OWEN, HUMPHREY (1702-1768), principal of Jesus College, Oxford, and Bodley's librarian;
b. in 1702, son of Humphrey Owen, Gwaelod, Nant-y-meichiaid, Meifod, Mont. He matriculated from Jesus 17 Nov. 1718, aged 16; graduated in 1722 (D.D. 1763); and was elected Fellow in 1725. He was given the rectory of Tredington (Worcs.) in 1744, and held it till 1763, despite his appointment as Bodley's librarian in Nov. 1747. In May 1763 he was elected principal of his college, and was also given the college living of Rotherfield Peppard, but retained his librarianship. He appointed an unusual number of Welshmen (including, e.g. his successor John Price, 1734-1813, q.v.) to posts in Bodley. E. G. Hardy calls him ‘a respectable, if not distinguished, librarian.’ He d. 26 March 1768, and was buried in the college chapel.
Bibliography:
- D.N.B.;
- R. Williams, Mont. Worthies;
- Hardy, Jesus College, 167-8;
- Foster, Alumni Oxon..
Author:
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D., F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor.
