Edward Augustus Bond
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Augustus Bond KCB
(31 December 1815 – 2 January 1898) was an English
librarian
.
, the son of a schoolmaster. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
, and in 1832 obtained a post in the Public Record Office
. In 1838, he became an assistant in the manuscript department of the British Museum
, where he attracted the notice of his chief, Sir Frederic Madden
, a leading paleographer of his day, and in 1852 he was made Egerton librarian. In 1856, he became assistant keeper of manuscripts, and in 1867 was promoted to the post of keeper.
His work in reorganizing the manuscript department was of lasting value, and to him is due the classified catalogue of manuscripts, and the improved efficiency and punctuality of publication of the department. In 1873, he was appointed principal librarian of the British Museum. Under his supervision, the new buildings of the White Wing were erected, to accommodation prints, drawings, manuscripts and newspapers. The purchase of the Stowe manuscripts
was concluded while he was in office. He founded, in conjunction with Sir E. Maunde Thompson, the Palaeographical Society, and made scientific improvements to classical palaeography
.
He was made LL.D. of Cambridge
in 1879, created CB
in 1885, and KCB
the day before his death in January 1898.
Bond published little, but he was the editor of four volumes of facsimiles of Anglo-Saxon charters
from 679 to the Conquest, The Speeches in the Trial of Warren Hastings
(1859–1861), and a number of other historic documents.
He married Caroline Frances Barham, (22 July 1823 – 1 August 1912), second daughter of the Reverend Richard Harris Dalton Barham
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(31 December 1815 – 2 January 1898) was an English
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...
librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
.
Biography
Bond was born at HanwellHanwell
Hanwell is a town situated in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, between Ealing and Southall. The motto of Hanwell Urban District Council was Nec Aspera Terrent...
, the son of a schoolmaster. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, and in 1832 obtained a post in the Public Record Office
Public Record Office
The Public Record Office of the United Kingdom is one of the three organisations that make up the National Archives...
. In 1838, he became an assistant in the manuscript department of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, where he attracted the notice of his chief, Sir Frederic Madden
Frederic Madden
Sir Frederic Madden , was an English palaeographer.-Biography:Madden was the son of an officer of Irish extraction, he was born at Portsmouth. From his childhood he displayed a flair for linguistic and antiquarian studies...
, a leading paleographer of his day, and in 1852 he was made Egerton librarian. In 1856, he became assistant keeper of manuscripts, and in 1867 was promoted to the post of keeper.
His work in reorganizing the manuscript department was of lasting value, and to him is due the classified catalogue of manuscripts, and the improved efficiency and punctuality of publication of the department. In 1873, he was appointed principal librarian of the British Museum. Under his supervision, the new buildings of the White Wing were erected, to accommodation prints, drawings, manuscripts and newspapers. The purchase of the Stowe manuscripts
Stowe manuscripts
The Stowe manuscripts are a collection of about 2000 Anglo-Saxon and later medieval manuscripts, nearly all now in the British Library. The manuscripts date from 1154 to the end of the 14th century....
was concluded while he was in office. He founded, in conjunction with Sir E. Maunde Thompson, the Palaeographical Society, and made scientific improvements to classical palaeography
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
.
He was made LL.D. of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1879, created CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1885, and KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
the day before his death in January 1898.
Bond published little, but he was the editor of four volumes of facsimiles of Anglo-Saxon charters
Anglo-Saxon Charters
Anglo-Saxon charters are documents from the early medieval period in Britain which typically make a grant of land or record a privilege. The earliest surviving charters were drawn up in the 670s; the oldest surviving charters granted land to the Church, but from the eighth century surviving...
from 679 to the Conquest, The Speeches in the Trial of Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
(1859–1861), and a number of other historic documents.
He married Caroline Frances Barham, (22 July 1823 – 1 August 1912), second daughter of the Reverend Richard Harris Dalton Barham
Richard Harris Barham
Richard Harris Barham was an English cleric of the Church of England, novelist, and humorous poet. He was known better by his nom de plume Thomas Ingoldsby.-Life:Richard Harris Barham was born in Canterbury...
.