Background

Elias Ashmole was born at Lichfield on the 23rd of May 1617. ‌‌He was the only child of Simon Ashmole, a Lichfield saddler, and Anne Ashmole (nee Bowyer). His father, though following the trade of a saddler, was a man of good family, who had seen much service in Ireland. His mother, whose maiden name was Bowyer, was closely related to James Pagitt, a Baron of the Exchequer.

Education

In keeping with the family’s humble social position, Elias was educated at Lichfield Grammar School, in the expectation that he would enter a craft. Through the intervention of James Pagit, a relative of the Bowyer family, he settled in London, however, and there obtained legal training.

At some point he studied mathematics and physics at his lodgings, Brasenose College. In 1690, he was magnificently entertained by the University of Oxford, which had conferred upon him the degree of MD.

Career

In 1638 Ashmole established a law practice but practiced only sporadically, for he was involved in the Royalist faction during the first part (from 1641 to 1646) of the Civil War. A fortunate marriage then provided him with independent means that reduced his reliance on the income from his law practice. In 1660 Ashmole’s loyalty to the crown was rewarded by Charles II, who granted him the offices of comptroller of the excise and Windsor herald. He was successful in both offices; the former provided a large income, and he devoted his intellectual energies to the latter. He contributed greatly to the revival of English heraldry and in the course of his work gained an encyclopedic knowledge of its history and complex rules.

His chambers at the Middle Temple and South Lambeth house were used to display substantial and famous antiquarian collections. Ashmole’s office at the College of Arms brought him considerable social prestige, and he became well known in court circles.

While serving in the Oxford garrison in 1645, Ashmole became acquainted with the Royalist astrologers George Wharton and Sir John Heydon. After retiring from the conflict in 1646, he formed his most significant and lasting astrological friendship, with the Parliamentarian astrologer William Lilly, who had greatly contributed to the revival of astrology in England. Ashmole’s first published writings were two short translations of astrological works included in Lilly’s Worlds Catastrophe (1647).

Ashmole aspired to publish the “choicest flowers” of alchemical literature, and his first book, the Fasciculus chemicus (1650), was a modest translation of works by Arthur Dee and Jean d’Espagnet. By this time he had embarked upon a more ambitious enterprise - the restoration of English astrology. He hoped to produce a comprehensive collection of English verse and prose alchemical works, drawn from manuscript sources. This project had an auspicious beginning with the publication of the Theatrum chemicum Brittanicum (1652), a collection of verse alchemical works that displayed Ashmole’s industry, erudition, and editorial skill. The Prolegomena indicate familiarity and agreement with the leading themes of Hermetic philosophy.

After the publication of this work, Ashmole’s alchemical activities diminished. The only other English alchemical work he published was The Way to Bliss (1658). Ashmole was mildly interested in experimental science, became a founding fellow of the Royal Society in 1660, and made significant bequests to the society’s museum.

Ashmole’s other scientific activities diminished considerably after 1660, as he concentrated on the duties connected with his crown appointments. His major intellectual energies were increasingly absorbed by the compilation of the history of the Order of the Garter, begun in 1655 and completed in 1672. This book has become a major reference work on many aspects of heraldry. At the same time he continued collecting books, manuscripts, and archaeological and scientific “rarities.” This was not an uncommon avocation among the gentry of Restoration England, but Ashmole exceeded others in his zeal for collection and in his desire to replace ephemeral personal “cabinets” with permanent public museums.

In 1675 he offered his collections to Oxford University, on the condition that suitable housing was provided for it. The university gladly complied, and the elegant museum, designed by Thomas Wood, was opened in 1683. This was the first English public museum, and Ashmole actively supervised its affairs. He added to the collections and persuaded other collectors, notably the zoologist Martin Lister, to make donations.

His protégé, Robert Plot, who shared his patron’s alchemical interests, was appointed keeper of the museum and first professor of chemistry. The museum was equipped with a laboratory that became the focus for scientific activities at Oxford. Thus, paradoxically, Ashmole created the institutional basis for the growing tradition of experimental science while himself representing the declining magical and astrological outlook.

