Michael Lort facts for kids

Michael Lort (1725–1790) was a Welsh clergyman, academic, and antiquary. A clergyman is a religious leader, like a priest. An academic is someone who works and teaches at a university. An antiquary is a person who studies old things like ancient objects, buildings, or history.

Life Story

Michael Lort came from a family in Pembrokeshire, Wales. His father, Roger Lort, was a major in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a military group. Sadly, his father died in 1745 from injuries he got during a battle called the battle of Fontenoy. Michael Lort later put up a monument in Tenby Church to remember his parents.

Education and University Life

Michael Lort started studying at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1743 when he was 18 years old. He may have also attended Westminster School. He earned several degrees from Cambridge, including a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1746 and a Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) in 1780. He also studied at Oxford University for a short time.

At Trinity College, he held many important roles. He was a scholar, then a fellow, which means he was a senior member of the college. He also worked as a librarian for a famous doctor named Richard Mead.

Career and Important Roles

Michael Lort had many jobs throughout his life, though some did not pay much at first. From 1759 to 1771, he was the Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge. This meant he was the main teacher of the Greek language at the university.

He also worked as a chaplain, which is like a religious advisor. He was a chaplain to a bishop and later to Archbishop Frederick Cornwallis at Lambeth Palace. He became the librarian at Lambeth Palace in 1785 and might have also been a librarian for the Duke of Devonshire.

In London, he became the rector of St. Matthew, Friday Street, which meant he was in charge of that church. He also held other church positions, including one at St. Paul's Cathedral and another in Colchester.

Joining Important Societies

Michael Lort was very interested in history and old things. In 1755, he became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a group for people who study ancient objects and history. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766, which is a famous group for scientists and scholars.

Later Life and Death

In 1783, Michael Lort married Susannah Norfolk. In August 1790, he was in a carriage accident in Colchester and died from his injuries on November 5, 1790. He was buried in the church of Friday Street in London. His wife, Susannah, died a couple of years later and was buried with him. Their remains were later moved to a cemetery in Ilford.

His Works and Contributions

Michael Lort did not publish many of his own books, but he was very helpful to other scholars and writers.

He published a few sermons (religious speeches) and edited an old document about the University of Cambridge. He also had a special copy of the New Testament printed on fine vellum, which is a type of smooth paper made from animal skin. In 1790, he published a short book called A Short Commentary on the Lord's Prayer.

Helping Other Scholars

Michael Lort was known for helping many other important people with their research and books.

• He gave the architect John Carter his first encouragement.
• He helped Alexander Chalmers with his Biographical Dictionary, which was a collection of life stories.
• He assisted James Granger with his portrait-dictionary, which included pictures and descriptions of famous people.
• He helped John Nichols with the Gentleman's Magazine and other projects.
• He also wrote articles for Archæologia, a journal about antiquities.

Letters written by and to Michael Lort, and other scholars like William Cole and Horace Walpole, show how much he was involved in the academic world of his time.

After he died, his large collection of books and prints were sold. His books brought in about £1,269, and his prints sold for about £401.