| Authorised form of name | Evelyn; John (1620 - 1706); antiquary, diarist, and gardener |
| Dates | 1620 - 1706 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Wotton, Surrey, England, Europe |
| Date of birth | 31 October 1620 |
| Place of death | 14 Dover Street, Mayfair, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe |
| Date of death | 27 February 1706 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Burial:
Chancel of Wotton church, Surrey, Engand, United Kingdom, Europe |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Research field | Arboriculture |
| Horticulture |
| Activity | Education:
Southover Free School, Lewes, Sussex; Middle Temple (admitted 1636); Balliol College, Oxford (matriculated 1637; DCL 1669)
Career:
Travelled in Holland (1641); joined the King's Army briefly (1642); travelled in France, Italy, where he met Henry Howard (FRS 1666) and Robert Bruce (FRS 1663) and travelled for a year with Thomas Henshaw (FRS 1663), and Switzerland (1643-1647) and lived in France (1649-1652), where he met Charles II (FRS 1665) and James II (FRS 1665); returned to England (1652); Commissioner for the sick and wounded and prisoners of the Dutch War (1664); Member of the Council for Foreign Plantations (1671); acquired the Arundel Marbles for the University of Oxford and the Arundel Library for the Royal Society, both from Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk (1667); Commissioner of the Privy Seal (1685-1687); Treasurer to Greenwich Hospital (1695-1703)
|
| Membership category | Original Fellow |
| Date of election | 22/04/1663 |
| RSActivity | Royal Society roles:
Secretary 1672-1673; VP 1698-; Council 1662, 1700, 1702 |
| Other Royal Society activity | Proposed on 26 December 1660 |
| Relationships | Parents: Richard Evelyn and Eleanor Standsfield
Married: Mary Browne
Children: John Evelyn (only son to survive childhood); Susanna Evelyn (only child to outlive father)
Grandchildren: Sir John Evelyn (FRS 1723)
Additional relatives: cousin of Sir Samuel Tuke (FRS 1663) |
| PublishedWorks | RCN: 22170 |
| OtherInfo | As an horticulturist and botanist, Evelyn contributed important work on tree cultivation and on soils, e.g. within and beyond his work 'Elysium Britannicum'. In his work 'Sculptura, or, The History, and Art of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper' represents a compilation of the history of trades. As a member of the Council for Foreign Plantations, within the Board of Trade government body, Evelyn worked to further the government's colonial interest. In his post, he made £500 quarterly. The Council's orders and tasks fell within a broad remit and included finding ways in which to take and enslave people to bring to the colonies, mediating between the Royal African Company and the colonies, as well as enforcing the 'reeducation' of Native Americans and enslaved people in the colonised regions. |
| Related images | Discover a selection of related images in our picture library |
| Image | 
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| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Foster; ODNB
References:
Charles M. Andrews, 'British Committees, Commissions, and Councils of Trade and Plantations, 1622-1675' 1908 (Baltimore: John Hopkins Press) [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33313/33313-h/33313-h.htm; last accessed: 25/11/2021]
J H Appleby, 'The founding of St Petersburg in the context of the Royal Society's relationship with Russia' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 273-284
W H G Armytage, 'The Royal Society and the Apothecaries' in NR 1954-55 vol 11 pp 22-37
E S de Beer, 'John Evelyn, FRS (1620-1706)' in NR 1960 vol 15 pp 231-238, plate
Marie Boas Hall, 'Of Oak and Smoke, inter alia', review of The Writings of John Evelyn, ed. Guy de la Bedoyere, in NR 1996 vol 50 pp 137-138, plate
Peter Brimblecombe, 'Interest in Air Pollution Among Early Fellows of the Royal Society' in NR 1977-8 vol 32 pp 123-129
Sir Alan Cook FRS, 'Continental connections' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 267-268
