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

​SHELDRAKE, TIMOTHY (fl. 1756), M.D., a native of Norwich, was descended from an old Norfolk family, a member of which, John Sheldrake, was mayor of Thetford in 1632, while William Sheldrake was rector of Barton in Charles II's reign. Timothy was author of:
* ‘The Causes of ​Heat and Cold in all Climates, as read to the Royal Society,’ 1756, 8vo, ‘printed for and sold by the Author at the Black Boy in the Strand,’ pp. 42.
* ‘The Gardener's Best Companion in a Greenhouse, or Tables showing the greatest Heat and Cold of all Countries … measured upon the Thermometer,’ London, 1756, folio, a quadruple folding folio-sheet, dedicated to Sir Hans Sloane, and stated to have the approval of Philip Miller [q. v.]
* ‘Botanicum Medicinale; an Herbal of Medicinal Plants on the College of Physicians' List, with names in nine languages [and] 120 copper-plates, “from the exquisite drawings of the late ingenious T. Sheldrake,”’ London, 1759, folio. This work was issued at 3l. plain, and at 6l. coloured. Most of the plates are engraved by C. H. Hemerich. The ‘Gardener's Best Companion’ is added to it. A pamphlet on ‘Norwich Gothic Cross’ (with ‘a very good plate’), by the same author, is advertised in ‘The Causes of Heat and Cold’ (cf. Blomfield, Norfolk, iv. 235).
Sheldrake was doubtless related to the Timothy Sheldrake ‘of the Strand, truss-maker to the East India Company and the Westminster Hospital,’ who between 1783 and 1806 published several medical pamphlets on distortion of the spine, club-foot, and rupture.
[Biographical Dict. of Living Authors, 1816, and the works above mentioned.]
G. S. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Shelley, George

​SHELLEY, GEORGE (1666?–1736?), calligrapher, born about 1666, received his education at Christ's Hospital, London, and in 1708 was living at the ‘Hand and Pen’ in Warwick Lane, where he kept a school. He became ‘a celebrated and shining ornament in the commonwealth of English calligraphy.’ In 1714 he was writing-master at Christ's Hospital, and he held that appointment for twenty years. He died in straitened circumstances about 1736.
His works are:
* ‘The Penman's Magazine,’ London, 1705, fol.; it contains thirty-two plates engraved by Joseph Nutting, and is adorned with about one hundred open figures and fancies ‘performed’ by Shelley ‘after the originals of the late incomparable Mr. John Seddon.’
* ‘Natural Writing in all the Hands, with Variety of Ornament,’ London, [1708] oblong fol. It contains twenty-six plates and a fine portrait engraved by George Bickham.
* ‘Penna Volans; done after y$^e$ English, French & Dutch Way,’ London, [1710?] oblong fol. ​It contains fifteen plates.
* ‘Sentences and Maxims … in Prose and Verse … containing a Select and Curious Collection of Copies of all sorts, put into Alphabetical Order,’ London, 1712, 8vo; 3rd ed. 1761.
* ‘Seven Plates of Round-hand, Italian, and Print, dated 1712, in Bickham's “Penman's Companion.”’
* ‘The Second Part of Natural Writing, containing the Breakes of Letters and their Dependance on each other. … The whole making a compleat Body of Penmanship,’ London, [1714] oblong 4to; it contains thirty-four plates, and a smaller portrait of Shelley engraved by Bickham from a painting by B. Lens.
[Massey's Origin and Progress of Letters, ii. 131; Evans's Cat. of Engraved Portraits, Nos. 9498, 9499; Bromley's Cat. of Engraved Portraits, p. 302; Noble's Contin. of Granger, ii. 360; De Morgan's Arithmetical Books, 1847, p. 73.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sheldon, Richard

