OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Barrowby, William

This article muddles a father and son of the name.
​BARROWBY, WILLIAM (1682–1751), physician, the son of Dr. William Barrowby, a physician established first in Oxford and afterwards in London, was born in London, and proceeded to Trinity College, Oxford, whence he passed to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and there took the degrees of M.B. in 1709, and of M.D. in 1713; he was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians in 1718, and F.R.S. in 1721. He published ‘Syllabus Anatomicus prælectionibus annuatim habendis adaptatus,’ London, 1736. He translated two medical works by Astruc in 1737–8. He is stated, on somewhat doubtful authority, to have been one of the authors of ‘A Letter to the Real and Genuine Pierce Dod, M.D., actual physician of St. Bartholomew's Hospital: plainly exposing the low absurdity or malice of a late spurious pamphlet falsely ascribed to that learned physician, 1746.’ A controversy about inoculation was going on, and Dr. Dod had published some notes of cases which illustrated his view that the practice was dangerous. He had added other cases and an empty Latin letter. The long pamphlet of Dod is written in a pompous style, and contains very little medical information. The title of the attack by Barrowby and Schomberg indicates its method of ridicule. The task was an easy one, but the performance is abusive, coarse, and without scientific merit. The only happy hit in it is on the case of Lord Dorchester, who had taken an overdose of opium. Dod had mentioned among many irrelevant facts that the nobleman when recovering sent for his chaplain to read to him, and Barrowby says: ‘We have a beautiful instance of the pious simplicity of past ages, p. 34, in the marquis's calling for his chaplain to read to him when he grew less desirous of sleep, whereas we observe most modern lords employ their chaplains chiefly from an aversion to all other opiates.’ In the Rawlinson MSS. (in the Bodleian) it is said of Barrowby that ‘this wretch, tho' a monster of lewdness and prophaneness,’ took part in the riots at the Drury Lane Theatre in December 1743. He is satirised in a book called the ‘World Unmasked’ (1738). Barrowby became Dr. Dod's colleague at St. Bartholomew's in 1750, when for the first time the hospital had three physicians instead of two. Dr. Barrowby held office for less than two years, and died on 30 Dec. 1751 of cerebral hæmorrhage. His portrait was painted by T. Jenkins, and has been engraved.
N. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Barrow, John (fl.1756)

​BARROW, JOHN (fl. 1756), geographical compiler, died at the end of last century. His first work was a geographical dictionary, which was published in London anonymously, as was also (in 1756) the first edition of his principal work, ‘A Chronological Abridgment or History of the Discoveries made by Europeans in the different parts of the world.’ The second edition of the latter compilation appeared in 1765, and was so successful that in the year following a French translation, by Targe, was published at Paris, in twelve volumes. In his introduction Barrow shows a considerable acquaintance with astronomical geography, so far as relates to the finding of latitude and longitude by the stars. The French translation seems to have had more repute than the original work, but even in France Barrow's ‘History of Discoveries’ was in a few years superseded by that of the Abbé Prévost. The voyages selected by Barrow are those of Columbus, V. de Gama, Cabral, Sir F. Drake, Sir W. Raleigh, Sir T. Cavendish, Van Noort, Spelbergen, Tasman, Dampier, Wafer, Rogers, Ulloa, Lord Anson, Ellis, and others.
[Barrow's Works.]
R. E. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Coddington, Henry

