Walter de Gray Birch

For other people with the same name, see Walter Birch (disambiguation).
Walter de Gray Birch
Birch at the Turin Academy of Science in 1900, age 58.
Born(1842-01-01)1 January 1842
Died8 March 1924(1924-03-08) (aged 82)
OccupationsCurator, Editor, Librarian
Academic background
EducationCharterhouse School
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge
Academic work
DisciplineHistory, Philology
Sub-disciplineAnglo Saxon Studies, Heraldry
InstitutionsBritish Museum, Department of Western Manuscripts

Walter de Gray Birch FSA (1 Jan 1842 – 8 March 1924)[1] was an English historian, editor and author. He is best known for his Cartularium Saxonicum — A Collection of Charters Relating to Anglo-Saxon History, which supersedes John Mitchell Kemble's Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici.

Early life and education

Walter was born on New Year's Day 1842, the son of Dr Samuel Birch, Keeper of the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum, and Charlotte F. Gray, sister of John Edward Gray.[2] He was educated in Charterhouse School and Trinity College, Cambridge, and started work as curator of western manuscripts in the British Museum in 1864, age 22,[1][3] transcribing and cataloguing Anglo-Saxon charters.[4]

Career

Birch was a prolific author whilst in his position as curator of western manuscripts at the British Museum. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Member of the Royal Academies of Seville and Turin and honourable member of the Hispanic Society of America. He held the positions of Honourable Secretary, Editor, Vice-President, and Treasurer for many years of the British Archaeological Association.

During his tenure at the British Museum he transcribed and published most of the surviving Anglo Saxon Charters as the Cartularium Saxonicum in three volumes between 1885-1893, plus an index to named persons in 1899.[5]

In 1902 he left the British Museum to become personal librarian and curator to the 4th Marquess of Bute.[1]

Death

Birch died in Monte Carlo on 8 March 1924.[1]

Notable Works

His large output includes:

  • John Mitchell Kemble. Walter de Gray Birch (ed.). The Saxons in England: A History of the English Commonwealth till the Period of the Norman Conquest. Vol. (2 vols).
  • Walter de Gray Birch (1902). A History of Neath Abbey.
  • Walter de Gray Birch. History of the Scottish Seals. Vol. (2 vols).
  • Walter de Gray Birch. Domesday Book: A popular account of the Exchequer Manuscript so called. Vol. (2 vols).

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "DR. W. de Gray Birch". Nature. 113 (2839): 468–468. March 1924. doi:10.1038/113468b0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  2. ^ "Walter De Gray Birch - Celebrating Hampshire's Historians - Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society". hantsfieldclub.org.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Birch, Walter de Gray, 1842-1924 (curator) | ArchiveSearch". archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Cartularium Saxonicum". Waterstones. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Walter de Gray Birch | Kemble". dk.robinson.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
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