Octavius Morgan

Charles Octavius Swinnerton Morgan DL, JP, FRS, FSA (15 September 1803 – 5 August 1888), known as Octavius Morgan, was a British politician, historian and antiquary. In 1840, in his capacity as a JP he served on the Grand Jury at Monmouth which found John Frost and his fellow Chartists guilty of high treason. He was a significant benefactor to the British Museum, in which there is a collection that is named after him. Vincent and Leopold (2015:3) observed: 'The protoacademic approach of nineteenth-century collectors, such as Octavius Morgan (1803–1888) and Augustus Wollaston Franks (1826–1897), was instrumental to the establishment and growth of some of the most comprehensive collections of horology, chief among them found in the British Museum, London.'

Early life and education Morgan was born on 15 September 1803. He was the fourth son of Sir Charles Morgan, 2nd Baronet, of Tredegar Park, Monmouthshire, by his wife Mary (née Stoney). Charles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar was his older brother. His nephews included Charles Rodney Morgan, Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar and Col. Hon. Frederick Courtenay Morgan. He was educated at Westminster School in London and at Christ Church, Oxford, gaining an M.A. in 1832.

The Friars, Newport Morgan inherited an ample fortune. Consequently, in 1839 he was able to buy "The Friars", a Grade II listed building in Newport, Wales which he had rebuilt in the Elizabethan style. He had an octagonal preaching platform installed halfway up the main wooden staircase where he would conduct services every day. And he was said to have filled the house with "Tudor furniture, more curious than useful". His congregation would consist of his maids, the housekeeper, bailiff and the boot boy. The lock he had installed on the door reflected his interest in mechanisms and automata. The substantial brass lock is still on the door of his house and it has seven subsidiary controls.

Public life Morgan sat as Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire from 1841 to 1874 for the Conservatives. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Monmouthshire. Morgan belonged to multiple scholarly organizations. He was:

a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, in which he was vice-president on more than one occasion a Fellow of the Royal Society a President of three organizations: the Royal Archaeological Institute, the Cambrian Archaeological Association and the Monmouthshire and Caerleon Antiquarian Association.

Scholarship Morgan had published research papers on multiple subjects including astrolabes, clocks, episcopal rings, early communion plate, local history, watches and watchmaking. In 1852 Morgan had published a series of papers in the Archaeological Journal about the assay and hallmarking of gold and silver, the first information that had been made public on this ancient practice. These sparked public interest in studying and collecting old gold and silver because of the information about its date and origins that can be discovered from the hallmarks. Three later publications were:

1872 - his book 'Some Account of the Ancient Monuments in the Priory Church, Abergavenny', a valuable guide to the monuments in the Priory Church of St Mary in Abergavenny 1882 - his account of the discovery of an ancient Danish vessel at the mouth of the River Usk during the construction of the Alexandra Dock, Newport commissioned by his elder brother Charles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar 1886 - his etymology of 'Tredegar', the name of his ancestral home, which had been published elsewhere five years previously

Later life and death During his lifetime Morgan made a number of generous donations to the British Museum including a nef, an extravagant table ornament automaton known as the Mechanical Galleon in 1866. Morgan never married and died on 5 August 1888 aged 84. He was buried in his family's vault at the Church of St Basil, Bassaleg in Newport. He left his clock collection, astronomical instruments and episcopal rings to the British Museum. His astrolabes included the 14th-century astrolabe used to call the faithful to prayer in Damascus. His collections of papers including his translations of Welsh poetry are in the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. A book published at the time and attributed to his fellow MP, Reginald Blewitt, described Morgan as flippant in his youth and overbearing, arrogant, short and effeminate. In contrast, in 1889, John Evans (archaeologist), the President of the Society of Antiquaries of London, described him as 'a delightful companion, full of information on his favourite subjects, and willing to impart it ...' (Society of Antiquaries, Anniversary, Tuesday, April 30, 1889 ). Today his house's extensive dairy and orangery are gone because his home is currently (2024) a post-graduate education centre for the Royal Gwent Hospital Hospital of the Aneurin Bevan University Hospital of NHS Wales. However, it is said that the house is still adorned with Latin inscriptions hidden within wooden carvings and a grand imported German fireplace bearing his initials.

Publications

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