Thomas Hollis
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hollis was an English political philosopher and author.
of Gresham College
, London. He took Chambers with Lincoln's Inn from 1740 to 1748, though without ever reading law
. By this time he was a man of considerable wealth having inherited from his father, grandfather and uncle.
(later Brand Hollis) and again during 1750–53, largely on his own, meeting many leading French philosophes and several Italian painters. Back in England he was an ardent member of the Society of Arts. He proposed Piranesi for membership of the Society of Antiquaries, gave numerous commissions to Cipriani
, and, as one of Canaletto's best friends in England, commissioned six paintings from him. These paintings included Old Walton Bridge
in which Hollis, his heir Thomas Brand and Hollis's manservant were depicted, also the interior of the rotunda at Ranelagh. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1757. He was well connected, knowing Francis Blackburne
and Theophilus Lindsey
, John Wilkes
, several peers, and the elder William Pitt
. He was a governor of Guy's and St Thomas's hospitals, and a guardian of the asylum and Magdalen Hospital.
's Life of Milton, tracts by Marchmont Nedham
, Henry Neville
, and Philip Sidney
, and John Locke
's "Two Treatises of Government
"; they were elegantly bound to give them greater effect and tooled with libertarian ornaments such as the liberty cap and owl. To start with the tracts were directed towards libraries throughout Britain and continental Europe; later he turned his generosity to America.
He continued his great-uncle Thomas's practice, as a great benefactor to American colleges, especially Harvard, sending donations and numerous books, often decorated with libertarian symbols. From 1755 his principal American correspondent was Jonathan Mayhew
of Boston, and, after his death in 1766, Andrew Eliot. His other benefactions included substantial donations to Berne
Library and to the University of Leiden Library.
He died suddenly on 1 January 1774. He was unmarried, and after minor legacies left his estates to Thomas Brand
, who added Hollis's name to his own.
Early life
Hollis was educated at Adams Grammar School until the age 10, and then in St. Albans until 15, before learning French, Dutch and accountancy in Amsterdam. After the death of his father in 1735, his guardian was a John Hollister. He was trained in this time in public service by John WardJohn Ward (academic)
John Ward was an English teacher, supporter of learned societies, and biographer, remembered for his work on the Gresham College professors, of which he was one.-Life:...
of Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
, London. He took Chambers with Lincoln's Inn from 1740 to 1748, though without ever reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
. By this time he was a man of considerable wealth having inherited from his father, grandfather and uncle.
Travel and Art
In 1748–9 he toured Europe with Thomas BrandThomas Brand Hollis
Thomas Brand Hollis , born Thomas Brand, was a British political radical and dissenter.Thomas Brand was born the only son of Timothy Brand of Ingatestone, Essex and was educated at Felsted School, Trinity College, Cambridge, the Inner Temple and Glasgow University.In 1748-9 he toured Europe with...
(later Brand Hollis) and again during 1750–53, largely on his own, meeting many leading French philosophes and several Italian painters. Back in England he was an ardent member of the Society of Arts. He proposed Piranesi for membership of the Society of Antiquaries, gave numerous commissions to Cipriani
Cipriani
Cipriani may refer to:* Amilcare Cipriani , Italian anarchist* Arthur Andrew Cipriani , a Trinidad and Tobago labour leader and politician* Danny Cipriani, English rugby player* Frank A...
, and, as one of Canaletto's best friends in England, commissioned six paintings from him. These paintings included Old Walton Bridge
Old Walton Bridge
Old Walton Bridge is the name given to the first Walton Bridge built across the River Thames at Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, England. The wooden bridge was completed in 1750 and stood until 1783 when it was dismantled to make way for a brickwork replacement....
in which Hollis, his heir Thomas Brand and Hollis's manservant were depicted, also the interior of the rotunda at Ranelagh. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1757. He was well connected, knowing Francis Blackburne
Francis Blackburne (archdeacon)
Francis Blackburne was an English Anglican churchman, archdeacon of Cleveland and an activist against the requirement of subscription to the Thirty Nine Articles.-Life:...
and Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey was an English theologian and clergyman who founded the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in the country, at Essex Street Chapel.-Life:...
, John Wilkes
John Wilkes
John Wilkes was an English radical, journalist and politician.He was first elected Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters—rather than the House of Commons—to determine their representatives...
, several peers, and the elder William Pitt
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
. He was a governor of Guy's and St Thomas's hospitals, and a guardian of the asylum and Magdalen Hospital.
Writing
Hollis's main contribution to public service was protecting and advancing English liberty by circulating appropriate books on government. From 1754 he reprinted and distributed literature from the seventeenth-century. Including works such as TolandJohn Toland
John Toland was a rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early expressions of the philosophy of the Age of Enlightenment...
's Life of Milton, tracts by Marchmont Nedham
Marchmont Nedham
Marchmont Nedham, also Marchamont or Needham was a writer, publisher, and political commentator of the middle seventeenth century...
, Henry Neville
Henry Neville (writer)
Henry Neville was an English author and satirist, best remembered for his tale of shipwreck and dystopia, The Isle of Pines published in 1668.-Life:...
, and Philip Sidney
Philip Sidney
Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan Age...
, and John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
's "Two Treatises of Government
Two Treatises of Government
The Two Treatises of Government is a work of political philosophy published anonymously in 1689 by John Locke...
"; they were elegantly bound to give them greater effect and tooled with libertarian ornaments such as the liberty cap and owl. To start with the tracts were directed towards libraries throughout Britain and continental Europe; later he turned his generosity to America.
He continued his great-uncle Thomas's practice, as a great benefactor to American colleges, especially Harvard, sending donations and numerous books, often decorated with libertarian symbols. From 1755 his principal American correspondent was Jonathan Mayhew
Jonathan Mayhew
Jonathan Mayhew was a noted American minister at Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts. He is credited with coining the phrase "no taxation without representation." -Early life:...
of Boston, and, after his death in 1766, Andrew Eliot. His other benefactions included substantial donations to Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
Library and to the University of Leiden Library.
He died suddenly on 1 January 1774. He was unmarried, and after minor legacies left his estates to Thomas Brand
Thomas Brand Hollis
Thomas Brand Hollis , born Thomas Brand, was a British political radical and dissenter.Thomas Brand was born the only son of Timothy Brand of Ingatestone, Essex and was educated at Felsted School, Trinity College, Cambridge, the Inner Temple and Glasgow University.In 1748-9 he toured Europe with...
, who added Hollis's name to his own.
External links
- Harvard College Library. Lists of books donated by Thomas Hollis, 1763-1787: an inventory