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

​HENDERSON, JAMES (1783?–1848), writer on Brazil, born about 1783, was a native of Cumberland or Westmoreland. On 11 March 1819 he sailed from England to Rio de Janeiro, where he waited upon Henry Chamberlaine, the British representative, with a letter of introduction from ‘a nobleman,’ presumably Viscount Lowther. Finding that he was not likely to obtain a public situation, he determined to learn what he could ‘regarding the vast regions of the Brazil.’ He was received into the house of a merchant to whom he brought a letter of introduction, and upon his return published ‘A History of the Brazil; comprising its Geography, Commerce, Colonization, Aboriginal Inhabitants, &c. Illustrated with twenty-seven plates and two maps,’ 4to, London, 1821. The following year he printed an address to the South Americans and Mexicans entitled ‘Representacion á los Americanos del Sud y Mexicanos; para disuadirles de que concedan Ventajas Comerciales á otras Naciones, en Perjuicio de Inglaterra, por causa de su Retardo en reconocer su Independencia; … con un Exámen Rápido de varios Acontecimientos importantes, y Rasgos patrióticos que han distinguido sus respectivas Revoluciones,’ 8vo, London, 1822. Henderson was ultimately appointed commissioner and consul-general for Columbia, and resided at Bogota. He resigned his post about 1836 and eventually settled at Madrid. He was elected F.R.S. on 28 April 1831, but had withdrawn in 1836. In 1842 he published ‘A Review of the Commercial Code and Tariffs of Spain, with reference to their Influence on the general interests, credit, and finances of that country,’ 8vo, London. He died at Madrid on 18 Sept. 1848, aged 65 (Gent. Mag. new ser. xxx. 559).
Henderson was also author of: 1. ‘Observations on the Expediency of entering into Treaties of Commerce with the South American States.’ 2. ‘Remarks on the Warehousing Bill.’ 3. ‘Suggestions relative to the Consular System.’ 4. ‘The State and Prospects of Spain.’
[Henderson's Hist. of the Brazil; Henderson's Review of the Commercial Code, &c.; Lists and Proceedings of Roy. Soc.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Henderson, John (1780-1867)

​HENDERSON, JOHN (1780–1867), philanthropist, born in Borrowstounness, Linlithgowshire, in 1780, was a son of Robert Henderson, merchant and shipowner in that town. With an elder brother, Robert, he started in business as a drysalter in Glasgow, and subsequently as an East India merchant in London. In May 1842 Robert was drowned, and the business was carried on by Henderson in partnership with several of his nephews. From 1827 Henderson spent a large portion of his income in promoting evangelical Christianity. During the last twenty years of his life he is computed to have contributed to religious and charitable schemes from 30,000l. to 40,000l. a year. The maintenance of the Scottish sabbath as a day of strict cessation from labour and the furtherance of missions in India and on the continent specially engrossed his efforts. He maintained several religious newspapers, and on one occasion spent 4,000l. in sending a copy of a publication to all the railway servants in the kingdom in the hope of convincing them of the sinfulness of Sabbath labour. He purchased to a large extent the stock of the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway and divided it among friends whom he knew would oppose the running of Sunday trains. Railway travelling on Sunday between Glasgow and Edinburgh was interrupted until the amalgamation with the North British Company placed Henderson and his supporters in a minority. He gave an annual prize to the university of Glasgow for the best essay on the Decalogue. He bought and maintained a number of mission churches in Glasgow, and built the Religious Institution rooms in St. George's Place, and the mission premises for the united presbyterian church in Virginia Street. Though himself connected with the united presbyterians, and contributing largely to their extension in London, he helped every religious movement with which he felt any sympathy. Mainly through his instrumentality the Evangelical Alliance was established. The only public office that he held in Glasgow was that of chairman of the Royal Exchange. He died at Park, Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, on 1 May 1867. He married in 1843 a daughter of John M'Fie of Edinburgh, who survived him without issue.
[Glasgow Daily Herald, 2 May 1867, p. 2, col. 3; Gent. Mag. 1867, pt. ii. 115.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macnicol, Donald

