PEPYS, SAMUEL, SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
Arms.—Quarterly.
1st and 4th; sa., on a bend or, between 2 nags' heads erased arg., 3 fleurs-de-lys of the field. Pepys.
2nd and 3rd; gu., a lion rampant within a bordure engrailed arg. Gray.
Crest.—A camel's head erased or, bridled, lined, ringed, and gorged with a ducal coronet or.
Helmet.—That of an Esquire.
Motto.—Mens cuiusque is est quisque.
[Several books in the Pepys Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge.]
[The Pepys Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge.]
Variety.—A shield lettered "SAM. PEPYS CAR. ET IAC. ANGL. REGIB. A SECRETIS ADMIRALIÆ."
Behind the shield are two fouled anchors.
Crest and helmet as in the preceding example.
[Books at Magdalene College, Cambridge.]
[The Pepys Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge.]
Samuel Pepys (born 23rd February 1632, died 26th May 1703) was the son of John Pepys of Cottenham, in Cambridgeshire. He was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and became clerk of the Acts of the Navy in 1660.
In 1673 Mr. Pepys was Secretary to the Admiralty, and he introduced several admirable reforms in the management of that office, which he retained until 1689. He accompanied Lord Dartmouth to Tangier, and made several expeditions to the Continent and about the coasts of England.
In 1690 he published his Memoirs concerning the navy of England, a very important work. In 1684 Mr. Pepys was President of the Royal Society. He left a considerable library to his old College at Cambridge, manuscripts as well as printed books, and also several prints. Pepys kept a curious Diary in cypher from 1659 to 1669. It has been deciphered and published several times, but the best edition is that issued by Mr. H. B. Wheatley in 1893.
