Thomas Birch
(1705-1766), HistorianEarly Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 4 portraits
Born in Clerkenwell to Quaker parents, Thomas Birch took up a career in the Church of England, being baptized in December 1730 and ordained as a priest in December 1731. He became rector of Ulting, Essex in 1732, the first of several church appointments. Birch was elected a Fellow of both the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Society in 1735, serving as secretary of the latter from 1752 to 1765. Birch wrote of most of the biographical entries in the General Dictionary, Historical and Critical (1734-41), a Life of the Right Honourable Robert Boyle (1744) and a History of the Royal Society of London (1756-7). He died in 1766 following a fall from his horse.
by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, circa 1735
NPG 522
by James Macardell, after James Wills
mezzotint, (1737)
NPG D18963
by John Faber Jr, after James Wills
mezzotint, 1741
NPG D732
by and published by John Faber Jr, after James Wills
mezzotint, 1741
NPG D19855
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