestry]].  Matriculated at [[education::Jesus College, Oxford]] 1682, but did not graduate (though given an MA, 1701); became associated with the newly formed [[organisations::Oxford Philosophical Society]], led by [[associates::Robert Plot]], first [[occupation::Keeper]] of [[organisations::the Ashmolean Museum]], whose [[occupation::assistant]] he became in 1687, and who he succeeded as [[occupation::Keeper]] in 1691.  His extensive endeavours as an [[occupation::antiquary]] and [[occupation::naturalist]] led him to produce a [[author::catalogue]] of British fossils ([[book title::''Lithophilacii Britannica'']], [[date of publication::1699]]), to tour [[location::Wales]] to revise the Welsh section for a new edition of [[author::William Camden|Camden]]’s [[book title::''Britannia'']], and to advance understanding of early British languages through his [[book title::''Glossography'']], the first (and only published) volume of a projected [[book title::''Archaeologia Britannica'']] ([[date of publication::1707]]).  He corresponded extensively with other contemporary scholars, and was described by [[associates::Hans Sloane]] as the best [[occupation::naturalist]] in Europe.
+Born at [[place of birth::Loppington, Shropshire]], illegitimate son of [[family::Edward Lloyd]] of [[location::Llanforda, Oswestry]].  Matriculated at [[education::Jesus College, Oxford]] 1682, but did not graduate (though given an MA, 1701); became associated with the newly formed [[organisations::Oxford Philosophical Society]], led by [[associates::Robert Plot]], first [[occupation::Keeper]] of the [[organisations::Ashmolean Museum]], whose [[occupation::assistant]] he became in 1687, and who he succeeded as [[occupation::Keeper]] in 1691.  His extensive endeavours as an [[occupation::antiquary]] and [[occupation::naturalist]] led him to produce a [[author::catalogue]] of British fossils ([[book title::''Lithophilacii Britannica'']], [[date of publication::1699]]), to tour [[location::Wales]] to revise the Welsh section for a new edition of [[author::William Camden|Camden]]’s [[book title::''Britannia'']], and to advance understanding of early British languages through his [[book title::''Glossography'']], the first (and only published) volume of a projected [[book title::''Archaeologia Britannica'']] ([[date of publication::1707]]).  He corresponded extensively with other contemporary scholars, and was described by [[associates::Hans Sloane]] as the best [[occupation::naturalist]] in Europe.
 ====Books====
 Lhywd assembled an important collection of [[language::Welsh]] [[format::manuscripts]], sold to [[subsequent owner::Sir Thomas Sebright]] in 1715, after several other abortive expressions of interest; many of these [[format::manuscript|manuscripts]] were subsequently [[bequest::given]], in the late 18th century, to [[beneficiary::Trinity College, Dublin]] or to [[beneficiary::Thomas Johnes]] of [[location::Hafod]].  Others were dispersed by auction at the Sebright sale ([[organisations::Leigh & Sotheby]], 6.4.1807).  ca.100 [[format::manuscript|manuscripts]] from the [[location::Hafod]] collection were destroyed by fire in 1807.
-The extent of Lhwyd’s holdings of [[format::printed]] books is unclear; [[associates::Thomas Hearne|Hearne]] described his collection as “bad and of no great account” (despite several being “curious and valuable”), while a late 18th century description refers to [[format::printed]] books of great worth.  It seems that his library was split between [[location::Oxford]] and [[location::Wales]] (the latter part, in 1728, being said to be in the possession of [[subsequent owner::Robert Foulkes]], Rector of [[location::Llanbedr]]).  The books in [[location::Oxford]] were given to [[bequest::the University of Oxford|the University]], in lieu of debts owed by Lhwyd.  Ca.50 surviving vols, mostly in Oxford collections, were identified in an account published in 1979.  Examples: Bodleian 8vo.V.108.Art, 8vo.V.102.Art, 4to.D.13.Med.
+The extent of Lhwyd’s holdings of printed books is unclear; [[associates::Thomas Hearne|Hearne]] described his collection as “bad and of no great account” (despite several being “curious and valuable”), while a late 18th century description refers to printed books of great worth.  It seems that his library was split between [[location::Oxford]] and [[location::Wales]] (the latter part, in 1728, being said to be in the possession of [[subsequent owner::Robert Foulkes]], Rector of [[location::Llanbedr]]).  The books in [[location::Oxford]] were given to [[bequest::the University of Oxford|the University]], in lieu of debts owed by Lhwyd.  Ca.50 surviving vols, mostly in Oxford collections, were identified in an account published in 1979.  Examples: Bodleian 8vo.V.108.Art, 8vo.V.102.Art, 4to.D.13.Med.
 ====Characteristic Markings====
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 [[Category:Academics]]
 [[Category:Libraries Destroyed]]
-[[Category:Inscriptions]]
 [[Category:Marginalia and Annotations]]
-[[Category:Illustrated]]
+[[Category:All Owners]]