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

​LAWTON, CHARLWOOD (1660–1721), friend of William Penn, son of Ralf Lawton, of Egham, Surrey, surgeon general in the army, was born in 1660. He entered as a fellow commoner at Wadham College, Oxford, 23 Aug. 1677. He matriculated on ​7 Dec. 1677, but left the university without taking a degree. He was called to the bar from the Middle Temple in 1688. Lawton became acquainted with Penn at a chance meeting on a coach in the summer of 1686, and the two remained friends for life. He acted in 1700 as Penn's agent in London. He did not practise at the bar, but was intimate with many notable people of the time, including Somers, John Trenchard, whose pardon he procured by Penn's agency in 1686, and Lord-chief-justice Treby. For a long time he lived near Windsor, but at the time of his death he was described as 'of Northampton.' He died on 18 June 1721; he was married, and left a son Henry. Lawton designed to publish a volume of memoirs, and was said to have left a large mass of papers relating to the affairs of the time. One such document, dealing with the life of Penn for a short period after Lawton knew him, was printed in 1834, in vol. iii. of the 'Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.' He also wrote various pamphlets, including, 'A Letter concerning Civil Comprehension,' 1705; a second 'Letter ' on the same subject 1706; a letter formerly sent to Dr. Tillotson, and 'The Jacobite Principles Vindicated.' All of these were republished in the 'Somers Tracts.' Two letters addressed by Lawton to Bishop Kennett are in Lansdowne MS. 990, ff. 15, 83.
[Gardiner's Reg. of Wadham, p. 319; Notes and Queries, 1st ser. v. 596, 3rd ser. ix. 511; Hepworth Dixon's Life of Penn.]
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lax, William

1904 Errata appended.
​LAX, WILLIAM (1761–1836), astronomer, was born in 1761, graduated in 1786 from Trinity College, Cambridge, as senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman, was elected a fellow of his college, and proceeded M.A. in 1788. He succeeded Dr. Smith in 1795 as Lowndes's professor of astronomy and geometry in the university of Cambridge, and after some years spent in tuition was presented by Trinity College to the livings of Marsworth, Buckinghamshire, and of St. Ippolyts in Hertfordshire, where he built a small observatory. He died at the vicarage of St. Ippolvts on 29 Oct. 1836, aged 75. He published in 1807 'Remarks on a supposed Error in the Elements of Euclid;' and his 'Tables to be used with the Nautical Almanac ' were printed by the board of longitude in 1821, and in a new edition in 1834. To the Royal Society, of which he was elected a fellow in 1796, he communicated, in 1799 and 1808 respectively, papers on 'A Method of finding the Latitude of 4 Place by means of two Altitudes of the Sun,' and 'On a Method of examining the Divisions of Astromical Instruments' (Phil. Trans, lxxxix. 74, xcix. 232).
[Ann. Reg. 1836, p. 218; Proc. of the Royal Society, iii. 438; Le Neve's Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]
A. M. C.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.178 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 299 | ii | 13-14 | Lax, William: for the vicarage of read his house at |
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lawson, Thomas (1620?-1695)

​LAWSON, THOMAS (1620?–1695), independent divine, born about 1620, was educated at Catharine Hall, Cambridge, and graduated M.A., being afterwards elected fellow of St. John's College. In June 1646 he obtained the vicarage of Fingrinhoe, Essex, on the sequestration of Joseph Long, and on 4 May 1647 he was instituted in addition to the neighbouring rectory of East Donyland, Essex, on the presentation of Henry Tunstall, confirmed by order of the House of Commons. In 1648 he signed the 'Essex testimony.' a presbyterian manifesto. Still holding his preferments, he became on 28 Oct. 1649 a member of the independent church at Norwich. Late in 1650, or early in 1651, he was presented by Robert Wilton to the rectory of Denton, Norfolk, and apparently resigned his other preferments. On April 1655 the Norwich independent church dismissed 'brother Thomas Lawson' to join with 'the Christians at Denton;' on 8 June an independent church at Denton was received into fellowship with that of Norwich. The Denton independent church does not seem to have flourished; in July 1661 Lawson was a member of the independent church at Market Weston, Suffolk (afterwards at Wattisfield, Suffolk). He probably held his living till the Uniformity Act of 1662. At the time of the indulgence of 1672 he was living at Norton, Suffolk; he took out a license (17 April) for preaching in his own house, and another for preaching at 'Dame Cook's house, in Southgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.' He joined the independent church at Bury St. Edmunds on 20 Oct. 1689. Calamy says he was 'a man of parts, but had no good utterance.' He died at Bury St. Edmunds in 1695, aged about 75. He had a son Jabez, and another son Deodate, who went to New England and came back under a cloud.
[Calamy's Account, 1713, p. 483; Calamy's Continuation, 1727, ii. 629; Davids's Evang. Nonconformity in Essex, 1863, pp. 551 sq.; Browne's Hist. Congr. Norf. and Suff. 1877, pp. 333 sq., 404.]
A. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Laxton, William (1802-1854)

