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{{Short description|English writer, gardener and diarist (1620–1706)}}
{{other people}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = John Evelyn
| honorific_suffix   = {{postnominals|country=GBR|FRS|size=100%}}
| image              = JohnEvelyn1687.jpg
| image_size         = 220
| alt                = Portrait of John Evelyn
| caption            = Evelyn in 1687
| birth_name         = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1620|10|31|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Wotton, Surrey]], England
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1706|02|27|1620|10|31|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Dover Street]], [[London]], England
| other_names        = 
| occupation         = {{Hlist|Writer|gardener|diarist}}
| years_active       = 
| known_for          = 
| notable_works      = 
| spouse             = {{Marriage|[[Mary Evelyn]]|1647}}
| children           = 8, including [[John Evelyn the Younger|John]] and [[Mary Evelyn (poet)|Mary]]
}}
'''John Evelyn''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|FRS}} (31 October 1620{{snd}}27 February 1706), an English writer, landowner, [[gardener]], courtier and minor government official, has become best known as a [[diary|diarist]].  He was a founding Fellow of the [[Royal Society]].<ref>{{cite DNB |wstitle = Evelyn, John (1620-1706) |volume = 18 |last = Stephen |first = Leslie |author-link = Leslie Stephen |pages = 79-83 |short = 1}}</ref>

[[John Evelyn's Diary|John Evelyn's diary]] (or [[memoir]]) spanned the period of his adult life from 1640, when he was a student, to 1706, the year he died. He did not write daily at all times. The many volumes provide insight into life and events at a time before regular magazines or newspapers were published, making diaries of greater interest to modern historians than such works might have been at later periods. Evelyn's work covers art, culture and politics, including the [[execution of Charles I]], [[Oliver Cromwell]]'s rise and eventual natural death, the last [[Great Plague of London]], and the [[Great Fire of London]] in 1666.

''[[John Evelyn's Diary]]'' was first published posthumously in 1818, but over the years became overshadowed by that of [[Samuel Pepys]] (published from 1825 onwards). Pepys wrote a different kind of diary, in the same era but covering a much shorter period, 1660–1669, and in much greater depth.<ref>Chris Roberts, ''Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind Rhyme'', Thorndike Press, 2006 ({{ISBN|0-7862-8517-6}})</ref>

Evelyn wrote on many subjects, but increasingly focussed on gardening, and he left a huge manuscript on the subject that was not printed until 2001. He published several translations of French gardening books, and his [[Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber| ''Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees'']] (1664) was highly influential in its plea to landowners to plant trees, of which he believed the country to be dangerously short. Sections from his main manuscript were added to editions of this, and also published separately.

==Biography==
[[Image:Southover Grange, Lewes.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|left|Southover Grange, Evelyn's childhood home]]
[[Image:Walker, Robert John - Evelyn.jpg|thumb|upright|Evelyn painted by [[Robert Walker (painter)|Robert Walker]], 1648, in the fashionable deshabillé (semi-dressed)]]
[[File:John Evelyn by Hendrick Van der Borcht.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Portrait of John Evelyn by [[Hendrik van der Borcht II]], 1641]]
Born into a family whose wealth was largely founded on [[gunpowder]] production, John Evelyn was born in [[Wotton, Surrey]], and grew up living with his grandparents in [[Lewes|Lewes, Sussex]].<ref>The Kalendarium, edited by E.S. de Beer, Oxford Standard Authors Series, 1959, p. 5: "1625. I was this yeare [...] sent by my Father to Lewes in Sussex, to be wih my Grandfather, wih whom I pass'd my Child-hood."</ref> While living in Lewes, in Southover Grange, he was educated at [[Lewes Old Grammar School]],<ref>The Kalendarium, p. 6: "[1630] For I was now put to shoole to one Mr. Potts in the Cliff; from whom on the 7th of Jan: [...] I went to the Free-schole at Southover neere the Towne, of which one Agnes Morley had been the Foundresse, and now Edw: Snatt the Master, under whom I remain'd till I was sent to the University."</ref> refusing to be sent to [[Eton College]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=5}} After this he was educated at [[Balliol College, Oxford]], and at the [[Middle Temple]]. In London, he witnessed important events such as the trials and executions of [[William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford]], and [[Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford|Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford]].

