Letter 1024

Covel thanks Sloane for his favours. He asks for another on behalf of a friend, Francis Vigani, who wants to fill the vacant chemist’s position at Apothecary Hall. John Covel (Colvill, Covell) (1638-1722) attended Christ’s College Cambridge, obtaining a BA in 1658 and MA in 1659. He studied medicine and then served in office at Constantinople beginning in 1672. During this time, Covel collected paintings, coins, medals, books, curiosities, and manuscripts while studying the Greek Church. He returned to England and eventually became the master of Christ’s College and keeping up correspondence with may English scholars. ((Elisabeth Leedham-Green, Covel , John (16381722), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6471, accessed 4 July 2011]).