Connop Thirlwall

Connop Thirlwall, historian and bishop of St David's, is buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, in the same grave as his friend George Grote. On a pillar nearby is a white marble bust by sculptor E. Davis. This just has his name on the base.

The inscription on the grave is in English, Latin and Welsh:

Connop Thirlwall, scholar, historian, theologian, for thirty four years bishop of St David's. Born February 11 1797 Died July 27 1875.

A heart wise and well-skilled in discerning judgement.

Gwyn ei fyd 

The Welsh inscription - translated as "His world was blest" - is a reference to the wording of the Beatitudes.

(Newell) Connop Thirlwall was born in London, a son of the Reverend Thomas Thirlwall (died 1827) and his wife Susannah (Connop). He was educated at Charterhouse and published a volume of his compositions when he was only eleven years old. After Cambridge he practised law until he was ordained in 1827. He lectured at the university and then had a living in Yorkshire. He translated some German works and his best known work is his eight volume History of Greece. In 1840 he became bishop of St David's in Wales and died unmarried.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

"Connop Thirlwall" by J.C. Thirlwall, 1936