Hannibal Baskerville facts for kids
Hannibal Baskerville (born 1597, died 1668) was an English antiquary. An antiquary is someone who studies and collects very old things, like ancient books, coins, or historical records. He was known for his kindness and for helping people in need.
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Who Was Hannibal Baskerville?
Hannibal Baskerville was born in Saint-Valery, a town in northern France, on April 5, 1597. His father was Sir Thomas Baskerville, a brave knight and a leader in the English army in France. His mother was Mary, the daughter of Sir Thomas Throgmorton.
His Early Life and Education
Hannibal was christened, or baptized, when he was very young. He later wrote about it, saying, "I had all the captains, about thirty-two, to be my godfathers." This was a custom in the army when a general had a son. However, only two men actually stood at the font during the ceremony.
Sadly, Hannibal's father passed away when Hannibal was only nine weeks old. As he grew up, he was taught by Henry Peacham, who wrote a famous book called The Compleat Gentleman. Later, Hannibal went to Brasenose College at Oxford, where he continued his studies.
A Generous Man
Hannibal Baskerville traveled quite a bit across Europe. He spent the later part of his life living on his own land in Sunningwell, Berkshire, England.
A historian named Anthony à Wood visited Hannibal in 1659. He described Hannibal as a quiet and thoughtful man. People said that Hannibal gave away a large part of his wealth to help those who were poor. He was especially kind to people who were homeless or wandering. He even built a large, barn-like building on his property just for them to stay in. He also hung a small bell at his back door so they could ring it when they needed something. Because he helped so many people, some local officials in Abingdon sometimes complained about him.
His Family and Legacy
Hannibal Baskerville had a large family. He and his wife, Mary, had sixteen sons and two daughters. Mary was the daughter of Captain Nicholas Baskerville. Hannibal Baskerville was buried in Sunningwell on March 18, 1668.
Some of Hannibal Baskerville's writings are kept in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. These old papers include his notes about monuments and historical items he saw in France. He wrote these notes when he traveled to France with an English ambassador during the time of King James. His writings also contain interesting details about Oxford University and the people who studied there.
