OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/Cædmon

​Cædmon (d. 1680).—The first English poet of whom we have any knowledge. Originally employed as cowherd at the Abbey of Whitby, he became a singer when somewhat advanced in life. The story of how the gift of song came to him is given by Bede, how having fallen asleep in the stable he dreamed that one came to him desiring a song, and on his asking "What shall I sing?" replied "Sing to me of the beginning of created things." Therefore he began to sing and, on awaking, remembered his song and added to it. Thereafter he told what had befallen him to the bailiff who was over him, who repeated the tale to the Abbess Hilda. She having called together certain learned and pious persons, C. was brought before them, told his story, and recited his verses. A part of Scripture was read to him, which he was asked to turn into verse; and this being done he was received into the Abbey where, for the rest of his life, he lived as a monk, and continued to make his holy songs. Much that was formerly attributed to C. is now held to be of later date. All that is known to be his is a Northumbrian version of Bede's Latin paraphrases of C.'s first song: although by some the authorship of "The Dream of the Holy Rood," and of a fragment on "The Temptation and Fall of Man" is claimed for him.
English Literature from Beginning to Norman Conquest, Stopford Brooke (1898), and History of Early English Literature, by the same (1892).
# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/D'Arblay, Frances

​D'Arblay, Frances (Burney) (1752-1840).—Novelist, dau. of Dr. Charles B., a musician of some distinction, was b. at Lynn Regis, where her f. was organist. Her mother having died while she was very young, and her f., who had come to London, being too busy to give her any attention, she was practically self-educated. Her first novel, Evelina, pub. anonymously in 1778, at once by its narrative and comic power, brought her fame, and, through Mrs. Thrale (q.v.), she made the acquaintance of Dr. Johnson, with whom she became a great favourite. Her next literary venture was a comedy, The Witlings; but, by the advice of her f., it was not put upon the stage. In 1782, however, she produced Cecilia, which, like its predecessor, had an enormous sale, and which, though not perhaps so popular as Evelina, added to her fame. She now became the friend of Burke and other distinguished persons, including Mrs. Delaney, through whom she became known to the royal family, and was offered the appointment of Second Keeper of the Robes, which, with some misgivings, she accepted. This situation did not prove a happy one, the duties being menial, the society uncongenial, and the court etiquette oppressive and injurious to her health, and in 1791 she obtained permission to retire on a pension of £100. She had, during her connection with the court, continued her Diary, which she had begun in girlhood, and continued during her whole life, and which during this period contains many interesting accounts of persons and affairs of note. She married (1793) Gen. D'Arblay, a French emigré, their only income being her slender pension. This she endeavoured to increase by producing a tragedy, Edwy and Elvira, which failed. In 1795 she pub. by subscription another novel, Camilla, which, though it did not add to her reputation, considerably improved her circumstances, as it is said to have brought her £3000. After some years spent in France, where her husband had obtained employment, she returned to England and pub. her last novel, The Wanderer, which fell flat. Her only remaining work was a life of her father, written in an extraordinarily grandiloquent style. She died in 1840, aged 87.
# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/Cummins, Maria Susanna

​Cummins, Maria Susanna (1827-1866).—B. at Salem, Mass., was well-known as the authoress of The Lamplighter, a somewhat sentimental tale which had very wide popularity. She wrote others, including Mabel Vaughan, none of which had the same success.
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# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/Curtis, George William

​Curtis, George William (1824-1892).—American essayist, editor, and journalist, contributed to New York Tribune, and to Putnam's and Harper's monthlies, in which most of his books first appeared. Among these are Trumps, a story of New York life, Prue and I, Lotus-eating, and the Potiphar Papers. G. was also one of the finest American orators of his day.
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# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/D'Urfey, Thomas

​D'Urfey, Thomas (1653-1723).—Dramatist and song writer, was a well-known man-about-town, a companion of Charles II., and lived on to the reign of George I. His plays are now forgotten, and he is best known in connection with a collection of songs entitled, Pills to Purge Melancholy. Addison describes him as a "diverting companion," and "a cheerful, honest, good-natured man." His writings are nevertheless extremely gross. His plays include Siege of Memphis (1676), Madame Fickle (1677), Virtuous Wife (1680), and The Campaigners (1698).
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# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/Cynewulf

