WOBO: Search for words and phrases in the texts here...

Enter either the ID of an entry, or one or more words to find. The first match in each paragraph is shown; click on the line of text to see the full paragraph.

Currently only Chalmers’ Biographical Dictionary is indexed, terms are not stemmed, and diacritical marks are retained.

esq. of the Middle Temple, a barrister at law, afterwards master

, esq. of the Middle Temple, a barrister at law, afterwards master in chancery, and at the time of his death, Jan. 8, 1763, accomptaiit-general of that court, is noticeable as having translated the “Memoirs of cardinal de Retz,” which were printed in 1723, 12mo, xvith a dedication to Congreve, who encouraged the publication. He was F. R. S. and an able mathematician. In the dispute concerning elliptical arches, at. the time when Bluckfriars bridge was built, application was made by the committee for his opinion on the subject, and his answer may be seen in the London Magazine for March, 1760. He also published in 1761, “A Vindication of the New Calendar Tables, and Rules annexed to the Act for regulating the commencement of the year,” &c. 410.

Mrs. Hester Gibbon, his pupil’s sister, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hntcheson, widow of Archibald Hutcheson, esq. of the Middle Temple. Mr. Hutcheson, when near his decease,

At what time Mr. Law quitted Mr. Gibbon’s house at Putney, his biographer has not discovered, but it appears that some time before 1740, he was instrumental in bringing about an intimacy between Mrs. Hester Gibbon, his pupil’s sister, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hntcheson, widow of Archibald Hutcheson, esq. of the Middle Temple. Mr. Hutcheson, when near his decease, recommended to his wife a. retired life, and told her he knew no person whose society would be so likely to prove profitable and agreeable to her as that of Mr. Law, of whose writings he highly approved. Mrs. Hutcheson, whose maiden name was Lawrence, had been the wife of colonel Robert Steward; and when she went to reside in Northamptonshire, was in possession of a large income, from the produce of an estate which was in her own power, and of a life interest in property settled on her in marriage, or devised to her by Mr. Hutcheson. These two ladies, Mrs. Hutcheson and Mrs. H. Gibbon, appear lo have been of congenial sentiments, and now formed a plan of living together in the country, far from that circle of society generally called the world; and of taking Mr. Law as their chaplain, instructor, and almoner. With this view they took a house at Thrapston, in Northamptonshire; but that situation not proving agreeable to them, the two ladies enabled Mr. Law, about 1740, to prepare a roomy house near the church at King’s-cliffe, and in that part of the town called “The Hall-yard.” This house was then possessed by Mr. Law, and was the only property devised to him by his father. Here the whole income of these two ladies,' after deducting the frugal expences of their household, was expended in acts of charity to the poor and the sick, and in donations of greater amount to distressed persons of a somewhat higher class. And after twenty years residence, Mr. Law died in this house April 9, 1761.