In 1640 his father died, and in July 1641 he crossed to [[Holland]]. He was enrolled as a volunteer, and then encamped before Genep, on the [[Waal (river)|Waal river]], but his military experience was limited to six days of camp life, during which, however, he took his turn at "trailing a pike". He returned in the autumn to find England on the verge of civil war.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=5}} Having briefly joined the [[Cavalier|Royalist]] army and arrived too late for the Royalist victory at the [[Battle of Brentford (1642)|Battle of Brentford]] in 1642,<ref>The Kalendarium, p. 3: "[He] came in with [his] horse and Armes just at the retreate."</ref> he spent some time improving his brother's property at Wotton,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=5}} but then went abroad to avoid further involvement in the [[English Civil War]].<ref>''The Kalendarium'', p. 47: "finding it impossible to evade the doing of very unhandsome things" [...], "[he] obtayn'd a Lycense of his Majestie [...] to travell againe."</ref>

In October 1644 Evelyn visited the Roman ruins in [[Fréjus]], Provence, before travelling on to Italy.<ref name="Jones2007">{{cite book|author=Ted Jones|title=The French Riviera: A Literary Guide for Travellers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IeTGSDuFU6YC&pg=PA158|date=15 December 2007|publisher=Tauris Parke Paperbacks|isbn=978-1-84511-455-8|pages=xx–}}</ref> He attended anatomy lectures in [[Padua]] in 1646 and sent the [[Evelyn Tables]] back to London. These are thought to be the oldest surviving anatomical preparations in Europe; Evelyn later gave them to the Royal Society, and they are now in the [[Hunterian Museum]]. In 1644, Evelyn visited the [[English College, Rome|English College]] at Rome, where Catholic priests were trained for service in England. In the Veneto he renewed his acquaintance with the famous art collector [[Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel]], and toured the art collections of [[Venice]] with [[Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk|Arundel's grandson and heir]], later [[Duke of Norfolk]]. He acquired an ancient Egyptian stela and sent a sketch back to Rome, which was published by [[Athanasius Kircher|Father Kircher, SJ]], in Kircher's ''Oedipus Aegyptiacus'' (1650), albeit without acknowledgement to Evelyn.<ref>[[Edward Chaney]], ''The Grand Tour and the Great Rebellion'' (Geneva, 1985); idem, ''The Evolution of the Grand Tour'' (London, 2000), idem, "Evelyn, Inigo Jones, and the Collector Earl of Arundel", ''John Evelyn and his Milieu'', eds. F. Harris and M. Hunter (British Library, 2003) and Edward Chaney, "Roma Britannica and the Cultural Memory of Egypt: Lord Arundel and the Obelisk of Domitian", ''Roma Britannica: Art Patronage and Cultural Exchange in Eighteenth-Century Rome'', eds. D. Marshall, K. Wolfe and S. Russell, British School at Rome, 2011, pp. 147–70.</ref>

In [[Florence]], he commissioned the [[John Evelyn Cabinet]] (1644–46), an elaborate [[ebony]] cabinet with [[pietra dura]] and gilt-bronze panels, which is now in the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]]. It was in his London house at his death, then returned to Wotton, and is very likely the "ebony cabinet" in which his diaries were later found.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9058/the-john-evelyn-cabinet-cabinet-on-stand-benotti-domenico/ |title= The John Evelyn Cabinet] |publisher= Victoria & Albert Museum |access-date= 16 October 2023 }}</ref>

In 1647 Evelyn married [[Mary Evelyn|Mary Browne]], daughter of [[Sir Richard Browne, 1st Baronet, of Deptford|Sir Richard Browne]], the English ambassador in Paris.<ref>Douglas D. C. Chambers, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8996 'Evelyn, John (1620–1706)’], ''[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]'', Oxford University Press, September 2004; online edn, January 2008, accessed 13 January 2008.</ref> During the next few years he travelled back and forth between France and England, corresponding with Browne in the royalist interest, including a meeting with [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] in 1647.

