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

​HICKSON, WILLIAM EDWARD (1803–1870), educational writer, born on 7 Jan. 1803, son of William Hickson, boot and shoe manufacturer, of Smithfield, London, by Matilda Underhill, his wife, was brought up to his father's business, in which he early became a partner. He retired in 1840 in order to devote himself to philanthropic and literary pursuits. He was one of the pioneers of national education, and in particular of popular musical culture. A composer of some merit, he published ‘The Singing Master: containing Instructions for Teaching Singing in Schools and Families,’ &c., London, 1836, 8vo, and ‘The Use of Singing as a part of the Moral Discipline of Schools. A Lecture delivered on 29 May 1838 before Members of the Sunday School Union,’ London, 1838, 8vo. Associated with Nassau Senior, the economist, on the royal commission appointed on 14 Sept. 1837 to inquire into the condition of the unemployed handloom weavers in Great Britain and Ireland, he threw himself with great zeal into the work, visiting all the principal seats of the industry in the three kingdoms. In 1840 he returned a separate report (ordered to be printed 11 Aug.), in which he advocated the repeal of the corn laws and the improvement of elementary education. He also signed the joint report of the commissioners (returned 19 Feb. 1841), which was much to the same effect.
In the autumn of 1839 Hickson made a tour in Holland, Belgium, and North Germany, in order to study the national school systems of those countries. The results of his observations appeared in June 1840 in the ‘Westminster Review,’ which he had just purchased, and which he edited until 1852. The article was also published in pamphlet form with a supplement containing the outlines of a scheme of national education based on Dutch and German methods, under the title ‘Dutch and German Schools,’ London, 1840, 8vo. Hickson also published ‘Part Singing; or Vocal Harmony for Choral Societies and Home Circles,’ London, 1842, 4 pts. 8vo, and ‘Time and Faith. An Inquiry into the Data of Ecclesiastical History,’ London, 1857, 2 vols. 8vo. He married, on 15 Sept. 1830, Jane Brown, and died at Fairseat, Sevenoaks, Kent, on 22 March 1870.
[Reports from commissioners; private information; Parl. Papers, 1840–1; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
J. M. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hicks, William (1621-1660)

​HICKS, WILLIAM (1621–1660), puritan, son of Nicholas Hicks, was born at Kerris in the parish of Paul, Cornwall, and baptised at Paul on 2 Jan. 1620–1. He was educated in the high school at Exeter and at Liskeard, and on 9 Feb. 1637–8 matriculated as a commoner at Wadham College, Oxford, where he ‘ran through the classes of logic and philosophy.’ Recalled to his native county at the beginning of the civil war, before he had taken a degree, he was, by his relatives, put in arms against the king, and, according to Wood, ‘became so fanatical in his opinion that he was esteemed by some to be little better than an anabaptist.’ He was appointed a captain in the trained bands, and was noted for his zeal against the royalists. He died at Kerris in February, and was buried in the parish church of Paul on 3 March 1659–60.
He published: ‘Ἀποκάλυψις Ἀποκάλυψεως, or the Revelation Revealed, being a practical exposition of the Revelation of St. John. Whereunto is annexed a small Essay, entituled Quinto-Monarchiæ, cum quarto Ὁμολογία, or A Friendly Complyance between Christ's Monarchy and the magistrates,’ Lond. 1659 and 1661, fol., dedicated to Sir Richard Chyverton, late lord mayor of London. Copies of the latter date have a portrait, engraved by David Loggan, of the author in a cloak. Wood states that the real author of the ‘Quinto-Monarchiæ’ was Hicks's kinsman, Alexander Harrie, a minister's son in Cornwall, B.D., and sometime fellow of Exeter College, Oxford.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, iii. 489; Gairdner's Register of Wadham College, p. 136; Granger's Biog. Hist. of England, 5th edit. iv. 47; Boase and Courtney's Bibl. Cornubiensis, p. 238.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hickman, Charles

