OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smith, Gerard Edward

​SMITH, GERARD EDWARD (1804–1881), botanist and divine, born at Camberwell, Surrey, in 1804, was sixth son of Henry Smith. He entered Merchant Taylors' school in January 1814, and St. John's College, Oxford, as Andrew's exhibitioner, in 1822; he graduated B.A. in 1829. Before being ordained he published his principal botanical work, ‘A Catalogue of rare or remarkable Phanogamous Plants collected in South Kent,’ London, 1829, which is dated from Sandgate. The ‘Catalogue,’ which occupies only seventy-six pages, is arranged on the Linnæan system, deals critically with several groups, and has five coloured plates drawn by the author. Smith was vicar of St. Peter-the-Less, Chichester, from 1835 to 1836, rector of North Marden, Sussex, from 1836 to 1843, vicar of Cantley, near Doncaster, Yorkshire, from 1844 to 1846, perpetual curate of Ashton Hayes, Cheshire, from 1849 to 1853, and vicar of Osmaston-by-Ashbourne, Derbyshire, from 1854 to 1871. He died at Ockbrook, Derby, on 21 Dec. 1881.
Smith was the first to recognise several British plants, describing Statice occidentalis under the name S. binervosa in the ‘Supplement to English Botany’ (1831, p. 63), and Filago apiculata in the ‘Phytologist’ for 1846 (p. 575). His herbarium, which does not bear witness to any great care, is preserved at University College, Nottingham.
Smith contributed ‘Remarks on Ophrys’ to Loudon's ‘Magazine of Natural History’ in 1828 (i. 398); ‘On the Claims of Alyssum calycinum to a place in the British Flora’ to the ‘Phytologist’ for 1845 (ii. 232); a preface to W. E. Howe's ‘Ferns of Derbyshire’ in 1861, enlarged in the edition of 1877; and ‘Notes on the Flora of Derbyshire’ to the ‘Journal of Botany’ for 1881. Besides the South Kent Catalogue and two sermons he published separately: 1. ‘Stonehenge, a poem,’ Oxford, 1823, 8vo, signed ‘Sir Oracle, Ox. Coll.,’ and intended to be humorous. 2. ‘Are the Teachings of Modern Science antagonistic to the Doctrine of an Infallible Bible?’ London, 1863, 8vo. 3. ‘The Holy Scriptures the original Great Exhibition for all Nations,’ an allegory, London, 1865, 8vo. 4. ‘What a Pretty Garden! or Cause and Effect in Floriculture,’ Ashbourne, 1865, 16mo.
G. S. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smith, Hugh

​SMITH, HUGH (d. 1790), medical writer, son of a surgeon and apothecary, was born at Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University, and obtained the degree of M.D. on 22 April 1755. He at first practised in Essex, but came to London in 1759, and fixed his residence in Mincing Lane. In 1760 he commenced a course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic, which were numerously attended. These, together with the publication of ‘Essays on Circulation of the Blood, with Reflections on Blood-letting,’ 1761, gave him a wide reputation. In 1762 he was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians. In 1765 he was elected physician to Middlesex Hospital, and in 1770 was chosen alderman of the Tower ward, a dignity which his professional duties compelled him to resign in 1772. About this time he removed to Blackfriars and devoted himself chiefly to consulting practice at home. He was accustomed to give two days of the week to the poor, from whom he would take no fee. He also assisted some of his patients pecuniarily. In 1780 he purchased a country residence at Streatham in Surrey. He died at Stratford in Essex on 26 Dec. 1790, and was buried in the church of West Ham. Besides the work mentioned above, he wrote ‘Formulæ Medicamentorum,’ London, 1772, 12mo. He must be distinguished from
Hugh Smith (1736?–1789), possibly his son. The latter graduated M.D. at Leyden on 11 Nov. 1755, and practised at Hatton Garden, London. He married the daughter of Archibald Maclean, a lady of fortune, who inherited Trevor Park, East Barnet. He died, aged 53, on 6 June 1789, and was buried in East Barnet church. He was author of: 1. ‘The Family Physician,’ London, 1760, 4to; 5th edit. 1770. 2. ‘Letters to Married Women,’ 3rd edit. London, 1774, 12mo; republished in France, Germany, and America. 3. ‘A Treatise on the Use and Abuse of Mineral Waters,’ London, 1776, 8vo; 4th edit., 1780. 4. ‘Philosophical Inquiries into the Laws of Animal Life,’ London, 1780, 4to. 5. ‘An Essay on the Nerves,’ London, 1780, 8vo.
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smibert, John

