Thomas Creech 1659-1700

Thomas CREECH 1659-1700

Biographical Note

Born at Blandford, Dorset, son of Thomas Creech. BA Wadham College, Oxford 1680, MA 1683. His translation of R. Lucretius Carus ... done into English verse (1682) won him acclaim as a poet and translator, and he became a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1683. He continued to publish classical translations and poems, with mixed success; after graduating BD in 1696 he became vicar of Welwyn, Hertfordshire, though he stayed in Oxford; he committed suicide there in 1700.

Books

In his will, Creech directed that his goods be sold, for the benefit of his sister Bridget Bastard. His library was auctioned in Oxford, 20.11.1700; the sale catalogue contains 1967 lots, subdivided only by language {Latin, 1152 lots, English, 731, plus 84 "libri omissi").

Characteristic Markings

None of Creech's books have been identified.

Sources

• Alston, R. C. Inventory of sale catalogues 1676-1800. St Philip, 2010.
• Bibliotheca selectissima eruditissimi viri Mri Thomae Creech, [Oxford], 1700, ESTC r215177.
• Real, Hermann J. "Creech, Thomas (1659–1700), translator and classical scholar." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.