During the [[Commonwealth of England]] period, Evelyn desired to maintain using the [[Church of England]]'s [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] practices. Among these was worship according to the ''[[Book of Common Prayer (1604)|Book of Common Prayer]]''. Though prayer book had been outlawed and replaced by the ''[[Directory for Public Worship]]'', Evelyn was able to find and worship at prayer book services, including in London. At one such service–held on [[Christmas Day]], 1657–Evelyn reported that [[Roundhead|Parliamentarians]] "held their muskets against us as we came up to receive the [[Eucharist|Sacred Elements]]". Evelyn would also recount regular usage of the prayer book's offices and its [[liturgical calendar|calendar]] with his family inside their home.<ref>{{cite book|title=Religion in Revolutionary England|editor-last1=Durston|editor-first1=Christopher|editor-last2=Maltby|editor-first2=Judith|last=Maltby|first=Judith|author-link=Judith Maltby|publisher=[[Manchester University Press]]|pages=163–166|date=2006|isbn=0719064058|chapter=Suffering and surviving: the civil wars, the Commonwealth and the formation of 'Anglicanism', 1642–60}}</ref>

In 1651 he became convinced that the royalist cause was hopeless, and decided to return to England.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}} The following year, the couple settled in [[Deptford]] (present-day south-east London). Their house, [[Sayes Court]] (adjacent to the [[Deptford Dockyard|naval dockyard]]), was purchased by Evelyn from his father-in-law in 1653; Evelyn soon began to transform the gardens. In 1671, he encountered master wood-worker [[Grinling Gibbons]] (who was renting a cottage on the Sayes Court estate) and introduced him to Sir [[Christopher Wren]]. There is now an [[Evelyn (ward)|electoral ward called Evelyn]] in [[Deptford|Deptford, London Borough of Lewisham]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behind The Names: London Borough of Lewisham |url=https://www.southlondonclub.co.uk/blog/2017/7/26/behind-the-names-london-borough-of-lewisham |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=South London Club |date=31 July 2017 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He remained a royalist, had refused employment from the government of the Commonwealth, and had maintained a cipher correspondence with [[Charles II of England|Charles II]]; in 1659 he published an ''Apology for the Royal Party''.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}}

===After the Restoration===
It was after the [[English Restoration|Restoration]] that Evelyn's career really took off, and he enjoyed unbroken court favour until his death. He never held any important political office, although he filled many useful and minor posts. In 1660, he was a member of the group that founded the [[Royal Society]]. The following year, he wrote the ''[[Fumifugium]]'' (or ''The Inconveniencie of the Aer and Smoak of London Dissipated''), a pamphlet on the growing air pollution problem in London.<ref>{{cite book |last= Calvert |first= William M. |date= 5 March 2016 |title= The Smoke of London: Energy and environment in the early modern city |publisher= Cambridge University Press |location= Cambridge |chapter= 11 - Evelyn’s place: Fumifugium and the royal retreat from urban smoke |pages= 173–194 |doi= 10.1017/CBO9781139680967.013 |isbn= 978-1-1070-7300-5 }}</ref> He was commissioner for improving the streets and buildings of London, for examining into the affairs of charitable foundations, commissioner of the [[Royal Mint]], and of foreign plantations. During the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]], beginning 28 October 1664, Evelyn served as one of four commissioners on the [[Sick and Hurt Board]] (others included [[D'Oyly baronets|Sir William D'Oyly]] and [[Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh|Sir Thomas Clifford]]),<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WUNRBQAAQBAJ&dq=Thomas+Clifford%2C+1st+Baron+Clifford+of+Chudleigh&pg=PA350 ''The Letterbooks of John Evelyn'', Volume 1, (Douglas D.C. Chambers, David Galbraith, eds.) University of Toronto Press, 2014, p. 350, n.9]{{isbn|9781442647862}}</ref> staying at his post during the [[Great Plague of London|Great Plague]] in 1665. He found it impossible to secure sufficient money for the proper discharge of his functions, and in 1688 he was still petitioning for payment of his accounts in this business. He briefly acted as one of the commissioners of the [[Privy Seal of England|privy seal]]. In 1695 he was entrusted with the office of treasurer of [[Greenwich Hospital, London|Greenwich hospital]] for retired sailors, and laid the first stone of the new building on 30 June 1696.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}}

He was known for his [[silvology|knowledge of trees]], and had a friend and correspondent, [[Philip Dumaresq]], who "devoted most of his time to gardening, fruit, and tree culture."<ref>{{cite DNB |wstitle= Dumaresq, Philip |volume= 16 |last= Goodwin |first= Gordon |author-link= |pages= 145-146 |short= 1}}</ref> Evelyn's treatise, ''[[Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber|Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees]]'' (1664), was written as an encouragement to landowners to plant trees to provide timber for England's burgeoning navy. Further editions appeared in his lifetime (1670 and 1679), with the fourth edition (1706) appearing just after his death and featuring the engraving of Evelyn shown on this page (below) even though it had been made more than 50 years prior by [[Robert Nanteuil]] in 1651 in Paris. Various other editions appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries and feature an inaccurate portrait of Evelyn made by [[Francesco Bartolozzi]].
[[Image:Evelynmotto.jpg|thumb|Evelyn's motto written in a book he bought in Paris in 1651. ''Keep what is better'']]

