Thomas Birch

Thomas Birch (* November 23 1705 in Clerkenwell, † January 9, 1766 in London ) was an English historian and writer.

Life

Thomas Birch was born in 1705 in Clerkenwell, the son of Joseph Birch, a manufacturer of coffee grinders. Thomas moved to the completion of his education, a university business life before, but since his parents were Quakers, this possibility was initially blocked him. Later sources, however, speak of an acquired MA at Marischal College in Aberdeen. Despite these circumstances, he was ordained deacon in 1730 and in 1731 the Church of England priest. Moreover, the Reverend Vicar held a place in Ulting, Essex, and the rector of St. Gabriel, Fenchurch Street, London ( 1746 ) and in Depden, Essex (1761 ).

As a firm supporter of the Whigs, he obtained the support of Philip York, later Lord Chancellor and 1st Earl of Hardwicke. He owes in many ways this friendship His later career. Thomas Birch had a number of benefices in different counties and tracts of land, even in London itself. 1735 Birch appointed one member of the Society of Antiquaries. In addition, he was elected member of the Royal Society, in which he served from 1752 to 1765 as its secretary and chronicler ( ' The history of the Royal Society of London for Improving of natural knowledge, 1756 )

Already in 1728 he had married Hannah Cox, but died the very next year. He passed away on January 9, 1766 from the effects of a fall from a horse. His grave site he found in the church of St. Margaret Pattens, London, whose rector he was during his lifetime. He died, according to his previously expressed will, " in a full confidence in the Mercy and Goodness of almighty God and with a firm persuasion of a blessed Immortality discoverable by the Light of Nature and confirmed for us by Christian did of Revelation ". His records and books he left in his will to the British Museum and a sum of 500 pounds to raise the salaries of the three assisting librarians.

Work

Birch mastered, as the author of an enormous amount of work and was involved in a large number of literary projects. Even though many of them were of scientific dryness, the notable benefit of some works is considerable. However, the writer and literary critic Horace Walpole put his taste and judgment in parts in question. Nevertheless, Birch issued several biographies and work overviews of important English scientists, writers and statesmen, such as Edmund Spenser, Francis Bacon, John Milton, William Chillingworth, Robert Boyle, John Thurloe, Walter Raleigh and John Tillotson.

Thomas Birch had an extensive correspondence with the leading men of his era. Some of his letters published in Literary Anecdotes of the 18th Century (London, 1812-1815 ) and Illustrations of the Literary History of the 18th Century (London, 1817-1858 ) by John Nichols, in the Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica, vol. iii. (London, 1780-1790 ), as well as in James Boswell's Life of Johnson.

Samuel Johnson wrote of him: " Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation; but no sooner does he take a pen in his hand, than it Becomes a torpedo to him, and all his faculties benumbs ". - " Tom Birch is as brusquely as a bee in conversation; but once he has a pen in his hand, he includes a torpedo of all his faculties. "

Thomas Birch wrote most of the biographies in the General Dictionary, Historical and Critical, 10 vols. (London, 1734-1741 ), assisted in the compilation of the Athenian Letters ( London, 1810), the State Papers of John Thurloe (London, 1742) and the State Papers of W. Murdin (London, 1759) gave out. He has also written Life of the Right Honourable Robert Boyle (London, 1744); Historical view of Negotiations Between The Courts of England, France and Brussels 1592-1617 (London, 1749); Life of Archbishop Tillotson (London, 1752); History of the Royal Society of London (London, 1756-1757 ); Life of Henry, Prince of Wales (London, 1760 ), and some other works. Some of his posthumous papers were published yet in 1848 as Court and Times of James I and the Court and Times of Charles I.

The American scientist Alan Houston was held at the British Library a manuscript compilation entitled Copies of Benjamin Franklin 's Letters Relating to the March of General Braddock. Birch was said that he obsessively every document of historical importance copied, which he held in his hands. Thomas Birch was a friend of Benjamin Franklin, and both were members of the Royal Society. In his autobiography, Franklin referred to his Quire Book, which was never found, but it contained his description according to letters and documents his attempts, the British government employed to assist in the pre-revolutionary time. So he tried in 1755 cited by General Braddock British Redcoats to help that should drive the French in Fort Dusquesne ( in present-day Pittsburgh). Braddock much needed transport for his troops. Franklin drove on horses and wagons for him by let his diverse relationships as Pennsylvania's leading politicians. However Braddock was defeated by the French and their Indian allies at the Battle of the Monongahela.

• A general dictionary historical and critical, ed Birch. 10 vols, 1734-41.
• A complete collection of the historical, political and miscellaneous works of John Milton, ed Birch. 2 vols, 1738.
• The life of Mr. William Chillingworth. In 1738.
• The complete works of Francis Bacon, ed Birch. 4 vols, 1740.
• General Dictionary, Historical and Critical, 10 vols., London, 1734-1741.
• A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe. London, 1742.
• An account of the life and writings of Ralph Cudworth. 1743
• The Works of the Right Honourable Robert Boyle. London, 1744. Accessed on 3 October 2012.
• An inquiry into the share Which King Charles I had in the transactions of the Earl of Glamorgan, afterwards Marquis of Worcester, for bringing over a body of Irish rebels to assist did king in the years 1645 and 1646. London in 1747.
• The life of Mrs. Catherine Cockburn. 1751st
• The life of Mr. Edmund Spenser. 1751st

• The works of Sir Walter Raleigh, ed Birch. 2 vols, 1751st text of the edition of 1829 google.books.com. Accessed on 3 October 2012.
• The heads of illustrious persons of Great Britain, engraven by Mr. Houbraken. With Their lives and characters. A. and J. Knapton, London 1752.
• The life of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. London, 1752. Accessed on 3 October 2012. Life of hochwüdigen Mr. D. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop Canterbury. Weidmann, Leipzig, 1754.