​MACNICOL, DONALD (1735–1802), presbyterian divine and author, born in 1736, was nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle, who introduced Sir Walter Scott to the highlands (Lockhart, Life of Scott, p. 38). He studied at the university of St. Andrews, where he graduated in 1756. In 1763 he was appointed parish minister of Saddell, Argyllshire, and was in 1766 transferred to Lismore. He married in 1771 and had two children. He died at Lismore on 28 March 1802.
His 'Remarks on Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey to the Hebrides,' London, 1779, was a vigorous defence of the highlands against Johnson's attack, and caused Johnson to 'growl hideously.' He wrote the article on Lismore in Sinclair's 'Statistical Account of Scotland,' vol. i.
[Scott's Fasti Eccles. Scot. iii. 49, 75; Statistical Account of Scotland, vii. 240; Boswell's Johnson, ed. Hill, ii. 308.]
J. R. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macpherson, David

​MACPHERSON, DAVID (1746–1816), historian and compiler, son of a tailor and clothier, was born at Edinburgh, 26 Oct. 1746. He was probably educated at the Edinburgh High School and University, and was afterwards trained as a land surveyor. Prosecuting his business in Great Britain and America, he earned a small competence before 1790, about which time he settled with his wife and family in London as a man of letters. Losing money through unfortunate loans, he was occasionally in straitened circumstances afterwards, but worked manfully, receiving encouragement from writers like Joseph Ritson and George Chalmers [q. v.] of the 'Caledonia.' For some time Macpherson was a deputy-keeper of the public records, and assisted in preparing for publication the first and part of the second volume of the 'Rotuli Scotiæ.' He died in London 1 Aug. 1816.
Macpherson edited with adequate scholarship and skill Andrew Wyntoun's 'Orygynal Cronykil of Scotland,' 2 vols. 4to, 1795. This was re-edited, in an enlarged form, by David Laing, for the 'Historians of Scotland' series, 1879. Macpherson's other works are:
* 'Geographical Illustrations of Scottish History,' 4to, 1796.
* 'Annals of Commerce, Fisheries, and Navigation … from the earliest Accounts to the Meeting of the Union Parliament in 1801' (embodying the essence of Anderson's 'History of Commerce'), 4 vols. 4to, 1805.
* 'The History of European Commerce with India,' 4to, 1812.
[Biographical Sketch of Macpherson, by David Laing, in Historians of Scotland, vol. ix.; Anderson's Scottish Nation.]
T. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Falconberg, Lord

​FALCONBERG, Lord. [See Nevill, Sir William, d. 1483.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Falconberg (d.1471)

​FALCONBERG or FALCONBRIDGE, Bastard of (d. 1471). [See Fauconberg, Thomas.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Falconberg (d.1226)

​FALCONBERG or FALCONBRIDGE, the Bastard. [See Breauté, Falkes de, d. 1226.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Falconer, David

​FALCONER, Sir DAVID, of Newton (1640–1686), lord president of the court of session, second son of Sir David Falconer of Glenfarquhar, one of the commissaries of Edinburgh, was born in 1640. He studied law ‘under the eye of his father,’ was admitted advocate 3 July 1661, was appointed one of the commissaries of Edinburgh, and afterwards knighted. He was nominated lord of session 24 May 1676, lord of justiciary 2 March 1678, and president of the court of session 1682. ‘He introduced regulations tending to enlarge the attendance of the judges, which do not, however, seem to have received the approbation of their lordships.’ He sat for the county of Forfar in the parliament of 1685, was chosen a lord of the articles, and was a member of various parliamentary commissions. Falconer died at Edinburgh 12 Jan. 1686, after a four days' illness. He was buried in the churchyard of Old Greyfriars, where there is a monument to his memory. He was twice married, and had a large family. His third daughter, Catherine, was the mother of David Hume. Falconer collected the decisions of the court of session (November 1681–January 1686) up to the last day he sat in court (Edinburgh, 1701). The publisher of the collection describes him as ‘one of the most painful lawyers in his time.’
Falconer's name was appended to a number of official and loyal addresses to Charles II and the Duke of York. Most of them are preserved among the Lauderdale papers.
[Foster's Collectanea Genealogica; Members of Parliament (Scotland), p. 132; Brunton and Haig's Senators of the College of Justice, p. 405, where the date of death is given as 15 Dec. 1685; Anderson's Scottish Nation, ii. 188; Addit. MSS. 23138 ff. 5, 743, 23244 ff. 33, 35, 37, 39, 28558 f. 34.]
F. W-t.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Falconer, Forbes