​CODDINGTON, HENRY (d. 1845), mathematician, graduated in 1820 from Trinity College, Cambridge, as senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman; proceeded M.A. in 1823, and obtained a fellowship and ​sub-tutorship in his college. Thence he retired to the college living of Ware in Hertfordshire, and in the discharge of his clerical duties burst a blood-vessel, thereby fatally injuring his health. Advised to try a southern climate, he travelled abroad, and died at Rome 3 March 1845. He married a daughter of Dr. Batten, principal of Haileybury College, and left seven children. His attainments were various. Besides taking the first place in the mathematical tripos, he had competed successfully for classical honours; he was a good modern linguist, an excellent musician and draughtsman, and a skilled botanist. His published works on science, with the exception of an anonymous tract on 'The Principles of the Differential Calculus,' were exclusively devoted to optics. The first of these, entitled 'An Elementary Treatise on Optics' (Cambridge, 1823, 2nd edit. 1825), made little pretension to originality. Based on Dr. Whewell's lectures, it was, however, the first attempt to make English students acquainted with modern methods of investigation in the subject treated. His next work, entitled 'A System of Optics,' published at Cambridge, in two parts, 1829-1830, raised higher his claims as an independent inquirer in mathematical physics. The first part, 'A Treatise on the Reflection and Refraction of Light,' contained a very complete investigation of the paths of reflected and refracted rays; while in the second, styled 'A Treatise on the Eye and on Optical Instruments,' were explained the theory and construction of the various kinds of telescope and microscope. On 22 March 1830 he read a paper 'On the Improvement of the Microscope' before the Cambridge Philosophical Society (Transactions, iii. 421), the strong recommendation contained in which of the 'grooved sphere' lens, first described by Brewster in 1820 (Edin. Phil. Jour. iii. 76), brought it into general use under the designation of the 'Coddington lens' (Encyc. Brit. xiv. 769, 8th edit.) He wrote besides, 'A few Remarks on the New Library Question, by a Member of neither Syndicate' (Cambridge, 1831), and 'The Church Catechism explained, enlarged, and confirmed by quotations from Holy Scripture' (London, 1840). His name occurs on the first list of members of the British Association. He was one of the earliest members of the Royal Astronomical Society, was a fellow of the Geological and Royal Societies, and sat on the council of the latter body in 1831-2.
[Mem. R. A. Soc. xvi. 484; Annual Eeg. (1845), p. 257; Gent. Mag. (1845), ii.90; Monthly Notices, vii. 48; Encyc. Brit. xvi. 260, 9th edit.]
A. M. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Codrington, Thomas

​CODRINGTON, THOMAS (d. 1691?), catholic divine, was educated in the English college at Douay, where he was ordained priest, and became an eminent professor of humanity. Afterwards being invited to Rome by Cardinal Howard, he acted for some time as his chaplain and secretary. In July 1684 he returned to England, and was soon afterwards appointed one of the chaplains and preachers in ordinary to James II. While at Rome he had joined the German Institute of Secular Priests living in community, and on his return to England he and his companion, John Morgan, were appointed procurators with a view to the introduction of the institute into this country. This design was cordially approved by Cardinal Howard. The rule of the institute was for two or more priests to live in common in the same house, without female attendance, and in subjection to the ordinary of the diocese. In 1697 the rules of the institute were published in England, under the title of ' Constitutiones Clericorum Saecularium in communi viventium à SS. D. N. Innoc. XI stabilitæ, novi Cleri Saecularis Anglicani pro temporum circumstantiis accommodatse, et à RR. DD. Episcopis approbatae.' But the scheme encountered much opposition, especially from the chapter, on whose behalf the Rev. John Sergeant wrote 'A Letter to our worthy Brethren of the new Institute.' This letter gave the death-blow to the institute, which was subsequently, in 1703, suppressed by Bishop Giffard, vicar-apostolic of the London district.
At the Revolution Codrington followed James II to Saint-Germains, and continued to officiate as his chaplain. He died about 1691. He published : 1. 'A Sermon preach'd before their Majesties, in St. James's, on Advent Sunday, November 28, 1686.' 2. 'A Sermon preach'd before the Queen-Dowager, in her Majesty's Chapel at Somerset-house, on Quinquagesima Sunday, February 6, 1686-7. Being also the anniversary-day of his late Majesty, King Charles the II, of blessed memory,' London, 1687. Both sermons were reprinted in ' A Select Collection of Catholick Sermons,' vol. i. London, 1741.
[Dodd's Church Hist, iii. 484; Gillow's Bibl. Diet, of the English Catholics, i. 520; Lowndes's Bibl. Man. (Bohn), 2243; Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Coddington, William

