Bodley, Thomas (Bodley Thomas)

(1545-1613)
Born in Exeter, March 2, 1545. He studied in Geneva and Modlin College at Oxford, carried out diplomatic missions in Denmark, Germany, France and Holland. He returned to England in 1597 and spent the rest days of the restoration and expansion of the university library at Oxford, became the first public library in Europe (1602). In 1610 'Steyshnerz Company' undertook to deliver the library with a copy of every book that goes in England. In 1604 Bodley was elevated to the dignity of knighthood, and the library was named after him. Bodley died in London on January 28, 1613.