Michael Wodhull facts for kids
Michael Wodhull (1740–1816) was an English book collector and a person who translated texts from one language to another. He was known for his amazing collection of books and for translating ancient Greek plays into English.
Contents
Michael Wodhull's Life Story
Michael Wodhull was born on August 15, 1740, in a place called Thenford, which is in Northamptonshire, England. His father was John Wodhull, and his mother was Rebeccah Watkins.
Early Education and Wealth
Michael went to a private school and then to Winchester College. Later, he attended Brasenose College, Oxford, but he did not finish his degree there. Michael Wodhull was a very rich man. He owned a large house in Berkeley Square in London. Around 1765, he built a new manor house called Thenford House in his hometown.
.jpg)
Political Views and Travels
Wodhull supported the Whig political party. This meant he believed in people having more freedom and rights, both in government and religion. His poems also showed ideas similar to those of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a famous thinker who wrote about human freedom. In 1783, he held an important local position as the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.
He was not in favor of the long war between England and France. After a peace agreement called the Treaty of Amiens, he visited Paris to see its famous libraries. However, he was held there for a while by Napoleon's government. When he returned to England, he was not well.
Later Years and Passing
In 1815, two well-known book lovers, Thomas Frognall Dibdin and Richard Heber, visited Wodhull and found him in poor health. Michael Wodhull passed away at Thenford on November 10, 1816. He was buried in a special tomb near the church.
Michael Wodhull's Writings
Michael Wodhull was the first person to translate all the known plays of the ancient Greek writer Euripides into English poetry. This huge project was finished in 1782 and published in four books. A new edition came out in 1809.
Other Published Works
Besides his famous translations, Wodhull also wrote his own poems and essays. Some of his other works include:
- Ode to the Muses, published in 1760.
- A Poetical Epistle to xxxx xxxxxxx [John Cleaver] M.A., Student of Christ Church, published in 1761.
- Two Odes, published in 1763.
- Equality of Mankind, a Poem, published in 1765. This poem was later included in his collected poems.
- Poems, a collection of his works printed in 1772. Only 150 copies were made as gifts.
- Poems, a revised edition published in 1804. This book included a portrait of Wodhull.
He also helped with new editions of books about classic literature and often wrote letters to a magazine called the Gentleman's Magazine using the pen name "L.L."
Michael Wodhull: The Book Collector
,_with_scholia_-_-_Upper_cover_(Egerton_MS_2625).jpg)
Starting in 1764, Michael Wodhull regularly went to the big book sales in London. People described him as a very thin man who was always dressed neatly. He was known for being patient and careful when bidding for books. Wodhull didn't just buy books; he also read them!
His Amazing Book Collection
Wodhull's library was truly special. It had about four thousand printed books and many old handwritten documents. Most of his printed books were first editions of classic works and rare books printed in the 1400s. Many of these books were bound in beautiful leather by a famous bookbinder named Roger Payne. Wodhull's family symbol was often stamped on the covers.
His collection also included many old papers from the 1600s, gathered by Sir Edward Walker, and lots of poems and pamphlets from the 1700s.
Selling the Collection
Some duplicate books from his library were sold in 1801 and 1803. The main part of his collection stayed at Thenford with the Severne family until 1886. In January 1886, the printed books were sold over ten days and earned a lot of money, about £11,972. The handwritten documents were sold later that year in November.
Michael Wodhull's Family
On November 30, 1761, Michael Wodhull married Catherine Milcah Ingram. She was the fourth daughter of Reverend John Ingram. Catherine passed away on May 28, 1808, at the age of 64, and they did not have any children. She was buried in Thenford.
In his will, Michael Wodhull left his home, his library, and his other properties to Mary Ingram, who was his wife's sister. Mary Ingram died in 1824 and then left everything to Samuel Amy Severne.
