Taylor Combe FRS (1774 – 7 July 1826) was an English numismatist and archæologist.

Life

He was the eldest son of Dr.

Charles Combe Charles Combe FRS M.D. (1743–1817) was an English physician and numismatist. Life He was born on 23 September 1743, in Southampton Street, Bloomsbury, London where his father, John Combe, carried on business as an apothecary. He was educate ...

, the physician and numismatist. He was educated at

Harrow School (The Faithful Dispensation of the Gifts of God) , established = (Royal Charter) , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent schoolBoarding school , religion = Church of E ...

and at

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 ...

, where he graduated B.A. on 5 June 1795, M.A. 10 July 1798. In 1803, he obtained an appointment in the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

, and superintended the collection of coins and medals. In 1807, he became keeper of the department of antiquities, the coins still remaining in his charge. In 1814, he was sent to Zante, to carry out the purchase of the Phigaleian marbles. Combe was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in 1806, and was secretary to it from 1812 to 1824, during which period he edited the ''

Philosophical Transactions ''Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'' is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society. In its earliest days, it was a private venture of the Royal Society's secretary. It was established in 1665, making it the first journa ...

''. He joined the

Society of Antiquaries of London A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societ ...

in 1796, became its director in 1813, and superintended the publication of the later portions of the ''

Vetusta Monumenta ''Vetusta Monumenta'' is the title of a published series of illustrated antiquarian papers on ancient buildings, sites and artefacts, mostly those of Britain, published at irregular intervals between 1718 and 1906 by the Society of Antiquaries o ...

''. He contributed many articles to '' Archæologia''. Combe held his keepership till his death, which took place, after a long illness, at the British Museum on 7 July 1826. He was buried on 14 July, in the family vault in the

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest mus ...

burial-ground.

Legacy

Combe's library of classical and numismatic books, together with a collection of prints and some of his manuscripts, was sold by auction at

Sotheby's Sotheby's () is a British-founded American multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, and ...

on 7 December 1826 and eleven following days. The sum realised was £1,879 15''s''. 6''d''. A medal of Combe, by

Benedetto Pistrucci Benedetto Pistrucci (29 May 1783 – 16 September 1855) was an Italian gem-engraver, medallist and coin engraver, probably best known for his Saint George and the Dragon design for the British sovereign coin. Pistrucci was commissioned by ...

and W. J. Taylor, was struck after his death.

Works

As numismatist and archæologist Combe published these works, issued officially by the Museum trustees: * ''Veterum populorum et regum numi qui in Museo Britannico adservantur'', London, 1814. This catalogue of the Museum Greek coins was superseded by the ''Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum'', begun in 1873. * ''Description of the Anglo-Gallic Coins in the British Museum'', London, with engraved plates. The volume was edited and published after his death by Edward Hawkins. * ''A Description of the Collection of Ancient Terracottas in the British Museum'', London, 1810, with forty engraved plates. * ''A Description of the Collection of Ancient Marbles in the British Museum'', London, 4to—parts i–iv. (1812–20), and a considerable portion of part v. (1826), which was completed and published after his death by Hawkins. The ''Description'' was carried on by Hawkins,

Charles Robert Cockerell Charles Robert Cockerell (27 April 1788 – 17 September 1863) was an English architect, archaeologist, and writer. He studied architecture under Robert Smirke. He went on an extended Grand Tour lasting seven years, mainly spent in Greece. H ...

, and Samuel Birch (parts vi–xi. 1830–61).

Family

Combe married, in 1808, Elizabeth, daughter of Dr.

Edward Whitaker Gray Edward Whitaker Gray (21 March 1748 – 27 December 1806), English botanist and secretary to the Royal Society, was uncle of Samuel Frederick Gray, author of ''The Practical Chemist.'' Educational and professional roles While attending the C ...

References

External links

* ;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Combe, Taylor 1774 births 1826 deaths Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford English numismatists English archaeologists Fellows of the Royal Society Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London People educated at Harrow School