​SHELDON, RICHARD (d. 1642?), divine, was probably descended from a branch of the catholic family of Sheldon of Beoley in Worcestershire. Destined for the priesthood, he was sent during the pontificate of Clement VIII to the English Jesuit College at Rome. Having attained great proficiency there, he returned to England, visiting Spain on his way. About 1610 he was imprisoned as a Jesuit. Always holding moderate views, he published in 1611 a treatise entitled 'The Lawfulness of the Oath of Allegiance.' Soon afterwards, on his professing himself a protestant, he was released. He was immediately employed by King James, together with William Warmington, another convert, to write a book against Vorstius (Cal. State Papers, 1611-18, p. 119). Subsequently he published several works against Catholicism on his own account.
For a time Sheldon enjoyed the kind's favour. He was appointed a royal chaplain, and received the honorary degree of D.D. from Cambridge University. The negotiations for the Spanish match, however, inclined James to tolerance, and Sheldon's zeal against his old faith became distasteful. In 1622 he preached a sermon against those bearing the mark of the beast, for which he received a severe reprimand (Harl. MS. 389, f. 228). He never regained the royal favour, though he endeavoured to propitiate Charles by writing in defence of the royal prerogative (Cal. State Papers, 1640-1, p. 374). He died in obscurity soon after 1641.
Besides several sermons, he published:
* 'Motives of R. S. for his Renunciation of Communion with the Bishop of Rome,' London, 1612, 4to.
* 'A Survey of the Miracles of the Church of Rome,' London, 1616, 4to.
* 'Man's Last End, or the Glorious Vision and Fruition of God,' London, 1634, 4to.
[Foley's Records of the English Province, vii. 1016; Gardiner's Hist. of England, iv. 346.]
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Shelford, Leonard

​SHELFORD, LEONARD (1795–1864), legal author, second son of Leonard Shelford, B.D., fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and rector of North Tuddenham, Norfolk, by his wife Ellen, daughter of William Grigson of West Wretham, Norfolk, was born on 26 July 1795. He was intended for a solicitor, and served his articles with William Repton of Aylsham, Norfolk, whence he went to the office of Boodle & Co., London. But resolving to become a barrister, he entered at the Middle Temple, and was called to the bar in 1827. For upwards of forty years he occupied chambers in the Temple, living the life of a recluse, and compiling legal works which not only obtained a large circulation in England, but were also in several instances reprinted in America, without the author's consent. He died, unmarried, on 17 March 1864.
He was the author of:
* ‘Law concerning Lunatics, Idiots,’ &c., London, 1833, 8vo; Philadelphia, 1833; 2nd edit. London, 1847, 8vo.
* ‘Real Property Statutes,’ London, 1834, 12mo; 9th edit., by T. H. Carson, 1893, 8vo.
* ‘General Highway Act of 5 and 6 William IV,’ London, 1835, 12mo; 3rd edit., ‘Law of Highways,’ 1862, 12mo.
* ‘Law of Mortmain and Charitable Uses and Trusts,’ London, 1836, 8vo; Philadelphia, 1842, 8vo.
* ‘The Act for the Commutation of Tithes,’ London, 1836, 12mo; 3rd edit. 1842, 12mo; supplement, 1848.
* ‘Law of Wills,’ London, 1838, 12mo.
* ‘Law of Marriage, Divorce, and Registration,’ London, 1841, 8vo; Philadelphia, 1841, 8vo.
* ‘Law of Railways,’ London, 1845, 12mo; ed. by M. L. Bennett, 2 vols., Burlington, U.S.A., 1855, 8vo; 4th edit., by W. C. Glen, London, 1869, 8vo.
* ‘Bankrupt Law Consolidation Act,’ London, 1849, 12mo; 3rd edit., 1862, 12mo.
* ‘Statutes for amending the Practice in Chancery,’ London, 1852, 12mo.
* ‘Law of Copyholds,’ London, 1853, 12mo; supplement, 1858.
* ‘Law relating to the Probate, Legacy, and Succession Duties,’ London, 1855, 12mo; 2nd edit., 1861, 12mo.
* ‘Statutes for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors,’ London, 1856, 12mo; 3rd edit., 1862, 12mo.
* ‘Proceedings in the County Courts relating to Probates and Administrations,’ London, 1858, 8vo.
* ‘Law of Joint-Stock Companies,’ London, 1863, 12mo; 3rd edit., by D. Pitcairn and F. L. Latham, 1870, 8vo.
Shelford also prepared a second edition of Broom's ‘Practice of the County Courts,’ 1857, 8vo; and a fifth edition of George Crabb's ‘Conveyancer's Assistant,’ 1860, 8vo.
[Law Mag. May 1864, p. 196; Gent. Mag. 1864, i. 542, 671; Allibone's Dict. of Authors.]
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Shelley, William (d. 1155?)