​LAXTON, WILLIAM (1802–1854), one of the authors of the ‘Builder's Price Book,’ son of William Robert Laxton, surveyor, by his wife Phœbe, was born in London, 30 March 1802, and was educated at Christ's Hospital. He was a citizen of London, a liveryman of the Haberdashers' Company in 1823, and an active member of the City Philosophical Society. Brought up as a surveyor, he evinced a great love for his profession, and made himself master of every department. He surveyed and laid down several lines of railway, and was connected with the Hull and Selby, London and Richmond, Surrey Grand Junction, Hull, Lincoln, and Nottingham, Gravesend and Brighton, and Lynn, Wisbech, and Ely railways. Hydraulic engineering was his favourite pursuit, but a work on this subject, which he had designed and for which he had prepared extensive materials, he did not live to write. He constructed water works at Falmouth and Stonehouse, in which he introduced many improvements, and with Robert Stephenson was joint engineer of the Watford water company for supplying London with water from the chalk formation. In October 1837 he projected and established ‘The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal,’ a monthly periodical, which he himself edited. He soon after purchased a weekly publication, called ‘The Architect and Building Gazette,’ and after conducting it for some time united it to the ‘Journal.’ A work which originated with his father, and was then conducted for thirty years by Laxton and his brother, Henry Laxton, was the ‘Builder's Price Book,’ which was a standard work in the profession and in the courts of law, and circulated all over the kingdom. Laxton was the surveyor to Baron de Goldsmid's estate at Brighton, where he laid out a large part of the new town in the parish of Hove, and designed and built many of the houses. From the period of its formation in 1840 he was surveyor to the Farmers' and General Fire and Life Insurance Company. He died in London, 31 May 1854, and was interred in the family vault in St. Andrew's burying-ground, Gray's Inn Road. His only son, William Frederick Laxton, was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, 26 Jan. 1854, and died in 1891. Henry Laxton succeeded to his brother's surveying business.
Laxton was the author of ‘The Improved Builder's Price Book,’ containing upwards of seven thousand prices, also ‘The Workman's Prices for Labour only,’ 3rd edit. 1878; the previous editions were by Robert Laxton. This work was afterwards continued annually as the ‘Builder's Price Book.’
[Civil Engineer, July 1854, pp. 270–1; Gent. Mag. August 1854, pp. 199–200; Builder, 8 July 1854, p. 361.]
G. C. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lawton, George

​LAWTON, GEORGE (1779–1869), antiquary, was born at York on 6 May 1779. He was educated in his native city, was articled to a proctor there, and was admitted a proctor on 3 Nov. 1808. He was also a solicitor, notary-public, and was appointed registrar of the archdeaconry of the East Riding of Yorkshire by Archdeacon Wilberforce. He served in the ecclesiastical courts under five archbishops of York. He ceased practice as a solicitor in 1863, and died a widower at his residence, Nunthorpe, on 2 Dec. 1869, leaving issue. Lawton wrote: 1. 'The Marriage Act' (4 Geo. IV, c. 76), London, 1823, 8vo. 2. 'A Brief Treatise of Bona Notabilia,' London, 1826, 8vo. 8. 'Collectio Rerum Ecclesiasticarum,' London, 2 vols. 1840, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1842. 4. 'The Religious Houses of Yorkshire.' York, 1863, 8vo. Lawton*8 books were suggested by his work as a proctor; the 'Collectio Rerum Ecclesiasticarum' is still an authority.
[Yorkshire Gazette, 11 Dec. 1869; information kindly supplied by William Lawton, esq.]
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lawson, William

