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

​WILLSON, ROBERT WILLIAM (1794–1866), Roman catholic bishop of Hobart, Tasmania, born at Lincoln in 1794, was the third son of William Willson of Lincoln. Edward James Willson [q. v.] was his eldest brother. He entered the college of Old Oscott in 1816, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Milner (1752–1826) [q. v.] in December 1824, and in February 1825 was stationed at Nottingham, where he built the spacious church of St. John, which was completed in 1828. Subsequently he erected the fine group of buildings that now constitute the cathedral of St. Barnabas, with its episcopal and clerical residence, schools, and convent. At the suggestion of William Bernard Ullathorne [q. v.] he was made the first bishop of Hobart Town, Tasmania, being consecrated in St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham, on 28 Oct. 1842 by Archbishop Polding of Sydney. Bishop (afterwards Cardinal) Wiseman's sermon, preached on the occasion, has been printed. Willson arrived at Hobart Town in 1844.
Besides Norfolk Island, other penal settlements at Port Arthur and on Maria Island came within the jurisdiction of the new bishop. Great social evils had been developed under the prevailing system of penal discipline, but Willson effected many ameliorations in the treatment of the convicts, especially on Norfolk Island. Indeed his representations to the colonial and imperial governments, backed by Sir William Thomas Denison [q. v.], ultimately obtained a thorough reformation of this part of the system. So earnest was he in his purpose that he resolved to come home in order to let the British Government know the truth with regard to the sufferings of the convicts and the horrors of Norfolk Island. He arrived in England in the middle of 1847, and he was listened to with respectful attention both by her majesty's government and by the select committee of the House of Lords. He reached Hobart Town again in December 1847, and, in consequence of his continued exertions, Norfolk Island was eventually abandoned as a penal settlement. Willson brought about other reforms in the penal discipline of Tasmania, and he likewise effected various reforms in the treatment of the insane. His services as chief pastor of his own communion, and as a public man in the development of various colonial and local institutions, were warmly acknowledged by successive governors and by the community at large throughout Tasmania.
He finally left the colony, in shattered health, in the spring of 1865, and settled at the scene of his earlier labours. Having formally resigned his preferment, he was translated by the holy see on 22 June 1866 from the bishopric of Hobart Town to that of Rhodiopolis, in partibus infidelium. He died at Nottingham on 30 June 1866, and was buried in the crypt of the cathedral church of St. Barnabas.
[Memoir by Bishop Ullathorne, London, 1887 (with photographic portrait), reprinted from Dublin Review, 3rd ser. xviii. 1–26; Consecration Sermon by Cardinal Wiseman; Kelsh's Personal Recollections of Bishop Willson, Hobart, 1882; Ullathorne's Autobiogr. p. 222; Gent. Mag. 1866, ii. 276.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Underhill, John (1545?-1592)

​UNDERHILL, JOHN (1545?–1592), bishop of Oxford, was born about 1545 at the Cross Inn (now the Roebuck), Cornmarket, Oxford. He entered Winchester College in 1556, and was elected a fellow of New College, Oxford, on 27 Oct. 1561, being admitted B.A. on 11 Dec. 1564 and M.A. on 27 July 1563. He obtained the degrees of B.D. and D.D. on 7 July 1581. In 1570 he was appointed praelector of moral philosophy, and in 1575 filled the office of proctor. In 1576 he offered some opposition to Robert Horne (1519?-1580) [q. v.], bishop of Winchester, in his visitation of the college, and Horne, who used his power very freely, removed him from his fellowship. Underhill, however, had recourse to the chancellor of the university, the Earl of Leicester, by whose advice he threatened Home with a lawsuit, and procured his reinstatement. In the following year, on 22 June, after much ​controversy, he was elected rector of Lincoln College. About 1581 he became chaplain in ordinary to the queen, and on 7 Sept. was instituted rector of Thornton-le-Moors, Cheshire. About 1586 he was appointed one of the vicars of Bampton, and on 15 March 1586-7 was instituted rector of Witney in Oxfordshire. On 8 Dec. 1589 he was elected bishop of Oxford on the recommendation of Walsingham, succeeding Hugh Curwen [q. v.] after a long vacancy. He died in London on 12 May 1592, and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral towards the upper end of the choir. After his death the see remained vacant for eleven years, and 'was made a prey (for the most part) to Robert, earl of Essex.' On 12 Feb. 1603-4 John Bridges (d. 1618) [q. v.] was consecrated his successor.
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Umphelby, Fanny

