Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys, perhaps the most famous graduate of Magdalene College, is renowned for his detailed diary.

In addition to his literary achievements, he had a significant role as a naval administrator. He left an enduring legacy by bequeathing his vast library of 3,000 books and manuscripts to the College, which remains preserved as he intended.

Born in Salisbury Court, London, on 23 February 1633, Pepys came from a family with strong Cambridgeshire ties. His father, John, was a tailor, while his great-grandfather had acquired the manor of Cottenham. A bright student, Pepys attended St Paul’s School before earning a scholarship to Magdalene College in 1651, graduating in 1654.

Initially considering a career in law, Pepys found himself drawn into public service following the execution of King Charles I. His distant relative, Edward Montague, a Councillor of State under the Cromwellian Protectorate, took him on as a secretary. Shortly after, Pepys secured a clerkship in the Exchequer, allowing him to establish financial independence and marry Elizabeth St Michel in 1655. By 1658, he had moved to Axe Yard near Whitehall, marking the beginning of his journey as a diarist.

Pepys began writing his diary at the age of 27, chronicling his daily experiences with remarkable observational skill. His entries vividly capture both grand event, such as the coronation of Charles II and the Great Fire of London, and the minutiae of everyday life. His ability to recall details and write with immediacy makes his diary one of the most significant historical records of 17th-century England.

Rather than constructing a formal narrative, Pepys presents snapshots of life, juxtaposing government affairs with personal anecdotes, from political debates to domestic squabbles. His keen attention to people, rather than just events, is what makes his diary so engaging and historically valuable.

Pepys’s diary offers an unparalleled glimpse into London in the 1660s, covering a broad social spectrum. His account is particularly significant as it spans two of the city’s greatest disasters: the Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666. His descriptions, both vivid and compassionate, remain among the most powerful first-hand records of these events.

In June 1660, Pepys was appointed Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board, overseeing the royal dockyards. By 1673, he had become Secretary to the Admiralty and a Member of Parliament. His leadership during the Dutch War of 1672–74 and subsequent naval reforms laid the foundation for a professional naval service. He also served as President of the Royal Society from 1684–86.

In his later years, Pepys dedicated himself to expanding his library, amassing a collection of 3,000 meticulously catalogued volumes. His collection remains housed in the same glazed bookcases crafted by dockyard joiners, arranged exactly as he left them. Under the terms of his bequest, the library remains intact at Magdalene College, offering a unique window into his intellectual pursuits.

By 1700, declining health forced Pepys into retirement. He moved to Clapham in 1701, where he passed away on 26 May 1703. His contributions to naval administration and historical scholarship endure, but it is his diary and library that serve as his most personal and enduring legacy.

Samuel Pepys’s life and work continue to fascinate scholars and historians, ensuring his place among the most significant figures in English history.