OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Keogh, John (1650?-1725)

​KEOGH, JOHN (1650?–1725), Irish divine, born at Clooncleagh, near Limerick, about 1650, was son of Denis Keogh, of an old Irish family, which had lost its possessions in the Cromwellian wars, by his wife, the widow of a clergyman named Eyres. His mother's maiden name was Wittington. Keogh entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1669, and proceeded M.A. in 1678. He obtained some reputation for his skill in mathematics, was appointed to a living by his kinsman, John Hudson, bishop of Elphin, and settled down to a scholar's life at Strokestown, co. Roscommon. The prebend of Termonbarry in the church of Elphin was conferred on him in February 1678, and he appears for some time to have kept a school and prepared pupils for Dublin University (Vindication of Antiquities of Ireland, p. 140). His favourite studies seem to have been Hebrew and the application of mathematics to the solution of mystical religious problems. Among his works was ‘A Demonstration in Latin Verse of the Trinity,’ which ‘he was often heard to say was as plain to him as two and three make five.’ Keogh's son, during a visit to London, showed this work to Sir Isaac Newton, ‘who seemed to approve of it mighty well.’ In his ‘Scala Metaphysica’ Keogh demonstrated mathematically ‘what dependence the several degrees of beings have on God Almighty, from the highest angel to ​the lowest insect.’ A large number of other ‘ingenious treatises’ from his hand were unfortunately destroyed by an accidental fire at his residence; but his ‘Hebrew Lexicon,’ a book ‘De Orthographia,’ Latin and Greek grammars, and an ‘Analogy of the Four Gospels’ still exist in manuscript in Trinity College Library. He died in 1725. Keogh married in 1679 Avis Clopton, daughter of Dr. Rous Clopton, of the old Warwickshire family. He had twenty-one children.
The second son, John Keogh, D.D. (1681?–1754), entered the church, and after acting for some time as chaplain to James King, fourth lord Kingston, obtained the living of Mitchelstown, co. Cork. He was the author of three curious works: 1. ‘Botanologia Universalis Hibernica’ (a list of medicinal plants growing in Ireland), Cork, 1735 (see Pulteney, Progress of Botany, ii. 201, cf. Addit. MS. 25586). 2. ‘Zoologica Medica Hibernica,’ Dublin, 1739. 3. ‘A Vindication of the Antiquities of Ireland,’ Dublin, 1748. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Henry Jennings, a cousin of the Duchess of Marlborough, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. He died in 1754, at the age of seventy-three.
[Webb's Compendium of Irish Biog.; Walker's Hibernian Mag. 1778, p. 327; Cotton's Fasti, iv. 155; Account of the Keogh or MacEochaohs family in Vindication of the Antiquities of Ireland, Appendix.]
T. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wright, George Newenham