​HICKMAN, CHARLES, D.D. (1648–1713), bishop of Derry, son of William Hickman of Barnack, county of Northampton, gent., born in 1648, became a king's scholar of Westminster School in 1665, and was elected to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1667, proceeding B.A. 1671, M.A. 1674, B.D. 1684, and D.D. 1685. Having taken holy orders he became chaplain to Laurence Hyde [q. v.], earl of Rochester (lord-lieutenant of Ireland 1701–3), to William III and Queen Mary, and to Queen Anne. Hickman was lecturer at St. James's, Westminster, and rector of Burnham, Buckinghamshire, from 1698 to 1702. He was promoted to the see of Derry at Rochester's request, 11 June 1703, but lived chiefly in England, dying at Fulham on 28 Nov. 1713. He was buried in the south aisle, Westminster Abbey. His portrait by Dahl is in the hall at Christ Church. Archbishop William King [q. v.] of Dublin, who preceded Hickman as bishop of Derry, mentions him with some acrimony as one ‘who rooted up and destroyed a large flourishing wood, which I with care and cost had planted whilst at Londonderry.’ Hickman printed at least nine single sermons, a ‘Volume of Fourteen Sermons preacht on Seueral Occasions’ (with portrait), London, 1706, which reached a second edition (1724), and another volume of ‘Twelve Sermons preacht at St. James's, Westminster,’ London, 1713. He married, in April 1703, Anne, daughter of Sir Roger Burgoyne, second baronet, who predeceased him, leaving an only child, Anne.
[Ware's Bishops; Cotton's Fasti; Westminster Abbey Register; Welch's Alumni Westmon. pp. 161, 163; Wood's Athenæ (Bliss), iv. 655–6; Fasti, pp. 327, 344, 393–4.]
W. R-l.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hicks, William (fl.1671)

​HICKS, WILLIAM, called Captain Hicks (fl. 1671), editor of drolleries, was born in St. Thomas's parish, Oxford, of poor and dissolute parents. He began life as a tapster at the Star Inn, Oxford; at the outbreak of the civil war he became a retainer to the family of Lucas in Colchester; and afterwards was a clerk to a woodmonger in Deptford, where, ‘training the young men and putting them in a posture of defence, upon the restoration of King Charles II, he obtained the name of Captain Hicks, and was there living in 1669 when his book of jests was published’ (Wood). In 1671 he published ‘Oxford Drollery; Being new Poems and Songs. The first Part, composed by W. H. The Second and third Parts being, upon several occasions, made by the most Eminent and Ingenious Wits of the said University,’ Oxford, 8vo. Prefixed is a rhyming address to the reader, dated from Shipton-upon-Cherwell, 25 July 1670. Among the poets whom Hicks laid under contribution were Cartwright, Lovelace, Suckling, &c. The pieces included are often somewhat licentious; and the captain's own verses are particularly indelicate. The success of the ‘Oxford Drollery’ led Hicks to issue ‘Grammatical Drollery, consisting of Poems and Songs. Wherein the Rules of the Nouns and Verbs in the Accedence are pleasantly made easie,’ London, 1682, 8vo. Pages 1–30 are taken up with the ‘Grammatical Drollery,’ and the rest of the book (pp. 31–117) consists of loose and humorous poems by various writers. Hicks's ‘Oxford Jests,’ first printed in 1669 (as we gather from Wood), were ‘refined and enlarged’ in 1684, 1720, &c. Another popular jest-book compiled by Hicks was ‘Coffee House Jests,’ of which a third edition appeared in 1684. Wood, who seems to have had personal knowledge of him, says: ‘This Hicks … was a sharking and indigent fellow while he lived in Oxon and a great pretender to the art of dancing (which he, forsooth, would sometimes teach).’ In addition to the works already mentioned, he issued ‘other little trivial matters merely to get bread and make the pot walk.’ The Drolleries are of some rarity.
[Wood's Athenæ, ed. Bliss, iii. 490.]
A. H. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hickman, Francis

​HICKMAN, FRANCIS (fl. 1690), scholar, born about 1663, was fourth son of Sir William Hickman, bart., of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, by Elizabeth, daughter of John Nevile of Mattersey, Nottingham. He became a king's scholar at Westminster School in 1676, and proceeded in 1681 to Christ Church, Oxford. In 1685 he graduated B.A., and M.A. in 1688 (Wood, Fasti Oxon. ii. 395, 403). He became a nonjuror in 1688, but did not lose his student's place at Christ Church, because his name happened, Wood says, not to be mentioned in the act of deprivation. In 1693 Hickman delivered the Bodleian oration. The date of his death is unknown. His only known literary remains are two Latin poems in the ‘Musæ Anglicanæ,’ ii. 108–13, upon an exploit of Ormonde in Ireland and upon the death of Charles II. He also co-operated in Atterbury's Latin translation of Dryden's ‘Absolom and Achitophel’ (1682).
[Wood's Athenæ, ed. Bliss, iv. 666; Wood's Fasti, ii. 395, 403; Atterbury's Corresp. i. 28, iii. 235–6; Musæ Anglicanæ; Welch's Alumni Westmon. pp. 190–1; Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies.]
T. E. J.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beard, William

