Robert Fysher (baptised 1698, died 1749) was an English librarian who served as

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 ...

, the head of 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- ...

at the University of Oxford, from 1729 to 1747.

Life

Little is known of Fysher's early life, beyond the fact that he was baptised in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 30 December 1698, the home town of his father, who was also called Robert. In 1715, at the age of 16, he matriculated at the University of Oxford as a member of Christ Church, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1718. He transferred to

Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...

in 1723, was promoted to Master of Arts in 1724, and was awarded a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1725. He was elected as a Fellow of Oriel in 1726. He won the election to become

on 2 December 1729, beating Francis Wise by 100 votes to 85. Thereafter, he completed the library catalogue (with Emmanuel Langford) that had been begun by

Joseph Bowles Joseph Bowles (1692 or 1693 – 1729) was an English librarian, who served as Bodley's Librarian, the head of the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, from 1719 until his death. Information Bowles, from Shaftesbury, Dorset, matriculat ...

(Librarian 1719–1729). As well as his work as Librarian, he assisted Oriel College by acting as Dean for three terms (1727, 1731–1732 and 1734–1735) and as both Junior and Senior Treasurer. Ill-health towards the end of his life inhibited his work at the library; he died on 4 November 1749 in

Sevenhampton, Wiltshire Sevenhampton is a small village in the borough of Swindon, in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, England. It is about south of the town of Highworth and northeast of central Swindon. In 1212 the toponym was recorded as ''Suvenhantone'', mean ...

, and was buried in the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fysher, Robert 1690s births 1749 deaths English librarians Bodley's Librarians Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford Fellows of Oriel College, Oxford Burials in Oxfordshire