, educated at Eton, and in 1536 elected to King’s College, Cambridge, of
, educated at Eton, and in 1536
elected to King’s College, Cambridge, of which he afterwards became a fellow and M. A. was esteemed a very good
Grecian and Latin poet. He was afterwards a justice of
peace in Warwickshire. He wrote the genealogy of Queen
Elizabeth, for which she gave him an animal pension of
live pounds and a Latin poem “in obitum duorum Suffolciensium fratrum,
” which is printed in Wilson’s “Epigrammata,
”
in the reigns of Henry VIII. Edward VI. and queen Mary, was born at Burnham in Buckinghamshire; was educated at Eton, and elected a scholar of King’s college, Cambridge
, bishop of Carlisle in the reigns of Henry VIII. Edward VI. and queen
Mary, was born at Burnham in Buckinghamshire; was
educated at Eton, and elected a scholar of King’s college,
Cambridge in 1507, where he took the degree of M. A.
afterwards became proctor of the university, schoolmaster
of Eton, fellow of the college, and at length provost. In
1529 he retired to Oxford, where he was incorporated
B. D. About the same time he was made archdeacon of Colchester. In 1534 he was installed canon of Windsor, and
the same year he was appointed register of the most noble
order of the garter. July 18, 1537, he was consecrated
bishop of Carlisle. He wrote several pieces, particularly
1. “Epistola ad Gulielmum Hormannum.
” 2. “Epigrammata varia.
” 3. “Several Resolutions concerning the
Sacraments.
” 4. “Answers to certain Queries concerning the Abuses of the Mass.
” He wrote also resolutions
of seme questions relating to bishops and priests, and other
matters tending to the reformation of the church begun by
king Henry VIII. Leland was his familiar acquaintance,
and gives him a 'high character for parts and learning.
The prelate died March 25, 1555, at Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, which was a house belonging to the bishops of
Carlisle.
iquary, was born at Great Hadham in Hertfordshire, about the end of the seventeenth century, and was educated at Eton; whence he went to King’s college, Cambridge, and took
, an English lawyer and antiquary, was born at Great Hadham in Hertfordshire, about the end of the seventeenth century, and was educated at Eton; whence he went to King’s college, Cambridge, and took his bachelor’s degree in 1707, and his master’s in 1711. He afterwards studied law, was called to the bar, and by the influence of Arthur Onslow, speaker of the house of commons, became a master in chancery. His reputation as a lawyer was inconsiderable, but he was esteemed a good classical scholar, and a man of wit and convivial habits. He became afterwards an alderman of the corporation of Guildford, and an useful magistrate in that neighbourhood. He died April 11, 1754, and was buried in the Temple church. He collected a biographical account of the members of Eton college, which by his will, dated 1753, he ordered to be placed in the libraries of the two colleges, and a third copy to be given to his patron, Mr. Onslow. He also compiled, at his leisure hours, or rather made collections for, an English dictionary of obsolete words, of words which have changed their meaning, as villain, knave, and of proverbial or cant words, as helter-skelter, which he derived from hiiariter cderiter. It is not known what became of this manuscript. He bequeathed his fortune, and probably his books, to a brother who was a Turkey merchant.
, bishop of Exeter in the reign of queen Elizabeth, was born at Great Wycomb in Buckinghamshire, and educated at Eton school. In 1528 he went from thence to King’s college,
, bishop of Exeter in
the reign of queen Elizabeth, was born at Great Wycomb
in Buckinghamshire, and educated at Eton school. In
1528 he went from thence to King’s college, Cambridge,
where he took a bachelor’s degree, but removed to Oxford,
and spent some time in the academical studies of that unitersity. He afterwards married, was presented to a living,
and became a zealous reformer. On queen Mary’s accession he left his cure, and retired into the north of Epgland, where he maintained himself by keeping a school
and practising physic. On queen Elizabeth’s accession,
when he could avow his principles with safety, he went to
London, and was appointed to read the divinity lecture at
St. Paul’s, in which he acquired great reputation; and in
July 1560, was consecrated bishop of Exeter. He was
not created doctor of divinity until November 1561. He
died April 15, 1570, and was buried at Exeter. He wrote,
I. “The Poor Man’s Library,
” 2 vols. folio, 1571. These
volumes contain his twelve lectures at St. Paul’s, on the
first epistle of St. Peter. 2. “A Hebrew Grammar,
” but
it is uncertain whether it was ever published. He translated
the Pentateuch in the version of the Bible undertaken by
command of queen Elizabeth. Three epistles of Alley to
Matthew Parker, in Latin, are preserved among the Mss.
of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge. His “Judgment
concerning the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church
” is in
Strype’s Annals. Wood and Godwin agree in placing
b shop Alley’s death in 1570; but Tanner says, that it
was on April 15, 1571, and Fuller carries it down so low
as 1576. He left a son, Roger Alley, who was archdeacon of Cornwall; and his great grandson, the rev. Peter
Alley, died so lately as August 1763, at the very
extraordinary age of one hundred and ten years and two months.
He was for seventy-three years rector of Donamow, in
Queen’s County, Dublin, and served his own cure till
within a few days of his death.
(a place of only thirty-two pounds per annum, which he held for near fifty years), was born in 1716, educated at Eton, and elected thence to King’s college, Cambridge, 1733.
, an English divine, the son of Dr,
Ashton, usher of the grammar school at Lancaster (a place of only thirty-two pounds per annum, which he held for near fifty years), was born in 1716, educated at Eton, and
elected thence to King’s college, Cambridge, 1733. He
was the person to whom Mr. Horace Walpole addressed his
epistle from Florence, in 1740, under the title of “Thomas
Ashton, esq. tutor to the earl of Plymouth.
” About that
time, or soon after, he was presented to the rectory of
Aldingham in Lancashire, which he resigned in March
1749; and on the 3d of May following was presented by
the provost and fellows of Eton to the rectory of Sturminster Marshall in Dorsetshire. He was then M. A. and had
been chosen a fellow of Eton in December 1745. In 1752
he was collated to the rectory of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate;
in 1759 took the degree of D. D. and in May 1762, was
elected preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, which he resigned in
1764. In 1770 he published, in 8vo, a volume of sermons
on several occasions to which was prefixed an excellent
metzotinto by Spilgbury, from an original by sir Joshua
Reynolds, and this motto, “Insto pnepositis, oblitus praeteritorum.
” Dr. Ashton died March 1, 1775, at the age
of fifty-nine, after having for some years survived a severe
attack of the palsy. His discourses, in a style of greater
elegance than purity, were rendered still more striking by
the excellence of his delivery. Hence he was frequently
prevailed on to preach on public and popular occasions.
He printed a sermon on the rebellion in 1745, 4to, and a
thanksgiving sermon on the close of it in 1746, 4to. la
1756, he preached before the governors of the Middlesex
hospital, at St. Anne’s, Westminster a commencement
sermon at Cambridge in 1759; a sermon at the annual
meeting of the chanty schools in 1760; one before the
House of Commons on the 30th of January 1762; and a
spital sermon at St. Bride’s on the Easter Wednesday in
that year. All these, with several others preached at Eton,
Lincoln’s inn, Bishopsgate, &c. were collected by himself
in the volume above mentioned, which is closed by a
“Clerum habita Cantabrigige in templo beatae
Mariae, 1759, pro gradu Doctoratus in sacra theologii.
”
His other publications were, 1. “A dissertation on 2 Peter i. 19,
” A letter to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Jones,
intended as a rational and candid answer to his sermon
preached at St. Botolph, Bishopsgate,
” 4to, was probably
by Dr. Ashton. 3. “An extract from the case of the
obligation of the electors of Eton college to supply all vacancies in that society with those who are or have been
fellows of King’s college, Cambridge, so long as persons
properly qualified are to be had within that description,
”
London, A letter to the Rev. Dr. M. (Morell) on
the question of electing aliens into the vacant places in
Eton college. By the author of the Extract,
” A second letter to Dr. M.
” The three last were soon
after re-published under the title of “The election of
aliens into the vacancies in Eton college an unwarrantable
practice. To which are now added, two letters to the Rev.
Dr. Morell, in which the cavils of a writer in the General
Evening Post, and others, are considered and refuted.
Part I. By a late fellow of King’s college, Cambridge.
”
London, Sermon on Painting,
” in lord Orford’s works, was preached by Dr. Ashton at Houghton,
before the earl of Orford (sir Robert Walpole) in 1742.
George Baker, who died in 1743, being then archdeacon and registrar of Totness. He was born in 1722, educated at Eton, and was entered a scholar of King’s college, Cambridge,
, an eminent physician, was the son of the Rev. George Baker, who died in 1743, being then archdeacon and registrar of Totness. He was born in 1722, educated at Eton, and was entered a scholar of King’s college, Cambridge, in July 1742, where he took his degree of B. A. 1745, and M. A. 1749. He then began the study of medicine, and took the degree of doctor in 1756. He first practised at Stamford, but afterwards settled in London, and soon arrived at very extensive practice and reputation, and the highest honours of his faculty, being appointed physician in ordinary to the Jking, and physician to the queen. He was also a fellow of the Royal and Antiquary Societies, created a baronet Aug. 26, 1776, and in 1797 was elected president of the College of Physicians, London. Besides that skill in his profession, and personal accomplishments, which introduced him into the first practice, and secured him a splendid fortune, he was a good classical scholar and critic, and his Latin works are allowed to be written in a chaste and elegant style. He died June 15, 1809, in his eighty-eighth year, after having passed this long life without any of the infirmities from which he had relieved thousands.
, D.D. was educated at Eton school, and was admitted into King’s college, Cambridge,
, D.D. was educated at Eton
school, and was admitted into King’s college, Cambridge,
in 1737, where he proceeded B. A. 1742, M. A. 1746,
and D.D. 1771. He was tutor of his college, and presided as moderator in the Soph’s school, in 1747, 1751,
and 1756 and was of course one of the taxors of the university in each of the years succeeding. He was public
orator in 1761-2, which office he resigned in 1768, and a
candidate for the Greek professorship on the death of
Fraignean, but was unsuccessful. He was presented by
his college to the living of Fordinbridge, in Hampshire,
in that year, which he ceded in April 1773, on being instituted to the rectory of Kimpton, in Hertfordshire, which
he held during life, along with the living of Allhallows,
Lombard-street, London. In June 1770, he was installed
9. prebendary of Canterbury, in consequence of his having
been chaplain to the house of commons, on the appointment of sir John Cust, the speaker. But he did not continue in this office above one session sir Fletcher Norton
the succeeding speaker, making choice of another clergyman for that office. It was supposed there was some
design to prevent his receiving the usual recompense for
his service, but his friends contended, that he was not to
be considered as the chaplain of the speaker, but of the
house, and Mr. Thomas Townsend, afterwards lord Sydney, moved, on May 9th, to address the king to confer
upon Mr. Barford, as chaplain, some dignity in the
church. He was ordered to preach before the house of
commons on Jan. 30 of that year, which sermon he printed.
He published also “In Pindari primum Pythium dissertatio habita Cantabrigiae in Scholis publicis,
” Latin Oration
” at the funeral of Dr. George, provost
of King’s college, 1756; and a “Concio ad Clerum,
”
1784, on the first meeting of the convocation at St. Paul’s
cathedral. The learned Mr. Bryant, in the preface to the
third volume of his System of Mythology, bears honourable
testimony to the merits of Dr. Barford, as a scholar and a
friend. He died as he had lived, universally respected
by all learned and good men, in Nov. 1792, at his rectory
of Kim p ton.
a Frenchman that he kept in the house. In 1635, his father sent him over to England, in order to be educated at Eton school under sir Henry Wotton, who was the earl of Cork’s
While he continued at home, he was taught to write a very fair hand, and to speak French and Latin by one of the earl’s chaplains, and a Frenchman that he kept in the house. In 1635, his father sent him over to England, in order to be educated at Eton school under sir Henry Wotton, who was the earl of Cork’s old friend and acquaintance. Here he soon discovered a force of understanding which promised great things, and a disposition to cultivate and improve it to the utmost. While he remained at Eton, there were several extraordinary accidents that befel him, of which he has given us an account; and three of which were very near proving fatal to him. The first was, the sudden fall of the chamber where he lodged, when himself was in bed; when, besides the hazard he ran of being crushed to pieces, he had certainly been choked with the dust during the time he lay under the rubbish, if he had not had presence of mind enough to have wrapped his head up in the sheet, which gave him an opportunity of breathing without hazard. A little after this, he had been crushed to pieces by a starting horse that rose up suddenly and threw himself backwards, if he had not happily disengaged his feet from the stirrups, and cast himself from his back before he fell. A third accident proceeded from the carelessness of an apothecary’s servant; who, mistaking the phials, brought him a strong emetic instead of a cooling julep.
ry, and nephew to the dean of Canterbury, hereafter mentioned, was of a good family in Kent, and was educated at Eton school, from which he was admitted a scholar of Corpus
, a learned clergyman of the seventeenth century, and nephew to the dean of Canterbury,
hereafter mentioned, was of a good family in Kent, and
was educated at Eton school, from which he was admitted
a scholar of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, in May
1620. Here he took the degree of A. B. in 1623, of A. M.
1627, and was elected fellow in 1651. He proceeded
B. D. and was appointed one of the university preachers in
1634; and in 1640, was presented to the rectory of Mautboy in Norfolk, upon the death of Mr. Thomas D'Engayne;
but before he left college, he gave to its library a fine set
of Binnius’s Councils. His patron was William Paston,
esq. his friend and contemporary at college, to whose sou
sir Robert Paston, bart. of Oxnead in that county, a volume
of his “Sermons,
” Lond. Sermons,
” informs us that it
was with difficulty he obtained leave of the dying author to
make them public, and obtained it only upon condition that
he should say nothing of him. He has, however, given a
short, but excellent character of him.
, a divine and poet of the seventeenth century, was educated at Eton college, and thence elected scholar of King’s college
, a divine and poet of the seventeenth century, was educated at Eton college, and thence elected scholar of King’s college in Cambridge, in 1622. About three years after, he left England, and studied in Flanders, Artois, France, Spain, and Italy; and at length received holy orders at Rome from the hands of the pope’s substitute. Soon after, having taken upon him the order of St. Benedict, he was sent into England to make proselytes; in which employment he continued somewhat above a year, then returned to the protestant religion, and, through the archbishop of Canterbury’s interest, obtained the small vicarage of Poling by the seaside, near Arundel castle, in Sussex. Here he was exposed to the insults of the Romish party, particularly one Francis a S. Clara, living in that neighbourhood under the name of Hunt, who used to expose him to scorn before his parishioners. In the time, however, of the civil war, he quitted his living, retired to Paris, and reconciling himself to the Romish church, he made it his business to rail against the protestants. Afterwards, returning to England, he settled at Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, where he had some relations; and, being once more a protestant, he would often preach there in a very fantastical manner, to the great mirth of his auditors. He was living there in 1670; but before his death he returned a third time to popery, causing his pretended wife to embrace that persuasion; and in that faith he died. He was generally esteemed a man of an absurd character, one that changed his opinions as often as his cloaths, and, for his juggles and tricks in religion, a theological mountebank.
rchbishop Potter. He was also archdeacon of Sudbury, and treasurer of Chichester, two options. Being educated at Eton, he was a candidate for the provostship of that college,
, D. D. was the son of the rev. William Chapman, rector of Stratfield-say in Hampshire,
where he was probably born in 1704. He was educated at
King’s college, Cambridge, A. B. 1727, and A. M. 1731.
