Dudley Loftus facts for kids
Dr Dudley Loftus (1619 – June 1695) was an Anglo-Irish lawyer and a famous expert in Eastern languages. He was known for translating many old texts.
Loftus was born in 1619 at Rathfarnham Castle in Dublin. He was one of 17 children! He studied at Trinity College, Dublin and then at Oxford University. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1641.
A Master of Languages
Dudley Loftus was amazing at languages. People said he had no equal when it came to Eastern languages. He translated important texts from languages like Ethiopic, Armenian, Syriac, Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian into Latin. This helped many people learn about these ancient writings.
Public Life and Roles
Loftus was also involved in politics and law. He served four times as a Member of the Irish House of Commons. He represented different areas like Naas and Bannow. He even served in the English Parliament once.
Besides being a politician, he was a high-ranking judge. He was the Vicar General of Ireland and a judge in the main court for wills and family matters. In 1659, he inherited his family's home, Rathfarnham Castle.
His Legacy
Even though he was very smart, some people had interesting opinions about him. Archbishop Narcissus Marsh once said that Loftus had "so much Learning in the Keeping of a Fool." However, the Archbishop still collected most of Loftus's old writings. These important papers are now kept at Marsh's Library in Dublin. You can still see them there today!
The writer Jonathan Swift also described Loftus. He said Loftus was like Ulysses because he wasn't handsome but was very good with words. Swift also praised his learning and speaking skills.
Dudley Loftus was buried in his family's tomb at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
His Family
Dudley Loftus was married to Frances Nagle. They had seven children together. Sadly, only one daughter, Letitia, lived past infancy.
See also
- Annals of Dudley Loftus
