OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rundell, Maria Eliza

​RUNDELL, Mrs. MARIA ELIZA (1745–1828), writer on cookery, born in 1745, was only child of Abel Johnstone Ketelby of Ludlow, Shropshire. She married Thomas Rundell, partner of the eminent firm of Rundell & Bridges, silversmiths and jewellers, which was long established on Ludgate Hill, London. The firm supplied snuff-boxes to the value of 8,205l. 15s. to foreign ministers at the coronation of George IV (Gent. Mag. 1823, ii. 77).
While living at Swansea in 1806 Mrs. Rundell collected various recipes for cookery and suggestions for household management for the use of her married daughters. She sent the manuscript to the publisher, John Murray (1778–1843) [q. v.], of whose family she was an old friend. He suggested the title ‘Domestic Cookery,’ had the work carefully revised by competent editors, among whom was Dr. Charles Taylor, of the Society of Arts, and added engravings. It was published as ‘A New System of Domestic Cookery’ in 1808, and had an immense success. From five to ten thousand copies were long printed yearly. It became one of Murray's most valuable properties, and in 1812, when he bought the lease of the house in Albemarle Street, part of the surety consisted of the copyright of the ‘Domestic Cookery.’ As the earliest manual of household management with any pretensions to completeness, it called forth many imitations.
In 1808 Murray presented Mrs. Rundell with 150l. She replied, ‘I never had the smallest idea of any return for what I considered a free gift to one whom I had long regarded as my friend.’ In acknowledging a copy of the second edition, Mrs. Rundell begged Murray not to think of remunerating her further, and in the preface to the edition of 1810 she expressly stated that she would receive no emolument. But in 1814 Mrs. Rundell accused Murray of neglecting the book and of hindering its sale. After obtaining an injunction in the vice-chancellor's court to restrain Murray from republishing the book, she in 1821 placed an improved version of it in the hands of Messrs. Longman for publication. Murray retaliated by obtaining an injunction from the lord chancellor to prevent Mrs. Rundell from publishing the book with any of his additions and embellishments. On 3 Nov. the lord chancellor dissolved the injunction against Murray, but gave right to neither party, declaring that a court of law and not a court of equity must decide between them (Gent. Mag. 1821, ii. 465). After long delay, Mrs. Rundell accepted Murray's offer of 1,000l. in full discharge of all claims, together with a similar sum to defray her costs and expenses (cf. Moore, Memoirs, v. 118, 119). The book was translated into German in 1841; the sixty-fifth English edition appeared in the same year.
Mrs. Rundell died, aged 83, at Lausanne on 16 Dec. 1828. Her husband predeceased her. Other books by Mrs. Rundell are: 1. ‘Domestic Happiness,’ 1806. 2. ‘Letters addressed to Two Absent Daughters,’ 1814.
[Gent. Mag. 1829, i. 94; Allibone's Dict. ii. 1890; Smiles's Memoirs of John Murray, i. 90 et passim, ii. 120–5.]
E. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Runnington, Charles

​RUNNINGTON, CHARLES (1751–1821), serjeant-at-law, born in Hertfordshire on 29 Aug. 1751 (and probably son of John Runnington, mayor of Hertford in 1754), was educated under private tutors, and after some years of special pleading was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in Hilary term 1778. He was made serjeant-at-law on 27 Nov. 1787, and held for a time the office of deputy-judge of the Marshalsea court. On 27 May 1815 he was appointed to the chief-commissionership in insolvency, which he resigned in 1819. He died at Brighton on 18 Jan. 1821. Runnington married twice—in 1777, Anna Maria, youngest sister of Sir Samuel Shepherd, by whom he had a son and a daughter; secondly, in 1783, Mrs. Wetherell, widow of Charles Wetherell of Jamaica. His only son, Charles Henry Runnington, died on 20 Nov. 1810.
Runnington, besides editing certain well-known legal works [see Gilbert, Sir Geoffrey, where for ‘Remington’ read Runnington; Hale, Sir Matthew, ad fin; Ruffhead, Owen], was author of ‘A Treatise on the Action of Ejectment’ (founded on Gilbert's work), London, 1781, 8vo, which was recast and revised as ‘The History, Principles, and Practice of the Legal Remedy by Ejectment, and the resulting Action for Mesne Profits,’ London, 1795, 8vo; 2nd edit. by William Ballantine, 1820.
[Law List, 1779; London Gazette, 27 Nov. 1787, 27 May 1815; Gent. Mag. 1787 ii. 1119, 1810 ii. 591, 1815 i. 561, 1821 i. 87; Ann. Reg. 1821, App. to Chron. p. 230; Law Mag. xxv. 289; Georgian Era, ii. 544; Haydn's Book of Dignities, ed. Ockerby; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
J. M. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rush, John Blomfield