​SMIBERT or SMYBERT, JOHN (1684–1751), portrait-painter, born at Edinburgh in 1684, was apprenticed for seven years to a house-painter and plasterer, during which time he developed a taste for drawing. On leaving his master he came to London, and for a few years supported life with difficulty by working for coach-painters and making copies of old pictures for a dealer. At last he was able to enter Sir James Thornhill's academy in St. Martin's Lane. After studying there, Smibert returned to Edinburgh; but, finding no demand for face-painting in the north, he made his way in 1717 to Italy, working at Florence, Rome, and Naples, copying the works of old masters and painting portraits with success. He returned to England in 1720 with some reputation, and quickly found practice as a portrait-painter. He was a member of a society called the ‘Virtuosi of London,’ including John Wootton, Thomas Gibson, George Vertue, Bernard Lens, and other artists, and designed a large portrait group of the members. This, however, he did not complete. Among his sitters was the famous George Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne (then dean of Derry), one of whose portraits by Smibert, painted in 1728, is now in the National Portrait Gallery. When Berkeley left England in September 1728, with a view of promoting the cause of religion in America, Smibert accepted the offer to accompany the dean to the Bermudas, where the dean hoped to establish a college for the education of planters' children and young savages in the Christian religion, literature, and the arts. The party arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, in America, in January 1729. When Berkeley, after waiting two years for money to realise his project, decided to return to England, Smibert resolved to remain in America, and settled in the city of Boston. An interesting group, painted by Smibert, of Berkeley and his associates, including the painter himself, is now at Yale University; a smaller version of the same picture is in the National Portrait Gallery of Ireland. Smibert was apparently the first portrait-painter who came from Europe to America, and he found an open field before him at Boston. He painted many portraits of the leading citizens of Boston, having a considerable influence in encouraging and establishing art in America. Smibert's portraits have much merit, and have been unduly neglected in England. He died at Boston, U.S.A., in March 1751, leaving a widow (a lady of property, whose maiden name was Mary Williams) and two children, one of whom, Nathaniel Smibert or Smybert, also a portrait-painter, died young in 1756.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Vertue's Diaries (Brit. Mus. Addit. MSS. 23076, &c.); Dunlap's Hist. of the Arts of Design in the United States; Notes and Correspondence of the late Sir George Scharf, K.C.B.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smibert, Thomas

​SMIBERT, THOMAS (1810–1854), minor poet, was born on 8 Feb. 1810 at Peebles, of which his father, Thomas Smibert, leather-merchant, was provost (1808–11). His mother's name was Janet Tait. Educated at Peebles, Smibert was apprenticed to a druggist, and afterwards qualified as a surgeon at Edinburgh University. He essayed the practice of his profession at Innerleithen, near Peebles, but poor business and unrequited love constrained him, after a year, to leave the place. Settling at Peebles, he contributed to ‘Chambers's Edinburgh Journal,’ of which he became sub-editor and editor between 1837 and 1842. During that time he wrote for the periodical about 650 literary articles, tales, and biographical sketches. He was also a large contributor to Chambers's ‘Information for the People.’ In 1842 he became sub-editor of the ‘Scotsman;’ but on receiving a legacy he soon afterwards abandoned journalism for literature. In his later years he was a frequent contributor to ‘Hogg's Instructor.’ He died at Edinburgh on 16 Jan. 1854.
In 1842 Smibert's historical play, ‘Condé's Wife,’ had a run of nine nights in Edinburgh Theatre Royal. His ‘Clans of the ​Highlands of Scotland’ (Edinburgh, 1850, 8vo) is an authoritative and sumptuous work. He collected his miscellaneous poems under the title ‘Io Anche! Poems chiefly Lyrical’ (Edinburgh, 1851, 8vo). Many of the pieces are inspired by an active fancy, and are correct and graceful in form; and one song, ‘The Scottish Widow's Lament,’ charms by its unaffected pathos.
[Information from Mr. John Smith, Peebles; Scotsman, 17 Jan. 1854; Rogers's Modern Scottish Minstrel; Hedderwick's Backward Glances; Veitch's Poets of the Scottish Border; Williamson's Glimpses of Peebles.]
T. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smirke, Edward