​FALCONER, FORBES (1805–1853), Persian scholar, born at Aberdeen, 10 Sept. 1805, was the second and only surviving son of Gilbert Falconer of Braeside, Fifeshire. He was educated at the grammar school and at Marischal College, where he obtained prizes in classical studies. His first publications, which appeared anonymously in local journals, were also classical, consisting of metrical translations from the Greek anthology. He commenced his oriental studies before the age of twenty, by attending the Hebrew classes of Professor Bentley in Aberdeen, and likewise began the private study of Arabic and Persian. Afterwards proceeding to Paris he attended, during nearly five years, the courses of De Sacy, De Chézy, and, for Hindustani, of Garcin de Tassy. After short visits to several German universities, Falconer returned to this country, and settled in London as a teacher of oriental languages, and occupied for a short time the professorship of oriental languages in University College, London. He is perhaps best known in the present day for his works on the ‘Būstān,’ from which he published in 1839 a volume of selections, very neatly lithographed from his own transcript. In the ‘Asiatic Journal,’ a useful periodical now defunct, he published a translation of part of the same poem, as well as selections from several of the Sufi poets, and a critical study of the ‘Sindibād Nāmah.’ For the Society for the Publication of Oriental Texts Falconer edited two important poems of Jāmi, the ‘Tuhfat-ul-Ahrār’ and ‘Salāmān u Absāl.’ The critical ability of these texts is attested by Francis Johnson in the preface to his edition of Richardson's ‘Persian Dictionary.’ Falconer's ‘Persian Grammar,’ which reached a second edition in 1848, is now a somewhat rare book.
Falconer was a member of the Asiatic Societies of London and Paris, and an honorary member of the American Oriental Society. He died in London, 7 Nov. 1853.
[Annual Report of the Royal Asiatic Society for 1853–4, Journal, vol. xv.; J. Th. Zenker's Bibliotheca Orientalis.]
C. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Falconer, Alexander

​FALCONER, ALEXANDER, Lord Falconer of Halkertoun (d. 1671), judge, was the eldest son of Sir Alexander Falconer of Halkertoun, by his wife Agnes, eldest daughter of Sir David Carnegie of Colluthie. ​On 9 July 1639 he succeeded Lord Woodhall as an ordinary lord of session, and in November 1641 was appointed anew by king and parliament to be judge ‘ad vitam aut culpam.’ He represented Kincardineshire in the convention 1643–4, and in the parliaments of 1644–5, 1645–7. He was a commissioner for the loan and tax in 1643, and a member of the committee of war for Kincardineshire in 1643, 1644, and 1646, and for Forfarshire in 1648. He was a commissioner for the plantation of kirks in 1644, a commissioner of the exchequer in 1645, a member of the committee of estates in 1645 and 1647, and a colonel for Aberdeenshire in 1648. On 20 Dec. 1647 he was created Lord Falconer of Halkertoun, but on 15 Feb. 1649 he was deprived of his seat in the College of Justice, and ‘ordained to lend money for the public use,’ on account of his accession to the ‘engagement.’ He appears, however, as Baron Falconer in the list of Scots nobility in 1650, and was a commissioner of supply for Kincardineshire in 1656 and 1659. He was reappointed to his seat in the College of Justice at the Restoration, and retained it till his death. In 1661 he was a commissioner of excise, and a member of the commission for visiting the university of Aberdeen. He appears as sitting in parliament as Lord Halkertoun till 1669, and died 1 Oct. 1671. He married Anne, only daughter of John, ninth lord Lindsay of Byres, by whom he had one son and one daughter.
[Acts Scots Parl.; Books of Sederunt; Brunton and Haig's Senators of Coll. of Justice; Douglas's Peerage, ii. 55.]
J. A. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leakey, James

​LEAKEY, JAMES (1775–1866), artist, was born 20 Sept. 1775 at Exeter, where his father, John Leakey, was engaged in the wool trade. At the time of Sir Joshua Reynolds's death he was about to become his pupil. Leakey established himself at Exeter, painting portraits, miniatures, landscapes, and small interiors with groups of rustic figures. The last, which were somewhat Dutch in treatment and highly finished, met with great favour, and Sir Francis Baring purchased one for 500l. But Leakey is best known by his miniatures, which were painted in oils on ivory with extreme delicacy and refinement. These brought him much local celebrity, and they are to be met with in many Devonshire houses. With the exception of a residence in London from 1821 to 1825, during which he was intimate with Lawrence, Wilkie, and other leading painters, Leakey's life was passed at Exeter. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1821 'The Marvellous Tale,' in 1822 'The Fortune Teller,' in 1838 portraits and landscapes, and in 1846 'The Distressed Wife.' Leakey died at Exeter on 16 Feb. 1865. By his marriage, in 1815, with Miss Eliza Hubbard Woolmer he had eleven children.
In the Exeter guildhall there is a good portrait by Leakey of Henry Blackhall, mayor of Exeter; also a copy by him of Reynolds's portrait of John Rolle Walters, M.P. His portrait of James Haddy James, surgeon, is in the Devonshire and Exeter Hospital. In 1846 Leakey published a plate by Samuel Cousins, R.A., from his portrait of John Rashdall, minister of Bedford Chapel, Exeter.
One of Leakey's daughters, Caroline Woolmer Leakey (1827-1881), was a religious writer of ability. She resided for some years in Tasmania, and published 'Lyra Australis, or Attempts to Sing in a Strange Land,' London, 1854, 8vo, and 'The Broad Arrow; being Passages from the History of Maida Gwynnham, a Lifer, by Oline Keese,' London, 1859; new edit. 1886. A memoir of her, with the title 'Clear, Shining Light,' has been published by her sister Emily.
[Bryan's Diet, of Painters and Engravers (Armstrong); Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Exeter Gazette, February 1865; Rycroft's Art in Devonshire, 1883; information from the family.]
F. M. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Learmont, Thomas

