OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Johnson, Charles (fl.1724-1736)

​JOHNSON, Captain CHARLES (fl. 1724–1736), was author of ‘A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates, and also their Policies, Discipline, and Government from their first Rise and Settlement in 1717 to the present year, with the Adventures of the two Female Pyrates, Mary Read and Anne Bonny,’ London, Ch. Rivington and others, 1724, 8vo. The writer, whose name is most likely an assumed one, states in the preface that ‘those facts which he himself was not an eye-witness of he had from the authentick relations of the persons concerned in taking the pyrates, as well as from the mouths of the pyrates themselves, after they were taken.’ The book deals exclusively with English pirates, including Avery, Davis, Roberts, and ten others; it soon became popular. A ‘second edition, with considerable additions,’ was published in 1724, a third edition in 1725, and a fourth, with a second volume, with additional lives and an appendix, in 1726. Some of the lives are reproduced by Mr. Howard Pyle in ‘The Buccaneers and Marooners of America,’ 1891, 8vo. The first volume was translated into Dutch by Robert Hennebo, Amsterdam, 1727, 2 vols. 12mo, with new illustrations; a German version by Joachim Meyer was printed at Gosslar ​1728, 12mo, and it appeared in French as an appendix to an edition of Exquemelen's ‘Histoire des Avanturiers,’ 1726, vol. iv. The second volume was reprinted at Norwich, 1814, 12mo.
In 1734 was published ‘A General History of the Lives and Adventures of the most famous Highwaymen, Murderers, Street Robbers, &c., to which is added a genuine Account of the Voyages and Plunders of the most notorious Pyrates, interspersed with several diverting Tales and pleasant Songs, and adorned with the Heads of the most remarkable Villains in copper.’ The authorship is ascribed to ‘Captain Charles Johnson;’ the book, a handsome folio, was published in seventy-two weekly twopenny numbers; some copies bear the date of 1736. The original edition is very rare, and is sought after for the plates, as well as for the letterpress, which is more sprightly than decent. Johnson's ‘Highwaymen,’ however, is merely a reprint of Captain Alexander Smith's ‘Highwaymen’ (1714 and other editions), with the addition of most of the lives of the ‘Pyrates’ (editorially improved), included in the first volume mentioned above. The book was reprinted in a smaller size and with inferior engravings at Birmingham, 1742, fol. The text is bowdlerised in the subsequent editions of Edinburgh, 1814, and London, 1839 (Tegg), with additions by C. Whitehead, 1840, 1842 (Bohn), and 1853.
[Lowndes's Bibliographer's Manual (H. G. Bohn), iii. 1214, with list of plates in Lives of the Highwaymen, 1734.]
H. R. T.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Johnson, Christopher

​JOHNSON or JONSON, CHRISTOPHER (1536?–1597), Latin poet and physician, born about 1536, at Kedleston in Derbyshire, became a scholar at Winchester College in 1549; proceeded thence to New College, Oxford, and was made perpetual fellow in 1555. He graduated B.A. in 1558, and M.A. in 1561 (Oxf. Univ. Reg., Oxf. Hist. Soc., i. 234). In 1560 he was, on a recommendation made to Archbishop Parker by Francis Hastings, second earl of Huntingdon [q. v.], appointed to the head-mastership of Winchester College. There he remained ten years, and distinguished himself by ‘his industry and admirable way of teaching.’ In 1564 he edited and caused to be printed for the use of his scholars two orations delivered at Louvain by Richard White (of Basingstoke), ‘De circulo Artium et Philosophiæ,’ and ‘De Eloquentiâ et Cicerone.’ In 1568 White dedicated to him a short Latin dissertation on an ancient epitaph (‘Ælia Lælia Crispis. Epitaphium,’ &c., Padua, 4to).
Johnson, who had always intended to become a physician, practised in Winchester while he was still head-master. He was granted the degree of bachelor of medicine at Oxford, with license to practise, 14 Dec. 1569, and proceeded M.D. 23 June 1571. In 1570 he resigned his post at Winchester, and moved to London, where he practised with great success in the parish of St. Dunstan-in-the-West. He was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians about 1580, and filled several of the college offices: as censor in 1581 and several subsequent years; elect, 28 May 1594; consiliarius, 1594–6; treasurer, 1594–6. He died in July 1597 in London, leaving a considerable fortune and several children.
Johnson was reckoned the most elegant Latin poet of his time. He published ‘Ranarum et murium pugna, Latina versione donata, ex Homero,’ 4to, London, 1580, and wrote three poems in connection with Winchester, ‘Ortus atque vita Gul. Wykehami Winton. Episcopi,’ dated 14 Dec. 1564, in elegiacs; ‘Custodum sive Præsidum Coll. Winton. series;’ and ‘Didascalorum Coll. Wint. omnium Elenchus.’ All were published at the close of Richard Willes's ‘Poemata’ in 1573. In the British Museum (Addit. MS. 4379) are ‘Themes and Declamations at Winchester School,’ by Johnson. His only medical work is a ‘Counsel against the Plague, or any other Infectious Disease,’ with a ‘Question, Whether a man for preservation may be purged in the Dog-days or No?’ 8vo, London, 1577.
[Munk's Coll. of Phys. i. 76; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss i. 659; Tanner's Bibl. Brit. p. 442; Kirby's Winchester Scholars, s.v. ‘Jonson,’ pp. 128, 136.]
W. A. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Johnson, Edward (1599?-1672)