​WRIGHT, GEORGE NEWENHAM (1790?–1877), miscellaneous writer, was the son of John Thomas Wright, M.D., and was born, probably in Dublin, in 1790. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, whence he matriculated in 1809. He was a scholar in 1812, and graduated B.A. in 1814 and M.A. in 1817. He was admitted ad eundem at Oxford University on 2 May 1836. He was ​ordained deacon and priest in 1818, and held several curacies in Ireland. Subsequently he was appointed reader of St. Mary Woolnoth, London, and master of Tewkesbury grammar school. He died in 1877.
Besides several guide books and other works of little value, Wright's publications are:
* ‘Rudiments of the Greek Language,’ 1820, 8vo.
* ‘An Historical Guide to Ancient and Modern Dublin,’ illustrated by engravings after drawings by G. Petrie, London, 1821, 12mo; 1825.
* ‘Ireland illustrated in a Series of Views from Drawings by Petrie,’ London, 1829, 4to.
* ‘Landscape Historical Illustrations of Scotland and the Waverley Novels,’ 1831.
* ‘Scenes in North Wales,’ illustrated, London, 1833, 12mo.
* ‘Scenes in Ireland,’ with historical legends, illustrated, London, 1834, 12mo.
* ‘A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer,’ London, 1834–8, 5 vols. 8vo.
* ‘Life and Reign of William IV’ (in collaboration with John Watkins), 1837.
* ‘The Shores and Islands of the Mediterranean,’ with engravings, London, 1839, 4to.
* ‘Lancashire, its History, Legends, and Manufactures,’ London, 1842, 8vo.
* ‘Life and Campaigns of Arthur, Duke of Wellington,’ 1841, 4 vols. 4to.
* ‘Life and Times of Louis Philippe,’ 1841, 8vo.
* ‘China, in a Series of Views,’ 1843, 4 vols. 4to.
* ‘The People's Gallery of Engravings,’ 1845–6, 3 vols. 4to.
* ‘France Illustrated,’ 1845–7, 4 vols. 4to.
* ‘Belgium, the Rhine, Italy, and Greece,’ illustrated, 1849, 2 vols. 4to.
He also edited the ‘Works of George Berkeley’ (1843), the ‘Works of Thomas Reid’ (1843, 8vo), and ‘Dugald Stewart's Elements of Philosophy of the Human Mind’ (1843). He contributed the Welsh and Irish portions to Gorton's ‘Topographical Dictionary.’
[Brit. Mus. Cat.; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.; Todd's List of Dubl. Graduates; Foster's Alumni Oxon.]
D. J. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wrenn, Ralph

​WRENN, RALPH (d. 1692), commodore, was on 18 April 1672 appointed commander of the Hopewell fireship, and in the following year of the Rose dogger. After the peace with Holland he was lieutenant of the Reserve; in 1677 he had command of the fireship Young Spragge; in 1679 he was lieutenant of the Kingfisher in the Mediterranean with Morgan Kempthorne [see under Kempthorne, Sir John], and was so still in May 1681, when she fought a brilliant action with seven Algerine pirates. After Kempthorne's death Wrenn took the command and beat off the enemy. His gallantry was rewarded by his promotion to the command of the Nonsuch on 9 Aug. 1681. In May 1682 he was moved into the Centurion, to which, still in the Mediterranean, he was reappointed in May 1685. In 1687–8 he commanded the Mary Rose, and in September 1688 he was appointed to the Greenwich, one of the ships at the Nore with Lord Dartmouth during the critical October [see Legge, George, Lord Dartmouth]; from this appointment he was superseded after the revolution. In 1690, however, he was appointed to the Norwich of forty-eight guns, and in October 1691 was ordered out to the West Indies in succession to Lawrence Wright [q. v.] He sailed from Plymouth on 26 Dec., and after a most favourable passage arrived at Barbados on 16 Jan. 1691–2, when his force consisted of the Mary and, besides the Norwich, five 4th-rates, ships of from forty to fifty guns. He had orders to send one of these with the trade to Jamaica; but, receiving intelligence that the French were in greater force than had been supposed, he detached two on this duty. Then, on a report that a squadron of nine French ships was cruising off Barbados, he strengthened his force with two hired merchant ships, and put to sea on 30 Jan. Not meeting with the enemy in a cruise of five days, he returned to Barbados, and, apprehending that the whole French fleet had gone to Jamaica, he sailed again on 17 Feb. On the 21st off Desirade he sighted the French fleet of more than three times his strength—eighteen ships of from forty to sixty guns, with some six or seven fireships and tenders. In face of such odds, Wrenn drew back, but was the next morning attacked by their full force. After a sharp action of four hours' duration, Wrenn found himself able to draw off and retire unpursued—‘the bravest action performed in the West Indies during the war’ (Lediard, p. 655). He returned to Barbados, where a sickness carried off a great many of the men, and, among others, Wrenn himself.
J. K. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wright, Frances

​WRIGHT, FRANCES (1795–1853), philanthropist. [See Darusmont, Frances.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wrey, Bourchier (d.1696)

