William Camden

William Camden (1551-1623) was an English historian, whose memory is preserved in the name of the Camden Society (founded 1838). Born in London and educated at Oxford University (Pembroke College), Camden became headmaster of Westminster School in 1593. His best-known work is Britannia (1586), a survey of Britain based on his own extensive travels and investigations, written in Latin. In 1597 he became Clarenceux king-at-arms (a heraldic appointment), and in 1615 produced his Annals of the Reign of Elizabeth to 1588. He died at Chislehurst and is buried in Westminster Abbey. He left his books and papers to Sir Robert Bruce Cotton.

External links

An etext of the Annals of the Reign of Elizabeth to 1588 is available at http://eee.uci.edu/~papyri/camden/