Samuel Gale
Encyclopedia
Samuel Gale was an English antiquary, a founder of the Society of Antiquaries of London
.
, dean of York
, and brother of Roger Gale
, he was born in the parish of St Faith's, London, on 17 December 1682. He was baptised on 20 December, Samuel Pepys
being one of his godfathers. He was educated at St Paul's School, London, where his father was master, but did not got to university.
Around 1702 he obtained a post in the custom house, London. At the time of his death he was one of the land surveyors of the customs, and searcher of the books and curiosities imported into England. Gale was one of the founders of the revived Society of Antiquaries, and was elected its first treasurer in January 1718. He resigning the treasurership in 1740. He was also a member of the Spalding Society, and of the Brazennose Literary Society at Stamford (founded 1745).
Gale went on archæological excursions through England. For many years he and his friend Andrew Ducarel
used in August to travel incognito, journeying about fifteen miles a day. They took up their quarters at an inn, exploring the country for three or four miles round. They had with them William Camden
's Britannia and a set of maps. In 1705 Gale visited Oxford
, Bath and Stonehenge
, and wrote descriptive accounts. On 29 August 1744 he made a pilgrimage with William Stukeley
to Croyland Abbey
. On 16 May 1747 he visited Cannons
, the mansion of the Duke of Chandos
, and, lamenting its impending demolition, went into the chapel, and preached an appropriate sermon, while his two companions sang an anthem and psalms.
Gale died of a fever on 10 January 1754 at his lodgings, the Chicken-house, Hampstead
. He was buried by Stukeley on 14 January in the burial-ground of St George's, Queen Square, London, near the Foundling Hospital
. He was unmarried. A portrait of him was painted by his intimate friend, Isaac Whood
.
His collection of prints by Wencelas Hollar, Callot, and others was sold by auction in 1754 by Abraham Langford
. Most of his books were sold to Osborn.
printed many of them in the Reliquiæ Galeanæ (1781, &c.), including the ‘Tour through several parts of England’ in 1705 (revised by Gale, 1730); ‘A Dissertation on Celts;’ ‘Account of some Antiquities at Glastonbury,’ 1711; ‘Observations on Kingsbury, Middlesex,’ 1751.
The only writings published by Gale himself were, ‘A History of Winchester Cathedral,’ London, 1715, (begun by Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon
), and two papers (‘Ulphus' Horn at York,’ ‘Cæsar's passage over the Thames’) in Archæologia, vol. i. Gale gave some material to Francis Drake
for his Eboracum, and probably furnished Thomas Hearne
with readings of John Leland's ‘Itinerary.’ George Vertue
's prints of the old chapel under London Bridge
were designed under his patronage.
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...
.
Life
The youngest son of Thomas GaleThomas Gale
Thomas Gale was an English classical scholar, antiquarian and cleric.-Life:He was born at Scruton, Yorkshire...
, dean of York
Dean of York
The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...
, and brother of Roger Gale
Roger Gale
Roger James Gale is a British politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for North Thanet in Kent.-Early life:...
, he was born in the parish of St Faith's, London, on 17 December 1682. He was baptised on 20 December, Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
being one of his godfathers. He was educated at St Paul's School, London, where his father was master, but did not got to university.
Around 1702 he obtained a post in the custom house, London. At the time of his death he was one of the land surveyors of the customs, and searcher of the books and curiosities imported into England. Gale was one of the founders of the revived Society of Antiquaries, and was elected its first treasurer in January 1718. He resigning the treasurership in 1740. He was also a member of the Spalding Society, and of the Brazennose Literary Society at Stamford (founded 1745).
Gale went on archæological excursions through England. For many years he and his friend Andrew Ducarel
Andrew Ducarel
Andrew Coltee Ducarel , was an English antiquary. He was also member of the College of Civilians who practiced civil law...
used in August to travel incognito, journeying about fifteen miles a day. They took up their quarters at an inn, exploring the country for three or four miles round. They had with them William Camden
William Camden
William Camden was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and officer of arms. He wrote the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I of England.- Early years :Camden was born in London...
