Ashmole, Elias (1617-05-23 - 1692-05-18)

Elias Ashmole was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, the son of a saddler. He attended Lichfield Grammar School and served as a chorister at Lichfield Cathedral. In 1638, he qualified as a solicitor owing to the influence of James Pagit, a Baron of the Exchequer. A staunch Royalist, he was appointed King's Commissioner of Excise at Lichfield. In 1645, he enrolled at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he studied natural philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and astrology. In the Interregnum, he became increasingly interested in antiquarianism and particularly heraldry. His Royalist leanings were rewarded in the Restoration, and he served as a courtier. In 1663, he became one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society. In 1669, he was awarded the degree of MD from the University of Oxford. Having acquired the collection of the Tradescants, and having continued to collect voraciously himself, he proposed to bequeath these collections to the University of Oxford on the condition that they would erect a bespoke building to house them. In 1683, the Ashmolean Museum, the first public museum in modern Europe, was thus opened. His collections included the entire writings of astrologers such as Simon Forman, Richard Napier, and William Lilly, in addition to several illuminated medieval manuscripts. Ashmole died at his house at Lambeth on 18/19 May 1692, and was buried at St Mary's Church, Lambeth, on 26 May.