Dates 1553/4–1635 in the ODNB.
​LAWSON, WILLIAM (fl. 1618), writer on gardening, was a resident in the north of England. He states that his work on gardening produced, in 1618, was the result of forty-eight years' experience; hence he must have been born before 1570. He claims no other guide than his own observation, but seems to have been an educated man. Lawson wrote 'A New Orchard and Garden, Or the best way for Planting, Grafting, and to make any pound good for a Rich Orchard; particularly in the North Parts of England . . .,' London, 1618, 4to. It is dedicated to Sir Henry Belasyse. With it was bound up Gervase Markham's 'Countrey Housewife's Garden,' bearing the date 1617. Another edition appeared in 1622 (with a chapter by Simon Harward [q. v.], on the 'Art of Propagating Plants.' It was incorporated with Markham's 'A Way to Get Wealth,' 1623, 1626, 1638, 1648, &c, and was from time to time enlarged. Lawson also wrote a 'Tractatus de Agricultura,' 1656, 4to, reprinted 1657 (Watt, Bibl. Brit.)
[Works; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Laxton, William (d.1556)

1904 Errata appended.
​LAXTON, Sir WILLIAM (d. 1556), lord mayor of London, son of John Laxton, born at Oundle, Northamptonshire, was 'bred a grocer in London' (Fuller, Worthies, 'Northamptonshire'). He rapidly formed a prosperous connection, and became a prominent member of the Grocers' Company. He was elected alderman of Limehouse ward, and sheriff in 1540, when he presided with his colleague, Martin Bowes, at Robert Barnes's [q. v.] execution. In 1544 he became lord mayor, and during his mayoralty a heavy benevolence was exacted by Henry VIII from the city. An alderman who refused to con- tribute was forced to enlist in the army and sent to serve in Scotland. Laxton died on 29 July 1556, at his house in Aldermary parish, and was buried in St. Mary's Church there on 9 Aug. Machyn's 'Diary' (p. 111, Camden Soc.) describes the sumptuous funeral. At the mass next day Dr. John Harpsfield [q. v.] archdeacon of London, preached, and a great dinner was given afterwards, probably by the Company of Grocers. His wife, Joan, daughter of William Kyrby, and widow of Harry Lodlington (Harl. MS. 897, f. 24), was alive in 1557, when she was present at the funeral of Lady White, wife of the founder of St. John's, Cambridge, but the rhyming epitaph on Laxton's monument, quoted by Stow ​(Survey of London, Strype's edit. 1720, iii. 19), commemorates both husband and wife as if she were lately dead. Laxton died childless, and founded an almshouse and school at Oundle, which is still maintained by the Company of Grocers. The company has lately been able, through the increased value of the Laxton estates in London, to improve the school, adding a new building, and restoring and altering the old. By the founder's intention the school was to be open to all comers free, boys from Oundle were admitted day scholars, and outsiders taken as boarders. Over the door of the old school are the arms of London, of the Grocers' Company, and of Laxton himself; below these are three inscriptions in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew recording the munificence of the founder, who is also commemorated in the almshouse, where seven old men are still provided for.
[Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, pt. xxvi., and authorities there given.]
E. T. B.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.178 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| | | 23 f.e. | Laxton, Sir William: for Limehouse read Lime Street |
| | | 2 f.e. | for Cambridge read Oxford |
| 300 | i | 3-4 | for Laxton died childless and read Laxton's daughter Anne married Sir Thomas Lodge [q. v.]. He |
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wellesley, Garrett

​WELLESLEY or WESLEY, GARRETT, first Viscount Wellesley of Dangan and first Earl Of Mornington (1735–1781), father of the Duke of Wellington and the Marquis Wellesley, born on 19 July 1735, was the son of Richard Colley Wellesley, first baron Mornington [q. v.], by Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Sale, registrar of the diocese of Dublin. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and graduated B.A. in 1754 and M.A. in 1757. In the latter year he was elected to the Irish House of Commons as M.P. for the family borough of Trim, co. Meath, but his father's death in 1758 called him to the House of Lords. On 2 Oct. 1760 he was advanced in the peerage, being granted the titles of Viscount Wellesley of Dangan Castle and Earl of Mornington. He was chiefly remarkable for his musical talents, which recommended him to the favour of George III. At nine years old he had learned to play catches on the violin, and was soon afterwards able to take the second part in difficult sonatas. At fourteen he played both the harpsichord and the organ, and when still young began to extemporise fugues. He composed the glees 'Here in cool grot' and 'Come, fairest nymph.' In 1764 the degree of doctor of music was conferred upon him by Trinity College, Dublin.
Mornington died on 22 May 1781 at Kensington, and was buried in Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street. He married, on 6 Feb. 1759, Anne, daughter of Arthur Hill (afterwards Hill-Trevor), first viscount Dungannon. She is described as a somewhat cold and severe woman. She died in her ninetieth year on 10 Sept. 1831, surviving to see the glory of her sons, Richard Colley, marquis Wellesley [q. v.]; William Wellesley-Pole, baron Maryborough [q. v.]; Arthur, duke of Wellington [q.v.]; Gerald Valerian (1770-1848), prebendary of Durham; and Henry, first baron Cowley [q. v.l Their sister Anne (1768-1844) married first the Hon. Henry Fitzroy, and secondly Charles Culling Smith. Lord Mornington's portrait is in possession of the Duke of Wellington.
G. Le G. N.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wellesley, Henry (1791-1866)