​LEARMONT or LEIRMOND, THOMAS (fl. 1220?–1297?), seer and poet. [See Erceldoune, Thomas of.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leanerd, John

​LEANERD, JOHN (fl. 1679), dramatist, is described by Langbaine as no genuine author, but a 'confident plagiary.' He published:
* 'The Country Innocence; or, the Chambermaid turn'd Quaker,' 4to, London, a comedy acted at the Theatre Royal in Lent, 1677, by the younger members of the company (Genest, Hist. of the Stage, i. 200). It is only Anthony Brewer's 'Country Girl' (1647) with a new title.
* 'The Rambling Justice; or, the Jealous Husbands, with the Humours of Sir John Twiford,' 4to, London, also a nursery play, performed at the same theatre (ib. i. 226).
The incidents are mostly borrowed from Thomas Middleton's 'More Dissemblers besides Women,' 1657. To Leanerd is also ascribed a good comedy called 'The Counterfeits,' 4to, London, 1679, acted at the Duke's Theatre in 1678 (ib. i. 246). The plot is taken from a translated Spanish novel entitled 'The Trepanner Trepanned.' Colley Cibber in his comedy of 'She would and she would not ' has either founded his play on the same novel, or else has borrowed, considerably from Leanerd's comedy.
[Baker's Biog. Dram. 1812.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leapor, Mary

​LEAPOR, MARY (1722–1746), poet, was born at Marston St. Lawrence, Northamptonshire, 26 Feb. 1722. Her father was gardener to Judge Blencowe. She had little education, and is said to have been cook-maid in a gentleman's family. From childhood she delighted in reading, acquired a few books, including the works of Dryden and Pope, and at an early age composed verses, chiefly in imitation of Pope. These came to the notice of some persons of rank, who resolved to publish them by subscription. The prospectus is said to have been drawn up by Garrick. Before the arrangements were completed Miss Leapor died of measles, aged 24, at Brackley, Northamptonshire, 12 Nov. 1746. Her 'Poems on Several Occasions,' edited by Isaac Hawkins Browne the elder [q. v.], were published in two volumes, the first appearing in 1748, and the second in 1751. An 'Essay on Friendship' and an 'Essay on Hope,' both in heroic couplets, illustrate her devotion to Pope. The second volume includes a few letters, written chiefly to her literary patrons, a tragedy in blank verse called 'The Unhappy Father,' and some acts of another dramatic piece. A selection from her poems appears in Mrs. Barber's 'Poems by Eminent Ladies,' 1766. The poet Cowper admired her work.
[Chalmers's Biog. Dict. xx. 110-11; Biographia Dramatica; Preface to Poems on Several Occasions.]
E. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leask, William

