OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nigel (d.921?)

Nigel the Dane is said by the ODNB to be a chronicler's confusion.
​NIGEL, called the Dane (d. 921?), reputed king of Deira, has a contested claim to rank among the Danes who ruled in Northumbria. The existence of a Danish king of Northumbria of this name, who was slain by his brother Sitric about 921, is vouched for by two manuscripts of the ‘Anglo-Saxon Chronicle’ (i. 195, Rolls Ser.), by Henry of Huntingdon (Petrie, Monumenta, 745 A, and 751 A), by Simeon of Durham (ib. 686 B), by Gaimar (ib. 807 [2]), and by Hoveden (i. 52, Rolls Ser.) If these writers are to be trusted, Nigel must have been of the famous race of the Hy Ivar, and grandson of the Ivar who invaded Northumbria in 866.
The Irish annalists, on the other hand, who record the history of the Danes in Dublin and Deira, are unaware of the existence of a Danish king of Deira of Ivar's race named Nigel or Niel, and modern writers have reasonably inferred, from entries in the Irish annals, that the English chroniclers are in error, and that Nigel of Deira never existed (Robertson, Early Kings of Scotland, i. 57; Todd, War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, p. 277, Rolls Ser.; Hodgson, Northumberland, pt. i. pp. 138–9) (Hinde).
The ‘Annals of Ulster,’ like other Irish chronicles, record that in 888 Sitric, son of the above-mentioned Ivar, slew his brother (O'Conor, Rer. Hibern. Script. iv. 238; cf. Chron. Scotorum, p. 171, Rolls Ser.; Ware, Antiq. Hibern. p. 130). In 919 the same authorities state that another Sitric, sometimes called Sitric Gale, grandson of Ivar, defeated and slew Niall (870?–919) [q. v.], called Glundubh, king of Ireland, in the battle of Kilmashogue near Dublin (Ann. Ult. iv. 252, where the name of the victor is not given; War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, loc. cit. p. 35; Ann. Inisfalenses, ap. O'Conor, ii. 39, ex cod. Dubl.; Chron. Scot. p. 191; The Four Masters, an. 917 = 919, ii. 593, ed. O'Donovan). This Sitric afterwards attacked Northumbria and became king there about 921. The writers who doubt the existence of Nigel of Deira argue that the English chroniclers have been misled by these two entries, and that their mention of Nigel ​or Niel, whom they call king of Northumbria, is a confused reference to Niall Glundubh, king of Ireland. The latter, of course, was neither a Dane nor a brother of Sitric, but an Irishman of the race of the northern Hy Neill.
A. M. C.-e.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Riverston, titular Baron of

​RIVERSTON, titular Baron of (d. 1715). [See Nugent, Thomas.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Roach, John

James Roach in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
​ROACH, JOHN (fl. 1796), bookseller and compiler, kept a shop in Drury Lane, where he sold odd volumes and indelicate prints, and whence he issued various compilations, theatrical and other, which are both curious and scarce. The chief of these are: 1. ‘Roach's Beauties of the Poets of Great Britain,’ in 6 vols., London, 1794, 12mo. In 1795 Roach was sent to prison for twelve months, and bound over for a similar term, for publishing an immoral work; but the only book known to have been issued by him in that year is 2. ‘Beautiful Extracts of Prosaic Writers, carefully selected, for the Young and Rising Generation, by J. R.,’ 3 vols., London, 1795, 12mo. 3. ‘Roach's London Pocket Pilot, or Strangers' Guide through the Metropolis,’ giving a detailed account of Ranelagh and Vauxhall, London, 1796, 8vo. 4. ‘Roach's New and Complete History of the Stage, from its origin to its present state,’ London, 1796, 8vo. This catchpenny compilation is his best-known publication. 5. ‘Roach's Authentic Memoirs of the Green Room, containing Lives of all the Performers at the Theatres Royal, Drury Lane, Covent Garden, and Haymarket, with Poetic Criticisms to each and Characters of the Patentees,’ London, 1796, 12mo. The lives are quite untrustworthy, but the conception of the work was successful enough to attract imitations of similar ‘authenticity’ in 1799, 1800, 1803, and 1804.
T. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rivington, Francis