​SHELLEY or de Conches, WILLIAM (d. 1155?), author. [See William.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Tresham, William (d.1450)

​TRESHAM, WILLIAM (d. 1450), speaker of the House of Commons, was the eldest son of Thomas Tresham of Rushton and Sywell, Northamptonshire. He was educated for the law, and is said to have been attorney-general to Henry V, but Dugdale (Origines Jurid. and Chronica Ser.) does not mention his appointment either as attorney-general or as serjeant-at-law. He was, however, skilled in the law, and was employed on legal business by Henry VI and Cardinal Beaufort in 1433 (Rymer, Fœdera, x. 500, 551). He began his parliamentary career on 30 Sept. 1423 by being elected knight of the shire for the county of Northampton; it extended over twenty-six years, and sixteen parliaments, in all of which he represented Northamptonshire (the writs for six of these parliaments are lost). He was re-elected on 25 Sept. 1427, 25 Aug. 1429, 3 April 1432, 30 June 1433, 15 Sept. 1435, and to the parliament which was summoned to meet, first at Oxford, and then on 12 Nov. 1439 at Westminster. In this parliament Tresham was chosen speaker, doubtless on account of his experience. On 14 Jan. 1439–1440 it was prorogued to meet at Reading on account of the prevalence of the plague in London. Nineteen statutes were passed, but the proceedings are not entered on the rolls. Tresham's conduct probably satisfied the government, as on 12 Sept. following he was one of those to whom were granted the revenues of alien priories in England (Rymer, x. 802).
Tresham again acted as speaker in the parliaments that met on 25 Jan. 1441–2, and 10 Feb. 1446–7 (Rot. Parl. v. 36 b, 172 a), and probably in that which met in February 1448–9. In the growing divergence of the two parties, Tresham, in spite of his previous connection with the court, took the Yorkist side, and in the parliament which met at Westminster on 6 Nov. 1449, and was strongly opposed to the chief minister, William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk [q. v.], Tresham was again elected speaker. He took a prominent part in Suffolk's impeachment, and on 7 Feb. 1449–50 he presented to the lords the formal indictment of the commons (Ramsay, Lancaster and York, ii. 115). In the same year, possibly in consequence of this action, he was deprived of an annuity of 20l. which he held of the crown (Rot. Parl. v. 193 b). In August Richard, duke of York (1411–1460) [q. v.] crossed from Ireland to demand a redress of grievances. Tresham set out from Rushton to meet him, but on 22 Sept. was waylaid at Thorpland, near Moulton in Northamptonshire, and killed by some retainers of the Lancastrian Edmund Grey, lord Grey de Ruthin, and afterwards earl of Kent [q. v.] The parliament that met on 6 Nov. granted his widow's petition for justice on her husband's murderers, but only the agents were named, and the sheriff of Northamptonshire was afraid to apprehend even them (Rot. Parl. v. 212; Ramsay, ii. 135, 140). By his wife Isabel, daughter of Sir William Vaux of Harrowden, Tresham was father of Sir Thomas Tresham (d. 1471) [q. v.]
A. F. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Trevelyan, Raleigh

