Samuel LysonsFSA FRS (1763 – June 1819) was an Englishantiquarian andengraver who, together with his elder brotherDaniel Lysons (1762–1834), published several works onantiquarian topics. He was one of the firstarchaeologists to investigateRoman sites in Britain, and specialised in the study ofmosaics.
He was born atRodmarton nearCirencester, Gloucestershire, the younger son of the Reverend Samuel Lysons (1730–1804) by his wife Mary Peach of Minchinhampton. His elder brother wasDaniel Lysons (1762–1834), his collaborator in much of his work.
In November 1786, Lysons was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.[1] He studied law atBath in Somerset and wascalled to the Bar at theInner Temple in 1798. Having chosen theOxford Circuit, he practised law until December 1803. He served as director of theSociety of Antiquaries of London from 1798 to 1809. He was elected a Fellow of theRoyal Society in 1797 and later served as vice-president and treasurer (1810–1819) of the Society.[2] Shortly before he died, he also served as antiquary professor in theRoyal Academy. His portrait was painted by, among others,Academicians SirThomas Lawrence andGeorge Dance the Younger.
From 1803 until his death in 1819 he wasKeeper of the Records in the Tower of London, then one of the principal storage sites for historic government documents and other archives until the opening in 1838 of thePublic Record Office inChancery Lane (nowThe National Archives,Kew). He wrote the descriptions forCadell & Davies' version ofBritannia Depicta.
Lysons died in June 1819, near Rodmarton,Cirencester, Gloucestershire, his birthplace.
Samuel Lysons' works included:
