John Horsley
Encyclopedia
John Horsley was a British
archaeologist and antiquarian
famous for his book Britannia Romana. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
http://www.seaham.i12.com/myers/m-horsley.htmlhttp://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0075-4358(1932)22%3C161%3AJH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-G.
John Hodgson
, the historian
of Northumberland
, in a short memoir published in 1831, held that Horsley was born in 1685, at Pinkie House
, in the parish of Inveresk
, Midlothian
, and that his father was a Northumberland Nonconformist, who had migrated to Scotland
, but returned to England soon after the Revolution
of 1688. J. H. Hinde, in the Archaeologia Aeliana of February 1865, held that he was a native of Newcastle-on-Tyne, the son of Charles Horsley, a member of the Tailors' Company of that town. He was educated at Newcastle, and at Edinburgh University, where he graduated MA
on 29 April 1701. There is evidence that he "was settled in Morpeth
as a Presbyterian minister as early as 1709." Hodgson, however, thought that up to 1721, at which time he was residing at Widdrington
, "he had not received ordination, but preached as a licentiate."
Even if he was ordained then, his stay at the latter place was probably prolonged beyond that date; for he communicated to the Philosophical Transactions notes on the rainfall there in the years 1722 and 1723. Hinde shows that during these years "he certainly followed secular employment as agent to the York Buildings Company, who had contracted to purchase and were then in possession of the Widdrington estates." At Morpeth Horsley opened a private school. Respect for his character and abilities attracted pupils irrespective of religious connection, among them Newton Ogle, afterwards dean of Westminster. He gave lectures on mechanics
and hydrostatics in Morpeth, Alnwick
and Newcastle, and was elected FRS
on 23 April 1730.
It is as an archaeologist and antiquarian that Horsley is now known. His great work, Britannia Romana, or The Roman Antiquities of Britain was published in 1732, one of the scarcest and most valuable of its class, containing the result of patient labor. For example, one of Horsley's achievements in this book was to identify for the first time which legions of the Roman army
were stationed in Britain .
There is in the British Museum
a copy of Britannia Romana with notes by John Ward
.
Horsley died of apoplexy
on 12 January 1732, on the eve of the publication of the Britannia Romana. He also published two sermons and a handbook to his lectures on mechanics, etc., and projected a history of Northumberland and Durham
, collections for which were found among his papers.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1729.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
archaeologist and antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
famous for his book Britannia Romana. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
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...
http://www.seaham.i12.com/myers/m-horsley.htmlhttp://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0075-4358(1932)22%3C161%3AJH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-G.
John Hodgson
John Hodgson
John Hodgson was an Australian politician and Mayor of Melbourne 1853–54. He died at his house in Kew of bronchitis.-Arrival in Melbourne:...
, the historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, in a short memoir published in 1831, held that Horsley was born in 1685, at Pinkie House
Pinkie House
Pinkie House is a historic house, built around a three-storey tower house located in Musselburgh, in East Lothian, Scotland. The house dates back to the sixteenth century, although it was substantially enlarged in the early 17th century, and has been altered several times since. Its location at...
, in the parish of Inveresk
Inveresk
Inveresk is a civil parish and was formerly a village that now forms the southern part of Musselburgh. It is situated on slightly elevated ground at the south of Musselburgh in East Lothian, Scotland...
, Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, and that his father was a Northumberland Nonconformist, who had migrated to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, but returned to England soon after the Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
of 1688. J. H. Hinde, in the Archaeologia Aeliana of February 1865, held that he was a native of Newcastle-on-Tyne, the son of Charles Horsley, a member of the Tailors' Company of that town. He was educated at Newcastle, and at Edinburgh University, where he graduated MA
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
on 29 April 1701. There is evidence that he "was settled in Morpeth
Morpeth, Northumberland
Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population...
as a Presbyterian minister as early as 1709." Hodgson, however, thought that up to 1721, at which time he was residing at Widdrington
Widdrington Station and Stobswood
Widdrington Station is a village in the county of Northumberland, England. It has about 2300 residents. As its name suggests it has a railway station which is on the East Coast Main Line. It is located about north east of Morpeth, the county town...
, "he had not received ordination, but preached as a licentiate."
Even if he was ordained then, his stay at the latter place was probably prolonged beyond that date; for he communicated to the Philosophical Transactions notes on the rainfall there in the years 1722 and 1723. Hinde shows that during these years "he certainly followed secular employment as agent to the York Buildings Company, who had contracted to purchase and were then in possession of the Widdrington estates." At Morpeth Horsley opened a private school. Respect for his character and abilities attracted pupils irrespective of religious connection, among them Newton Ogle, afterwards dean of Westminster. He gave lectures on mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
and hydrostatics in Morpeth, Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
and Newcastle, and was elected FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
on 23 April 1730.
It is as an archaeologist and antiquarian that Horsley is now known. His great work, Britannia Romana, or The Roman Antiquities of Britain was published in 1732, one of the scarcest and most valuable of its class, containing the result of patient labor. For example, one of Horsley's achievements in this book was to identify for the first time which legions of the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
were stationed in Britain .
There is in 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...
a copy of Britannia Romana with notes by John Ward
John Ward (academic)
John Ward was an English teacher, supporter of learned societies, and biographer, remembered for his work on the Gresham College professors, of which he was one.-Life:...
.
Horsley died of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
on 12 January 1732, on the eve of the publication of the Britannia Romana. He also published two sermons and a handbook to his lectures on mechanics, etc., and projected a history of Northumberland and Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, collections for which were found among his papers.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1729.