Matthew Gregson (3 August 1749''Liverpool, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1659–1812'' – 25 September 1824) was an English

antiquary An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic sit ...

Life

Gregson, son of Thomas Gregson, shipbuilder, of

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, previously of

Whalley, Lancashire Whalley is a large village and civil parish in the Ribble Valley on the banks of the River Calder in Lancashire, England. It is overlooked by Whalley Nab, a large wooded hill over the river from the village. The population of the civil parish ...

, was born at Liverpool in 1749. He was many years in business as an upholsterer, and when he retired in 1814 had amassed considerable property. Although of deficient education he took a deep interest in literature and science, and especially devoted attention to the collection of documentary and pictorial illustrations of the history of Lancashire. These he used in compiling his ''Portfolio of Fragments relative to the History and Antiquities of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster'', which he brought out in 1817 in three

folio The term "folio" () has three interconnected but distinct meanings in the world of books and printing: first, it is a term for a common method of arranging Paper size, sheets of paper into book form, folding the sheet only once, and a term for ...

parts. The second and enlarged edition is dated 1824, and the third, edited and indexed by

John Harland John Harland (1806–1868) was an English reporter and antiquary. Life Harland was born at Kingston upon Hull, and learned the trade of printing. He gained facility in shorthand, and a report in 1830 of a sermon by John Gooch Robberds led ...

(1806–1868), a fellow antiquary specializing in Lancashire, came out in 1867. This work led to his election as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and to his honorary membership in the

Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, the oldest provincial antiquarian society in England, was founded in 1813. It is a registered charity under English law. It has had a long-standing interest in the archaeology of the North East ...

. He was offered knighthood by the

Prince Regent A prince regent or princess regent is a prince or princess who, due to their position in the line of succession, rules a monarchy as regent in the stead of a monarch, e.g., as a result of the sovereign's incapacity (minority or illness) or ab ...

on presenting a copy of the book, but declined the dignity. He often wrote on antiquarian subjects in the ''

Gentleman's Magazine ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' was a monthly magazine founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1907, ceasing publication altogether in 1922. It was the first to use the term '' ...

''. He played an energetic part in developing the public institutions of his native town, especially the Blue Coat School, the Liverpool Library, the

Royal Institution The Royal Institution of Great Britain (often the Royal Institution, Ri or RI) is an organisation for scientific education and research, based in the City of Westminster. It was founded in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, inc ...

, Botanic Gardens, and

Liverpool Academy of Arts The Liverpool Academy of Arts was founded in Liverpool in April 1810 as a regional equivalent of the Royal Academy, London. It followed the Liverpool Society of Artists, first founded in 1769, which had a fitful existence until 1794. Two local a ...

. He introduced the art of lithography into Liverpool, and used it in his ''Fragments''. He was elected in 1801 a member of the

Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...

, and in 1803 received the gold medal of that society "for his very great attention to render useful the articles remaining after public fires". He had shown that paint, varnish, and printers' ink could be produced from burnt grain and sugar. He was a most charitable and hospitable man, and his house, ever open to his acquaintances, acquired the title of "Gregson's Hotel". He was twice married, first to Jane Foster; and secondly, to Anne Rimmer of Warrington, and he left several children. He died aged 75, after a fall from a ladder in his library. A monument to his memory was afterwards placed in St. John's churchyard, Liverpool.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gregson, Matthew 1749 births 1824 deaths 18th-century English antiquarians 19th-century English antiquarians Businesspeople from Liverpool Accidental deaths in England Accidental deaths from falls