​Cynewulf (fl. 750).—Anglo-Saxon poet. He was probably a Northumbrian, though sometimes thought to have been a Mercian. His poems, and some others, more or less doubtfully attributed to him, are contained in the Exeter Book and the Vercelli Book. The poems which are considered to be certainly his are the Riddles, from hints and allusions in which is derived nearly all that is known of him, or at least of the earlier part of his life, which appears to have been that of a joyous and poetical nature, rejoicing in the beauty of the world. His next poem, Juliana, the legend of a virgin-martyr, indicates a transition in his spiritual life; sorrow and repentance are its predominant notes, and in these respects another poem, St. Guthlac, resembles it. In the Crist (Christ), C. has passed through the clouds to an assured faith and peace. The Phœnix, and the second part of Guthlac, though not certainly his, are generally attributed to him. The Fates of the Apostles and Elene (the legend of St. Helena) are his; the Andreas and The Dream of the Roode are still in some respects the subject of controversy. In several of the poems the separate letters of C.'s name are introduced in a peculiar manner, and are regarded as an attesting signature. Juliana, Crist, The Apostles, and Elene are thus said to be signed. The Exeter and Vercelli Books are collections of ancient English poems, and they are named from the places where they were found.
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# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/Dalling And Bulwer, William Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer, 1st Lord

​Dalling and Bulwer, William Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer, 1st Lord (1801-1872).—Elder brother of Lord Lytton (q.v.), and a distinguished diplomatist. He represented England at Madrid, Washington (where he concluded the Bulwer-Clayton Treaty), Florence, Bucharest, and Constantinople, and was raised to the peerage in 1871. He was the author of a number of books of travel and biography, including An Autumn in Greece (1826), a Life of Byron (1835), Historical Characters (1868-70), and an unfinished life of Lord Palmerston.
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# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/D'Israeli, Isaac

​D'Israeli, Isaac (1766-1848).—Miscellaneous writer, was decended from a Jewish family which had been settled first in Spain, and afterwards at Venice. Ed. at Amsterdam and Leyden, he devoted himself to literature, producing a number of interesting works of considerable value, including Curiosities of Literature, in 3 series (1791-1823), Dissertation on Anecdotes (1793), Calamities of Authors (1812), Amenities of Literature (1841); also works dealing with the lives of James I. and Charles I. D. was latterly blind. He was the f. of Benjamin D., Earl of Beaconsfield (q.v.).
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# A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature/Dampier, William

​Dampier, William (1652-1715).—Discoverer and buccaneer, b. near Yeovil. After various seafaring adventures, and leading a semi-piratical life, he was in 1688 marooned on Nicobar Island, but escaped to Acheen, returned to England in 1691. He pub. his Voyage Round the World (1697), and A Discourse of Winds (1699). He was then employed by government on a voyage of survey and discovery (1699-1700), in the course of which he explored the north-west coast of Australia and the coasts of New Guinea and New Britain. In 1701 he was wrecked upon Ascension Island, from which he was rescued by an East Indiaman. He was afterwards court-martialled for cruelty, and wrote an angry but unconvincing vindication. His Voyage is written in a style plain and homely, but is perspicuous and interesting.
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# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gordon, Alexander Crombie

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​GORDON. (Lieutenant, 1842.)
Alexander Crombie Gordon, born 3 Dec. 1818, is third son of John Gordon, Esq., F.S.A.S., of Cairnbulg, co. Aberdeen, one of the Deputies of the Vice-Admiral of Scotland, and a Director of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland; by Catharine Anne, daughter of the late Sir Wm. Forbes, fifth Baronet of Craigievar, by the Hon. Sarah Sempill, daughter of John, 12th Lord Sempill. One of his brothers, John, is a Lieutenant in the 6th Regt. of Bengal Native Infantry; another, William, is a Lieutenant in the 17th Regt. of Foot; and a third, Charles, is a Lieutenant in the 92nd Highlanders.
This officer entered the Navy 31 May, 1831; passed his examination 3 Jan. 1838; and after serving for some time as Mate, on the North America, West India, and Mediterranean stations, in the Cleopatra 26, Capt. Christopher Wyvill, and Queen 110, flag-ship of Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, was promoted to the rank he now holds 17 Sept. 1842. Since 18 of the following month he has been employed on the Station last mentioned in the Inconstant 36, Capts. Fred. Thos. Michell and Chas. Howe Fremantle, of which frigate he is now Second-Lieutenant. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gordon, Augustus

