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

​BROOKE, GEORGE (1568–1603), conspirator, the fourth and youngest son of William Brooke, lord Cobham, by Frances, daughter of Sir John Newton, was born at Cobham, Kent, on 17 April 1568. He matriculated at King's College, Cambridge, in 1580, and took his M.A. degree in 1586. He obtained a prebend in the church of York, and was later promised the mastership of the hospital of St. Cross, near Winchester, by Queen Elizabeth. The queen, however, died before the vacancy was filled up, and James gave it instead to an agent of his own, James Hudson. This caused Brooke to become disaffected. He and Sir Griffin Markham persuaded themselves that if they could get possession of the royal person they would have it in their power to remove the present members of the council, compel the king to tolerate the Roman catholics, and secure for themselves the chief employments of the state. As part of their arrangements Brooke was to have been lord treasurer. From this scheme sprang the ‘Bye’ plot, also known as the ‘treason of the priests.’ To Brooke's connection with the Bye may be ultimately traced the discovery of a second plot, known as the ‘Main,’ in which Sir Walter Raleigh and Lord Cobham [see Brooke, Henry (d. 1619)] were implicated. Brooke being the brother of Cobham, Cecil suspected that Cobham and Raleigh might be concerned in the first treason, and by acting at once ​vigorously he discovered the second plot. Brooke was arrested and sent to the Tower July 1603; he was arraigned on the 15th. He pleaded not guilty, though his confessions had gradually laid bare the whole details of the plots. Brooke appears to have hoped to the last to obtain a pardon by means of Cecil, who had married his sister. Mrs. Thompson, in the appendix to her ‘Life of Raleigh,’ gives a letter from Brooke to Cecil, in which the former inquires ‘what he might expect after so many promises received, and so much conformity and accepted service performed by him to Cecil.’ What these services were is entirely uncertain, but Tytler has endeavoured to build out of this a theory that Cecil himself employed Brooke to arrange the plot, and draw the minister's political opponents into the net, in order that he might be rid of them. This is to the last degree improbable, because Raleigh and Cobham were not concerned in the Bye plot, and were not executed. Brooke, in fact, alone of the lay conspirators suffered on the scaffold in the castle yard at Winchester 5 Dec. 1603. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas, lord Borough, and by her had a son, William, and two daughters. Although his children were restored in blood, his son was not allowed to succeed to the title. Brooke was the author of two poems, which are preserved in the Ashmole MSS.
[Dodd's Church History of England, ed. Tierney, vol. iv.; Cooper's Athenæ Cantab. ii. 359; Wood's Fasti, ed. Bliss, i. 192; Tytler's Life of Raleigh, Appendix F; Mrs. Thompson's Life of Raleigh; Gardiner's History of England, vol. i.]
B. C. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brooke, Gustavus Vaughan

​BROOKE, GUSTAVUS VAUGHAN (1818–1866), actor, is said in a biographical sketch, presumably dictated by himself, to have been born on 25 April 1818, at Hardwick Place, Dublin, and to have received his education at a school conducted by a brother of Maria Edgeworth. When about fifteen years of age he applied to Calcraft, the manager of the Theatre Royal, Dublin, for an engagement. The manager, embarrassed by a sudden indisposition of Edmund Kean, allowed the youth to appear on Easter Tuesday 1833 as William Tell. An engagement followed, in course of which Brooke played Virginius, Douglas, Uolla, and other characters of the class. He then travelled in the country, and was received with favour in Limerick, Londonderry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other places. His first appearance in London took place at the Victoria as Virginius, and attracted little attention. In 1840 he accepted from Macready an engagement to appear at Drury Lane, but was dissatisfied with his part, and threw up the engagement. On 3 Jan. 1848 what was
[Tallis's Dramatic Magazine, 1851; Vandenhoff's Dramatic Reminiscences, London, 1860, Longman's Magazine, March 1885; Era newspaper, 21 Jan. 1866.]
J. K.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brooke, Henry (1694-1757)

