William Stukeley

English antiquarian (1687-1765) · Academics · Died at 77

William Stukeley was an English antiquarian, archaeologist, physician, Anglican clergyman, and freemason. He was a significant influence on the later development of archaeology and pioneered the scholarly investigation of the prehistoric stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury in Wiltshire.

William Stukeley is read about 41 times a day, in 21 languages.

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Media & music

Photos 10

The Rollright Stones in Oxfordshire, which Stukeley visited, describing it as "the greatest Antiquity we have yet seen... a very noble, rustic, sight" which could "strike an odd terror upon the spectators"[18]

An inward view of Stonehenge from August 1722[33]

A 1776 line engraving of Stukeley, based on a 1727 illustration by I. Whood

Stukeley's drawings such as this 1722 prospect of Kit's Coty House in Kent have provided valuable information on monuments since damaged.

Illustration of Stukeley

A 1721 view of Gloucester Blackfriars by Stukeley

Stukeley's serpent interpretation of the megaliths at Avebury in Wiltshire. Silbury Hill is in the foreground.

Awards

Fellow of the Royal Society

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London

Goulstonian Lectures

About this person

He published over twenty books on archaeology and other subjects during his lifetime.

Academics born in the 1680s 6

Roger Cotes51.9 of 100

John Machin49.1 of 100

Feofan Prokopovich53.2 of 100

Robert Simson48.5 of 100

Brook Taylor54.4 of 100

John Hadley48.0 of 100