His first promotion was the rectory of Mersham in Kent,
and of Alderton, with the chapel of Smeeth; to which he
was appointed in 1739 and 1744, being then domestic
chaplain to archbishop Potter. He was also archdeacon
of Sudbury, and treasurer of Chichester, two options.
Being educated at Eton, he was a candidate for the provostship of that college, and lost it by a small majority,
and after a most severe contest with Dr. George. Among
his pupils he had the honour to class the first lord Camden, Dr. Ashton, Horace Walpole, Jacob Bryant, sir W.
Draper, sir George Baker, and others who afterwards attained to considerable distinction in literature. His first
publication was entitled “The Objections of a late anonymous writer (Collins) against the book of Daniel, considered/' Cambridge, 1728, 8vo. This was followed by his
” Remarks on Dr. Middleton’s celebrated Letter to Dr.
Waterland,“published in 1731, and which has passed
through three editions. In his
” Eusebius,“2 vols. 8vo,
he defended Christianity against the objections of Mor-gan, and against those of Tindal in his
” Primitive Antiquity explained and vindicated.“The first volume of
Eusebius, published in 1739, was dedicated to archbishop
Potter; and when the second appeared, in 1741, Mr.
Chapman styled himself chaplain to his grace. In the
same year he was made archdeacon of Sudbury, and was
honoured with the diploma of D. D. by the university of
Oxford. He is at this time said to have published the
” History of the ancient Hebrews vindicated, by Theophanes Cantabrigiensis,“8vo but this was the production
of Dr. Squire. He published two tracts relating to
” Phlegon,“in answer to Dr. Sykes, who had maintained
that the eclipse mentioned by that writer had no relation to
the wonderful darkness that happened at our Saviour’s crucifixion. In 1738 Dr. Chapman published a sermon
preached at the consecration of bishop Mavvson, and four
other single sermons, 1739, 1743, 1748, and 1752. In a
dissertation written in elegant Latin, and addressed to
Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Tunstall, then public orator of the
university of Cambridge, and published with his Latin
epistle to Dr. Middleton concerning the genuineness of
some of Cicero’s epistles, 1741, Dr. Chapman proved that
Cicero published two editions of his Academics; an original thought that had escaped all former commentators,
and which has been applauded by Dr. Ross, bishop of Exeter, in his edition of Cicero’s
” Epistolse ad familiares,“1749. In 1744 Mr. Tunstall published
” Observations on
the present Collection of Epistles between Cicero and M.
Brutus, representing several evident marks of forgery in
those epistles,“&c. to which was added a
” Letter from
Dr. Chapman, on the ancient numeral characters of the
Roman legions.“Dr. Middleton had asserted, that the
Roman generals, when they had occasion to raise new
legions in distant parts of the empire, used to name them
according to the order in which they themselves had raised
them, without regard to any other legions whatever. This
notion Dr. Chapman controverts and confutes. According
to Dr. Middleton there might have been two thirtieth legions in the empire. This Dr. Chapman denies to have
been customary from the foundation of the city to the time
when Brutus was acting against Anthony, but affirms nothing of the practice after the death of Brutus. To this
Dr. Middleton made no reply. In 1745 Dr. Chapman was
employed in assisting Dr. Pearce, afterwards bishop of
Rochester, in his edition of
” Cicero de Officiis.“About
this time Dr. Chapman introduced Mr. Tunstall and Mr.
Hall to archbishop Potter, the one as his librarian, the
other as his chaplain, and therefore had some reason to
resent their taking an active part against him in the option
cause, though they both afterwards dropped it. Dr. Chapman’s above-mentioned attack on Dr. Middleton, which he
could not parry, and his interposition in defence of his
much-esteemed friend Dr. Waterland, provoked Dr. Middleton to retaliate in 1746, by assailing him in what he
thought a much more vulnerable part, in his Charge to the
archdeaconry of Sudbury, entitled <e Popery the true bane
of letters.
” In would wash him as white
as snow.
” Thinking his case partially stated by Dr. Burn,
in his “Ecclesiastical Law,' 1 vol. I. (article Bishops), as
it was taken from the briefs of his adversaries, he expostulated with him on the subject by letter, to which the doctor
candidly replied,
” that he by no means thought him criminal, and in the next edition of his work would certainly
add his own representation." On this affair, however, Dr.
Hurd passes a very severe sentence in his correspondence
with Warburton lately published. Dr. Chapman died the
34th of October, 1784, in the 80th year of his age.
, D. D. was born in 1652. He was educated at Eton, and thence removed to Cambridge, where he was fellow
, D. D. was born in 1652. He was educated at Eton, and thence removed to Cambridge, where he was fellow of King’s-college in 1683, when he contributed the life of Lycurgus to the translation of Plutarch’s Lives, published in that year. He was intimately connected with Wentworth, earl of Roscommon, whose life, written by him, is preserved in the public library of Cambridge, among Baker’s ms Collections, (vol. XXXVI.) and furnished Fenton with some of the anecdotes concerning that nobleman, which are found among his notes on Waller’s poems. The life of Virgil, and the preface to the Pastorals, prefixed to Dry den’s Virgil, were written by Dr. Chetwood, for whom Dryden had a great regard, a circumstance very necessary to be mentioned, as that life has always been ascribed to Dryden himself.
lis, by Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Charles, second viscount Townsend, was born Dec. 31, 1738, and educated at Eton, and at St. John’s college, Cambridge. Preferring a
, the eldest son of Charles fifth lord and first earl Cornwailis, by Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Charles, second viscount Townsend, was born Dec. 31, 1738, and educated at Eton, and at St. John’s college, Cambridge. Preferring a military life, he was, in August 1765, appointed aid-de-camp to the king, with the rank of colonel of foot. In Sept. 1775 y he became major-general; in August, 1777, lieutenantgeneral; and in October, 1793, general. He represented, in, two parliaments, the borough of Eye, in Suffolk, until he succeeded his father in the peerage, June 23, 1762. In parliament, he was not a frequent or distinguished speaker. In the house of peers he appears to have been rather favourable to the claims of the American colonies, which, however, when they came to an open rupture with the mother country, did not prevent him from accepting a command in America, where he distinguished himself at the battle of Brandywine, in 1777, and afterwards at the siege of Charlestown, and was left in the command of South Carolina, where his administration was commended for its wisdom. He was soon obliged to take the field, and obtained the decisive victory of Camden, and was next victorious at Guildford, but not without a considerable loss of men. His plan of invading Virginia, in 1781, was of more doubtful prudence, and ended in his capture, with his whole army of four thousand men. Thus defeated, he laid the blame on the failure of expected succour from sir Henry Clinton, who in return equally blamed both the scheme and its conduct, and several pamphlets were published by both these commanders, into the merits of which we cannot pretend to enter. It is sufficient for our purpose to be able to add, that lord Cornwailis lost no reputation by this misfortune, either for skill or courage.
, a learned and eminent civilian, was born at Ernsborough, in Devonshire, about 1554; educated at Eton school; and elected a scholar of King’s college in Cambridge,
, a learned and eminent civilian,
was born at Ernsborough, in Devonshire, about 1554;
educated at Eton school; and elected a scholar of King’s
college in Cambridge, in 1570. He was afterwards chosen
fellow of that college; and, by the advice of Bancroft
bishop of London, applied himself particularly to the study
of ci-vil law. He was regularly admitted to the degree of
LL.D. in his own university; and, in 1600, was incorporated into the same degree at Oxford. Soon after he was
made the king’s professor of civil law in Cambridge, and
about the same time master of Trinity-hall. His patron,
Bancroft, being advanced to the see of Canterbury in
1604, and beginning to project many things for the service of the church and state, put him upon that laborious,
work the “Interpreter,
” or an explanation of law-terms,
which he published at Cambridge in 1607, 4to. It was
reprinted in 1609, and several times since, particularly in
1638, for which archbishop Laud was reflected upon; and
it was made an article against him at his trial, as if the impression of that book had been done by his authority, or at
least with his connivance, in order to countenance king
Charles’s arbitrary measures. In 1677 and 1684 it was
published with large additions by Thomas Manley of the
Middle Temple, esq. and again in 1708, with very considerable improvements, by another hand: in all which later
editions the exceptionable passages have been corrected or
omitted.
o the family of the subject of the preceding article, was born in Bread-street, London, in 1600, and educated at Eton-school. He afterwards went to Cambridge, where he studied
, a puritan writer of considerable eminence, the third son of Ellis Crisp, esq. an alderman, and
probably related to the family of the subject of the preceding article, was born in Bread-street, London, in 1600,
and educated at Eton-school. He afterwards went to Cambridge, where he studied until he took his degree of B. A,
and was, on his removal to Oxford, “for the accomplishment,
” says Wood, “. of certain parts of learning,
” incorporated in the same degree as a member of Baliol-college,
in the end of Feb. 1626, and the degree was completed
by him in the act following, July 1627. In this year he
was presented to the rectory of Newington Butts, near
Southwark, but enjoyed the living only a few months,
being removed on account of a simoniacal contract. In
the same year, however, he became rector of Brinkwortb,
in Wiltshire, and a few years after proceeded D. D. At
Brinkworth he was much followed for his edifying manner
of preaching, and for his great hospitality. But on the
breaking out of the rebellion, being noted among those
who were inclined to favour the republicans, he met witk.
such harsh treatment from the king’s soldiers, as obliged
him to repair to London, where his preaching, although
at first acceptable, was soon accused of leaning to
Antinomianism, and involved him with many of his brethren in
a controversy. He was baited, says Wood, by fifty-two
opponents, in a grand dispute concerning the freeness of
the grace of God in Jesus Christ; and by this encounter,
which was eagerly managed on his part, he contracted a
disease that brought him to his grave. This disease, communicated by infection, and probably nowise connected
with the eagerness of his dispute, was the small-pox, of
which he died Feb. 27, 1642, and was buried in the family
vault in St. Mildred’s, Bread-street. In his last sickness,
he avowed his firm adherence in the doctrines he had
preached. The dispute mentioned by Wood, was probably carried on in person, or in the pulpit, for we do not
find that he published any thing in his life-time; but, after
his death, three 4to volumes of his sermons were printed
by his son, under the title of “Christ alone exalted,
” containing in all forty-two sermons. When they appeared,
we are told, that the Westminster assembly proposed to
have them burnt; and although we do not find that this was
done, Flavel, and other non-conformists, endeavoured to
expose the danger of some of his sentiments. Here, probably, the controversy might have rested, had not his
works been again published about the revolution, by one
of his sons, with additions. This excited a new controversy, confined almost entirely to the dissenters, but in
which some of the most eminent of that body took a part,
and carried it on with an asperity which produced considerable disunion. In particular it disturbed the harmony
of the weekly lecture established at Pinners’ -hall, and the
congregation mostly inclining to Dr. Crisp’s sentiments,
the minority seceded, and began a weekly lecture at Salters’-hall. The principal writers in this controversy were
Williams, Edwards, Lorimer, &c. against Crisp; and
Chauncey, Mather, Lobb, &c. for him; and after a contest of seven-years, they rather agreed to a suspension of
hostilities than came to a decision. The truth appears to
have been, that Crisp was extremely unguarded in many
of his expressions, but was as far as the fiercest of his antagonists from intending to support any doctrine that
tended to licentiousness. A very full account of the whole
controversy may be seen in the last of our authorities.
, in Latin Crocus, one of the revivers of classical learning, was a native of London, educated at Eton, and admitted scholar of King’s college, Cambridge,
, in Latin Crocus, one of the revivers of classical learning, was a native of London, educated at Eton, and admitted scholar of King’s college, Cambridge, April 4, 1506. During the time of his scholarship he went to Oxford, and was instructed in the Greek language by Grocyn. He then went to Paris and some other parts of Europe for further improvement, and continued abroad about twelve years, supported chiefly by the liberality of Warham, archbishop of Canterbury. During his residence there he received a very high honour, that of being chosen Greek professor at Leipsic, being the fiirt that ever taught Greek in that university. Camerarius was one of his pupils here. He resided at Leipsic from 1514 to 1517, and afterwards for some time at Louvain in the same capacity. But as now the study of the Greek language began to be encouraged in our own universities, and as they could ill spare a scholar of Croke’s accomplishments, he was invited home, and in 1519, by the interest of Fisher, bishop of Rochester, was chosen public orator, and lecturer or teacher of Greek in that university. Here, likewise, as well as at Leipsic, he was the first who publicly and by authority taught Greek, Erasmus, who preceded him, having only made some private attempts; yet, in some respect he may be said to have succeeded that eminent scholar, as in his oration in praise of Greek learning, he makes honourable mention of Erasmus, and speaks modestly of himself as unworthy to succeed him. Erasmus had so good an opinion of him, that knowing he was poor, he desired dean Colet to assist him. In 1524, having proceeded in divinity, he became doctor in that faculty, and Henry VIII. being informed of his abilities, employed him as tutor to his natural son, the duke of Richmond. This promotion led to higher; for, being introduced at court when the question respecting the king’s divorce was agitated, Dr. Croke was thought a proper person to be sent abroad, in order to influence the university of Padua to the king’s side; which he successfully accomplished, although the enemies of that divorce say, not in the most honourable manner. From Collier we learn that Croke owns, in a letter to his royal master, that he had paid various sums to at least five of the members of the universities of Padua and Bologna, in order to keep them steady to the cause. But Burnet appears to explain this matter more to Croke’s honour.
antiquary, and brother to the preceding, was born in Edinburgh on the 28th of October 1726, and was educated at Eton school, where he was distinguished no less for his
, an eminent Scotch lawyer and antiquary, and brother to the preceding, was born in Edinburgh on the 28th of October 1726, and was educated at Eton school, where he was distinguished no less for his acquisitions in literature-than for the regularity of his manners. From Eton he was removed, to complete his studies at Utrecht, where he remained till 1746. In 1748 he was called to the Scotch bar, where, notwithstanding the elegant propriety of the cases which he drew, his success did not answer the expectations which had been formed of him. This was not owing either to wajjt of science or to want of industry, but to certain peculiarities, which, if not inherent in his nature, were the result of early and deep-rooted habits. He possessed on all occasions a sovereign contempt, not only for verbal antithesis, but for well-rounded periods, and every thing which had the semblance of declamation; and indeed he was wholly unfitted, by an ill-toned voice, and ungraceful elocution, for shining as an orator. It is not surprizing, therefore, that his pleadings, which were never addressed to the passions, did not rival those of some of his opponents, who, possessed of great rhetorical powers, did not, like him, employ strokes of irony too fine to be perceived by the bulk of any audience, but expressed themselves in full, clear, and harmonious periods. Even his memorials, though classically written, and often replete with valuable matter, did not on every occasion please the court; for they were always brief, and sometimes, it was said, indicated more attention to the minutiye of forms than to the merits of the cause. Yet on points which touched his own feelings, or the interests of truth and virtue, his language was animated, his arguments forcible, and his scrupulous regard to form thrown aside. He was on all occasions incapable of misleading the judge by a false statement of facts, or his clients, by holding out to them fallacious grounds of hope. The character indeed which he had obtained for knowledge and integrity in the Scotch law, soon raised him to an eminence in his profession. Accordingly, in March 1766, he was appointed one of the judges of the court of session with the wannest approbation of his countrymen; and in May 1776 he succeeded to the place of a lord commissioner of the justiciary on the resignation of lord Coalston, his wife’s father. Upon taking his seat on the bench he assumed the title of lord Hailes, in compliance with the usage established in the court of session: this is the name by which he is generally known among the learned of Europe.