Contains subarticle Sir Bourchier Wrey (1714–1784)
​WREY, Sir BOURCHIER (d. 1696), duellist, son of Sir Chichester Wrey, second baronet, by Anne, widow of Lionel Cranfield, earl of Middlesex, and daughter and coheiress of Edward Bourchier, fourth earl of Bath (d. 1636). The Wreys had lived for generations at Trebigh, Cornwall, but by the marriage ​of Sir Chichester with Lady Anne they became possessors of Tawstock, thenceforth the family seat.
Sir Bourchier Wrey commanded a regiment of horse after the Restoration, and served under the Duke of Monmouth. He was M.P. for Liskeard from 1678 to 1679, was returned for the county of Devon 1685, and sat for Liskeard 1689 to 1696. He fought a duel with Thomas Bulkeley, M.P. for Beaumaris, in Hyde Park on 4 Feb. 1691–2, in which Luttrell notes that of the six men engaged as principals and seconds five were M.P.s. Two of the seconds were slightly wounded. In May 1694 he fought another duel with James Praed of Trevethowe, M.P. for St. Ives, at Falmouth, and ‘was run through the body, Mr. Praed being only hurt slightly in the face.’ On 1 June he was reported dead of his wound, but lived until 21 July 1696, when Luttrell notes that Sir Bourchier Wrey and Captain Pitts, both M.P.s, are dead. He was buried in Tawstock church. He married Florence, daughter of Sir John Rolle.
His grandson, Sir Bourchier Wrey (1714–1784), dilettante, born in 1714, became fifth baronet on the death of his father, Sir Bourchier Wrey, in 1726. His mother, Diana, was daughter of John Rolle of Stevenstone. After attending Winchester College, he matriculated from New College, Oxford, on 21 Oct. 1732. He was elected M.P. for Barnstaple, 20 Jan. 1747–8, and became a member of the Society of Dilettanti in 1742. He went to Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck in 1752 as a delegate of the ‘Society for carrying on the Herring Fishery,’ and succeeded in these ports and at Copenhagen in arranging better terms for the English fishermen. He rebuilt the pier at Ilfracombe in 1761. There are several of his letters among the Newcastle correspondence in the British Museum manuscripts. In them he speaks of his zeal for his majesty and his ministers; asks for a living in Devon for his brother as ‘a proof that those that exert themselves towards the support of Liberty in Times of Confusion and Rebellion are entitled to its benefits in the days of Tranquillity,’ dated November 1748, alluding apparently to ‘the '45’ when there were some disturbances in Exeter. He died on 13 April 1784, and was buried in Tawstock church, where is a pyramidal monument to him and his two wives, for the first of whom there is a long Latin epitaph in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ of 1751. He married, first, in 1749, Mary, daughter of John Edwards of Highgate (she died without issue in 1751); and secondly, in 1755, Ellen, daughter of John Thresher of Bradford in Wiltshire. He was succeeded as sixth baronet by his eldest son Bourchier. His portrait was painted by George Knapton in 1744; he is represented with a punch-bowl, on which is inscribed ‘Dulce est desipere in loco.’
E. L. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomson, Richard (d.1613)

