Charles Rogers

Charles Rogers (2 August 1711– 2 January 1784) was an English customs official, known as an art collector. He also wrote on drawings, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society. Life Born on 2 August 1711, he was second surviving son of William and Isabella Rogers of Dean Street, Soho, London. In May 1731 he was placed in the custom house under William Townson, from whom he acquired a taste for the fine arts and book-collecting. Townson, the head in the Customs Office of the Certificate Office, collected books and prints. Townson left his estate to Rogers in 1740, a bequest which included a house at 3 Laurence Pountney Lane, London, containing a museum of art treasures. Here Rogers in 1746 took up residence. There were other houses left to him, one in Mark Lane, London, and the other in Richmond, Surrey. In 1747 he became clerk of the certificates. Through his friend Arthur Pond, Rogers was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London on 23 February 1752, and served on its council. He became Fellow of the Royal Society on 17 November 1757.