, the son of a physician who practised in Wales, was born at Shrewsbury, and educated at Eton, whence he removed to King’s college, Cambridge, and
, the son of a physician who practised
in Wales, was born at Shrewsbury, and educated at Eton,
whence he removed to King’s college, Cambridge, and
regularly took the degrees of A. B. 1732, A. M. 1737, and
D. D. 175y. He was early noticed by his school-fellow,
Cornwallis, archbishop of Canterbury, when bishop of
Lichfield and Coventry, who appointed him his chaplain,
and collated him to a canonry of Lithfield, and in 1751
presented him to the mastership of St. John’s hospital,
Lichfield. He was also archdeacon of Derby, and rector
of Kingsland, in Herefordshire, in the gift of his family.
He died Feb. 6, 1769, much esteemed for his learning and
amiable disposition; and his numerous poems, both printed
and manuscript, bear ample testimony to his talents. He
wrote several of the anonymous imitations of Horace in
Buncombe’s edition, 1767, and at the end of vol. IV. is
given the character of the ancient Romans from a poem
by him, styled “The Progress of Science.
” He has many
poems in Dodsley’s and Nichols’s collections, and one, in
Latin, preserved in the “Alumni Etonenses.
” Mr. Pennant also, in his “Tour in Wales,
” vol. II. p. 422, has
preserved some animated lines by Dr. Davies on Caractacus,
which he says were delivered almost extempore at one of
the annual meetings held on Caer Caradoc some years
ago by gentlemen from different parts, to celebrate the
name of that renowned British chieftain, in prose or verse.
, another son of the celebrated printer, and himself a printer, was educated at Eton school, and in 1571 elected thence to King’s college,
, another son of the celebrated printer,
and himself a printer, was educated at Eton school, and
in 1571 elected thence to King’s college, Cambridge,
where he took his degree of M. A. and became fellow, and
being ordained, supplied the place of minister at Ryegate
in Surrey, in the room of the martyrologist, Fox. He afterwards appears to have turned his thoughts to his father’s
trade, as he was called on the livery of the stationers’
company in 1578. He carried on business in his father’s
house in Aldersgate-street, and had an exclusive privilege
jointly with him during their lives, and that of the longest
liver, to print the Psalms of David in metre. The books
he printed himself are dated from 1578 to 1581, after
which his copies were printed by his assigns as far as 1597.
When he died is not known. He wrote some verses,
“Contra papistos incendiaries,
” in Fox’s Martyrology, De Christo triumphante
comoedia,
” to which he wrote a preface, and two dedications; one in the edition of 1579, to Mr. William Kyllegrewe; the other in the edition of 1607, to William lord
Howard, of Effingham. He wrote also a preface and
conclusion to the “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs,
”
and a short Latin preface to P. Baro’s treatises “De
fide, &c.
” It was in this work that he first introduced
a typographical reform in the distinct use of the letters j
and i, v and u, which, however, did not generally take
place until the following century.
, lieutenant-general and K. B. was educated at Eton, and at King’s college, Cambridge; and, preferring the
, lieutenant-general and K. B.
was educated at Eton, and at King’s college, Cambridge;
and, preferring the military profession, went to the EastIndies in the company’s service; where, in 1760, he received the privilege of ranking as a colonel in the army,
with Lawrence and Clive, and returned home that year.
In 1761 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier in the
expedition to Belleisle. In 1763, he, with admiral Cornish, conducted the expedition against Manila. They
sailed from Madras Aug. 1, and anchored Sept. 27, in
Manila bay, where the inhabitants had no expectation of
the enemy. The fort surrendered Oct. 6, and was preserved from plunder by a ransom of four millions of dollars;
half to be paid immediately, and the other half in a time
agreed on. The Spanish governor drew on his court for
the first half, but payment was never made. The arguments of the Spanish court were clearly refuted by colonel
Draper in a letter to the earl of Halifax, then premier.
Succeeding administrations declined the prosecution of
this claim from reasons of state which were never divulged;
and the commander in chief lost for his share of the ransom 25,000l. The colours taken at this conquest were
presented to King’s college, Cambridge, and hung up in
their beautiful chapel, and the conqueror was rewarded
with a red ribband. Upon the reduction of the 79th regiment, which had served so gloriously in the East-Indies,
his majesty, unsolicited by him, gave him the 16th regiment of foot as an equivalent. This he resigned to colonel
Gisborne, for his half pay, 1200l. Irish annuity. In 1769
the colonel appeared, and with much credit, in a literacy
character, drawing his pen against that of Junius, in defence of his friend the marquis of Granby, which drew a
retort on himself, answered by him in a second letter to
Junius, on the refutations of the former charge against
him. On a republication of Junius’s first letter, sir William renewed his vindication of himself; and was answered
with great keenness by his famous antagonist. Here the
controversy dropped for the present, but he is supposed to
have entered the lists once more, under the signature of
Modestus, with that extraordinary and still concealed
writer, in defence of general Gansel, who had been arrested for debt, and was rescued by a party of soldiers. In
Oct. 1769 he retired to South Carolina, for the recovery
of his health, and took the opportunity to make the tour
of North America. That year he married miss de Lancy,
daughter of the chief justice of New York, who died in
July 1778, and by whom he had a daughter born Aug. 18,
1773. May 29, 1779, sir William, being then in rank a
lieutenant-general, was appointed lieutenant-governor of
Minorca, on the unfortunate surrender of which important
place he exhibited 29 charges against the late governor,
general Murray, Nov. 11, 1782. Of these 27 were deemed
frivolous and groundless and for the other two the governor was reprimanded. Sir William was then ordered to
make an apology to general Murray, for having instituted
the trial against him; in which he acquiesced. From this
time he appears to have lived in retirement at Bath till his
decease, which happened the 8th of January 1787. Many
particulars respecting his controversy with Junius, as well
as the controversy itself, may be seen in the splendid edition
of “Junius’s Letters,
” published by Mr. Woodfall in
nd five sons, of whom John was the eldest. He was born in London, on the 30th of November, 1721, was educated at Eton school, and admitted a gentleman commoner in Oriel college,
, late bishop of Durham, a descendant of the preceding, was the son of Henry Egerton, bishop of Hereford (fifth son of John third earl of Bridgewater, by lady Jane Powlett, first daughter of Charles duke of Bolton), who marrying lady Elizabeth Ariana Bentinck, daughter of William earl of Portland, had by her one daughter and five sons, of whom John was the eldest. He was born in London, on the 30th of November, 1721, was educated at Eton school, and admitted a gentleman commoner in Oriel college, Oxford, upon the 20th of May 1740, under the tuition of the rev. Dr. Bentham, afterwards regius professor of divinity in that university, where he prosecuted his studies extensively and successfully for six or seven years. He was ordained deacon privately by Dr. Benjamin Hoadly, bishop of Worcester, in Grosvenor chapel, Westminster, on the 21st of Dec. 1745, and the following day he was ordained priest, at a general ordination holden by the same bishop in the same place. On the 23d he was collated by his father to the living of Ross in Herefordshire, and on the 28th was inducted by Robert Breton archdeacon of Hereford. On the 3d of January 1746 (a short time before his father’s death, which happened on the 1st of April following), he was collated to the canonry or prebend of Cublington, in the church of Hereford. Upon the 30th of May 1746, he took the degree of bachelor of civil law, for which he went out grand compounder. On the 21st of November 1748 he married Indy Anne Sophia, daughter of Henry de Grey, duke of Kent, by Sophia, daughter of William Bentinck, earl of Portland. He was appointed chaplain in ordinary to the king upon the lyth of March 1749; and was promoted to the deanery of Hereford on the 24th of July 1750. He was consecrated bishop of Bangor on the 4th of July 1756, at Lambeth; and had the temporalities restored to him upon the 22d, previously to which, on the 21st of May, the university of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. by diploma, and he was empowered to hold the living of Ross, and the prebend of Cublington, with that bishopric, in commendam, dated the 1st of July. On the 12th of November 1768, he was translated to the see of Lichfield and Coventry, with which he held the prebend of Weldland, and residentiary ship of St. Paul’s, and also the two preferments before mentioned. He was inducted, installed, and enthroned at Lichfield by proxy, upon the 22d of November, and had the temporalities restored upon, the 26th. On the death of Dr. Richard Trevor, he was elected to the see of Durham, upon the 8th of July 1771, and was confirmed on the 20th in St. James’s church, Westminster. Upon the 2d of August following he was enthroned and installed at Durham by proxy. The temporalities of the see were restored to his lordship on the 15th of August, and on the 3d of September he made his public entry into his palatinate. On his taking possession of the bishopric, he found the county divided by former contested elections, which had destroyed the general peace: no endeavours were wanting on his part to promote and secure a thorough reconciliation of contending interests, on terms honourable and advantageous to all; and when the affability, politeness, and condescension, for which he was distinguished, uniting in a person of his high character and station, had won the affections of ll parties to himself, he found less difficulty in reconciling them to each other, and had soon the high satisfaction to see men of the first distinction in the county conciliated by his means, and meeting in good neighbourhood at his princely table. The harmony he had so happily restored, he was equally studious to preserve, which he effectually did, by treating the nobility and gentry of the county at all times with a proper regard, by paying an entire and impartial attention to their native interests, by forbearing to improve any opportunities of influencing their parliamentary choice in favour of his own family or particular friends, and by consulting on all occasions the honour of the palatinate. The same conciliating interposition he had used in the county, he employed in the city of Durham with the same success. At the approach of the general election in 1780 he postponed granting the Mew charter, which would considerably enlarge the number of voters, till some months after the election, that he might maintain the strictest neutrality between the candidates, and avoid even the imputation of partiality; and when he confirmed it, and freely restored to the city all its ancient rights, privileges, and immunities, in the most ample and advantageous form, he selected the members of the new corporation, with great care, out of the most moderate and respectable of the citizens, regardless of every consideration but its peace and due regulation; objects which he steadily held in view, and in the attainment of which he succeeded to his utmost wish, and far beyond his expectation. A conduct equally calculated to promote order and good government, he displayed, if possible, still more conspicuously in the spiritual than in the temporal department of his double office. Towards the chapter, and towards the body of the clergy at large, he exercised every good office, making them all look up to him as their common friend and father: and to those who had enjoyed the special favour of his predecessor, he was particularly kind and attentive, both from a sense of their merit, and that he might mitigate in some degree their loss of so excellent a friend and patron. In the discharge of all his episcopal functions, he was diligent and conscientious. He was extremely scrupulous whom he admitted into orders, in respect of their learning, character, and religious tenets. In his visitations, he urged and enforced the regularity, the decorum, and the well-being of the church, by a particular inquiry into the conduct of its ministers, encouraging them to reside upon their several henetices, and manifesting upon all opportunities, a sincere and active concern for the interests and accommodation of the inferior clergy. His charges were the exact transcripts of his mind. Objections have been made to some compositions of this kind, that they bear the resemblance of being as specious as sincere, and are calculated sometimes, perhaps, rather a little more to raise the reputation of their author as a fine writer, than to edify the ministry and advance religion. Of the charges his lordship delivered, it may truly be said, that, upon such occasions, he recommended nothing to his clergy which he did not practise in his life, and approve of in his closet.
rn in the Tower of London, in which his father, JefFery Fleetwood had resided, Jan. 21, 1656. He was educated at Eton, whence he was elected to king’s college in Cambridge.
, an English bishop, was descended from the family of Fleetwood just mentioned, and
born in the Tower of London, in which his father, JefFery
Fleetwood had resided, Jan. 21, 1656. He was educated
at Eton, whence he was elected to king’s college in Cambridge. About the time of the revolution he entered into
holy orders; and from the first was a celebrated preacher.
He was soon after made chaplain to king William and
queen Mary; and by the interest of Dr. Godolphin, at
that time vice-provost of Eton, and residentiary of St.
Paul’s, he was made fellow of that college, and rector of
St. Austin’s, London, which is in the gift of the dean and
chapter of St. Paul’s. Soon after he obtained also the
lecture of St. Dunstan’s in the West, probably by his great
reputation and merit as a preacher. In 1691 he published,
1. “Inscriptionum Antiquarum Sylloge,
” &c. 8vo. This
collection of ancient inscriptions consists of two parts: the
first, containing remarkable pagan inscriptions collected
from Gruter, Keinesius, Spon, and other writers the
second, the ancient Christian monuments the whole illustrated with very short notes for the use of the young antiquary. In 1692 he translated into English, revised, and
prefixed a preface to, 2. “Jurieu’s plain method of Christian Devotion, laid down in discourses, meditations, and
prayers, fitted to the various occasions of a religious life;
”
the 27th edition of which was printed in 1750. In the
mean time he was highly distinguished by his talents
for the pulpit, which rendered him so generally admired, that he was frequently called to preach upon the
most solemn occasions; as, before the king, queen, lordmayor, &c. In 1701 he published, 3. “An Essay upon
Miracles,
” 8vo, written in the manner of dialogue, and
divided into two discourses. Some singularities in it occasioned it to be animadverted upon by several writers, particularly by Hoadly, in “A Letter to Mr. FleetvVood,
1702;
” which letter is reprinted in Hoadly’s tracts,
Phineas was educated at Eton, and admitted a scholar of King’s-college, Cambridge,
Phineas was educated at Eton, and admitted a scholar
of King’s-college, Cambridge, in 1600, where, in 1604, he
frook his bachelor’s degree, and his master’s in 1608. After
going into the church, he was presented, in 1621, to the
living of Hilgay, in Norfolk, by sir Henry Willoughby,
bart. and according to Elomefield, the historian of Norfolk,
he held this living twenty-nine years. Mr. Ellis conjectures that he was born in 1584, and died about 1650.