​BEARD, WILLIAM (1772–1868), bone collector, the son of a farmer at Banwell, Somerset, was born on 24 April 1772. He received such education as the parish clerk, who was also the schoolmaster of the village, could give him. Like his father, he worked on the land. He married and bought a small estate, which he farmed himself. Excited by the tradition that Banwell Hill contained a large cavern, he persuaded two miners to join him (September 1824) in sinking a shaft. 'At a depth of about 100 feet they came to a stalactite cave. While making a second opening lower down the side of the hill, in order to form a better approach to this cave, he discovered a smaller cavern containing animal bones. With some help procured for him by the Bishop of Bath and Wells (G. H. Law), to whom the land belonged, Beard dug out the cavern, and found among the débris a number of bones of the bear, buffalo, reindeer, wolf, &c. Captivated with his discovery, he let his land, and spent all his time in searching for bones and putting them together. He acted as guide to the many visitors who came to see the cavern and the bones he collected. ​He soon learned something of the scientific importance of his discoveries, and became an eager collector of the contents of the bone-caves of the neighbourhood, at Hutton, Bleadon, and Sandford. He was a reserved man, of quaint manners, and with a high opinion of his own skill. The nickname of the 'Professor' given him by the bishop greatly pleased him, and he was generally called by it. He died on 9 Jan. 1868 in his ninety-sixth year. He retained his bodily and mental activity almost to the day of his death. He was a small man, of short stature and light build. There is a bust of him in Banwell churchyard, and an engraving representing him at the age of seventy-seven in Rutter's 'Delineations of Somersetshire.' His collection of bones was bought by the Somersetshire Archæological and Natural History Society, and is now in the museum at Taunton Castle. Some idea of its value may be gained from the fact that it includes a large number of the bones of the Felis spelæa, one skull being the most perfect that has been found in England.
W. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beardmore, Nathaniel

The subject was the author's father-in-law
​BEARDMORE, NATHANIEL (1816–1872), civil engineer, was born at Nottingham on 19 March 1816. He began his professional education as pupil to a Plymouth architect, and subsequently to the well-known engineer Mr. J. M. Rendel, whose partner he ultimately became. Much of the experience be obtained respecting water supplies and so forth was gained in works undertaken at this time. His partnership with Mr. Rendel ceased in 1848. In 1850 Beardmore became sole engineer to the works for the drainage and navigation of the river Lee. In the same year appeared, with the title of 'Hydraulic Tables,' the first edition of a book which, under the fuller description of 'Manual of Hydrology; containing I. Hydraulic and other Tables; II. Rivers, Flow of Water, Springs, Wells, and Percolation; III. Tides, Estuaries, and Tidal Rivers; IV. Rain-fall and Evaporation,' afterwards became the text-book of the profession for hydraulic engineering. The above title is that of the third and enlarged edition, which appeared in 1862. During the remaining ten years of his life Beardmore's practice as an engineer was greatly extended by this work. He died on 24 Aug. 1872, at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, whither he had moved in 1855.
A. D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beatson, Alexander

​BEATSON, ALEXANDER (1759–1833), lieutenant-general in the East India Company's service, governor of St. Helena, and experimental agriculturist, was second son of Robert Beatson, Esq., of Kilrie, co. Fife. He obtained a cadetship in 1775, and was appointed to an ensigncy in the Madras infantry, 21 Nov. 1776. He served as an engineer officer in the war with Hyder Ali, although he appears never to have belonged to the engineers. As lieutenant, he served with the Guides in Lord Cornwallis's campaigns against Tippoo Sultaun; and eight years after, as a field officer, was surveyor-general with the army under Lieutenant-general Harris, which captured Seringapatam in 1799. He attained the rank of colonel 1 Jan. 1801.
After he had quitted India, Beatson was appointed to the governorship of St. Helena, which he held from 1808 to 1813. The island, which then belonged to the East India Company, was in a very unsatisfactory condition. The scanty population had been nearly swept off by an epidemic of measles a short time previously, and, although recruited by emigrants from England and by Chinese coolies, was in a wretched state. The acts of the home authorities in suppressing the spirit traffic and other matters gave rise to great discontent, resulting in a mutiny in 1811, which was put down by the firmness of Beatson, who also introduced a better system of cultivation and many other beneficial measures. After his return to England, he devoted much attention to experiments in agriculture at Knole farm near Tunbridge Wells, and Henley, Essex. He became major-general July 1810, lieutenant-general June 1814, and died 14 July 1833.
Beatson was the author of the following works: 1. 'An Account of the Isles of France and Bourbon,' 1794, which was never printed, and remains in manuscript at the British Museum (Add. MS. 13868). 2. 'A View of the Origin and Conduct of the War against Tippoo Sultaun' (London, 1800, 4to). 3. 'Tracts relative to the Island of St. Helena,' with views (London, 1816, 4to), and other smaller works on the island besides contributions to the St. Helena 'Monthly Register.' 4. 'A New System of Cultivation without Lime or Dung, or Summer Fallowing, as practised at Knole Farm, Sussex' (London, 1820, 8vo); and various papers on improvements in agriculture.
H. M. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beatson, Benjamin Wrigglesworth

