Thoresby, Ralph (1658-08-16 - 1725-10-16)

Ralph Thoresby was born at Kirkgate, Leeds to John Thoresby (1626-1679), wool merchant, and his wife Ruth (d.1669). He was educated at Leeds grammar school and later placed with a London cloth merchant to learn the profession. He continued his father’s wool business until he retired from the cloth trade in 1704. Raised a presbyterian, Thoresby was indicted at quarter sessions under the Conventicle Act in 1683; he committed to the established church around 1699 and raised money in support of it throughout his later life. He was elected a common councillor for Leeds in 1697 and a fellow of the Royal Society the same year. Thoresby is best remembered for his antiquarian pursuits, expanding the Musaeum Thoresbyanum collection started by his father. The museum in his home in Leeds contained coins, metals, fossils, animal and human remains, and other curiosities. Thoresby published the “Ducatus Leodiensis, or, The Topography of Leedes” in 1715 and “Vicaria Leodiensis, or The History of the Church of Leedes” in 1724; his diary was published posthumously in 1830. He suffered a stroke in 1724 and died on 16 October 1725; he was buried in the chancel of St Peter’s Church, Leeds. Thoresby was survived by his wife Anna (d.1740), with whom he had ten children, three of whom survived into adulthood.