Evelyn had some training as a draftsman and artist, and created several [[etching]]s. Most of his published work, produced in the form of drawings to be engraved by others, was to illustrate his own work.
[[File:Drawing of family home Wotton House near Guildford by John Evelyn 1640.jpg|thumb|left|Drawing of Wotton House near [[Guildford]] by Evelyn, 1640]]

Following the [[Great Fire of London|Great Fire]] in 1666, closely described in [[John Evelyn's Diary|his diaries]], Evelyn presented the first of several plans ([[Christopher Wren]] produced another) for the rebuilding of London, all of which were rejected by Charles II largely due to the complexities of land ownership in the city. He took an interest in the rebuilding of [[St Paul's Cathedral]] by Wren (with Gibbons' artistry a notable addition). Evelyn's interest in gardens even led him to design pleasure gardens, such as those at [[Euston Hall]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Owen |first=Jane |date=17 April 2014 |title=Duke of Grafton uses R&B to restore Euston Hall's pleasure grounds |work= Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b49f6dd8-c3bc-11e3-870b-00144feabdc0 |access-date= 16 October 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= The history of Euston Estate |url= https://www.eustonhall.co.uk/history |publisher= Euston Estate |access-date= 16 October 2023 }}</ref>

Evelyn was a prolific author and produced books on subjects as diverse as theology, numismatics, politics, [[horticulture]], [[architecture]] and [[vegetarianism]], and he cultivated links with contemporaries across the spectrum of Stuart political and cultural life. In September 1671 he travelled with the Royal court of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] to [[Norwich]] where he called upon Sir [[Thomas Browne]]. Like Browne and Pepys, Evelyn was a lifelong [[bibliophile]], and by his death his library is known to have comprised 3,859 books and 822 pamphlets, his personal manuscripts, and correspondence with noble figures among England and France. It would be called the John Evelyn Archives and placed in the British Library. Included in this would be his diaries broken down into four volumes with over half a million words. Many were uniformly bound in a French taste and bear his motto ''Omnia explorate; meliora retinete'' ("explore everything; keep the better") from I Thessalonians 5, 21.<ref>{{cite web |last= Pearson |first= David |date= 26 September 2022 |title= John Evelyn 1620-1706 |publisher= Book Owners Online |url= https://bookowners.online/John_Evelyn_1620-1706|access-date= 16 October 2023 }}</ref>

His daughter, Mary Evelyn (1665–1685), has been acknowledged as the pseudonymous author of the book ''Mundus Muliebris'' of 1690. ''Mundus Muliebris: or, The Ladies Dressing Room Unlock'd and Her Toilette Spread. In Burlesque. Together with the Fop-Dictionary, Compiled for the Use of the Fair Sex'' is a satirical guide in verse to Francophile fashion and terminology, and its authorship is often jointly credited to John Evelyn,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924013181791/page/n737 ''The Miscellaneous Writings of John Evelyn Esq FRS'']</ref> who seems to have edited the work for press after his daughter's death.

In 1694 Evelyn moved back to [[Wotton, Surrey]], as his elder brother, George, had no living sons available to inherit the estate. Evelyn inherited the estate and the family seat [[Wotton House, Surrey|Wotton House]] on the death of his brother in 1699.<ref>{{Citation |author=English Heritage | author-link=English Heritage | url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-290082-wotton-house-wotton | title=Wotton House | publisher=BritishListedBuildings.co.uk | access-date=10 October 2016}}</ref> Sayes Court was made available for rent. Its most notable tenant was Russian [[Tsar]] [[Peter the Great]], who lived there for three months in 1698 (and did great damage to both house and grounds).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}} The house no longer exists, but a public park of the same name can be found off Evelyn Street.<ref>[http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location.php?loc=1249 This is the house that Peter the Great destroyed while visiting]</ref>
 