​BROOKE, HENRY (1694–1757), schoolmaster and divine, was a son of William Brooke, merchant, and his wife Elizabeth Holbrook, who were married at Manchester Church in 1678-9. He was educated at Manchester grammar school, and gained an exhibition 1715-18. He proceeded to Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. on 30 April 1720. He was D.C.L. in 1727. Brooke, then a fellow of Oriel, was made headmaster of Manchester grammar school in September 1727. He obtained a mandamus from the crown to elect him a fellow of the collegiate church, and was elected in 1728, in spite of tory opposition. He appears to have been on good terms with John Byrom, a tory Jacobite, but he was unsuccessful as a master, and the feoffees of the school reduced his salary from 200l. to 10l. In order to put himself into better relations, he published 'The Usefulness and Necessity of studying the Classicks, a speech spoken at the breaking-up of the Free Grammar School in Manchester, Thursday, 13 Dec. 1744. By Hen. Brooke, A.M., High Master of the said School. Manchester, printed by R. Whitworth, Bookseller, mdcclxiv,' (a misprint for 1744). This tract, now exceedingly rare, is reprinted by Whatton. Howley, the father of the archbishop, and one of his pupils says that Brooke was 'an accurate and accomplished scholar, though lenient as a disciplinarian.' Another of his works, 'The Quack Doctor,' published in 1745, is described as very poor doggerel, with ironically laudatory notes, probably written by Robert Thyer or the Rev. John Clayton. A Latin tract, 'Medicus Circumfaraneus,' is perhaps a translation of the preceding. In 1730 he received the Oriel College living of Tortworth in Gloucestershire. Here he lived, after resigning the Mastership of the Manchester grammar school in 1749, until his death on 21 Aug. 1757. Watt attributes to him two sermons 1746, and a sermon 1747. His best known book is 'A Practical Essay concerning Christian Peaceableness,' which went through three editions in the year 1741. The third edition contains some additional matter. He was married, and had one daughter. Brooke left his library for the use of his successors at Tortworth. A portrait of him, as late as 1830, was 'at at Mr. Hulton's, of Blackley.'
[Smith's Manchester Grammar School Register, vol. i.; Whatton's History of Manchester Srrammar School; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Rudder's Hist, of Gloucestershire, p. 776; Byrom's Remains (Chetham Society); Raines's Lancashire MSS. vol. xl. (in Chetham's Library, Manchester).]
W. E. A. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brooke, Elizabeth

​BROOKE, Lady ELIZABETH (1601–1683), religious writer, was born at Wigsale, Surrey, in January 1601. Her father was Thomas Colepeper; her mother was a daughter of Sir Stephen Slaney (Parkhurst, Faithful and Diligent Christian, p. 41); her only brother was John, afterwards created Lord Colepeper of Thoresway (ib. 42). Both parents died in Elizabeth's early youth, and she was brought up by Lady Slaney, her maternal grandmother (ib. 43). In 1620 she married Sir Robert Brooke, knight, of the Cobham family, by whom she had seven children, two of whom died in infancy. For two years the young couple resided in London as boarders with Elizabeth's aunt, Lady Weld (ib. 45). In 1622 they moved to Langley, Hertfordshire, where Sir Robert bought a seat; and in 1630, on the Brooke estates falling to him, they went to the family mansion, Cockfield Hall, Yoxford, Suffolk. Lady Brooke was an indefatigable reader of the Scriptures, of 'commentaries,' and of the ancient philosophers (in English translations); she took notes of all sermons she heard; she would question her family and servants about them; she engaged a divine to visit the hall once a fortnight as catechist, by whom she was herself catechised; and in 1631 she began a large volume (ib. 81) of 'Collections, Observations, Experiences, Rules,' together with 'What a Christian must believe and practise.' On 10 July 1646 her husband died (ib. 43), and for two years she absented herself from Cockfield Hall. She afterwards lost two daughters and a son; was harassed by lawsuits (though all these were eventually decided in her favour); and in 1669 her only surviving son, Sir Robert, was drowned in France, leaving her with only one child, Mary, her eldest daughter. She recovered from her griefs sufficiently to resume her charities, but became deaf in 1675, and after a long decay died on 22 July 1683. Nathaniel Parkhurst, her chaplain, and the vicar of the church, preached her 'Funeral Sermon,' and published it (with a portrait) in the following year, together with an account of her life and death. The book was dedicated to Miss Mary Brooke, the sole surviving member of the family. Parkhurst printed with the sermon some of Lady Brooke's 'Observations' and 'Rules for Practice.' A selection from the writings of Lady Brooke was published as late as 1828 in the 'Lady's Monitor,' pp. 61-79.
[Parkhurst's Faithful and Diligent Christian, &c., 1684; Wilford's Memorials of Eminent Persons, art. 'Lady Brooke' and appendix, p. 17; Lady's Monitor, 1828.]
J. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brooke, Fulke Greville

