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

​PAXTON, STEPHEN (1735–1787), violoncellist and composer, was born in 1735. He played principal parts at oratorio meetings, and his full and sweet tone on the violoncello, together with his judgment in accompanying, was praised by Burney. In 1780 Paxton was a professional member of ​the Catch Club, and the following part-songs by him gained prizes: ‘How sweet, how fresh this vernal day,’ 1779; ‘Round the hapless André's urn,’ 1781; ‘Ye Muses, inspire me,’ a catch, 1783; ‘Blest Power,’ 1784; ‘Come, oh come,’ 1785. He wrote masses in D and in G, and motets for the Roman catholic church, to which he belonged; and composed also pieces for his instrument, and sold his music at 29 Titchfield Street, London. Paxton died at Brompton Row on 18 Aug. 1787, aged 52, leaving a widow, whom, in his will, he recommended to practise works of charity. Paxton himself was respected for ‘his exemplary virtues and universal charity’ (Gent. Mag. 1787, ii. 837). He was buried in Old St. Pancras churchyard.
Paxton published: 1. ‘Six Solos for the Violoncello,’ 1780. 2. ‘Eight Duets for Violin and Violoncello.’ 3. ‘Six easy Solos for Violoncello or Bassoon.’ 4. ‘Four Duets for Violin and Violoncello, with two Solos.’ 5. ‘A Collection of Glees’ (his own, nineteen altogether). 6. ‘Twelve easy Lessons for a Violoncello and Bass.’ Many of Paxton's glees are included in ‘Ladies' Amusement,’ 1791, vols. i. and ii.; and in Warren's ‘Collection of Catches;’ and the two masses were printed in Webbe's volume of ‘Masses,’ 1792; other sacred music of Paxton's has been arranged by Butler and Robinson.
To Paxton's brother, William Paxton (fl. 1780), another violoncello-player and composer of glees, has been ascribed the glee, ‘Breathe soft, ye winds,’ which appears in Stephen Paxton's collection. William Paxton gained prizes at the Catch Club for two canons, ‘O Lord, in Thee,’ 1779; and ‘O Israel, trust in the Lord,’ 1780.
L. M. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kean, Michael

​KEAN, MICHAEL (d. 1823), miniature-painter and proprietor of the Derby china factory, was a native of Dublin, where he was a student in the academy, and gained the medal of the Society of Arts in 1779. He was originally intended for a sculptor, and was apprenticed to Edward Smith, a sculptor in Dublin, but he subsequently took to practising as a miniature-painter, and sometimes drew portraits in crayons. He came to London, where he practised with great success. He was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy between 1780 and 1790. Four miniatures by him, including portraits of Lunardi the aeronaut and Colonel St. Leger, were in the Exhibition of Miniatures at South Kensington in 1865. Kean was taken into partnership by William Duesbury the younger [see under Duesbury, William], proprietor of the Derby china factory, and on Duesbury's death in 1796 married his widow. He helped to increase the reputation of the factory by his artistic skill, and is credited with having introduced a biscuit body of peculiar excellence. In 1811 Kean disposed of the factory to Robert Bloor, and retired to London, where he died in November 1823. He was a hot-tempered man, and was for many years separated from his wife. He left a son, who became a captain in the navy. Kean was captain of the sixth company of the old Derby volunteers.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kearney, William Henry

​KEARNEY, WILLIAM HENRY (1800–1858), water-colour painter, born in 1800, was one of the foundation members in 1831, and subsequently a vice-president of the Institute of Painters in Water-colours. He exhibited at their first exhibition in 1834. He ​had previously been an exhibitor at the Royal Academy, commencing in 1823. Kearney worked in the early pure manner of water-colour painting, and his works have been highly valued. There are two fair examples, views in Wales, in the print room at the British Museum. Among his works were ‘Love's Young Dream,’ ‘Ruins of the Sally-port, Framlingham’ (now in the National Gallery of Ireland), ‘The Courtship of Quintin Matsys,’ &c. Kearney died in Holborn, London, on 25 June 1858, aged 57.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Keary, Annie