Ashmole ultimately also bequeathed his library to this institution. It was invaluable as regards manuscripts but equally so in printed books until damaged by a fire at the Temple in 1679, which had also destroyed his collection of medals.

He closed his industrious and prosperous life on 18th May 1692, and is interred in South Lambeth Church under a black marble slab with a Latin inscription, promising that his name shall endure as long as his museum.

Achievements

• 

  Elias Ashmole was mostly known as an antiquary, early freemason, and a founding Fellow of the Royal Society, but he is known best as a collector, having donated to the University of Oxford in 1683 his collections of books, manuscripts, and artefacts, many of which had belonged previously to John Tradescant the younger. He stipulated that a special repository be constructed to house them, the Ashmolean Museum, of which the first two keepers were Dr. Robert Plot and Edward Lhwyd respectively.
  
  Ashmole is known for much else besides his collections, however. He was an astrologer, with a keen interest in alchemy, publishing on that subject firstly under the pseudonym James Hasolle Fasciculum Chemicus (London, 1650), and following this with The Way to Bliss (London, 1658). In 1652, he published his most important alchemical work, Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, an extensively annotated compilation of metaphysical poems in English.
  
  Between 1660 and 1675, he was an officer-of-arms, acting as Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary, assisting after the restoration of Charles II in the revival of heraldic visitations. Between 1665 and 1666, he was involved in carrying out the visitation of Berkshire and, after his death, his research into the history of the county was published as The Antiquities of Berkshire by Elias Ashmole. In the years following the Restoration, Ashmole assisted in the revival of the Order of the Garter and his work on its history was printed in The Institution, Lawes and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (London, 1672).

Works

More photos

• book

  • Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum

    (Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum (Translated into English) C...)

    2018
  • The Glory of Light - Kindle edition by Elias Ashmole

    ("The Glory of Light" by the alchemist Elias Ashmole is a ...)

    2018
  • Memoirs of the life of that learned antiquary, Elias Ashmole, Esq; drawn up by himself by way of diary. With an appendix of original letters.

    (The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)

    2010
  • The Book of Treasure Spirits

    (THE BOOK OF TREASURE SPIRITS Conjurations of Goetic spiri...)

    2018
  • Theatrum Chemicum Brittannicum 1992
  • The History of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and the Several Orders of Knighthood in Europe 2010
  • Theatrum Chemicum Brittannicum And The Way to Bliss 2010
  • The Way to Bliss in Three Books 2018
  • The lives of those eminent antiquaries Elias Ashmole, esquire, and Mr. William Lilly 1774
  • The Visitation Of Berkshire, 1664-6, By Elias Ashmole, Windsor Herald, Ed. By W.c. Metcalfe... 2012
  • The Lives of Those Eminent Antiquaries Elias Ashmole, Esquire, and Mr. William Lilly, Written by Themselves; Containing, First, William Lilly's ... Lilly's Life and Death of Charles the Firs 2012
  • Alchemical Fragments Copied From Thomas Charnock's Own Handwriting 2010
  • The Hunting Of The Green Lyon: An Alchemical Treatise 2010
  • The Mystery Of Alchemists - Pamphlet 2006
  • The Black Monke Upon The Elixir: An Alchemical Treatise - Pamphlet 2006
  • The True Philosopher's Stone - Pamphlet 2006
  • Experience And Philosophy: Insights Into Alchemy - Pamphlet 2006
  • The Alchemical Vision Of Sir George Ripley - Pamphlet 2006
  • The Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter: A Work Furnished with Variety of Matter, Relating to Honor and Noblesse 2018

Views

In religious and political matters he was excessively conservative and orthodox. His closest friends, however, were drawn from the eccentric and varied class who shared his obsession with alchemy and astrology. These interests showed no diminution in his later life, despite his association with the Royal Society, whose view of nature undoubtedly did not accord with his own.

Ashmole’s scientific outlook was deeply influenced by the mathematicians and astrologers with whom he associated during the Civil War. Both factions in the war made use of astrology, which became a fashionable and respectable scientific pursuit; its influence affected various disciplines from mathematics to medicine.

