John Adamson (antiquary)
Encyclopedia
John Adamson was an antiquary and Portuguese
scholar from Newcastle upon Tyne
.
His early education was at Newcastle Royal Grammar School
. In 1807 Adamson went to live with his brother in Lisbon
, Portugal
. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, and received diplomas of the orders of Christ and the Tower-and-Sword. He fled back to Newcastle
when the French invaded.
Adamson was Under Sheriff of Newcastle in 1811. He was founder Newcastle Law Society, and of the Newcastle Society of Antiquaries. For 40 years he was co-secretary of the latter. He was also co-secretary of the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society.
His time in Lisbon stood him in good stead. In 1820, Longmans published his definitive Life of Camões
. Other publications included Dona Ignez de Castro, a Tragedy (1808), Sonnets from the Portuguese of Luis de Camoens (1810) and The Marriage of the Coquet and the Alwine (1817).
His famous Portuguese Library, the "Bibliotheca Lusitana" was famous among scholars of the Portuguese, but was unfortunately destroyed by fire. Some material from the library collection was published in 1842 (Part 1: Sonnets) and 1846 (Part 2: Minstrelsy) as 'Lusitania Illustrata: Notices on the history, antiquities, literature &c. of Portugal'. Literary department. Printed by M. A. Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Adamson was a close friend of Thomas Dibdin
the antiquary and bibliophile.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
scholar from Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
His early education was at Newcastle Royal Grammar School
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School Newcastle upon Tyne, known locally and often abbreviated as RGS, is a long-established co-educational, independent school in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It gained its Royal Charter under Queen Elizabeth I...
. In 1807 Adamson went to live with his brother in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, and received diplomas of the orders of Christ and the Tower-and-Sword. He fled back to Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
when the French invaded.
Adamson was Under Sheriff of Newcastle in 1811. He was founder Newcastle Law Society, and of the Newcastle Society of Antiquaries. For 40 years he was co-secretary of the latter. He was also co-secretary of the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society.
His time in Lisbon stood him in good stead. In 1820, Longmans published his definitive Life of Camões
Luís de Camões
Luís Vaz de Camões is considered Portugal's and the Portuguese language's greatest poet. His mastery of verse has been compared to that of Shakespeare, Vondel, Homer, Virgil and Dante. He wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas...
. Other publications included Dona Ignez de Castro, a Tragedy (1808), Sonnets from the Portuguese of Luis de Camoens (1810) and The Marriage of the Coquet and the Alwine (1817).
His famous Portuguese Library, the "Bibliotheca Lusitana" was famous among scholars of the Portuguese, but was unfortunately destroyed by fire. Some material from the library collection was published in 1842 (Part 1: Sonnets) and 1846 (Part 2: Minstrelsy) as 'Lusitania Illustrata: Notices on the history, antiquities, literature &c. of Portugal'. Literary department. Printed by M. A. Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Adamson was a close friend of Thomas Dibdin
Thomas Frognall Dibdin
Thomas Frognall Dibdin , English bibliographer, born at Calcutta, was the son of Thomas Dibdin, the sailor brother of Charles Dibdin....
the antiquary and bibliophile.