Ockley was born at Exeter. He was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. in 1697, MA. in 1701, and B.D. in 1710.[1] He became fellow of Jesus College and vicar of Swavesey, and in 1711 was chosen Adams Professor of Arabic in the university. He had a large family, and his latter days were embittered by pecuniary embarrassments, which form the subject of a chapter in Isaac D'Israeli's Calamities of Authors. The preface to the second volume of his History of the Saracens is dated from Cambridge Castle, where he lay a prisoner for debt.[2]
Ockley maintained that a knowledge of Oriental literature was essential to the proper study of theology, and in the preface to his first book, the Introductio ad linguas orientales (1706), he urges the importance of the study.[2]
He died at Swavesey.
Works
The History of the Saracens, is his main work. It was published in two volumes, 1708–1718, and long enjoyed a great reputation; unfortunately Ockley took as his main authority a manuscript in the Bodleian of Al-Waqidi's Futúh al-Shám, which is rather historical romance than history.[1]
A translation of Leon Modena's History of the Present Jews throughout the World (1707).
An Aᴄᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ of Sᴏᴜᴛʜ-Wᴇsᴛ Bᴀʀʙᴀʀʏ: ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ What is most Remarkable in the Territories of the Kɪɴɢ of Fᴇᴢ and Mᴏʀᴏᴄᴄᴏ. Written by a Person who had been a Slave there a considerable Time; and Published from his Authentick Manuscript. To which are Added, Two ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀs: One from the Present King of Mᴏʀᴏᴄᴄᴏ to Colonel Kirk; The Other to Sir Cloudesly Shovell: With Sir Cloudesly's Answer, &c. London: Printed for J. Bowyer and H. Clements, 1713. [2]
Sentences of Ali son-in-law of Mahomet, and his fourth successor. Translated from an Arabic manuscript in the Bodleian library at Oxford. London, B. Lintot, 1717.[2]
References
^"Ockley, Simon (OKLY693S)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ abcOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ockley, Simon". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 990.
simon, ockley, 1678, august, 1720, british, orientalist, contents, biography, works, references, further, reading, external, linksbiography, editockley, born, exeter, educated, queens, college, cambridge, graduated, 1697, 1701, 1710, became, fellow, jesus, col. Simon Ockley 1678 9 August 1720 was a British Orientalist Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditOckley was born at Exeter He was educated at Queens College Cambridge and graduated B A in 1697 MA in 1701 and B D in 1710 1 He became fellow of Jesus College and vicar of Swavesey and in 1711 was chosen Adams Professor of Arabic in the university He had a large family and his latter days were embittered by pecuniary embarrassments which form the subject of a chapter in Isaac D Israeli s Calamities of Authors The preface to the second volume of his History of the Saracens is dated from Cambridge Castle where he lay a prisoner for debt 2 Ockley maintained that a knowledge of Oriental literature was essential to the proper study of theology and in the preface to his first book the Introductio ad linguas orientales 1706 he urges the importance of the study 2 He died at Swavesey Works EditThe History of the Saracens is his main work It was published in two volumes 1708 1718 and long enjoyed a great reputation unfortunately Ockley took as his main authority a manuscript in the Bodleian of Al Waqidi s Futuh al Sham which is rather historical romance than history 1 A translation of Leon Modena s History of the Present Jews throughout the World 1707 The Improvement of Human Reason exhibited in the Life of Hai Ebn Yokdhan 1708 an English translation of Hayy ibn Yaqdhan a 12th century philosophical novel by Ibn Tufayl Translated from Arabic the Second Book of Esdras An Aᴄᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ of Sᴏᴜᴛʜ Wᴇsᴛ Bᴀʀʙᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ What is most Remarkable in the Territories of the Kɪɴɢ of Fᴇᴢ and Mᴏʀᴏᴄᴄᴏ Written by a Person who had been a Slave there a considerable Time and Published from his Authentick Manuscript To which are Added Two ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀs One from the Present King of Mᴏʀᴏᴄᴄᴏ to Colonel Kirk The Other to Sir Cloudesly Shovell With Sir Cloudesly s Answer amp c London Printed for J Bowyer and H Clements 1713 2 Sentences of Ali son in law of Mahomet and his fourth successor Translated from an Arabic manuscript in the Bodleian library at Oxford London B Lintot 1717 2 References Edit Ockley Simon OKLY693S A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b c One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Ockley Simon Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 19 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 990 Further reading Edit Ockley Simon Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links EditWorks by Simon Ockley at Open Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simon Ockley amp oldid 1107193891, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
