John Rouse (librarian) facts for kids
John Rouse (born in 1574, died in 1652) was an important English librarian. He was the second head librarian at the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford. He was also a good friend of the famous poet, John Milton.
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Life of John Rouse
Early Life and Education
John Rouse was born in Somerset, England. He started studying at Oxford University in 1591. He earned his first degree (a Bachelor of Arts, or B.A.) from Balliol College in 1599. In 1600, he became a Fellow at Oriel College. He then received his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1604.
Leading the Bodleian Library
On May 9, 1620, John Rouse was chosen to be the main librarian of the Bodleian Library. This library is one of the oldest and most famous libraries in the world. He did a great job leading the library until he passed away. He was known for being very energetic and smart in his work.
Rouse helped organize many books, including those given to the Bodleian Library by Robert Burton. Burton was a learned scholar. Rouse even found notes in some of Burton's books. These notes suggested that William Shakespeare wrote certain poems. One note said:
- Venus and Adonis by Wm Shakespear Lond. 1602
Friendship with John Milton
Around 1635, John Rouse became friends with the famous poet, John Milton. They might have met in Horton, where Milton was studying. Rouse asked Milton for a full collection of his writings for the library.
In 1647, Milton sent two volumes of his works to Oxford. One volume had his prose writings, which he carefully signed for Rouse. The other was a smaller book of poems. Sadly, this book of poems was lost or stolen on its way to the library. Because of this, Milton wrote a special poem called To John Rouse. He sent this poem along with a second copy of his works, which is still kept at the Bodleian Library today.
Standing Up for Library Rules
In 1645, King Charles I asked to borrow a book from the library. The book was called 'Histoire Universelle du Sieur d'Aubigné'. However, John Rouse refused the King's request. He did this because the library's rules did not allow such books to be taken out. This showed how dedicated he was to following the library's rules.
Later Life and Legacy
John Rouse passed away on April 3, 1652. He was buried in the chapel at Oriel College. He also wrote a special introduction for a collection of poems in 1631. In 1635, he added an update to the Bodleian Catalogue, which is a list of all the books in the library. Today, you can see his portrait hanging in Oriel College.
