The founder of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, a celebrated philosopher, antiquary, and chemist, was born at Lichfield, in Staffordshire. In 1641 he became attorney of the Common Pleas. In 1644 he entered himself of Brasenose College, Oxford, where he zealously devoted himself to the study of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Astronomy. Upon his return to London, he became an associate of Moore, Lilly, Booker, and other astrologers and Rosicrucianists, the effects of which studies were seen by his publication, in 1650, of Dr. Arthur Dee’s Fasciculus Chemicus; together with another tract of the same character, by an unknown author. In 1652 appeared his “Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum,” a collection of the works of such English Chemists as had remained in manuscript. In a letter to Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Dugdale, whom he accompanied in his Survey of the Fens, he gives an account of the Roman Road called Bennevanna, in Antoninus’s Itinerary. In 1655 or 1658 he began to collect materials for his “History of the Institutions, Laws, and Ceremonies of the most Noble Order of the Garter,” which he published in 1672: upon presenting a copy to King Charles II., he granted him a privy seal for £400. In 1679 he lost, by a fire, a collection of 9000 coins, a fine library, and many curiosities. In 1682, the University of Oxford having prepared a building for their reception, he sent thither his collection of coins, medals, &c.; and at his death the Ashmolean Museum was still further enriched by the bequest of the books and MSS. of the learned founder. His “History of Berkshire” was published after his death (in 1715) in 3 vols. folio, and is not thought to do the author justice.

General

  Memorandum—the lives of John Dee, Dr. (Richard) Nepier, Sir William Dugdale, William Lilly, Elias Ashmole, esq.,—Mr. Ashmole haz and will doe those himselfe: as he told me formerly but nowe he seemes to faile.

  He was the greatest virtuoso and curioso that ever was known or read of in England before his time. Uxor Solis took up its habitation in his breast, and in his bosom the great God did abundantly store up the treasures of all sorts of wisdom and knowledge. Much of his time, when he was in the prime of his years, was spent in chymistry; in which faculty being accounted famous, did worthily deserve the title of Mercuriophilus Anglicus.

  In our return, passing by the house where Mr. Ashmole once lived, we visited the widow, who showed us the remains of Mr. Tradescant’s rarities, amongst which some valuable shells and Indian curiosities.

  Elias Ashmole, whom Mr. Wood styles “the greatest virtuoso and curioso that was ever known or read of in England,” had a happy facility in learning every art or science to which he applied himself. He studied astrology, botany, chemistry, heraldry, and antiquities; in all which he was a great proficient.

  The Ashmolean Museum, though really formed by Tradescant, has indeed secured its donor a celebrity which he could not have obtained by his writings. Ashmole was nevertheless no ordinary man. His industry was most exemplary, he was disinterestedly attached to the pursuit of knowledge, and his antiquarian researches, at all events, were guided by great good sense. His addiction to astrology was no mark of weakness of judgment in that age; he can hardly have been more attached to it than Dryden or Shaftesbury, but he had more leisure and perseverance for its pursuit. Alchemy he seems to have quietly dropped. He appears in his diary as a man by no means unfeeling or ungenerous, constant and affectionate in his friendships, and placable toward his adversaries. He had evidently, however, a very keen eye to his own interests, and acquisitiveness was his master passion. His munificence, nevertheless, speaks for itself, and was frequently exercised on unlooked-for occasions, as when he erected monuments to his astrological friends, Lilly and Booker. He was also a benefactor to his native city.