​KEARY, ANNIE (1825–1879), novelist, was born at Bilton Rectory, near Wetherby, Yorkshire, on 3 March 1825. Her father, William Keary, rector of the parish, was an Irishman from co. Galway, who had originally been in the army; her mother was the daughter of Hall Plumer, esq., of Bilton Hall. She showed as a child an active imagination and a great faculty for story-telling. Her first experience as an authoress was acquired in early life. She took charge of the motherless children of an elder brother, and for them wrote ‘Little Wanderlin’ and many other fairy tales, some of which were eventually published. The loss of her charge through her brother's second marriage and the breaking off of an engagement were great trials to her, and probably affected her health. In 1858 she spent a winter in Egypt, and after her return went through many phases of religious experience. She had already published several children's books, of which ‘Sidney Grey’ is the best known, and now entered upon a career of novel-writing. Her most important works, some of which appear to have been composed a considerable time before publication, were ‘Janet's Home,’ 1863, ‘Clemency Franklyn,’ 1866, ‘Oldbury,’ 1869, ‘Castle Daly,’ 1875, ‘A York and a Lancaster Rose,’ 1876, and ‘A Doubting Heart,’ 1879. She also wrote two very useful books of a semi-educational character, ‘Early Egyptian History,’ published anonymously in 1861, and ‘The Nations Around,’ an account of the peoples bordering upon Israel, 1870. In conjunction with her sister Eliza she produced the ‘Heroes of Asgard,’ tales from Scandinavian mythology, 1857. Much of this work was done at Peganas, near Cannes, whither she frequently resorted to recruit her health. After a long decline she died at Eastbourne on 3 March 1879, leaving her last, and one of her best, novels, ‘A Doubting Heart,’ incomplete. It was finished by Mrs. K. Macquoid, and appeared in ‘Macmillan's Magazine,’ where ‘Castle Daly’ had also been published.
Miss Keary was a woman of great refinement, sensitive and accessible to all the finer emotions, but active and industrious, ​and combining in her novels acute observation with deep feeling. She is essentially feminine, and seldom quits the sphere of domestic life. Her best and most popular work, ‘Castle Daly,’ an Irish story, was that which gave her the least pleasure in composition. It is remarkable for its impartial delineation of the strong and weak points of Saxon and Celtic character. She had very little personal knowledge of Ireland, and her success can only be attributed to her inheritance of Irish blood.
R. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Keane, Joseph B.

John B. Keane in the ODNB.
​KEANE, JOSEPH B. (d. 1859), architect, received his education as architect in the office of works at Dublin, and was fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland. In 1832 he designed the Roman catholic church of St. Francis Xavier, Dublin, and in 1858 that of St. Lorcan Ua Tuathal, which he did not live to complete. Between 1846 and 1850 the Queen's College, Galway, was built from his designs. Keane died on 7 Oct. 1859.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kearney, Michael

​KEARNEY, MICHAEL (1733–1814), archdeacon of Raphoe, born in 1733 in Castle Street, Dublin, was son of Michael Kearney, surgeon-barber, and entered Trinity College, Dublin, on 11 June 1747. He obtained a scholarship in 1750, fellowship in 1757, and was co-opted a senior fellow in 1769. He held the chair of history on the foundation of Erasmus Smith from 1769 to 1778. In the latter year he accepted the college benefice of Tullyaughnish, co. Donegal, and resigned both his fellowship and his professorship. He was appointed to the archdeaconry of Raphoe in 1798, and dying 11 Jan. 1814, aged 80, was buried at St. Ann's, Dublin.
Kearney published ‘Lectures on History,’ given in Trinity College, Dublin, London, 1776. He contributed to ‘Transactions of Royal Irish Academy,’ ‘Thoughts on the History of Alphabetic Writing,’ 1789; ‘The Evil Effects of Polytheism, or the Morals of the Heathens,’ 1790; and ‘On the Powers of Painting to express Mixed Passions,’ 1795. Kearney prepared some notes for Croker's edition of Boswell's ‘Life of Dr. Johnson,’ vols. i. and iv.
Kearney, John (1741–1813), bishop of Ossory, was brother of the above. He was elected fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1764, became professor of oratory there in 1781, and in 1799 was appointed provost. In 1806 he was chosen bishop of Ossory, and died at his palace, Kilkenny, 22 May 1813 (Gent. Mag. 1813, i. 592; Cotton, Fasti Eccl. Hib. ii. 290). One son, John, was chancellor of Ossory from 1809 till his death in 1838, and another, Thomas Henry, was prebendary of Ossory from 1810 to 1812 (ib. ii. 301, 310).
W. R-l.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kearne, Andreas