​UMPHELBY, FANNY (1788–1852), author of ‘The Child's Guide to Knowledge,’ was born in Knowles's Court in the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street, Doctors' Commons, in 1788. She lived for many years at Leatherhead, and died at Bow on 9 April 1852. In 1825 Miss Umphelby published ‘The Child's Guide to Knowledge, … by a Lady.’ The work became at once a standard book; a second edition appeared in 1828, and it is now (1899) in its fifty-eighth edition. Miss Umphelby also wrote and published ‘A Guide to Jewish History.’ ‘“The Child's Guide to Knowledge,” which came to teachers and pupils of the present century as a warmly welcomed novelty, was in truth on the plan of the ‘Elucidarium’ attributed to Lanfranc [q. v.], but differed from it in form, in so far as the information is extracted from the pupil, not from the teacher. … None of the new productions could rival in success “The Child's Guide to Knowledge.” The old idea of the “colloquy,” and the old plan of a book on the properties of things, were here revived and welcomed in the schoolroom’ (Field, The Child and his Book). The authorship of ‘The Child's Guide’ has been frequently attributed to Miss Umphelby's sister, wife of Robert Ward; but Miss Umphelby composed all of it. To later editions about eighty pages were added by her nephew, Mr. Robert A. Ward of Maidenhead, to keep the information up to date.
[Private information.]
R. A. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Underwood, Michael

​UNDERWOOD, MICHAEL (1736–1820), man-midwife, was born in Surrey in 1736. He studied at St. George's Hospital under Sir Cæsar Hawkins [q. v.] (Ulcers of Legs), and also saw something of the practice of John Freke [q. v.] (Ulcers of Legs, p. 140); he became a member of the Company of Surgeons. He also studied for some time ​in Paris. He practised for some years as a surgeon in Great Marlborough Street, London, and published in 1783 ‘A Treatise upon Ulcers of the Legs.’ In 1788 he published on the same subject ‘Surgical Tracts on Ulcers of the Legs.’ On 5 April 1784 he was admitted a licentiate in midwifery of the College of Physicians of London, and was the last survivor of that kind of practitioner. Thenceforward he practised as a man-midwife. He was attached to the British Lying-in Hospital, and attended the Princess of Wales at the birth of the Princess Charlotte on 7 Jan. 1796. He published in 1784 ‘A Treatise on the Diseases of Children,’ of which a fuller edition appeared in 1801, consisting of one volume on medical diseases, one on the surgery of childhood, and one on the general management of infants; a fifth edition appeared in 1805. The work was edited in 1835 in a ninth edition by Marshall Hall [q. v.], and a tenth in 1846 by Henry Davies [q. v.], and was translated into French by De Willebrune. It is based upon extensive clinical observation, was the best treatise on the subject which had appeared in English, and may still be consulted with advantage. Underwood died at Knightsbridge on 14 March 1820.
N. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Underhill, John (d.1672)

​UNDERHILL, JOHN (d. 1672), colonist, came of a Warwickshire family, (probably of the Kenilworth branch), and may perhaps be identified with John Underhill, the son of Thomas Underhill of Barton-on-the-Heath, a brother of Sir Edward Underhill (d. 1641) of Eatington, Warwickshire. He was trained to the profession of arms, and, after service in the Netherlands and in the Cadiz expedition of 1625, he was taken over to New England in 1630 by Governor Winthrop to train the people in military discipline. He soon acquired a good reputation, and was chosen in 1634 to represent Boston in the Massachusetts assembly. In 1637 he served with credit in the war against the Pequot Indians. He was appointed captain in command of the New England detachment by Sir Henry Vane, and, after he had effected a junction with the New Hampshire forces under Captain John Mason (1600–1672) [q. v.], the Pequots were entirely crushed. Of this war Underhill wrote an account, entitled ‘Newes from America; or a New and Experimentall Discovery of New England, containing a True Relation of their Warlike Proceedings these two years past …’ (London, 1638, 4to; there are two copies in the British Museum and one in Harvard College Library. It was reprinted by the Massachusetts Historical Society, ‘Collections,’ 1837, 3rd ser. vol. vi.).
In November 1637 Underhill was disfranchised for holding Antinomian opinions and for supporting Wheelwright, the leader of that party; he was soon after found to have been guilty of adultery. In the meantime he had fled to the little colony at Piscataqua, called Dover, which was independent of Massachusetts. This had just passed through a revolution, and now elected Underhill governor, a post which he managed to retain for nearly two years. After further disputes with the government of Massachusetts he moved to New Haven, where in 1643 he served in the assembly as representative for Stamford. In the same year he removed to New Netherlands, and served the Dutch against the Indians. He married a Dutch wife, but in 1653 was expelled from New Netherlands as a seditious character. He then went to Rhode Island, and received a commission from the government of that colony to make war against the Dutch by sea.
After the conquest of New Netherlands by the English in 1664 he returned thither, and served as a delegate for Oyster Bay in the assembly called by Colonel Richard Nicolls [q. v.] at Hempstead in 1665. He was appointed by Nicolls under-sheriff of Yorkshire or Queen's County.
In 1667 the Mantinenoc Indians gave him 150 acres of land, which has remained in his family, the name of Underhill still existing in New Hampshire. In 1671 he was excused military service, and he died on his estate at Killingworth, Oyster Bay, in 1672, leaving a son John, who was a magistrate and a man of influence. Underhill is said to have been twice married: first, to Mary Mosley; and, secondly, to Elizabeth Field of Long Island, who survived him. Several of Captain Underhill's letters are published in the ‘Massachusetts Historical Society Collections’ (4th ser. vol. vii.).
J. A. D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Plaw, John