​CODDINGTON, WILLIAM (1601–1678), governor of Rhode Island, New England, a native of Lincolnshire, was born in 1601. He was chosen in England to be an 'assistant' or magistrate to the colony at Massachusetts Bay, and arrived at Salem 12 June 1630, along with the governor and the charter, after which he was several times re-elected. He is said to have built the first brick house in Boston, where he was a 'principal merchant.' For some time he was treasurer of the colony. Having in opposition to Governor Winthrop and the ministers of Boston warmly espoused the cause of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, he was so chagrined at the result of the trial that he abandoned his lucrative business in Boston, and joined the emigrants who in 1638 left for Rhode Island. His name appears first on the covenant signed by eighteen persons at Aquidneck, or Rhode Island, 7 March 1638, forming themselves into a body politic 'to be governed by the laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings.' After a more formal code was drawn up he was appointed judge at Portsmouth, then the chief seat of the government, three elders being joined with him in the administration of affairs. At Portsmouth he held office for a little over a year; he was then appointed judge at Newport, and when Portsmouth and Newport were united in 1640, he was appointed the first governor. The four towns, Portsmouth, Newport, Providence, and Warwick, were united in 1647, and he was the second president chosen, holding office from May 1648 to May 1649. This year he made an unsuccessful attempt to have Rhode Island included in the confederacy of the United Colonies of New England. In 1651 he went to England, and was commissioned governor of Aquidneck Island, separate from the rest of the colony; but as the people were jealous lest his commission should affect their laws and liberties, he resigned it, and for a time retired from public life. In his later years he was, however, prevailed upon to accept the chief magistracy. He died 1 Nov. 1678.
[Callendar's Historical Discourse on the Civil and Religious Affairs of the Colony of Rhode Island in vol. iv. of Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society; Savage's Winthrop; Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers; Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts Bay.]
T. F. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cusack, Thomas

​CUSACK or CUSAKE, Sir THOMAS (1490–1571), lord chancellor of Ireland, of an ancient family in Meath, was sheriff of Meath in 1541, and took an active part in the pacification of Ireland by Henry VIII, who granted lands and honours to the chieftains out of the spoil of the church. He was master of the rolls in Ireland from 1542 to 1550, and he acted as lord chancellor in 1551. Next year he received the patent for the latter office. Hugh Curwen [q. v.] succeeded him in 1553. For his exertions in the English cause he was presented by the council of Edward VI with the site of Clonard Abbey, and several parsonages, and was allowed augmentations of his fees. In 1552 he sent to the Duke of Northumberland a long epistle or ‘book’ on the state of Ireland, of which there are three manuscript copies, one in the Record Office, another in the Lambeth Library, and a third in the library of Trinity College, Dublin (Hamilton, Cal. of Irish State Papers, p. 126; Leland, Hist. of Irel. ii. 202). He urged the settlement of the island by extending English law to every part, and putting an end to the ancient Brehon jurisdictions. In the same year he was chosen one of the two lords justices, along with Aylmer, in which office he was continued under Mary; and, in the absence of the lord deputy, at the head of the Dublin militia, he defeated the great northern rebel, O'Neal, at Dundalk on 8 Sept. 1553 (Cox, Hibern. Anglicana, pp. 293, 298). In Elizabeth's time he was active in reconciling the wild Irish, and engaged in extensive journeys with that design. In 1563 he seems to have visited England, bearing a recommendation from the lord deputy Sussex (Hamilton, Cal. 214). In the same year he was much concerned in the reduction of Shane O'Neal by Lord Sussex, and drew up the conditions on which that chieftain was pardoned and received into favour (ib. 219–24). He applied in the course of these negotiations for a grant of lands belonging to the dissolved religious house of Thomas Court (ib. p. 229). He was occupied with business as a commissioner in the west of Ireland and elsewhere almost to the time of his death in 1571, and declared to Cecil of himself that his services in Munster would not be forgotten for a hundred years.
[Most of the particulars above given are from Hamilton's Calendar of State Papers, Ireland; see also Ware's Works concerning Ireland, transl. by Harris.]
R. W. D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cuthburh

