FOLKES, MAILTIN, an eminent English antiquary, was the eldest son of Martin Petite& Esq., and was born in Greet Queen street, October 29th, 1090. Ho entered of Clare Hall. Cambridge, in 1707, where his progress in all branches of learning, and more especially In mathematics and philosophy, seas such, that when he was scarcely mars than twenty-three years of ago ho was admitted a Fellow of the ltoyal Society, and two years after had an distinguished himself as to be chosen one of its council. Ilia first communication to the Society was on the aurora borealis of March 30, 1717. Thin was followed at various times by other pipers in considerable numbers, for which it may be sufficient to refer to the Philosophical Transac tions.' Ile was chosen a second time of the council of the Royal Society in 1719, and continued to be re-cliosen every year till 1727 ; Sir Isaac Newton, the president, having in 1723 appointed him one of his vice-presidents. In February 1720 he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
At the first anniversary election of the Royal Society after the death of Sir Isaac Newton, in 1727, Mr. Folkos was competitor with Sir Hans Sloane for the office of president, and his interest was supported by a great number of members, though the choke was determined in favour of Sir Ilene. Ile was however again chosen of the council in 1729, and confirmed in it till he was advanced to the president's chair twelve years after. In the meantime ho was, In 1733, appointed one of the vice-presidents by Sir Hans Sloane. In this year he set out with Ilia whole family on a tour to Italy, and, after residing a considerable time both at Rome and Florence, returned to England in September 1735. The opportunities which he had of consulting the beet furnished cabinets of Italy enabled him to compose there an excellent ' Disscrtatiou on the Weights and Values of ancient Coins.' This was read in the Society of Antiquaries, who requested that a copy of it might be registered in their books, which be promised to give after he had revised and enlarged it; but, for some reason, this was never done. In the same year however, 1736, his Observations on the Trojan and Antonine filler' at Rome' were read in this Society, and afterwards printed in the first volume of their 'Archteo logia,' which contains another paper by him on the brass equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius at Rome, occasioned by a small brass model of it being fonnd uear London. In April he also communicated
to them A Table of English Gold Coins from the 18th year of King Edward III., when Gold was first coined in England, to the present time, with their Weights and intrinsic values ;' which at their desire he printed the same year in 4th; and in 1745 reprinted it with additions, prefixing a larger and more considerable work, entitled 'A Table of English Silver Coins, from the Norman Conquest to the present time, with their Weights, intrinsic Values, and some Remarks on their several Pieces.' Mr. Folkes, in order to illustrate this work had set about engraving, and actually did engrave, 42 copperplates of English silver coins, which were left at the time of Ida death in an incomplete state. These, together with the copyright of the books or tables before mentioned, were purchased by the Society of Anti quaries, December 19th, 1754, for 120L, and the whole published, with great additions, both as to letter-press and plates, under the care of Dr. Andrew Gifford, in 1763.
Mr. Folkes succeeded Sir Hans Sloane as president of the Royal Society in 1741 ; and, in the following year, was chosen to succeed Dr. Halley, as a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris. In 1746 the University of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of LL.D., and he was afterwards admitted to the same degree at Cambridge.
In February 1750 Mr. Folkes, then one of the vice-presidents, succeeded the Duke of Somerset as president of the Society of Anti quaries, an office in which he was continued by the charter of incorpo ration of that Society, November 2, 1751. hut he was noon disabled from presiding in person, either in that or the Royal Society, being seized on September 26th of the same year with a palsy, which deprived him of the use of his left aide. Ile languished till a second stroke put an end to his life, June 28th, 1754.
(Nichols, Anecdotes, ii. 588; end Bowyer Anecdotes, pp. 562-66; Chalmers. Biog. Diet., vol. xiv. pp. 42841.)