William Sandys Wright Vaux (1818–85) was an English antiquary, numismatist, and historian, known for his contributions to Near Eastern and Iranian antiquities. He played a key role in the British Museum and the Royal Numismatic Society, shaping the study of ancient coins and artifacts.
Born in Oxford, England, he was the only son of William Vaux, a prebendary of Winchester Cathedral. He attended Westminster School (1831–36) and Balliol College-Oxford, earning a B.A. (1840) and M.A. (1842.) In 1841, he joined the British Museum’s Department of Antiquities, later becoming Keeper of Coins and Medals (1861–70.) Health issues led to his resignation, but he continued cataloging coins at the Bodleian Library (1871–76.) Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (1868,) he served as Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society (1875–85.)
Vaux authored several influential works, including Nineveh and Persepolis: An Historical Sketch of Ancient Assyria and Persia (1850,) Handbook to the Antiquities in the British Museum (1851,) The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1854,) Ancient History from the Monuments: Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab Conquest (1875,) and Ancient History from the Monuments: Greek Cities and Islands of Asia Minor (1877.) His works helped popularize archaeological discoveries.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by William Sandys Wright Vaux
The hairs of age are messengers which bid us to repent and pray.—Of death they are the harbingers that do prepare the way.
—William Sandys Wright Vaux
Topics: Hair
Leave a Reply