​BROOKE, FULKE GREVILLE, Lord. [See Greville.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brooke, Charlotte

​BROOKE, CHARLOTTE (d. 1793), authoress, was one of the youngest of the numerous offspring of Henry Brooke, the author of the 'Fool of Quality' [q. v.], and designated herself 'the child of his old age.' She was educated entirely by him, and applied assiduously to literature, art, and music, in all of which she acquired high proficiency. During her father's life her time was mainly devoted to him. Among the subjects of her study was the Irish language, and the first of her productions which appeared in print was an anonymous translation of a poem ascribed to Carolan, in 'Historical Memoirs of Irish Bards,' published in 1786. Soon after the death of her father Miss Brooke was nearly reduced to indigence through the loss of money invested in the manufactory for cotton established by her cousin, Captain Robert Brooke [q. v.] An unsuccessful effort was made by some members of the then newly established Royal Irish Academy at Dublin to obtain a position for her. Her letters to Bishop Percy on this are in Nichols's 'Illustrations' (viii. 247-52). Miss Brooke, in 1789, published at Dublin, by subscription, a quarto volume entitled 'Reliques of Irish Poetry; consisting of heroic poems, odes, elegies, and songs, translated into English verse, with notes explanatory and historical, and the originals in the Irish character.' In this she included 'Thoughts on Irish Song,' and an original composition, styled 'An Irish Tale.' In the publication of this work Miss Brooke was assisted by William Hayley and others; but at the time little accurate knowledge existed of the remains of the more ancient Celtic literature of Ireland. In 1791 Miss Brooke published the 'School for Christians,' consisting of dialogues for the use of children. In the following year she published an edition of some of her father's works, under the circumstances mentioned in the notice of him. Through the subscriptions for that publication and for her 'Reliques of Irish Poetry,' in which many persons of importance interested themselves, Miss Brooke was enabled to retrieve to a small extent the loss of property which she had sustained. A tragedy which she composed, under the title of 'Belisarius,' was submitted to Kemble, and said to have been approved by him, but was eventually reported to have been lost through carelessness. In her latter years Miss Brooke resided at Longford, where she died of malignant fever on 29 March 1793. The publication of a life of Miss Brooke was projected by Joseph C. Walker, who, however, died without having made progress with the work. Some of the papers connected with Miss Brooke came into the possession of Aaron ​Crossley Seymour, who, in 1816, printed a memoir of her life and writings, mainly emphasising her religious and charitable temper. The 'Reliques of Irish Poetry' by Miss Brooke were republished in octavo at Dublin in 1818.
[Archives of Royal Irish Academy, Dublin; Letter from Mr. [Robert] Brooke, 1786 ; Anthologia Hibernica, 1793-4; Brookiana, 1804; D'Olier's Memoirs of H. Brooke, 1816.]
J. T. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lloyd, Richard (d.1834)

​LLOYD, RICHARD (d. 1834), divine, was younger son of John Lloyd, rector of Thorpe, Derbyshire, and curate of Wrexham, Denbighshire. After attending Wrexham grammar school he proceeded to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. as fourth junior optime in 1787, proceeded M.A. in 1790, and was elected a fellow. For some time he acted as assistant to the Rev. Richard Cecil [q. v.] of St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row. In 1797 he became vicar of Midhurst, Sussex, and on 12 Dec. 1805 vicar of St. Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street (Foster, Index Eccl. 1800–40, p. 112). He died at Peckham Rye in 1834.
Lloyd was author of a treatise entitled 'Christian Theology; or an Inquiry into the Nature and general Character of Revelation,' 2nd edit. 8vo, London, 1804, and of a 'Memoir' of his brother, the Rev. Thomas Lloyd [q. v.], 8vo, London, 1830. He also published pamphlets on the catholic claims, education, and on the attempt in 1817 to institute an auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society at Midhurst. A volume of 'Sermons,' preached at St. Dunstan's, appeared posthumously in 1835.
[Lloyd's Works; Lloyd's Memoir of the Rev. Thomas Lloyd; Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lloyd, Simon

