Record

Authorised form of name	Theobald; James (1688- 1759); merchant and natural historian
Dates	1688- 1759
Nationality	British
Place of birth	London, England
Date of birth	1688
Place of death	London, England
Date of death	20 February 1759
Dates and places	Baptism: Lambeth, London, England (21 June 1688)
Occupation	Merchant and natural historian
Research field	Antiquarianism
Research field	Natural history
Activity	Career: Served an apprenticeship with his father as barber-surgeon (1704-1712); began working in the timber trade (1721); Co-adjutor, of the Society of Antiquaries (1728-1735); Director of the Bank of England (1744-1755); Master of the Barber-Surgeons company and governor of the Merchant seaman's corporation (1750); involved with the newly formed Society of the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, which became the Society of Arts (1753); became Vice President (1759). Memberships: FSA (1726)
Membership category	Fellow
Date of election	04/11/1725
Proposer	Sir Hans Sloane
Royal Society activity	Royal Society roles: Council: 1728-1730; 1739-1741; 1743
Relationships	Parents: Peter Theobald
General context	Was in correspondence with Sir Hans Sloane FRS 1685, sending him natural history specimens, which resulted in his nomination for a Fellowship of the Royal Society. Became an involved and influental member of the Royal Society. His extensive collection, comprising shells, fossils, pictures, specimens of penmanship, coins and medals in gold, silver and brass, was sold in June 1768, via auction in Coven Garden.
Sources	Sources: Bulloch's Roll; Printed list; Romulus 1 & 2 References: John H Appleby, 'James Theobald, FRS (1688-1759), Merchant and Natural Historian' in NR 1996 vol 50 pp 179-189 Gentleman's Magazine 1759, p94 (obituary)
Royal Society code	NA539

Archives associated with this Fellow

Reference number	Title	Date
L&P/1/65b/1	Letters, 'On the comet of 1741' from Thomas Wright to James Theobald	11 March 1742
L&P/1/440	Paper, 'An appendix to Dr C Mortimer's paper on cattle distempers' by James Theobald and others	1745
L&P/1/247	Paper, 'An account of the gold horn found in Jutland in 1734' by James Theobald	1743
L&P/1/65b	Letters and illustrations, 'On the comet of 1741' from Thomas Wright to James Theobald	11 March 1742
L&P/2/127	Letter, 'On inscriptions found at Tunis' from James Theobald to Martin Folkes	10 May 1750
L&P/2/243	Letter, 'Of ginsem among the Iroquois' from Thomas Hutchinson to J[ames] Theobald	20 September 1751
L&P/3/315	Paper, 'Of the effects of lightning at Shottesbrok, 20 July 1757' by James Theobald	1758
L&P/3/244	Letter, 'Of one of the carved wooden images found hidden in a cavern in Jamaica and shown to the Royal Society on May 5' from James Theobald to George Parker	8 May 1757
EL/A/63	Extract of a letter, from John Allen to James Theobald, dated at Bridgewater, Somerset	15 May 1736
EL/K/31	Extract of a letter, from Peter Kinck to James Theobald, dated at Eneback	24 May 1728
RBO/14/5	Extract of a Letter from Peter Kinck to James Theobald	1728
RBO/14/6	Extract of a letter from Peter Kinck to James Theobald	1728
EL/K/32	Extract of a letter, from Peter Kinck to James Theobald, dated at Eneback in Norway	9 June 1728
EL/K/30	Letter, from Peter Kinck to James Theobald, dated at Eneback	1727

Add to My Items

Photographs of British algae: cyanotype impressions

Tweets by theRCN

Papers of Howard Florey

Photographs of British algae: cyanotype impressions

New Letter Books

Papers of Colin Pillinger

Browse Collections

Record

Useful Links

Collection highlights