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Charles Octavius Swinnerton Morgan DL, JP, FRS, FSA (15 September 1803 – 5 August 1888), known as Octavius Morgan, was a British politician, historian and antiquary. In 1840, in his capacity as a JP he served on the Grand Jury at Monmouth which found John Frost and his fellow Chartists guilty of
high treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its d ...
. He was a significant benefactor to the
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
, in which there is a collection that is named after him. Vincent and Leopold (2015:3) observed: 'The protoacademic approach of nineteenth-century collectors, such as Octavius Morgan (1803–1888) and
Augustus Wollaston Franks Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (20 March 182621 May 1897) was a British antiquarian and museum administrator. Franks was described by Marjorie Caygill, historian of the British Museum, as "arguably the most important collector in the history ...
(1826–1897), was instrumental to the establishment and growth of some of the most comprehensive collections of horology, chief among them found in the British Museum, London.'


Early life and education

Morgan was born on 15 September 1803. He was the fourth son of Sir Charles Morgan, 2nd Baronet, of Tredegar Park, Monmouthshire, by his wife Mary (née Stoney).
Charles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar (10 April 1792 – 16 April 1875), known as Sir Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan, 3rd Baronet from 1846 to 1859, was a Welsh Whig peer and a member of the House of Lords. Early life Morgan was ...
was his older brother. His nephews were Charles Rodney Morgan, Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar and Col. Hon. Frederick Courtenay Morgan. He was educated at
Westminster School Westminster School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Westminster, London, England, in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. It descends from a charity school founded by Westminster Benedictines before the Norman Conquest, as do ...
in London and at
Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...
, gaining an M.A. in 1832.


The Friars, Newport

Morgan inherited an ample fortune. Consequently, in 1839 he was able to buy "The Friars", a Grade II listed building in
Newport, Wales Newport ( ) is a city and Principal areas of Wales, county borough in Wales, situated on the River Usk close to its confluence with the Severn Estuary, northeast of Cardiff. The population grew considerably between the 2011 and the 2021 Unit ...
which he had rebuilt in the Elizabethan style. He had an octagonal preaching platform installed halfway up the main wooden staircase where he would conduct services every day. And he was said to have filled the house with "Tudor furniture, more curious than useful".History of the Friars
Gwent Clinical School, Wales NHS, accessed July 2010
His congregation would consist of his maids, the housekeeper, bailiff and the boot boy. The lock he had installed on the door reflected his interest in mechanisms and
automata An automaton (; : automata or automatons) is a relatively self-operating machine, or control mechanism designed to automatically follow a sequence of operations, or respond to predetermined instructions. Some automata, such as bellstrikers i ...
. The substantial brass lock is still on the door of his house and it has seven subsidiary controls.


Public life

Morgan sat as Member of Parliament for
Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...
from 1841 to 1874 for the Conservatives. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Monmouthshire. Morgan belonged to multiple scholarly organizations. He was: * a Fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...
, in which he was vice-president on more than one occasion * a
Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...
* a President of three organizations: the Royal Archaeological Institute, the
Cambrian Archaeological Association The Cambrian Archaeological Association () was founded in 1846 to examine, preserve and illustrate the ancient monuments and remains of the history, language, manners, customs, arts and industries of Wales and the Welsh Marches and to educate t ...
and th
Monmouthshire and Caerleon Antiquarian Association


