Quick Facts
Biography
Thomas Kerrich (1748–1828) was a clergyman, principal Cambridge University librarian (Protobibliothecarius), antiquary, draughtsman and gifted amateur artist. He created one of the first catalogue raisonnés (for the works of artist Marten van Heemskerck).
Life
He was born at Dersingham in Norfolk, England, where his father, Samuel was the vicar. After graduating B.A. from Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1771, he went on the Grand Tour where he encountered Thomas Coke. Kerrich was a Fellow of Magdalene, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries from 1797.
He collected ancient Roman coins and published papers on architecture, sepulchres and coffins.
In 1816 he bought and restored the Leper Chapel in Cambridge. He gave the chapel to the University, which in turn gave it the Cambridge Preservation Society in 1951. Many art galleries have works by Kerrich in their collections.
His younger daughter, Frances M. Kerrich, was married on 9 December 1828 to Rev. Charles Henry Hartshorne (1802–1865). Kerrich had died earlier that year. His son was the Rev. Richard Edward Kerrich (1801–1872).