​KEARNE, ANDREAS (fl. 1650), sculptor, a native of Germany, married, a sister of Nicholas Stone the elder [q. v.] He assisted Stone in many of his works, notably the Water Gate at York Stairs, where Kearne carved the lioness on the left hand, and the gate at the stairs of old Somerset House, for which he carved the figure of the river Nile. Kearne executed various statues for Sir Justinian Isham [q. v.] at Lamport Hall, Northampton, and also statues of Venus and Apollo for the Countess of Mulgrave. Kearne died in England, leaving a son, who was alive about 1720.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kearney, Barnabas

Barnaby O'Kearney in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
​KEARNEY, BARNABAS, in Irish Brian O Cearnaidh (1567–1640), jesuit, born about 29 Sept. 1567, a native of Cashel, Ireland, was son of Patrick Kearney, by his wife Elizabeth Coney. His brother David was Roman catholic archbishop of Cashel from 1603 to 1625. Kearney entered the Society of Jesus at Douay, where he graduated M.A. in 1588, and commenced his noviceship at Tournay 17 Oct. 1589. He subsequently acted as professor of rhetoric and Greek at Antwerp and Lisle. He was sent to the mission of the jesuits in Ireland in 1603, and successfully evaded various attempts made by the government to arrest him. His difficulties are described in the letters which he addressed to the superiors of his society on the continent in 1604 and succeeding years. He is stated to have induced Thomas Butler, tenth earl of Ormonde [q. v.], to embrace the Roman catholic religion, and to have written an account of his relations with that nobleman, but this is not now accessible. Kearney was a zealous preacher. Latin versions of some of his sermons for Sundays and festival days were printed at Lyons in 1622, under the title of ‘Heliotropium.’ A second collection of his discourses was published at Paris in 1633, with the title, ‘Barnabæ Kearnæi, Cassellensis Hiberni, è Societate Jesu, sacerdotis, Heliotropium sive conciones de mysteriis redemptionis humanæ, quæ in Dominica passione continentur,’ 8vo. This volume was dedicated to Thomas Walsh, who succeeded Kearney's brother David as Roman catholic archbishop of Cashel. Kearney died in Ireland on 20 Aug. 1640.
J. T. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kearns, William Henry

​KEARNS, WILLIAM HENRY (1794–1846), musical composer, was born at Dublin in 1794 (Grove). He came to London about 1817, and for thirty years was a member of the orchestras of Her Majesty's and Covent Garden theatres. He played the violin at the Ancient Concerts in 1832, and the viola (being during many seasons first viola) in the same band from 1833 to 1846. He was an esteemed teacher of singing, a member of the Philharmonic Society, and the organist of the Verulam Episcopal Chapel, Lambeth. He died at Princes Place, Kennington, on 28 Dec. 1846.
As a composer Kearns showed more promise than performance. He wrote suitable music to ‘Bachelors' Wives, or the British at Brussels,’ an operetta performed on 16 July 1817, and frequently repeated at the English Opera House under Arnold (European Mag.) It was published in London, 1817. The originality of Kearns's ‘Cantata, with accompaniment for Pianoforte,’ London, 1823, attracted some attention, and a critic of that day (Quarterly Musical Magazine) expressed himself astonished to meet with ‘an accompaniment as various as the passion intended to be represented, and [having] as much to do with it as the voice part itself.’ His ‘Three Songs of Early Piety’ were published about 1840. The first series of the ‘Comprehensive Tune Book’ (compiled by Gauntlett and Kearns), 1846, contains only one original hymn by the latter. Other compilations and arrangements are Haeser's ‘Triumph of Faith,’ with the accompaniment for pianoforte revised by Kearns, 1837; Haydn's ‘Seasons’ (with a new arrangement of the words by Taylor), newly revised, with accompaniment for pianoforte by Kearns; ‘Songs of Christmas,’ 1847, being ‘elegant melodies of Handel, Haydn, Mozart, etc., selected and arranged.’ He was successful in his revision of and additions to the orchestral accompaniments to Handel's oratorios for the Westminster Abbey festival of 1834, and for provincial festivals. Kearns is said to have aided in the scores for the stage representations of Weber's, Spohr's, Meyerbeer's, and Marschner's operas.
L. M. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Poynings, Thomas