​PLAW, JOHN (1745?–1820), architect, born about 1745, was an architect and master-builder in Westminster in good practice. He built the new church at Paddington (1788–91), and Mrs. Montagu's house in Portman Square (1790), from the designs of James Stuart. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and signed their declaration roll in 1766. He first exhibited architectural designs with them in 1773; and in 1790, when the society resumed their exhibitions after an interval of seven years, Plaw was their director, exhibiting that year and at their final exhibition in 1791. He also exhibited occasionally at the Royal Academy, his name appearing for the last time in 1800. In 1795 he removed to Southampton, where he built the barracks (1806). Plaw published in 1785 ‘Rural Architecture; or Designs from the simple Cottage to the decorated Villa;’ later editions of this work appeared in 1794, 1796, and 1802. In 1795 he published ‘Ferme Ornée; or Rural Improvements. A Series of Domestic and Ornamental Designs, suited for Parks … Farms, &c.,’ of which a later edition appeared in 1813; and in 1800 ‘Sketches for Country Houses, Villas, and Rural Dwellings, calculated for persons of moderate income and for a comfortable retirement; also some Designs for Cottages, which may be constructed of the simplest materials.’ All these works were illustrated by Plaw's own designs. In 1820 Plaw made an expedition to Canada, and died in May of that year on the banks of the river St. Lawrence. John Buonarotti Papworth [q. v.] was his pupil. A Miss P. Plaw, apparently a daughter of the above, exhibited architectural designs with the Society of Artists in 1790.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Platt, Thomas Pell

​PLATT, THOMAS PELL (1798–1852), orientalist, born in 1798 in London, was the son of Thomas Platt. After attending a school at Little Dunham, Norfolk, he was admitted at Trinity College, Cambridge, as pensioner on 25 Nov. 1815. He was elected scholar on 3 April 1818, minor fellow on 2 Oct. 1820, and major fellow on 2 July 1823. He graduated B.A. in 1820 as ninth senior optime, and M.A. in 1823. While at Cambridge he became connected with the British and Foreign Bible Society, and acted for some years as its librarian. In 1823 he published a catalogue of the Æthiopic Biblical MSS. in the Royal Library of Paris and in the library of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and in the succeeding years collated and edited for the society the Æthiopic texts of the New Testament. The object of the publication was not critical, but was ‘simply to give the Abyssinians the Scriptures in as good a form of their ancient ​version as could be conveniently done.’ Platt, however, made a few notes of the readings which particularly struck him. His notes only extended to the Gospels; for the Acts and the Epistles he used only one manuscript and Walton's text. In 1829 he also prepared an edition of the Syriac Gospels, and in 1844 edited an Amharic version of the Bible, using the translation of Abba Rukh for the Old Testament, and that of Abu Rumi Habessinus for the New.
In 1827 he defended the British and Foreign Bible Society from an attack made on their publications in the ‘Quarterly Review.’ In 1840, in a ‘Letter to Dr. Pusey,’ he described his conversion from his evangelical opinions to tractarian views. He, however, protested against the application by some of the tractarians of ‘mystical and spiritual interpretations to the prophecies of the Old Testament.’
Platt was one of the earliest members of the Royal Asiatic Society, and for many years acted as one of its oriental translation committee. He was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
He lived for many years at Child's Hill, Hampstead, but died at Dulwich Hill, Surrey, on 31 Oct. 1852, leaving an only son, Francis Thomas Platt.
G. Le G. N.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Plattes, Gabriel

