Ann Baynard
Encyclopedia
Ann Baynard (Born 1672 Preston, Lancashire, England
- June 12, 1697 , Barnes, Surrey
) was a British natural philosopher and model of piety.
Like most young women of her class, Ann Baynard was tutored by her father, who was a member of the Royal College of Physicians
in London. Her education encompassed classical languages and philosophy as well as science and mathematics, preparing her for a scholarly life. Considered in her time an exemplar of piety and virtue, her erudition was directed to the elucidation of Protestant theology; she disdained secular learning for its own sake. Although she wrote a number of texts in Latin and English, none has survived.
Her epitaph read:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- June 12, 1697 , Barnes, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
) was a British natural philosopher and model of piety.
Like most young women of her class, Ann Baynard was tutored by her father, who was a member of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in London. Her education encompassed classical languages and philosophy as well as science and mathematics, preparing her for a scholarly life. Considered in her time an exemplar of piety and virtue, her erudition was directed to the elucidation of Protestant theology; she disdained secular learning for its own sake. Although she wrote a number of texts in Latin and English, none has survived.
Her epitaph read:
- "Here lies that happy maiden, who often said,
- That no man is happy until he is dead;
- That the business of life is but playing the fool,
- Which hath no relation to saving the soul:
- For all the transaction that's under the sun,
- Is doing of nothing—if that be not done,
- All wisdom and knowledge does lie in this one."
- Anne Baynard obiit June 12. An. ætat. suæ 25. Christi 1697.
- O mortales! quotusquisque vestrum cogitet ex hoc momento pendet æternitas."
Quotation
- "I would wish that all young persons might be exhorted to read the great book of nature, wherein they may see the wisdom and power of the Creator, in the order of the universe, and in the production of all things." -Anne Baynard, 1697