William Backhouse

William Backhouse (1593 - 1662) was a renowned English Rosicrucian philosopher, alchemist, and astrologer. He was born on 17th January 1593 at Swallowfield Park, some 5 miles south of Reading in the county of Berkshire, a younger son of Samuel Backhouse. He entered Christ Church, Oxford, in 1610, but left the university without taking a degree.cite web | title = Berkshire History: Biographies: William Backhouse (1593-1662) | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/wbackhouse.html | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | year = 2002 | accessdate = 2007-08-29]

Backhouse married Anne the daughter of Brian Richards of Hartley Wespall in Hampshire, by whom he had two sons (who predeceased him) and a daughter, Flower. Backhouse also adopted Elias Ashmole, founder of the Ashmolean Museum, as his son, encouraging him in his studies. Flower Backhouse married, firstly, William Bishop of South Warnborough; secondly, her father's kinsman, Sir William Backhouse, Bart.; and, thirdly, Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon. cite web | title = Berkshire History: Biographies: William Backhouse (1593-1662) | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/wbackhouse.html | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | year = 2002 | accessdate = 2007-08-29]

Backhouse died at Swallowfield on 30th May 1662.cite web | title = Berkshire History: Biographies: William Backhouse (1593-1662) | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/wbackhouse.html | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | year = 2002 | accessdate = 2007-08-29]

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