Bonaventure Hepburn OM (born James Hepburn; 14 July 1573, East Lothian – October 1620 or 1621, Venice, Italy)[1] was a Scottish Roman Catholic linguist, lexicographer, philologist and biblical commentator.[2] He was a scholar of some renown and rose to the post of Keeper of Oriental Books and Manuscripts at the Vatican.
In 1591 he published a work on his study of the Hebrew language and in 1616 his work on other foreign languages was published as The Heavenly Golden Rod of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Seventy-two Praises (also known as Virga Aurea), a listing of 72 different alphabets. He was also known for translating into the Latin language the Kettar Malcuth of Rabbi Solomon.
- ^ Chalmers, George (1810). Caledonia: or, An account, historical and topographic, of North Britain. T. Cadell and W. Davies. p. 479.
James Hepburn Bonaventure.
- ^ Chambers, Robert (1835). A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen. Vol. 3. Blackie and son.