Evelyn, John
, third son of the former, was born at his
father’s house at Sayes-court, near Deptford, January 14,
| 1654-5, and was there very tenderly educated in his infancy, being considered (after the death of his brother Richard Evelyn, January 27, 1657, who, though but five years of age, was esteemed a kind of prodigy) as the heir
of the family. He was likewise universally admired for
the pregnancy of his parts, of which he gave a pleasing
proof in a Latin letter written to his father in Dec. 1665,
and which induced his father to send him in 1666 to Oxford, where he remained in the house of the ingenious and
learned Dr. Ralph Bathurst, then president of Trinity-college, before he was admitted a gentleman-commoner, which
was in Easter term 1663. It is not clear at what time he
left Oxford; but Mr. Wood seems to be positive that he took
no degree there, but returned to his father’s house, where
he prosecuted his studies under the directions of that great
man. There is, however, good reason to believe that it
was during his residence in Trinity-college, and when he
was not above fifteen years of age, that he wrote that elegant Greek poem which is prefixed to the second edition
of the Sylva, and is a noble proof of the strength of his
genius, and wonderful progress in learning in the early
part of his life. In Nov. 1675, he set out for Paris with
lord Berkley, ambassador to the French court; and in May
1676, returned to England. He discovered his proficiency
soon afterwards, both in the learned and modern languages,
by his elegant translations, as well as his intimate acquaintance with the muses, in some original poems which were
very justly admired. If we consider the father’s turn of
mind, we need not wonder that he should employ his pen
first upon gardening, especially in the easy way of translation, and from a book so justly as well as generally admired as the French Jesuit’s has ever been. The title of
our author’s little treatise was, 1. “Of gardens, four
books, first written in Latin verse, by Renatus Rapinus;
and now made English by John Evelyn, esq.” 1673, 8vo.
His father annexed the second book of this translation to
his “Sylva,” and it must be allowed that the sense is very
faithfully rendered, and the poetry is more easy and harmonious than could have been expected from a youth of
his age. 2. “The life of Alexander the great,” translated from the Greek of Plutarch, printed in the fourth
volume of Plutarch’s lives by several hands. 3. “The history of the grand visiers, Mahomet and Achmet Coprogli;
of the three last grand signiors, their sultanas, and chief
| favourites; with the most secret intrigues of the seraglio,”
&c. Lond. 1677, 8vo. This was a translation from the
French, and has been esteemed an entertaining and instructive history. Our author wrote also several poems
occasionally, of which two are printed in Dryden’s Miscellanies, and more are in Nichols’s Collection of Poems.
The one entitled “On virtue,” has been esteemed excellent in its kind by the best judges and the other, styled
“The remedy of love,” has been also much admired. On
Feb. 24, 1679-80, he married Martha, daughter and coheiress of Richard Spenser, esq. Turkey merchant, whose
widow married sir John Stonehouse, of Radley, in Berks,
bart. Mr. Evelyn, who had a turn for business as well as
study, and had been introduced to the prince of Orange
in 1688, was in 1690 made one of the chief clerks of the
treasury, and quitting that situation in 1691, became one
of the commissioners of the revenue in Ireland, which
country he visited in 1692. He would probably have been
advanced to higher employments if he had not been cut
off in thd flower of his age, dying at his house in Berkeleystreet, London, March 24, 1698, in the forty-fifth year of
his age. He had by his wife two sons and three daughters.
