William Vincent, The Commerce and Navigation of the Ancients in the Indian Ocean, part II: The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, London 1807. Note d’autore

William Vincent (1739-1815) Dean of Westminster, had a predilection for classical culture and studied several Greek texts concerning navigation in the ancient world. This article analyzes some of Vincent’s handwritten notes on a copy of the reprint of the first volume of The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea to understand how his scholarly interests and his close ties with the British Crown might have influenced his attention to these texts. Vincent’s brilliant career as the head of the most important place of worship inLondon suggests a close link with the Royal Court, and it should be emphasized that from 1797 to 1809 he devoted himself to the study of sea routes in the Indian Ocean and their updating in the light of all the news coming from the accounts of English travelers. Motivating this direction of his research were not only Vincent’s love for classical studies, but also the political and commercial interests of King George III, who, through William Pitt the Younger, powerfully favored Vincent’s career.