​CUTHBURH or CUTHBURGA, Saint (fl. 700), abbess, sister of Ine, king of the West Saxons, married Aldfrith [q. v.], king of the Northumbrians, and probably bore him Osred, his son and successor. With her husband's consent Cuthburh adopted the monastic life. After spending some time in the nunnery of Barking in Essex, then under the government of the abbess Hildelitha, she founded, probably with the co-operation of her sister Cwenburh, the nunnery of Wimborne in Dorsetshire. As Bishop Aldhelm [q. v.], in a letter written in 705, speaks of her as abbess of that house, her foundation must bear an earlier date. She remained abbess of Wimborne until her death. A manuscript in the British Museum (Lansdowne MS. 436, f. 38) contains what purports to be a dialogue between her and her husband Aldfrith, and her farewell charge to her nuns. Her day is 31 Aug.
[Anglo-Saxon Chron. an. 718; Aldhelmi Opera, ed. Giles, pp. 1, 351; William of Malmesbury, Gesta Regum, i. 49 (Eng. Hist. Soc.); Acta SS. Aug. vi. 696–700; Hardy's Descriptive Cat. of MSS. i. 384, gives an account of Lansdowne MS. 436, f. 38, mentioned above; Smith's Dict. of Christian Biog. i. 730; Dugdale's Monasticon, ii. 88, 89.]
W. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cuthred

​CUTHRED (d. 754), king of the West-Saxons, succeeded his kinsman Æthelheard in 740, when the Mercian Æthelbald was at the height of his power, and appears to have been over-lord of the West-Saxon kingdom. Cuthred struggled against both the Mercians and the Welsh, though he managed never to ​have both foes arrayed against him at the same time. In 750 he had to meet with an enemy among his own subjects, and fought with Æthelhun, ‘the proud ealdorman,’ and defeated him. Determined to shake off the supremacy of the Mercian king, he made war on Æthelbald in 752 and put him to flight at Burford in Oxfordshire, a victory largely due to the valour of the former rebel Æthelhun, who bore in the battle the royal standard, the golden dragon of Wessex. The rout of Æthelbald at Burford freed the West-Saxons from the dominion of Mercia, and forms an important epoch in their history. The next year Cuthred defeated the Welsh with great slaughter. He died in 754, according to the chronology of the ‘Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,’ and was succeeded by Sigeberht.
[Anglo-Saxon Chron. sub ann.; Flor. Wig. i. 54–6 (Eng. Hist. Soc.); Henry of Huntingdon, p. 728 (Mon. Hist. Brit.); Freeman's Old English History, p. 75; Green's Making of England, p. 396.]
W. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cutler, William Henry

​CUTLER, WILLIAM HENRY (b. 1792), musician, born in London in 1792, was taught music by his father at a very early age. Before he was five years old he could play a violin concerto, but showing more talent for the spinet he had some lessons on that instrument from J. H. Little, and subsequently on the pianoforte from G. E. Griffin. About 1799 he learnt singing and thorough bass from Dr. Arnold, and in 1800 he made his first appearance at a concert at the Haymarket Theatre, when he played a pianoforte concerto by Viotti. In 1801 he studied at Cambridge for a short time under Busby, but in 1803 he was placed in the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, on leaving which he studied the theory of music under W. Russell. In 1812 Cutler took the degree of Mus. Bac. at Oxford; his exercise, an anthem, ‘O praise the Lord,’ was performed there on 1 Dec. and subsequently published by subscription. In 1818 he was appointed organist of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, and shortly afterwards ​adopted the Logierian system of teaching music. He opened an academy for this purpose, but the venture was unsuccessful, and came to an end in a few years' time. In 1821 Cutler sang at the Drury Lane oratorios, but failed, owing, it was said, to nervousness. In 1823 he resigned his post at St. Helen's, and became organist—or, as he styled it, ‘Maestro di Capella’—of Quebec Street Chapel. About this time he seems to have taught in Yarmouth and Norwich as well as in London; he is last heard of in the latter place on 5 June 1824, when he gave a grand concert at the Opera House, which a contemporary describes as ‘the most extraordinary performance of the season.’ Braham and Pasta both sang, but in spite of this the affair was a disastrous failure. Cutler afterwards published a manifesto, explaining that he hoped to have gained both fame and money by this venture, but the critics declared that ‘his exposé is even more curious than his oratorio, and he has condescended to prove that however bad his music may be, his logic and his English are even worse.’ After this Cutler disappears without leaving any trace, even the date of his death being unknown. He published some miscellaneous music (a list of which is given in the anonymous ‘Dictionary of Musicians,’ ed. 1827), but none of it is at all remarkable.
W. B. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bingham, Margaret

