Robert Stephens (historian)
Encyclopedia
Robert Stephens who was appointed historiographer royal
in 1727, was a public servant and historian. He was the first to publish much of Francis Bacon
's private correspondence.
in Gloucestershire
, by his wife Anne, eldest daughter of Sir Hugh Cholmeley
, bart. His first education was at Wotton school
, whence he removed to Lincoln College, Oxford
, matriculating on 19 May 1681, but he left the university without taking a degree. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple
in 1689, and was one of the founders of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1717.
Being a relative of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, whose mother, Abigail, was daughter of Nathaniel Stephens of Eastington, he was preferred by him to be chief solicitor of the customs, in which employment he continued till 1726, when he was appointed to succeed Thomas Madox
in the place of historiographer-royal. He died at Gravesend, near Thornbury, Gloucestershire, on 9 Nov. 1732, and was buried at Eastington, where a monument with an English inscription was erected to his memory by his widow, Mary Stephens, daughter of Sir Hugh Cholmeley, bart.
, chiefly in collections. The first result of his labours was his Letters of Sir Francis Bacon published in London in 1702. After this volume had appeared Harley "was pleased to put into my hands some neglected manuscripts and loose papers, to see whether any of the Lord Bacon's compositions lay concealed there that were fit to be published." His investigations induced Stephens to prepare another volume, Letters and Remains of the Lord Chancellor Bacon. The first 231 pages of this volume (it consists of 516), with a preface and introductory memoir, were sent to press by Stephens. The rest were selected from his papers by his friend John Locker, and the whole volume was edited by Stephens's widow.
Among Stephens's collection in the British Museum
(Addit. MS. 4269) is a catalogue of letters and papers connected with Bacon. Many of these documents cannot now be found, and a list of the missing papers is printed in Spedding, Ellis, and Heath's edition of Bacon's Works, 1874, xiv. 590. It is possible that they are still in existence, and may yet be recovered. All the letters and papers described in Stephens's 'Catalogue' were most probably in the hands of Archbishop Tenison at Lambeth as late as December 1682.
Historiographer Royal (England)
In England the office of Historiographer Royal, a historian under the official patronage of the royal court, was created in 1660 with an annual salary of £200 and a butt of sack.-Historiographers Royal:Holders of the office included:...
in 1727, was a public servant and historian. He was the first to publish much of Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
's private correspondence.
Life
Born in 1665, Robert Stephens was the fourth son of Richard Stephens of the elder house of that name at EastingtonEastington, Stroud
Eastington is a village and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It lies 4 miles west of Stroud and 9 miles south of Gloucester at the entrance to the Stroud Valley....
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, by his wife Anne, eldest daughter of Sir Hugh Cholmeley
Hugh Cholmeley
Hugh Cholmeley may refer to:*Sir Hugh Cholmeley, 1st Baronet , English MP for Scarborough*Sir Hugh Cholmeley, 4th Baronet , English MP for Northampton and Thirsk*Sir Hugh Cholmeley, 3rd Baronet , British MP for Grantham...
, bart. His first education was at Wotton school
Katharine Lady Berkeley's School
Katharine Lady Berkeley's School is a state comprehensive school near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England, for ages 11 to 18. It was founded by Lady Berkeley for the use of six scholars in 1384 which makes it one of the oldest surviving schools in England, and the oldest state school in the...
, whence he removed to Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, matriculating on 19 May 1681, but he left the university without taking a degree. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1689, and was one of the founders of the Society of Antiquaries
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...
in 1717.
Being a relative of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, whose mother, Abigail, was daughter of Nathaniel Stephens of Eastington, he was preferred by him to be chief solicitor of the customs, in which employment he continued till 1726, when he was appointed to succeed Thomas Madox
Thomas Madox
Thomas Madox was a legal antiquary and historian, known for his publication and discussion of medieval records and charters; and in particular for his History of the Exchequer, tracing the administration and records of that branch of the state from the Norman Conquest to the time of Edward II...
in the place of historiographer-royal. He died at Gravesend, near Thornbury, Gloucestershire, on 9 Nov. 1732, and was buried at Eastington, where a monument with an English inscription was erected to his memory by his widow, Mary Stephens, daughter of Sir Hugh Cholmeley, bart.
Work
Stephens began about 1690 to transcribe and collect unpublished "letters and memoirs" of Francis BaconFrancis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
, chiefly in collections. The first result of his labours was his Letters of Sir Francis Bacon published in London in 1702. After this volume had appeared Harley "was pleased to put into my hands some neglected manuscripts and loose papers, to see whether any of the Lord Bacon's compositions lay concealed there that were fit to be published." His investigations induced Stephens to prepare another volume, Letters and Remains of the Lord Chancellor Bacon. The first 231 pages of this volume (it consists of 516), with a preface and introductory memoir, were sent to press by Stephens. The rest were selected from his papers by his friend John Locker, and the whole volume was edited by Stephens's widow.
Among Stephens's collection 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...
(Addit. MS. 4269) is a catalogue of letters and papers connected with Bacon. Many of these documents cannot now be found, and a list of the missing papers is printed in Spedding, Ellis, and Heath's edition of Bacon's Works, 1874, xiv. 590. It is possible that they are still in existence, and may yet be recovered. All the letters and papers described in Stephens's 'Catalogue' were most probably in the hands of Archbishop Tenison at Lambeth as late as December 1682.