Besides the poems which are added to the last edition of
the “English Poets,
” he was the author of a dramatic piece,
entitled “Sicelides,
” which was performed at King’s college, Cambridge, and printed in 1631. A manuscript copy
is in the British Museum. The editor of the Biographm
Dramatica informs us, that “it was intended originally to
be performed before king James the First, on the thirteenth
of March, 1614; but his majesty leaving the university
sooner, it was net then represented. The serious parts of
it are mostly written in rhyme, with choruses between the
acts. Some of the incidents are borrowed from Ovid, and
some from the Orlando Furioso.
” He published also, at
Cambridge, in 1632, some account of the lives of the
founders and other learned men of that university, under
the title of “De Literatis antique Britanniae, praesertim
qui doctrina claruerunt, quique collegia Cantabrigise fundarunt.
”
ivals for power. Both these rival statesmen were younger brothers, nearly of the same age; both were educated at Eton, both distinguished for classical knowledge, both commenced
, Lord Holland, the first nobleman of
that title, was the second and youngest son of the second
marriage, of sir Stephen Fox, and brother of Stephen
first earl of Ilchester. He was born in 1705, and was
chosen one of the members for Hendon, in Wiltshire, on
a vacancy, in March 1735, to that parliament which met
Jan. 23, 1734; and being constituted surveyor-general of
his majesty’s board of works, a writ was ordered June 17,
1737, and he was re-elected. In the next parliament,
summoned to meet June 25, 1741, he served for Windsor; and in 1743, being constituted one of the commissioners of the treasury, in the administration formed by
the Pelhams, a writ was issued Dec. 21st of that year, for
a new election, and he was re-chosen. In 1746, on the
restoration of the old cabinet, after the short administration
of earl Granville, he was appointed secretary at war, and
sworn one his majesty’s most honourable privy-council.
On tbis occasion, and until he was advanced to the peerage, he continued to represent Windsor in parliament.
In 1754, the death of Mr. Pelham produced a vacancy in
the treasury, which was filled up by his broker the duke
of Newcastle, who, though a nobleman of high honour,
unblemished integrity, and considerable abilities, yet was
of too jealous and unstable a temper to manage the house
of commons with equal address and activity, and to guide
the reins of government without a coadjutor at so arduous
a conjuncture. The seals of chancellor of the exchequer
and secretary of state, vacant by the death of Mr. Pelham, and by the promotion of the duke of Newcastle, became therefore the objects of contention. The persons
who now aspired to the management of the house of commons, were Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt (afterwards earl of Chatham) whose parliamentary abilities had for some time
divided the suffrages of the nation; who had so long fosterod reciprocal jealousy, and who now became public
rivals for power. Both these rival statesmen were younger
brothers, nearly of the same age; both were educated at
Eton, both distinguished for classical knowledge, both
commenced their parliamentary career at the same period,
and both raised themselves to eminence by their superior
talents, yet no two characters were ever more contrasted.
Mr. Fox inherited a strong and vigorous constitution, was
profuse and dissipated in his youth, and after squandering
his private patrimony, went abroad to extricate himself
from his embarrassment*. On his return he obtained a
seat in parliament, and warmly attached himself to sir
Robert Walpole, whom he idolized; and to whose patronage he was indebted for the place of surveyor-general
of the board of works. His marriage in 1744 with lady
Caroline Lennox, daughter of the duke of Richmond,
though at first displeasiug to the family, yet finally
strengthened his political connections. He was equally a
man of pleasure and business, formed for social and convivial
intercourse; of an unruffled temper, and frank disposition.
No statesman acquired more adherents, not merely from
political motives, but swayed by his agreeable manners,
and attached to him by personal friendship, which he fully
merited by his zeal in promoting their interests. He is
justly characterized, even by Lord Chesterfield, “as having
no fixed principles of religion or morality, and as too unwary in ridiculing and exposing them.
” As a parliamentary orator, he was occasionally hesitating and perplexed;
but, when warmed with his subject, he spoke with an animation and rapidity which appeared more striking from
his former hesitation. His speeches were not crowded
with flowers of rhetoric, or distinguished by brilliancy of
diction; but were replete with sterling sense and sound
argument. He was quick in reply, keen in repartee, and
skilful in discerning the temper of the house. He wrote
without effort or affectation; his public dispatches were
manly and perspicuous, and his private letters easy and
animated. Though of an ambitious spirit, he regarded
money as a principal object, and power only as a secondary concern. He was an excellent husband, a most indulgent father, a kind master, a courteous neighbour, and
one whose charities demonstrated that he possessed in
abundance the milk of human kindness. Such is said to
have been the character of lord Holland, which is here introduced as a prelude to some account of his more illustrious son. It may therefore suffice to add, that in 1756
he resigned the office of secretary at war to Mr. Pitt, and
in the following year was appointed paymaster of the forces,
which he retained until the commencement of the present
reign; his conduct in this office was attended with some
degree of obloquy; in one instance, at least, grossly
overcharged. For having accumulated a considerable fortune by the perquisites of office, and the interest of money
in hand, he was styled in one of the addresses of the city
of London, “the defaulter of unaccounted millions.
” On
May 6, 1762, his lady was created baroness Holland; and
on April 16, 1763, he himself was created a peer by the
title of lord Holland, baron Holland, of Foxley, in the
county of Wilts. In the latter part of his life he amused
himself by building, at a vast expence, a fantastic villa at
Kingsgate, near Margate, His lordship was also a lord
of the privy-council, and clerk of the Pells, in Ireland,
granted him for his own life and that of his two sons.
Lord Holland died at Holland-house, near Kensington,
July 1, 1774, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, leaving
three sons, Stephen, his successor; Charles James, the
subject of the next article; and Henry Edward, a general
in the army. Stephen, second lord Holland, survived his
father but a few months, dying Dec. 26, 1774, and was
succeeded by Henry Richard, the present peer.
an ancient family, and though a second son, inherited a considerable fortune from his father. He was educated at Eton, and afterwards at Oxford, but is not mentioned by Wood,
, a brave officer and navigator, was born in 1539, in Devonshire, of an ancient family, and though a second son, inherited a considerable
fortune from his father. He was educated at Eton, and
afterwards at Oxford, but is not mentioned by Wood, and
probably did not remain long there. His destination was
the law, for which purpose he was to have been sent to
finish his studies in the Temple; but being introduced at
court by his aunt, Mrs. Catherine Ashley, then in the
queen’s service, he was encouraged to embrace a military
life. Having distinguished himself in several expeditions,
particularly in that to Newhaven, in 1563, he was sent
over to Ireland to assist in suppressing a rebellion excited
by James Fitzmorris; and for his signal services he was
made commander in chief and governor of Munster, and
knighted by the lord-deputy, sir Henry Sidney, on Jan. 1,
1570, and not by queen Elizabeth in 1577, as Prince asserts. He returned soon after to England, where he married a rich heiress. In 1572 he sailed with a squadron of
nine ships, to reinforce colonel Morgan, who at that time
meditated the recovery of Flushing; and when he came
home he published in 1576, his “Discourse to prove a
passage by the North-west to Cathaia, and the East Indies,
”
Lond. This treatise, which is a masterly performance,
is preserved in Hakluyt’s Voyages. The style is superior
to most writers of that age, and shows the author to have
been a man of considerable reading. The celebrated
Frobisher sailed the same year, probably in consequence
of this publication. In 1578, sir Humphrey obtained from
the queen a very ample patent, empowering him to discover and possess in North America any lands then unsettled. He accordingly sailed to Newfoundland, but
soon returned to England without success; yet, in 1583,
he embarked a second time with five ships, the largest of
which put back on occasion of a contagious distemper on
board. Gilbert landed at Newfoundland, Aug. 3, and two
days after took possession of the harbour of St. John’s. By
virtue of his patent he granted leases to several people;
but though none of them remained there at that time, they
settled afterwards in consequence of these leases, so that
sir Humphrey deserves to be remembered as the real
founder of our American possessions. His half-brother,
sir Walter Raleigh, was a joint adventurer on this expedition, and upon sir Humphrey’s death took out a patent
of the same nature, and sailed to Virginia. On the 20th
August in the above year (1583), sir Humphrey put to
sea again, on board of a small sloop, for the purpose of
exploring the coast. After this he steered homeward in
the midst of a tempestuous sea, and on the 9th of September, when his small bark was in the utmost danger of
foundering, he was seen by the crew of the other ship
sitting in the stern of the vessel, with a book in his hand,
and was heard to cry out, “Courage, my lads! we are as
sear heaven at sea as at land.
” About midnight the bark was
swallowed up by the ocean; the gallant knight and all his
men perished with her. He was a man of quick parts, a
brave soldier, a good mathematician, and of a very enterprizing genius. He was also remarkable for his eloquent
and patriotic speeches both in the English and Irish parliaments. At the close of the work above-mentioned, he
speaks of another treatise “On Navigation,
” which he
intended to publish, but which is probably lost.
, a very celebrated puritan divine, was born at Bow near Stratford, Middlesex, Nov. 1, 1575, and educated at Eton school, whence he went in 1595 to King’s college, Cambridge.
, a very celebrated puritan divine,
was born at Bow near Stratford, Middlesex, Nov. 1, 1575,
and educated at Eton school, whence he went in 1595 to
King’s college, Cambridge. He was endowed with considerable powers of mind, and by close application to study,
accumulated a great fund of learning. Such was his ardour and regularity in his literary pursuits, that during his
first three years, he slept only one night out of college,
and for nine years never missed college prayers at halfpast five in the morning, unless when from home. It was
his invariable rule to read fifteen chapters in the Bible
every day, at three times. When chosen reader of logic
and philosophy in the college, he was equally precise in
regularity of duty and attendance. Having taken his degrees, and been admitted into orders, he was in 1608 preferred to the rectory of St. Anne’s Blackfiiars, London,
where he became extremely popular; and having instituted a lecture on Wednesday mornings, it was frequented
by many persons of the first rank. Having, however, imbibed some of the prejudices which were then so common
against the church of England, he was occasionally censured, and at one time threatened with a prosecution in
the Star-chamber for having become a member of a society
for the purchase of impropriations; but this did not take
effect, and the subsequent disturbances relieved him from
any farther molestation. In 1643, he was nominated one
of the assembly of divines, and took an active part in the
various proceedings instituted by the then ruling powers
for the reformation of the church. But when in 1648, he
saw the lengths to which their reformations tended, he
united with a large body of his brethren in declaring against
putting the king to death. For forty-five years, says
Granger, he was the laborious, the exemplary, and the
much loved minister of St. Anne’s Blackfriars, where none
ever thought or spoke ill of him, but such as were inclined
to think or speak ill of religion itself. He died Dec. 12,
1653. He appears, indeed, to have had the suffrages of
all his contemporaries, and is honourably mentioned by
many foreign divines. He was at one time offered the
provostship of King’s college, but declined it; his usual
saying was, that it was his highest ambition “to go from
Blackfriars to heaven.
” He published several pious tracts
and some sermons, which bishop Wilkins classes among
the most excellent of his time; but his principal work
was “A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews,
”
The Assembly’s Annotations.
”
, son of the preceding, was born at Bow, Sept. 19, 1605, and was educated at Eton school, whence he was chosen to King’s college, Cambridge,
, son of the preceding, was born at
Bow, Sept. 19, 1605, and was educated at Eton school,
whence he was chosen to King’s college, Cambridge, in
1626. Here, after taking his degrees, he was chosen fellow of his college, and afterwards presented with a living
at Colsden near Croydon, in Surrey, where he continued
about three years. In 1638, he was removed to the living
of St. Sepulchre’s, London, and the year after married one
of the daughters of sir Robert Darcy. During a period of
twenty-four years he discharged the duties of his profession
with the most exemplary zeal. Besides preaching twice
every Sunday, and often on week-days, he visited his flock,
catechised their children, inquired into and relieved the
wants of the poor, and devised plans for their employment.
Such of the poor as were able to work, he employed in
spinning flax and hemp, which he bought for the purpose,
and paying them for their work, got it worked into cloth,
which he sold, as well as he could, chiefly among his
friends, bearing himself whatever loss was sustained. By
this wise and humane scheme he diverted many from
begging, and demonstrated to them, that by industry they
might soon become independent of charity; and he thus
is said to have given the hint which produced the humane
and benevolent institutions of Mr. Firmin, which have
been referred to in the memoir of that excellent citizen.
When the act of uniformity took place, he quitted his
living of St. Sepulchre’s, being dissatisfied respecting the
terms of conformity; but after this he forbore preaching,
saying there was no need of him in London, where there
were so many worthy ministers, and that he thought he
might do as much or more good another way, which could
give no offence. Accordingly his time was now zealously
devoted to acts of beneficence and charity. He employed
his own fortune, which was considerable, in relieving the
wants of his poorer brethren, who, on account of their
nonconformity, were deprived of their means of subsistence; and he was a successful applicant to the rich, from
whom he received large sums, which were applied to that
humane purpose. In 1671, he set about a plan for
introducing knowledge and religion mto the different parts of
Wales, which at that period were in the most deplorable
darkness. He established schools in different towns where
the poor were willing that their children should be taught
the elements of learning, and he undertook to pay all the
expences which were incurred in the outset of the business.
By degrees these schools amounted to between three and
four hundred, and they were all annually visited by Mr.
Gouge, when he carefully inquired into the progress made
by the young people, before whom he occasionally
preached in a style adapted to their age and circumstances
in life, for, being in his latter days better satisfied with the
terms of conformity, he had a licence from some of the
bishops to preach in Wales. With the assistance of his
friends, whose purses were ever open at his command, he
printed eight thousand copies of the Bible in the Welsh
language; a thousand of these were distributed freely
among those who could not afford to purchase them, and
the rest were sent to the cities and chief towns in the principality, to be sold at reasonable rates. He procured likewise the English liturgy, the “Practice of Piety,
” the
“Whole Duty of Man,
” the Church Catechism, and other
practical pieces, to be printed in the Welsh language, and
distributed among the poor. During the exercise of this
benevolent disposition, he meddled nothing with the controversies of the times, and partook in no shape of the rancour of many of his ejected brethren against the church of
England, with which he maintained communion to the last,
and, as he told archbishop Tillotson, “thought himself
obliged in conscience so to do.
” He was accustomed to
say with pleasure, “that he had two livings which he would
not exchange for two of the greatest in England.