A Cook, 'Rome and the Royal Society, 1660-1740' in NR 2004 vol 58 pp 3-19
J Gribbin, 'The Fellowship', 2005, pp180-182
Marjorie Grice-Hutchinson, 'Some Spanish Contributions to the Early Activities of the Royal Society of London' in NR 1988 vol 42 pp 123-132
Michael Hunter, 'The Social Bias and Changing Fortunes of an Early Scientific Institution: An Analysis of the Membership of the Royal Society, 1660-1685' in NR 1976-7 vol 31 pp 9-114
R Lewis, 'The publication of John Wilkins's Essay (1668): some contextual considerations' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp133-146
Kathleen H Ochs, 'The Royal Society of London's History of Trades Programme: An Early Episode in Applied Science' in NR 1984-85 vol 39 pp 129-158
Stephen Pasmore, 'Thomas Henshaw, FRS (1618-1700)' in NR 1981-82 vol 36 pp 177-188, plate
Charles A Rivington, 'Early Printers to the Royal Society 1663-1708' in NR 1984-85 vol 39 pp 1-27
C S S, 'The Society's Library' in NR 1938 vol 1 pp 21-27
N J W Thrower, 'Samuel Pepys FRS (1633-1733) and The Royal Society' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 3-13
G H Turnbull, 'Samuel Hartlib's Influence on the Early History of the Royal Society' in NR 1953 vol 10 pp 101-130
Sir Anthony Wagner, 'The Royal Society's Coat of Arms' in NR 1962 vol 17 pp 9-14
Notes:
The election date is Evelyn's re-election date into the Society after the grant of the second charter in April 1663. All Fellows admitted in a two-month window after this charter, until 22 June 1663, are considered Original Fellows. He was previously mentioned as a member on 9 January 1661.
DNB states London as place of birth. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/61653698 |
| Code | NA8217 |
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| RBC/1/33 | 'An Exact Account of the making of Marbled Paper Brought in by Mr Evelyn' | 1661 |
| RBO/7/31 | Account of Mr Eadsberg's Mill on Mr Evelyn's ground at Deptford | nd |
| IM/001332 | Evelyn, John | nd |
| MM/15/68 | Letter from WF Tiffin to Royal Society | 27 August 1883 |
| RBC/2/66 | 'Panificium or The severall manners of making Bread in France etc where (by generall consent) the best bread in the World is eaten' by John Evelyn | nd |
| RBC/1/12 | An Exact Relation of the Pico Tenarife taken from Mr Clappham | 29 June 1661 |
| DM/5/74A | 'Recommended to Mr Evelyn' | c.1666 |
| IM/005727 | Evelyn, John | nd |
| MM/23/3 | Order from John Evelyn to [Clayton and Morris] | 1664 |
| MS/366/1/3 | The Sembrador: or a new Invention for the more equall sowing of Wheate, and other Graines; by which a greate quantity of Corne is Saved, and an imense qyantitiy and Increase yearly gained [by Don Joseph Lucatello]. | 3 March 1669/1670 |
| EL/B1/29 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 25 April 1663 |
| MS/390/32 | Bond of John Evelyn to the Treasurer of the Royal Society | 30 November 1674 |
| IM/001330 | Evelyn, John | nd |
| NLB/60/447 | Copy letter from [Alfred Hastings] White, Assistant Librarian of the Royal Society; to Sir James Piggot; 14 Old Square, London Inn, W.C. | 7 February 1921 |
| CLP/22i/45 | Paper, Account of the book 'Numismata, a discourse of medals ancient and modern' by [John] Evelyn | [1698] |
| DM/5/101 | A list of benefactors to the Museum, to the value of £5 or upwards at one time | c.1737 |
| IM/003041 | Evelyn, John and Mayow, John | nd |
| RBO/2ii/4 | 'For zoophytal or Animal Engraffings or inoculations, this Accompt I received from a friend of mine in the country Given in by Mr Evelyn' | 10 September 1662 |
| P/0038 | Portrait of Evelyn, John | |
| EL/B1/48b | Copy of a letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 1660s |
| EL/B1/48a | Copy of a letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 1660s |
| CLP/3i/4/1 | Manuscript, 'Marble paper' from J [John] Evelyn to Rob Murrey [Robert Moray] | January 1662 |
| DM/5/64 | Minutes of meetings of the Committee for Agriculture (endorsed as 'Transactions of the Georgicall Committee') | October 1664-February 1665 |