​JOHNSON, EDWARD (1599?–1672), historian of New England, born at Herne Hill, Kent, about 1599, was by trade a joiner. He went to America in 1630, probably in the fleet of Governor Winthrop, for on 19 Oct. of that year he was among the petitioners for admission as freemen of Massachusetts (Savage, Genealog. Dict. ii. 550–1). After living some time at Charlestown, or Salem, he returned home in 1636 or 1637 to bring over his family (Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 3rd ser. viii. 276), and again settled at Charlestown. When in 1642 it was determined to erect a new town and church, now called Woburn, Johnson became one of the committee of organisation. ​In 1643 he went with Captain Cook and forty men to Providence to seize John Gorton [q. v.] In the same year he was chosen to represent Woburn in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and was annually re-elected (except in 1648) until 1671. He also held the town-clerkship from 1642 till his death, and was captain of the military company. In 1655 he was speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and in 1665 he was one of the commissioners to meet Robert Carr, George Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick on their return from a mission to England. He died at Woburn on 23 April 1672. By his wife Susan he had five sons and two daughters.
Johnson is author of a valuable ‘History of New England from the English Planting in 1628 untill 1652’ [anon.], 4to, London, 1654, more generally known from its subtitle as ‘Wonder-working Providence of Zion's Saviour in New England.’ It forms part iii. of Sir F. Gorges's ‘America painted to the Life,’ 1659; and has been reprinted in the second series of the ‘Collections’ of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and again with notes by W. F. Poole in 1867.
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lofthouse, Mary

(Emma Judith) Mary Forster in the ODNB.
​LOFTHOUSE, MARY (1853–1885), water-colour painter, born in 1853, was daughter of T. B. W. Forster, a landscape-painter, of Holt Manor in Wiltshire. As Miss Mary Forster she attained some distinction as a water-colour painter, and her works were much admired at the Exhibition of Lady Artists in Great Marlborough Street, London. In 1884 she was elected an associate of the Royal Society of Painters in Water-colours. In the same year she married Samuel H. S. Lofthouse, barrister-at-law, but died on 2 May 1885 at Elmbank, Lower Halliford-on-Thames. A painting of ‘Pembroke Castle,’ in the Exhibition of the Royal Society of Painters in Water-colours that year, was attracting very favourable attention at the time of her death.
[Times, 5 May 1885; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Franciscus a Sanctâ Clarâ

​FRANCISCUS à Santa Clara. [See Davenport.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Francis, Thomas