1904 Errata appended.
​RUSH, JOHN BLOMFIELD (d. 1849). [See under Jermy, Isaac.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.240 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 417 | ii | 38 | Rush, John B.: for John read James |
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rundall, Mary Ann

​RUNDALL, MARY ANN (d. 1839), educational writer, kept a school for young ladies at Bath known as the Percy House Seminary. Her sister, a teacher of dancing, married Robert William Elliston [q. v.] the actor. Miss Rundall's chief work was ‘Symbolic Illustrations of the History of England,’ a quarto volume with engravings of the symbols, published in 1815. It was dedicated to the Princess Elizabeth, and designed to instruct young persons in history by means of an absurd system of mnemonics, which was based on that of Gregor von Feinaigle [q. v.] The ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ praised the work, while the ‘Quarterly Review’ sneered at it. A second edition, abridged, and dedicated to her nephews and nieces, appeared in 1822. ‘Mrs. Rundall, late of Bath,’ died in Lower Bedford Place, London, on 2 Oct. 1839 (Gent. Mag. 1839, ii. 545). Other works by Miss Rundall are: 1. ‘An Easy Grammar of Sacred History,’ 1810. 2. ‘Sequel to the Grammar of Sacred History,’ 1824.
[Allibone's Dict. ii. 1890; Biogr. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816.]
E. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Runciman, James

​RUNCIMAN, JAMES (1852–1891), journalist, son of a coastguardsman, was born at Cresswell, a village near Morpeth in Northumberland, in August 1852. He was educated at Ellington school, and then for two years (1863–5) in the naval school at Greenwich, Kent, becoming afterwards a pupil-teacher at North Shields ragged school. After an interval spent at the British and Foreign School Society's Training College for Teachers in the Borough Road (now at Isleworth), he entered the service of the London School Board, acting as master successively of schools at Hale Street, Deptford, at South Street, Greenwich, and at Blackheath Hill. While still a schoolmaster he read for himself at night, and attempted journalism. He soon wrote regularly for the ‘Teacher,’ the ‘Schoolmaster,’ and ‘Vanity Fair;’ of the last paper he became sub-editor in 1874. In January 1874 he matriculated at the university of London, and passed the first bachelor of science examination in 1876. About 1880, while continuing his school-work, he was sub-editor of ‘London,’ a clever but short-lived little newspaper, edited by Mr. W. E. Henley.
Subsequently he confined himself solely to the profession of journalism. As a writer on social or ethical topics, he proved himself equally vigorous and versatile, but his best literary work described the life of the fishermen of the North Sea, with whom he spent many of his vacations. An admirable series of seafaring sketches, which he contributed to the ‘St. James's Gazette,’ was reprinted in 1883 as ‘The Romance of the Coast.’ Of his ‘Dream of the North Sea,’ 1889, a vivid account of the fishermen's perils, the queen accepted the dedication. He died prematurely, of overwork, at Tyneside, Minerva Road, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, on 6 July 1891.
Besides the works already mentioned he wrote:
* ‘Grace Balmaign's Sweetheart,’ 1885.
* ‘Skippers and Shellbacks,’ 1885.
* ‘School Board Idylls,’ 1885.
* ‘Schools and Scholars,’ 1887.
* ‘The Chequers, being the Natural History of a Public House set forth in a Loafer's Diary,’ 1888.
* ‘Joints in our Social Armour,’ 1890; reprinted as ‘The Ethics of Drink and Social Questions, or Joints in our Social Armour,’ 1892.
* ‘Side-Lights, with Memoir by Grant Allen, and Introduction by W. T. Stead; edited by J. F. Runciman,’ 1893.
[Mr. Grant Allen's Memoir in ‘Side Lights,’ 1893; Schoolmaster, 11 July 1891, pp. 44–5; Illustr. London News, 18 July 1891, p. 71, with portrait; Pall Mall Gazette, 9 July 1891, p. 6.]
G. C. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rupibus, Peter de

​RUPIBUS, PETER de (d. 1238), bishop of Winchester. [See Peter des Roches.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nicol

​NICOL. [See also Nicholl, Nichol, and Nicoll.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nickolls, John

