William Tooke facts for kids
William Tooke (1744 – 17 November 1820) was a British clergyman and a historian who wrote a lot about Russia. He spent many years living and working there.
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Early Life and Education
William Tooke was born in 1744. His father was Thomas Tooke. William went to school at an academy in Islington, a part of London.
In 1771, William became a priest in the Church of England. He was offered a job in England, but he chose to become a chaplain. A chaplain is a priest who works in a special place, like a hospital, military unit, or, in William's case, an English church in another country.
Life in Russia
William Tooke became the chaplain for the English church in Kronstadt, Russia. Three years later, he moved to St. Petersburg, the capital city at the time. There, he became the main chaplain for the English merchants.
Living in St. Petersburg allowed him to meet many important people. He got to know Russian nobles and church leaders. He also met scientists and writers from all over the world. These people were invited to Russia by Catherine the Great, who was the Empress of Russia.
William Tooke often attended special dinners hosted by the Empress. He also met famous artists, like the French sculptor Étienne Maurice Falconet. Falconet was working on a large statue of Peter the Great at the time.
In 1783, William Tooke became a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists in London. He also became a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.
While in Russia, Tooke traveled to other countries like Poland and Germany. He even met the famous philosopher Immanuel Kant in Germany.
Return to England and Writings
In 1792, William Tooke inherited some money from his uncle. He decided to move back to England. He then spent his time writing books and articles.
In 1814, he worked as a chaplain for the Lord Mayor of London. He gave several speeches that were later published.
William Tooke lived in London until he passed away on November 17, 1820.
His Works
William Tooke was very interested in writing. He published his first book in 1767. It was an edition of Funeral Monuments by John Weever.
His time in Russia made him very knowledgeable about Russian history. He translated a German book called Russia, or a compleat Historical Account of all the Nations which compose that Empire.
He also wrote his own books about Russia:
- In 1798, he published The Life of Catharine II, Empress of Russia. This book was based on a French work, but Tooke added a lot of his own research.
- In 1799, he wrote A View of the Russian Empire during the Reign of Catharine II. This book described Russia during Catherine's rule. It was so popular that it was translated into French.
- In 1800, he published a History of Russia from the Foundation of the Monarchy by Rurik to the Accession of Catharine the Second. This book covered Russia's history from its very beginning.
Besides his books on Russia, Tooke also wrote about other topics. He helped edit a large dictionary of biographies. He also translated many sermons by a Swiss religious leader named Georg Joachim Zollikofer.
William Tooke wrote for popular magazines like the Monthly Review and the Gentleman's Magazine. His last major work was a translation of the writings of Lucian of Samosata, an ancient Greek writer.
Family Life
In 1771, William Tooke married Elizabeth Eyton. They had two sons, Thomas Tooke and William Tooke, and one daughter named Elizabeth.