Evelyn died in 1706 at his house in [[Dover Street]], London.  Wotton House and estate were inherited by his grandson [[Sir John Evelyn, 1st Baronet of Wotton|John]] (1682–1763) later Sir John Evelyn, Bt.
[[File:Acta Eruditorum - IX fisica, 1707 – BEIC 13369403.jpg|thumb|Illustration from critique of ''Silva, or a discourse of forest-trees: terra...'' published in [[Acta Eruditorum]], 1707]]

==Family==
[[File:Evelyn Italian etching.jpg|thumb|Etching by Evelyn for his friend [[Thomas Henshaw (alchemist)|Thomas Henshaw]], known as an [[alchemist]]]]
John and Mary Evelyn had eight children: 
* Richard (1652–1658)
* John Standsfield (1653–1654)
* [[John Evelyn the Younger|John (the younger)]] (1655–1699)
* George (1657–1658)
* Richard II (1664)
* [[Mary Evelyn (British poet)|Mary]] (1665–1685)
* Elizabeth (1667–1685) 
* Susanna (1669–1754). Only Susanna outlived her parents.<!-- see epitaph -->

Mary Evelyn died in 1709, three years after her husband. Both are buried in the Evelyn Chapel in St John's Church, Wotton.

Evelyn's epitaph (original spelling) reads:

<blockquote>Here lies the Body of JOHN EVELYN Esq of this place, second son of RICHARD EVELYN Esq who having served the Publick in several employments of which that Commissioner of the Privy Seal in the reign of King James the 2nd was most Honourable: and perpetuated his fame by far more lasting Monuments than those of Stone, or Brass: his Learned and useful works, fell asleep the 27th day of February 1705/6 being the 86th Year of his age in full hope of a glorious resurrection thro faith in Jesus Christ. Living in an age of extraordinary events, and revolutions he learnt (as himself asserted) this truth which pursuant to his intention is here declared. That all is vanity which is not honest and that there's no solid Wisdom but in real piety.<br />
Of five Sons and three Daughters borne to him from his most vertuous and excellent Wife MARY sole daughter, and heiress of Sir RICHARD BROWNE of Sayes Court near Deptford in Kent onely one Daughter SUSANNA married to WILLIAM DRAPER Esq of Adscomb in this County survived him – the two others dying in the flower of their age, and all the sons very young except one nam'd John who deceased 24 March 1698/9 in the 45th year of his age, leaving one son JOHN and one daughter ELIZABETH.</blockquote>

Wotton House and estate passed down to Evelyn's great-great-grandson [[Sir Frederick Evelyn, 3rd Baronet|Sir Frederick Evelyn, 3rd Bt]] (1733–1812). The baronetcy next passed to Frederick Evelyn's cousins, [[Sir John Evelyn, 4th Baronet|Sir John Evelyn, 4th Bt]] (1757–1833), and [[Sir Hugh Evelyn, 5th Baronet|Sir Hugh Evelyn, 5th Bt]] (1769–1848). Both these two were of unsound mind and the estate was therefore left to a remote cousin descended from the diarist's grandfather's first marriage, in whose family it remains to this day though they no longer occupy the house. The title died out in 1848. However, there are many living descendants of John Evelyn through his daughter Susanna, Mrs William Draper, and his granddaughter Elizabeth, Mrs Simon Harcourt. There are many descendants of John Evelyn's great-great-grandson, Charles Evelyn Jnr, through his daughter Susanna Prideaux (Evelyn) Wright living in New Zealand. Charles Evelyn Jnr was also the father of Sir John Evelyn, 4th Bt, and the last baronet, Sir Hugh Evelyn, 5th Bt.

In 1992 the skulls of John and Mary were stolen by persons unknown who hacked into the stone [[sarcophagus|sarcophagi]] on the chapel floor and tore open the coffins. They have not been recovered.

==Works==
[[File:Frontispiece Sculptura or the History and Art of Chalcography by John Evelyn 1662.jpg|thumb|''Sculptura'', 1662, with engraved frontispiece by Evelyn]] 
[[Image:Sylva1669.jpg|thumb|upright|Title page of second edition of ''[[Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber|Sylva]]'', dated 1670 although according to his ''Diary'' Evelyn presented the new edition in 1669]]
{{main|John Evelyn's Diary}}

''[[John Evelyn's Diary]]'' remained unpublished as a manuscript until 1818. It is in a [[quarto]] volume containing 700 pages, covering the years between 1641 and 1697, and is continued in a smaller book – which brings the narrative down to within three weeks of its author's death. Despite entries going back to 1641, Evelyn only actually started writing his diary much later, relying on almanacs and accounts of other people for many of the previous events. A selection from this was edited by [[William Bray (antiquary)|William Bray]], with the permission of the Evelyn family, in 1818, under the title of ''Memoirs illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, comprising his Diary from 1641 to 1705/6, and a Selection of his Familiar Letters''. Other editions followed, including those of H. B. Wheatley (1879) and [[Austin Dobson]] (3 vols, 1906).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}} The modern edition is by [[Guy de la Bédoyère]], who has also edited Evelyn's correspondence with [[Samuel Pepys]].