​THOMSON, RICHARD (d. 1613), biblical scholar and divine, commonly called ‘Dutch Thomson,’ was born in Holland of English parents, and received his education at Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1587 and was elected fellow. He commenced M.A. in 1591, and was incorporated in that degree at Oxford on 1 July 1596 (Wood, Fasti Oxon., ed. Bliss, i. 273). Bishop Lancelot Andrewes [q. v.] presented him to the rectory of Snailwell, Cambridgeshire. He was selected as one of the translators of the Bible, being one of the company to which the task was allotted of translating the Old ​Testament from Genesis to the second book of Kings inclusive (Anderson, Annals of the English Bible, ed. 1862, p. 478). Thomas Farnaby informs us that Thomson lived for some time under the protection of Sir Robert Killigrew, and that he was a great interpreter of Martial. Hickman styles him ‘the grand propagator of Arminianism,’ and Prynne describes him as ‘a debosh'd drunken English Dutchman, who seldom went one night to bed sober;’ but on the other hand Richard Montagu [q. v.], who knew him well, says that he was ‘a most admirable philologer,’ and that ‘he was better known in Italy, France, and Germany than at home.’ He was buried at St. Edward's, Cambridge, on 8 Jan. 1612–13.
His works are: 1. ‘Elenchus Refutationis [by Martinus Becanus] Torturæ Torti [of Lancelot Andrewes, bishop of Chichester, afterwards of Ely]. Pro … Episcopo Eliense adversus Martinum Becanum Jesuitam, authore Richardo Thomsonio Cantabrigiensi,’ London, 1611, 8vo, dedicated to Sir Thomas Jermyn, knight. 2. ‘Diatriba de Amissione et Intercisione Gratiæ et Justificationis,’ Leyden, 1616 and 1618, 8vo. An ‘Animadversio brevis’ on this work was published in 1618 by Robert Abbot (1560–1617) [q. v.], bishop of Salisbury.
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Woolley, John

​WOOLLEY, JOHN (1816–1866), first principal of Sydney University, born at Petersfield in Hampshire on 28 Feb. 1816, was the second son of George Woolley, a surgeon of that place, by his wife Charlotte, daughter of William Gell of Lewes in Sussex. Joseph Woolley [q. v.] was his younger brother. His father removing to London a few years after his birth, he was educated at the Western grammar school and at Brompton, and in 1830 entered London University (afterwards University College), where he won a first prize in logic and otherwise distinguished himself. He matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford, on 26 June 1832, and, after being elected to a scholarship, graduated B.A. on 9 June 1836, M.A. on 28 Feb. 1839, and D.C.L. on 26 April 1844. He held a scholarship at University College, Oxford, from 1837 to 1840, and a fellowship at Exeter from 1840 to 1841. While at Oxford he formed a warm friendship with Arthur Penrhyn Stanley [q. v.], then a fellow of University College. In 1840 he published an ‘Introduction to Logic’ (Oxford, 12mo), which was much used for some years, and which attracted the notice of Sir William Hamilton (1788–1856) [q. v.] On Trinity Sunday in the same year he took holy orders. In 1842 he was appointed headmaster of King Edward the Sixth's grammar school at Hereford, and in 1844 he was elected headmaster of Rossall. In this post he was not successful, for, though an able scholar, he was a poor disciplinarian. In 1849 he was appointed headmaster of Norwich grammar school, and in January 1852 he was chosen principal of Sydney University. He arrived in June, and delivered an inaugural speech at the opening of the university in October in the hall of the new Sydney grammar school. Besides filling the post of principal, he discharged the duties of professor of classics and logic in the university. He was one of the original trustees of the Sydney grammar school, and spent much time and labour in organising it. He was the first to propose the scheme, since established, for connecting the primary schools of New South Wales with the university by a system of public examinations. In 1865 he visited England, and during his absence in 1866 he was elected president of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. Woolley was lost on his return voyage in the steamship London, which foundered in the Bay of Biscay on 11 Jan. 1866. A public testimonial amounting to 2,000l. was collected in New South Wales and presented to his widow as a tribute to his services. On 14 July 1842 he married, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Mary Margaret, daughter of Major William Turner of the 13th light dragoons. There are portraits of Woolley in Sydney University and in the Mechanics' School of Arts.
Besides the work already mentioned, Woolley was the author of: 1. ‘The Social Use of Schools of Art,’ 1860. 2. ‘Lectures delivered in Australia,’ London and Cambridge, 1862, 8vo. He also published some single sermons and lectures.
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wooll, John