​NICKOLLS, JOHN (1710?–1745), antiquary, son of John Nickolls, a quaker miller of Ware, Hertfordshire, was born there in 1710 or 1711. He was apprenticed to Joseph Wyeth [q. v.], a merchant of London, and, after serving his time, became a partner with his father. At his house in Trinity parish, Queenhithe, he formed an excellent library. He also collected from the bookstalls about Moorfields two thousand prints of heads, which afterwards furnished Joseph Ames (1689–1759) [q. v.] with material for his ‘Catalogue of English Heads,’ London, 1748. From the widow of his former master, Joseph Wyeth, Nickolls received a number of letters at one time in Milton's possession; they had since belonged to Milton's secretary, Thomas Ellwood [q. v.], and had been used by Wyeth in the preparation for publication of Ellwood's ‘Journal,’ which was issued in 1713. Among them were letters from Sir Harry Vane, Colonels Overton, Harrison, and Venables, John Bradshaw, Andrew Marvel, and others, with numerous addresses from nonconformist ministers in Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Herefordshire, and Kent, Dublin, and elsewhere. William Oldys [q. v.] visited Nickolls at Queenhithe on 22 Dec. 1737, to see this collection of original letters ‘all pasted into a large volume folio, in number about 130’ (Oldys, Diary, 1862, p. 17). These valuable documents were issued by Nickolls in 1743 under the title of ‘Original Letters and Papers of State, addressed to Oliver Cromwell, concerning the Affairs of Great Britain. From the Year mdcxlix to mdclviii, found among the Political Collections of Mr. John Milton. Now first published from the Originals.’
Nickolls was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries on 17 Jan. 1740. He died of fever on 11 Jan. 1745, and was buried at Bunhill Fields on the 16th of the same month.
His father presented on 18 Jan. 1746 the original manuscripts of the collection to the Society of Antiquaries, to be by them preserved for public use. In their possession they still remain. Oldys says in his ‘Diary’ that Nickolls allowed Thomas Birch, D.D. [q. v.], to use from six to ten of them in his life of Oliver Cromwell contributed to the ‘General Dictionary, Historical and Critical,’ 1731–41. Nickolls's prints and rare pamphlets were purchased by Dr. John Fothergill [q. v.]
C. F. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nicholson, Thomas Joseph

​NICHOLSON, THOMAS JOSEPH (1645–1718), the first vicar-apostolic of Scotland, son of Sir Thomas Nicholson of Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, by Elizabeth Abercromby of Birkenbog, Banffshire, was born at Birkenbog in 1645. Having devoted himself to literary pursuits, he was chosen one of the regents or professors of the university of Glasgow, and he held that office for nearly ​fourteen years. In 1682 he joined the Roman communion, and proceeded to Padua. Afterwards he studied theology for three years, and in 1685 was admitted to holy orders. In December 1687 he returned as a missionary priest to Scotland. At the revolution in November 1688 he was apprehended, and, after being in prison for some months, was banished to the continent. For three years he was confessor in a convent of nuns at Dunkirk. In May 1694 the Congregation De Propaganda Fide resolved that a bishop should be appointed to govern the Scottish mission, and on 24 Aug. in that year Nicholson was nominated bishop of Peristachium in partibus infidelium, and the first vicar-apostolic of all Scotland. He was consecrated at Paris on 27 Feb. 1694–5. In November 1696 he came to England, but was apprehended in London immediately on his arrival, and kept in confinement till May 1697. On his liberation he proceeded to Edinburgh, and entered on the exercise of his episcopal functions, which he discharged without much molestation for upwards of twenty years. During his latter years he resided generally at Preshome, in the Enzie, Banffshire, where he died on 23 Oct. (N.S.) 1718. He was succeeded in the vicariate-apostolic by James Gordon (1664–1746) [q. v.], bishop of Nicopolis.
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nicholson, William Adams

