14th-century Bishop of Durham, Chancellor of England, Treasurer of England

Richard de Bury

Richard de Bury, also known as Richard Aungerville or Aungervyle, was an English priest, teacher, bishop, writer, and bibliophile.

By globalcelebwiki Auto-import · Published 11 October 2026

Profession
14th-century Bishop of Durham, Chancellor of England, Treasurer of England
Born
1287-01-31
Portrait of Richard de Bury
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Overview

Richard de Bury, also known as Richard Aungerville or Aungervyle, was an English priest, teacher, bishop, writer, and bibliophile. He was a patron of learning and one of the first English collectors of books. He is chiefly remembered for his Philobiblon, written to inculcate in the clergy the pursuit of learning and the love of books. The Philobiblon is considered one of the earliest books to discuss librarianship in-depth. Completed shortly before de Bury's death in 1345, the book wasn't published until 1473, and this "little treatise" as he described it, has been regularly reprinted in every century following.

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