Hudson Gurney facts for kids
Hudson Gurney (born January 19, 1775, died November 9, 1864) was an interesting English person who lived a long time ago. He was known for several things: he was an antiquary, which means he loved to study very old things and history. He was also a verse-writer, meaning he wrote poems. On top of that, he was a politician, working in the government. He belonged to the well-known Gurney family from Norwich.
Contents
A Look at Hudson Gurney's Life
Early Years and Education
Hudson Gurney was born in Norwich, England, on January 19, 1775. He was the oldest son of Richard Gurney. His mother was Agatha Barclay. Hudson had a sister named Anna Gurney. He was taught by his grandfather, David Barclay. He also had famous teachers like Thomas Young. In 1811, he received a large inheritance from his father. When he was younger, he traveled around Europe. He went with his friend, George Hamilton-Gordon.
Serving as a Politician
Hudson Gurney was a member of Parliament (MP) for a short time. He represented Shaftesbury from 1812 to 1813. Later, in March 1816, he was elected as an MP again. This time, he represented Newtown, Isle of Wight. He served in Parliament for many years, until 1832. During his time as an MP, he worked on many important committees.
His Love for History and Old Things
Hudson Gurney was very interested in history. He was elected to the Society of Antiquaries in 1818. This group studies ancient objects and history. He was also a vice-president of this society for many years. He gave a lot of money to help publish books about Anglo-Saxon history. Hudson was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, a group for top scientists. He supported the Norwich Museum and other history groups. In 1835, he was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk. This was an important local role.
Later Life and Personality
Hudson Gurney lived at Keswick Hall in Norfolk. He also had a home in London. He enjoyed being part of society there. However, in his last twenty years, he was not very healthy. He passed away at Keswick Hall on November 9, 1864. He was buried in Intwood churchyard. Hudson was known for always asking questions. People said he "seemed never to agree with you." But he was also described as kind, generous, and welcoming. He married Margaret Barclay in 1809. They did not have any children.
Hudson Gurney's Writings
Hudson Gurney wrote several books and poems. His first book was a rhyming history of England. It was printed privately. In 1799, he published Cupid and Psyche. This was a poem based on an old story by Apuleius. He also wrote Heads of Ancient History in 1814. He wrote a short book about his former teacher, Thomas Young. Hudson also translated parts of a famous Italian poem, "Orlando Furioso." He wrote articles for a magazine called Archæologia. These articles were mostly about old English things. He bought many old manuscripts and drawings about Norfolk history. He then helped publish books from these collections.
Hudson Gurney had a very large library. It had between ten and fifteen thousand books. He was proud that he had read every single one!
Hudson Gurney's Legacy
Hudson Gurney made important donations to the British Museum. Between 1822 and 1830, he gave them many old papers. These papers were about the history of Suffolk. He also gave them an ancient seal. This seal belonged to Ethelwald, a bishop from long ago. He also donated Roman floor tiles from Carthage.
