The John Bargrave Collection
John Wilkins (1614 - 1672)
Theologian, natural philosopher, and founding member of the Royal Society. In 1663, he "presented the Society with several things for their repository: 1. A wind-gun. 2. A burning-glass, in a brass frame. 3. Another burning glass, in a wooden frame. 4. Scales for weighing of gold without any counterpoise. 5. A strange bone, with a rib in the middle. 6. A geometrical arch, composed of many small pieces of wood, without any nails or pins. 7. A loadstone, then in the hands of Sir William Persall, and ordered to be called for by the operator. 8. A large concave metal. 9. A cylinder metal. 10. An angular metal. 11. A blue concave glass. 12. A piece of petrified wood. 13. A cocoa-nut. 14. An ostrich's egg-shell. 15. A piece of perspective. 16. Two papers of petrified glass. The operator was ordered to fit the wind-gun, and to polish and varnish the burning-glass. The presenter of these things received the thanks of the Society; and it was ordered, that he be registered as a Benefactor; together with prince Rupert, for his water-engine; the bishop of Exeter, [note: Dr. Seth Ward], for his pendulum-clock; Mr. Boyle, for his pneumatic-engine; Sir Heneage Finch, solicitor-general, for remitting the fees due to him for the Society's charter; and Dr. Bate, for a present of ten pounds" (Birch, 1:324; Hunter, 1989).Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/29421 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkins#Bishop Roles: Authority - early modern
Collector (minor)
Relevant locations: Title (royalty or holy order) Chester
Workplace or place of business Chester
Workplace or place of business Savoy Chapel
People linked to person: John Wilkins was a friend of John Evelyn (1620-1706)
John Wilkins was a member of Oxford Philosophical Society (1649-1660)
John Wilkins was a member of Royal Society (-)
Captain Hinde (-) was a donor to John Wilkins
Richard Gilpin (1625-1700) was a worked with John Wilkins
Walter Pope (1628-1714) was a brother of John Wilkins
Cromwell Robina (1594-1660) was a wife of John Wilkins