Evelyn's active mind produced many other works, and although many of these have been overshadowed by the famous ''Diary'' they are of considerable interest. They include:{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}}

*''Of Liberty and Servitude'' ... (1649), a translation from the French of [[François de la Mothe le Vayer]], Evelyn's own copy of which contains a note that he was "like to be call'd in question by the Rebells for this booke";
*''The State of France, as it stood in the IXth year of ... Louis XIII'' (1652), a pamphlet drawn up from personal observations about the royal family, the court, the officials, the military forces, the institutions and customs of France;
*''An Essay on the First Book of T. Lucretius Carus de Rerum Natura''. Interpreted and made English verse by J. Evelyn (1656); to his translation, Evelyn attached a commentary based on the writings of Gassendi and other philosophical atomists ;
*''The Golden Book of St [[John Chrysostom]], concerning the Education of Children. Translated out of the Greek by J. E.'' (printed 1658, dated 1659);
*''The French Gardener: Instructing How to Cultivate all sorts of Fruit-Trees, and Herbs for the Garden'' (1658), translated from the French of Nicolas de Bonnefons;
*''A Character of England, As it was lately presented in a Letter to a Nobleman of France'' (1659), a satire describing the customs of the country as they would appear to a foreign observer, reprinted in [[John Somers, 1st Baron Somers|Somers']] ''Tracts'' (ed. Scott, 1812), and in the ''Harleian Miscellany'' (ed. Park, 1813);
*''The Late Newes, or Message from Bruxels Unmasked, and his Majesty Vindicated'' ... (1660), in answer to a libellous pamphlet on Charles I by [[Marchamont Nedham]];
*''[[Fumifugium|Fumifugium: or The Inconvenience of the Aer and Smoak of London Dissipated]]'' (1661), in which he suggested that sweet-smelling trees should be planted in London to purify the air;
*''Instructions Concerning Erecting of a Library'' ... (1661), from the French of [[Gabriel Naudé]];
*''Tyrannus or the Mode, in a Discourse of Sumptuary Laws'' (1661);
*''Sculptura: or the History, and Art of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper...'' (1662); this contains the first account of "A new manner of Engraving, or ''[[Mezzotint|Mezzo Tinto]]'', communicated by his Highnesse [[Rupert of the Rhine|Prince Rupert]] to the Author of this Treatise". In fact many think Rupert, who had played a part in the invention or perfecting of mezzotint, wrote or co-wrote this part. The [[Book frontispiece|frontispiece]] "invented" (designed) by Evelyn demonstrates his limitations as an artist of the figure, unless he was badly let down by his engraver.
*''[[Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber|Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest Trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions to which is annexed Pomona ... Also Kalendarium Hortense]]'' ... (1664); the best known of his books; a plea for reafforestation aimed at landowners;[[File:A Parallel of the Antient Architecture with the Modern Image110.jpg|thumb|Page from [https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/Rosenwald.1510 ''A Parallel of the Antient Architecture with the Modern''], 1664. From the [https://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/coll/211.html Rosenwald Collection], Library of Congress.]]
*''A Parallel of the Antient Architecture with the Modern'' (1664), from the French of [[Roland Fréart]], to which was added ''an Account of Architects and Architecture'' from Evelyn's own pen ;
*''An Idea of the Perfection of Painting: Demonstrated From the Principles of Art, and by Examples'' (1668), a translation of another work by Roland Fréart;
*''The History of the three late famous Imposters, viz. Padre Ottomano, Mahomed Bei, and [[Sabbatai Zevi|Sabatei Sevi]]'' ...  (1669);
*''Navigation and Commerce, in which his Majesties title to the Dominion of the Sea is asserted against the Novel and later Pretenders'' (1674), which is a preface to a projected history of the Dutch wars undertaken at the request of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], but countermanded on the conclusion of peace;
*''A Philosophical Discourse of Earth'' ... (1676), a treatise on horticulture, better known by its later title of ''Terra''
*''The Compleat Gardener'' (1693), from the French of J. de la Quintinie;
*''Numismata. A Discourse of Medals, Antient and Modern... To which is added a Disgression concerning Physiognomy'' (1697);
*''[[Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets]]...'' (1699), the first recorded book on salads.