Scholarship

Morgan had published research papers on multiple subjects including
astrolabe An astrolabe (; ; ) is an astronomy, astronomical list of astronomical instruments, instrument dating to ancient times. It serves as a star chart and Model#Physical model, physical model of the visible celestial sphere, half-dome of the sky. It ...
s, clocks,
episcopal ring An ecclesiastical ring is a finger ring worn by clergy, such as a bishop's ring. As pontifical accoutrements In Western Christianity, rings are worn by bishops of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and other denominations. Eastern Orthodox bishops d ...
s, early communion plate, local history, watches and watchmaking. In 1852 Morgan had published a series of papers in the Archaeological Journal about the assay and hallmarking of gold and silver, the first information that had been made public on this ancient practice. These sparked public interest in studying and collecting old gold and silver because of the information about its date and origins that can be discovered from the hallmarks. Three later publications were: * 1872 - his book 'Some Account of the Ancient Monuments in the Priory Church, Abergavenny', a valuable guide to the monuments in the Priory Church of St Mary in
Abergavenny Abergavenny (; , , archaically , ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales. Abergavenny is promoted as a "Gateway to Wales"; it is approximately from the England–Wales border, border with England and is loca ...
See under 'Publications' below. * 1882 - his account of the discovery of an ancient Danish vessel at the mouth of the
River Usk The River Usk (; ) rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain (''y Mynydd Du''), Wales, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially forming the boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys, it flows north int ...
during the construction of the Alexandra Dock, Newport commissioned by his elder brother
Charles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar (10 April 1792 – 16 April 1875), known as Sir Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan, 3rd Baronet from 1846 to 1859, was a Welsh Whig peer and a member of the House of Lords. Early life Morgan was ...
* 1886 - his
etymology Etymology ( ) is the study of the origin and evolution of words—including their constituent units of sound and meaning—across time. In the 21st century a subfield within linguistics, etymology has become a more rigorously scientific study. ...
of 'Tredegar', the name of his ancestral home, which had been published elsewhere five years previously


Later life and death

During his lifetime Morgan made a number of generous donations to the
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
including a nef, an extravagant table ornament automaton known as the Mechanical Galleon in 1866.Octavius Morgan (1803–88)
British Museum, accessed July 2010
Morgan never married and died on 5 August 1888 aged 84. He was buried in his family's vault at the Church of St Basil, Bassaleg in Newport. He left his clock collection, astronomical instruments and
episcopal ring An ecclesiastical ring is a finger ring worn by clergy, such as a bishop's ring. As pontifical accoutrements In Western Christianity, rings are worn by bishops of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and other denominations. Eastern Orthodox bishops d ...
s to the British Museum. His astrolabes included the 14th-century astrolabe used to call the faithful to prayer in
Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
. His collections of papers including his translations of Welsh poetry are in the
National Library of Wales The National Library of Wales (, ) in Aberystwyth is the national legal deposit library of Wales and is one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies. It is the biggest library in Wales, holding over 6.5 million books and periodicals, and the l ...
in
Aberystwyth Aberystwyth (; ) is a University town, university and seaside town and a community (Wales), community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is the largest town in Ceredigion and from Aberaeron, the county's other administrative centre. In 2021, the popula ...
. A book published at the time and attributed to his fellow MP, Reginald Blewitt, described Morgan as flippant in his youth and overbearing, arrogant, short and effeminate. In contrast, in 1889,
John Evans (archaeologist) Sir John Evans (17 November 1823 – 31 May 1908) was an England, English antiquarian, geologist and founder of prehistoric archaeology. Between 1884 and 1908 he was curator of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, becoming a founding member of the Brit ...
, the President of the
Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...
, described him as 'a delightful companion, full of information on his favourite subjects, and willing to impart it ...'
Society of Antiquaries, Anniversary, Tuesday, April 30, 1889
. Today his house's extensive dairy and orangery are gone because his home is currently (2024) a post-graduate education centre for th
Royal Gwent Hospital Hospital
of th
Aneurin Bevan University Hospital
o
NHS Wales
However, it is said that the house is still adorned with
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
inscriptions hidden within wooden carvings and a grand imported German fireplace bearing his initials.


Publications


Articles

* * * * * * * * * * * * *


Books

* * *


References


Further reading


Welsh Biography Online
*

accessed 20 March 2024.
Octavius Morgan
accessed 20 March 2024. {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Charles Octavius Swinnerton 1803 births 1888 deaths Younger sons of baronets Conservative Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Monmouthshire UK MPs 1841–1847 UK MPs 1847–1852 UK MPs 1852–1857 UK MPs 1857–1859 UK MPs 1859–1865 UK MPs 1865–1868 UK MPs 1868–1874 Fellows of the Royal Society Members of the Cambrian Archaeological Association People associated with the British Museum 19th-century Welsh historians Horology