Description
Book SynopsisLhwyd, the illegitimate son of a father ruined by the Civil War, had to make his own way in the world. A competent botanist before going up to Oxford as a student, he spent much time there at the Botanical Garden before being appointed to the newly established Ashmolean Museum, where he became its second Keeper. This biography traces the development of his research interests from botany to palaeontology – and then to antiquarian studies, which led to him studying the Celtic languages as a source of linguistic evidence in historical studies. Thus he became the founder of Celtic Studies. Lhwyd’s diverse research interests were underpinned by an evidence-led methodology – the collection (by personal observation where possible) of material, which would then be classified as a preliminary to drawing conclusions – and, as such, his is a valuable contribution to the history of science.
Table of ContentsDedication Preface Abbreviations A note on dates and money Glossary List of Illustrations Introduction 1 Lloyd of Llanforda 2 Life at Llanforda: father and son 3 Oxford 4 Apprenticeship years at the Ashmolean 5 Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum 6 Fossils and formed stones: Lithophylacii britannici ichnographia, 1699 7 Britannia, 1695 8 Archæologia Britannica: Wales 9 Archæologia Britannica: Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany 10 The Glossography and after 11 Afterlife Bibliography Index
