Francis Palgrave
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Palgrave FRS, born Francis Ephraim Cohen, (1788 - 6 July 1861) was an English
historian
.
, the son of Meyer Cohen, a Jewish stockbroker (d. 1831) by his wife Rachel Levien Cohen (d. 1815). He was initially articled as a clerk to a London solicitor's firm, and remained there as chief clerk until 1822. His father was financially ruined in 1810 and Francis, the eldest son, became responsible for supporting his parents. Around 1814, Francis Cohen began contributing to the Edinburgh Review
; he made the acquaintance of the banker Dawson Turner
and his daughter Elizabeth in 1819, offering to correct the proofs of Mr Turner's book on Normandy. In 1821, Francis Cohen was admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, one of his sponsors being Turner. Palgrave converted to Anglican Christianity
before his marriage to Elizabeth Turner on 13 October 1823.
Around the time of his marriage, Cohen also changed his surname to "Palgrave" (his wife's mother's maiden name) by royal licence. It is not clear if either the religious conversion or the name change were conditions of his marriage; however, his father-in-law paid for the expenses of the name change, and settled £3,000 on the couple.
s 1803-1822). He is best known for his work with what is now the The National Archives, and his numerous publications.
In 1822, he had suggested publishing the national records which suggestion was approved, and from 1827 to 1837, he edited a series of volumes. These historical documents focused on medieval history. His works include A History of England (1831), The Rise and Progress of the English Commonwealth (1832), An Essay on the Original Authority of the King's Council (1834), Truths and Fictions of the Middle Ages: the Merchant and the Friar (1837) and The History of Normandy and England (1851-64, four volumes). The last two volumes of this work were published after his death.
Palgrave is also considered the founder of the Public Record Office
. He was appointed Deputy Keeper of HM Public Records (or the reconstituted and reorganized Records Office) in 1838 and apparently held that position until his death. In this position, he issued a series of twenty two annual reports.
He was knighted in 1832, and was known in his day as an antiquarian
.
Palgrave was survived by his four sons, his wife having predeceased him in August 1852.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Early life
He was born in LondonLondon
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...
, the son of Meyer Cohen, a Jewish stockbroker (d. 1831) by his wife Rachel Levien Cohen (d. 1815). He was initially articled as a clerk to a London solicitor's firm, and remained there as chief clerk until 1822. His father was financially ruined in 1810 and Francis, the eldest son, became responsible for supporting his parents. Around 1814, Francis Cohen began contributing to the Edinburgh Review
Edinburgh Review
The Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
; he made the acquaintance of the banker Dawson Turner
Dawson Turner
Dawson Turner was an English banker, botanist and antiquary.-Life:Turner was the son of James Turner, head of the Gurney and Turner's Yarmouth Bank and Elizabeth Cotman, the only daughter of the mayor of Yarmouth, John Cotman. He was educated at North Walsham Grammar School, Norfolk and at Barton...
and his daughter Elizabeth in 1819, offering to correct the proofs of Mr Turner's book on Normandy. In 1821, Francis Cohen was admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, one of his sponsors being Turner. Palgrave converted to Anglican Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
before his marriage to Elizabeth Turner on 13 October 1823.
Around the time of his marriage, Cohen also changed his surname to "Palgrave" (his wife's mother's maiden name) by royal licence. It is not clear if either the religious conversion or the name change were conditions of his marriage; however, his father-in-law paid for the expenses of the name change, and settled £3,000 on the couple.
Career
Palgrave was called to the bar in 1827 (after a long period working for solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
s 1803-1822). He is best known for his work with what is now the The National Archives, and his numerous publications.
In 1822, he had suggested publishing the national records which suggestion was approved, and from 1827 to 1837, he edited a series of volumes. These historical documents focused on medieval history. His works include A History of England (1831), The Rise and Progress of the English Commonwealth (1832), An Essay on the Original Authority of the King's Council (1834), Truths and Fictions of the Middle Ages: the Merchant and the Friar (1837) and The History of Normandy and England (1851-64, four volumes). The last two volumes of this work were published after his death.
Palgrave is also considered the founder of the Public Record Office
Public Record Office
The Public Record Office of the United Kingdom is one of the three organisations that make up the National Archives...
. He was appointed Deputy Keeper of HM Public Records (or the reconstituted and reorganized Records Office) in 1838 and apparently held that position until his death. In this position, he issued a series of twenty two annual reports.
He was knighted in 1832, and was known in his day as an antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
.
Children
Palgrave and his wife Elizabeth Turner were the father of four sons, all distinguished and all authors in their respective fields. Among them, the best known today are the eldest two.- Francis Turner PalgraveFrancis Turner PalgraveFrancis Turner Palgrave was a British critic and poet.He was born at Great Yarmouth, the eldest son of Sir Francis Palgrave, the historian and his wife Elizabeth Turner, daughter of the banker Dawson Turner. His brothers were William Gifford Palgrave, Inglis Palgrave and Reginald Palgrave...
(1824-1897), poet, anthologist, educationist and bureaucrat, editor of Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics, better known as Palgrave's Golden TreasuryPalgrave's Golden TreasuryThe Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics is a popular anthology of English poetry, originally selected for publication by Francis Turner Palgrave in 1861. It was considerably revised, with input from Tennyson, about three decades later... - William Gifford PalgraveWilliam Gifford PalgraveWilliam Gifford Palgrave was an Arabic scholar, born at Westminster, England. He was the son of Sir Francis Palgrave, K.H. and Elizabeth Turner....
(1826-1888 MontevideoMontevideoMontevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay), Jesuit priest and missionary turned diplomat, anthropologist and traveller - Sir Inglis Palgrave or Robert Harry Inglis Palgrave (1827-1919), economist, knighted 1909, author of Palgrave's Dictionary of Political Economy, as well as editor Palgrave's collected historical works. He married in 1859 Sarah Maria Brightwen, daughter of George Brightwen.
- Sir Reginald Palgrave, KCB; or Reginald Francis Douce Palgrave (1829-1904); md 1857 Grace Battley, daughter of Richard Battley. Clerk to the House of CommonsBritish House of CommonsThe House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
1886-1902. Made KCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
1892.
Palgrave was survived by his four sons, his wife having predeceased him in August 1852.