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​GORDON. (Lieutenant, 1836.)
Augustus Gordon passed his examination in 1830; and obtained his commission 16 Feb. 1836. His appointments have since been – 18 March, 1836, to the Talavera 74, Capts. Thos. Ball Sulivan and Wm. Bowen Mends, on the Mediterranean station – 1 Oct. 1840, after a few months of half-pay, to the Howe 120, Capts. Sir Watkin Owen Pell, Robt. Smart, and Thos. Forrest, flag-ship for some time of Sir Fras. Mason, also in the Mediterranean, whence he returned home and was paid off in 1843 – and, 30 Oct. 1844, as Senior, to the s[c] surveying-vessel, Capt. Edw. Barnett, with whom he is now serving on the North America and West India station. Agent – Fred. Dufaur.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Goode, Sephas

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​GOODE. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 8; h-p., 33.)
Sephas Goode entered the Navy, 13 May, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Madras 54, Capt. Chas. Marsh Schomberg, stationed in the Mediterranean; where, until the conclusion of hostilities, he also served in the Active 48, Capt. Jas. Alex. Gordon, Cerberus 32, Capts. Henry Whitby and Thos. Garth, and Revenge 74, flag-ship of Sir John Gore. On 13 March, 1811, he had the fortune to enact a part in the memorable action off Lissa, when a British squadron, carrying in the whole 156 guns and 879 men, completely routed, after a conflict of six hours, and a loss to the Cerberus (in which frigate he was at the time serving) of 13 killed and 41 wounded, a Franco-Venetian armament consisting of 284 guns and 655 men; and he appears to have been subsequently very severely burnt while endeavouring to extinguish a fire on board La Corona, one of the prizes taken on that occasion. After an attachment of a few months to the Tamar 38, Capt. Chas. Sotheby, and Prince 98, flag-ship at Spithead of Sir Rich. Bickerton, Mr. Goode was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated 16 Feb. 1815. He has not since been afloat.
Lieut. Goode is at present Deputy-Postmaster in Canada. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gooding, James Glassford

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​GOODING. (Retired Commander, 1838. f-p., 26; h-p., 26.)
James Glassford Gooding entered the Navy, in Dec. 1795, as Midshipman, on board the Lion 64, Capts. Edm. Crawley and Manley Dixon. On 15 July, 1798, being off Carthagena, he took part in a brilliant action between the Lion and four Spanish frigates of 42 guns each, which terminated in the surrender of one of the latter, the Santa Dorothea. During the afterpart of the French Revolutionary war Mr. Gooding served under Capt. Dixon in the Généreux and Alexander 74’s, also on the Mediterranean station. On the renewal of hostilities in 1803 he joined the Centaur 74, bearing the broad pendant off Martinique of Sir Sam. Hood, by whom, in Oct. of the same year, he was appointed to the command, with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, of the Berbice schooner. In that vessel, to which he was confirmed 20 Nov. 1805, he continued to serve until May, 1806. He then removed to the Northumberland 74, bearing the flag of Sir Alex. Cochrane, but being soon afterwards again invested with the command of a schooner, the Flying Fish, he joined in a successful expedition against a nest of privateers located at Batabano, in Cuba, and was likewise a participator in the Bueno-Ayrean operations of 1807. In June, 1809, Mr. Gooding was appointed to the Dannemark 74, Capt. Jas. Bissett, under whom he accompanied the expedition to the Walchcren, whence, after the reduction of Flushing, he invalided. His last appointments were – between 1810 and 1813, to the Rosario 10, Capt. Booty Harvey, and to the First-Lieutenancy of several line-of-battle ships, bearing the flag on the Baltic and Brazilian stations of his old Captain, Rear-Admiral Manley Dixon – and, 28 Nov. 1823, to the command of the Cygnet packet, which he retained until paid off 18 Oct. 1832. He assumed the rank of Retired Commander 18 April, 1838.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Goose, William

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​GOOSE. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 24; h-p., 19.)
William Goose entered the Navy, 29 April, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Vesuvius bomb, Capt. Jas. Lillicrap; as Midshipman of which vessel, and of the Rénomée frigate, Capt. Sir Thos. Livingstone, he appears to have been frequently engaged with the enemy’s flotilla and batteries in the neighbourhood of Boulogne. The Rénomée afterwards, on 4 April, 1806, captured, under Fort Callartes, near Cape de Gata, the Spanish man-of-war brig Vigilante, of 18 guns and 109 men. During the last seven years of the war, Mr. Goose successively served, on the Mediterranean and Home stations, in the Bombay 74, Capt. Wm. Cuming, Perlen 38, Capts. Joseph Swabey Tetley and John Allen, Rodney 74, Capt. Edw. Durnford King, Maes 74, Capt. Henry Raper, Scarborough and Namur 74’s, flagships of Rear-Admirals John Ferrier and Sir Thos. Williams, and Merope 10, Capt. Wm. Benj. Suckling. The Perlen, on 22 Nov. 1811, was pursued, and for several hours endured a close running-fight with a French line-of-battle ship and frigate from Toulon; yet she succeeded in gallantly effecting her escape. Mr. Goose, who attained. his present rank 8 Feb. 1815, was afterwards employed in the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant, from Dec. to Oct 1828, of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye. He has been in command, since 23 Jan. 1835, of a station in the Coast Guard.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Goodridge, Richard