” These
were Wales, where he travelled every year to diffuse the
principles of knowledge, piety, and charity: and Christ’s
Hospital, where he catechised and instructed the children
in the fundamental principles of religion. He died suddenly Oct. 29, 1681, in the seventy-seventh year of his
age. His death was regarded as a public loss. A funeral
sermon was preached on the occasion by Dr. Tillotson,
afterwards archbishop of Canterbury; who, at the conclusion of an animated eulogium on his piety and virtue, observes, that “all things considered, there have not, since
the primitive times of Christianity, been many among the
sons of men, to whom that glorious character of the Son of
God might be better applied, that
” he went about doing
good.“And Mr. Baxter, in his Narrative of his own Life
and Times, says of Mr. Gouge,
” I never heard any one
person, of whatever rank, sort, or sect soever, speak one
word to his dishonour, or name any fault that they charged
on his life or doctrine; no, not the prelatists themselves,
save only that he conformed not to their impositions; and
that he did so much good with so much industry.“This
eminent divine published a few practical pieces, of which
the following may be mentioned
” The Principles of Religion explained“” A Word to Sinners“” Christian
Directions to walk with God“” The surest and safest
Way of Thriving, viz. by Charity to the Poor;“”The
Young Man’s Guide through the Wilderness of this World."
These were collected in an 8vo volume in 1706, and published at London, with a fine portrait by Van der Gucht,
and archbishop Tillotson’s Funeral Sermon and Life of him
prefixed.
He was educated at Eton, under the protection of Mr. Antrobus, his maternal
He was educated at Eton, under the protection of Mr.
Antrobus, his maternal uncle, who was at that time assistant to Dr. George, and also a fellow of Peter-house,
Cambridge, where Gray was admitted as a pensioner in
1734, in his nineteenth year. At Eton his friendship with
Horace Walpole (the late earl of Orford), and more particularly with Richard West, commmenced. In the latter,
who was a son of the Irish lord chancellor West, henet
with one whose proficiency in literature was considerable
for his age, whose mind was amiable and ingenuous, wnose
disposition was similar to his own, but whose loss he had
to deplore, after a strict friendship of eight years. When
Gray removed to Peter-house, West went to Christ church,
Oxford, and Walpole to King’s -college, Cambridge. It
is difficult to trace the line of study which Gray pursued
at college. His correspondence at that time treats chiefly
of his poetry, and other private pursuits; and he seems to
have withdrawn himself entirely from the severity of mathematical studies, while his inquiries centered in classical literature, in the acquisition of modern languages, in
history and other branches of polite literature. During
his residence at college from 1734 to 1738, his poetical
productions were some Latin verses entitled “Luna habitabilis,
” inserted in the “Musae Etonenses;
” a poem “Onthe marriage of the prince of Wales;
” and a “Sapphic
Ode to West,
” both in Latin also a Latin version of the
“Care selve beate
” of the Pastor Fido, and fragments of
translations in English from Statins and Tasso.
languages in England, was descended from a good family in Buckinghamshire, and born in 1516. He was educated at Eton school, under Dr. Richard Cox, afterwards bishop of
, an eminent scholar, and one
of the revivers of the learned languages in England, was
descended from a good family in Buckinghamshire, and
born in 1516. He was educated at Eton school, under
Dr. Richard Cox, afterwards bishop of Ely, and was thence
elected to King’s college, in Cambridge; where he greatly
distinguished himself by his parts and learning, and particularly by writing Latin in an elegant, but, as Mr. Warton thinks, not a very pure style. He studied also the civil
law, of which he became doctor; and read public lectures
in it in 1547, and the two years following, and was so much
approved, that upon a vacancy in the professor’s chair in
1550, the university employed the celebrated Ascham to
write to king Edward VI. in his favour. He was accordingly appointed professor, and was also for some time professor of rhetoric and orator of the university. During
king Edward’s reign, he was one of the most illustrious
promoters of the reformation; and therefore, upon the
deprivation of Gardiner, was thought a proper person to
succeed him in the mastership of Trinity-hall. In September 1552, through the earnest recommendation of the
court, though not qualified according to the statutes, he
was chosen president of Magdalen college in Oxford; but,
in October 1553, upon the accession of queen Mary, he
quitted the president’s place for fear of being expelled, or
perhaps worse used, at Gardiner’s visitation of the said
college. He is supposed to have lain concealed in England all this reign; but, on the accession of Elizabeth, was
ordered by the privy council to repair to her majesty at
Hatfield in Hertfordshire, and soon after was constituted
by her one of the masters of the court of requests. Archbishop Parker also made him judge of his prerogative-court. In the royal visitation of the university of Cambridge, performed in the beginning of Elizabeth’s reign,
he was one of her majesty’s commissioners, as appears by
the speech he then made, printed among his works. In
1566 he was one of the three agents sent to Bruges to restore commerce between England and the Netherlands
upon the ancient terms. He died Jan. 21, 1571-2, and
was buried in Christ Church, London, where a monument
was erected to his memory, but was destroyed in the great
fire of London. He was engaged, with sir John Cheke,
in turning into Latin and drawing up that useful code of
ecclesiastical law, published in 1571, by the learned John
Fox, under this title, “Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum,
” in 4to. He published, in Admonitio ad
Elizabetham reginam Angliæ,
” in which the English nation, and the reformation of the church, were treated in a
scurrilous manner. His other works were collected and
published in 1567, 4to, under the title of “Lucubrationes.
” This collection contains ten Latin orations, fourteen letters, besides the above-mentioned to Osorio; and
also poems. Several of his original letters are in the Harleian collection; and his poems, “Poemata,
” containing a
great number of metrical epitaphs, were separately published with his life in 1576. Many of our writers speak in
high terms of Haddon, and not without reason; for, through,
every part of his writings, his piety appears equal to his
learning. When queen Elizabeth was asked whether she
preferred him or Buchanan? she replied, “Buchananum
omnibus antepono, Haddonum nemini postpono.
”
robably about the last year of the fifteenth century, in the parish of St. Mildred’s, London. He was educated at Eton, whence in 1544 he was sent to King’s college, Cambridge,
, an English lawyer and historiographer, was the son of John Halle of Northall in Shropshire, by Catherine his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Gedding, and was descended from sir Francis Van Halle, knight of the garter in the time of Edward III. who was the son of Frederic Van Halle, of the Tyrol, in Germany, natural son of Albert king of the Romans and archduke of Austria. He was born, probably about the last year of the fifteenth century, in the parish of St. Mildred’s, London. He was educated at Eton, whence in 1544 he was sent to King’s college, Cambridge, where he continued until he became a junior fellow. He afterwards studied at Gray’s-inn, and resided there until he was made a judge in the sheriffs’ court. Wood, however, says that he went to Oxford about 1518, when cardinal Wolsey founded certain lectures there; and adds that, that being the common mart of learning, no person of ingenuity or curiosity thought themselves complete until they had been there. But Mr. Baker of St. John’s, in a letter to Hearne, seems to think this doubtful, as he is not to be traced from Gray’s-inn to Oxford.
nfancy he was remarkable for sweetness of temper, the love of privacy, and a devotional turn. He was educated at Eton-school, and sent to Magdalen-college, Oxford, in 1618;
, a learned English divine, was born at Chertsey in Surrey, August 18, 1605; and was the youngest son of Dr. John Hammond, physician to Henry prince of Wales, svho was his godfather, and gave him his own name. In his infancy he was remarkable for sweetness of temper, the love of privacy, and a devotional turn. He was educated at Eton-school, and sent to Magdalen-college, Oxford, in 1618; of which, after taking his degrees in a regular way, he was elected fellow in July 1625. During the whole of his residence here, he generally spent thirteen hours every day in study; in the course of which he not only went through the usual academic studies, but read almost all the classics, writing emendations, critical remarks, &c. as he proceeded. Having applied himself also with great diligence to the study of divinity, he was admitted to holy orders in 1629, and soon, after took the degree of bachelor of divinity. In 1633 he was presented to the rectory of Penshurst in Kent, by Robert Sidney earl of Leicester. That nobleman, happening to be one of his auditors while he was supplying a turn at court for Dr. Frewen, the president of his college, and one of his majesty’s chaplains, was-so deeply affected with the sermon, and conceived so high an opinion of the preacher’s merit, that he conferred on him this living, then void, and in his gift. Upon this he quitted his college, and went to his cure, where he resided as long as the times permitted him, punctually performing every branch of the ministerial function in the most diligent and exemplary manner. In 1639 he took the degree of D. D.; in 1640, was chosen one of the members of the convocation, called with the long parliament, which began that year; and, in. 1643, made archdeacon of Chichester by the unsolicited favour of Dr. Brian Duppa, then bishop of Chichester, and afterwards of Winchester. The same year also he was named one of the assembly of divines, but never sat amongst them.
the parish of Melbourne in Derbyshire, who was knighted in the civil wars. He was born in 1700, and educated at Eton school, which he left in 17 Is for King’s college, Cambridge,
, a polite and ingenious scholar, was the younger son of the rev. Gideon Hardinge, and grandson of sir Robert Hardinge, of King’s Newton, a small hamlet in the parish of Melbourne in Derbyshire, who was knighted in the civil wars. He was born in 1700, and educated at Eton school, which he left in 17 Is for King’s college, Cambridge, where he took his degree of B. A. in 1722, and that of M. A. in 1726. When he left the university, he studied law, and was called to the bar; but obtained in 1731 the office of chief clerk of the house of commons, which he held until 1752, when he was appointed joint secretary of the treasury, in which post he died April 9, 1758.
, an English bishop, was born in London, and educated at Eton, whence he was admitted of King’s college, Cambridge,
, an English bishop, was born in
London, and educated at Eton, whence he was admitted
of King’s college, Cambridge, in 1688, and took his degree of A. B. in 1692, and of A. M. 1696. He afterwards
became tutor in the college, and in that capacity superintended the education of the celebrated Anthony Collins,
who was fellow-commoner there. He had also the tuition
of the marquis of Blandford, only son of the illustrious
duke of Marlborough, who appointed him chaplain-general
to the army; but this promising young nobleman died in
1702, and was buried in King’s college chapel. The inscription on his monument is by our author. In 1708 Mr.
Hare took his degree of D. D. obtained the deanery of
Worcester, and in 1726 the deanery of St. Paul’s. In
Dec. 1727, he was consecrated bishop of St. Asaph, where
he sat about four years, and was translated, Nov. 25, 1731,
to the bishopric of Chichester, which he held with the
deanery of St. Paul’s to his death. He was dismissed from
being chaplain to George I. in 1718, by the strength of
party prejudices, in company with Dr. Moss and Dr. Sher-r
lock, persons of distinguished rank for parts and learning.
About the latter end of queen Anne’s reign he published
a remarkable pamphlet, entitled “The difficulties and
discouragements which attend the Study of the Scriptures,
in the way of private judgment;
” in order to shew, that
since such a study of the scriptures is an indispensable
duty, it concerns all Christian societies to remove, as much
as possible, those discouragements. This work was thought
to have such a direct tendency to promote scepticism, and
a loose way of thinking in matters of religious concern,
that the convocation judged it right to pass a severe censure
on it; and Whiston says, that, finding this piece likely to
hinder preferment, he aimed to conceal his being the author. The same writer charges him with being strongly
inclined to scepticism that he talked ludicrously of sacred
matters and that he would offer to lay wagers about the
fulfilling of scripture prophecies. The principal ground
for these invidious insinuations some suppose to be, that,
though he never denied the genuineness of the apostolical
constitutions (of which he procured for Whiston the collation of two Vienna Mss.), yet “he was not firm believer
enough, nor serious enough in Christianity, to hazard any
thing in this world for their reception.
” He published
many pieces against bishop Hoadly, in the Bangorian controversy; and also other learned works, which were collected after his death, and published in four volumes, 8yo.
2. An edition of “Terence,
” with notes, in 4to. 3. “The
Book of Psalms, in the Hebrew, put into the original poetical metre,
” 4to. In this last work he pretends to have
Discovered the Hebrew metre, which was supposed to be
irretrievably lost. But his hypothesis, though defended
by some, yet has been confuted by several learned men,
particularly by Dr. Lowth in his “Metrics Hareaue brevis
confutatio,
” annexed to his lectures “De Sacra Poesi Hebreeorum.
” He was yet more unfortunate in the abovementioned edition of Terence, which sunk under the reputation of that of Dr. Bentley, of whom he was once the
warm admirer, and afterwards the equally warm opponent.
During their friendship the emendations on Menander and
Philemon were transmitted through Hare, who was then
chaplain-general to the army, to Burman, in 1710; and
Bentley’s “Remarks on the Essay on Freethinking
” (supposed to be written by Collins) were inscribed to him in
1713. As soon as the first part of these were published,
Hare formally thanked Dr. Bentley by name for them, in
a most flattering letter called “The Clergyman’s Thanks
to Phileleutherus,
” printed the same year; but, in consequence of the rupture between them, not inserted in the
collection of Hare’s works. This rupture took place soon
after the above-mentioned date, and Bentley in the subsequent editions of his “Remarks
” withdrew the inscription. Hare was excessively piqued at the utter annihilation of his Terence and Phoedrus, the one soon after its
birth, the other before its birth, by Bentley’s edition of
both together in 1726, who never once names Hare.
Howe, and Mary Sophia Charlotte, eldest daughter to the baron Kilmansegge. He was born in 1725, was educated at Eton, entered the sea-service at the age of fourteen, on
, fourth viscount Howe, and earl
Howe, and first baron Howe of Langar, a gallant English
admiral, was the third son of sir Emanuel Scrope, second
lord viscount Howe, and Mary Sophia Charlotte, eldest
daughter to the baron Kilmansegge. He was born in 1725,
was educated at Eton, entered the sea-service at the age
of fourteen, on board the Severn, hon. captain Legge,
part of the squadron destined for the South Seas under
Anson. He next served on board the Burford, 1743, under
admiral Knowles, in which he was afterwards appointed
acting lieutenant; but his commission not being confirmed,
he returned to admiral Knowles in the West- Indies, where
he was made lieutenant of a sloop of war; and being employed to cut an English merchantman, which had been
taken by a French privateer under the guns of the Dutch
settlement of St. Eustatia, and with the connivance of the
governor, out of that harbour, he executed the difficult
and dangerous enterprise in such a manner, as to produce
the most sanguine expectations of his future services. In
1745, lieutenant Howe was with admiral Vernon in the
Downs, but was in a short time raised to the rank of commander, in the Baltimore sloop of war, which joined the
squadron then cruizing on the coast of Scotland, under the
command of admiral Smith. During this cruize an action
took place, in which captain Howe gave a fine example of
persevering intrepidity. The Baltimore, in company with
another armed vessel, fell in with two French frigates of
thirty guns, with troops and ammunition for the service of
the pretender, which she instantly attacked, by running
between them. In the action which followed, capt. Howe
received a wound hi his head, which at first appeared to be
fatal. He, however, soon discovered signs of life, and
when the necessary operation was performed, resumed all
his former activity, continued the action, if possible, with
redoubled spirit, and obliged the French ships, with their
prodigious superiority in men and metal, to sheer off, leaving the Baltimore, at the same time, in such a shattered
condition, as to be wholly disqualified to pursue them. He
was, in consequence of this gallant service, immediately
made post-captain, and in April 1746, was appointed to
the Triton frigate, and ordered to Lisbon, where, in consequence of captain Holbourne’s bad state of health, he
was transferred to the Rippon, destined for the Coast of
Guinea. But he soon quitted that station to join his early
patron admiral Knowles in Jamaica, who appointed him
first captain of his ship of 80 guns; and at the conclusion
of the war in 1748, he returned in her to England. In
March 1750-51, captain Howe was appointed to the command of the Guinea station, in La Gloire, of 44 guns;
when, with his usual spirit and activity, he checked the
injurious proceedings of the Dutch governor-general on the
coast, and adjusted the difference between the English and
Dutch settlements. At the close of 1751, he was appointed
to the Mary yacht, which was soon exchanged for the Dolphin frigate, in which he sailed to the Streights, where he
executed many difficult and important services. Here he
remained about three years; and soon after, on his return
to England, he obtained the command of the Dunkirk of
60 guns, which was among the ships that were commissioned from an apprehension of a rupture with France.
