Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Blagrave, John
BLAGRAVE, JOHN (d. 1611), mathematician, was the son of John Blagrave of Bullmarsh, near Sunning, Berkshire, by Anne, daughter of Sir Anthony Hungerford of Down-Ampney, Gloucestershire, knight. He was born at Reading, but the date of his birth is unknown. He received his early education in his native town, and afterwards entered St. John's College, Oxford. He did not, however, take a degree, but retired to his patrimony at Southcote Lodge, Reading, and devoted himself to his favourite study of mathematics, being esteemed, as Anthony Wood declares, 'the flower of mathematicians of his age.' He published four works, viz.: 1. 'The Mathematical Jewel, shewing the making and most excellent use of a singular instrument so called, in that it performeth with wonderfull dexteritie whatever is to be done either by Quadrant, Ship, Circle, Cylinder, Ring, Diall, Horoscope, Astrolabe, Sphere, Globe, or any such like heretoforth devised,' 1585. 2. 'Baculum Familliare Catholicon sive Generale: a booke of the making and use of a Staffe newly invented by the Author, called the Familiar Staffe, as well for that it may be made usually and familiarlie to walke with, as for that it performeth the Geometrical mensurations of all Altitudes,' &c., 1590. 3. 'Astrolabium Uranicum Generale: a necessary and pleasaint solace and recreation for Navigators in their long jorneying,' 1596. 4. 'The Art of Dyalling, in two parts,' 1609.
In private life Blagrave was distinguished for his charity. His father settled upon him in 1591 the lease for ninety-nine years of lands in Southcote, which he in turn bequeathed to his nephews and their descendants, of whom as many as eighty are said to have benefited. To his native town of Reading he left certain legacies, one of which provided annually the sum of twenty notes to be competed for by three maid servants of good character and five years' service under one master, to be selected by the three parishes of the town. The whimsical conditions of this bequest required that the maids should appear on Good Friday in the town-hall before the mayor and aldermen, and there cast lots for the prize. The losers had the right of competing a second and third time. Blagrave died on 9 Aug. 1611, and was buried, in the same grave as his mother, in the church of St. Lawrence, wherein an elaborate monument of himself, surrounded by allegorical figures, was erected. He married a widow, whose daughter is named in his will, but he left no issue.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (ed. Bliss), ii. 96; Ashmole's Antiq. of Berkshire, 1723. ii. 371; Coates's Hist. of Reading, 1802, p. 430; Biog. Britannica; Chalmers's Biog. Dict.]