​SMIRKE, Sir EDWARD (1795–1875), lawyer and antiquary, third son of Robert Smirke [q. v.], and brother of Sir Robert Smirke [q. v.], and of Sydney Smirke [q. v.], was born at Marylebone in 1795. He was educated privately and at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. (being twelfth wrangler) in 1816, and M.A. in 1820. In July 1815 he obtained the chancellor's gold medal for an English poem on ‘Wallace,’ which was printed in that year, and in ‘Cambridge Prize Poems’ (1820, 1828, and 1859).
Smirke was called to the bar at the Middle Temple on 12 Nov. 1824, went the western circuit, and attended the Hampshire sessions. In December 1844 he was appointed solicitor-general to the Prince of Wales, and on the following 5 Feb. solicitor-general to him as Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall. He succeeded to the post of attorney-general to the prince on 25 June 1852, and was ex officio member of his council. By letters patent under the great seal of England he was constituted on 2 July 1853 vice-warden of the stannaries of Cornwall and Devon, which post he held until 29 Sept. 1870. From 1846 to 1855 he was recorder of Southampton. On his retirement in 1870 from active life he was knighted at Windsor.
As a student, Smirke had a predilection for the investigation and elucidation of charters, and for the history of mining in the duchy of Cornwall. He was a member of the Royal Archæological Institute from its foundation, and took an active part at its annual meetings. From November 1861 to November 1863, and from that date in 1865 to November 1867, he presided over the Royal Institution of Cornwall. During the first of these periods, when the Cambrian Archæological Society paid a visit to Truro, he presided over the congress (1862). He died at 18 Thurloe Square, South Kensington, on 4 March 1875. He married at Kensington, on 11 Sept. 1838, Harriet Amelia, youngest daughter of the late Thomas Neill of Turnham Green. She died at Truro on 23 Feb. 1863.
Apart from many papers read before the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Smirke was author of: 1. ‘Wallace,’ a poem, 1815. 2. ‘Report of Cases, 1670–1704, by R. Freeman,’ 2nd ed. 1826. 3. ‘Digest of the Law of Evidence on the Trial of Actions at Nisi Prius, by Henry Roscoe,’ 5th ed., with considerable additions by C. Crompton and E. Smirke, 1839; subsequent editions down to the tenth in 1861 were ‘revised and enlarged’ by him. 4. ‘Case of Vice against Thomas, with an Appendix of Records and Documents on the early History of the Tin Mines in Cornwall,’ 1843. 5. ‘Procedure in the Court of the Vice-warden of the Stannaries,’ 1856; other volumes of rules and orders were published by him in 1862, 1863, and 1870. 6. ‘A Letter to Lord Campbell on the Rating of Railways,’ 1851.
[Boase and Courtney's Bibl. Cornub. ii. 658–660; Archæol. Journ. xxxii. 326; Journ. R.I. C. October 1874, pp. 175–6.]
W. P. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parker, John (fl.1762-1776)

​PARKER, JOHN (fl. 1762–1776), painter, after some study in the Duke of Richmond's gallery of casts in London, went to Chichester, where he studied landscape-painting under the brothers George and John Smith, the well-known landscape-painters. On returning to London he resided in Stangate Lane, Lambeth, near Westminster Bridge. In 1762 he exhibited a still-life in crayons at the Free Society of Artists, in 1763 ‘A Cock,’ also in crayons, and in 1764 another still-life. In 1765 and the following years he exhibited landscapes. In 1768 he went to Rome for two years, returning in 1770, when he again exhibited landscapes in the Italian manner both at the Free Society of Artists and at the Royal Academy. His name appears for the last time as an exhibitor in 1776. He was then residing at 26 Portman Street, London.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parker, Richard (1572-1629)

