Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Oldys, Valentine

1430597Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 42 — Oldys, Valentine1895Ronald Bayne

OLDYS or OLDIS, VALENTINE (1620–1685), poet, son of Valentine Oldis, was born in 1620, and educated at Cambridge. He was made M.D. of Cambridge per literas regias on 6 Oct. 1671, and honorary member of the College of Physicians on 30 Sept. 1680. He died in 1686, and was buried near his father in Great St. Helen's, by St. Mary Axe. Oldis published 'A Poem on the Restoration of King Charles,' 1660, fol., and was a patron of literature and men of letters. He is among the contributors of commendatory verses to Henry Bold's 'Poems Lyrique, Macaronique, Heroique, &c.,' London, 1664, and has one of the poems in the volume addressed to him. He also contributed to Alexander Brome's 'Songs, and other Poems,' London, 1664. John Phillips dedicated to Oldis his 'Macaronides: or Virgil Travesty,' London, 1673.

[Memoirs of the Family of Oldys, Birch MS. (Brit. Mus.); Munk's Coll. of Phys. i. 415; Corser's Collectanea Anglo-Poetica, iv. 1., 34, 36; Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary, xxiii. 339.]

R. B.