​RIVINGTON, FRANCIS (1805–1885), publisher, third son of Charles Rivington the younger (1754–1831), was born on 19 Jan. 1805 [see under Rivington, John, (1720–1792)]. Having been educated at Bremen in Germany, he became in 1827 a member of the firm of Rivington, of St. Paul's Churchyard and Waterloo Place, London. As connected with the publication of ‘Tracts for the Times’ (Rev. T. Mozley, Reminiscences, i. 312) and Newman's ‘Parochial Sermons,’ and as publisher of the ‘British Critic,’ he was associated with Ward, Newman, the Mozleys, and other leading members of the Tractarian party (ib. ii. 217, 394–6; W. Ward, W. G. Ward and the Oxford Movement, 1890, p. 247; Rev. J. B. Mozley, Letters, 1885, pp. 109, 146–8; Liddon, Life of Pusey, 1893, i. 423–424). In 1853 the business was entirely withdrawn from St. Paul's Churchyard to the branch in Waterloo Place. Rivington retired from the firm in July 1859, and was succeeded by his second cousin, John (1812–1886), a partner since 1842, and his son, Francis Hansard (b. 1834). The former retired in 1867, and the business was carried on by the latter and his brother Septimus (b. 1846) until May 1889. From this date Francis Hansard was the sole member of the firm to June 1890, when the whole business was taken over by Messrs. Longman (Bookseller, December 1859 and June 1890). In 1893 the name reappeared in the style of Rivington, Percival & Co., of King Street, Covent Garden, of which Mr. Septimus Rivington is the chief partner (Publishers' Circular, 1 July 1893; Athenæum, 1 July 1893).
During the latter part of his life he resided at Eastbourne, where he died on 7 Jan. 1885, on the eve of completing his eightieth year. Rivington was twice married, and left a large family. A portrait, taken in his fifty-ninth year, is reproduced by S. Rivington (The Publishing House of Rivington, 1894, p. 32, see also pp. 46–54). Besides a few pamphlets on church subjects, he wrote ‘Some Account of the Life and Writings of St. Paul,’ London, 1874, 8vo; and edited Dean William Sherlock's ‘Practical Discourse concerning Death.’
H. R. T.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rizzio, David

​RIZZIO, DAVID (1533?–1566), secretary of Mary Queen of Scots. [See Riccio.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rivett, John

​RIVETT or REVETT, JOHN (1624–1674), protestant brazier. [See under Le Sueur, Hubert.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Riviere, Robert

​RIVIERE, ROBERT (1808–1882), bookbinder, was born on 30 June 1808 at 8 Cirencester Place (now called Titchfield Street), near Fitzroy Square, London. He was descended from a French family, who left their country on the revocation of the edict of Nantes. His father, Daniel Valentine Riviere (1780–1854), who was a drawing-master of considerable celebrity and a gold medallist of the Royal Academy, married, in 1800, Henrietta Thunder, by whom he had a family of five sons and six daughters. The eldest and third sons, William [q. v.] and Henry Parsons Riviere [q. v.], both painters, are noticed separately. Anne, the eldest daughter, became the second wife of Sir Henry Rowley Bishop [q. v.], the composer, and acquired much distinction as a singer.
Robert, the second son, was educated at an academy at Hornsey kept by Mr. Grant, and on leaving school, in 1824, was apprenticed to Messrs. Allman, the booksellers, of Princes Street, Hanover Square. In 1829 he established himself at Bath as a bookseller, and subsequently as a bookbinder in a small way, employing only one man. But not finding sufficient scope for his talents in that city, he came in 1840 to London, where he commenced business as a bookbinder at 28 Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, afterwards removing to 196 Piccadilly. The excellent workmanship and good taste displayed in his bindings gradually won for them the appreciation of connoisseurs, and he was largely employed by the Duke of Devonshire, Mr. Christie-Miller, Captain Brooke, and other great collectors. He also bound for the queen and the royal family. In the Great Exhibition of 1851 he exhibited several examples of his skill, and he obtained a medal. He was chosen by the council to bind one thousand copies of the large ‘Illustrated Catalogue,’ intended for presentation to ‘all the crowned heads in Europe’ and other distinguished persons. It is said that two thousand skins of the best red morocco, as well as fifteen hundred yards of silk for the linings of the covers, were used by Riviere for this undertaking. He also restored and bound ​the famous Domesday Book, now preserved in the Record Office, an excellent piece of work.
While the binding of Riviere, like that of his equally celebrated fellow-craftsman, Francis Bedford, is deficient in originality, it is in all other respects—in the quality of the materials, the forwarding, and in the finish and delicacy of the tooling—deserving of almost unqualified commendation. Taking into consideration the fact that he was entirely self-taught, his bindings are wonderful specimens of artistic taste, skill, and perseverance. He died at his residence, 47 Gloucester Road, Regent's Park, on 12 April 1882, and was buried in the churchyard at East End, Finchley.
Riviere married, in 1830, Eliza Sarah Pegler, by whom he had two daughters. He bequeathed his business to the eldest son of the second daughter, Mr. Percival Calkin, who had been taken into partnership by his grandfather in 1880, when the style of the firm was altered to Robert Riviere & Son.
W. Y. F.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Riviere, William

