Samuel Pepys

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Elizabeth Pepys

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Samuel Pepys (23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man. Pepys had no maritime experience, but he rose by patronage, hard work, and his talent for administration, to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II. His influence and reforms at the Admiralty were important in the early professionalisation of the Royal Navy.

Early Life

Samuel Pepys was born in London, England, in 1633 into a family of modest means. His father, John Pepys, was a tailor, and his mother, Margaret Kite, was the daughter of a whitechapel butcher. Pepys was educated at St Paul's School, after which he attended Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1654.

Career

After university, Pepys entered the household of his cousin Edward Montagu, who would later become the 1st Earl of Sandwich. Through Montagu, Pepys was introduced to the court of Charles II and began his career in the government. In 1660, he was appointed Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board, a position that involved a great deal of administrative work and was crucial to the running of the Royal Navy. His diligent work and reform of the navy's administration were significant in the professionalisation of the navy.

The Diary

Pepys is best known for the diary he kept from 1660 until 1669. Written in shorthand, the diary provides a first-hand account of major events in 17th-century England, such as the Great Plague of London, the Second Dutch War, and the Great Fire of London. It also offers insights into Pepys's personal life, his social and professional networks, and his thoughts on various subjects. The diary is considered an invaluable source of information on the social, political, and cultural life of the period.

Later Life and Legacy

Pepys's health forced him to stop writing his diary in 1669. He continued to work in the naval administration, playing a key role in the development of the Royal Navy. He served as the President of the Royal Society from 1684 to 1686 and was elected as a Member of Parliament for Castle Rising in 1673 and later for Harwich. Pepys retired from public life in 1688 and died in 1703.

His diary was first published in the 19th century and has since been recognized as one of the most important primary sources for the study of the English Restoration period. Pepys's detailed observations and candid reflections provide historians and readers with a vivid picture of 17th-century life.

See Also

• English Restoration
• Diary
• Royal Navy
• Great Plague of London
• Great Fire of London