BIRCH, THOMAS, was born in London in the year 1705. His parents were Quakers ; and his fa ther, who was a maker of coffee-mills, intending to instruct him in his own profession, consented with re luctance to indulge his predilection for literary pur suits. He received the elements of grammatical edu cation at Hemel Hempsted, in Hertfordshire, where he afterwards officiated as usher. He sustained the same office in several other public seminaries, and was always remarkably attentive to promote his own im provement by the opportunities of information which they afforded. He never enjoyed the benefit of an university education ; but took orders in the church of England, about. the year 1728 ; and married, soon after, the daughter of a Mr Cox, to whom he was acting in the capacity of a curate. His wife died •about twelve months after marriage ; and Mr Birch, upon that occasion, wrote a copy of verses of consi derable merit, which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, and are inserted, with much approbation, in Mrs Rowe's miscellaneous works. Having been recommended to Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, he was presented by him to the living of lilting in Essex, A. D. 1732 ; and in 173-1, was appointed domestic chaplain to the unfortunate Earl of Kiimar noel:. In 1735, he was chosen a member of the Royal Society, under the patronage of Sir Hans `• Sloane ; and was soon afterwards admitted also into the society of antiquaries. He passed through a va riety of preferments ; and the last which he attained, was the rectory of Debden in Essex, A. D. 1761. He received the degree of doctor of divinity from the Mareschal college of Aberdeen ; was elected one of the secretaries of the Royal society ; became also a trustee of the British museum ; and was held in great respect by a number of literary friends ; when he was suddenly killed by a fall from his horse, A.D. 1766,
in the 61st year of his age. Dr Birch had been very liberal to his relations during his life; but as none of his near 'kindred survived him, he bequeathed his books and manuscripts to the British museum ; and left the remainder of his fortune, about €500, for the purpose of increasing the salaries of the assistant li brarians. His literary productions were exceedingly numerous; but chiefly confined to history and biogra phy. He wrote the greater part of the General Dictionary, historical and critical, 10 vols. folio ; a variety of lives and memoirs ; several historical disqui sitions ; a number of communications to the Royal society ; a history of its progress and transactions ; and left behind him an incredible collection of ma nuscript extracts and transcripts. Though not ig norant of classical learning, Dr Birch was di,tinguish ed chiefly by the variety of his knowledge. He ex celled in modern history, particularly in that of his own country ; and though by far too minute in his details, is admitted to have been a most judicious com piler. By his habits of early rising and regular ap plication, he was able to accomplish his numerous literary undertakings; and, at the same time, to en joy a great degree of general intercourse in society. He was of a chearful and social temper ; of simple and unaffected manners ; of a very obliging and bene volent disposition ; and a friend to civil and religious liberty. See Biog. Britannica, and Biog. Diction aril. (q)