​BINGHAM, MARGARET, Countess of Lucan (d. 1814), amateur painter—a lady who, according to Horace Walpole, 'arrived at copying the most exquisite works of Isaac and Peter Oliver, Hoskins, and Cooper, with a genius that almost depreciates those masters when we consider that they spent their lives ​in attaining perfection; and who, soaring above their modest timidity, has transferred the vigour of Raphael to her copies in water colours'—was the daughter and coheir of James Smyth. In 1760 she married Sir Charles Bingham, hart. (1735-1799), created (1776) Baron Lucan of Castlebar, county Mayo, and in 1795 Earl of Lucan. There are frequent allusions to her in Walpole's letters, and in the memoirs of Mrs. Delany. 'Mrs. Delany used to admire and wonder at her talent for painting, and yet her want of eye for drawing, as she would often totally mistake the distance between one feature and another (till it was pointed out to her) and yet imitate colouring and fuiish to perfection.' Horace Wal])ole becomes somewhat silly upon the subject of her perfections, and is laughed at therefore by Peter Pindar. In one place he writes: 'Lady Bingham is, I assure you, another miracle;' in another: 'They are so amazed and charmed at Paris with Lady Bingham's miniatures, that the Duke of Orleans has given her a room at the Palais Royal to copy which of his pictures she pleases.' She seems, indeed, to have been a clever amateur, but of little originality, and not careful, as the above-quoted criticism would show, to be exact in her drawing. She spent much time upon a great work, the embellishment of Shakespeare's historical plays. Of this monumental labour an account is preserved in Dibdin's 'Ædes Althorpianæ' (i. 200): 'During sixteen years this accomplished lady pursued the pleasurable toil of illustration, having commenced in her fiftieth and finished in her sixty-sixth year. Whatever of taste, beauty, and judgment in decoration, by means of portraits, landscapes, houses and tombs, flowers, birds, insects, heraldic ornaments and devices, could dress our immortal bard in a yet more fascinating form, has been accomplished by a noble hand which undertook a Herculean task, and with a truth, delicacy, and finish of execution which have been very rarely imitated.' The work was completed in five volumes. The binding was by Herring, and was considered his best work. The colophon of the last volume has a portrait of Lucan, with attendant virtues, drawn by her daughter, Lady Lavinia Spencer. This work is preserved in the library of Althorp. She died on 27 Feb. 1814, leaving five children: Lavinia, who married the second Earl Spencer in 1781; Eleanor Margaret, married Thomas Lindsay, Esq.; Louisa and Anne, both died unmarried; and Richard, second Earl Lucan, an only son and heir.
[Walpole's Letters, v., Gen. Index; Anecdotes of Painting, i., Introduction, pp. xviii, xix; Autobiography and Letters of Mrs. Delany, v., Gen. Index, vol. vi.; Lodge's Genealogy of the Peerage, 1859; Redgrave's Dict, of Artists of English School; Gent Mag. lxxxiv (i.) 801, lxxxv. (i.) 280; Foster's Peerage, s.v. 'Lucan.']
E. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bingham, Peregrine (1754-1826)

​BINGHAM, PEREGRINE, the elder (1754–1826), biographer and poet, was son of George Bingham, B.D., rector of Pimperne, Dorsetshire [q. v.] He was educated at New College, Oxford (B.C.L. 1780); became rector of Edmondsham, Dorset, in 1782, and of Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, in 1817. At one time he was chaplain of H.M.S. Agincourt. He died on 28 May 1826, aged 72.
He wrote Memoirs of his father, prefixed to 'Dissertations, Essays, and Sermons, by the late George Bingham, B.D.,' 2 vols., 1804. These Memoirs, which are abridged in Hutchins's 'Dorset,' new edit. iv. 201, gave rise to a controversy between the author and the rector of Critchill (Gent. Mag. lxxv. 445). Bingham also wrote 'The Pains of Memory, a poem, in two books,' London, 1811, 12mo, 2nd edit., with vignettes, 1812.
[Biog. Dict. of Living Authors (1816), 27; Cat. of Oxford Graduates (1851), 59; Gent. Mag. xcv. (ii.) 91; Burke's Dict. of the Landed Gentry (1868), 100.]
T. C.