His eldest son, Richard, -died an infant at Sayes-court, as
did his eldest daughter Martha Mary. His second daughter, Elizabeth, married Simon Harcourt, esq. eldest son
and heir of Simon lord viscount Harcourt, lord high chancellor of Great Britain, by whom she became mother to
the first earl Harcourt. Jane, his third daughter, died an
infant at his house in the parish of St. Martin’s in the fields,
and was interred at Kensington. John Evelyn, his second
and only surviving son, born at Sayes-court, March 2,
1681, succeeded to his grandfather’s estate. He was married at Lambeth chapel, September 18,- 1705, to Anne,
daughter of Edward Boscawen, of Worthivil, co. Cornwall, esq. He was by letters-patent bearing date July 30,
1713, created a baronet. This worthy gentleman, who inherited the virtue and learning as well as the patrimony of
his ancestors, made several alterations and additions to the
family-seat at Wotton, in 1717, one of which was the
erecting a beautiful library, forty-five feet long, fourteen
feet broad, and as many high, for the reception of that
large ajtd curious collection of books made by his grandfather, his father, and himself, and where they still remain. He was long one of the commissioners of the
|
customs, a fellow of the royal society, and was succeeded by
his eldest son, John, who dying in 1767, was succeeded
by sir Frederick Evelyn, on whose death, in 1812, the
title descended to Mr. John Evelyn, the grandson of
Charles, a younger son of the first baronet of the Wotton
branch. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
A Plain favlt in plain-English. And the same in Doctor Fearne: who (upon different grounds) build one error; but this is the best of it, that their difference destroyes the same error, which they would build upon the ruine of Parliaments. (1643) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Of liberty and servitude translated out of the French into the English tongue, and dedicated to Geo. Evelyn, Esquire.De la liberté et de la servitude. English (1649) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The state of France, as it stood in the IXth yeer of this present monarch, Lewis XIIII. Written to a friend by J.E. (1652) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
An essay on the first book of T. Lucretius Carus De rerum natura. Interpreted and made English verse by J. Evelyn Esq; (1656) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
An apology for the royal party: written in a letter to a person of the late Councel of State. / By a lover of peace and of his country. With a touch at the pretended plea for the army. (1659) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
A character of England as it was lately presented in a letter to a noble man of France. (1659) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The golden book of St. John Chrysostom, concerning the education of children translated out of the Greek by J.E., Esq.De educandis liberis. English (1659) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The manner of ordering fruit-trees by the Sieur Le Gendre ... ; wherein is treated of nurseries, wall-fruits, hedges of fruit-trees, dwarf-trees, high-standers, &c. ; written originally in French and translated faithfully into English at the request of severall persons of honour.Manière de cultiver les arbres fruitiers. English (1660) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The late news, or, Message from Bruxels unmasked and His Majesty vindicated from the base calumny and scandal therein fixed on him. (1660) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Instructions concerning erecting of a library presented to my lord, the President De Mesme / by Gabriel Naudeus ... ; and now interpreted by Jo. Evelyn, Esquire.Advis pour dresser une bibliothèque. English (1661) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Fumifugium, or, The inconveniencie of the aer and smoak of London dissipated together with some remedies humbly proposed / by J.E. esq. to His Sacred Majestie, and to the Parliament now assembled. (1661) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
A panegyric to Charles the Second presented to His Majestie the xxxiii. [sic] of April, being the day of his coronation, MDCLXI. (1661) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Tyrannus, or, The mode in a discourse of sumptuary lawes. (1661) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Sculptura, or, The history, and art of chalcography and engraving in copper with an ample enumeration of the most renowned masters and their works : to which is annexed a new manner of engraving, or mezzo tinto, communicated by His Highness Prince Rupert to the authour of this treatise. (1662) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