's Britannia and a set of maps. In 1705 Gale visited Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Bath and Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
, and wrote descriptive accounts. On 29 August 1744 he made a pilgrimage with William Stukeley
William Stukeley
William Stukeley FRS, FRCP, FSA was an English antiquarian who pioneered the archaeological investigation of the prehistoric monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury, work for which he has been remembered as "probably... the most important of the early forerunners of the discipline of archaeology"...
to Croyland Abbey
Croyland Abbey
Crowland Abbey is a Church of England parish church, formerly part of a Benedictine abbey church, in Crowland in the English county of Lincolnshire.-History:...
. On 16 May 1747 he visited Cannons
Cannons (house)
Cannons was a stately home in Little Stanmore, Middlesex built for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos between 1713 and 1724 at a cost of £200,000 but which in 1747 was razed and its contents dispersed....
, the mansion of the Duke of Chandos
Duke of Chandos
The title Baron Chandos has been created twice in the Peerage of England. It was first created in 1337 when Roger de Chandos was summoned to parliament. It became extinct on his death....
, and, lamenting its impending demolition, went into the chapel, and preached an appropriate sermon, while his two companions sang an anthem and psalms.
Gale died of a fever on 10 January 1754 at his lodgings, the Chicken-house, Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
. He was buried by Stukeley on 14 January in the burial-ground of St George's, Queen Square, London, near the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
. He was unmarried. A portrait of him was painted by his intimate friend, Isaac Whood
Isaac Whood
Isaac Whood was an English portrait-painter, an imitator of the manner of Godfrey Kneller. He practised for many years as a portrait-painter in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. His portraits of ladies were considered some of the best of the time...
.
His collection of prints by Wencelas Hollar, Callot, and others was sold by auction in 1754 by Abraham Langford
Abraham Langford
Abraham Langford was an English auctioneer and playwright.-Life:He was born in the parish of St Paul, Covent Garden. As a young man he wrote for the stage, and was responsible, according to the Biographia Dramatica, for an 'entertainment' called 'The Judgement of Paris,' which was produced in 1730...
. Most of his books were sold to Osborn.
Works
The unpublished manuscripts of his own writings became the property of his only sister Elizabeth, and came into the hands of her husband, Stukeley; from whom they passed to Ducarel, and were then bought by Richard Gough. John NicholsJohn Nichols (printer)
John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
printed many of them in the Reliquiæ Galeanæ (1781, &c.), including the ‘Tour through several parts of England’ in 1705 (revised by Gale, 1730); ‘A Dissertation on Celts;’ ‘Account of some Antiquities at Glastonbury,’ 1711; ‘Observations on Kingsbury, Middlesex,’ 1751.
The only writings published by Gale himself were, ‘A History of Winchester Cathedral,’ London, 1715, (begun by Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon
Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon
Henry Hyde 2nd Earl of Clarendon PC was an English aristocrat and politician. He held high office at the beginning of the reign of James II of England, who had married his sister.-Early life:...
), and two papers (‘Ulphus' Horn at York,’ ‘Cæsar's passage over the Thames’) in Archæologia, vol. i. Gale gave some material to Francis Drake
Francis Drake (antiquary)
Francis Drake was an English antiquary and surgeon, best known as the author of an influential history of York, which he entitled Eboracum after the Roman name for the city.- Early life :...
for his Eboracum, and probably furnished Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne or Hearn , English antiquary, was born at Littlefield Green in the parish of White Waltham, Berkshire.-Life:...
with readings of John Leland's ‘Itinerary.’ George Vertue
George Vertue
George Vertue was an English engraver and antiquary, whose notebooks on British art of the first half of the 18th century are a valuable source for the period.-Life:...
's prints of the old chapel under London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
were designed under his patronage.