​RIVIERE, WILLIAM (1806–1876), painter, born in the parish of St. Marylebone, London, on 22 Oct. 1806, was son of Daniel Valentine Riviere, a drawing-master, and brother of Henry Parsons Riviere [q. v.] and of Robert Riviere [q. v.] After receiving instruction from his father, William became a student of the Royal Academy, and distinguished himself by his powers as a draughtsman, and by his passionate devotion to the study of the old masters, especially of Michael Angelo and the artists of the Roman and Florentine schools. He exhibited first in 1826, when he sent to the Royal Academy a portrait and a scene from Shakespeare's ‘King John,’ and he continued to exhibit at intervals during the next few years portraits, domestic subjects, and landscapes, both at the academy and at the British Institution. In 1843 he sent to the Westminster Hall competition a cartoon, the subject of which was a ‘Council of Ancient Britons,’ and in 1844 a fresco of ‘An Act of Mercy,’ and a painting in oils of a ‘Council of Ancient Britons.’ In 1845 he sent to Westminster Hall a sketch representing ‘Prince Henry, afterwards Henry V, acknowledging the authority of Chief Justice Gascoigne,’ with a portion of the same subject in fresco, and in 1847 an oil-painting illustrative of ‘The Acts of Mercy.’ He was an excellent landscape-painter both in oil and in watercolours, and several fine examples of the latter now belong to Mr. Briton Riviere. But it was to the educational side of art that Riviere mainly devoted himself, and in 1849 he was appointed drawing-master at Cheltenham College, where he succeeded in creating a drawing-school which was unique of its kind, and was probably the best school of art out of London. After ten years' work he resigned his appointment and went to Oxford, where he laboured earnestly to develop his theory that the study of art should form an essential part of higher education. His last exhibited work was a portrait of Dr. Wynter, president of St. John's College, Oxford, which was at the Royal Academy in 1860. He likewise essayed sculpture, and left behind him an original model of ‘Samson slaying the Lion.’
Riviere died suddenly, at 36 Beaumont Street, Oxford, on 21 Aug. 1876. A miniature of him when a young man, by C. W. Pegler, is in the possession of his son, Mr. Briton Riviere, R.A.
R. E. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Riviere, Henry Parsons

​RIVIERE, HENRY PARSONS (1811–1888), watercolour painter, son of Daniel Valentine Riviere, a drawing-master, and younger brother of William Riviere [q. v.], and of Robert Riviere [q. v.], was born in the parish of St. Marylebone, London, on 16 Aug. 1811. He became a student of the Royal Academy, and also painted rustic figures from life at the Artists' Society in Clipstone Street. His earliest exhibited drawings were ‘An Interior’ and a copy of ‘The Triumph of Silenus,’ by Rubens, which appeared at the Society of British Artists in 1832. Two years later, in 1834, he was elected a member of the New Society of Painters in Water-Colours, where he exhibited 101 drawings before his retirement from it in 1850. In 1852 he became an associate of the older Society of Painters in Water-Colours, but he never rose to the rank of a full member. Subjects of Irish life and humour, such as ‘A Bit of Blarney,’ ‘A Little Botheration,’ and ‘Don't say Nay, charming Judy Callaghan,’ formed the staple of his exhibited works until 1865. About that time he gave up his practice as a teacher, and went to Rome, where he remained until near the end of his life. Henceforward the drawings which he sent home for exhibition consisted chiefly of views of the ancient ruins in Rome and its environs. Between 1852 and 1888 he contributed 299 works to the exhibitions of the society. He exhibited also occasionally between 1832 and 1873 at the Royal Academy, British Institution, and Society of British Artists. Among his more important works may be named ‘The Dying Brigand’ and ‘The Forum,’ 1867, and ‘The Coliseum,’ 1868. He was an able copyist of the old masters. Titian's ‘Entombment’ and Paul Veronese's ‘Marriage at Cana,’ both in water-colours, are in the possession of Mr. Briton Riviere, R.A. The South Kensington Museum has ‘A Temple, formerly known as a Temple of Vesta, and the House of Rienzi, Rome,’ painted by him in 1887.
Riviere returned finally to England in 1884, and died at 26 St. John's Wood Road, London, on 9 May 1888.
R. E. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Elsdale, Robinson