A parallel of the antient architecture with the modern in a collection of ten principal authors who have written upon the five orders ... : the three Greek orders, Dorique, Ionique, and Corinthian, comprise the first part of this treatise, and the two Latine, Tuscan and Composita, the latter / written in French by Roland Freart, sieur de Chambray ; made English for the benefit of builders ; to which is added An account of architects and architecture, in an historical and etymological explanation of certain tearms particularly affected by architects ; with Leon Baptista Alberti's treatise Of statues, by John Evelyn, Esq.Parallèle de l'architecture antique et de la moderne. English (1664) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The pernicious consequences of the new heresie of the Jesuites against the King and the state by an advocate of Parliament.Pernicieuses conséquences de la nouvelle hérésie des Jesuites contre le roy et contre l'estat. English (1666) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Kalendarium hortense, or, The gard'ners almanac directing what he is to do monethly throughout the year, and what fruits and flowers are in prime / by John Evelyn. (1666) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Publick employment and an active life prefer'd to solitude and all its appanages, such as fame, command, riches, conversation, &c. in reply to a late ingenious essay of a contrary title / by J.E. Esq, S.R.S. (1667) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
An idea of the perfection of painting demonstrated from the principles of art, and by examples conformable to the observations which Pliny and Quintilian have made upon the most celebrated pieces of the antient painters, parallel'd with some works of the most famous modern painters, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Julio Romano, and N. Poussin / written in French by Roland Freart, sieur de Cambray ; and rendred English by J.E., Esquire, Fellow of the Royal Society.Idée de la perfection de la peinture. English (1668) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The history of the three late, famous impostors, viz. Padre Ottomano, Mahomed Bei and Sabatai Sevi the one, pretended son and heir to the late Grand Signior, the other, a prince of the Ottoman family, but in truth, a Valachian counterfeit, and the last, the suppos'd Messiah of the Jews, in the year of the true Messiah, 1666 : with a brief account of the ground and occasion of the present war between the Turk and the Venetian : together with the cause of the final extirpation, destruction and exile of the Jews out of the Empire of Persia. (1669) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Pomona, or, An appendix concerning fruit-trees in relation to cider the making and several ways of ordering it. (1670) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Sylva, or, A discourse of forest-trees, and the propagation of timber in His Majesties dominions as it was deliver'd in the Royal Society the XVth of October, MDCLXII upon occasion of certain quæries propounded to that illustrious assembly, by the Honourable the Principal Officers, and Commissioners of the Navy : to which is annexed Pomona, or, An appendix concerning fruit-trees in relation to cider, the making, and severall wayes of ordering it published by expresse order of the Royal Society : also Kalendarivm hortense, or, the Gard'ners almanac, directing what he is to do monthly throughout the year / by John Evelyn ... (1670) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The Moral practice of the Jesuites demonstrated by many remarkable histories of their actions in all parts of the world : collected either from books of the greatest authority, or most certain and unquestionable records and memorials / by the doctors of the Sorbonne ; faithfully rendred into English.Morale pratique des Jesuites. English. (1670) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Navigation and commerce, their original and progress containing a succinct account of traffick in general : its benefits and improvements : of discoveries, wars, and conflicts at sea, from the original of navigation to this day, with special regard to the English nation : their several voyages and expeditions, to the beginning of our late differences with Holland : in which His Majesties title to the dominion of the sea is asserted, against the novel, and later pretenders / by J. Evelyn ... (1674) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
A philosophical discourse of earth relating to the culture and improvement of it for vegetation, and the propagation of plants, &c. as it was presented to the Royal Society, April 29, 1675. (1676) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
The compleat gard'ner, or, Directions for cultivating and right ordering of fruit-gardens and kitchen-gardens with divers reflections on several parts of husbandry, in six books : to which is added, his treatise of orange-trees, with the raising of melons, omitted in the French editions / by the famous Monsr De La Quintinye ... ; made English by John Evelyn ... ; illustrated with copper plates.Instruction pour les jardins fruitiers et potagers. English (1693) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Numismata, a discourse of medals, ancient and modern together with some account of heads and effigies of illustrious, and famous persons in sculps, and taille-douce, of whom we have no medals extant, and of the use to be derived from them : to which is added a digression concerning physiognomy / by J. Evelyn, Esq. ... (1697) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
Acetaria a discourse of sallets / by J. E. ... (1699) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.
A journey to England With some account of the manners and customs of that nation. Written at the command of a nobleman in France. Made English. (1700) by Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.