This ship was one of the fleet with which admiral Boscawen
sailed to obstruct the passage of the French fleet into the
Gulph of St. Lawrence, when captain Howe took the Alcide, a French ship of 64 guns, off the coast of Newfoundland. A powerful fleet being prepared, in 1757, under
the command of sir Edward Hawke, to make an attack
upon the French coast, captain Howe was appointed to the
Magnanime, in which ship he battered the fort on the
island of Aix till it surrendered. In 1758 he was appointed
commodore of a small squadron, which sailed to annoy tke
enemy on their coasts. This he effected with his usual
success at St. Malo, where an hundred sail of ships and
several magazines were destroyed; and the heavy gale
blowing into shore, which rendered it impracticable for
the troops to land, alone prevented the executing a similar
mischief in the town and harbour of Cherbourg. On the
1st of July he returned to St. Helen’s. This expedition
was soon followed by another, when prince Edward, afterwards duke of York, was entrusted to the care of commodore Howe, on board his ship the Essex. The fleet sailed
on the 1st of August 1758, and on the 6th came to an
anchor in the Bay of Cherbourg; the town was taken, and
the bason destroyed. The commodore, with his royal
midshipman on board, next sailed to St. Malo; and as his
instructions were to keep the coast of France in continual
alarm, he very effectually obeyed them. The unsuccessful affair of St. Cas followed. But never was courage,
skill, or humanity, more powerfully or successfully displayed than on this occasion. He went in person in his
barge, which was rowed through the thickest fire, to save
the retreating soldiers; the rest of the fleet, inspired hy
his conduct, followed his example, and at least seven hundred men were preserved, by his exertions, from the fire
of the enemy or the fury of the waves. In July in the
same year (1758), his elder brother, who was serving his
country with equal ardour and heroism in America, found
an early grave. That brave and admirable officer was killed in a skirmish between the advanced guard of the French,
and the troops commanded by general Abercrombie, in the
expedition against Ticonderago. Commodore Howe then
succeeded to the titles and property of his family. In the
following year (1759), lord Howe was employed in the Channel, on board his old ship the Magnanime but no opportunity offered- to distinguish himself till the month of November, when the French fleet, under Conflans, was defeated. When he was presented to the king by sir Edward
Hawke on this occasion, his majesty said, “Your life, my
lord, has been one continued series of services to your
country.
” In March I advised his
majesty to make the promotion. 1 have tried my lord
Howe on fmportant occasions; he never asked me how he
was to execute any service, but always went and performed
it.
” In
, an English antiquary, was educated at Eton school, and admitted to King’s -college, Cambridge,
, an English antiquary, was educated
at Eton school, and admitted to King’s -college, Cambridge, in 1584, where he took his degree of M. A. and
became fellow, but quitted his fellowship on succeeding to
an estate at Wilbraham, in Cambridgeshire. He was afterwards appointed one of the esquires extraordinary of
the king’s body, and died in 1637. No farther particulars
of his life are upon record. He published “A Saxon treatise concerning the Old and New Testament; written
about the time of king Edgar, (700 years ago) by >Elfricus Abbas, thought to be the same that was afterwards archbishop of Canterbury,
” Treatise,
”
but the volume is incomplete without “A Testimony of
Antiquity, shewing the ancient faith in the church of England, touching the sacrament of the body and blood of our
Lord
” the “Words of CEilfric abbot of St. Alban’s, &c.
taken out of his epistles written to Wulfsine, bishop of
Scyrburne;
” and “The Lord’s prayer, the creed, and
ten commandments, in the Saxon and English tongue.
”
The work is dedicated to prince Charles, afterwards
Charles I. in a long copy of verses, “by way of eclogue,
imitating the fourth of Virgile.
” To this is added a still
longer preface, or address to the reader, containing some
curious remarks on a variety of topics relating to Saxon
literature, the Bible, the English language, &c. Mr. Lisle
also published Du Bartas’s “Ark, Babylon, Colonies,
and Columns,
” in French and English, The Fair Æthiopian,
”
, third son of sir Thomas, and brother to George lord Lyttelton, was born at Hagley, in 1714. He was educated at Eton-school, and went thence first to University-college,
, third son of sir Thomas, and
brother to George lord Lyttelton, was born at Hagley, in
1714. He was educated at Eton-school, and went thence
first to University-college, Oxford, and then to the InnerTemple, where he became a barrister at law; but entering
into orders, was collated by bishop Hough to the rectory
of Alvechurch, in Worcestershire, Aug. 13, 1742. He
took the degree of LL. B. March 28, 1745; LL. D. June
18 the same year; was appointed king’s chaplain in Dec.
1747, dean of Exeter in May 1748, and was consecrated
bishop of Carlisle, March 21, 1762. In 1754 he caused
the cieling and cornices of the chancel of Hagley church
to be ornamented with shields of arms in their proper colours, representing the paternal coats of his ancient and
respectable family. In 1765, on the death of Hugh lord
Willoughby of Parham, he was unanimously elected president of the society of antiquaries; a station in which his
distinguished abilities were eminently displayed. He died
unmarried, Dec. 22, 1768. His merits and good qualities
are universally acknowledged; and those parts of his character which more particularly endeared him to the learned
society over which he so worthily presided, shall be
pointed out in the words of his learned successor dean
Milles: “The study of antiquity, especially that part of
it which relates to the history and constitution of these
kingdoms, was one of his earliest and most favourable pursuits; and he acquired g cat knowledge in it by constant
study and application, to which he was led, not only by his
natural disposition, but also by his state and situation in
life. He took frequent opportunities of improving and enriching this knowledge by judicious observations in the
course of several journies which he made through every
country of England, and through many parts of Scotland
and Wales. The society has reaped the fruits of these
observations in the most valuable papers, which his lordship from time to time has communicated to us; which
are more in number, and not inferior either in merit or importance, to those conveyed to us by other hands. Blest
with a retentive memory, and happy both in the disposition and facility of communicating his knowledge, he was
enabled also to act the part of a judicious commentator
and candid critic, explaining, illustrating, and correcting
from his own observations many of the papers which have
been read at this society. His station and connections in
the world, which necessarily engaged a very considerable
part of his time, did not lessen his attention to the business
and interests of the society. His doors were always open
to his friends, amongst whom none were more welcome
to him than the friends of literature, which he endeavoured
to promote in all its various branches, especially in those
which are the more immediate objects of our attention.
Even this circumstance proved beneficial to the society,
for, if I may be allowed the expression, he was the centre
in which the various informations -on points of antiquity
from the different parts of the kingdom united, and the
medium through which they were conveyed to us. His
literary merit with the society received an additional lustre
from the affability of his temper, the gentleness of his
manners, and the benevolence of his heart, which united
every member of the society in esteem to their head, and
in harmony and friendship with each other. A principle
so essentially necessary to the prosperity and even to the
existence of all communities, especially those which have
arts and literature for their object, that its beneficial effects are visibly to be discerned in the present flourishing
state of our society, which I flatter myself will be long
continued under the influence of the same agreeable principles. I shall conclude this imperfect sketch of a most
worthy character, by observing that the warmth of his affection to the society continued to his latest breath; and
he has given a signal proof of it in the last great act which
a wise man does with resp'ect to his worldly affairs; for,
amongst the many charitable and generous donations contained in his will, he has made a very useful and valuable
bequest of manuscripts and printed books to the society,
as a token of his affection for them, and of his earnest desire to promote those laudable purposes for which they were
instituted.
” The society expressed their gratitude and respect to his memory by a portrait of him engraved at their
expence in 1770.
Bishop Milles left his fortune to his nephew, Jeremiah, who was born in 1714, and educated at Eton school, when he entered of Queen’s college, Oxford,
Bishop Milles left his fortune to his nephew, Jeremiah,
who was born in 1714, and educated at Eton school, when
he entered of Queen’s college, Oxford, as a gentleman
commoner, and took his degrees of M. A. in 1735, and B.
and D. D. in 1747, on which occasion he went out grand
compounder. He was collated by his uncle to a prebend
in the cathedral of Waterford, and to a living near that
city, which he held but a short time, choosing to reside in
England. Here he married Edith, a daughter of archbishop
Potter, by whose interest he obtained the united rectories
of St. Edmund the King and St. Nicholas Aeon in Lombard-street, with that of Merstham, Surrey, and the sinecure rectory of West Terring, in Sussex. To Merstham
he was inducted in 1745. From the chantorship of Exeter
he was promoted to the deanery of that cathedral, in 1762,
on the advancement of Dr. Lyttelton to the see of Carlisle,
whom he also succeeded as president of the society of
antiquaries in 176.5. He had been chosen a fellow of this
society in 1741, and of the Royal Society in 1742. His
speech, on taking upon him the office of president of the
Society of Antiquaries, was prefixed to the first volume of
the Archoeologia. In other volumes of that work are some
papers communicated by him, one of which, “Observations on the Wardrobe Account for the year 1483, wherein are contained the deliveries made for the coronation of
king Richard III. and some other particulars relative to the
history,
” was answered by Mr. Walpole, afterwards lord
Orford, in a paper or essay, very characteristic of his lordship’s ingenuity and haughty petulance. In the early part
of his life, Dr. Milles had made ample collections for a
history of Devonshire, v*hich are noticed by Mr. Gough in
his Topography. Ha was also engaged in illustrating the
Da ish coinage, and the Domesday Survey, on both which
subjects, it is thought, he left much valuable matter. His
worst attempt was to vindicate the authenticity of Rowley’s
poems, in an edition which he printed in 1782, 4to. After
what Tyrwhitt and Warton had advanced on this subject, a
grave answer to this was not necessary; but it was the
writer’s misiortune to draw upon himself the wicked wit
of the author of “An Archaeological Epistle,
” and the more
wicked irony of George Steevens in the St. James’s Chronicle. The dean died Feb. 13, 1784, and was buried in
the church of St. Edmund, which, as well as his other preferments, he retained until his death, with the exception
of the rectory of West Terring, which he resigned to his
son Richard. His character is very justly recorded on his
monument, as one conspicuous for the variety and extent
of his knowledge, and for un remitted zeal and activity in
those stations to which his merit had raised him; nor was
he in private life less distinguished for sweetness of disposition, piety, and integrity.
iversity, in “Log;cals and philosophical,” and took a degree in arts. But Mr. Lodge says that he was educated at Eton, and in the university of Cambridge, from whence he
, a statesman
of great learning, prudence, and integrity, is supposed by
some to have been born in Essex, and by others in Oxfordshire; but the visitations of Hertfordshire inform us
that he was the son of Thomas Morysin of that county
(descended from a Yorkshire family), by a daughter of
Thomas Merrey of Hatfield. Wood having supposed him
born in Oxfordshire, asserts that he spent several years at
Oxford university, in “Log;cals and philosophical,
” and
took a degree in arts. But Mr. Lodge says that he was
educated at Eton, and in the university of Cambridge,
from whence he went, with the reputation of an excellent
Greek and Latin scholar, to the inns of court, where he
became a proficient in the common and civil law. According, however, to Wood and others, he had previously to
this, travelled to Italy, with an intention to improve his
knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages. Padua, in
particular, was one of the places he visited, and he remained there until 1537, and soon after his return was
made prebendary of Yatminster Secunda in the church of
Salisbury, which dignity he kept until 1539. About 1541,
Henry VI 11. is said to have given him the library belonging to the Carmelites in London. The same sovereign sent
him ambassador to the emperor Charles V. and he had acquired by long habit, so thorough a knowledge of the various factions which distracted the empire, that the ministers of king Edward VI. found it necessary to continue
him in that court much against his inclination. In 1549
he was joined with the earl of Warwick, viscount Lisle, sir
William Paget, sir William Petre, bishops Holbeach and
Hethe, and other personages, in a commission to hold
visitation at Oxford, in order to promote the reformation,
and their commission also extended to the chapel of Windsor and Winchester college. The celebrated Peter Martyr
preached before them, on their entering on business, and
was much noticed and patronized by Morysin. From Edward VI. he received the honour of knighthood, and appears to have gone again abroad, as Mr. Lodge gives us a
long letter from him relating to the affairs of the imperial
court, dated Brussels, Feb. 20, 1553. He returned not
long before that prince’s death, and was employed in building a superb mansion at Cashiobury, in Hertfordshire, a
manor which had been granted to him by Henry VIIL
when queen Mary’s violent measures against the protestants compelled him to quit England, and after residing
a short time in Italy, he returned to Strasburgh, and died
there, March 17, 1556. He married Bridget, daughter
of John lord Hussey, and left a son and three daughters
sir Charles, who settled at Cashiobury Elizabeth, married, first, to William Norreys, son and heir to Henry
lordNorreys; secondly, to Henry Clinton, earl of Lincoln Mary, to Bartholomew Hales, of Chesterfield in
Derbyshire and Jane, to Edward lord Russel, eldest son
of the earl of Bedford, and afterwards to Arthur lord
Grey of Wilton. The family of Morysin ended in an
heiress, Mary (great grand-daughter of sir Richard), who
married Arthur lord Capel of Hadham, an ancestor of the
present earl of Essex.
t Dorney in Buckinghamshire, was the son of the rev. Lawrence Mountague, vicar of that place. He was educated at Eton school, on the foundation, and was elected thence to
, a learned
English divine, born in 1578, at Dorney in Buckinghamshire, was the son of the rev. Lawrence Mountague, vicar
of that place. He was educated at Eton school, on the
foundation, and was elected thence to King’s college,
Cambridge, in 1594, where he obtained a fellowship. After
taking his bachelor’s degree in 1598, and that of M. A. in
1602, he entered into orders, and obtained the living of
Wotton-Courtney in the diocese of Wells, and also a prebend of that church. The editor of his life in the Biog.