​WELLESLEY, HENRY (1791–1866), scholar and antiquary, born in 1791, was the illegitimate son of Richard Colley Wellesley, marquis Wellesley [q. v.] He matriculated on 17 Oct. 1811 from Christ Church, Oxford, where he held a studentship from 1811 to 1828, graduating B.A. in 1816, M.A. in 1818, and B.D. and D.D. in 1847. On 20 June 1816 he became a student at Lincoln's Inn, but having been ordained a minister of the English church he was appointed successively vicar of Flitton-with-Silsoe in Bedfordshire on 5 Sept. 1827, rector of Dunsfold in Surrey on 1 Nov. 1833, and rector of Woodmancote in Sussex on 6 June 1838, resigning the last in 1860. He was also rector of Hurstmonceaux in Sussex at the time of his death. In 1842 he was nominated vice-principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford, and in 1847 was made principal by the Duke of Wellington, then chancellor of the university. While principal he filled the office of university preacher. Wellesley was an accomplished scholar, well read in both ancient and modern literature. He was a member of the Sussex Archæological Society from its foundation in 1846. At the time of his death Wellesley was a curator of the Bodleian Library, of the university galleries, and of the Taylorian Institution. He died at Oxford, unmarried, on 11 Jan. 1866.
Wellesley was the author of ‘Stray Notes on the Text of Shakespeare,’ London, 1865, 8vo. He edited ‘Anthologia Polyglotta; a ​selection of Versions in various Languages, chiefly from the Greek Anthology,’ London, 1849, 4to; and published ‘Canzone in lode di Bella Donna aggiuntovi un sonetto “fatto per uno ch' era in gran fortuna.” Componimenti Toscani del secolo xiv. dati in luce dal Dottore E. Wellesley,’ Oxford, 1851, 8vo. He also contributed three papers on local antiquities to the ‘Collections’ of the Sussex Archæological Society (iii. 232, v. 277, ix. 107).
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pageham, John de

​PAGEHAM or PAGHAM, JOHN de (d. 1158), bishop of Worcester, probably a native of Pagham, Sussex, was one of the clerks of Archbishop Theobald, and was consecrated by him to the see of Worcester on 4 March 1151. He assisted at the consecration of Roger to the see of York on 10 Oct. 1154, and at the coronation of Henry II on 19 Dec. He gave the churches of Bensington, Oxfordshire, and Turkdean, Gloucestershire, to the monastery of Osney, gave the prior of Worcester possession of Cutsdean, Worcestershire, and is stated to have given to the see a manor called ‘Elm Bishop’ (Godwin), said to be a misreading for Clive or Cleve, with Marston, near Stratford-on-Avon. He died at Rome in 1158, it is said on 31 March (Le Neve).
W. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Page, David

