Octavius Morgan


Charles Octavius Swinnerton Morgan DL, JP, FRS, FSA, 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 observed: 'The protoacademic
approach of nineteenth-century collectors,
such as Octavius Morgan and Augustus Wollaston Franks, 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. 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:

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:

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...'.
Today his house's extensive dairy and orangery are gone because his home is currently a post-graduate education centre for the of the of . 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.