Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Finch, Robert (1783-1830)
FINCH, ROBERT (1783–1830), antiquary, born in London on 27 Dec. 1783 was the only son of Thomas Finch, F.R.S. He was educated for a short time at St. Paul's School, and at eighteen was admitted at Balliol College, Oxford. He graduated B.A. 1806, M.A. 1809. He was ordained in 1807. and officiated at Maidstone and elsewhere. In 1814 he went abroad, visiting Portugal, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and the Holy Land. For several years before his death he lived in Rome. He died at his residence, the Palazzo del Re di Prussia, in Rome, on 16 Sept. 1830, from malarial fever. Finch had a great love of the fine arts, and studied antiquities and topography. He left his library, pictures, coins, and medals to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and his plate to Balliol College. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and a contributor to the 'Gentleman's Magazine' and other periodicals. He married in 1820, when in Italy, Maria, eldest daughter of Frederick Thomson of Kensington, but left no issue.
[Gent. Mag. 1830, vol. c. pt. ii. pp. 567-8.]