Anthony Askew

Anthony Askew (1722–1774) was an English physician and is best known for having been a book collector. His collection was purchased by the British Museum and books purchased by George III of England were added to the King's Library.

Askew was born in 1722 in Kendal, Westmorland, the son of Dr. Adam Askew, a well-known physician of Newcastle and Ann Crackenthorp. He was baptised in Kendal on 7 May 1722. The family moved to Newcastle in 1725.

His early education was at Sedbergh School and The Royal Free Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne. According to a fellow physician, he was terrified of the formidable Head Master, Richard Dawes.

He was married twice. He first married Margaret Swinburn; they had no children. The second time to Elizabeth Holford, by whom he had twelve children, six girls and six boys. Elizabeth was born in 1734 and died on 2 August 1773.

He took the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.) at Emmanuel College, Cambridge in December 1745.

Initially intended for the medical profession, Askew studied for one year at Leiden University in Holland. He then travelled to Hungary, Athens, Constantinople, Italy, and other countries. He began to collect valuable books and manuscripts he laid the foundation of the extensive library, the Bibliotheca Askeviana.

He started medical practice at Cambridge in 1750, in which year he took his degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), and afterwards established himself in London. He was physician to St. Bartholomew's and Christ's Hospital, and Registrar of the College of Physicians from 1767 until 1774.

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