​LLOYD, SIMON (1756–1836), Welsh methodist, born in 1756, was the son of Simon Lloyd of Plas yn dre, Bala, by Sarah, daughter of Thomas Bowen of Tyddyn, near Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire. His mother had joined the communistic ‘family’ established by Howel Harris [q. v.] in 1752 at Trevecca, but it is believed that most of her property was restored to her on her marriage (17 Aug. 1755) to Simon Lloyd the elder, who was himself a gentleman of means, and the representative of an old Merionethshire family (Hughes, Methodistiaeth Cymru, ii. 21–3). The son entered Jesus College, Oxford, 8 April 1775, and graduated B.A. in 1779. He entered holy orders, and while curate of Bryneglwys, near Mold, in 1785 or soon after, he invited Thomas Charles [q. v.] of Bala to preach in his church after Charles's secession from the church of England. Charles's presence aroused a storm of indignation in the parish. Lloyd resigned his charge, retired to Bala, and for the remainder of his days associated himself with the Calvinistic methodist movement (ib. i. 597–8). It is said that he was nominated in 1803 by Sir Watkin Wynn to the perpetual curacy of Llanuwchllyn, Merionethshire, ‘but after serving the curacy for some time, Bishop Horsley refused to sanction his nomination’ on the ground of previous irregularities (Williams, Eminent Welshmen, pp. 286–7).
Up to 1811 Lloyd was one of the three episcopally ordained priests in North Wales (Thomas Charles of Bala and William Lloyd of Carnarvon being the other two), who alone were allowed to administer the sacraments among the methodists (Hughes, Hanes Methodistiaeth, i. 444). After Charles's death in 1814 Lloyd edited two volumes of the Welsh magazine called ‘Y Drysorfa,’ Bala, 8vo. He died at his residence in Bala, 6 Nov. 1836, and was buried in the family vault at Llanycil Church, Merionethshire. ​He was considered a good classical and biblical scholar, and was the author of 1. A biblical chronology entitled ‘Amseryddiaeth Ysgrythyrol,’ Bala, 1816, 8vo, said to be the result of thirty years' study. 2. ‘Esboniad byr ar y Dadguddiad,’ Bala, 1828, 8vo, a commentary on the Apocalypse, which reached a second edition.
[Works cited: Foster's Alumni Oxon.]
D. Ll. T.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lloyd, Thomas

​LLOYD, THOMAS (1784–1813), colonel, born in 1784, was third son of Thomas Lloyd of Gloucester, King's County, Ireland, M.P. for King's County 1768–90, by his wife Jane, youngest daughter and coheiress of Thomas Le Hunte. On 1 Aug. 1797 he was appointed ensign in the 54th foot in Ireland, and became lieutenant in the regiment on 6 May 1799. He served with it at Ferrol, in the Egyptian campaign of 1801, and at Gibraltar in 1802, during the mutiny in the garrison there, when the steadiness of his regiment elicited the highest praise from the Duke of Kent. He became captain in the 6th battalion of the reserve in 1803, and in 1804 was transferred to the 43rd light infantry, then training under Sir John Moore at Shorncliffe. He served with the regiment at Copenhagen and throughout the Peninsular campaigns of 1808–10. Romantic stories of his address and daring at the outposts were current in the army. On 8 Oct. 1810 he was promoted to major in the old 94th, late Scotch brigade, and became lieutenant-colonel of that regiment on 17 Aug. 1812. He commanded it at the battle of Vittoria, and fell at its head at the battle of Nivelle, 10 Nov. 1813. He appears to have been much beloved by his men (Donaldson, pp. 185–6, 193–5). The historian Napier wrote of him: ‘In him were combined mental and bodily powers of no ordinary kind. Graceful symmetry, herculean strength, a countenance frank and majestic, gave a true indication of his nature, for his capacity was great and exceeding, and his military knowledge extensive, both from experience and study. Of his mirth and wit, well known in the army, it need only be said that he used the latter without offence, but so as to increase his ascendency over those with whom he held intercourse, for though gentle, he was ambitious, valiant, and conscious of his fitness for great exploits’ (Peninsular War, revised edit. v. 383–4).
[Burke's Landed Gentry, 1886, s.v. ‘Lloyd of Gloucester;’ Army Lists; Napier's Hist. of Peninsular War, rev. edit., 1851; Gurwood's Well. Desp. iv. 205; Joseph Donaldson's [q. v.] Eventful Life of a Soldier (London and Glasgow, 1855).]
H. M. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lloyd, Ridgway Robert Syers Christian Codner

