David Parry (scholar)
Encyclopedia
David Parry was a Welsh
scholar and assistant to the naturalist Edward Lhuyd
. He was Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
in Oxford from 1709 until his death in 1714.
, Wales
, in about 1682, was educated at the grammar school in Cardigan before coming to the attention of Edward Lhuyd
in about 1695. Lhuyd took Parry on his travels in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Brittany. They were imprisoned as spies for a time in Brittany, but returned to Oxford in April 1701. Parry then matriculated
from Jesus College, Oxford
, but Lhuyd's efforts to obtain a scholarship for Parry were thwarted by John Wynne
, one of the Fellows of the college. Parry obtained his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1705 and his Master of Arts degree in 1708, becoming the unpaid under-keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
under Lhuyd. He succeeded Lhuyd as Keeper of the Ashmolean in 1709, still unpaid. He was regarded as capable but insufficiently hard-working: one report said that there was nobody more competent than Parry, "if he would set himself to work" and another said that Parry was "always in the tavern, guttling and guzzling". He died in December 1714, with it being said that he had "shortened his days" by being a "perfect sot".
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
scholar and assistant to the naturalist Edward Lhuyd
Edward Lhuyd
Edward Lhuyd was a Welsh naturalist, botanist, linguist, geographer and antiquary. He is also known by the Latinized form of his name, Eduardus Luidius....
. He was Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
in Oxford from 1709 until his death in 1714.
Life
Parry, who was born in CardiganCardigan, Ceredigion
Cardigan is a town in the county of Ceredigion in Mid Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire. It was the county town of the pre-1974 county of Cardiganshire. It is the second largest town in Ceredigion. The town's population was 4,203...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in about 1682, was educated at the grammar school in Cardigan before coming to the attention of Edward Lhuyd
Edward Lhuyd
Edward Lhuyd was a Welsh naturalist, botanist, linguist, geographer and antiquary. He is also known by the Latinized form of his name, Eduardus Luidius....
in about 1695. Lhuyd took Parry on his travels in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Brittany. They were imprisoned as spies for a time in Brittany, but returned to Oxford in April 1701. Parry then matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
from Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, but Lhuyd's efforts to obtain a scholarship for Parry were thwarted by John Wynne
John Wynne
John Wynne was Bishop of St Asaph and of Bath and Wells , having previously been Principal of Jesus College, Oxford .-Life:...
, one of the Fellows of the college. Parry obtained his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1705 and his Master of Arts degree in 1708, becoming the unpaid under-keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
under Lhuyd. He succeeded Lhuyd as Keeper of the Ashmolean in 1709, still unpaid. He was regarded as capable but insufficiently hard-working: one report said that there was nobody more competent than Parry, "if he would set himself to work" and another said that Parry was "always in the tavern, guttling and guzzling". He died in December 1714, with it being said that he had "shortened his days" by being a "perfect sot".