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Taylor Combe FRS (8 June 1774 – 7 July 1826) was an English
numismatist A numismatist is a specialist, researcher, and/or well-informed collector of numismatics, numismatics/coins ("of coins"; from Late Latin , genitive of ). Numismatists can include collectors, specialist dealers, and scholar-researchers who use coi ...
and archæologist.


Life

Combe was the eldest son of Dr. Charles Combe, the physician and numismatist. He was educated at
Harrow School Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (school founder), John Lyon, a local landowner an ...
and at
Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is Colleges of the University of Oxford, 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 for ...
, 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 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 ...
, 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 Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; ; ) or Zante (, , ; ; from the Venetian form, traditionally Latinized as Zacynthus) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands, with an area of , and a coastline in ...
, 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 Fellows 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 second journ ...
''. He joined 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 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, part of the London Borough of Camden in England. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural institution, cultural, intellectual, and educational ...
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 multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine art, fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, an ...
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 a coin engraver, probably best known for his Saint George and the Dragon design for the British sovereign coin. Pistrucci was commissioned ...
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 Edward Hawkins (27 February 1789 – 18 November 1882) was an English churchman and academic, a long-serving Provost of Oriel College, Oxford known as a committed opponent of the Oxford Movement from its beginnings in his college. Life He was bo ...
. * ''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 England, English architect, archaeologist, and writer. He studied architecture under Robert Smirke (architect), Robert Smirke. He went on an extended Grand Tour lasting sev ...
, and
Samuel Birch Samuel Birch may refer to: * Samuel Birch (Egyptologist) (1813–1885), British Egyptologist and antiquary * Lamorna Birch (Samuel John Birch, 1869–1955), English artist * Samuel Birch (athlete) (born 1963), Liberian Olympic sprinter * Samuel Birc ...
(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