HAKLUYT, or HACIILIFYT, RICHARD, an English author, was b. in 1552. While at Westminster school lie eagerly perused narratives of voyages and travels, and continued this course at Christ-church, Oxford, whither he proceeded in 1575. Being appointed lecturer on geography or cosmography in that university, lie introduced the use of globes and other geographical appliances into English schools. Private individuals, as well as commercial companies and towns, consulted him respecting nautical enterprises. an the year 1584 he went as chaplain to the English embassy to Paris, where he had T, au d n i re's manuscript narrative of the discovery of Florida printed, first in French ;ind afterwards in English. at his own expense. On his return to England, with the assistance of sir Walter Raleigh, he began to collect materials for the history of the discoveries made by his countrymen. He published the fruits of Ids researches, in notices of more than 200 voyages, under the title Principal Karigations, Voyages, Traf figues, and Discoveries of the English Nation, (Lon d. 1589 ; new edit., 5 vols. Loud. 1809-12).
Government rewarded him by bestowing upon him a prebend in 'Westminster abbey, and a living in Suffolk. A work entitled A Seleetion of Curious, Rare, and Early Voy ages and Histories of Interesting Discoveries, etc., chiefly published by Hakluyt, or at his suggestion, but not included in his celebrated compilation (4to, Load. 1812), forms a supplement to the above works. He died in 1610, and was buried in Westminster abbey. Hakluyt's unpublished Manuscripts were made use of by Perches•in his Pilgrims. An island in Baffin's bay was named after him by Bylot, and a promontory in Spitzbergen by Hudson. The Ilak,tuyt Society, instituted in 1846, likewise took its name from him. Its object is the publication of all the histories of the earlier voyages and travels.