Robert Thyer

Robert Thyer (1709– 27 October 1781) was an 18th-century British writer and literary editor, best known as Chetham's Librarian. He was librarian from February 1732 to 3 October 1763 and, after his death, a number of his manuscripts were given to the Chetham's Library.

Life Son of Robert Thyer, a silk weaver of Manchester, by his wife Elizabeth Brabant, he was baptised on 20 February 1709 at Manchester Collegiate Church. Educated at Manchester Grammar School, he won an exhibition in 1727 to Brasenose College, Oxford, where he graduated as a BA on 12 October 1730, and was later elected FSA

Returning to Lancashire, Thyer was appointed as librarian of Chetham's Library in February 1732, and continued in post until 3 October 1763. A close friend of John Byrom, he was also on good terms with the Egertons of Tatton Park, Cheshire (his wife's first husband, John Leigh (who died in 1738), was a relation of the Earls of Bridgewater); Thyer was a legatee under the will of Samuel Egerton, M.P. Dr Samuel Johnson was complimentary, while Bishop William Warburton and others criticised Thyer. A new edition of the Remains came out in 1827. Thyer was also one of the scholars who supplied notes to Thomas Newton for his edition of John Milton's Paradise Lost. Thyer's children all predeceased him.