Sir William Jones 1746-1794: A Commemoration

Sir William Jones was one of the greatest polymaths in history. At the time of his early death in 1794 he knew 13 languages thoroughly and a further 28 moderately well, yet his languages were to him only a means of reaching a deeper understanding, in contrasting cultures, of law, history, literature, music, botany, and other disciplines. Elected at the age of 26 to Johnson’s Literary Club and knighted at 37, Jones was a close friend to leading English luminaries of the time. Known as ‘Oriental Jones’, his study of middle-eastern cultures, championship of American independence, and finally his appointment as high court judge in Calcutta, made him a universal figure. On the bicentenary of his death a group of scholars met at University College, Oxford - his old college - to commemorate his outstanding career and achievements. They identified representative themes in Jones’s life and work, aiming to strike a balance and to remember, in particular, the view taken of Jones by his informed contemporaries. This volume publishes the results of the ‘Jones Day’ conference.