John Bayley (antiquary)

John Whitcomb Bailey ( † March 25, 1869 in Paris ) was an English historian. He has published several books on the history of the English kings, including his standard work on the Tower of London, The History and Antiquities of the Tower of London, London, 1821. Bailey was a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Bailey was born as the son of a farmer in Hempstedt, Gloucestershire. In his youth he began to work as a clerk in Tower Record Office, a precursor of the Public Record Office. Since 1815 he was a member of the Inner Temple and as such entitled to act as a lawyer in court. The Tower Record Office rose to become chief secretary. In this capacity he published in 1821 Antiquaries. The Dictionary of National Biography praised in this work, the clarity of judgment, precision and outstanding style.

As a sub Commissioner for the Public Records Bailey published in three volumes from 1827 1832 Chancery in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. He looked fierce hostility suspended because of high fees, which he received, as well as for the quality of work. Works on the history of London and the history of parliamentarism in England he made not ready. The manuscripts to be with a number of other documents in the British Library.

In London, a commission of inquiry began, as in Liverpool, where there were similar accusations for another book. 1834 Bailey withdrew from public life and lived only in Cheltenham, and later in Paris. Bailey had a daughter.