Daniel Colwall was a wealthy merchant of 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...

 and philanthropist.

Life

Elected an original Fellow of the Royal Society on 20 May 1663, he was placed its council in the following November, and acted as treasurer for nearly fourteen years, from 1665 to 1679. Colwall in 1663 and 1666 presented the society with £50, while continuing his weekly payments. He died in the liberty of the Tower of London in November 1690.

Legacy

With Colwall's money the collection of "rarities formerly belonging to Mr. Hubbard" was acquired in 1666, and kept in 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,...

, a first step towards the formation of a museum. The preparation of the catalogue was entrusted to Dr. Nehemiah Grew

Nehemiah Grew

Nehemiah Grew was an English plant anatomist and physiologist, very famously known as the "Father of Plant Physiology"...

, who published it in 1681 with the title Musæum Regalis Societatis. This book is embellished with 31 plates, many of which, if not all, were engraved at Colwall's expense.

He had long been a governor of Christ's Hospital

Christ's Hospital

Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...

, to which in his lifetime he was a liberal benefactor. In his will, dated 12 August, with codicil dated 19 August, proved on 20 November 1690, he bequeathed to the school 'for ever one rent or yearly payment of sixty-two pounds and eight shillings issuing and payable out of the hereditary excise which was assigned to me by Sir Robert Viner, knt. and bart., deceased,' and the sum of £4,000.

Others of this name

James Granger

James Granger

James Granger was an English clergyman, biographer, and print collector. He is now known as the author of the Biographical History of England from Egbert the Great to the Revolution .-Life:...

, followed by Owen Manning

Owen Manning

Owen Manning was an English clergyman and antiquarian, known as a historian of Surrey.-Life:Son of Owen Manning of Orlingbury, Northamptonshire, he was born there on 11 August 1721, and received his education at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1740, M.A. in 1744, and B.D. in...

 and William Bray

William Bray (antiquary)

-Life:Bray was the fourth and youngest son of Edward Bray of Shere in Surrey, who married Ann, daughter of Rev. George Duncomb. When ten years old he was entered Rugby School. On leaving school he was placed with an attorney, Mr...

, and Edward Wedlake Brayley

Edward Wedlake Brayley

Edward Wedlake Brayley was an English antiquary and topographer.He was born at Lambeth, London. He was apprenticed to the enamelling trade, but developed an early interest in literature. His close friendship with John Britton lasted for sixty-five years...

 and John Britton

John Britton (antiquary)

-Early life:Britton was born on 7 July 1771 at Kington St. Michael, near Chippenham. His parents were in humble circumstances, and he was left an orphan at an early age. At sixteen he went to London and was apprenticed to a wine merchant. Prevented by ill-health from serving his full term, he found...

 confused Colwall with his great-nephew of the same name, of the Friary, near Guildford

Guildford

Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...

, and the son of Arnold Colwall.