Brit, says that his next promotion was to a fellowship of
Eton college, where he assisted sir Henry Savile in preparing his celebrated edition of St. Chrysostom’s works;
and in 1610, he published there, in 4to, “The two Invectives of Gregory Nazianzen against Julian,
” with the notes
of Nonnus; but although the latter part of this may be true,
he was not chosen fellow of Eton until April 29, 1613, in
which year also (May 14) he was inducted into the rectory
of Stamford Rivers in Essex, then in the gift of Eton college. On the death of Isaac Casaubon, he was requested
by the king to write some animadversions on the Annals of
Baronius, for which he was well qualified, having made
ecclesiastical history very much his study from his earliest
years. He had in fact begun to make notes on Baronius
for his private use, which coming to the ears of the king,
James I., himself no contemptible theologian, he intimated
his pleasure on the subject to Mr. Mountagu, who began
to prepare for the press in 1615. He was at this time
chaplain to his majesty, and the following year was promoted to the deanery of Hereford, which he resigned soon
after for the archdeaconry, and was admitted into that
office Sept. 15, 1617. In July 1620, he proceeded bachelor of divinity, and with his fellowship of Eton held, by
dispensation, a canonry of Windsor.
and classical editor, the son of Richard Mounteney of Putney in Surrey, was born there in 1707, and educated at Eton school, whence he went, in 1725, to King’s college,
, an English lawyer, and classical editor, the son of Richard
Mounteney of Putney in Surrey, was born there in 1707,
and educated at Eton school, whence he went, in 1725,
to King’s college, Cambridge, and took his degrees of
A. B. in 1729, and A. M. 1735, and obtained a fellowship.
He then studied law in the Inner Temple, and became, in
1737, one of the barons of the exchequer in Ireland. In
1743 he distinguished himself in the famous trial between
James Annesley, esq. and Richard earl of Anglesey. In
1759 he married the countess dowager of Mount Alexander, and died in 1768. To these scanty memoirs, we
have only to add that, in 1731, he published the first edition of his “Select Orations
” of Demosthenes, which has
been often reprinted, but seldom with accuracy. The best
part of the work is the critical observations upon the Ulpian commentary by Dr. Chapman, fellow of King’s college,
Cambridge; and perhaps the most curious is his dedication
to the deceased sir Robert Walpole, in the edition of
1748. It was to the Walpoles he owed his promotions.
In 1748 he also published “Observations on the probable
issue of the Congress,
” 8vo, printed by Mr. Bowyer.
Mounteney’s Demosthenes was long a favourite book with
the university students to give up, as it is called, on their
examinations, but at Oxford it has of late been rejected
by the examiners, as an insufficient proof of classical proficiency.
tshire, where it had been long and respectably established. William Pitt was born Nov. 15, 1708, and educated at Eton; whence, in January 1726, he went as a gentleman-commoner
, earl of Chatham, one of the most
illustrious statesmen whom this country has produced, was
the son of Robert Pitt, esq. of Boconnock in Cornwall, and
grandson of Thomas Pitt, governor of Madras, who was
purchaser of the celebrated diamond, afterwards called the
Regent. The family was originally of Dorsetshire, where
it had been long and respectably established. William
Pitt was born Nov. 15, 1708, and educated at Eton;
whence, in January 1726, he went as a gentleman-commoner to Trinity-college, Oxford. It has been said, that
he was not devoid of poetical talents, of which a few specimens have been produced; but they do not amount to
much, and of his Latin verses on the death of George the
First, it is natural to suspect that the whole merit was not
his own. When he quitted the university, Pitt was for a
time in the army, and served as a cornet; but his talents
leading him more decisively to another field of action, he
quitted the life of a soldier for that of a statesman, and
became a member of parliament for the borough of Old
Sarum, in February 1735. In this situation his abilities
were soon distinguished, and he spoke with great eloquence
against the Spanish convention in 1738. It was on the occasion of the bill for registring seamen in 1740, which he
opposed as arbitrary and unjustifiable, that he is said to
have made his celebrated reply to Mr. Horatio Walpole,
who had attacked him on account of his youth (though then thirty-two), adding, that the discovery of truth is
little promoted by pompous diction and theatrical emotion.
Mr. Pitt retorted, with great severity, “I will not undertake to determine whether youth can justly be imputed
to any man as a reproach; but I will affirm, that the
wretch who, after having seen the consequences of repeated
errors, continues still to blunder, and whose age has only
added obstinacy to stupidity, is surely the object of
either abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not that his
grey head should secure him from insults. Much more is
he to be abhorred, who, as he has advanced in age, has
receded from virtue, and becomes more wicked with less
temptation; who prostitutes himself for money which he
cannot enjoy; and spends the remains of his life in the
ruin of his country.
” Something like this Mr. Pitt might
have said, but the language is that of Dr. Johnson, who
then reported the debates for the Gentleman’s Magazine.
, an eminent grammarian, was born at Sawl, in Norfolk, and educated at Eton, and was admitted of King’s college, Cambridge, in 1508.
,
an eminent grammarian, was born at Sawl, in Norfolk, and
educated at Eton, and was admitted of King’s college,
Cambridge, in 1508. He was first usher to the celebrated
William Lilly, master of St. Paul’s school, and afterwards
second master, but succeeded Lilly, as head master, in
1522, which situation he retained until his death, in 1532.
He composed a tragedy of “Dido
” out of Virgil, which
was performed at St. Paul’s school by him and his pupils,
before cardinal Wolsey, but deserves more notice for the
improvements he introduced in Lilly’s Latin grammar, in
the edition published at Antwerp in 1533. He had married Dionysia, the daughter of Lilly; and after his death
she was again married to James Jacob, one of the masters
of St. Paul’s, by whom she had a son, Polydore Jacob, who
was probably the god-son of Polydore Virgil, who speaks
of Rightwise with great respect.
1 Rooke (Lawrence), an English astronomer and geometrician, was born at Deptford, in Kent, 1623, and educated at Eton school, whence he removed to King’s college, Cambridge,
He died Jan. 24, 1708-9, in his fifty-eighth year, and
was buried in Canterbury cathedral, where a monument is
erected to his memory. In his private life he was a good
husband, and a kind master, lived hospitably towards his
neighbours, and left behind him a moderate fortune; so
moderate, that when he came to make his will it surprized
those who were present; but sir George assigned the reason in a few words, “I do not leave much,
” said he, i( but what I leave was honestly gotten it never cost a sailor a tear, or the nation a farthing." 1 Rooke (Lawrence), an English astronomer and geometrician, was born at Deptford, in Kent, 1623, and educated at Eton school, whence he removed to King’s college,
Cambridge, in 1639. After taking the degree of M. A. in
1647, he retired for some time into the country, but in
1650 went to Oxford, and settled in Wadham college, that
he might associate with Dr. Wilkins, and Mr. Seth Ward
the astronomy professor; and also accompany Mr. Boyle
in his chemical operations. After the death of Mr. Foster
he was chosen astronomy professor in Gresham college,
London, in 1652. He made some observations upon the
comet at Oxford, which appeared in the month of December that year; which were printed by Mr. Seth Ward the
year following. And, in 1655, Dr. Wallis publishing his
treatise on conic sections, he dedicated that work to those
two gentlemen. In 1657 Mr. Rooke was permitted to exchange the astronomy professorship for that of geometry.
This step might seem strange, as astronomy still continued
to be his favourite study; but it was thought to have been
from the convenience of the lodgings, which opened behind
the reading hall, and therefore were proper for the reception of those gentlemen after the lectures, who, in 1660,
laid the foundation of the royal society. Most of those
learned men who had been accustomed to assemble with
him at Oxford, coining to London, joined with other philosophical gentlemen, and usually met at Gresham college
to hear Mr. Rooke’s iectwes, and afterwards withdrew into
his apartment; till their meetings were interrupted by the
quartering of soldiers in the college in 1658. And after
the royal society came to be formed into a regular body,
Mr. Rooke was very zealous and serviceable in promoting
that great and useful institution; though he did not live
till it received its establishment by the royal charter.
y Bard viscount Beilemont, though styled in his father’s last will and testament Dudley Bard. He was educated at Eton school, and afterwards placed under the care of that
Prince Rupert, who never was married, left a natural son, usually called Dudley Rupert, by a daughter of Henry Bard viscount Beilemont, though styled in his father’s last will and testament Dudley Bard. He was educated at Eton school, and afterwards placed under the care of that celebrated mathematician sir Jonas Moore at the Tower. Here he continued till the demise of the prince, when he made a tour into Germany to take possession of a considerable fortune which had been bequeathed to him. He was very kindly received by the Palatine family, to whom he had the honour of being so nearly allied. In 1686 he made a campaign in Hungary, and distinguished himself at the siege of Buda, where he had the misfortune to lose his life, in the month of July or August, in a desperate attempt made by some English gentlemen upon the fortifications of that city, in the twentieth year of his age; and, though so young, he had signalized his courage in such an extraordinary manner, that his death was exceedingly regretted.
, a learned English divine, was born in South wark about 1641, and educated at Eton 1 school, where he distinguished himself by the vigour
, a learned English divine,
was born in South wark about 1641, and educated at Eton
1 school, where he distinguished himself by the vigour of his
genius and application to his studies. Thence he removed
to Peter-house in Cambridge in May 1657, where he took
a bachelor of arts degree in 1660, and a master’s in 1665.
He now went into holy orders, and officiated as a curate
until 1669, when he was preferred to the rectory of St.
George’s, Botolph-lane, in London. In this parish he
discharged the duties of his function with great zeal, and
was esteemed an excellent preacher. In 1673, he.published “A discourse concerning the knowledge of Christ,
and our union and communion with him,
” which involved
him in a controversy with the celebrated nonconformist Dr.
John Owen, and with Mr. Vincent Alsop. In 1680, he
took the degree of D. D. and about the same time published
some pieces against the nonconformists. Soon after he
was collated to a prebend of St. Paul’s, was appointed
master of the Temple, and had the rectory of Therfield in
Hertfordshire. In 1684 he published a pamphlet, entitled
“The case of Resistance to the Supreme Powers stated and
resolved, according to the doctrine of the holy Scriptures;
”
and continued to preach the same opinion after the accession of James II. when it was put to the test. He engaged also in the controversy with the papists, which shews
that he was not a servile adherent to the king, but conscientious in his notions of regal power. This likewise he
shewed at the Revolution, when he refused to take the
oaths to William and Mary, and was therefore suspended
from all his preferments. During his suspension, he published his celebrated treatise, entitled “A practical discourse on Death,
” The Case of the Allegiance due to the
Sovereign Princes stated and resolved, according to Scripture and Reason, and the principles of the Church of England, with a more particular respect to the Oath lately enjoined of Allegiance to their present Majesties king William
and queen Mary, 1690,
” quarto. This was followed by
twelve answers. His design was to lay down such principles as would prove the allegiance due to William and
Mary, even supposing them to have no legal right, which
the celebrated Mr. Kettlewell could by no means agree
with, and therefore wrote, upon another principle, “The
duty of Allegiance settled upon its true grounds.
” The
dispute is perhaps now of little consequence; but Sherlock persisted in preaching his doctrine of non-resistance
in the new reign, and had undoubtedly some merit in this
kind of consistency, and in rendering that plausible in any
degree, which the other nonjurors thought contradictory in
every degree. In 1691, he published his “Vindication
of the doctrine of the holy and ever blessed Trinity;
” but
his attempt to explain this mystery was not satisfactory,
and involved him in a controversy with Dr. South. What
was more mortifying, a fellow of University-college, Oxford, having preached his doctrine in a sermon at St. Mary’s,
the university issued a decree, censuring that doctrine as
false, impious, and heretical, and warned all persons under
their jurisdiction not to preach or maintain any such notions. The controversy being exasperated by this indignity, the king at last interposed, and issued directions “to
the archbishops and bishops,
” ordaining, that “all preachers should carefully avoid all new terms, and confine
themselves to such ways of explanation as have been commonly used in the church.
” After this, it is but fair to
state Dr. Sherlock’s notion: he thought that there were
three eternal minds 9 two of these issuing from the father,
but that these three were one by a mutual consciousness
in the three to every one of their thoughts. Dr. Sherlock was promoied to the deanery of St. Paul’s in 1691.
He died at Hampstead June 19, 1707, in his 67th year;
and was interred in the cathedral of St. Paul. He left
two sons and two daughters; the eldest of his sons was Dr.
Thomas SherLck, bishop of London. Burnet says, that
“he was a clear, polite, and a strong writer, but apt to
assume too much to himself, and to treat his adversaries
with contempt. This created him many enemies, and made
him pass for an insolent haughty man.
” He was, however,
a man of considerable learning and abilities, and conscientious, however mistaken, in those peculiar opinions which
engaged him in such frequent controversies with his brethren.
ourth son of a gentleman of Cheshire, and born at Wimslow, in that county, December 10, 1670. He was educated at Eton, and became a fellow of King’s college, Cambridge, where
, a classical scholar and editor, was the fourth son of a gentleman of Cheshire, and born at Wimslow, in that county, December 10, 1670. He was educated at Eton, and became a fellow of King’s college, Cambridge, where he proceeded B. A. 1697, and M. A. 1701. He afterwards, at the request of Dr. Newborough, the head master, returned to Eton, where he was tutor to the famous sir William Wyndham, and was an assistant teacher at the school. He married the daughter of Mr. Proctor, who kept a boarding-house at Eton, but afterwards removed to Ilminster, in Somersetshire, upon the invitation of several gentlemen of the county, and particularly of the earl Powlett, to whom he was afterwards chaplain, and aii whose sons were under his tuition at Taunton. He remained a few years at Ihninster, and taught the learned languages there till he was elected to the care of the free grammarschool in Taunton: which he conducted with the highest reputation, and raised to be the largest provincial school at that time ever known in England. The number of his pupils amounted to more than 200; and many of them were from the first families in the West of England. He served for many years the church of Bishop’s-Hull, in which parish the school is situated. So early as 1711 he was in possession of the rectory of Brimpton, near Yeovil, in the presentation of the Sydenham family. In 1712 he was presented by sir Philip Sydenham to the rectory of Alonksilver, 14 miles from Taunton. He died August 13, 1749, aged seventy-nine.
Sir Philip Warwick was born in the parish of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, in the year 1608. He was educated at Eton-school, and afterwards travelled into France, and was
Sir Philip Warwick was born in the parish of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, in the year 1608. He was educated
at Eton-school, and afterwards travelled into France, and
was some time at Geneva, where he studied under the
famous Diodati. When he returned from abroad, he became secretary to the lord treasurer Juxon; and a clerk of
the signet. He was diplomated bachelor of law at Oxford
April llth, 1638, and in 1640 was elected burgess for
Radnor in Wales, and was one of the fifty-six who gave
negative to the bill of attainder against the earl of Strafford.
Disapproving afterwards of the conduct of parliament, he
went to the king at Oxford, and was for this desertion (by a vote of the House, Feb. 5, 1643), disabled from sitting
there. Whilst at Oxford, he lodged in University-college,
and his counsel was much relied upon by the king. In
1643, he was sent to the earl of Newcastle in the north, to
persuade him to march southerly, which he could not be
prevailed to comply with, “designing (as sir Peter Warwick perceived) to be the man who should turn the scale,
and to be a self-subsisting and distinct army wherever he
was.