​NICHOLSON, WILLIAM ADAMS (1803–1853), architect, born on 8 Aug. 1803 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, was the son of James Nicholson, carpenter and joiner, who relinquished business about 1838 and became sub-agent to Sir Richard Sutton's estates in Nottinghamshire and Norfolk. William was articled about July 1821, for three years, to John Buonarotti Papworth [q. v.], architect, of London. In 1828 he established himself at Lincoln, and there and in the neighbouring counties he formed an extensive practice. Among his numerous works he designed the churches at Glandford-Brigg, at Wragby, and at Kirmond, both on the estate of C. Turnor, esq. Many other churches were restored under his supervision, including that of St. Peter at Gowts in Lincoln, which was not quite completed at his death. Among the numerous residences erected from his designs are those of Worsborough Hall, Yorkshire; the Castle of Bayons Manor for the Right Hon. C. T. D'Eyncourt; and Elkington Hall, near Louth. He also designed the town-hall at Mansfield. The village of Blankney, near Lincoln, was almost rebuilt under his superintendence; while the estates of General Reeve, Sir J. Wyldbore Smith, bart., Mr. C. Turnor, Mr. C. Chaplin, among several others, evince his skill in farm buildings. In Lincoln he erected in 1837 the Wesley Chapel, for two thousand persons, and subsequently designed the union workhouse; the Corn Exchange in 1847, since enlarged, a corn-mill, and several private residences. From 1839 to 1846, as Nicholson & Goddard, the firm carried out many works, including the dispensary at Nottingham. He joined the Royal Institute of British Architects as a fellow at its commencement. In the ‘Transactions’ for 1842 is printed his ‘Report on the Construction of the Stone Arch between the West Towers of Lincoln Cathedral,’ taken from very ​careful measurements under his personal direction. He was a member of the Lincolnshire Literary Society, and of the Lincolnshire Topographical Society, to whose volume of papers, printed in 1843, he contributed.
Nicholson was in attendance at Boston as a professional witness when he was suddenly taken ill, and died there on 8 April 1853. He was buried at Lincoln, in the churchyard of St. Swithin, in which parish he had resided for many years. In 1824 he married Leonora, the youngest daughter of William Say [q. v.], mezzotint-engraver, of Norton Street, London. His second wife, Anne Tallant, survived him.
W. P.-h.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pakeman, Thomas

​PAKEMAN, THOMAS (1614?–1691), dissenting divine, was born in 1613 or 1614, and proceeded in 1629 to Clare College, Cambridge, whence he graduated B.A. in 1633, M.A. 1637. He was then employed for some years as a corrector in the king's print-house. About 1638 a petition was presented by him and three other correctors, all masters of arts, complaining that, ‘notwithstanding the work is greater than ever, the number ​of correctors has been curtailed, and 80l. per annum taken off their pay by the farmers of the customs.’ Archbishop Laud noted on the petition that the petitioners are to be continued in their pay and places until such time as he has time to hear them himself (Cal. State Papers, 1634–5, p. 407).
Subsequently Pakeman joined the nonconformist ministry. On 28 Jan. 1643 he ‘began to be minister’ at Little Hadham, Hertfordshire (Parish Register). He signed a petition from ministers in Hertfordshire, presented to the lords on 24 July 1646, praying for church government according to the covenant (Lords' Journals, viii. 445; cf. Addit. MS. 15670, ff. 288, 361, 442).
Before September 1648 Pakeman was officiating as minister at Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex. He was ejected by the Act of Uniformity, 1662. He then commenced to take pupils, and, owing to his excellent discipline, ‘he had,’ Calamy says, ‘the instruction and boarding of several children of persons of quality and figure.’ Both here and at Old Brentford, whither he shortly removed, he continued to preach and to administer the sacrament. He was assisted in his classes by Ralph Button [q. v.], who lived next door. On the passing of the Five Mile Act Button was imprisoned; but Pakeman, by leaving Brentford, escaped. For a time he lived and preached constantly at Mrs. Methwold's, ‘in Brompton, near Knightsbridge,’ and thence he was received into the family of Erasmus Smith, where, Calamy says, he continued some years.
In 1685 he settled with his children in the city, and attended the ministry of Richard Kidder [q. v.] at the church of St. Martin Outwich, where he sometimes received the sacrament. He also preached at the house of his son Thomas, who matriculated at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, 18 Oct. 1662, aged 17 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. early series, p. 1107). On one occasion, when not more than three or four neighbours were present, the city marshal seized both Pakeman and his son, and carried them before Sir Henry Tulse, the lord mayor (1684–5), who fined them. Pakeman removed to Stratford in 1687, where he continued his ministrations. He held that ‘all adult persons who came to hear ought to receive the sacrament.’ At Stratford he employed a schoolmaster at his own expense to teach the poor children to read. Pakeman, who died in June 1691, is called by Baxter ‘a grave, sound, pious, sober, and peaceable divine’ (Reliquiæ, iii. 97).
Besides Thomas, above mentioned, and Elizabeth, born in 1646, married at Bushey 22 Sept. 1663 to Shadrach Brise of Kingston-on-Thames (Chester, Marriage Licenses, p. 186), Pakeman had seven children born and baptised at Harrow before 1659.
C. F. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pakenham, Hercules Robert