​WOOLL, JOHN (1767–1833), schoolmaster, the son of John Wooll of Winchester, gentleman, was baptised at St. Thomas, Winchester, on 18 May 1767. He was educated at Winchester College under Joseph Warton [q. v.], being admitted as scholar in 1779. He matriculated from Balliol College, Oxford, on 17 Jan. 1785, but migrated to New College, graduating B.A. in 1790, M.A. in 1794, and B.D. and D.D. in 1807. He obtained a scholarship at New College on 19 July 1786, and held a fellowship there from 1788 to 1799, when he vacated it by marriage.
Wooll was instituted in 1796 to the living of Wynslade, Hampshire, but exchanged it for the rectory of Blackford, Somerset, the value of the latter benefice being within the maximum amount of preferment held to be tenable with a fellowship (information from Dr. Sewell of New College; Gent. Mag. 1796, ii. 973). In 1799 he was appointed to the head-mastership of Midhurst free grammar school, and raised the school to great efficiency. From 1807 to 1828 he was headmaster of Rugby school, during which period the school buildings were rebuilt and the number of scholars increased to 380. Many of his pupils were distinguished in after life in parliament and in the church. Claughton (afterwards bishop of St. Albans) and John Frederick Christie, fellow of Oriel College, are picked out as belonging to a ‘very good batch of sixth-form men sent to Oxford by Dr. Wooll’ (Mozley, Reminiscences, i. 145). He died at Worthing on 23 Nov. 1833. A monument (by Westmacott) to his memory was erected at the cost of his pupils in the school chapel at Rugby. His portrait by Lawrence was engraved by C. Turner and published by Colnaghi on 24 Nov. 1813.
Wooll was the author of 1. ‘The King's House at Winchester: a Poem,’ 1793; this edifice was appropriated at that time to the French refugee clergy. 2. ‘Biographical Memoirs of Joseph Warton, D.D.,’ 1806, with a collection of letters reserved by the doctor for publication. The second volume of this memoir referred to on page 407 as to appear in November 1806 was never published. A sermon exemplifying, for the benefit of his pupils, through the murder of Mr. Weare [see Thurtell, John], ‘the dangerous and irresistible progress of habitual sin’ passed through two editions in 1824.
W. P. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Woodward, Thomas Jenkinson

​WOODWARD, THOMAS JENKINSON (1745?–1820), botanist, born about 1745, was a native of Huntingdon, where his family had long been established. His parents died when he was quite young, leaving him, however, well off. He was educated at Eton and Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he graduated LL.B. in 1769. Shortly after he married Frances (d. 27 Nov. 1833), the daughter and heiress of Thomas Manning of Bungay, Suffolk.
He was appointed a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for the county of Suffolk, and on his subsequent removal to Walcot House, Diss, Norfolk, to the same offices for that county. On the establishment of the volunteer system he became lieutenant-colonel of the Diss volunteers. He was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1789.
He died at Diss on 28 Jan. 1820, and was buried there. He left no issue. To botany, especially the English flora, he was devoted, and is described by Sir James Edward Smith [q. v.] as ‘one of the best English botanists, whose skill and accuracy are only equalled by his liberality and zeal in the service of the science’ (Rees, Cyclop.), and it was in his honour that Smith named the genus Woodwardia.
​Woodward was joint-author with Samuel Goodenough [q. v.], bishop of Carlisle, of ‘Observations on the British Fuci,’ London, 1797, 4to, and contributed seven papers to the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ and the ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society of London’ between 1784 and 1794, on fungi and algæ. He also furnished much information to Sir J. E. Smith for Sowerby's ‘English Botany,’ and to William Withering [q. v.] for the second edition of his ‘Systematic Arrangement of British Plants,’ as well as to Thomas Martyn (1735–1825) [q. v.] for his edition of Philip Miller's ‘Gardeners' Dictionary.’
B. B. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Woolley, Hannah