​PARKER, RICHARD (1572–1629), historian of the university of Cambridge, born at Ely in 1572, was the son of John Parker (1534–1592) [q. v.], archdeacon of Ely, and, after studying for four years in the free school there, he was, on 9 March 1589–90, admitted a pensioner of Caius College, Cambridge (Venn, Admissions to Gonville and Caius Coll. p. 70). He graduated B.A. in 1593–4, was elected a fellow of his college, commenced M.A. in 1597, and proceeded to the degree of B.D. in 1610. He became eminent as an antiquary, herald, and genealogist, and enjoyed the friendship of Camden and other learned men. On 25 Aug. 1610 he obtained the rectory of Little Wenden, Essex, and on 1 May 1615 the vicarage of Littlebury, in the same county (Newcourt, Repertorium, ii. 394, 651). He held both these preferments until his death, which took place before the last day of February 1628–9.
His principal work is ‘Σκελετὸς Cantabrigiensis, sive Collegiorum Umbratilis Delineatio, cum suis fundatoribus et benefactoribus plurimis. In qua etiam habes à fronte Hos​pitia Academiæ antiqua; à tergo vero Episcopos, qui ex hac Academia prodierunt supra annum abhinc centenarium,’ 1622. This work remained in manuscript till 1715, when it was printed by Hearne in his additions to vol. v. of Leland's ‘Collectanea.’ A translation into English, very indifferently executed, subsequently appeared under the title of ‘The History and Antiquities of the University of Cambridge,’ 2 parts. This translation is found with two title-pages, the first without date, ‘London: Printed for T. Warner at the Black Boy, in Pater-Noster Row;’ the second, ‘London: Printed for J. Bateman,’ &c., 1721, 8vo. It contains, in addition to Parker's history, a translation of the fabulous history of Nicholas Cantelupe, charters to King's and Trinity Colleges, the statutes of King's Hall, a catalogue of the chancellors, and a summary of the privileges of the university. The original manuscripts of the Latin work are preserved in the library of Caius College (Nos. 173 and 592).
He was also the author of: 2. ‘Censura Parvo-burgensis [i.e. Littlebury] in Catalogum Millesii Nobilitatis Anglo-Britannicæ,’ and ‘Appendix Parvo-burgensis cum supplemento,’ manuscripts in Caius College Library, No. 569. They correct numerous errors in the ‘Catalogue of Honour’ commenced by Robert Glover and published by Thomas Milles in 1610. 3. ‘A List of Arms and Names,’ in Caius College MSS. No. 561. 4. Verses (a) in the Cambridge University collection on the accession of James I, 1603; (b) in the university collection on the death of Henry, prince of Wales, 1612; (c) prefixed to Camden's ‘Britannia.’
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parker, John William

​PARKER, JOHN WILLIAM (1792–1870), publisher and printer, was born in 1792. His father was in the navy. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to William Clowes the elder (1779–1847), and became the manager of the printing business in Duke Street, Stamford Street, Blackfriars ​Road, London, established in Applegarth's old premises by Clowes. He was afterwards allowed to set up a small office of his own. In February 1829 Parker was engaged, on Clowes's recommendation, as superintendent of the Cambridge University press, and his practical suggestions converted the press from a source of loss to a source of profit to the university. In 1832 he left Clowes, and established himself at 445 Strand, where he was appointed publisher to the Christian Knowledge Society, and issued the ‘Saturday Magazine.’ A large variety of bibles, testaments, &c., were also on sale at the Cambridge Repository, which was the style of his house (Bent's Lit. Advertiser, July 1832). On the retirement of John Smith, he was formally made printer to the university of Cambridge, on 15 Nov. 1836, and thenceforth spent two days in Cambridge every fortnight. After a great deal of opposition he introduced steam-power, but the Bible Society long declined to purchase books thus printed. A handsome volume of specimens of bibles, testaments, and books of common prayer, was circulated by him in 1839. In the same year he was appointed publisher to the committee of council on education. He retired from the management of the Cambridge press in 1854. He devoted much attention to education, and was a warm friend and supporter of John Pyke Hullah [q. v.] He started a printing-office at the back of the Mews, Charing Cross, and afterwards removed to St. Martin's Lane, where he took Mr. Harrison into partnership, and ultimately relinquished the business to him. ‘Fraser's Magazine’ was published by him, as well as the writings of John Stuart Mill, Buckle, Lewes, Whewell, Whately, Hare, Maurice, Kingsley, Froude, and others.
After the death in 1860 of his eldest son, John William Parker (1820–1860), who had been in the business since 1843, Parker took into partnership William Butler Bourn, who had been his principal assistant for nearly thirty years. The business, including stocks and copyrights, was, however, sold in 1863 to Messrs. Longman. Parker died at Warren Corner House, near Farnham, Surrey, 18 May 1870, aged 78. He was twice married. By his first wife he left two daughters. His second wife, who survived him, was a daughter of Dr. Gideon Algernon Mantell [q. v.], the geologist; by her he left one son and two daughters.
H. R. T.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parker, Nicholas