​POYNINGS, THOMAS, Baron Poynings (d. 1545), was an illegitimate son of Sir Edward Poynings [q. v.] He was early brought to court, and was a sewer-extraordinary in 1516. He was one of those who received livery of the Percy lands in 1528, was on the sheriff roll for Kent in 1533, made K.B. the same year, and appointed sheriff of Kent in 1534. He was present at the christening of Edward VI on 15 Oct. 1537, and at the funeral of Jane Seymour on 12 Nov. When Anne of Cleves came to England in 1539, Poynings was one of the knights who received her. He was an accomplished courtier, generous in disposition, the friend of Wyatt and of Sir Thomas Chaloner the elder [q. v.] In the French expedition of 1544 Poynings took an important part. He was a captain in the army, and greatly distinguished himself at the capture of Boulogne. In October 1544 he was left there by Howard with four thousand men. On 30 Jan. 1544–1545 he was created Baron Poynings; he died at Boulogne on 17 Aug. 1545. He married Catherine, daughter of John, lord Marney, and widow of George Radcliffe, but left no children. Some of his Kentish property passed to the Duke of Northumberland.
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Poyntz, Robert

​POYNTZ, ROBERT (fl. 1566), catholic divine, a younger son of John Poyntz (d. 1544) and nephew of Sir Francis Poyntz [q. v.], lord of the manor of Alderley, Gloucestershire, was born at Alderley about 1535. He was educated at Winchester, and was, on 26 Aug. 1554, admitted perpetual fellow of New College, Oxford (Rawl. MS. D. 130, f. 63), graduating B.A. 5 June 1556, and M.A. 27 May 1560. But as a devout Roman catholic he abandoned, early in Elizabeth's reign, his friends and expectations in this country, and settled in Louvain. There he published ‘Testimonies for the Real Presence of Christ's Body and Blood in the Blessed Sacrament of the Aultar, set foorth at large and faithfully translated out of Six Auncient Fathers which lyved far within the first six hundred yeres,’ … Louvain, 1566. Another work, ‘Miracles performed by the Eucharist,’ is also ascribed to him.
W. A. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Langdon, John

​LANGDON, JOHN (d. 1434), bishop of Rochester, a native of Kent, and perhaps of Langdon, was admitted a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury, in 1398. Afterwards he studied at Oxford, and graduated B.D. in 1400; according to his epitaph he was D.D. He is said to have belonged to Gloucester Hall, now Worcester College (Wood, City of Oxford, ii. 269, Oxf. Hist. Soc.) According to another account he was warden of Canterbury College, which was connected with his monastery; but this may be an error, due to the fact that a John Langdon was warden in 1478 (ib. ii. 288). He was one of twelve Oxford scholars appointed at the suggestion of convocation in 1411 to inquire into the doctrines of Wycliffe (Wood, Hist. and Antiq. Univ. Oxf. i. 551). Their report is printed in Wilkins's 'Concilia,' iii. 339-49. Langdon became sub-prior of his monastery before 1411, when he preached a sermon against the lollards in a synod at London (Harpsfield, Hist. Eccl. Angl. p, 619). On 17 Nov. 1421 he was appointed by papal provision to the see of Rochester, and was ​consecrated on 7 June 1422 at Canterbury by Archbishop Chicheley (Stubbs, Reg. Sacr. Angl. p. 65). After his consecration he appears among the royal councillors (Nicolas, Proc. Privy Council, iii. 6), and after 1430 his name constantly occurs among those present at the meetings. He was a trier of petitions for Gascony in the parliament of January 1431, and for England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland in that of May 1432 (Rot. Parl. iv. 368n, 388) In February 1432 he was engaged on an embassy to Charles VII of France (Fœdera, x. 500, 514). In July following he was appointed one of the English representatives at the council of Basle, whether he was intending to set out at the end of the year; he was at the same time entrusted with a further mission to Charles VII (ib, x. 524, 527, 530). Langdon was, however, in England in March 1433, and for some months of 1434 (Nicholas, Proc. Privy Council, iv. 154, 177, 196, 221). On 18 Feb. 1434 he had license to absent himself from the council if sent on a mission by the pope or cardinals, and on 3 Nov. of that year was appointed to treat for the reformation of the church and peace with France (Fœdera, x. 571, 589). Langdon had, however, died at Basle on 30 Sept. It is commonly alleged that his body was brought home for burial at the Charterhouse, Loudon, but in reality he was interred in the choir of the Carthusian monastery at Basle (see epitaph printed in Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. ix. 274). His will, dated 2 March 1433-4, was proved 27 June 1437.
Langdon is said to have been a man of great erudition, and to have written: 1, 'Anglorum Chronicon.' 2. 'Sermones.' Thomas Rudborne, in his preface to his 'Historia Minor,' says that he had made use of Langdon's writings (Wharton, Anglia Sacra, i. 287).
C. L. K.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Langford, Abraham