​WOOLLEY or WOLLEY, Mrs. HANNAH, afterwards Mrs. Challinor (fl. 1670), writer of works on cookery, was born about 1623. Her maiden name is not known. She tells how her ‘mother and elder sisters were very well skilled in physic and chirurgery,’ and taught her a little in her youth. After teaching in a small school, she served successively two noble families as governess. She became an adept in needlework, medicine (which she practised with success), cookery, and household management. In later life she wrote copiously on all these topics. At the age of twenty-four she married one Woolley, who had been master of the free school at Newport, Essex, from 1644 to 1655. They resided at Newport Pond, near Saffron Walden, for seven years, when they removed to Hackney. Her husband died before 1666, and on 16 April in that year she was licensed ​to marry Francis Challinor ‘of St. Margaret's, Westminster.’
An engraved portrait by Faithorne appears in some editions of Mrs. Woolley's earlier works, and has been taken to represent the writer; but it seems more likely to have been the portrait of Mrs. Sarah Gilly, who died in 1659 (Granger, Biogr. Hist. iv. 112).
The following works are ascribed to Mrs. Woolley, though Granger thinks her authorship as doubtful as her portrait: 1. ‘The Ladies' Directory in Choice Experiments of Preserving and Candying,’ London, 1661, 1662. 2. ‘The Cook's Guide,’ London, 1664. 3. ‘The Queenlike Closet, or Rich Cabinet, stored with all manner of Rich Receipts,’ London, 1672, 1674 (with supplement), 1675, 1681, 1684. 4. ‘The Ladies' Delight … together with the Exact Cook. … To which is added the Ladies' Physical Closet; or excellent Receipts and rare Waters for Beautifying the Face and Body,’ London, 1672; German translation, Hamburg, 1674, under the title of ‘Frauen-Zimmers Zeit-Vertrieb.’ 5. ‘The Gentlewoman's Companion,’ London, 1675, 1682 (3rd edit.).
B. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Woolhouse, John Thomas

​WOOLHOUSE, JOHN THOMAS (1650?–1734), oculist, belonged to a family who followed that profession from father to son for four generations. Born, according to Haeser, about 1650, he travelled throughout Europe to make himself familiar with the various methods of treating diseases of the eye, and thus became known to the principal men of the age. He served for a time as groom of the chamber to James II, who also appointed him his oculist. In 1711 he was living at the Hôtel Notre-Dame, Rue St. Benoist, at Paris, where he served as surgeon to the Hospice des Quinze-Vingts. In Paris he is said to have had a large practice, but on his return to England later in his life he failed to secure much attention. He was, however, admitted a fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1721. He was a member of the Royal Academy at Berlin, and of the Noble Institute of Bologna. He died in England on 15 Jan. 1733–4.
Woolhouse appears by his writings to have approached perilously near to charlatanism, ​yet we owe to him the performance of iridectomy for the restoration of sight in cases of occluded pupil, an operation which he described in 1711. On the other hand, he wrote strongly against Heister's correct teaching that the seat of cataract is the crystalline lens.
Woolhouse published: 1. ‘Catalogue des Instruments pour les Opérations des Yeux,’ Paris, 1696, 8vo. 2. ‘Expériences des différentes Opérations Manuelles et des Guérisons spécifiques,’ 1711, Paris, 12mo; a catchpenny account of the cases he had cured; translated into German, Jena, 1715. 3. ‘Observations sur le Mémoire Académique de Monsieur Morand,’ Paris, 1726, 12mo; published anonymously. 4. ‘Dissertations Scavantes et Critiques … sur la Cataracte et le Glaucome … par M. Christoffle Le Cerf,’ Offenbach-on-the-Main, undated. 5. ‘Dissertationes Ophthalmicæ de Cataracta et Glaucomate … e Gallica in Latinam Linguam translatæ,’ Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1719, 12mo. An unpublished manuscript of his, in two quarto volumes, is now in the library of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; the first part is headed ‘Definitiones Ophthalmicæ;’ the second part treats of disease of the eye curable (a) without, (b) with operation.
D’A. P.