h, which happened on Sunday the 18th of April, 1802, in the seventieth year of his age. Six children by his second lady, with their mother, remain to lament the loss
, a physician and poet, was a native of Elton, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, where he was born December 12, 1731. After going through the usual school education, under the Rev. Mr. Burrows, at the grammar-school at Chesterfield, with credit, he was sent to St. John’s college, at Cambridge. There he only continued until he took his bachelor’s degree in medicine, when he went to Edinburgh to complete his studies; which being finished, and having taken the degree of doctor in medicine, a profession to which he was aUvays attached, he went to Lichfield, and there commenced his career of practice. Being sent for, soon after his arrival, to Mr. Inglis, a gentleman of considerable fortune in the neighbourhood, who was ill with fever, and in so dangerous a state that the attending physician had given up the case as hopeless, the doctor had the good fortune to restore him to health. This gave him so high a degree of reputation at Litchfield, and in the neighbouring towns and villages, that his competitor, who was before in considerable practice, finding himself neglected, and nearly deserted, left the place. Dr. Darwin soon after married miss Howard, the daughter of a respectable inhabitant of Lichfield, by which he strengthened his interest in the place. By this lady he had three sons, who lived to the age of manhood; two of them he survived; the third, Dr. Robert Waring Darwin, is no.v in considerable practice as a physician at Shrewsbury. In 1781, our author, having married a second wife, removed to Derby, where he continued to reside to the time of his death, which happened on Sunday the 18th of April, 1802, in the seventieth year of his age. Six children by his second lady, with their mother, remain to lament the loss of him.
f Oxford, was born May 30, 1719. He was the seventh and youngest son of sir Richard Newdigate, bart. by his second lady Elizabeth, daughter of sir Roger Twisden, bart.
, of Arbury in Warwickshire, an elegant scholar, and an eminent benefactor to the university of Oxford, was born May 30, 1719. He was the seventh and youngest son of sir Richard Newdigate, bart. by his second lady Elizabeth, daughter of sir Roger Twisden, bart. In his sixteenth year he succeeded, in title and estate, his elder brother, sir Edward. Sir Roger was at that time a king’s scholar at Westminster school, where by his own choice he continued three years, and then entered of University college, Oxford. Here he was created M. A. in May 1738, and afterwards set out on one of those continental tours which his classical knowledge and fine taste enabled him to turn to the best advantage, by accumulating a vast collection of monumental antiquities, and drawings of ancient ruins, buildings, statues, &c. Of these last there are two ample folios in his library at Arbury, the produce of his indefatigable and accurate pencil. He also brought home some curious antique marbles and vases of exquisite workmanship (some of which are engraved in Piranesi, where his name occurs several times), casts from the most admired statues at Rome and Florence, and copies of many celebrated paintings, particularly a fine one of the famous Transfiguration, by Raphael, which adorns the magnificent saloon at Arbury.
, second son to the preceding, by his second lady, was born in Audley Square, Nov. 1, 1762. His
, second son to the preceding,
by his second lady, was born in Audley Square, Nov. 1,
1762. His infancy was spent at Charlton, the seat of his
family, in Kent, where he went through the first rudidiments of learning, and also contracted an early attachment for the youngest daughter of the late Sir Thorn;
Spencer Wilson, hart, who afterwards became his wife
From Charlton he removed to Harrow, where he successfully prepared himself for the university. At the pro]
age he entered of Trinity College, Cambridge, where th<
present bishop of Bristol, Dr. William-Lort Mansell,
his tutor. There unwearied application and splendid abilities led him to the highest academical honours. In 1782
he obtained the degree of master of arts, and on the 16th
of December of the following year was admitted of Lincoln’s Inn; where, after performing the necessary studies,
he was called to the bar in Hilary Term 1786. He commenced his professional career in the Court of King’s
Bench, and accompanied the Judges through the Midland
circuit. His chief opponents were then Mr. (now Sir S.)
Romilly, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. serjeant Vaughan; and,
notwithstanding a degree of modesty, which at that period
almost amounted to timidity, he displayed encouraging
promises of forensic excellence, on some of the first trials
on which he was retained, particularly that of George
Thomas, of Brackiey, Northamptonshire, for forgery. In
this case he was retained for the prosecution; and had the
honour of contending with Mr. Law, since Lord Chief Justice Ellenborough. This trial excited much public attention; and the ability evinced by Mr. Perceval increased the
number of his clients. His advancement was now both regular and rapid. In Hilary term 1796, he obtained a silk
gown, and became the leading counsel on the Midland
circuit, not only in point of rank, but also, in quantity of
business. He was soon after appointed counsel to the Admiralty; and the university of Cambridge acknowledged its
sense of his merits by nominating him one of its two counsel.
