Difference between revisions of "John Aubrey 1626-1697"

From Book Owners Online
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
__NOTITLE__
 
__NOTITLE__
===[[name::John]] [[name::AUBREY]] [[date of Birth::1626]]-[[date of Death::1697|97]]===
+
===[[name::John]] [[name::AUBREY]] [[date of birth::1626]]-[[date of death::1697]]===
  
 
====Biographical Note====
 
====Biographical Note====
A noted antiquary, natural philosopher, and writer, Aubrey was born on 12 March 1626 at Easton Pierse near Kington St Michael in north Wiltshire, the eldest son of Richard Aubrey (1603–1652) and his wife, Deborah (1610–1686). He was entered as a gentleman commoner at Trinity College, Oxford, in 1642, but his studies were interrupted by the civil war. In 1646 he enrolled at the Middle Temple but did not complete his legal training. On his father's death in 1652 Aubrey inherited his estates and debts, becoming heavily entangled in lawsuits as a result and eventually losing his inheritance. Elected to the Royal Society in 1663, Aubrey became an active member and grew well acquaintance with notable people of the late seventeenth century, including Robert Hooke, Thomas Hobbes, and Anthony Wood. Aubrey is well-known for his work on natural philosophy, archaeology and mathematics but is perhaps best known as author of the prominent biographical work Brief Lives (), described by ODNB as ‘one of the great literary works of his age’.  
+
Born at [[place of birth::Easton Pierse]] near [[location::Kington St Michael]] in [[location::north Wiltshire]] as the eldest son of [[family::Richard Aubrey]] (1603–1652) and his wife, [[family::Deborah Aubrey|Deborah]] (1610–1686). Entered at [[education::Trinity College, Oxford]] as a gentleman commoner in 1642, but his studies were interrupted by the civil war. Enrolled at the [[organisations::Middle Temple]] 1646 but did not complete his legal training. Aubrey became an active member of the [[organisations::Royal Society]] following his election in 1663; he presented various papers and developed a wide acquaintance, including [[associates::Sir William Petty]], [[crossreference::Robert Hooke 1635-1703|Robert Hooke]], and [[crossreference::Anthony Wood 1632-1695|Anthony Wood]]. A noted [[occupation::antiquary]], [[occupation::natural philosopher]], and [[occupation::writer]], Aubrey is perhaps best known as author of the collection of short biographies [[book title ::''Brief Lives'']] ([[date of publication::1691]]), described on his ODNB page as ‘one of the great literary works of his age’. Aubrey's life was rife with legal entanglements following his inheritance of his father's debts on his death in [[date of death::1652]]. By 1671 he was 'reduced thereafter to the life of a peripatetic scholar, reliant on the hospitality of various patrons and friends' (''ODNB'').
  
 
====Books====
 
====Books====
 +
Aubrey [[bequest::bequeathed]] many of his books to the [[beneficiary::Ashmolean Museum]] (hence now in the [[present repository::Bodleian Library|Bodleian]]), but also [[bequest::gave]] books to [[beneficiary::Gloucester Hall]] (there are now ca. 40 of Aubrey’s books at [[present repository::Worcester College, Oxford]]).
  
enforced sale of his books in 1677
+
====Characteristic Markings====
[[bequest::Bequeathed]] many of his books to the [[beneficiary::Ashmolean Museum]] (hence now in the [[present Repository::Bodleian Library|Bodleian]]), but also [[bequest::gave]] books to [[beneficiary::Gloucester Hall]] (there are now ca. 40 of Aubrey’s books at [[present Repository::Worcester College, Oxford]]).
+
Some of Aubrey's books carry an armorial bookplate, engraved for him by [[associates::Wenceslaus Hollar]], probably made in the 1650s. A copy of Cicero, ''Philosophicorum tomus II'', 1659, at Aberystwyth University Library (Rare Book Room PA6300) has the inscription 'Sum Jo: Aubreij. R.S.S' on the pastedown.
  
 
====Sources====
 
====Sources====
Line 18: Line 19:
 
*Hunter, M. ''John Aubrey and the realm of learning'', London, 1975.   
 
*Hunter, M. ''John Aubrey and the realm of learning'', London, 1975.   
 
*Lee, B. N. ''British bookplates: a pictorial history''.  Newton Abbot, 1979, 4.   
 
*Lee, B. N. ''British bookplates: a pictorial history''.  Newton Abbot, 1979, 4.   
*Wilkinson, C. H. Worcester College Library, ''Oxford Bibliographical Society Proceedings & papers'' 1 (1927), 263-320, p.266.
+
*Wilkinson, C. H. Worcester College Library, ''Oxford Bibliographical Society Proceedings & papers'' 1 (1927), 263-320, p.266.  
 +
*Information from Bill Hines.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 25: Line 27:
 
[[Category:AuthorsPoets]]
 
[[Category:AuthorsPoets]]
 
[[Category:Libraries Bequeathed to Institutions]]
 
[[Category:Libraries Bequeathed to Institutions]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
+
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
 +
[[Category:Bookplates and Labels]]
 +
[[Category:All Owners]]

Latest revision as of 07:56, 12 July 2022

John AUBREY 1626-1697

Biographical Note

Born at Easton Pierse near Kington St Michael in north Wiltshire as the eldest son of Richard Aubrey (1603–1652) and his wife, Deborah (1610–1686). Entered at Trinity College, Oxford as a gentleman commoner in 1642, but his studies were interrupted by the civil war. Enrolled at the Middle Temple 1646 but did not complete his legal training. Aubrey became an active member of the Royal Society following his election in 1663; he presented various papers and developed a wide acquaintance, including Sir William Petty, Robert Hooke, and Anthony Wood. A noted antiquary, natural philosopher, and writer, Aubrey is perhaps best known as author of the collection of short biographies Brief Lives (1691), described on his ODNB page as ‘one of the great literary works of his age’. Aubrey's life was rife with legal entanglements following his inheritance of his father's debts on his death in 1652. By 1671 he was 'reduced thereafter to the life of a peripatetic scholar, reliant on the hospitality of various patrons and friends' (ODNB).

Books

Aubrey bequeathed many of his books to the Ashmolean Museum (hence now in the Bodleian), but also gave books to Gloucester Hall (there are now ca. 40 of Aubrey’s books at Worcester College, Oxford).

Characteristic Markings

Some of Aubrey's books carry an armorial bookplate, engraved for him by Wenceslaus Hollar, probably made in the 1650s. A copy of Cicero, Philosophicorum tomus II, 1659, at Aberystwyth University Library (Rare Book Room PA6300) has the inscription 'Sum Jo: Aubreij. R.S.S' on the pastedown.

Sources

  • Bennett, K. John Aubrey’s collections and the early modern museum, Bodleian Library Record 17 (2001), 185-212.
  • Buchanan-Brown, J. The books presented to the Royal Society by John Aubrey, Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London, 28 (1974), 167-93.
  • Fox, Adam. "Aubrey, John (1626–1697), antiquary and biographer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
  • Gunther, R. The library of John Aubrey, Bodleian Quarterly Record 6 (1931), 230-6.
  • Hunter, M. John Aubrey and the realm of learning, London, 1975.
  • Lee, B. N. British bookplates: a pictorial history. Newton Abbot, 1979, 4.
  • Wilkinson, C. H. Worcester College Library, Oxford Bibliographical Society Proceedings & papers 1 (1927), 263-320, p.266.
  • Information from Bill Hines.