Samuel Musgrave
Encyclopedia
Samuel Musgrave, FRS (29 September 1732 – 5 July 1780) was an English
classical scholar and physician
.
Musgrave was born at Washfield in Devon
, and was educated at the University of Oxford
. There he was elected to a Radcliffe
travelling fellowship, and he spent several years abroad. In 1766 he settled at Exeter, but moved to Plymouth
to improve his career prospects.
Everything went wrong when he published a pamphlet
in the form of an address to the people of Devon, accusing certain members of the British government of having been bribed by the French government to conclude the Treaty of Paris (1763)
, and declaring that Chevalier Charles d'Eon de Beaumont, the French minister plenipotentiary to England, had in his possession documents which would prove the truth of his assertion.
Eon de Beaumont denied all knowledge of any such transaction and of Musgrave himself, and the House of Commons
in 1770 decided that the charge was unsubstantiated. The discredited Musgrave was obliged to earn a meagre living in London
by writing until his death, in reduced circumstances. He wrote several medical works, now forgotten; and his edition of Euripides
(1778) was a considerable advance on that of Joshua Barnes
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
classical scholar and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
Musgrave was born at Washfield in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and was educated at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. There he was elected to a Radcliffe
John Radcliffe Hospital
The John Radcliffe Hospital is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England.It is the main teaching hospital for Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University. As such, it is a well-developed centre of medical research. It also incorporates the Medical School of the University of Oxford....
travelling fellowship, and he spent several years abroad. In 1766 he settled at Exeter, but moved to Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
to improve his career prospects.
Everything went wrong when he published a pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
in the form of an address to the people of Devon, accusing certain members of the British government of having been bribed by the French government to conclude the Treaty of Paris (1763)
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
, and declaring that Chevalier Charles d'Eon de Beaumont, the French minister plenipotentiary to England, had in his possession documents which would prove the truth of his assertion.
Eon de Beaumont denied all knowledge of any such transaction and of Musgrave himself, and the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1770 decided that the charge was unsubstantiated. The discredited Musgrave was obliged to earn a meagre living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by writing until his death, in reduced circumstances. He wrote several medical works, now forgotten; and his edition of Euripides
Euripides
Euripides was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, the other two being Aeschylus and Sophocles. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to him but according to the Suda it was ninety-two at most...
(1778) was a considerable advance on that of Joshua Barnes
Joshua Barnes
Joshua Barnes , was an English scholar.He was born in London, the son of Edward Barnes, a merchant taylor.Educated at Christ's Hospital and at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he was in 1695 chosen Regius Professor of Greek, a language which he wrote and spoke with the utmost facility.One of his first...
.