​TREVELYAN, RALEIGH (1781–1865), miscellaneous writer, born on 6 Aug. 1781, was the younger son of Walter Trevelyan, by his first wife, Margaret, elder daughter and coheiress of James Thornton of Netherwitton, Northumberland. Walter was the second son of Sir George Trevelyan of Nettlecombe Court, Somerset, third baronet.
Raleigh was educated at Eton and at St. John's College, Cambridge, whence he graduated B.A. in 1804 and M.A. in 1807. He was an able classical scholar, and in 1806 he obtained the senior bachelor's medal for Latin essay. On 11 Nov. 1801 Trevelyan entered Lincoln's Inn, and in 1810 he was called to the bar; but on the death of his elder brother, Walter Blackett Trevelyan, on 3 April 1818, without issue, he succeeded to the Netherwitton estates and relinquished his practice. The remainder of his life was passed chiefly in Northumberland, where he indulged his literary tastes and his conservative tendencies by writing poems and political pamphlets. The former were marked by elegance and scholarship, the latter by unusual moderation. Trevelyan died at Netherwitton Hall on 12 May 1865. He married, on 14 June 1819, Elizabeth, second daughter of Robert Grey of Shoreston, Northumberland. By her he had a son, Thornton Raleigh Trevelyan, who died before him on 14 Feb. 1845. He was succeeded at Netherwitton by his grandson, Thornton Roger Trevelyan.
Raleigh Trevelyan was the author of: ​1. ‘Prolusiones partim Græce partim Latine scriptæ,’ Cambridge, 1806, 12mo; 2nd edit. London, 1817, 8vo; new edit. ‘Selecta e Prolusionibus,’ London, 1829, 8vo. 2. ‘Elegy on the Death of the Princess Charlotte,’ 1818, 4to. 3. ‘A Poetical Sketch of the Ten Commandments’ [1830?], 12mo. 4. ‘Parliamentary and Legal Questions,’ London, 1833, 12mo. 5. ‘Essays and Poems,’ London, 1833, 12mo. He contributed a poem on the death of Nelson to Turton's ‘Luctus Nelsoniani,’ London, 1807, 4to.
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Trevelyan, Walter Calverley

1904 Errata appended.
​TREVELYAN, Sir WALTER CALVERLEY (1797–1879), naturalist, born in 1797, was the eldest son of Sir John Trevelyan, fifth baronet, of Nettlecombe, Somerset, by his wife Maria, daughter of Sir Thomas Spencer Wilson of Charlton, Kent. The family is Cornish, deriving its name from Tre-Velian or Trevelyan, near Fowey. The baronetage dates from 24 Jan. 1661–2. Walter Calverley Trevelyan was educated at Harrow. He matriculated from University College, Oxford, on 26 April 1816, graduating B.A. in 1820 and M.A. in 1822. In the former year he proceeded to Edinburgh to continue the scientific studies which he had begun at Oxford. In 1821 he visited the Faroe Islands, and published in the ‘New Philosophical Journal’ (1835, vol. xviii.) an account of his observations, which he reprinted in 1837 for private circulation. Between 1835 and 1846 he travelled much in the south of Europe, but in the latter year succeeded to the title and family estates in Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Northumberland. These were greatly improved during his tenure, for he was a generous landlord and a public-spirited agriculturist, much noted for his herd of short-horned cattle.
He was elected a fellow of the Geological Society in 1817, and was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Society of Antiquaries. For some years he was president of the United Kingdom Alliance. Botany and geology were his favourite sciences, but he had also an excellent knowledge of antiquities, and was a liberal supporter of all efforts for the augmentation of knowledge, among others of the erection of the museum buildings at Oxford. He was a liberal patron of the fine arts, and formed at Wallington a good collection of curious books and of specimens illustrative of natural history and ethnology. In conjunction with his cousin, Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan [q. v.], he edited the ‘Trevelyan Papers’ (Camden Soc. 1856, 1862, 1872), to the third part of which a valuable introductory notice is prefixed. He published, according to the Royal Society's catalogue, fifteen papers on scientific subjects, the majority dealing with geological topics in the north of England.
He died at Wallington on 23 March 1879. He was twice married: first, on 21 May 1835, to Paulina, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Jermyn, who died on 13 May 1866; secondly, on 11 July 1867, to Laura Capel, daughter of Capel Lofft, Esq., of Troston Hall, Suffolk. As both marriages were childless, the title descended to his nephew, Sir Alfred Wilson Trevelyan (1831–1891), seventh baronet, but he left the north-country property to his cousin, Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan.
A medallion head is introduced into the decorations of the hall at Wallington; a portrait in oils, painted by an Italian artist about 1845, is at Nettlecombe, and a small watercolour (by Millais) is in the possession of the widow of Sir A. W. Trevelyan.
T. G. B.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.268 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Vicars, Hedley Shafto Johnstone