​PAGE, DAVID (1814–1879), geologist, was born on 24 Aug. 1814 at Lochgelly, Fifeshire, where his father was a mason and builder. After passing through the parochial school, he was sent, at the age of fourteen, to the university of St. Andrews, to be educated for the ministry. He obtained various academic distinctions; but the attractions of natural science proved superior to those of theology, so that when his university course was ended he supported himself by lecturing and contributing to periodical literature, acting for a time as editor of a Fifeshire newspaper. In 1843 he became ‘scientific editor’ to Messrs. W. & R. Chambers in Edinburgh, and while thus employed wrote much himself. In July 1871 he was appointed professor of geology in the Durham University College of Physical Science at Newcastle-on-Tyne. But his health already was failing, owing to the insidious advance of paralysis, and he died at Newcastle on 9 March 1879, leaving a widow, two sons, and one daughter.
Page was elected F.G.S. in 1853, was president of the Geological Society of Edinburgh in 1863 and 1865, and was a member of various other societies. In 1867 the university of St. Andrews honoured him with the degree of LL.D.
He contributed some fourteen papers to scientific periodicals, among them those of the Geological and the Physical Society of Edinburgh and the British Association. But his strength lay not so much in the direction of original investigation as in that of making science popular; for he was not only an excellent lecturer, but also the author of numerous useful text-books on geological subjects. Among the best known of them—at least twelve in number—are ‘The Earth's Crust’ (1864, Edinburgh; 6th edit. 1872), the text-books (both elementary and advanced) of ‘Geology’ and of ‘Physical Geography;’ these have gone through numerous editions, and ‘Geology for General Readers’ (1866; 12th edit. 1888). The ‘Handbook of Geological Terms’ (1859) was a useful one in its day. Page is also supposed to have aided Robert Chambers [q. v.] in writing the ‘Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation.’ He did real service in awakening an interest in geology among the people, especially in the north; for, as it was said in an obituary notice, by his clear method and graphic illustrations ‘geology lost half its terrors by losing all its dryness.’ Industrious and unwearied, with literary tastes and some poetic power, he was a good teacher, and was generally respected.
T. G. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Page, John

​PAGE, JOHN (1760?–1812), vocalist and compiler of musical works, was born about 1760. On 3 Dec. 1790 he was elected lay-clerk of St. George's, Windsor, and retained the post until 1795 (Grove). Page had been connected with St. Paul's Cathedral since about 1785, when he described himself on the title-page of the ‘Anthems’ as conductor of the music for the anniversary meeting of the charity children. On other publications, in 1798 and 1800, he described himself as ‘of St. Paul's.’ On 10 Jan. 1801 he was appointed vicar-choral of St. Paul's. He was a professional member of the Catch Club between 1792 and 1797. He died on 16 Aug. 1812, at 19 Warwick Square, Newgate Street.
Page wrote little if any original music, but was an industrious compiler of ‘Harmonia Sacra’ and other less valuable collections of sacred music. Among his publications are: 1. ‘The Anthems and Psalms as performed at St. Paul's Cathedral on the Day of the Anniversary Meeting of the Charity Children, arranged for the Organ,’ &c., 1785? 2. ‘Divine Harmony,’ psalm and hymn tunes by Henley and Sharp, 1798. 3. ‘Harmonia Sacra,’ anthems in score by masters of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, 1800. 5. ‘Collection of ​Hymns by several Composers,’ 1804. 4. ‘Festive Harmony,’ dedicated to members of the Catch Club, 1804. 6. ‘Burial Service, &c., for the Funeral of Nelson,’ 1806. He published also several collections in co-operation with Battishill and Sexton.
L. M. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Page, Frederick

​PAGE, FREDERICK (1769–1834), writer on the poor laws, son of Francis Page of Newbury, Berkshire, born in 1769, matriculated from Oriel College, Oxford, on 14 July 1786. Leaving the university without a degree, he was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1792, and became a bencher in 1826. His attention was first drawn to the poor laws by the manner in which the poor rate affected his property. Having been assessed to the whole amount of the tolls for the navigation of the Kennet between Reading and Newbury, which were collected by his agent, he appealed to the Berkshire quarter sessions, where the rate was confirmed. The case was tried in the king's bench in 1792, with the same result. Page served as overseer in three different parishes in 1794, 1801, and 1818. He communicated the result of his experience in 1794 to his friend, Sir F. Eden, who inserted it verbatim in his work on the poor laws (State of the Poor, i. 576–87). Subsequently to 1818 Page paid great attention to the administration of the Select Vestries Act, to the principle of which he became a convert after three years' experience. He also repeatedly visited the continent and the southern counties of Ireland to investigate the condition of the poor. He died at Newbury on 8 April 1834.
Page published: 1. ‘Observations on the present State and possible Improvement of the Navigation and Government of the River Thames,’ Reading, 1794, 12mo. 2. ‘The Principle of the English Poor Laws illustrated and defended by an Historical View of Indigence in Civil Society, with Observations and Suggestions relative to their improved Administration,’ Bath, 1822, 8vo; 2nd edit., with additions, London, 1829, 8vo. 3. ‘Observations on the state of the Indigent Poor in Ireland and the existing Institutions for their relief, being a sequel to “the Principle of the English Poor Laws, &c.”’ London, 1830, 8vo.
W. A. S. H.