​FRANCIS, THOMAS, M.D. (d. 1574), president of the College of Physicians, a native of Chester, was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, as a member of which he was admitted B.A. 19 June 1540, and M.A. 7 July 1544. 'After he had taken the degree of M. of A.,' says Wood, ' he applyed his studies to the theological faculty, but the encouragement thereof being in these days but little, he transfer'd himself to the school of physicians, and, with the consent and approbation of Dr. Wryght, the vice-chancellor, was entred on the physic line, 4 [7] Aug. 1550. In the year after, I find him supplying the place and office of the king's professor of physic, being, I presume, only deputy for Dr. John Warner' (Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 143-4). He received the degree of M.B. and license to practise 9 March 1554-5, and commenced M.D. on the following 29 July (Reg. of Univ. of Oxford, Oxf. Hist. Soc. i. 198, 299). In the beginning of 1554-5 he succeeded Warner in the regius professorship, which he resigned in 1561 to become provost of Queen's College. The appointment was not a popular one, and 'serious disturbances' took place at his inauguration (Letter of Francis, Calfhill, and others to ​Cecil, dated from Oxford, 11 May 1561 in Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1547-80, p. 175). He retired from the provostship in 1563. He was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians, 21 Oct. 1560, at the comitia specially convened for that purpose. He was censor in 1561 and the three following years; was provisionally named elect 30 Sept. 1562 in place of Dr. John Clement, 'a second time gone abroad,' and was definitely appointed to that office 12 May 1564. He was president of the college in 1568, and consiliarius in 1571. Francis was physician in ordinary to Queen Elizabeth, and, according to Wood, much respected by her. While president he had some trouble with the quack Eliseus Bomelius [q. v.], whom he was obliged to prosecute for practising physic without a license from the college. Bomelius in his letters to Cecil offered to expose the ignorance of Francis in Latin and astronomy, but at the prospect of his enlargement apologised for having circulated such false statements (ib. pp. 292, 304). Francis lived in Silver Street, in the parish of St. Olave, London. He died in 1574. By his will, dated 8 April and proved 9 Nov. 1574, though he left his wife Anne comfortably provided for, he was more solicitous for the welfare of one 'Edwarde Marbecke alias ffraunces, a yonge childe, nowe or late withe me in house dwellinge.' He names as his executors Roger Marbeck and John Riche (will registered in P. C. C. 41, Martyn).
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Francis, George William

​FRANCIS, GEORGE WILLIAM (1800–1865), botanical writer, was born in London in 1800. Besides the works enumerated below, he edited the first five volumes of the ‘Magazine of Science and School of Arts,’ 1840–5. His family increasing he emigrated to Australia, arriving in the colony by the Louisa Baillie 2 Sept. 1849. Shortly after his arrival he took the old botanical garden, north of the Torrens river, as a yearly tenant, and was subsequently appointed director of the Adelaide botanic garden. This position he held until his death, after a long illness, of dropsy on 9 Aug. 1865; he was buried the next day. He left a widow and ten children.
He published:
* ‘Catalogue of British Plants and Ferns,’ 1835; 5th edition, 1840.
* ‘Analysis of British Ferns,’ 1837; 5th edition, 1855.
* ‘Little English Flora,’ 1839.
* ‘Grammar of Botany,’ 1840.
* ‘Chemical Experiments,’ 1842, abridged by W. White, 1851, and republished as ‘Chemistry for Students.’
* ‘Favourites of the Flower Garden,’ 1844.
* ‘Manual of Practical Levelling for Railways and Canals,’ 1846.
* ‘Art of Modelling Wax Flowers,’ 1849.
* ‘Electrical Experiments,’ 8th edition, 1855.
* ‘Dict. Practical Receipts,’ new edition, 1857.
* ‘Acclimatisation of Animals and Plants,’ Royal Society, South Australia, 1862.
[South Australian Register, 10 Aug. 1865.]
B. D. J.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Francis, John (1780-1861)

​FRANCIS, JOHN (1780–1861), sculptor, was born in Lincolnshire 3 Sept. 1780, and brought up to farming, but showing some talent for the arts, he was advised by a few friends to settle in London, where he became a pupil of Chantrey. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1820 a bust of T. W. Coke, esq., and another of Captain Sir W. Bolton, R.N. At this period his residence was at Thornham, Norfolk. In 1822, when he sent to the same institution a bust of Miss Horatia Nelson, he was living at 2 New Norfolk Street, Park Lane. In 1844 he executed by command of her majesty in marble a bust of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and a few years earlier a bust of Queen Victoria, now in the hall of the Reform Club. About this period Francis removed to 56 Albany Street, Regent's Park. Among his other works may be mentioned the following: Busts of the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk (1844); bust in bronze of the Duke of Sussex (1847); marble bust of Lord John Russell, now in the National Portrait Gallery (1848); a bronze medal of Eos, a favourite greyhound of Prince Albert (1848); marble bust of the Hon. Edward Petre (1848); four busts, in marble, of various members of the Eaton family (1851); posthumous bust of the Earl of Carlisle (1852); bust of the Duke of Wellington, now in the National Portrait Gallery (1852); posthumous bust of the Hon. and Rev. James Norton (1854); bust of Vice-admiral Sir Charles Napier (1855); cabinet bust of the Right Hon. Earl of Aberdeen (1856). Francis died in Albany Street, 30 Aug. 1861.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists.]
L. F.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Francis, James Goodall

