Thomas Percy

Thomas Percy, clergyman, scholar, poet, was born on 24 April 1729, the son of Arthur Lowe Piercy and his wife Jane Nott. His father was a wealthy wholesale grocer and tobacconist, and later a chamberlain and bailiff of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. The young Percy (he changed the spelling of his name in 1756) exhibited an early interest in tales of chivalry, but also had a precocious literary taste and by the age of 17 had compiled a library of 265 books. He attended Newport School, from where he won an Exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford in 1746. He was awarded his BA in 1750, and three years later was ordained and awarded his MA. He received the living of Easton Maudit in Northamptonshire, which he took up in 1756 when he was also appointed