​VICARS, HEDLEY SHAFTO JOHNSTONE (1826–1855), officer in the Crimea, was born in the Mauritius on 7 Dec. 1826, where his father, Richard Vicars (d. 1839), a captain in the royal engineers, was then stationed. After passing his examinations at Woolwich, he on 22 Dec. 1843 received a commission in the 97th regiment, and in the following year proceeded to Corfu. On 6 Nov. 1846 he obtained his lieutenancy. In 1848 his regiment was removed to Jamaica, and in 1851 to Canada. In November of that year his mind took a serious turn, and henceforward his character was changed. He associated with Dr. Twining, the garrison chaplain at Halifax, became a Sunday-school teacher, visited the sick, and took every opportunity of reading the scriptures and praying with the men of his company. In 1852 he became adjutant of his regiment. In May 1853 the regiment returned to England, and in August he resigned the adjutancy. He also became a frequent attendant of meetings held at Exeter Hall and an active member of the Soldiers' Friendly Society, besides holding meetings with railway navvies on many occasions. Before his regiment left England for the Crimea, early in 1854, it was reported that ‘since Mr. Vicars became so good, he has steadied about four hundred men in the regiment.’ At the Piræus many men of the 97th died of cholera, and Vicars while conducting the burial parties took every opportunity of addressing the spectators at the graves. On 3 Nov. 1854 he was promoted to the rank of captain. On 20 Nov. 1854 he landed in the Crimea, and, with his regiment, took part in the siege of Sebastopol. Here he continued his religious work, holding prayer meetings in his tent, visiting the sick in the hospitals, and carefully looking after his men. On the night of 22 March 1855, while he was in the trenches, the Russians made a sortie in force from Sebastopol, and, taking the English by surprise, drove them out of their trenches. Vicars, keeping his men in hand, fired a volley into the enemy at twenty paces, and then ‘charging’ with the 97th he drove the Russians back and regained possession of the trenches. He cut down two men with his own hand before he fell, bayoneted and shot through the right shoulder. He was buried on the following day on the Woronzoff road, close to the milestone. In his despatch on 6 April Lord Raglan made special mention of Vicars's gallantry. ‘The Memorials of Captain Hedley Vicars’ (with a portrait and a view of his grave), by the author of ‘The Victory Won,’ i.e. Catherine M. Marsh, was published soon after his death. It had a large circulation, and was translated into French, German, and Italian.
[The Story of Hedley Vicars, by Lucy Taylor. 1894, with portrait; ‘H. V., captain in H.M. 97th Regiment,’ 1869; Walking with God before Sebastopol: Reminiscences of the late Captain Vicars, 1855; Military Obituary, 1855. In the Rev. S. F. Harris's Earnest Young Heroes (1896) a memoir of Vicars, with a portrait, is given on pp. 3–36.]
G. C. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Viccars, John

