Erasmus biography
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The Life of Erasmus.
Notes
First edition of Knight's biography of the Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus, who first visited England in , later spending a number of years Cambridge. This copy with the frontispiece and plates listed in the list of cuts, with the additional plates as called for in Lowndes. Samuel Knight was an English clergyman and antiquary, he served as chaplain to King George II from to and as Archdeacon of Berkshire from to John Jortin, a subsequent biographer of Erasmus, commented "Dr Knight's work is indeed confused and not over elegant, but it contains many good materials" (Jortin, ).
This copy has appealing provenance, from the library of Robert J. Hayhurst, heir to a chain of Lancashire dispensing chemists, and discriminating collector of 18th-century literature in well-preserved contemporary bindings - his bookplate appears on the front free endpaper, opposite two newspaper clippings about Erasmus's time in England pasted to the front free binder's blank.
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Erasmus of Rotterdam
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Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus
BORN: October 27,
DEATH: July 12,
BIRTHPLACE: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Who Was Erasmus?
Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam was one of Europe's most famous and influential scholars. A man of great intellect who rose from meager beginnings to become one of Europe's greatest thinkers, he defined the humanist movement in Northern Europe. His translation to Greek of the New Testament brought on a theological revolution, and his views on the Reformation tempered its more radical elements.
Early Life
Erasmus rose from obscure beginnings to become one of the leading intellectual figures of the early Northern Renaissance. Most historians believe that he was born Gerard Gerardson in (with many noting his probable birthdate as October 27) in Rotterdam, Holland. His father, believed to be Roger Gerard, was a priest, and his mother was named Margaret, the daughter of a physician. He was christened with the name
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Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus was a Renaissance humanist and theologian committed to reforming the Catholic Church without breaking away from it. Titled Prince of the Humanists, his writing expressed a desire to return to a more simplistic view of religious affairs.
Although he was born out of wedlock, Erasmus was dearly cared for bygd his parents until their death bygd the Plague, and afterward he was sent to the top monastic schools of his day. There he learned the importance of a close relationship with God, though he disapproved of the strict rules and regulations imposed by the religious brothers and sisters. After he finished his schooling, poverty forced him to join the priesthood, but he happily abandoned the monastic life when he was offered a position as secretary to the Bishop of Cambray. He was given temporary leave on the grounds of ill health, although he retained the title of secular priest. Erasmus received the bishops permissi