Richard de Bury - Early Life

Early Life

Richard de Bury was born near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, the son of Sir Richard Aungervyle, who was descended from one of William the Conqueror's men. Aungervyle settled in Leicestershire, and the family came into possession of the manor of Willoughby. The year of Richard de Bury's birth is debated, there are conflicting sources; the earliest date from the Catholic Encyclopedia is 1281, other historians determined his birth year to be either 1286 or 1287. Recent research has shown that 1287 is the most widely accepted birth date.

Sir Richard Aungervyle died when de Bury was a young boy. He was educated by his maternal uncle John de Willoughby, and after leaving the grammar school was sent to the University of Oxford, where he studied philosophy and theology. He became a Benedictine monk at Durham Cathedral. He was made tutor to the future King Edward III whilst Prince of Wales (whom he would later serve as high chancellor and treasurer of England) and, according to Thomas Frognall Dibdin, inspired the prince with his own love of books.