​LLOYD, RIDGWAY ROBERT SYERS CHRISTIAN CODNER (1842–1884), physician and antiquary, born at Devonport on 20 Dec. 1842, was son of Francis Brown Lloyd, a west country doctor, who afterwards took orders, by his wife Margaret, daughter of George Christian. He was educated at Bristol and Stratford-on-Avon grammar schools, and proceeded to Guy's Hospital, where he became M.R.C.S. and L.S.A. in 1866. He held the position of house-surgeon in the Peterborough Infirmary for three years, and in 1870 he bought a practice at St. Albans. He died from typhoid fever at his house in Bricket Road, St. Albans, on 1 June 1884, and was buried in the abbey churchyard; he left a widow and one son. Lloyd was a successful physician and a diligent antiquary. He studied the history of the abbey of St. Albans, and was consulted by Mr. Henry Hucks Gibbs as to the restoration of the screen. He published 'An Account of the Altars, Monuments, and Tombs in St. Albans Abbey,' St. Albans, 1873, 4to, a translation with notes from the 'Annales' of John of Amundesham. He also wrote many papers on archæological subjects, of which one on 'The Shrines of St. Albans and St. Amphibalus' (1872), and one on 'The Paintings on the Choir Ceiling of St. Albans Abbey' (1876), were published separately. He also contributed to the 'Lancet' and 'British Medical Journal.'
[Medical Directory, 1884 and 1885; British Medical Journal, 21 June 1884; Hertfordshire Standard, 7 June 1884; Notes and Queries, 6th ser. ix. 480; information from the Ven. the Archdeacon of St. Albans.]
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lloyd, William Forster

1904 Errata appended.
​LLOYD, WILLIAM FORSTER (1794–1852), mathematician, born in 1794, was son of Thomas Lloyd, rector of Aston-sub-Edge, Gloucestershire, and younger brother of Charles Lloyd, bishop of Oxford [q. v.] Educated at Westminster School (captain in 1811), he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1812. He graduated B.A. in 1815, with a first class in mathematics and a second in classics. He proceeded M.A. in 1818. He was Greek reader in 1823, mathematical lecturer at Christ Church until the end of 1824, and filled the Drummond chair of political economy in 1832–7. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1834. Although in holy orders, he held no preferment, but lived on his property, Prestwood, Missenden, Buckinghamshire, where he died on 2 June 1852.
He published:
* ‘Prices of Corn in Oxford in the beginning of the fourteenth Century,’ Oxford, 1830.
* ‘Two Lectures on the Checks to Population, delivered before the University of Oxford,’ Oxford, 1833.
* ‘Four Lectures on Poor Laws,’ London, 1835.
* ‘Two Lectures on the Justice of Poor Laws, and one Lecture on Rent,’ London, 1837.
[Welch's Alumni Westmon. 1852, p. 475; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Honours Reg. of the Univ. of Oxford, 1883.]
A. M. C.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.183 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 440 | i | 2-4 | Lloyd, William Forster: for was the only son . . . born in 1794. read born in 1794, was son of Thomas Lloyd, rector of Aston-sub-Edge, Gloucestershire, and younger brother of Charles Lloyd, bishop of Oxford [q. v.]. |
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ellis, John (1789-1862)

​ELLIS, JOHN (1789–1862), member of parliament and railway chairman, was born in 1789 at Sharman's Lodge, near Leicester, where his father, Joseph Ellis, was a farmer. From 1807 to 1847 he was a very successful farmer at Beaumont Leys, also near Leicester. During the latter part of that time he had also a business in Leicester. In 1830 he made the acquaintance of George Stephenson, and afterwards took a prominent part in promoting the Leicester and Swannington railway. In 1836 he gave important evidence before a select committee of the House of Commons on agricultural distress. He was member of parliament for the borough of Leicester from 1848 until 1852, when he retired. From 1849 to 1858 he was chairman of the Midland railway. Throughout life he was a liberal in politics. He came of an old quaker family, still well known around Leicester, of which borough he was an alderman. He was also a justice of the peace for the county, and was prominently connected with many public matters, both of a local and general nature. He died at Balgrave, near Leicester, on 26 Oct. 1862.
[Private information; also Charlotte Ellis's Sketch of one Branch of the Ellis Family (Leicester, privately printed).]
M. C-y.