​ELSDALE, ROBINSON (1744–1783), autobiographer, entered the navy as a midshipman, but left early by reason of the slowness of promotion, and served in various privateers cruising against the French, chiefly off the coast of Hispaniola and the west coast of Africa, between 1762 and 1779, when he retired. For the benefit of his wife he wrote an account of some of the most exciting adventures and experiences which he had met with during his sea life. Those episodes in a life of adventure are told in a fresh, simple, and lively style, and abound in hair-breadth escapes and romantic incidents. The manuscript fell into the hands of Captain Manyat, and was freely used by him in the earlier chapters of 'Extracts from the Log of a privateersman One Hundred Years Ago' (1846). After his retirement from active service Elsdale lived quietly on an estate at Surfleet, Lincolnshire, which had been in his family for many generations. He died in 1783. Elsdale married In 1779 Miss Ann Gibbins, a lady of great beauty and intelligence, by whom he had two sons, Samuel and Robinson. Samuel was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1803, M.A. 1809, took holy orders and a fellowship, and became the master of the grammar school, Moulton, Lincolnshire, was a frequent contributor to magazines, and the author of a volume of sacred poetry entitled 'Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell; a Poem, with Hymns and other Poems,' 1812, 8vo; 3rd ed. 1813. He died on 13 July 1827.
[Robinson Elsdale's MS. Journal now in the possession of Major Elsdale, R.A., of Woolwich, his great-grandson; Dict. of Living Authors, 1816; information from Major Elsdale; Cal. Oxford Grad.]
J. M. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Elphinstone, John (1807-1860)

​ELPHINSTONE, JOHN, thirteenth Lord Elphinstone (1807–1860), governor of Madras and Bombay, only son of John, twelfth lord Elphinstone in the peerage of Scotland, a lieutenant-general in the army, and colonel of the 26th regiment, was born on 23 June 1807. He succeeded his father as Lord Elphinstone in May 1813, and entered the army in 1826 as a cornet in the royal horse guards. He was promoted lieutenant in that regiment in 1828, and captain in 1832, and was a lord in waiting to William IV from 1835. to 1837. The king took a fancy to him, and made him a G.C.H. in 1836, in which year he was sworn of the privy council. In 1837 he left the guards on being appointed governor of Madras by Lord Melbourne. It was said at the time that his appointment was made in order to dissipate an idle rumour which was current that the young queen had fallen in love with the handsome guardsman. He was governor of Madras from 1837 to 1842 during very quiet times, and the only notable fact of his administration was his building a house at Káiti, in the Nilgiri Hills, and his efforts to bring those hills into use as a hot-weather residence for the Europeans in the presidency. On resigning his governorship in 1842 he travelled for some years in the East, and he was one of the first Englishmen to explore Cashmere. He returned to England in 1845, and in 1847 was appointed by Lord John Russell to be a lord in waiting to the queen, an office which he held until 1852, and again under Lord Aberdeen's administration from January to October 1853, when he was appointed governor of Bombay. Elphinstone's second governorship in India was far more important than his first, for during it the Indian mutiny broke out in 1857. His conduct during that crisis was admirable; he not only promptly checked the attempts made at a rising at a few places in his presidency, and put down the insurrection of the rajá of Sholapur, but discovered a more serious conspiracy in Bombay itself, of which he held the thrends until the right moment, when he seized upon the ringleaders and prevented the conspiracy from coming to anything. Still more praiseworthy was his promptitude in sending every soldier he could despatch to the more threatening localities, almost stripping his presidency of European troops, and his services on this account were only second in importance to those of Sir John Lawrence in the Punjab. For these services he was made a G.C.B. in 1858, and on 21 May 1859, on his return to England, he was created a peer of the United Kingdom as Lord Elphinstone of Elphinstone, Stirlingshire. He did not long survive the effects of the Indian climate, and died unmarried in King Street, St. James's, London, on 19 July 1860, when his peerage of the United Kingdom became extinct.
H. M. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Elphinstone, Margaret Mercer