| EL/B1/28 | Continuation of a letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 20 April 1663 |
| NLB/61/407 | Copy letter from Francis Alexander Towle, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society; to S. B. Gaythorpe Esquire; 3 Prospect Road, Barrow-in-Furness | 2 July 1921 |
| CLP/3i/1 | Paper, 'The history of arts, illiberal and mechanick' by John Evelyn | 1660 |
| EL/B1/25 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 14 March 1662 |
| EL/B1/19 | Extract of a letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 19 January 1663 |
| EL/E/5 | Letter, from John Evelyn to Richard Waller, dated at Wotton | 7 May 1694 |
| CLP/10i/2 | Paper, 'Observations on the humble and sensible plants in Mr Chiffin's garden in St James his parke' by Dr Clarke | 9 August 1661 |
| EL/T/58 | Letter, from Ralph Thoresby to John Evelyn, dated at Leeds | 24 June 1699 |
| EL/E/2 | Copy of a letter, from John Evelyn to Dr [John] Wilkins | 1660 |
| CLP/3i/4/2 | Diagrams, method of making marbled paper by [John Evelyn] | January 1662 |
| EL/T/56 | Letter, from Ralph Thoresby to John Evelyn, dated at Leeds | 15 February 1699 |
| EL/E/3 | Letter, from John Evelyn to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Sayes Court | 25 February 1670 |
| EL/T/57 | Letter, from M M to John Evelyn, dated at Dublin | 2 May 1699 |
| EL/L5/114 | Letter, from William London to John Evelyn, dated at Barbados | 26 December 1680 |
| EL/B1/76 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn, dated at Yeovil, Somerset | 27 August 1677 |
| EL/B1/77 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn, dated at Yeovil, Somerset | 1 September 1677 |
| EL/E/6 | Letter, from John Evelyn to Richard Waller, dated at Wotton | 13 March 1698 |
| EL/E/1 | Letter, from John Evelyn to Dr [John] Wilkins, dated at Sayes Court | 29 January 1661 |
| CLP/3i/2 | Paper, 'The construction of the rowling press, and manner how to worke off the plates' by [John] Evelyn | [1662] |
| CLP/15i/3 | Paper, 'For zoophytall or animal engraftings or inoculations' by John Evelyn | 10 September 1662 |
| CLP/2/22 | Paper, 'Of chalcography an humble motion' by Beal [John Beale] | [17th century] |
| EL/B1/30 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 2 January 1663 |
| EL/B1/26 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 6 April 1663 |
| EL/B1/27 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 16 April 1663 |
| EL/B1/31 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 2 January 1663 |
| EL/B1/34 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn | 12 March 1663 |
| CLP/3i/19 | Paper, 'Panificium, or the several manners of making bread in France etc: where, by universal consent, the best bread in the world is eaten' by [John] Evelyn | 15 February 1665 |
| CLP/3i/4 | Paper, 'Marble paper' from J [John] Evelyn to Rob Murrey [Robert Moray] | January 1662 |
| EL/B1/74 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn, dated at Yeovil, Somerset | 22 August 1677 |
| CLP/24/83 | List, Recipies on 'Dying Straw' transcribed by Robert Hooke | 28 April 1670 |
| CLP/17/1 | Paper, 'Designe for a library' by John Evelyn | 22 May 1661 |
| RBO/5/1 | 'A Philosophical Discourse of Earth relating to the Culture and Improvement of it for Vegetation and the Propagation of Plants etc' by John Evelyn | 1675 |
| EL/B1/75 | Letter, from John Beale to John Evelyn, dated at Yeovil, Somerset | 25 August 1677 |
| EL/E/4 | Letter, from John Evelyn [to the Royal Society], dated at Sayes Court | 23 September 1681 |
| RBO/1/30 | 'An Exact Account of the Making of Marbled Paper Brought in by Mr Evelyn' | nd |
| RBO/2i/4 | 'For Zoophytall or Animall Engraffings or Inoculations. An Account received by Mr Evelyn from a friend of his' | 10 September 1662 |
| RBO/3/27 | 'Panificium or The several manners of Making Bread in France etc (Where by general consent) the best Bread in the World is eaten' by John Evelyn | nd |
| DM/5/63 | Minutes of meetings of the Committee for Agriculture | June-September 1664 |