Philip Morant
Encyclopedia
Philip Morant was an English
clergyman, author
and historian
.
He was educated at Abingdon School
and Pembroke College, Oxford
, eventually taking his Masters Degree at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
in 1729.
Ordained in 1722, he began his association with the county of Essex with a curacy at Great Waltham
near Chelmsford
in 1722. He was the Chaplain of the English Episcopal Church in Amsterdam
from 1732 to 1734. In 1737 he became both the Rector of St Mary-at-the-Walls, Colchester
as well as Rector of Aldham
in Essex. During his time in Colchester, Morant wrote The History and Antiquities of Colchester
, published in 1748; and his county history
, The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, published in two volumes between 1763 and 1768. He also conducted a number of excavations of Roman sites in and around the town. He married Anne Stebbing in 1739 and they had a daughter, Anna Maria. In 1755, Philip Morant was elected to the Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of London
.
After the death of his wife, he moved to his son-in-law's house in Battersea
and was employed in the House of Lords
, although he retained the living
of both his parishes. He died in 1770 and is buried at Aldham
.
There is a contemporary memorial and a window of 1855 in his memory in the new church at Aldham (the memorial was moved in 1854), and there is a wooden plaque at St Mary-at-the-Walls dated 1966. The Morant Club was formed in Colchester in 1909 to investigate local archeology, but was dissolved in 1925. In 1965, The Norman Way Secondary School in Prettygate, Colchester was renamed Philip Morant School and College
in his honour.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
clergyman, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and 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...
.
He was educated at Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
and Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, eventually taking his Masters Degree at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
in 1729.
Ordained in 1722, he began his association with the county of Essex with a curacy at Great Waltham
Great Waltham
Great Waltham is a village and a parish in the Chelmsford District, in the county of Essex. It has a guildhall called Great Waltham Guildhall. It is a few miles away from the large town of Chelmsford...
near Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
in 1722. He was the Chaplain of the English Episcopal Church in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
from 1732 to 1734. In 1737 he became both the Rector of St Mary-at-the-Walls, Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
as well as Rector of Aldham
Aldham, Essex
Aldham is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located west of Colchester. The village is in the borough of Colchester and in the parliamentary constituency of North Essex...
in Essex. During his time in Colchester, Morant wrote The History and Antiquities of Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, published in 1748; and his county history
English county histories
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians from the late 16th century onwards...
, The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, published in two volumes between 1763 and 1768. He also conducted a number of excavations of Roman sites in and around the town. He married Anne Stebbing in 1739 and they had a daughter, Anna Maria. In 1755, Philip Morant was elected to the Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
.
After the death of his wife, he moved to his son-in-law's house in Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
and was employed in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, although he retained the living
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of both his parishes. He died in 1770 and is buried at Aldham
Aldham, Essex
Aldham is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located west of Colchester. The village is in the borough of Colchester and in the parliamentary constituency of North Essex...
.
There is a contemporary memorial and a window of 1855 in his memory in the new church at Aldham (the memorial was moved in 1854), and there is a wooden plaque at St Mary-at-the-Walls dated 1966. The Morant Club was formed in Colchester in 1909 to investigate local archeology, but was dissolved in 1925. In 1965, The Norman Way Secondary School in Prettygate, Colchester was renamed Philip Morant School and College
Philip Morant School and College
Philip Morant School and College is a comprehensive secondary school and college located within the Prettygate suburb of Colchester, Essex. Philip Morant is a foundation school and a technology college. The name Philip Morant was chosen a few months later, after the 18th Century local historian...
in his honour.