Born on 20 October 1814, he was the third son of Peter Aimé Ouvry, and nephew-in-law of John Payne Collier.
On his resignation he was made vice-president, and on 4 January 1876 was unanimously elected president.
He died suddenly at 12 Queen Anne Street, London on 26 June 1881, and was buried at Acton.
His library of manuscripts, autograph letters, and printed books, including the first four folios of Shakespeare, was sold in April 1882, and produced over £6,000.
A catalogue of his collection of old ballads, compiled by Thomas William Newton, was printed in 1887.