Samuel Henley
Encyclopedia
Samuel Henley D.D. was an English clergyman, school teacher and college principal, antiquarian, and man of letters.
, Virginia
. He arrived in 1770. Well-connected there, he became a friend of Thomas Jefferson
, who acquired some of his library. He clashed though in public debate with Robert Carter Nicholas, Sr.
and John Page, and failed to become rector of Bruton Parish Church
.
In 1775 he went back to England, as a Loyalist
taking leave from the College but never returning; he was a supporter of John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
, Virginia's governor, and with his colleague Thomas Gwatkin had been subject to intimidation by armed men. He obtained an assistant-mastership at Harrow School
, and soon afterwards received a curacy at Northall
in Middlesex
. In 1778 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
, and four years later he was presented to the living of Rendlesham in Suffolk
. He continued to spend the greater part of his time at Harrow.
Henley engaged maintained an extensive correspondence on antiquarian and classical subjects with Michael Tyson, Richard Gough
, Dawson Turner, Thomas Percy, and other scholars of the time. In 1805 he was appointed principal of the newly established East India Company College
at Hertford
. He resigned this post in January 1815, and died on 29 December of the same year. He married in 1780 a daughter of Thomas Figgins, esq., of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
.
In 1784 he published with notes an English translation of Vathek
, written (but as yet unpublished) by William Thomas Beckford
. The French original was not published till 1787. Stephen Weston
stated in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1784 that Vathek had been composed by Henley himself as a text 'for the purpose of giving to the public the information contained in the notes.' Henley replied that his book was merely a translation from an unpublished French manuscript. Beckford, in the preface to the French version of 1815, mentions that the appearance of the English translation before his original was not his intention, and only attributes it to circumstances "peu intéressantes pour le public".
Henley was a frequent contributor to the Monthly Magazine. He also occasionally wrote short poems for private circulation among his friends.
Life
Born in England, he began his career when he was recruited as a professor of moral philosophy for William and Mary College, WilliamsburgWilliamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He arrived in 1770. Well-connected there, he became a friend of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, who acquired some of his library. He clashed though in public debate with Robert Carter Nicholas, Sr.
Robert Carter Nicholas, Sr.
Robert Carter Nicholas was the son of Dr. George Nicholas and Elizabeth Carter Burwell Nicholas of Williamsburg, Virginia. His father migrated to Virginia; his mother was the daughter of wealthy Virginia landowner, Robert "King" Carter of Corotoman. Born January 28, 1728/9, both parents were dead...
and John Page, and failed to become rector of Bruton Parish Church
Bruton Parish Church
Bruton Parish Church is located in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. It was established in 1674 in the Virginia Colony, and remains an active Episcopal parish.-History of Bruton Parish Church:...
.
In 1775 he went back to England, as a Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
taking leave from the College but never returning; he was a supporter of John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
, Virginia's governor, and with his colleague Thomas Gwatkin had been subject to intimidation by armed men. He obtained an assistant-mastership at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and soon afterwards received a curacy at Northall
Northall
Northall is a hamlet in the parish of Edlesborough, in Buckinghamshire, England.This large hamlet straddles the A4146 road halfway between Edlesborough and Billington, Bedfordshire. It has one large Baptist chapel which is still in use. The hamlet has one public house 'The Swan'...
in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. In 1778 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, and four years later he was presented to the living of Rendlesham in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. He continued to spend the greater part of his time at Harrow.
Henley engaged maintained an extensive correspondence on antiquarian and classical subjects with Michael Tyson, Richard Gough
Richard Gough (antiquarian)
Richard Gough was an English antiquarian.He was born in London, where his father was a wealthy M.P. and director of the British East India Company. In 1751 he entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he began his work on British topography, published in 1768...
, Dawson Turner, Thomas Percy, and other scholars of the time. In 1805 he was appointed principal of the newly established East India Company College
East India Company College
The East India College was a college in Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in February 1806 as the training establishment for the British East India Company . At that time, the BEIC provided general and vocational education for young gentlemen of sixteen to eighteen years old,...
at Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
. He resigned this post in January 1815, and died on 29 December of the same year. He married in 1780 a daughter of Thomas Figgins, esq., of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
Works
In 1779 he edited Travels in the Two Sicilies, by Henry SwinburneHenry Swinburne
Henry Swinburne was an English travel writer.-Life:He was born at Bristol on 8 July 1743, into a Catholic family, and was educated at Scorton school, near Catterick, Yorkshire. He was then sent to the monastic seminary of Lacelle in France. He afterwards studied at Paris, Bordeaux, and in the...
.
In 1784 he published with notes an English translation of Vathek
Vathek
Vathek is a Gothic novel written by William Beckford...
, written (but as yet unpublished) by William Thomas Beckford
William Thomas Beckford
William Thomas Beckford , usually known as William Beckford, was an English novelist, a profligate and consummately knowledgeable art collector and patron of works of decorative art, a critic, travel writer and sometime politician, reputed to be the richest commoner in England...
. The French original was not published till 1787. Stephen Weston
Stephen Weston (antiquary)
The Reverend Stephen Weston, BD, FRS, FSA was an English antiquarian, clergyman and man of letters.-Writings:Weston played major roles in the translation of the Rosetta Stone, presenting his work before the Society of Antiquaries in April 1811...
stated in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1784 that Vathek had been composed by Henley himself as a text 'for the purpose of giving to the public the information contained in the notes.' Henley replied that his book was merely a translation from an unpublished French manuscript. Beckford, in the preface to the French version of 1815, mentions that the appearance of the English translation before his original was not his intention, and only attributes it to circumstances "peu intéressantes pour le public".
Henley was a frequent contributor to the Monthly Magazine. He also occasionally wrote short poems for private circulation among his friends.
Further reading
- Edward Alfred Jones (1918), Two Professors of William and Mary College (Thomas Gwatkin and Samuel Henley)