This biography apparently mixes in the Pendennis posting, and presumably the Plymouth, of another Sir Nicholas Parker who died in 1603.
​PARKER, Sir NICHOLAS (1547–1619), military commander, son of Thomas Parker of Ratton in Sussex, by Eleanor, daughter of William Waller, was born in 1547. He is first mentioned as commanding the soldiers on board the galleon Leicester in Fenton's voyage in 1582 [see Fenton, Edward]. He afterwards served in the army in the Low Countries, and was knighted by Lord Willoughby in 1588. In 1589 he was ​master of the ordnance for the forces in France under Willoughby; in 1592 he commanded a hundred lances in the Low Countries, and had still the same command in April 1596. In September 1596 he wrote to Cecil, begging that in consideration of his long and faithful service in the wars, and of having had great losses, he might have a regiment, if any forces were sent to Flanders, ‘as a comfort for his latter days.’ In 1597 he had command of a detachment of soldiers in the Islands' voyage under Essex, and in October was appointed to command in Sussex, on threat of invasion. In 1598 he was deputy lieutenant of Cornwall, and governor of Pendennis Castle, in which post he continued apparently till his death, on 9 March 1619. He was also governor of Plymouth in succession to Sir Ferdinando Gorges [q. v.] from 1601 to 1603. In 1602 he was named in the charter of the Virginia Company as one of the adventurers; and another of them, Adrian Moore, married Parker's daughter Anne. After Moore's death she married Sir John Smith, a name whose frequency renders identification difficult.
J. K. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Teddeman, Thomas

​TEDDEMAN, Sir THOMAS (d. 1668?), vice-admiral, was presumably one of a family who had been shipowners at Dover at the close of the sixteenth century Defeat of the Spanish Armada, Navy Records Society, i. 86). His father, also Thomas, was still living at Dover in 1658, and is probably the man described as a jurate of Dover in a commission of 28 Oct. 1653. It is, however, impossible to discriminate between the two, and the jurate of 1653 may have been the future vice-admiral. In either case Teddeman does not seem to have served at sea during the civil war ; but in 1660 he commanded the Tredagh in the Mediterranean, and in May was cruising in the Straits of Gibraltar and as far east as Algiers ; on 31 May he met off Algiers six Spanish ships, which he chased into Gibraltar and under the guns of the forts. In November 1660 he was appointed captain of the Resolution; in May 1661 of the Fairfax. In 1663 he commanded the Kent, in which, in July, he carried the Earl of Carlisle to Archangel on an embassy to Russia. In May 1664 he was moved into the Revenge ; and in 1665, in the Royal Katherine, was rear-admiral of the blue squadron, with the Earl of Sandwich, in the action off Lowestoft. For this service he was knighted on 1 July. Afterwards, still with Sandwich, he was at the attack on Bergen and the subsequent capture of the Dutch East Indiamen [see Montagu, Edward, Earl of Sandwich]. Still in the Royal Katherine, he was vice-admiral of the blue squadron in the four days' fight, 1-4 June 1666, and vice-admiral of the white in the St. James's fight, 25 July. He had no command in 1667, and his name does not occur again. His contemporary, Captain Henry Teddeman, also of Dover, was ​presumably a brother; and the name was still in the 'Navy List' a hundred years later.
[Charnock's Biogr. Nav. i. 47; State Papers, Dom., Charles II (see Calendars).]
J. K. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Taylor, William (d.1423)

​TAYLOR, WILLIAM (d. 1423), heretic, graduated M.A. at Oxford, and took priest's orders. Under Archbishop Thomas Arundel [q. v.] he was apprehended for heresy. On the occasion of his trial he refused to adore the host, and said one might as well adore a spider, whereupon Thomas Netter [q. v.] says he saw with his own eyes a horrible spider drop from the roof right on to the blasphemer's mouth. On 12 Feb. 1420 he abjured and was absolved. On 5 May 1421 he was charged in convocation by the bishop of Worcester, to whose diocese he belonged, with three heretical doctrines. He was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, but was pardoned. On 11 Feb. 1423 he was tried for writing against the worship of saints in an attack on Thomas Smith, priest, of Bristol. Each order of friars preferred charges against him touching the doctrines of prayer, clerical lordship, divine right of kings, religious mendicancy, and the worship of the cross or of the saints. For these heresies, condemned at the council of Constance, he was degraded from his orders and burned at Smithfield, 1 March 1423.
[Shirley's Fasciculi Zizaniorum, pp. 412 sq.; Foxe's Actes and Monuments, iii. 581 sq. 848; Wilkins's Concilia, iii. 404; Netter's Doctrinale, ed. Blanciotti, ii. 387 a, iii. 687, 729.]
M. B.