William Hammond (died 1685) facts for kids

William Hammond (born around 1635, died around 1685) was an English gentleman who loved to travel. He is known for being one of the first members of the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists.

William Hammond's Family History

The Hammond family was well-known in Kent, England, owning land since 1551. They lived at a place called St Alban's Court in Nonington. This property used to belong to a monastery, which is why it had "St Alban's" in its name.

About Anthony Hammond (1608–1661)

William Hammond's father was Anthony Hammond. Anthony was also from St Alban's Court. William had a brother, also named William, who was a poet. Their mother, Elizabeth Aucher, was related to Edwin Sandys, who was an Archbishop of York.

Anthony Hammond was involved in a big project to drain the Fens, which were large marshy areas in England. This project aimed to turn the wet land into useful farmland. Anthony was one of the "adventurers" who invested in and helped manage this work, starting in 1631. He even had a drain named after him, called Hammond's Eau!

Anthony Hammond married Anne Digges. They had four sons: William, Anthony, Dudley, and Edward, along with many daughters. Anthony died in 1661.

William's Early Life and Education

William Hammond was the son of Anthony Hammond. He started studying at Wadham College, Oxford in 1650. While he was away, he wrote many letters to his parents, who lived in Wilburton.

William was very interested in science. He mentioned that his science book collection was built based on ideas from famous thinkers like Lawrence Rooke, Charles Scarburgh, Seth Ward, and Christopher Wren. He even thought about getting a higher degree at Oxford. William's dream of a career in medicine was a big reason for his travels across Europe.

William's Grand Tour (1655 to 1658)

William Hammond spent several years traveling around Europe, a journey often called a "Grand Tour." He often stayed for long periods in Paris.

In 1656, he traveled from Paris to Florence, Italy, and then returned through a town called La Fleche. In 1657, he explored places like Lyon, Nîmes, and Montpellier in France. His 1658 trip included Lyon, Florence, and Paris again, followed by visits to Amsterdam, Germany, and the Spanish Netherlands.

William wrote many detailed letters to his parents about his adventures. In Paris, he received help from Henry Holden, a friend of his family. Holden even introduced him to Sir Kenelm Digby, another important person. William also helped his uncle, Edward Digges, by researching how French silk was made.

During his travels, William had a companion, "Cosin Bowyer." This was likely Anthony Bowyer, who later became a lawyer and politician. Sadly, Bowyer became very ill with smallpox in Nîmes in 1657, and William took care of him. William also observed how the River Rhône was managed, comparing it to the drainage systems used in the Fens back home.

William's Later Life and Interests

Later in life, William Hammond might have studied law at Gray's Inn in 1663. He was also known as an "Old Adventurer" in the Fens drainage project, showing his continued interest in that work. A mathematician named John Collins once wrote that William Hammond was a "great lover" of mathematics.

William's Family Life

William Hammond married Elizabeth Marsham. Interestingly, Elizabeth was his first cousin, as her mother was his father's sister. They had three sons (though one died young) and two daughters. Their daughter Anne married William Wotton, and Elizabeth married Oliver St John. William's eldest son, also named William, took over after his father. William Hammond later married a second time but did not have more children.

William Hammond and the Royal Society

William Hammond became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1661. The Royal Society is a very old and respected group dedicated to promoting science. He was known as a "Kentish gentleman" and was active in the Society until about 1681. It is believed that his travels abroad helped prepare him for a possible career as a doctor.

William's Legacy

William Hammond's detailed letters from his European tour are still around today! Two copies of these letters exist. One set is kept at the Brotherton Collection at the University of Leeds. Another set, copied by an unknown relative in the 1700s, is stored in the British Library. These letters give us a wonderful look into his travels and the world he lived in.