Samuel Pepys

Magazine Antiques, July, 2003 by Miriam Kramer

Samuel Pepys was born in 1633, the son of a tailor. In 1656 he entered the household of Sir Edward Montagu, who later became first earl of Sandwich, and because of Montagu's patronage he was able to improve his lot considerably. Pepys became a civil servant and rose to secretary of the Admiralty; he also served as a member of Parliament and president of the Royal Society.

Apart from a brief spell in Tangier he lived most of his life in London and documented the capital of the mid-seventeenth century in his famous diary Between 1660 and 1669 he wrote in cipher about his everyday life as well as commenting on the political upheavals of the day Among the events he chronicled were the return of Charles H from exile in 1660 and the Great Fire of London in 1666. His diary was first published in 1825.

Two exhibitions have been organized in London to commemorate the three hundredth anniversary of Pepys's death. At the National Portrait Gallery, a display entitled Restoration Lives. Samuel Pepys and His Circle is on view until September 28. The curator is Tamya Cooper, and the accompanying publication, by Richard Ollard, is distributed in North America through the Antique Collectors' Club and may be obtained by telephoning 800252-5231. The Museum of London's exhibition Pepys London can be seen until November 3 and focuses on the city that the diarist knew and described. Its curator is Hazel Forsyth, and the show is sponsored by the Corporation of Trinity House. There is no catalogue.

The two museums have jointly organized a conference to be held on September26 and 27, at which the speakers will include Pepys's recent biographer Claire Tomalin and other scholars. Further information may be obtained from the Museum of London at 44-20-7814-5777.