Emery Molyneux
Emery Molyneux
One of Molyneux’s celestial globes, which is
displayed in Middle Temple Library – from the
frontispiece of the Hakluyt Society’s 1889
reprint of A Learned Treatise of Globes, both
Cœlestiall and Terrestriall, one of the English
editions of Robert Hues’ Latin work Tractatus
de Globis (1594)
Born
Emery Molyneux
Probably 16th century
Probably England
Died
June 1598
Amsterdam, Holland, Dutch
Republic
Nationality
English
Other names Emerius Mulleneux (Latin),
Emmerie Molineux
Occupation Maker of globes, mathematical
instruments and ordnance
Known for
Making the first globes in
England
Spouse(s)
Anne
Emery Molyneux
(pronounced
/ˈɛməri
ˈmɒlɨnoʊ/ EM-ə-ree MOL-ə-noh; died June
1598) was an Elizabethan maker of globes,
mathematical instruments and ordnance. His
terrestrial and celestial globes, first pub-
lished in 1592, were the first to be made in
England and the first to be made by an
Englishman.
Molyneux was known as a mathematician
and maker of mathematical instruments such
as compasses and hourglasses. He became
acquainted with many prominent men of the
day, including the writer Richard Hakluyt
and the mathematicians Robert Hues and Ed-
ward Wright. He also knew the explorers
Thomas Cavendish, Francis Drake, Walter
Raleigh and John Davis. Davis probably intro-
duced Molyneux to his own patron, the Lon-
don merchant William Sanderson, who
largely financed the construction of the
globes. When completed, the globes were
presented to Elizabeth I. Larger globes were
acquired by royalty, noblemen and academic
institutions, while smaller ones were pur-
chased as practical navigation aids for sailors
and students. The globes were the first to be
made in such a way that they were unaf-
fected by the humidity at sea, and they came
into general use on ships.
Molyneux emigrated to Amsterdam with
his wife in 1596 or 1597. He succeeded in in-
teresting the States-General, the parliament
of the United Provinces, in a cannon he had
invented, but he died suddenly in June 1598,
apparently in poverty. The