Richard Meggott d.1692

Richard MEGGOTT -1692

Biographical Note

Born in Southwark, son of a brewer. BA Queens’ College, Cambridge 1653, MA 1657, DD 1669. Rector of Ford, Sussex 1654 and held various other Sussex livings before becoming Rector of St Olave, Southwark, 1662. Vicar of Twickenham 1668-87, canon of Windsor 1677, Dean of Winchester 1670, chaplain in ordinary to Charles II, 1672. He seems to have spent much of his later life in London and attracted some celebrity as a preacher.

Books

Meggott’s will has no mention of books; the bulk of his estate was left in trust to the benefit of his son. His library was auctioned in London by Edward Millington, 6 November 1693. The preface to the catalogue speaks of “the compleat set of the Latin fathers, a collection of the Greek of the best editions; as also of the most valuable … casuists and schoolmen”, noting both the quality of the copies and their bindings and the range of texts. It lists 1030 lots (which include numerous multi-volume sets of theological commentators) plus 7 vols of miscellaneous tracts. The contents divide: 269 Latin theology; 305 Latin philology, history, classics, philosophy; 270 English divinity; 147 English miscellaneous.

Characteristic Markings

None of Meggott’s books have been identified.

Sources

• Bibliotheca Meggottiana, 1693 (ESTC R221800).
• Vallance, Edward. "Meggott [Meggot], Richard (d. 1692), dean of Winchester." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.