Thomas Duffus Hardy
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy was an English archivist and antiquary.
in Jamaica
, he crossed over to England
and in 1819 entered the Record Office in the Tower of London
. Trained under Henry Petrie
(1768–1842) he gained a sound knowledge of palaeography
, and soon began to edit selections of the public records. From 1861 until his death he was deputy-keeper of the Record Office, which just before his appointment had been transferred to its new London headquarters in Chancery Lane. Hardy, who was knighted in 1873, had much to do with the appointment of the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1869.
Sir T Hardy edited the Close Rolls, Rotuli litterarum clausarum, 1204-1227 (2 vols., 1833?1844), with an introduction entitled "A Description of the Close Rolls, with an Account of the early Courts of Law and Equity"; and the Patent Rolls
, Rotuli litterarum patentium, 1201-1316 (1835), with introduction, "A Description of the Patent Rolls, to which is added an Itinerary of King John." He also edited the Rotuli de oblatis etfinibus (1835), which deal also with the time of King John; the Rotuli Normanniae, 1200–1205, and 1417-1418 (1835), containing letters and grants of the English kings concerning the duchy of Normandy
; the Charter Rolls, Rotuli chartarum, 1295-1216 (1837), giving with this work an account of the structure of charters; the Liberate Rolls, Rotuli de liberate ac de misis et praestitis regnante Johanne (1844); and the Modus tenendi parliamentum, with a translation (1846).
He wrote A Catalogue of Lords Chancellors, Keepers of the Great Seal, Masters of the Rolls and Officers of the Court of Chancery (1843); the preface to Henry Petrie's Monunienta historica Britannica (1848); and Descriptive Catalogue of Materiels relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland (3 vols., 1862–1871).
He edited William of Malmesbury
's De gestis regum anglorum (2 vols., 1840); he continued and corrected John Le Neve
's Fasti ecclesiae Anglicanae (3 vols., Oxford, 1854); and with CT Martin he edited and translated L'Estorie des Engles of Geoffrey Gaimar
(1888–1889). He wrote Syllabus in English of Documents in Rymer's Foedera (3 vols., 1869?f 885), and gave an account of the history of the public records from 1837 to 1851 in his Memoirs of the Life of Henry, Lord Langdale (1852), Lord Langdale (1783–1851), master of the rolls from 1836 to 1851, being largely responsible for the erection of the new Record Office. Hardy took part in the controversy about the date of the Athanasian Creed
, writing The Athanasian Creed in connection with the Utrecht Psalter (1872); and Further Report on the Utrecht Psalter (1874).
His younger brother, Sir William Hardy (1807 - 17 March 1887), was also an antiquary. He entered the Record Office in 1823, leaving it in 1830 to become keeper of the records of the duchy of Lancaster
. In 1868, when these records were presented by Queen Victoria
to the nation, he returned to the Record Office as an assistant keeper, and in 1878 he succeeded his brother Sir Thomas as deputy-keeper, resigning in 1886.
Sir W Hardy edited Jehan de Waurin
's Recueil des croniques et anchiennes istories de la Grant Bretaigne (5 vols., 1864?1891); and he translated and edited the Charters of the Duchy of Lancaster (1845).
Life
He was the third son of Major Thomas Bartholomew Price Hardy, and belonged to a family several members of which had distinguished themselves in the British navy. Born at Port RoyalPort Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, he crossed over to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in 1819 entered the Record Office in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. Trained under Henry Petrie
Henry Petrie
Henry Petrie may refer to:* Henry Petrie , English antiquary* Henry W. Petrie , American composer and performer...
(1768–1842) he gained a sound knowledge of palaeography
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
, and soon began to edit selections of the public records. From 1861 until his death he was deputy-keeper of the Record Office, which just before his appointment had been transferred to its new London headquarters in Chancery Lane. Hardy, who was knighted in 1873, had much to do with the appointment of the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1869.
Sir T Hardy edited the Close Rolls, Rotuli litterarum clausarum, 1204-1227 (2 vols., 1833?1844), with an introduction entitled "A Description of the Close Rolls, with an Account of the early Courts of Law and Equity"; and the Patent Rolls
Patent Rolls
The Patent Rolls are primary sources for English history, a record of the King of England's correspondence, starting in 1202....
, Rotuli litterarum patentium, 1201-1316 (1835), with introduction, "A Description of the Patent Rolls, to which is added an Itinerary of King John." He also edited the Rotuli de oblatis etfinibus (1835), which deal also with the time of King John; the Rotuli Normanniae, 1200–1205, and 1417-1418 (1835), containing letters and grants of the English kings concerning the duchy of Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
; the Charter Rolls, Rotuli chartarum, 1295-1216 (1837), giving with this work an account of the structure of charters; the Liberate Rolls, Rotuli de liberate ac de misis et praestitis regnante Johanne (1844); and the Modus tenendi parliamentum, with a translation (1846).
He wrote A Catalogue of Lords Chancellors, Keepers of the Great Seal, Masters of the Rolls and Officers of the Court of Chancery (1843); the preface to Henry Petrie's Monunienta historica Britannica (1848); and Descriptive Catalogue of Materiels relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland (3 vols., 1862–1871).
He edited William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
's De gestis regum anglorum (2 vols., 1840); he continued and corrected John Le Neve
John Le Neve
John Le Neve was an English antiquary, known for his Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, a work of English church biography that has seen several subsequent editions.-Life:...
's Fasti ecclesiae Anglicanae (3 vols., Oxford, 1854); and with CT Martin he edited and translated L'Estorie des Engles of Geoffrey Gaimar
Geoffrey Gaimar
Geoffrey Gaimar , was an Anglo-Norman chronicler. Gaimar's most significant contribution to medieval literature and history is as a translator from Old English to Anglo-Norman. His L'Estoire des Engles translates extensive portions of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as well as using Latin and French...
(1888–1889). He wrote Syllabus in English of Documents in Rymer's Foedera (3 vols., 1869?f 885), and gave an account of the history of the public records from 1837 to 1851 in his Memoirs of the Life of Henry, Lord Langdale (1852), Lord Langdale (1783–1851), master of the rolls from 1836 to 1851, being largely responsible for the erection of the new Record Office. Hardy took part in the controversy about the date of the Athanasian Creed
Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of belief, focusing on Trinitarian doctrine and Christology. The Latin name of the creed, Quicumque vult, is taken from the opening words, "Whosoever wishes." The Athanasian Creed has been used by Christian churches since the sixth century...
, writing The Athanasian Creed in connection with the Utrecht Psalter (1872); and Further Report on the Utrecht Psalter (1874).
His younger brother, Sir William Hardy (1807 - 17 March 1887), was also an antiquary. He entered the Record Office in 1823, leaving it in 1830 to become keeper of the records of the duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
. In 1868, when these records were presented by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
to the nation, he returned to the Record Office as an assistant keeper, and in 1878 he succeeded his brother Sir Thomas as deputy-keeper, resigning in 1886.
Sir W Hardy edited Jehan de Waurin
Jehan de Waurin
Jehan de Waurin , French chronicler, belonged to a noble family of Artois, and was present at the battle of Agincourt....
's Recueil des croniques et anchiennes istories de la Grant Bretaigne (5 vols., 1864?1891); and he translated and edited the Charters of the Duchy of Lancaster (1845).