Francis Holyoake facts for kids

Francis Holyoake (born 1567 – died 13 November 1653) was an English clergyman and a person who wrote dictionaries. He is best known for updating and publishing a popular Latin dictionary during his lifetime.

About Francis Holyoake's Life

Francis Holyoake was born in Nether Whitacre, a village in Warwickshire, England. Around 1582, he went to The Queen's College, Oxford to study. He was a "commoner," which meant he paid for his own education and living expenses. Even though he studied there, it seems he did not officially earn a degree.

After his studies, Holyoake became a teacher. He taught at a school first in Oxford, and then later in Warwickshire. In February 1604, he became the rector (the main priest) of a church in Southam, also in Warwickshire. In 1625, he was chosen to be a member of Convocation, which was a kind of church parliament.

During the English Civil War, in 1642, Holyoake faced difficulties. Soldiers who supported the Parliament forced him out of his home. His wife was treated roughly, and his servant was killed. His property, which was worth about £300 a year, was taken away. This meant he and his family had to rely on help from others to survive. Francis Holyoake passed away on 13 November 1653, when he was 86 years old. He was buried in the church of St. Mary in Warwick.

Francis Holyoake's Dictionary Work

Francis Holyoake created a dictionary called Dictionarie Etymologocall. This dictionary was added to an existing one called Riders Dictionarie correct in 1617. The original dictionary was made by John Rider.

Holyoake's dictionary was re-released in 1626 with new parts added by Nicholas Grey. It was published again in 1640. A fourth edition came out in 1633, and it was mostly Holyoake's own work. It was titled Dictionarium Etymologicum Latinum. The sixth edition, published in 1648, stated that it was "composed and completed by Francis de Sacra Quercu," which is the Latin form of his name.

His son, Thomas, added many new things to the dictionary. However, Thomas died before he could finish his work. So, Thomas's son, Charles, published the dictionary in 1677–1676. It was called A large Dictionary in three parts.

Francis Holyoake also gave a special handwritten book to the library at Queen's College. This book was a Latin dictionary by an Italian writer named Huguccionis.