About the book

“The contributors are foremost experts in their field and have covered all matters Plumian – his legacies, his family, his character, his will, his trust, the library collection, the building in which it is housed, Kent connections and the continuing professorship at Cambridge. It is an outstanding collection and literally covers the good doctor’s life from cradle to grave, as well as all the things that have come down to us today.” Stephen Nunn, Maldon and Burnham Standard

“The volume is well-illustrated with sixty-seven monochrome images, and a coloured portrait of its subject on the front cover. The essays are written by specialists in their respective fields and are well-referenced. The work is equipped with appropriate bibliographical apparatus in the form of a comprehensive bibliography, a detailed index, and an appendix transcribing Plume's long and complicated will. Hence it presents a fitting memorial to the man and his library.” David Stoker, Library and Information History Journal

“This is a fascinating glimpse into the life and works of a 17th century clergyman, who turned his back on the local tradition of Puritanism and who was not averse to science nor the accumulation of wealth. Famous names wander in and out of the story, especially when dealing with the Civil War and Commonwealth, giving the reader reference points where simple dates may not register and it is almost seen as a given that Plume would appear at Court representing his bishop or act as a cleric to the monarch. His legacies in Kent and Essex endure to this day as does the Astronomy professorship at Cambridge. The biographies and sections on the library offer the most to the casual reader… they are very good and valuable descriptions of how charitable bodies were founded and administered in past centuries as opposed to the corporate approach one sees today.” John Barrett, The Essex Family Historian

“The editors are to be congratulated on successfully bringing together a range of disparate authors, subjects and historiographical approaches into a single coherent volume… The illustrations are plentiful and there is a helpful map for those of us unfamiliar with the detailed geography of Kent and Essex. As with the best local history this volume has an interest that extends beyond its ostensible geographical constraints. The accounts of Dr Thomas Plume and his library illuminate aspects of late Stuart churchmanship, scholarly practice and intellectual life, while those concerning the implementation of his charitable bequests will be of interest to anyone researching the origin and development of a local charity.” Jan Broadway, The Local Historian

Dr Thomas Plume, born in Maldon in Essex in 1630, is remembered today for the many bequests he left which established important scientific, religious and cultural charities. Still operational today are the Plumian Professorship of Astronomy at Cambridge University, the Plume Library at Maldon and the Plume Trust for poor clergy in the Diocese of Rochester.

This volume provides the first comprehensive account of the life, work and philanthropy of Plume. Educated at Chelmsford Grammar School and Christ’s College, Cambridge, Plume was vicar of Greenwich from 1658 and archdeacon of Rochester from 1679, holding both posts until his death in 1704. At Greenwich he was noted favourably for his preaching by Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn on more than one occasion. He died a wealthy man and his will contained 79 bequests.