​LEASK, WILLIAM (1812–1884), dissenting divine, born in England in 1812 of humble parents, was largely self-educated. Converted in his sixteenth year he subsequently obtained employment as a clerk in Edinburgh, and became a Sunday-school teacher, an agitator against the established kirk in the Scottish secession movement, and an occasional preacher. Having married he returned to England about 1839, and after serving his apprenticeship as a lay evangelist entered the congregationalist ministry. His first charge was at Dover, whence in 1846 he removed to Kennington (Esher Street). There he remained until 1857, when he removed to Ware, Hertfordshire, which he exchanged for Kingsland (Maberly Chapel) in 1865. He was for a time one of the editors of the 'Christian Examiner.' contributed to the short-lived 'Universe.' edited the 'Christian Weekly News ' until it gave place to the 'Christian World.' and was a frequent contributor to the last named journal. He also edited for about a year the 'Christian Times' (1864), and for two years (1864–5) the 'Rainbow.' a magazine specially devoted to propagating millenarianism and the Lockeian heresy of conditional immortality. He was an honorary D.D. of an American university. He died 6 Nov. 1884, and was buried in Abney Park cemetery.
Besides sermons, lectures, and other trifles, Leask published: 1. 'The Hall of Vision, a Poem in Three Books, to which is added a Letter to an Infidel.' Manchester, 1838, 12 mo. 2. 'Philosophical Lectures.' Dover, 1846, 12mo. 3. 'The Evidences of Grace, or the Christian Character delineated,' 1846, 12mo. 4. 'The Footsteps of Messiah: a Review of Passages in the History of Jesus Christ,' 1847, 8vo. 5. 'The Great Redemption: an Essay on the Mediatorial System.' 1849, 8vo. 6. 'Views from Calvary.' 1849, 16mo. 7. 'The Last Enemy and Sure Defence.' 1850, 16mo. 8. 'The Tried Christian, a Book of Consolation for the Afflicted.' 1851, 12mo. 9. 'The Beauties of the Bible; an Argument for Inspiration.' 1852, 8vo. 10. 'Moral Portraits, or Tests of Character.' 1852, 12mo. 11. 'Lays of the Future.' 1853, 8vo. 12. 'Struggles for Life; or, the Autobiography of a Dissenting Minister.' 1854, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1864, 8vo. 13. 'Character, and how to test it.' 1855, 8vo. 14. 'The Two Lights' (a didactic story), 1856, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1859, 12mo. 15. 'Happy Years at Hand; Outlines of the Coming Theocracy,' 1861, 8vo. 16. 'Willy Heath and the House Rent,' 1862, 8vo, 17. 'Earth's Curse and Restitution.' 1866, 8vo. 18. 'Carey Glynn, or the Child Teacher,' 1868, 8vo. 19. 'The Scripture Doctrine of a Future Life,' 1877, 8vo. A paper by Leask will be found in 'Report of a Conference on Conditional Immortality.' 1876, 8vo. He also contributed to 'Life and Advent Hymns by Cyrus E. Brooks,' 1880. With the exception of Nos. 1 and 2 all these were published in London.
[Struggles for Life (evidently a record of the author's personal experience, though the names both of persons and places are fictitious, and dates are not given); Pall Mall Gazette, 8 Nov. 1884; Christian World, 13 Nov. 1884; Congregational Year-Book.]
J. M. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leander, À Sancto Martino

​LEANDER À SANCTO MARTINO (1575–1636), Benedictine monk. [See Jones, John.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, George Matthew

​JONES, GEORGE MATTHEW (1785?–1831), captain in the navy and traveller, brother of General Sir John Thomas Jones, bart. [q. v.], was in April 1802 promoted to be a lieutenant in the navy. He was appointed to the Amphion, in which, in the following spring, Lord Nelson went out to the Mediterranean, and which, on 5 Oct. 1804, assisted in the capture of the Spanish treasure-ships off Cape St. Mary [see Moore, Sir Graham]. In September 1805 Captain Hoste was appointed to the Amphion, and Jones, continuing with him, took part in the peculiarly active service in the Adriatic [see Hoste, Sir William], distinguishing himself in several of the boat engagements, and being severely wounded on 8 Nov. 1808. On 13 Dec. 1810 he was promoted to command the Tuscan brig, in which, during the next year, he assisted in the defence of Cadiz. In 1817 he commanded the Pandora on the coast of Ireland, and was posted on 7 Dec. 1818. The following years he spent in travelling over Europe with the object of examining the maritime resources of the different countries. He was already well acquainted with the coasts of Spain and Italy; he now visited the ports and arsenals of France and Holland, of the Black Sea, and of the Baltic. In 1827 he published his journals, under the title of ‘Travels in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Turkey; also on the Coasts of the Sea of Azof and of the Black Sea, &c.,’ 2 vols. 8vo. The work, which he dedicated to Sir William Hoste, by whose advice the travels seem to have been undertaken and the journals kept, is written intelligently, though at excessive length. After its publication Jones's health broke down. He died at Malta in April 1831.
[Marshall's Roy. Nav. Biog. viii. (Suppl. pt. iv.) 197; Gent. Mag. 1831, vol. ci. pt. i. p. 561; Travels in Norway, &c. (as in text).]
J. K. L.