Evelyn, JOHN, was born of wealthy parentage at Wotton, near Dorking, in Surrey, 31st October 1620. He was brought up by his maternal grandmother at Lewes (1625–37), then entered Balliol College, Oxford, having already been admitted at the Middle Temple, where, without a degree, he took up residence in 1640—the year of his father's death. Having witnessed Strafford's trial and execution, he resolved to absent himself 'from this ill face of things at home,' and so travelled for three months in Holland and Flanders. Back in London, 'studying a little, but dauncing and fooling more,' in November 1642 he joined the king's army, only to leave it in three days' time, lest both himself and his brothers should be 'expos'd to ruine, without any advantage to his majestie;' and the Covenant being pressed on him, he travelled for four years in France, Italy, and Switzerland. At Paris in 1647 he married the ambassador's daughter, Mary Browne (1635–1709); and, returning for good to England in 1652, settled at Sayes Court, Deptford, the home he did so much to beautify. A thorough, if prudent royalist, he was much at court after the Restoration; acted on several public committees; during 1685–87 was one of the commissioners of the privy seal, during 1695–1703 treasurer of Greenwich Hospital; and from the first was a prominent member of the Royal Society. In 1694 he removed to his brother's at Wotton, and let Sayes Court to Admiral Benbow, who sublet it to Peter the Great (a 'right nasty' inmate). In 1699 he succeeded his brother; and, vigorous in intellect to the very last, he died at Wotton, 27th February 1706.
'Almost perfect' is Mr Wheatley's estimate of Evelyn, who was indeed a right worthy gentleman, as active and intelligent as he was honest and God-fearing, yet neither a Sage nor a Hero. His pen was a busy one, and dealt with a multitude of subjects—'architecture, painting, engraving, numismatics, history, politics, morals, education, agriculture, gardening, and commerce.' Of all his thirty-five works the chief are Sculptura, or the History and Art of Chalcography and Engraving on Copper (1662); Sylva, or a Discourse of Forestrees (1664); and his delightful Diary (first published in 1818). It is to the last that Evelyn owes his present celebrity. Written by one who had accustomed himself to habits of close observation, it covers a period of more than seventy years—and these the most memorable in English history. It is, indeed, of inestimable value; Scott said that he had 'never seen a mine so rich.' See the Life by Henry B. Wheatley, prefixed to the sixth edition of the Diary (4 vols. 1879).