” In 1646, he was one of the king’s commissioners
to treat with the parliament for the surrender of Oxford;
and in the following year he attended the king to the Isle
of Wight in the capacity of secretary; and there desiring,
with some others, a leave of absence to look after their
respective affairs, he took leave of the king, and never saw
him more. Besides being engaged in these important commissions, he took up arms in the royal cause; one time
serving under captain Turberville, who lost his life near
Newark, at another in what was called the Troop of Show,
consisting of noblemen, gentlemen, and their attendants,
in all about 500 horse, whose property taken together was
reckoned at 100,000l. per annum, and who, by his majesty’s permission, (they, being his guards,) had the honour of being engaged in the first charge at the battle of
Edgehill.
He was busily engaged in private conferences with the
chief promoters of the Restoration; but this he does not
relate “to creep into a little share in bringing back the
king,
” as he attributed that event to more than earthly
wisdom, in the first parliament called by Charles II. he
was returned burgess for his native city of Westminster,
and about that time received the honour of knighthood,
and was restored to his place of clerk of the signet. He
was likewise employed by the virtuous earl of Southampton as secretary to the treasury, in which office he acquitted himself with such abilities and integrity as did
honour to them both, and in which post he continued till
the death of that earl in 1667. The loss which the public sustained in his retirement from business is handsomely
acknowledged in one of sir William Temple’s letters to our
author.
Of his son, we are informed that he was educated at Eton, and went thence to Oxford about the same time that
Of his son, we are informed that he was educated at Eton, and went thence to Oxford about the same time that Gray removed to Cambridge. Each of them carried with him the reputation of an excellent classical scholar; and Mr. Mason was told, what he seems unwilling to allow, that Mr. West’s genius was reckoned the more brilliant of the two. In April 1738, Mr. West left Christchurch for the Inner Temple; but, according to his own account, in a letter to Walpole, he had no great relish for the study of the law, and had some thoughts of exchanging that profession for the army. When Gray returned from his Travels ui 1741, he found his friend West oppressed by sickness, and a load of family misfortunes, which had already too far affected a body originally weak and delicate. West died June i, 1742, in the twenty-sixth year of his age What remains to give an idea of his talents, may be found in lord Orford’s Works, and Mason’s Life of Gray.
, bishop of Exeter, was born at Farnborough, in Berkshire, in 1665, and educated at Eton, where he was admitted into King’s college, Cambridge,
, bishop of Exeter, was born at
Farnborough, in Berkshire, in 1665, and educated at Eton,
where he was admitted into King’s college, Cambridge, in
1682. There he took his degrees of B. A. in 1686, and
of M. A, in 1690, and was elected a fellow both of his college, and of Eton. He was for some time an assistant, and
then under-master of Eton school. He was afterwards
vicar of Maple-Durham, in Oxfordshire, and collated to a
stall in Ely in 1715. He was also archdeacon of Cornwall.
Having been at school and college with sir Robert Walpole,
and, as some say, his tutor at one or other, he was supposed
to have owed his farther preferment to that minister, and
his conduct did honour to his patronage. He was consecrated bishop of Exeter, Dec. 28, 1724, and dying Jan.
16, 1741-2, aged seventy-seven, was buried in his own
cathedral. Bishop Sherlock published, in 1749, 2 volumes
of Ms sermons, several of which the author had himself
prepared for the press. “The style of these discourses,
”
says the editor, “is strong and expressive; but the best
Greek and Roman writers were so familiar to the author,
that it leads him frequently into their manner of construction and expression, which will require, sometimes, the
attention of the English reader.
”
bishop Weston, styled from his being a privy counsellor, the Right Hon. Edward Weston, was born and educated at Eton, and afterwards studied and took his degrees at King’s
The son of bishop Weston, styled from his being a privy
counsellor, the Right Hon. Edward Weston, was born
and educated at Eton, and afterwards studied and took his
degrees at King’s college, Cambridge. His destination
was to public life, at the commencement of which be became secretary to lord Townshend at Hanover during the
king’s residence there in 1729, and continued several years
in the office of lore! Harrington, as his secretary. He was
also transmitter of the state papers, and one of the clerks
of the signet. In 1741 he was appointed gazetteer; and in
1746, when he was secretary to lord Harrington, lord
lieutenant of Ireland, he became a privy-counsellor of that
kingdom. Our authorities do not give the date of his
death, but it happened in the early part of the present
reign. In 1753 he published a pamphlet on the memorable
Jew bill; in 1755, “The Country Gentleman’s advice to his
Son;
” and in A Letter to the right rev. the lord
bishop of London,
” on the earthquake at Lisbon, and the
character of the times. He published also “Family Discourses, by a country gentleman,
” re-published in Family Discourses,
by the late right hon. Edward Weston,
” a name, we are
properly told, “very eminently distinguished for abilities
and virtue, and most highly honoured throughout the whole
course of life, by the friendship and esteem of the best and
greatest men of his time.
” He left two sons, Charles, a
clergyman, who died in Oct. 1801, and the rev. Stephen
Weston, now living, well known as one of the most profound scholars, and what seldom can be said of men of
that character, one of the first wits of the age.
colnshire, by Anne daughter and heir of Roger Comberwortb, of Comberworth in the same county. He was educated at Eton, and atKing’scollege, Cambridge; and went thence into
, a statesman and divine in the reign of queen Elizabeth, celebrated for the politeness of his style and the extent of his knowledge, was the son of Thomas Wilson of Stroby in Lincolnshire, by Anne daughter and heir of Roger Comberwortb, of Comberworth in the same county. He was educated at Eton, and atKing’scollege, Cambridge; and went thence into the family of Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk, who intrusted him with the education of his two sons. During the reign of Mary, to whose persecution many fugitives owed their qualifications for future honours, he lived abroad, received the degree of doctor of laws at Ferrara, and was for some time imprisoned by the inquisition at Rome, on account of his two treatises on rhetoric and logic, which he had published in England, and in the English language, several years before. He is said to have suffered the torture, and would have been put to death, on refusing to deny his faith, had not a fire happened, which induced the populace to force open the prison, that those confined there might not perish > by which means he escaped; and, returning to England, after queen Mary’s death, was appointed one of the masters of requests, and master of St. Katherine’s hospital near the Tower. This was in the third year of queen Elizabeth, at which time he was her majesty’s secretary; but finding his patent for the mastership of St. Catherine’s void, because he was not a priest, according to queen Philippa’s charter, he surrendered the office, and had a new patent, with a non obstante, Dec. 7, 1563. According to Dr. Ducarel, his conduct in this office was somewhat objectionable, as he sold to the city of London the fair of St. Katherine’s, for the sum of 700 marks, surrendered the charter of Henry VI. and took a new one 8. Elizabeth, leaving out the liberty of the aforesaid fair; and did many other things very prejudicial to his successors. In 15lhe had been admitted a civilian; and in 1576 he was sent on an embassy to the Low Countries, where he acquitted himself so well, that in the following year he was named to succeed sir Thomas Smith as secretary of state; and in 1579 obtained a deanery of Durham. He died in 1581, and was buried in St. Katherine’s church. He was endowed with an uncommon strength of memory, which enabled him to act with N remarkable dispatch in his negociations. Yet he was more distinguished as a scholar than as a minister, and was perhaps unfortunate in having served jointly with the illustrious Walsingham, whose admirable conduct in his office admitted of no competition. Sir Thomas Wilson married Anne, daughter of sir William Winter, of Lidney in Gloucestershire, and left three children: Nicholas, who settled at Sheepwash in Lincolnshire; Mary, married, first, to Robert Burdett, of Bramcote in Warwickshire, secondly to sir Christopher Lowther, of Lowther in Westmoreland; and Lucretia, wife of George Belgrave, of Belgrave in Leicestershire.
1, 1739, at Twickenham, in the house afterwards the residence of Richard Owen Cambridge, esq. He was educated at Eton school, from which he went to Christ’s-college, Cambridge,
, an artist and antiquary of great
taste and talents, was born August 21, 1739, at Twickenham, in the house afterwards the residence of Richard
Owen Cambridge, esq. He was educated at Eton school,
from which he went to Christ’s-college, Cambridge, but
took no degree. He returned from an extensive tour
through France, Italy, Istria, and Switzerland, in 1769;
and soon after married the honourable Charlotte De Grey,
sister to the lord Walsingham; by whom he has left no
issue. In all which is usually comprehended under the
denomination of Belles Lettres, Mr. Windham may claim a
place among the most learned men of his time. To an indefatigable diligence in the pursuit of knowledge, he joined
a judgment clear, penetrating, and unbiassed, and a memory uncommonly retentive and accurate. An ardent love
for truth, a perfect freedom from prejudice, jealousy, and
affectation, an entire readiness to impart his various and
copious information, united with a singular modesty and
simplicity, marked his conversation and manners. Few
men had a more critical knowledge of the Greek and Latin
languages, or a deeper feeling for the beauties of style
and sentiment in the classic writers; but in his minute and
comprehensive acquaintance with every thing in them illustrative of human life and manners, especially all that relates to the fine arts, he scarcely had an equal. The history of art in the middle ages, and every circumstance relative to the revival of literature and the arts, from the
fourteenth century to the present time, were equally familiar to him; and his acquaintance with the language of
modern Italy was surpassed by few. He had very particularly studied the antiquities of his own country, and was
eminently skilled in the history of English architecture.
His pencil, as a draftsman from nature, was exquisite. His
portraits of mere natural scenery were peculiarly spirited
and free, and his drawings of architecture and antiquities
most faithful and elegant. During his residence at Rome,
he studied and measured the remains of ancient architecture there, particularly the baths, with a precision which
would have done honour to the most able professional architect. His numerous plans and sections of them he gave
to Mr. Cameron, and they are engraved in his great work
on the Roman baths. To this work he also furnished a
very considerable and valuable part of the letter-press.
He also drew up the greater portion of the letter-press of
the second volume of the “Ionian Antiquities,
” published
by the society of Dilettanti; and Mr. Stuart received material assistance from him in the second volume of his
Athens. In his own name he published very little. His
accuracy of mind rendered it difficult to him to please
himself; and, careless of the fame of an author, he was
better content that his friends should profit by his labours,
than that the public should know the superiority of his own
acquirements. He had been long a fellow of the Royal
and Antiquarian Societies; and in the latter, was for many
years of the council, and one of the committee for the
publication of the Cathedrals of England. He more than
once declined the honourable office of vice-president. Of
the society of Dilettanti he was one of the oldest members;
and to his zeal it was principally owing that the publications of that society were continued, after a suspension of
many years.
Mr. Windham died at Earsham-house, Norfolk, Sept. 21,
181U. In private life, he was the most amiable of men.
Benevolent, generous, cheerful, without caprice, above
envy, his temper was the unclouded sun-shine of virtue
and sense. If his extreme modesty and simplicity of character prevented his striking at the first acquaintance,
every hour endeared him to those who had the happiness of
his intimacy. In every relation of life he was exemplary.
A kind husband, a firm friend, a generous landlord, an
indulgent master.
JCing’s-college, Cambridge, was born in London, about the latter part of the sixteenth century, and educated at Eton, whence, being elected to King’scollege, he was entered,
, ranked by Fuller among the learned writers of JCing’s-college, Cambridge, was born in London, about the latter part of the sixteenth century, and educated at Eton, whence, being elected to King’scollege, he was entered, Oct. 1, 1579, commenced B. A. in 1583, M. A. in 1587, and B. D. in 1594. He was also fellow of that college, and some time chaplain to Robert earl of Essex. On the death of Dr. Whitaker in 1596 he stood candidate for the king’s professorship of divinity in Cambridge, with Dr. John Overall of Trinity-college; but failed, by the superior interest of the latter, although he performed his probationary exercises with general applause. In March 1596 he was chosen professor of divinity in Gresham-college, upon the first settlement of that foundation, and in 1598 quitted his fellowship at Cambridge, and marrying soon after, resigned also his professorship. He was then chosen lecturer of Allhallows Barking; but in 1604 was silenced by Dr. Bancroft, bishop of London, for some expressions used either in a prayer or sermon, which were considered as disrespectful to the king; but it does not appear that he remained long under suspension; at least, in a volume of sermons printed in 1609 he styles himself minister of Allhallows.
istopher Wren, esq. This gentleman was born Feb. 16, 1675 (the year St. Paul’s was founded), and was educated at Eton school and Pembroke hall, Cambridge. In 1694, sir Christopher
Sir Christopher was succeeded in his estate by his son
and only surviving child, Christopher Wren, esq. This
gentleman was born Feb. 16, 1675 (the year St. Paul’s was founded), and was educated at Eton school and Pembroke
hall, Cambridge. In 1694, sir Christopher procured him
the office of deputy-clerk engrosser; but this preferment
did not prevent him from making a tour through Holland,
France, and Italy. On his return from the continent he
was elected member of parliament for Windsor in 1712
and 1714. He died Aug. 24, 1747, aged seventy-two, and
was buried in the church of Wroxhall, adjoining to his seat
at Wroxhall in Warwickshire. He was a man very much
esteemed, and was equally pious, learned, and amiable.
He had made antiquity his particular study, well understood
it, and was extremely communicative. He wrote and published in 1708, in 4to, a work entitled “Numismatum antiquorum sylloge, populis Graecis, municipiis et coloniis
Romanis cusorum, ex chimeliarcho editoris.
” This, which
he dedicated to the Royal Society, contains representations of many curious Greek medallions in four plates, and
two others of ancient inscriptions; these are followed by
the legends of imperial coins in the large and middle size,
from Julius Caesar to Aurelian, with their interpretations:
and subjoined is an appendix of Syrian and Egyptian
kings, and coins of cities, all collected by himself. He
also collected with so much care and attention, as to leave
scarcely any curiosity ungratifiecl, memoirs of the life of
bishop Wren, Dr. Christopher Wren, dean of Windsor,
and his illustrious father; with collections of records and
original papers. These were published in fol. under the
title of “Parentalia,
” by his son Stephen, a physician,
assisted by Mr. Ames, in 1750, and are illustrated by portraits and plates. Mr. Wren married twice; in May 1706
to Mary, daughter of Mr. Musard, jeweller to queen Anne,
who died in 1712; he afterwards married in 1715 dame
Constance, widow of sir Roger Burgoyne, bart. and daughter of sir Thomas Middleton, of Stansted Montfitchet,
Essex, who died in 1734. By each marriage he had one
sbn, Christopher, and Stephen. Christopher, the eldest,
an eccentric humourist, was the poetical friend of lady
Luxborough and Shenstone. Displeasing his father, all
the unentailed estates were given from him to sir Roger
Burgoyne, bart. son of sir Roger. Wroxall is still in the family, and owned by Christopher Wren, esq. now (1806)
in the East Indies, who is the sixth Christopher Wren in
succession from the father of sir Christopher.