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Lhwyd, the illegitimate son of a father ruined by the Civil War, had to make his own way in the world. A competent botanist before going up to Oxford as a student, he spent much time there at the Botanical Garden before being appointed to the newly established Ashmolean Museum, where he became its second Keeper. This biography traces the development of his research interests from botany to palaeontology – and then to antiquarian studies, which led to him studying the Celtic languages as a source of linguistic evidence in historical studies. Thus he became the founder of Celtic Studies. Lhwyd's diverse research interests were underpinned by an evidence-led methodology – the collection (by personal observation where possible) of material, which would then be classified as a preliminary to drawing conclusions – and, as such, his is a valuable contribution to the history of science.
Dedication
Preface
Abbreviations
A note on dates and money
Glossary
List of Illustrations
Introduction
1. Lloyd of Llanforda
2. Life at Llanforda: father and son
3. Oxford
4. Apprenticeship years at the Ashmolean
5. Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
6. Fossils and formed stones: Lithophylacii britannici ichnographia, 1699
7. Britannia, 1695
8. Archaeologia Britannica: Wales
9. Archaeologia Britannica: Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany
10. The Glossography and after
11. Afterlife
Bibliography
Index
Dr Brynley F. Roberts retired from his post as Librarian of the National Library of Wales in 1994. He was previously Professor of Welsh Language and Literature at Swansea University and had also been on the staff of the Welsh Department at Aberystwyth University. Since his retirement, he has continued his research in medieval Welsh historical literature and the life and work of Edward Lhwyd at the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies where he is an honorary Research Fellow.
"This first full-length biography of Lhwyd is meticulously researched and covers his multifarious interests in botany, palaeontology, linguistics and other disciplines. Many details of his biography, such as his feud with Woodward, make him a fascinating character. Much of the information has not been previously available in English [...] and readers will find that their curiosity about Lhwyd is amply rewarded in this masterly and engrossing book."
– Arthur Chater, author of Flora of Cardiganshire
