HEATH, BENJAMIN
Arms.—Sa., 3 heathcocks arg., membered gu. Heath.
[Colle. Medicina Practica. Pisauri, 1617.]
Benjamin Heath (born 20th April 1704, died 13th September 1766) was a son of Benjamin Heath, a merchant of Exeter. He inherited a considerable fortune from his father, and as a young man travelled much on the Continent.
Mr. Heath spent all his life in the pursuit of literature and the collection of books. Among his writings is one of some importance, "Notæ sive Lectiones ad Æschyli, quæ supersunt dramata," published at Oxford in 1762. He was a D.C.L. of Oxford. He also wrote some political pamphlets, and others concerning Shakespeare. Dr. Heath left a large family, and one of his sons became headmaster of Eton. His library was very extensive, and he gave a large portion of it to his sons during his lifetime, and the remainder was sold in 1810.
