William Huddesford

William Huddesford
Born	1732 Oxford
Died	1772
Nationality	British
Occupation	Cleric
Known for	Ashmolean Museum
Relatives	George Huddesford was his brother

William Huddesford (1732—1772) was Curator of the Ashmolean Museum from 1755 to 1772. Huddesford is credited with reinventing the Museum's reputation.

Huddesford was baptized at St Mary Magdalen's Church, Oxford, on 15 August 1732. His father, George Huddesford, was the President of Trinity College, Oxford. He himself attended Trinity College. His younger brother, also George Huddesford, was a painter and satirical poet. William earned his B.D. in 1767, and he was proctor of Oxford University in 1765.

In 1755, Huddesford took over from his father as keeper of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. Huddesford improved the Museum's reputation. His scholarship and his ability to take advice are cited as reasons for his success. Huddesford cleared out many of the collections to ensure that all the exhibits were essential. Amongst the discarded items were two dodos. These ended up at the University Museum and they inspired Lewis Carroll to include a dodo in the opening chapters of Alice in Wonderland.

Huddesford had been ordained in 1758 and in 1761 he was made the vicar of Bishop's Tachbrook in Warwickshire. Huddesford died unexpectedly at Oxford on 6 October 1772.

...
Wikipedia