OGILBY, John. Killemeare (Kirriemuir), Angus 17.11.1600 — London 4.9.1676. British (Scottish) Author, Translator and Cartographer. Of unknown parentage. “Probably at least half-brother to James Ogilby, 1st Earl of Airlie” (1593?–1666), at least himself claimed so. Grew up in London. Probably educated at Merchant Taylors’ Grammar School in London. An accident ended his early career as a dancer in 1619, in the 1620s in army. Later (1633-46) worked as tutor in Dublin where he also founded Ireland’s first theatre. In 1647 returned to England. After a while in Cambridge lived in London concentrating on literary work. Now learned Greek. He also founded his own printing press. A Royalist. Married 1650 Christina Hunsdon, a wealthy widow about 17 years his senior. From 1674 Royal Cosmographer and Geographic Printer.
Publications: Asia. The first part being an accurate description of Persia, and the several provinces thereof: the vast empire of the Great Mogol, and other parts of India, and their several kingdoms and regions: with the denominations and descriptions of the cities, towns, and places of remark therein contain’d: the various customs, habits, religion, and languages of the inhabitants: their political governments, and way of commerce: also the plants and animals peculiar to each country. Collected and translated from the most authentick authors and augmented with later observations; illustrated with notes, and adorn’d with peculiar maps and proper sculptures. 12+253+17 p. 28 pl. L. 1673.
– Translated J. Nieuhoff’s An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham, emperor of China: delivered by their excellencies Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his imperial city of Peking wherein the cities, towns, villages, ports, rivers, &c in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously described by John Nieuhoff: also an epistle of Father John Adams, their antagonist, concerning the whole negotiation: with an appendix of several remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher. 431 p. L. 1673.
– Translations of classics (Vergil, Homer, Aesop), atlases, etc.
Sources: Wikipedia with portrait.
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