​BEATSON, BENJAMIN WRIGGLESWORTH (1803–1874), classical scholar, was educated first at Merchant Taylors' School, and afterwards at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1825 and M.A. in 1828. He was elected a fellow of his college soon after taking his first degree, and was senior fellow at the time of his death (24 July 1874). He compiled the 'Index Græcitatis Æschyleæ,' which was published at Cambridge in 1830 in the first volume of the 'Index in Tragicos Græcos.' An edition of Ainsworth's 'Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ,' revised by Beatson, was issued in 1829, and republished in 1830 and in 1860. His other works were : 1. 'Progressive Exercises on the Composition of Greek Iambic Verse . . . For the use of King's School, Canterbury,' Cambridge, 1836; a popular school book, which reached a tenth edition in 1871. 2. 'Exercises on Latin Prose Composition,' 1840. 3. 'Lessons in Ancient History,' 1853. ​4. An edition of Demosthenes' Oration against the Law of Leptines, 1864.
[Athenæum, 1 Aug. 1874; Luard's Grad. Cantab. 1760-1856; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bowes, Marmaduke

​BOWES, MARMADUKE (d. 1585), catholic martyr, is described as a substantial Yorkshire yeoman, of Angram Grange, near Appleton, in Cleveland. He was much divided on religious questions, but refused to declare himself a catholic, although he sympathised strongly with the catholic cause. According to the recollections of Grace, wife of Sir Ralph Babthorpe of Babthorpe, Yorkshire, Bowes was a married man, and 'kept a schoolmaster to teach his children.' The tutor, himself a catholic, was arrested and apostatised. The fellow thereupon reported to the council at York that Bowes, who, according to catholic testimony, was 'no catholic, but a poor schismatic,' was in the habit of entertaining catholic priests. Bowes was summoned to answer this complaint, and was ordered to appear at the August assizes of 1585. There he was indicted, condemned, and hanged, 'and, as it was reported, in his boots and spurs as he came to the town. He died very willingly and professed his faith [i.e. was openly converted to catholicism], with great repentance that he had lived in schism.' He suffered on 17 Nov. 1585 under the recent statute (27 Eliz.) against harbouring priests. Hugh Taylor, a seminary priest, who had stayed with him some time previously, was hanged about the same time.
[Morris's Troubles of our Catholic Forefathers, i. 244, iii. passim; Dodd's Church History, ii. 154; Challoner's Missionary Priests, i. 85.]
S. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bowes, Paul