​FRANCIS, JAMES GOODALL (1819–1884), Australian statesman, was born in London in 1819. In 1834 he arrived in Tasmania. He obtained employment in the firm of Boys & Pointer at Hobart. In 1847 the business was transferred to himself together with a partner named Macpherson. In 1853 the firm, Francis & Macpherson, opened a branch establishment in Victoria. Francis became managing partner there and took up his permanent residence in Melbourne. His position rapidly grew in influence. He became director of the bank of New South Wales in 1855, vice-president of the chamber of commerce in 1856, and president in 1857. In ​October 1859 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly (the Lower House) for Richmond, and he sat in the house for the same constituency till his retirement fifteen years later. He entered the cabinet of William Nicholson on 25 Nov. 1859 as vice-president of the Board of Lands and Works and commissioner of public works. He held the office till 3 Sept. 1860. When James M'Culloch formed a ministry on 27 June 1863, Francis became commissioner of trade and customs, and retired with his chief 6 May 1868. M'Culloch held office for a third time, 9 April 1870–19 June 1871, when Francis joined him as treasurer. Francis supported the protectionist revision of the tariff, 1865–6, and was always a protectionist, although he deemed five and ten per cent. duties adequate to protect native industries. After the fall of Charles Gavan Duffy's administration in June 1872, Francis was entrusted by Viscount Canterbury, the governor, with the formation of a ministry. He retired on 3 July 1874, having passed a free education act and other important measures, including railway bills involving an expenditure of 2,250,000l. A dangerous attack of pleurisy was the chief cause of his resignation. On recovery he paid a long visit to England. In 1878 he reentered political life, and was returned to the Victoria Assembly as member for Warrnambool. On the retirement of Sir James m'Culloch he took office once again under James Service, but a painful illness compelled him to retire into private life in 1882. Francis frequently declined the honour of knighthood, and business reasons prevented his acceptance of the post of agent-general for the colony in London, when offered him by Sir Bryan O'Loghlan. Francis was not a polished speaker, but his integrity gave him enormous influence in the assembly. As premier he avoided constitutional strife or sensational appeals to the people. His practical good sense was widely appreciated. He died at Queenscliff, Victoria, on 25 Jan. 1884, and was buried privately, according to the wishes of his family, on 28 Jan.
[Private information; Heaton's Australian Dict. pp. 72–3, 160–2; Times, 29 Jan. 1884.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Keeble, John

​KEEBLE, JOHN (1711–1786), organist, musical composer, and writer, was born in 1711 at Chichester, and was chorister of the cathedral under Thomas Kelway [q. v.] In 1734–5 Keeble, with Boyce, Travers, and others, frequented Dr. Pepusch's lectures, and fell under the spell of his admiration for the music of the Greeks. On the retirement of Rosingrave, 1737, Keeble became organist of St. George's, Hanover Square. It has been said that Handel recommended him for this post in preference to Matthison (A. B. C. Dario, Musicians, p. 31). Keeble was also organist at Ranelagh Gardens from the opening in 1742. As a teacher of the harpsichord he had many pupils. He died on 24 Dec. 1786 at his house in Conduit Street, but was buried, according to his wish, at Ramsholt in Suffolk, by the side of his wife. His daughter Sally married Captain Thomas Hamilton.
Keeble published:
* Select pieces for the organ or harpsichord; four sets of six pieces were collected in a volume about 1780.
* ‘The Theory of Harmonics, or an Illustration of the Grecian Harmonica,’ London, 1784. Part i. dealt with the systems of Euclid, Aristoxenus, and Bacchius; part ii. with the doctrine of the Ratio, and the explanation of the two diagrams of the Gaudentius and the Pythagorean numbers in Nicomachus. This work was full of ingenious ideas, and the diagrams of strings and ratios proved of some interest (see severely critical articles in the Monthly Review, November 1785, pp. 343, 441; and a more favourable notice in the European Magazine, 1785, pp. 186, 355, 431).
* In conjunction with Jacob Kirkman [q. v.], ‘Forty Interludes to be played between the verses of the Psalms,’ London, 1795.
[Burney's Hist. of Music, iv. 265; Boyce's Cathedral Music, i. 2; Grove's Dictionary, ii. 48; Gent. Mag. lxxviii. 581; Registers of Wills, P. C. C., Book Major, f. 29; Registers of the parish of Ramsholt, by the courtesy of the Rev. A. Tighe-Gregory.]
L. M. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Keegan, John

