Philip Bliss (21 December 1787 – 18 November 1857) was a British book collector who served as Registrar of the University of Oxford from 1824 to 1853, and as Principal of

St Mary Hall, Oxford St Mary Hall was a medieval academic hall of the University of Oxford. It was associated with Oriel College from 1326 to 1545, but functioned independently from 1545 until it was incorporated into Oriel College in 1902. History In 1320, ...

, from 1848 until his death.

Life

Philip Bliss was born in Gloucestershire on 21 December 1787; his father (also called Philip) was rector of Dodington and

Frampton Cotterel Frampton Cotterell is a large village and parish, in South Gloucestershire, South West England, on the River Frome. The village is contiguous with Winterbourne to the south-west and Coalpit Heath to the east. The parish borders Iron Acton to t ...

in the county. After studying at the grammar school in

Chipping Sodbury Chipping Sodbury is a market town and former civil parish, now in the parish of Sodbury, in the unitary authority area of South Gloucestershire, in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, England. It was founded in the 12th century by William ...

and

Merchant Taylors' School, London Small things grow in harmony , established = , closed = , coordinates = , pushpin_map = , type = Independent school (UK), Independent day school , religion ...

, Bliss moved to

St John's College, Oxford St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded as a men's college in 1555, it has been coeducational since 1979.Communication from Michael Riordan, college archivist Its founder, Sir Thomas White, intended to pro ...

, initially as a student and then as a Fellow from 1809. After ordination in 1818, he was appointed curate of Newington, Oxfordshire and later rector of

Avening Avening is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England, about north of Tetbury. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,094, decreasing to 1,031 at the 2011 census. Nearby is Gatcombe Park ...

, Gloucestershire, but had little interest in parish work. He wrote for various publications and produced reprints of historical works. He worked at the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

in Oxford from 1808 onward – he had had an interest in books and

book collecting Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given collector. The love of books is ''bibliophilia'', and someo ...

from childhood and accumulated a large collection, particularly relating to Oxford and poets of the 16th and 17th centuries – and began to publish his own works. He was also involved in the production of a new edition of Antony Wood's ''Athanae Oxonienses'' (1813 to 1820), although only the first volume of four was printed. He spent some months in 1822, on the staff of the British Museum but returned to the Bodleian as junior sub-librarian at the prompting of his friend

Bulkeley Bandinel Bulkeley Bandinel (21 February 1781 – 6 February 1861) was a British scholar, ecclesiastic and librarian. Early life He was born in the parish of St Peter-in-the-East, Oxford, first-born son of Rev. Dr. James Bandinel of Netherbury by his wif ...

(

Bodley's Librarian The head of the Bodleian Library, the main library at the University of Oxford, is known as Bodley's Librarian: Sir Thomas Bodley, as founder, gave his name to both the institution and the position. Although there had been a university library at ...

1813–1860), resigning in 1828 after his appointment in 1824 to the post of Registrar of the University of Oxford. He resigned as registrar in April 1853, before the

Oxford University Act 1854 The Oxford University Act 185417 & 18 Vict c 81, sometimes called the Oxford University Reform Act 1854 or the University Reform Act 1854,Sabine Chaouche. Student Consumer Culture in Nineteenth-Century Oxford. Palgrave Macmillan. 2020p 231 Assoc ...

was implemented, with a pension of £200. He was also

Keeper of the Archives The position of Keeper of the Archives at the University of Oxford in England dates from 1634, when it was established by new statutes for the university brought in by William Laud ( Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of the University) ...

from 1826 ("a post in which his penchant for accumulation seems to have impeded administrative efficiency", says one writer) and principal of

St Mary Hall St Mary Hall was a medieval academic hall of the University of Oxford. It was associated with Oriel College from 1326 to 1545, but functioned independently from 1545 until it was incorporated into Oriel College in 1902. History In 1320, ...

from 1848 until his death in the principal's lodgings on 18 November 1857. After his death, his correspondence was purchased by the British Museum, and his books were sold for a total of £5,672 14 s (about £ in modern money); the Bodleian acquired 745 of his books. According to one writer, his "prominence and diligence in university business and his polished manners made him the embodiment of the traditions of ''ancien régime'' Oxford". One historian of the University of Oxford,

Charles Mallet Sir Charles Edward Mallet (2 December 1862 – 21 November 1947), was a British historian and Liberal politician. He was knighted in 1917. Life He was the only son of the activist Louisa (born Udny) and Charles Mallet, a civil servant. He wa ...

, wrote that Bliss had "mourned over the old traditions which were perishing. But he retained to the last a certain sweet, old-fashioned courtesy, and a punctual and orderly devotion to his duties, which had not always marked the older ways."

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bliss, Philip 1787 births 1857 deaths English book and manuscript collectors English librarians Keepers of the Archives of the University of Oxford People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood Alumni of St John's College, Oxford Fellows of St John's College, Oxford Principals of St Mary Hall, Oxford English bibliographers Registrars of the University of Oxford