Edward Worth (politician)

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Edward Worth (c. 1678 – 2 March 1733) was an Irish physician, politician, and book collector known as a bibliophile. He came from a wealthy Church of Ireland family in Dublin; his father, John Worth, was the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Worth studied medicine at Oxford (matriculated 1693), then at Leiden and Utrecht, earning his MD in 1701. He practiced as a doctor in Dublin.

With help from his uncle, Worth built a vast library, adding thousands of volumes bought from London, the Netherlands, France, and Dublin. His collection grew to about 4,400 books, including many medical works dating back centuries. He left the library to Dr Steevens’ Hospital in Kilmainham, which built a special room for the books. The Worth Library remains there today and was noted in 2008 for its good condition.

Worth also had a political career. He served in the Irish Parliament, representing Knocktopher from 1695 to 1715 and New Ross from 1715 to 1727. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1699.

There were rumors that he drank heavily in later life. He died in Dublin and was buried in the Worth family tomb at St Patrick’s Cathedral.