Tobias Rustat
Encyclopedia
Tobias Rustat was a servant to Charles II
and benefactor of the University of Cambridge
. He is best remembered for creating the first fund for the purchase of books at the Cambridge University Library
. The Rustat Conferences based at Jesus College, Cambridge are named after him.
, Rustat entered the service of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
, before becoming servant to George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
. An ardent Royalist, Rustat joined Buckingham in an uprising in Kent
, where he saved the Duke's life. He was also present following the Battle of Worcester
and aided Prince Charles
's escape. In 1648 he escaped to the continent with Buckingham. During this time Rustat acted as a courier between England and the exiled king's court.
In 1650 Rustat was made Yeoman of the Robes to Charles II, remaining in the position until the king's death in 1685.
Rustat is buried in the chapel of Jesus College, Cambridge
.
where his father had been a student. In 1666 he created the first fund for the purchase of books at the Cambridge University Library
with a donation of £1000. The books purchased from the fund were stamped with Rustat's crest.
Rustat also created a scholarship at Jesus College for the sons of deceased Anglican
clergyman. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
later attended Jesus as a Rustat Scholar.
He was awarded a Master of Arts degree per literos regios in 1674.
His portrait was painted by Peter Lely
, and Jesus College commemorated him in the naming of Rustat Road in Cambridge.
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and benefactor of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He is best remembered for creating the first fund for the purchase of books at the Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
. The Rustat Conferences based at Jesus College, Cambridge are named after him.
Life
After an apprenticeship to a barber-surgeon in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Rustat entered the service of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh was an English naval officer and courtier.William Feilding was the son of Basil Fielding of Newnham Paddox in Warwickshire, , and of Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Aston and his wife, Elizabeth Leveson.The descent of the Feildings from the house of Habsburg,...
, before becoming servant to George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 20th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG, PC, FRS was an English statesman and poet.- Upbringing and education :...
. An ardent Royalist, Rustat joined Buckingham in an uprising in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, where he saved the Duke's life. He was also present following the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
and aided Prince Charles
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
's escape. In 1648 he escaped to the continent with Buckingham. During this time Rustat acted as a courier between England and the exiled king's court.
In 1650 Rustat was made Yeoman of the Robes to Charles II, remaining in the position until the king's death in 1685.
Rustat is buried in the chapel of Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
.
Benefaction
In his later life Rustat became an important benefactor to a number of colleges of the University of Cambridge, in particular to Jesus CollegeJesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
where his father had been a student. In 1666 he created the first fund for the purchase of books at the Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
with a donation of £1000. The books purchased from the fund were stamped with Rustat's crest.
Rustat also created a scholarship at Jesus College for the sons of deceased Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
clergyman. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is probably best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla...
later attended Jesus as a Rustat Scholar.
He was awarded a Master of Arts degree per literos regios in 1674.
His portrait was painted by Peter Lely
Peter Lely
Sir Peter Lely was a painter of Dutch origin, whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court.-Life:...
, and Jesus College commemorated him in the naming of Rustat Road in Cambridge.