​KEEGAN, JOHN (1809–1849), Irish ballad-writer, was born in 1809 at a small farmhouse on the banks of the Nore, Queen's County, and was educated by wandering hedge-schoolmasters. When very young he began to write verses, but lived a peasant's life, suffered much from the famine of 1845–6, and died in poor circumstances in 1849. Many of his ballads appeared in ‘Dolman's Magazine;’ some are contained in Hayes's ‘Ballads of Ireland’ and in the compilation known as ‘The Harp of Erin.’ At the time of his death Keegan was preparing a collected edition of his poems, which never, however, appeared.
[The Irishman, 28 Oct. 1876; Hayes's Ballads of Ireland; Webb's Compendium of Irish Biog.; Men of the Reign.]
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kedington, Roger

​KEDINGTON, ROGER (d. 1760), divine, a native of Suffolk, was educated at Bury St. Edmunds grammar school and at Caius College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow. He graduated B.A. in 1733, M.A. in 1737, and D.D. in 1749. He obtained the rectory of Kedington, Suffolk, where he died on 25 March 1760 (Gent. Mag. xxx. 202). Cole (Addit. MS. 5874, f. 37), who describes him as a ‘tall, jolly, and well-looking Person,’ says he destroyed himself in a fit of insanity.
Kedington published:
* ‘On the Folly of Heathenism and Insufficiency of Reason in Religious Enquiries, and consequent necessity, truth, and excellency of the Christian Religion,’ 4to, Cambridge, 1753.
* ‘Christianity as taught in Scripture; Sermons,’ &c., 8vo, Cambridge, 1754; 2nd edit., enlarged, London, 1757.
* ‘Jacob's ​difficult Prophecy, “Naphtali is a hind let loose, he giveth goodly words” (Gen. xlix. 21), made out and explained,’ 8vo, London, 1758.
* ‘Critical Dissertations on the Iliad of Homer,’ 8vo, London, 1759.
[Kedington's Works.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Keble, Joseph

​KEBLE, JOSEPH (1632–1710), barrister and essayist, youngest son of Richard Keble or Keeble [q. v.], was born in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London, in 1632. He was educated at the parish school of St. Andrews, Holborn, and afterwards proceeded to Jesus College, but migrated to All Souls' College, Oxford, where he was made fellow by the visitors appointed by parliament in 1648, and graduated B.C.L. in 1654. He was admitted to Gray's Inn 6 May 1647 (Foster, Gray's Inn Admission Register, p. 224), and in 1658 was called to the bar. After travelling on the continent he regularly attended the court of king's bench from 1661. He had no practice, but occupied himself in reporting cases. He usually spent part of the vacation at Hampstead, where he had a small estate. He died, unmarried, on 28 Aug. 1710, at Gray's Inn Gate in Holborn, and was buried at Tuddenham, near Ipswich, where he also had property.
Keble is best known by his ‘Reports in the Court of Queen's Bench … from the 12th to the 30th year of the reign of Charles II,’ 1685. Keble himself confesses (Preface) that his notes were only rough jottings, and of the worthlessness of this work all the authorities speak with unanimous contempt. ‘It is scarcely possible to comprehend it,’ says Lord St. Leonards (Sugden, Powers, p. 456). ‘In former time Keble's Reports were forbidden to be quoted, and it is to be regretted that any reference is ever made to them,’ says Chance; and Mr. Justice Park, hearing them severely censured by Lord Kenyon, went home and burned his copy. Lord Campbell (Lives of the Chancellors, iii. 43) calls the author ‘a drowsy serjeant, known only for some bad Law Reports.’
Keble also published: 1. ‘The Statutes at large, in paragraphs,’ 1676, 1681, 1684, 1695, 1706. 2. ‘An Explanation of the Laws against Recusants,’ abridged (1681) from a work by William Cawley of the Inner Temple, 1680. 3. ‘An Assistance to the Justices of the Peace, for the easier performance of their duty … to which is added a Table for … finding out the Precedents,’ 1689. 4. ‘An Essay on Human Nature,’ 1707; another edit. 1710. He is also credited with an ‘Essay on Human Actions’ and a number of legal works, chiefly digests in manuscript. Several of these are in Gray's Inn Library.
F. W-t.