That wasn't his money, though. He apparently received a salary between £500 and £600 per year, While that was a lot more money than it is now, an inflation calculator at the Bank of England suggests that it was the equivalent of around £43,000 today (around $US53,000 at today's exchange rate).
Not starvation wages, certainly, but neither was it vast riches.
Not starvation wages, certainly, but neither was it vast riches.