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John Aubrey,English antiquarian and writer
Date of Birth: 12.03.1626
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of John Aubrey
- Interest in Ancient Ruins
- Writings and Research
- Collaboration with Anthony Wood and Later Life
Biography of John Aubrey
Early Life and EducationJohn Aubrey was an English antiquarian, researcher, and writer, best known for his series of biographical stories 'Brief Lives' and his discovery of the 'Aubrey holes' at Stonehenge. He was born in Easton Piers, Wiltshire, into a wealthy noble family. His grandfather, Isaac Lyte, owned his own estate, Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset, and his father, Richard Aubrey, owned lands in Wiltshire and Herefordshire. Being the only child in the family for many years, John received his education at home from a private tutor. While his father preferred sports over academics, John developed a passion for reading and secretly began studying geometry, even reading essays by Francis Bacon. Later, he attended a local school where he was taught by Robert Latimer, who also taught Thomas Hobbes.
Interest in Ancient Ruins
In 1642, Aubrey was admitted to Trinity College, Oxford, but his studies were interrupted by the English Civil War. It was during this time that he became fascinated with ancient ruins. He spent much of his time exploring the countryside and in 1649, he stumbled upon the megalithic ruins in Avebury. Later, he would create a detailed map of these ruins for his extensive work 'Monumenta Britannica'. In 1652, his father Richard Aubrey passed away, leaving John with family lands and extensive debts. Instead of following in his father's footsteps, John pursued a different path. He had built valuable connections with writers, scholars, politicians, and aristocrats due to his incredible charm, noble spirit, and enthusiasm. However, he also valued the relationships with less prominent individuals such as booksellers, merchants, royal tailors, and mathematicians.
Writings and Research
In 1660, Aubrey proposed to several acquaintances to engage in research on Wiltshire. In the end, none of these acquaintances accomplished anything useful, but John managed to gather enough material for his extensive two-volume work 'Wiltshire Antiquities', which unfortunately remained unfinished. Politics did not strongly attract Aubrey, although he considered himself a royalist and would even toast to the king's health. Nonetheless, John also attended meetings of republicans in London with equal interest. In 1663, Aubrey became a member of the Royal Society. However, ongoing legal disputes resulted in the loss of his family lands, and in 1670, he had to part with his last possession, the house in Easton Piers. He found refuge in the homes of his numerous friends, such as Baronet James Long and his wife Lady Dorothy.
Collaboration with Anthony Wood and Later Life
In 1667, Aubrey met Anthony Wood, and later, when Wood began gathering information for his work 'Athenae Oxonienses', John offered his assistance. In 1680, they started working on the book 'Minutes for Lives', which Anthony actively used as a source for his own work. Some of the biographical information included in the book was not suitable for public disclosure, so Aubrey asked Wood to help him separate the most "dangerous" facts. Unfortunately, this resulted in Anthony literally destroying 40 pages of Aubrey's work and using the rest without hesitation in his own writings. Towards the end of his life, Aubrey embarked on another monumental work, the 'History of Northern Wiltshire'. Knowing he wouldn't be able to finish the book, he decided to pass on his research to Thomas Tanner, a future bishop. John Aubrey died from an apoplectic fit while on another journey.