Some of these were reprinted in ''The Miscellaneous Writings of John Evelyn'', edited (1825) by [[William Upcott]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}}

Evelyn's friendship with [[Margaret Godolphin|Margaret Blagge]], afterwards Mrs Godolphin, is recorded in the diary, when he says he designed "to consecrate her worthy life to posterity". This he effectually did in a little masterpiece of religious biography which remained in manuscript in the possession of the Harcourt family until it was edited by [[Samuel Wilberforce]], bishop of Oxford, as the ''Life of Mrs Godolphin'' (1847), reprinted in the "King's Classics" (1904). The picture of Mistress Blagge's saintly life at court is heightened in interest when read in connexion with the scandalous memoirs of the [[Philibert de Gramont|comte de Gramont]], or contemporary political satires on the court.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}}

Numerous other papers and letters of Evelyn on scientific subjects and matters of public interest are preserved, including a collection of private and official letters and papers (1642–1712) by, or addressed to, [[Sir Richard Browne, 1st Baronet, of Deptford|Sir Richard Browne]] and his son-in-law, now held by the [[British Library]] (Add MSS 15857 and 15858).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}}

The most influential of his books in his lifetime, long before the ''Diary'' was known, was ''Sylva''. Evelyn believed that the country was being rapidly depleted of wood by industries such as glass factories and iron furnaces, while no attempt was being made to replace the damage by planting. In "Sylva", Evelyn pleaded for afforestation and asserted in his preface to the king that he had induced landowners to plant millions of trees.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=6}} It was a valuable work on arboriculture containing many engravings<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.finerareprints.com/john-evelyn-antique-prints |title=Examples of engravings from Sylva at Fine Rare Prints}}</ref> of trees and their foliage to assist with identification.

He spent much of his later life working on the enormous ''Elysium Britannicum'', covering all aspects of gardening. This was never completed, and was finally published in 2001, from his 1,000-page manuscript now in the [[British Library]] (Add MS 78432). Parts of it were published as he began to realize the main task would never be completed.  These included ''Kalendarium Hortense, or The Gardener's Almanac'' – a monthly list of tasks for the gardener, ''Pomona'' on apples, and ''Acetaria'' on "sallets" (salad plants).<ref>[https://thegardenstrust.blog/2018/09/15/john-evelyns-elysium-britannicum/ "John Evelyn’s ''Elysium Britannicum''"], The Gardens Trust</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:John Evelyn1651.jpg|thumb|right|Detail of [[Engraving|Engraved]] portrait of Evelyn by [[Robert Nanteuil]], 1650]]
In 1977 and 1978 in eight auctions at [[Christie's]], a major surviving portion of Evelyn's library was sold and dispersed.<ref>Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd. (1977) ''The Evelyn Library: Sold by Order of the Trustees of the Wills of J. H. C. Evelyn, deceased and Major Peter Evelyn, deceased.''</ref> The [[British Library]] holds a large archive of Evelyn's personal papers including the manuscript of his Diary.<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/evelyn.html The John Evelyn archives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309135822/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/evelyn.html |date=9 March 2012 }} at the [[British Library]]</ref> The [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] has in its collection [[John Evelyn's cabinet|a cabinet]] owned by Evelyn which is thought to have housed his diaries. In 2006, a new biography by Gillian Darley, based on full access to the archive, was published.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://openlettersmonthly.com/issue/wider-stranger-worlds/ |title=Open Letters Monthly: An Arts and Literature Review » Wider Stranger Worlds |access-date=20 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928120848/https://www.openlettersmonthly.com/issue/wider-stranger-worlds/ |archive-date=28 September 2018}}</ref> In 2011 a campaign was started to restore John Evelyn's garden in Deptford.<ref>See http://www.sayescourtgarden.org.uk/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226144656/http://www.sayescourtgarden.org.uk/ |date=26 December 2015 }}</ref> [[William Arthur Evelyn]] was a descendant.