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​GOODRIDGE. (Lieut., 1819. f-p., 18; h-p., 21.)
Richard Goodridge entered the Navy, 26 July, 1808, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board the Téméraire 98, Capt. Sir Chas. Hamilton, bearing the flag afterwards, in the Baltic and off the Port of Cadiz, of Rear-Admirals Manley Dixon and Fras. Pickmore, in which ship he continued to serve, the last 18 months as Midshipman, until March, 1811. Joining then the Unité, 36, Capt. Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, he took part, on 1 of the following May, and was wounded, in a very gallant action of an hour and a half in Sagone Bay, where that frigate, in company with the Pomone 38, and Scout 18, effectually destroyed the two armed store-ships Giraffe and Nourrice, each mounting from 20 to 30 guns, and protected by a 5-gun battery, a martello tower, and a body of about 200 regular troops. He also, on 29 Nov. in the same year, assisted in capturing, after a severe running fight of four hours, the 26-gun store-ship La Persanne, who, until the moment of her surrender, had been taken for a frigate. In Jan. 1813, Mr. Goodridge removed for a few months to the Pylades sloop, Capt. Jas. Wemyss, but then rejoined the Unité, and continued to serve in that frigate until transferred, in Oct. 1814, to the Menai 24, Capt. Watkin Owen Pell. On his return home from North America, in Jan. 1817, he joined the Coast Blockade, as Midshipman of the Severn 40, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch; under whom he remained until promoted 16 Aug. 1819. Mr. Goodridge – who appears to have been again employed in the same service, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant, from 12 May, 1829, to Sept. 1830, of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye – has been in charge, since 6 Dec. 1841, of a station in the Coast Guard.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gordon, Adam

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​KENMURE, Viscount. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 12; h-p., 31.)
The Right Honourable Adam Gordon Viscount Kenmure, born 9 Jan. 1792, at Drungan Lodge, near Dumfries, N.B., is son of the late Hon. Adam Gordon, by his first wife. Miss Harriet Davies. His eldest brother, John, died a Lieutenant in the R.N. 31 Dec. 1813; and his youngest, Edward Maxwell, a Lieutenant in the 22nd Infantry, lost his life at Jamaica 14 Dec. 1827. The Viscount succeeded his uncle in the Peerage 21 Sept. 1840.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 July, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Ajax 74, Capts. Lord Garlies, Christopher Laroche, Wm. Brown, and John Pilfold, in which ship we find him sharing, in the course of 1805, in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, also in Hon. Wm. Cornwallis’ pursuit of the French fleet into Brest, and in the battle of Trafalgar. Removing, in April, 1806, to the Seahorse of 42 guns, he was present, on the night of 5 July, 1808, when that ship, with only 251 men on board, put to flight the Turkish frigate Alis-Fezan of 26 guns and 230 men, and captured, after a memorably furious engagement, and a loss to the British of 5 men killed and 10 wounded, her consort, the Badere-Zaffer, mounting 52 guns, with a complement of 543 men, of whom 170 were killed and 200 wounded. During his continuance in the Seahorse Mr. Gordon was often engaged with the enemy’s batteries and gun-boats at Cadiz; he assisted, too, in reducing the islands of Gianuti and Pianosa; and in one of several boat affairs on- the coast of Italy he received a slight contusion. Being unfortunately, on 21 Oct. 1809, taken prisoner in a prize, oif Sardinia, by the Lettéros letter-of-marque, he was carried to Genoa, and subsequently to Verdun, where it was his lot to be detained en parole until 1814. He then sailed for Quebec in the Psyche, Capt. Peter Fisher, for the purpose of joining the Canadian Lake service, to which he continued attached, as Acting-Lieutenant and Lieutenant (order and commission respectively dated 9 April and 1 July, 1815), until he invalided in Aug. 1816. He has since been on half-pay.
Viscount Kenmure is Deputy-Lieutenant for Kirkcudbrightshire. He married, 2 Nov. 1843, Mary Anne, daughter of the late Jas. Wildey, Esq., of the Oxford Militia.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Goodlad, Edward