​BOWES, PAUL (d. 1702), editor of D'Ewes's 'Journals,' was the second son of Sir Thomas Bowes, knight, of Great Bromley, Essex, the notorious witch-persecutor, by Mary, third daughter of Paul D'Ewes, one of the six clerks in chancery. He was born at Great Bromley, and after being educated in the school at Moulton, Norfolk, was admitted a pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, 21 Dec. 1650. He took no degree; indeed, he does not appear to have matriculated. Having fixed on the law for his future profession, he was on 12 May 1654 entered of the Middle Temple, and being called to the bar by that society 10 May 1661, became a bencher on 24 Oct. 1679. In addition to his professional acquirements, he possessed a taste for history and antiquities, and he edited the manuscript work of his celebrated uncle, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, entitled 'The Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, both of the House of Lords and House of Commons,' folio, London, 1682. Other editions appeared in 1693 and 1708. Bowes was elected a fellow of the Royal Society 30 Nov. 1699, and, dying in June 1702, was buried 3 July at St. Dunstan's-in-the-West, Fleet Street. By his wife Bridget, daughter of Thomas Sturges of the Middle Temple, he left issue three sons and two daughters. His will, dated 5 Aug. 1699 (with two codicils dated 17 April and 12 Aug. 1701), was proved by his widow and sole executrix, 16 July 1702. Besides property in Lincolnshire, Suffolk, and Essex, he was possessed, in 1700, of the manor of Rushton, Stokeford, and Binnegar in East Stoke, Dorsetshire. Mrs. Bowes died in 1706. The eldest son, Martin, born in London, was also a pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was admitted 16 April 1686, at the age of sixteen, but left without taking a degree. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward Thurland of Reigate, Surrey, and afterwards settled at Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk, where he died in 1726. His second daughter, Ann, became, in 1732, the wife of Philip Broke of Nacton.
[Autobiography and Correspondence of Sir Simonds D'Ewes, ii. 17-18; Admissions to the College of St. John the Evangelist, ed. J. E. B. Mayor, p. 98; Admission Book of Middle Temple; Notes and Queries, 1st ser. ii. 70, vii. 517, 3rd ser. v. 247, 330; St. Dunstan's Register; Hutchins's Dorsetshire, 3rd ed. i. 421; Morant's Essex, i. 250, 442, ii. 36; Wills reg. in P. C. C. 91 Bath, 140 Eedes, 177 Plymouth; Harl. MSS. 374, ff. 315, 316, 1542, f. 148; Page's Supplement to Suffolk Traveller, p. 61; Gent. Mag. iii. 45.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bowes, Robert (1535?-1597)

1904 Errata appended.
​BOWES, ROBERT (1535?–1597), English ambassador to Scotland, fifth son of Richard Bowes and Elizabeth Aske [see Bowes, Elizabeth], married first Anne, daughter of Sir George Bowes of Dalden, and in 1566 Eleanor, daughter of Sir Richard Musgrave of Eden Hall. He served under his father in the defence of the borders. In 1569 he was sheriff of the county palatine of Durham, and helped his brother, Sir George Bowes [q. v.], to hold Barnard Castle against the rebel earls. Afterwards he was sent in command of a troop of horse to protect the west marches. In 1571 he was elected M.P. for Carlisle. In 1575 he was appointed treasurer of Berwick, and in this capacity had many dealings with the Scottish court. In 1577 he was appointed ambassador in Scotland, where he had a difficult task to perform. His object was to counteract the influence of France, retain a hold on James VI, keep together a party that was favourable to England, and promote disunion among the Scottish nobles. His letters to Burghley, Walsingham, and Leicester are of the greatest importance for a knowledge of Scottish affairs between 1577 and 1583. In 1578 he managed by his tact to compose a quarrel between Morton and the privy council which threatened to plunge Scotland into civil war (Bowes's Correspondence, 6, 11). In 1581 he was busily employed in endeavouring to counteract the growing influence of Esme Stewart, lord of Aubigné, over James VI. He witnessed the events which led to the raid of Ruthven and D'Aubigné's fall. He tried hard to gain possession of the casket letters, which after Morton's death were said to have come into the hands of the Earl of Gowrie, but his attempts failed. He was weary of his arduous task in Scotland, and managed to procure his recall in 1583. But he still held the post of treasurer of Berwick, and was often employed on diplomatic missions in Scotland, though the affairs were not afterwards of so much importance. Like his brother, Sir George, he worked for the penurious Elizabeth at his own cost, and was rewarded by no substantial tokens of the royal gratitude. He wrote in 1596: 'I shall either purchase my liberty, or at least lycence to come to my house for a tyme to put in order my broken estate before the end of my dayes.' This satisfaction was, however, denied him. Elizabeth held him at his post, and he died in Berwick in 1597.
[The letters of Robert Bowes are published by Stevenson, 'The Correspondence of Robert Bowes, of Aske, Esquire' (Surtees Soc. 1842). For his life see Stevenson's Preface, and Sharp's Memorials of the Rebellion, p. 30.]
M. C.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.34 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 62 | ii | 7 | Bowes, Robert : for In 1571 read He had been M.P. for Knaresborough 1562-7. In 1572 |
| | | 8 | for Carlisle read Appleby and he was M.P. for Cumberland 1584-5, 1586-7, and 1588-9 |