BODLEY, SIR Thomas, English scholar, and founder of the Bodleian Library (q.v.) at Oxford: b. Exeter 1545; d. London 1612. He was educated partly at Geneva, whither his parents, who were Protestants, had retired in the reign of Queen Mary. On the accession of Elizabeth they returned home and he completed his studies at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was graduated in 1563. He afterward be came a fellow of Merton College and read let ters on the Greek language and philosophy. He went to the Continent in 1576 and spent four years in traveling. His proficiency in languages led to his being employed in various embassies to Denmark, Germany, France and Holland. In 1597 he returned home and dedicated the re mainder of his life to the re-establishment and augmentation of the public library at Oxford.
This he accomplished, procuring books and manuscripts himself, both at home and abroad, i at a great expense, and by his influence and persuasion inducing his friends and acquaint ances to assist in his undertaking. Sir Robert
Cotton, Sir Henry Savile and Thomas Allen, the mathematician, were among the principal contributors. The library was opened in 1602, the first public library in Europe. It received so many augmentations that Sir Thomas Bod ley, who was knighted in 1604 by James I, was induced to erect an additional structure for the reception of the increasing quantity of valuable books and manuscripts. He was accorded an elaborate funeral (for the expenses of which he left a sum of 1666) in Merton Chapel. He bequeathed nearly the whole of his property to the support and augmentation of the library. Consult (Reliquim Bodleian& (London 1703).