Date of death 1653? in the ODNB.
​VICCARS, JOHN (1604–1660), biblical scholar, elder son of Gregory Viccars of Treswell in Nottinghamshire, was baptised at Treswell on 30 Oct. 1604. His sister Helen was the wife of the dramatist William Sampson (1590?–1636?) [q. v.] (Notes and Queries, 5th ser. ii. 226). John was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, whence he graduated B.A. in 1621–2. He was incorporated B.A. at Oxford on 24 Feb. 1624–5, graduated M.A. from Lincoln College on 28 March 1625, and was incorporated M.A. at Cambridge in the same year. In 1640 he was presented to the rectory of South Fambridge in Essex, and on 5 May 1646 was instituted to that of Battlesden in Bedfordshire, both of which he held until 1646, when he was sequestered by the Westminster assembly of divines. On his suspension he went abroad, and during the puritan ascendency travelled from place to place, ‘visiting divers academies and recesses of learning, and gaining from them and their respective libraries great experience and knowledge.’ Viccars was a man of unusual learning and an admirable linguist. In 1639 he published ‘Decapla in Psalmos: sive Commentarius ex decem Linguis,’ London, fol., a work of immense learning, drawn from Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac, Rabbinical, Chaldæan, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, and French sources. An examination shows, however, that Viccars's skill in tongues was superior to his critical power. A new edition was issued in 1655 with a frontispiece by Wenceslaus Hollar. Viccars died in 1660. He is sometimes confused with the more famous presbyterian, John Vicars [q. v.]
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Vickers, Alfred Gomersal

​VICKERS, ALFRED GOMERSAL (1810–1837), marine-painter, was born at Lambeth on 21 April 1810. He received instruction in art from his father, Alfred Vickers (1786–1868), a landscape-painter, born at St. Mary, Newington, on 10 Sept. 1786, who exhibited numerous pictures of English scenery at the Royal Academy, from 1813 to 1859, at the British Institution, and at the Suffolk Street gallery.
The son exhibited paintings both in oil and watercolours at the same galleries and at the New Watercolour Society. He painted chiefly marine subjects, but also architecture and figures. In 1833 he received a commission to make sketches in Russia for publication. Steel engravings from these and from many of his marine pieces appeared in the annuals (1835–7). His talent, which surpassed that of his father, was beginning to obtain public recognition when he died on 12 Jan. 1837. His pictures were sold at Christie's on 16 Feb. in the same year.
C. D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Vicars, Thomas

​VICARS, THOMAS (fl. 1607–1641), theologian, born in 1590 or 1591, was a native of Carlisle. He matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford, on 19 June 1607, graduating B.A. on 16 Dec. 1611 and M.A. on 17 June 1615. He was elected chaplain on 7 July 1615, and fellow on 20 April 1616, and on 10 May 1622 was licensed to preach, receiving at the same time the degree of B.D. In that year he married Anne, daughter of George Carleton (1559–1628) [q. v.], bishop of Chichester, and was by him preferred to the vicarages of Cowfold and Cuckfield in Sussex. Two years later he received a prebend in the diocese of Chichester. The date of his death is unknown.
He was the author of: 1. ‘Χειραγωγία. Manuductio ad Artem Rhetoricam,’ London, 1621, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1628, 12mo. 2. ‘A Brief Direction how to examine Our-selves before we go to the Lord's Table, how to behave Our-selves there, and how to try Our-selves afterwards,’ London, [1622?], 8vo. 3. ‘Pusillus Grex,’ London, 1627, 4to. 4. ‘Ῥομφαιοφόρος. The Sword-bearer,’ London, 1627, 4to. He also edited ‘Timothies Taske; or ​a Christian Sea-Card, by Robert Mandevill,’ Oxford, 1619, 4to; and George Carleton's ‘Ἀστρολογμανία: the Madnesse of Astrologers,’ London, 1624, 4to; new edit. London, 1651, 8vo. He translated from the Latin of Bartholomew Keckerman ‘A Manuduction to Theologie’ [London? 1622?], 8vo.
E. I. C.