Charles Octavius Swinnerton Morgan

Octavius Morgan
Born	September 15, 1803 Newport
Died	August 5, 1888
Nationality	Welsh
Education	Westminster School, Christ Church, Oxford
Occupation	Politician
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	no
Relatives	Charles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar, was his elder brother.

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. He was a significant benefactor to the British Museum.^[1]

Background 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 Rodney Morgan and Charles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar, were his elder brothers. He was educated at Westminster School in London and at Christ Church, Oxford, gaining an M.A. in 1832.

Career

Morgan was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Fellow of the Royal Society and the President of the Royal Archaeological Institute. In 1832 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Morgan had inherited an ample fortune and in 1839 he had "The Friars" rebuilt for his use in the Elizabethan style. The Friars had at one time been home to Carmelite monks. He was said to have filled the house with "Tudor furniture, more curious than useful".^[2] Morgan had an octagonal preaching platform installed half way up the main wooden staircase where he would conduct services every day. 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. The substantial brass lock is still on the door of his house and it has seven subsidiary controls.^[2]

Morgan sat as Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire from 1841 to 1874 for the Conservatives. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Monmouthshire.

He had been elected to Society of Antiquaries but was not active until 1848 after which he was Vice-President more than once.^[3] Morgan published papers on astrolabes and episcopal rings and early communion plate. In 1872 he published a valuable guide to the monuments in the Priory Church of St Mary in Abergavenny.^[3]

The Mechanical Galleon that Morgan gave to the British Museum.^[4]

During his lifetime Morgan made a number of generous donations to the British Museum including the automaton known as the Nef or Mechanical Galleon in 1866.^[4]

Morgan never married and died on 5 August 1888 aged 84.^[5] He was buried in his family's vault at St Basil's Church at Bassaleg in Monmouthshire. He left his clock collection, astronomical instruments and episcopal rings.^[6] His astrolabes included the 14th century astrolabe used to call the failthful to prayer in Damascus.^[7] Morgan's collections of papers including his translations of Welsh poetry are in the National Library of Wales.

Today his house's extensive dairy and orangery are gone as his home is now (2010) an educational facility for the Welsh National Health Service but it is said that the house is still adorned with Latin inscriptions hidden within wooden carvings and a grand imported German fireplace bearing his initials.^[2]

References

1. ^ History of the collection, British Museum, accessed July 2010
2. ^ ^{a b c} History of the Friars, Gwent Clinical School, Wales NHS, accessed July 2010
3. ^ ^{a b} J. A. Jenkins, ‘Morgan, Charles Octavius Swinnerton (1803–1888)’, rev. Brynley F. Roberts, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 27 July 2010
4. ^ ^{a b} Octavius Morgan (1803-88), British Museum, accessed July 2010
5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
6. ^ British Museum
7. ^ Astrolabic quadrant, made by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mizzi, British Museum, accessed July 2010

External links

• Welsh Biography Online
• www.thepeerage.com

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Lord Granville Somerset William Addams Williams	Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire 1841–1874 With: Lord Granville Somerset 1841–1848 Edward Arthur Somerset 1848–1859 Poulett Somerset 1859–1871 Lord Henry Somerset 1871–1874	Succeeded by Lord Henry Somerset Frederick Courtenay Morgan

Persondata
Name	Morgan, Charles Octavius Swinnerton
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	15 September 1803
Place of birth	Newport
Date of death	5 August 1888
Place of death