About this time, he had attracted the notice of an attentive
observer and acute judge of men and talents, the late Mr.
Pitt, by a pamphlet which he had written, to prove “that
an impeachment of the House of Commons did not abate
by a dissolution of parliament.
” This work became the
foundation of his intimacy with the premier, and his subsequent connexion with the government, and caused a sudden
alteration in his prospects. His object now was to obtain a
seat in parliament, where he might support those measures
for which the situation of the country seemed to call, and
a most favourable opportunity presented itself. His first
cousin, lord Compton, succeeded to the earldom of Northampton in April 1796, on the demise of his maternal uncle,
and consequently vacated his seat for the borough of that
name. Mr. Perceval immediately offered himself to represent the vacant borough, and was too well known, and too
universally esteemed, to meet with any opposition. He
had been previously appointed deputy recorder; and so
highly did his constituents approve of his political conduct
and private worth, that they returned him to serve in three
parliaments.
afterwards the wife of Nicholas Wadham, and with him joint founder of Wadham college. His son John, by his second lady, was the first lord Petre,
Mary had, in fact, such confidence in sir William Petre, that she employed him in negotiating her marriage with Philip; and applied to him for relief when her mind was perplexed on the subject of the church -lands, the alienation of which could not easily be reconciled to her principles. He was her private adviser also in other matters; and when pope Paul III. was about to send another legate instead of cardinal Pole, whom she had desired, he advised her to forbid his setting foot in England, which she very resolutely did. In all this there must have appeared nothing very obnoxious in the eyes of queen Elizabeth: for she continued him in the office of secretary of state until 1560, if not longer; and he was of her privy-council till his death, and was at various times employed by her in public affairs. He died Jan. 13, 1572, and was buried in a new aile in* the church at Ingatestone, where he had built almshouses for 20 poor people. He also left various considerable legacies to the poor in the several parishes where he had estates, as well as to the poor of the metropolis. To Exeter college he procured a new body of statutes and a regular deed of incorporation, and founded at the same time eight fellowships. To All Souls he gave a piece of ground adjoining to the college, and the rectories of Barking and StantonHarcourt, and founded exhibitions for three scholars. He was married twice. One of his daughters, by his first wife, became afterwards the wife of Nicholas Wadham, and with him joint founder of Wadham college. His son John, by his second lady, was the first lord Petre,
arm and eager. His good conduct and courage, however, are unimpeachable. He was thrice married; and, by his second lady (Mrs. Luttrel) left one son.
He was chosen in several parliaments the representative
for Portsmouth; but, in that house, his free independent
spirit did not recommend him much to ministerial favour.
An attempt was made to ruin him in king William’s esteem,
and to get him removed from the admiralty-board; but
that prince answered plainly, “I will not; sir George
Rooke served me faithfully at sea, and I will never displace
him for acting as he thinks most for the service of his country
in the House of Commons:
” an answer worthy of a British
king, as it tends to preserve the freedom of our constitution, and the liberty of parliament. In 1701 he voted for
Mr. Harley to be speaker of the House of Commons, in opposition to the court; which brought on him many severe
reflections from the whig party, and attempts were made
to obscure all the great actions that he did. From this period, Burnet never mentions him without the utmost prejudice and partiality. In his relation of the Vigo enterprize, he says he very unwillingly steered his cc-urse that
way; and, without allowing the admiral any share of the
honour of the action, only says, “the ships broke the
boom, and forced the port,
” as if they had done it without
command, and Rooke had no concern in the matter. The
taking of Gibraltar, an action in which the greatest bravery
and military skill was shewn, he will have to be the effect
of pure chance. Such was the prevalence of party spirit,
that it obliged this brave commander to quit the service of
his country, and to spend the latter part of his life in retirement. Perhaps, indeed, he was himself, in party matters,
too warm and eager. His good conduct and courage, however, are unimpeachable. He was thrice married; and,
by his second lady (Mrs. Luttrel) left one son.