​PLATTES, GABRIEL (fl. 1638), writer on agriculture, said to have been of Dutch extraction, was one of the earliest advocates in England of an improved system of husbandry, and devoted much time and money to practical experiments. In 1639 he stated that he ‘was not necessitated to make begging letters, though not possessed of any great estate’ (Discovery of Infinite Treasure, ep. ded.), but he appears to have been extremely poor, and was relieved by Samuel Hartlib, to whom he left his unpublished papers. His ‘Treatise of Husbandry’ (1638) throws much light on the state of agriculture and the relations of landlord and tenant during the seventeenth century. His later tracts mainly repeat under new titles the information which he first published in his ‘Treatise.’ Though he influenced later writers, he was neglected during his lifetime, and is said to have been found dead in the streets of London during the Commonwealth, in a state of extreme destitution (Hartlib, Legacie, 1651 pp. 125–7, 1652 pp. 87, 88). Besides the works mentioned, he wrote: 1. ‘A Discoverie of Infinite Treasure, hidden since the World's Beginning. Whereunto all men, of what degree soever, are friendly invited to be sharers with the Discoverer, G. P.,’ London, 1639, 4to. This also appeared under the title ‘A Discovery of Subterraneall Treasure, viz., of all manner of mines and minerals … and also the art of melting, refining, and assaying of them,’ London, 1639, 4to; London, 1653, 4to; another edition, with the title ‘A Discovery of Subterranean Treasure, whereunto is added a real experiment whereby every ignorant man … may try whether any piece of gold … be true or counterfeit,’ London, 1679, 4to; reprinted in ‘A Collection of scarce … Treatises upon Metals,’ 1739, 12mo; 1740, 12mo. 2. ‘Observations and Improvements in Husbandry, with twenty Experiments,’ London, 1639, 4to. 3. ‘Recreatio Agriculturæ,’ London, 1640, 1646, 4to. 4. ‘The profitable Intelligencer, communicating his knowledge for the generall good of the Commonwealth and all Posterity, &c.’ [London, 1644], 4to.
W. A. S. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Platts, John

​PLATTS, JOHN (1775–1837), unitarian divine and compiler, was born at Boston, Lincolnshire in 1775. For seven or eight years he officiated as a Calvinist minister there, but afterwards became a unitarian, and acted as a unitarian minister at Boston from 1805 to 1817. In 1817 he removed to Doncaster. Platts supplemented his small ministerial income by teaching and compiling educational works. He was also an ardent liberal politician, and was a humorous speaker. He died at Doncaster, after a long illness, on 19 June 1837. His widow died in 1851, leaving five daughters.
In 1825 Platts published five volumes of ‘A new Universal Biography,’ containing lives of eminent persons in all ages and countries, arranged in chronological order, with alphabetical index. This work, founded largely on Aikin and Chalmers, extended only to the end of the sixteenth century; the rest remained in manuscript. In 1827 appeared, in 4to, Platts's ‘New Self-interpreting Testament, containing many thousands of various Readings and Parallel Passages collected from the most approved Translators and Biblical Critics.’ In the ​preface the author claims to have combined the merits of Francis Fox [q. v.] and Clement Cruttwell [q. v.] The commentary is free from sectarian bias. Another edition, in 4 vols. 8vo, appeared in 1830.
Platts also published: 1. ‘Reflections on Materialism, Immaterialism, the Sleep of the Soul … and the Resurrection of the Body; being an Attempt to prove that the Resurrection commences at Death,’ Boston, 1813. 2. ‘Letter to a Young Man, on his renouncing the Christian Religion and becoming a Deist,’ 1820. 3. ‘The Literary and Scientific Class-book,’ &c., 1821, 12mo; a selection was published by L. W. Leonard in 1826. 4. ‘Elements of Ecclesiastical History’ [1821?] 5. ‘The Book of Curiosities; … with an Appendix of entertaining and amusing Experiments and Recreations’ (a few plates), 1822, 8vo; a seventh American edition appeared at Philadelphia in 1856. 6. ‘The Female Mentor, or Ladies' Class-book; being a new Selection of 365 Reading Lessons,’ &c., Derby, 1823, 8vo. 7. ‘A Dictionary of English Synonymes’ (for the use of schools), 1825, 12mo. 8. ‘The Manners and Customs of all Nations’ (engravings), 1827, 8vo.
G. Le G. N.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Playfair, James