From astrology, Ashmole gradually extended his interests to botany, medicine, and stenography. Inevitably, alchemy attracted him, and he became the eager pupil of William Backhouse of Swallowfield, Berkshire. Alchemy appealed to Ashmole’s mystical and antiquarian instincts. As a practical and contemplative study, it appeared to offer the key to the secrets of nature; its antiquarian aspect lay in the collection and publication of the rare and often corrupt texts that formed the basis for its theory.

Ashmole saw no incompatibility between the occult sciences that he favored and the experimental natural philosophy that was becoming a dominant influence among his contemporaries. He regarded them as complementary means of discovering the fundamental principles of natural philosophy.

Membership

Ashmole became one of the founding Fellows of the Royal Society in 1661, but he was not very active in the society. He became a freemason on October 16, 1646 in Warrington and was a member of the London Mason Company.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• "The greatest virtuoso and curioso that ever was known or read of in England before his time."

Connections

Ashmole married three times but had no children. His first wife was Eleanor Manwaring; the second was a rich widow, Lady Mary Manwaring (née Forster); the third was Elizabeth Dugdale, daughter of Sir William Dugdale, Ashmole’s friend and a prominent antiquarian.

Father:

Simon Ashmole

Mother:

Anne Ashmole (nee Bowyer)

protege:

Robert Plot

Ashmole`s protégé, Robert Plot, who shared his patron’s alchemical interests, was appointed keeper of the English public museum that Ashmole opened, as well as first professor of chemistry.

ex wife:

Eleanor Manwaring 1603–1641

She died suddenly in 1641.

ex wife:

Mary Manwaring 1597–1668

Wife:

Elizabeth Dugdale 1632–1701

associate:

George Wharton

While serving in the Oxford garrison in 1645, Ashmole became acquainted with the Royalist astrologer George Wharton.

Acquaintance:

John Heydon

In 1645, Ashmole became acquainted with the Royalist astrologer Sir John Heydon.

Friend:

William Lilly

After retiring from the conflict in 1646, Ashmole formed his most significant and lasting astrological friendship, with the Parliamentarian astrologer William Lilly.

mentor:

William Backhouse

Inevitably, alchemy attracted Ashmole, and he became the eager pupil of William Backhouse of Swallowfield, Berkshire.

References

• Elias Ashmole: His Autobiographical and Historical Notes, his Correspondence, and Other Contemporary Sources Relating to his Life and Work A scholarly edition of Elias Ashmole's autobiographical and historical notes, his correspondence, and other contemporary sources relating to his life and work. The edition presents an authoritative text, together with an introduction, commentary notes, and scholarly apparatus.
  1967
• The Antiquities of Berkshire. by Elias Ashmole The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century
  2011
• Elias Ashmole, 1617-92: The Founder of the Ashmolean Museum and His World
  1983
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  2006
• INDEX TO THE CATALOGUE OF THE MANUSCRIPTS OF ELIAS ASHMOLE, FORMERLY PRESERVED IN THE ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM AND NOW DEPOSITED IN THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY, OXFORD.
  1866
• Elias Ashmole
  1978
• The Magus of Freemasonry: The Mysterious Life of Elias Ashmole--Scientist, Alchemist, and Founder of the Royal Society A comprehensive look at the life of Elias Ashmole, who represents the historic missing link between operative and symbolic Freemasonry • Explores the true role of occult and magical studies in the genesis of modern science • Explains the full meaning of the term magus, which Ashmole exemplified Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) was the first to record a personal account of initiation into Accepted Freemasonry. His writings help solve the debate between o
  2006
• The Hiramic Legend and the Ashmolean Theory: Foundations of Freemasonry Speculations on Masonry by Anderson and others. Origins to which the Hiramic Legend is ascribed. The Ashmolean theory. The Third Degree a modern institution. Inigo Jones. Sir Robert Murray. Elias Ashmole, his personal history and associations. The disappearance of Masonic Records. Inferences from the formula of the Degree. The trend of the Legend. Habits of thought in the 17th century. The Stuart family and the Craft. A Masonic tradition of the Midlands. The decline of Masonry before the Revival. The destruction of documents in 1720. Objections to the Ashmolean theory. Observations and conclusion.
  2014
• Elias Ashmole: Founder of the Ashmolean Museum
  2017
• Elias Ashmole: England's Masonic Pioneer
  2010