Richard Rawlinson facts for kids
Richard Rawlinson (born January 3, 1690 – died April 6, 1755) was an English clergyman and a passionate collector of books and old writings. He gave his amazing collection to the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
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Richard Rawlinson's Life
Richard Rawlinson was born into an important family. His father, Sir Thomas Rawlinson, was the Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1705. Richard had an older brother, also named Thomas, who was also a big book collector.
Richard went to famous schools like St Paul's School and Eton College. He then studied at St John's College, Oxford. In 1714, he became a member of the Royal Society, a group for important scientists. He was even welcomed by the famous scientist Isaac Newton.
His Beliefs and Church Work
Richard Rawlinson was a Jacobite. This meant he strongly supported the old royal family, the Stuarts, who had been removed from the throne. He stayed loyal to them his whole life.
In 1716, he became a priest in a special part of the Church of England called the nonjuring church. This group did not accept the new king and queen. Later, in 1728, Richard became a bishop in this nonjuring church. He worked hard to collect the history and records of this group.
Traveling and Collecting
Richard Rawlinson loved to travel. He spent several years exploring England and other countries in Europe. Everywhere he went, he collected all sorts of interesting things. He gathered books, old writings (called manuscripts), coins, and other unique items. His book collection was so big, it filled three libraries!
He was also friends with another person who loved old things, Thomas Hearne. Richard even wrote a book about the life of another antiquarian, Anthony Wood.
His Gifts to Oxford
Later in his life, Richard Rawlinson started giving his collections to the Bodleian Library at Oxford. He gave them a special copper plate known as the Bodleian Plate, which showed buildings in Williamsburg, Virginia. He also gave them 175 volumes of almanacs, which are like old calendars with lots of information.
When he passed away in 1755, Richard Rawlinson left over 5,200 volumes of manuscripts to the Bodleian Library. These included many rare printed papers. He also left money to start a new teaching position at Oxford University: the Rawlinsonian Professor of Anglo-Saxon. This professor would teach about the old English language. The first professor for this role was appointed in 1795. He also helped St John's College, Oxford with gifts.
Richard Rawlinson died in Islington, London. He is buried at St John's College, Oxford. A street in North Oxford, Rawlinson Road, is named after him.