​PLAYFAIR, JAMES (1738–1819), principal of St. Andrews, second son of George Playfair, a farmer of West Bendochy in Perthshire, by his wife Jean Roger, was born on 19 Dec. 1738. After studying at the university of St. Andrews, he obtained license as a probationer on 1 Nov. 1770, and was ordained to the pastoral charge of Newtyle. On 19 June 1777 he was translated to the neighbouring parish of Meigle. He received the degree of doctor of divinity from the university of St. Andrews on 2 July 1779, and was repeatedly invited to preside as moderator of the General Assembly, an honour which he declined. On 20 Aug. 1800 he was appointed principal of the United College, St. Andrews, and minister of the church of St. Leonard's in that city. For many years he held the appointment of historiographer to the Prince of Wales. He died at Dalmarnock, near Glasgow, on 26 May 1819. He married, on 30 Sept. 1773, Margaret, elder daughter of the Rev. George Lyon of Wester Ogle in Forfarshire. She died at St. Andrews on 4 Nov. 1831. By her Playfair left four sons—of whom the three elder joined the H. E. I. C. S.—viz.: George, doctor of medicine, inspector-general of hospitals in Bengal, and father of Baron Playfair; Colonel William Davidson Playfair; Lieutenant-colonel Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair [q. v.] The youngest son, James, was a merchant in Glasgow. Of Playfair's two daughters the elder married Patrick Playfair; and Janet, the younger, James Macdonald, Anstruther Wester.
Playfair wrote accounts of the parishes of Meigle, Essie, and Nevay for Sir John Sinclair's ‘Statistical Account of Scotland.’ He was also the author of:
* ‘System of Chronology,’ Edinburgh, 1784, fol.
* ‘System of Geography Ancient and Modern,’ 6 vols. Edinburgh, 1810–14, 4to.
* ‘General Atlas, Ancient and Modern,’ London, 1814, fol.
* ‘Geographical and Statistical Description of Scotland,’ 2 vols. Edinburgh, 1819, 8vo.
[Rogers's Four Perthshire Families; Rogers's History of St. Andrews; Scott's Fasti, pt. iv. p. 401.]
G. S-h.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Playfair, William Henry

​PLAYFAIR, WILLIAM HENRY (1789–1857), architect, born in Russell Square, London, in July 1789, was son of James Playfair, an architect of some repute in London, who in 1783 published ‘A Method of constructing Vapor Baths,’ and nephew of Professor John Playfair [q. v.] In 1794 Playfair came to reside with his uncle, the professor, in Edinburgh, and followed his father's profession of an architect, studying under William Starke (d. 1813) [q. v.] of Glasgow. He gained some considerable private practice in Edinburgh and the neighbourhood, but his first public employment was the laying out in 1815 of part of the new town in Edinburgh; in 1820 he designed the Royal and Regent Terraces in the same part; and in 1819 a new gateway and lodge for Heriot's Hospital. From 1817 to 1824 Playfair was engaged in rebuilding and enlarging the university buildings, leaving, however, the front as designed by Robert and James Adam. Other important buildings designed by Playfair at Edinburgh were the Observatory, the Advocates' Library, the Royal Institution, the College of Surgeons, St. Stephen's Church, and the Free Church College. From 1842–8 he was engaged in constructing Donaldson's Hospital in the Tudor style, a building which is reckoned as his most successful work. He designed the monument to his uncle, Professor Playfair, and that to Dugald Stewart on the Calton Hill, the latter being modelled on the monument of Lysicrates at Athens. Some of his most important works in Edinburgh were executed in the purely classical style, among them being the National Gallery of Scotland, the first stone of which was laid by the prince consort on 30 Aug. 1850, and the unfinished national monument on the Calton Hill, for which the original design was supplied by Charles Robert Cockerell, R.A. [q. v.] Playfair's classical buildings are predominant objects in any view of modern Edinburgh, and have gained for it the sobriquet of the ‘Modern Athens.’ It may be doubted, however, whether the classical style is thoroughly suited to the naturally picturesque and romantic aspect of the northern capital.
Playfair had also a very extensive private practice, and built many country houses and mansions in the classical or Tudor styles, to which he nearly always adhered. He ​died in Edinburgh, after a very long illness, on 19 March 1857.
[Dict. of Architecture; Scotsman, 21 March 1857; Building News, 1857, iii. 359–60; Lord Cockburn's Memoirs.]
L. C.