Philip Morant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Morant
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Print of Philip Morant held at Abingdon School
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| Born | 6 October 1700 |
| Died | 25 November 1770 (aged 70) Battersea, London, England
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Philip Morant (born October 6, 1700 – died November 25, 1770) was an English clergyman (a church leader), a writer, and a historian. He is best known for writing detailed histories about Essex and Colchester in England. He was also a member of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a group that studies old things and history.
Contents
Early Life and School
Philip Morant was born on October 6, 1700. He grew up in Jersey, an island near the coast of France.
For his education, Philip went to Abingdon School in England. This was a "Free School" back then, meaning it was open to many students. After that, he studied at Pembroke College, Oxford. Later, he earned his master's degree from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1729.
Career as a Historian and Author
Philip Morant became a church leader in 1722. He started working in the county of Essex, a place he would become very connected to. His first job was in a town called Great Waltham.
From 1732 to 1734, he worked as a chaplain (a religious leader) for the English church in Amsterdam.
In 1737, Philip Morant became the Rector (the main priest) for two churches in Essex: St Mary-at-the-Walls in Colchester and the church in Aldham.
Writing About History
While living in Colchester, Morant spent a lot of time writing. He was very interested in the history of the area.
- In 1748, he published a book called The History and Antiquities of Colchester. This book was all about the history of the town of Colchester.
- Between 1763 and 1768, he published a much bigger work. It was a two-volume set called The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex. This book covered the entire history of the county of Essex.
Morant also did some important work digging up old Roman sites. He explored these ancient places in and around Colchester.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1739, Philip Morant married Anne Stebbing. They had one daughter named Anna Maria. In 1755, he was chosen to be a member of the Society of Antiquaries of London. This was a big honor for someone who studied history and old things.
After his wife passed away, Morant moved to Battersea, a part of London. He lived with his son-in-law. He also worked for the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. Even though he moved, he kept his church jobs in Colchester and Aldham.
Philip Morant died on November 25, 1770. He was buried in Aldham. You can see his outline (a silhouette) on the village sign there.
Remembering Philip Morant
There are several ways Philip Morant is remembered today:
- In Aldham, there is a memorial and a special window in the church dedicated to him.
- At St Mary-at-the-Walls church in Colchester, there is a wooden plaque from 1966 that remembers him.
- A group called The Morant Club was started in Colchester in 1909. They investigated local history and old sites, but the club closed in 1925.
- In 1965, a school in Colchester was renamed Philip Morant School and College in his honor.
See also
- List of Old Abingdonians