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​GOODLAD. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 16; h-p., 27.)
Edward Goodlad entered the Navy, 2 March, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Neptune 98, Capts.Wm. O’Brien Drury, Sir Thos. Williams, and Thos. Fras. Fremantle, under the latter of whom he fought, as Midshipman, at Trafalgar, 21 Oct. . In Dec. 1806 he removed to the St. George 98, Capt. Thos. Bertie, and while afterwards attached, from 1808 to 1810, to the Neptune and Pompée, flag-ships of Sir Alex. Cochrane, he assisted at the reduction of Martinique and Guadeloupe. During the remaining portion of the war we find him successively serving, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, in the Blonde frigate, Bellona 74, Capt. John Erskine Douglas, Standard 64, Capt. Aiskew Paffard Hollis, Bulwark 74, Capt. Joshua Sidney Horton, Milford 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral T. F. Fremantle, and, as Lieutenant (commission dated 22 Jan. 1814), in the Edinburgh 74, Capt. Hon. Geo. Heneage Lawrence Dundas. Under the latter officer Mr, Goodlad, in 1813-14, witnessed the capture of Port d’Anzo, the unsuccessful attack on Leghorn, the reduction of the fortress of Santa Maria, and of the enemy’s other forts and defences in the Gulf of Spezia, and the fall of Genoa. He was afterwards employed in the Boyne 98, Queen Charlotte 100, and Hyacinth 20, Capts. Fred. Lewis Maitland, Chas. Inglis, and Alex. Renton Sharpe, on the Cork and Home stations; and, being then placed on half-pay, was not again employed until appointed, 23 June, 1823, to the Cambridge 82, Capt. Thos. Jas. Maling, in which ship he served on the South American station, until paid off in June, 1827. Since that period (with the exception of two years, from 14 April, 1836, to 10 April, 1838, during which he officiated as Agent for Transports Afloat) Lieut. Goodlad has not been employed. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gordon, Alexander Duff

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​GORDON. (Lieutenant, 1845.)
Alexander Duff Gordon is younger brother of Lieut. D. M. Gordon, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy in 1832; passed his examination 12 Feb. 1840; was employed as Mate, in 1842-3, on board the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings; then joined the Illustrious 72, bearing the flag of Sir Chas. Adam on the North America and West India station; and, within a few months after the paying-off of that ship, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant – his commission bearing date 6 Dec. 1845. He has been serving, since 12 Jan. 1846, in the Electra 14, commanded, on the same station as was the Illustrious, by Capts. Wm. Heriot Maitland and Wm. Fred. Pleydell Bouverie.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fortescue, Thomas Dyke Acland

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​FORTESCUE. (Lieutenant, 1846.)
Thomas Dyke Acland Fortescue, born 20 July, 1821, is second son of Matthew Fortescue, Esq., by Erskine, fourth daughter of Jas. Christie, Esq., of Ducie, co. Fife; and grandson of Capt. Hon. Matthew Fortescue, R.N. (1782), who was only brother of the first, and uncle of the present Earl Fortescue, and died 19 Nov. 1842, in his 89th year.
This officer passed his examination 1 June, 1844; was appointed Mate, 29 May, 1846, of the Eurydice 22, Capt. Geo. Elliot, fitting at Portsmouth; and attained his present rank on 8 of the following Oct.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fosse, William

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​FOSSE. (Lieutenant, 1809. f.-p., 15; h-p., 32.)
William Fosse entered the Navy, 8 March, 1800, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Alligator sloop, Capt. Geo. Bowen, on the Mediterranean station, where, in July, 1802, he became Midshipman of the Pegasus, Capt. John Pengelly. In 1804-5 he joined the Eurydice 24, Capts. John Nicholas and Wm. Hoste, and Triumph 74, Capts. Henry Inman and Sir Thos. Masterman Hardy, on the African and Home stations; after which he became successively attached to the Sampson and Diadem 64’s, flag-ships of Rear-Admiral Chas. Stirling, under whom he assisted at the storming of Monte Video in Feb. 1807. In April of the latter year he obtained a Sub-Lieutenancy in the Protector gun-brig, Lieut.-Commander Geo. Mitchener, from which vessel, then on the Leith station, he was promoted to be Acting-Lieutenant, 25 Jan. 1809, of the Spitfire sloop, Capt. John Ellis. Being confirmed in his present rank 6 Oct. following, he afterwards, from 29 Aug. 1811, until 28 Aug. 1815, served, on the West India and other stations, in the Tigre 74, Capt. John Halliday. Since the date last mentioned he has not been afloat.