​LANGFORD, ABRAHAM (1711–1774), auctioneer and playwright, was born in the parish of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, in 1711. When quite a young man he began to write for the stage, and was responsible, according to the 'Biographia Dramatica,' for an 'entertainment' called 'The Judgement of Paris,' which was produced in 1730. In 1736 appeared a ballad-opera by him entitled 'The Lover his own Rival, as performed at the New Theatre at Goodman's Fields.' Though it was received indifferently, it was reprinted at London in 1753, and at Dublin in 1769. In 1748 Langford succeeded 'the great Mr. Cock,' i.e. Christopher or 'Auctioneer' Cock (d. 1748; see 'Gentleman's Magazine,' s.a., p, 572), at the auction-rooms in the north-eastern corner of the Piazza, Covent Garden. These rooms formed part of the house where Sir Dudley North died in 1691, and are now occupied by the Tavistock Hotel. Before his death Langford seems to have occupied the foremost place among the auctioneers of the period. He died on 17 Sept. 1774, and was buried in St. Pancras churchyard, where a long and grandiloquent epitaph is inscribed on both sides of his tomb (Lysons, iii. 357).
[Biographia Dramatica, 1812, vol. i. pt. ii. p. 444; Nichols's Lit. Anecdotes, passim; Daily Advertiser, 19 Sept. 1774; Wheatley and Cunningham's London, iii. 84.]
T. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Langford, Thomas

​LANGFORD, THOMAS (fl. 1420), historian, was a native of Essex and Dominican friar at Chelmsford. He is said to have been a D.D. of Cambridge, and to have written: 1. 'Chronicon Universale ab orbe condito ad sua tempora.' 2. 'Sermones.' 3. 'Disputationes.' 4. 'Postilla super Job.' None of these works seem to have survived.
[Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib. p. 465; Quétif and Echard's Script. Ord. Præd. i. 523; Nouvelle Biographie Générale.]
C. L. K.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Langdale, Baron

​LANGDALE, Baron (1783–1851), master of the rolls. [See Bickersteth, Henry.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Langdon, Richard

​LANGDON, RICHARD (1730–1803), organist and composer, son of Charles Langdon of Exeter, and grandson of Tobias Langdon (d. 1712), priest-vicar of Exeter, was born at Exeter in 1730. An uncle, Richard Langdon, with whom he is sometimes confused, was born in 1686. The younger Richard Langdon was appointed organist of Exeter Cathedral on 23 June 1753 (Cathedral Records). He graduated Mus.Bac. at Exeter College, Oxford, 13 July 1761, aged 31 (Oxford Register). On 25 Nov. 1777 he was elected organist of Ely, but seems not to have entered on his duties there, having been made organist of Bristol Cathedral, 3 Dec. 1777. His last appointment was as organist of Armagh Cathedral, 1782-94. He died at Exeter on 8 Sept. 1803 (Gent. Mag. 1803, pt. ii. p. 888, and memorial tablet). Langdon's works include, besides several anthems, 'Twelve Songs and Two Cantatas,' opus 4 (London, n.d.); and 'Twelve Glees for Three and Four Voices' (London, 1770). In 1774 he published 'Divine Harmony, being a Collection in score of Psalms and Anthems.' At the end of this work are twenty chants by various authors, all printed anonymously; the first, a double chant in F, has usually been assigned to Langdon himself, and has long been popular.
J. C. H.