WILKINSON, Sir Joint GARDNER, a distinguished traveler and archmologist, was the son of the late rev. John Wilkinson, of Hardendale, in Westmoreland, and was born on the 5th of October, 1797. Having lost both his parents at an early age he was left under the guardianship of the rev. Dr. Yates, by whom he was sent to Harrow school in 1813, and to Exeter college, Oxford, three years later. While a boy, young Wilkinson had a strong desire to enter the navy, principally with a view to seeing foreign countries. Ile also in early life showed a great fondness for architecture and sculpture. While at Har row he made sketches of all the churches within a radius of some miles from the school; and, while at Oxford, often employed himself in drawing from the objects contained in the Arundel collection. He still further cultivated his taste for architectural antiquities by trips on the continent, made during his college vacations. On taking his B.A. degree lie resolved upon making a wider tour on the continent. While in he became acquainted with sir W. Gell, who, perceiving his taste for archteological research, strongly urged him to make an extensive survey of the remains of Egyptian civilization; and in Oct., 1821, he set out for Alexandria, as a starting-point for his explorations. He took up his abode at Cairo, where he learned Arabic, both to read and speak; he also studied Coptic. Making Cairo his head-quarters he now traveled through and investi gated almost every part of Egypt and Lower Nubia. Twice he ascended the Nile as far as the second cataract, and several times as far as Thebes. At the latter famous site he spent more than twelve months in making explorations; he also visited the deserts on either side of the river, and the Egyptian oases. During subsequent visits he completed the exploration of those deserts, and, in fact, made a complete survey of Egypt, on a scale of about 10 in. to a degree, which ur.fortunately, for the interests of science; has not yet been published. The same might have been the case with his Surrey of Thebes, had not the author engraved and published it at his own expense. As a result of his
first visit to Egypt, Wilkinson transmitted to the British museum mere than 300 anti quarian objects, besides numerous specimens of natural history. Willtinson's first resi dence in Egypt extended over a period of twelve years, during which time he composed and published his first two works on Egyptian subjects—viz., Materia Ilieroglyphica; containing the Egyptian Pantheon and the Succession of the Pharaohs, from the Earliest Times to the Conquest by Alexander, and other hieroglyphical Subjects: with Plates and .Notes explanatory of the same. The preface to this work is dated Pyramids of Geezeh, July, 1828; " but it was printed and revised for the author at Malta in the same year. This work wasiollowed by Extracts from several Hieroglyphical Subjects, found at Thebes and other parts of Egypt, with Remarks on the same—also printed at Malta in 1830, but with a dedication to sir W. Gell, dated " Thebes, 1827." In the same year (1830), he published his Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tape, Thaba, or Diospolis Magna, in six sheets. In 1833, Wilkinson, in consequence of ill health, was obliged to return to Eng land. In 1835 he published Topography of Thebes, and General View of Egypt (Lond. John Murray). This was followed in 1837 by Manners and Customs of the Ancient Ea?.
thins, including their Private Life, Government, Laws, Arts, .3fanufactures, Religion, and Early History; derived front a Comparison of the Paintings, Sculptures, and Monuments still existing with the Accounts of Ancient Authors : illustrated by drawings of those Subjects (3 vols. Loud. John Murray). This work at once obtained great popularity, both from the extent and soundness of its information, and the agreeable style in which it was written. It was highly spoken of by the critics; and obtained for Win also the honor of knighthood, with which he was invested in 1839. Many things of importance were, however, omitted in it, which he afterward published in A Second Series of the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, including their Religion, Agriculture, etc. (2 vols.