Things named for Evelyn include:
* [[Evelyn, London]], an electoral ward of the London Borough of Lewisham covering Deptford where John Evelyn lived.
* [[Evelyn College for Women]], the short-lived co-ordinate college of [[Princeton University]], USA<ref>{{Citation|last=Leitch|first=Alexander|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1978|title=A Princeton Companion}}</ref>
* A house at [[Addey and Stanhope School]] in London, England
* [[Crabtree & Evelyn]], the skincare company<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crabtree-evelyn.com.au/t-ourstory.aspx |title=Our Story &#124; Cyrus Harvey &#124; John Evelyn &#124; the Still Room |access-date=2013-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203202/https://www.crabtree-evelyn.com.au/t-ourstory.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref>
* Evelyn, the gossip column of Oxford student newspaper ''[[Cherwell (newspaper)|Cherwell]]''
* Evelyn Street, a road in [[Deptford]]
* John Evelyn Primary School on the corner of Rolt Street, Deptford.
* The John Evelyn [[public house]] on Evelyn Street in Deptford (as featured in the BBC Television's ''The Tower''). Was closed in 2011.
* The Evelyn community garden, Windlass Place, Deptford
* The Evelyn Street Baths, also known as the Clyde Street baths and Library, the baths opened in 1928 and served the Deptford community until around 1988.<ref>See 1961. Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough [image] Available at:<https://wellcomelibrary.org/moh/report/b18237204/37#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=37&z=-0.1377%2C0.4526%2C1.4228%2C0.5554</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|28em}}

==Sources==
* John Evelyn, ed. Guy de la Bédoyère (1997), ''Particular Friends: The Correspondence of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn'', Boydell and Brewer, {{ISBN|0-85115-697-5}}
* John Evelyn, ed. Guy de la Bédoyère (1995), ''The Writings of John Evelyn'', Boydell and Brewer, {{ISBN|0-85115-631-2}} (full annotated texts of several of Evelyn's books and tracts; the only modern collected edition)
* John Evelyn, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20000526000933/http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/1914/ed_main.html The Diary of John Evelyn (excerpts)]''
* John Evelyn, ''Diaries and Correspondence'', [https://archive.org/details/diarycorresponde01eveliala Vol 1] – [https://archive.org/details/diarycorresponde02eveliala Vol 2] – [https://archive.org/details/diarycorresponde03eveliala Vol 3] – [https://archive.org/details/diarycorresponde04eveliala Vol 4] – edited by William Bray. London: George Bell and Sons, 1882.
*{{cite book | first=Gillian | last=Darley| year=2006| title=John Evelyn: Living for Ingenuity
| publisher= Yale University Press| location=Yale| isbn=978-0-300-11227-6 }}
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Evelyn, John|volume=10|pages=5–6}} 
*1961. Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough [https://wellcomelibrary.org/moh/report/b18237204/37#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=37&z=-0.1377%2C0.4526%2C1.4228%2C0.5554]
* John Evelyn, fellow of the Royal society: author of "Sylva" (1933), [[Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede|Ponsonby, Arthur]], William Heinemann Ltd., London

==External links==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|n=no|author=yes|b=no|v=no}}

* {{Gutenberg author |id=Evelyn,+John | name=John Evelyn}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=John Evelyn}}
* {{Librivox author |id=17143}}
* [https://archive.org/details/historyofevelynf00eveluoft The History of the Evelyn Family] by Helen Evelyn, London 1915
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061101221637/http://www.kittybrewster.com/ancestry/evelyn.htm Evelyn family tree]}}
* {{UK National Archives ID}}
* [http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/evelyn.html The John Evelyn archives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309135822/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/evelyn.html |date=9 March 2012 }} at the [[British Library]]
* [http://www.romanbritain.freeserve.co.uk/john%20evelyn.htm Who was John Evelyn?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305165435/http://www.romanbritain.freeserve.co.uk/john%20evelyn.htm |date=5 March 2012 }} by [[Guy de la Bédoyère]]
* [http://londonslostgarden.wordpress.com/ London's Lost Garden] about John Evelyn's gardens, especially Sayes Court.
* {{cite book |last1=Hutchinson |first1=John |title=Men of Kent and Kentishmen |date=1892 |publisher=Cross & Jackman |location=Canterbury |page=44 |edition=Subscription |chapter=[[s:Men of Kent and Kentishmen/John Evelyn|John Evelyn]]}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Evelyn, John}}
[[Category:1620 births]]
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