​PAKENHAM, Sir HERCULES ROBERT (1781–1850), lieutenant-general, third son of Edward Michael, second baron Longford, and his wife Catherine, second ​daughter of the Right Hon. Hercules Langford Rowley, was born 29 Sept. 1781. He was brother of Sir Edward Michael Pakenham [q. v.], and brother-in-law of the great Duke of Wellington. He was appointed ensign 40th foot on 23 July 1803, became lieutenant 3 Feb. 1804, was transferred to the 95th rifles (now the rifle brigade) in April the same year, and obtained his company there in 2 Aug. 1805. He served in the expedition to Copenhagen and in Portugal, where he was slightly wounded at Obidos 16–17 Aug. 1808. ‘He is really one of the best officers of riflemen I have seen,’ wrote Sir Arthur Wellesley, recommending him for promotion (Gurwood, Wellington Despatches, iii. 129). He was promoted to a majority in the 7th West India regiment 30 Aug. 1810, remained with the Peninsular army, and was assistant adjutant-general of Picton's division up to the fall of Badajos, where he was severely wounded (gold cross for Busaco, Fuentes d'Onoro and Ciudad Rodrigo, and Badajos). After being repeatedly recommended for promotion, he was made a brevet lieutenant-colonel 27 April 1812, was appointed lieutenant-colonel 26th Cameronians 3 Sept. 1812, and transferred as captain and lieutenant-colonel to the Coldstream guards 25 July 1814, from which he retired on half-pay in 1817. He was made brevet colonel and aide-de-camp to the king 27 May 1825, became a major-general 10 Jan. 1837, was appointed colonel 43rd light infantry 9 Sept. 1844, commanded the Portsmouth district from 1843 to 1846, and became a lieutenant-general 9 Nov. 1846. He was made C.B. 4 June 1815, K.C.B. 19 July 1838, and had the Peninsular silver medal and Roleia and Vimeiro clasps. He died suddenly at his residence, Langford Lodge, co. Antrim, on 7 March 1850.
Pakenham married, in November 1817, Emily, fourth daughter of Thomas Stapylton, lord Le Despenser, and had issue six sons (one of whom was killed at Inkerman and another at the relief of Lucknow) and three daughters.
H. M. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Paisley, Lord

​PAISLEY, Lord. [See Hamilton, Claud (1543?–1622).]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pakenham, Richard

​PAKENHAM, Sir RICHARD (1797–1868), diplomatist, the fifth son of Admiral Sir Thomas Pakenham [q. v.], by his wife, Louisa, daughter of the Right Hon. John Staples, was born at Pakenham Hall, Castle Pollard, in Westmeath, on 19 May 1797. He completed his education at Trinity College, Dublin, and, apparently without waiting to take a degree, entered the foreign office on 15 Oct. 1817 as attaché to his uncle, the Earl of Clancarty, at the Hague. His next appointment was as secretary to the legation in Switzerland (26 Jan. 1824). Promoted on 29 Dec. 1826 to the same position in Mexico, he was made minister plenipotentiary to the United Mexican States on 12 March 1835. In this capacity he seems to have been popular and efficient. Perhaps the most troublesome of his negotiations was for the abolition of the slave trade: the Mexican government objected to the right of search, and the negotiations dragged on for four years, but he obtained the treaty in 1841. He was in Mexico during the war between that kingdom and France, and in February 1839 was despatched to Vera Cruz, with the object of trying to effect a reconciliation between the two countries. On 13 Dec. 1843, while on leave in England, he was made a privy councillor, and on 14 Dec. appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States of America. Here some thorny questions awaited him. One of his first duties was to take up that of the Oregon boundary. In this negotiation, though he did not carry the British points, he obtained the approval of his government. The attitude of Great Britain regarding Texas proved of greater difficulty. The relations between the two governments were not very cordial, and irritation was easily provoked on both sides. Pakenham left Washington on leave of absence in May 1847, and, after remaining in Europe for an unusually prolonged period, ultimately preferred to retire on pension rather than return to the States. He resumed his career on 28 April 1851 as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at Lisbon. Here his diplomatic work was less arduous, and he rapidly ingratiated himself with the royal family of Portugal. In May 1855 he came to England on leave, and at his own request, on 28 June, retired on pension, but almost immediately (on 7 Aug.) was sent back to Lisbon on a special mission to congratulate Pedro V on attaining his majority. He returned to England once more in October 1855, was awarded a diplomatic pension of the second class, and retired to Coolure, Castle Pollard, where he died, unmarried, on 28 Oct. 1868.
C. A. H.