Samuel Jebb facts for kids

Samuel Jebb (born around 1694 – died March 9, 1772) was an English doctor, a religious scholar, and someone who loved books and writing. He was known for editing important old texts.

Who Was Samuel Jebb?

Samuel Jebb was born around 1694 in a town called Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, England. His father, also named Samuel Jebb, worked as a maltster (someone who makes malt, used in brewing). Samuel was the second of many sons. His family had other notable members, including his older brother Richard, whose grandsons became an important judge and a bishop in Ireland. Another brother, John, became a church leader and was the father of a well-known reformer named John Jebb.

Early Life and Education

Samuel Jebb went to Mansfield grammar school. When he was about 15, in 1709, he started studying at Peterhouse, Cambridge, a famous university. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1713.

A Change in Career Path

Samuel was originally expected to become a priest in the main church of England. However, he chose a different path. He joined a group called the Non-jurors. These were people who refused to swear loyalty to the new king after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, because they believed the previous king was still the rightful ruler. Samuel became a deacon in 1716 and a priest in 1718 within this group. He even worked as a private chaplain for the Cotton family.

After leaving Cambridge around 1718, he became a librarian for a famous writer named Jeremy Collier in London. He spent his time working on literary projects.

Becoming a Doctor

After Jeremy Collier passed away in 1726, Samuel Jebb decided to change his career again. A famous doctor named Richard Mead advised him to study medicine. Samuel learned a lot from Dr. Mead and also studied chemistry and how to make medicines from an apothecary (a type of pharmacist) named Mr. Dillingham.

He earned his medical degree in Reims, France, in 1728. After that, he started his own medical practice in a place called Stratford-le-Bow. He was very successful as a doctor, but he still continued his passion for literary work. He officially became a licensed doctor with the Royal College of Physicians in 1751.

Later Years

A few years before he died, Samuel Jebb moved to Chesterfield, England. He passed away there on March 9, 1772. Around 1727, he married a relative of the apothecary's wife, Mrs. Dillingham. They had several children, including another famous doctor, Sir Richard Jebb.

Samuel Jebb's Writings

Samuel Jebb was a scholar who focused on editing and translating old texts rather than writing new medical books. He is most famous for his work on a very important book by Roger Bacon called Opus Majus. This was the first time Bacon's work had ever been published, and Samuel did it at the suggestion of his friend, Dr. Richard Mead.

Classical and Historical Works

One of his major projects was editing the writings of Aristides, an ancient Greek speaker. He planned this huge work in 1720, and it was eventually published in two large volumes with introductions and notes.

In 1725, Samuel Jebb also published a collection of 16 historical stories about Mary Queen of Scots. These stories were in Latin, French, and Spanish. In the same year, he wrote a book about the life of Mary Queen of Scots, though he didn't put his name on it. He is also thought to have written a book about Robert, Earl of Leicester, who was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I.

He also edited a book by Humphrey Hody that was published after Hody's death in 1742.

Literary Periodical

In 1722, Samuel Jebb started a classical magazine called Bibliotheca Literaria. It was meant to come out every two months and included collections of old writings, medals, and essays. Ten issues were published between 1722 and 1724. Samuel's own contributions to the magazine were anonymous.

Other Publications

Some of his other published works include:

• A translation of a reply by Daniel Martin, a pastor, to a paper by Thomas Emlyn about a religious topic (1718/1719).
• An edited version of Sancti Justini Martyris cum Tryphone dialogus (1719).
• An edited version of Joannis Caii De Canibus Britannicis, … De Pronunciatione Græcæ et Latinæ linguæ (1729).