​ELPHINSTONE, MARGARET MERCER, Comtesse de Flahault, Viscountess Keith, and Baroness Nairne (1788–1867), only child of George Keith Elphinstone, viscount Keith [q.v.], admiral, by his first wife, Jane, only child and heiress of William Mercer of Aldie, Perth, was born in Hertford Street, Mayfair, 12 June 1788, and in 1789 lost her mother, to whose right to the barony of Nairne (at that time in attainder) she then succeeded. She was early brought into the circle of the Princess Charlotte of Wales, whose attached friend and confidante she became; and this position raised a rumour against her (which, however, she was able entirely to refute) that she betrayed the princess's secrets to the prince regent. On 20 June 1817, at Edinburgh, she married the Comte de Flahault, aide-de-camp to Bonaparte, who had been educated in this country, and had taken refuge here on the restoration of the Bourbons. The countess took a prominent place in society. Her husband held office under the Bourbons. He was ambassador successively at Rome, at Vienna, and (1860) at St. James's, and finally resided at Paris as chancellor of the Legion of Honour. The countess took part in all his social and political work. References to her hospitalities abound in Moore's letters and diary and elsewhere.
[Allardyce's Memoirs of G. K. Elphinstone, 58, 418-19; Gent. Mag. lxxxvii. ii. 81; Times, 15 Nov. 1867, p. 7, col. 2; Russell's Moore, iii. 98, 99, 104, 111, 112, &c., vii. 186, &c.; see also Miss Knight's Autobiography.]
J. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Radcliffe

​RADCLIFFE. [See also Radclyffe and Ratcliffe.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Radcliffe, Charles Edward

​RADCLIFFE or RADCLYFFE, CHARLES EDWARD (1774–1827), lieutenant-colonel, born in 1774, received his first commission as adjutant of the first dragoons (royals) on 11 Oct. 1797, but he had previously served under the Duke of York in the campaign of 1794. He was made cornet on 12 April 1799, lieutenant on 4 May 1800, and captain on 1 Dec. 1804. He embarked for the Peninsula with the royals in September 1809, and in the following June he was appointed brigade-major to General Slade's brigade, which consisted at that time of the royals and the 14th dragoons. He continued in this position throughout the war, up to the battle of Toulouse in 1814, being present at Busaco, Fuentes d'Onoro, Vittoria, and various minor actions. In the action at Maquilla on 11 June 1812, in which Slade's brigade (royals and 3rd dragoon guards) was worsted by Lallemand, and driven in confusion for six miles with a loss of 150 men, Slade reported that he was particularly indebted to Radcliffe for his assistance in rallying the men. As a result of his experience in the war, Radcliffe submitted a strong recommendation that British troopers should be taught to use the point instead of the edge of their sabres, and published a small work on the subject; it is not in the British Museum.
Radcliffe was employed as assistant adjutant-general of cavalry during the march of the cavalry across France after the war. He received a brevet majority on 4 June 1814, and on 25 Sept. was made brigade-major to the inspector general of cavalry. In the following year he went to Belgium with his regiment, which formed part of the famous Union brigade. His squadron constituted the rearguard of the brigade in the retreat from Quatre Bras on 17 June, and he was thanked for his conduct by Sir William Ponsonby. He was specially praised also by Ponsonby's successor, Colonel Clifton, for his part in the great cavalry charge at Waterloo ​on the following day. He was severely wounded by a bullet in the knee, which could not be extracted, and caused him much pain for the rest of his life. He was given a brevet lieutenant-colonelcy, dating from the day of the battle. He was placed on half-pay on 20 April 1820, and was appointed brigade-major to the inspector-general of cavalry. He died in London on 24 Feb. 1827. ‘He was a dexterous swordsman, an accomplished officer, and an able tactician … a warm and sincere friend, a conscientious Christian, and a brave man,’ writes General de Ainslie, the historian of the royals. He married Mary, eldest daughter of H. Crockett, esq., who died a week before him. His only son, the Rev. Charles Radclyffe, died in 1862, leaving a son, Charles Edward Radclyffe, of Little Park, Hampshire.
E. M. L.