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

​FRENCH, PETER (d. 1693), missionary, a native of Galway, studied divinity in Ireland and in the south of Spain, and became a friar of the order of St. Dominic. Going to Spanish America, he laboured for thirty years as a missionary among the Indians of Mexico, great numbers of whom he converted from idolatry. He wrote in the Mexican language ‘A Catechism or Exposition of the Christian Faith,’ but whether it was printed does not appear. Returning to his native country, he was employed on the mission until his death, which took place in Galway in 1693.
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Frere, Bartholomew

​FRERE, BARTHOLOMEW (1778–1851), diplomatist, born in 1778, was the fifth son of John Frere [q. v.], F.R.S., M.P. for Norwich, and a younger brother of the Right Hon. John Hookham Frere [q. v.] He proceeded B. A. at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1799, and M.A. in 1806. In 1801 he was appointed secretary of legation at Lisbon, whence he was transferred in the same ​capacity to Madrid in 1802 and Berlin 1805, and in 1807 became secretary of embassy at Constantinople, and witnessed the discomfiture of Mr. Arbuthnot and Admiral Duckworth. In 1808 he returned to Spain as secretary of embassy, and acted as minister plenipotentiary ad interim at Seville from November 1809 to January 1810, and at Cadiz from 29 Jan. to 2 March. Gazetted secretary of embassy at Constantinople in March 1811, he and his chief, Robert Liston, did not proceed to their post till the following year, when in June they relieved Stratford Canning [q. v.] from his responsibility as minister plenipotentiary. From 1815 to 1817, and again from 1820 to 1821, Frere took charge of the embassy at the Porte as minister plenipotentiary ad interim, but in August 1821 he finally retired on a pension, which he enjoyed for thirty years, till his death in Old Burlington Street, London, 29 May 1851, aged 74. He was a useful public servant of ordinary abilities.
[Foreign Office registers; Lane-Poole's Life of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, i. 175, 179; Ann. Reg.]
S. L-P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seally, John

​SEALLY, JOHN (1747?–1795), miscellaneous writer, born in Somerset about 1747, was educated at Bristol grammar ​school, with a view to ordination. He may possibly be identical with 'John Sealy,' son of John Sealy of Bridgwater, Somerset, who matriculated from Hertford College, Oxford, on 22 May 1760, aged 18, and graduated B.A. in 1764 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715-1886, s. v.) The death of his uncle and patron obliged him to enter a solicitor's office, which he soon quitted to learn the business of a merchant under Malachy Postlethwayt [q. v.] His master's strictness was so little relished by Seally that, with some assistance from his mother, he betook himself to authorship and journalism as a means of livelihood. During a visit to Manchester he persuaded a wealthy heiress to elope with him, but was overtaken by the father at Worcester, The lady is said to have died broken-hearted, and Seally consoled himself by marrying, in 1766, a reputed rich widow of double his age, only to find, some years later, that she had no money and a husband (the Rev. William Lewis) still living. In the meantime Seally sought occupation as a writing-master and accountant. About 1767 he established a school in Bridgwater Square, Westminster and after some years successful tuition took holy orders. In 1790 he was presented to the vicarage of East Meon with Froxfield and Steep, Hampshire. He died in Queen Square, Westminster, in March 1795. After his separation from Mrs. Lewis he married Mary, eldest daughter of Joseph Humphreys, rector of Ellisfield, Hampshire, and of North Stoke, Somerset, who survived him (notes from Seally's will, proved in P. C. C. on 22 April 1795).
Seally was elected fellow of the Royal Society on 30 June 1791 (Thomson, Hist. Royal Soc. Appendix iv. p. lxii). During a sojourn in Rome in 1774 he obtained admission to the Roman Academy (Arcadia] by a eulogy on Maria Maddelana Fernandez Corilla, poet-laureate of Italy. He was also M.A. and LL.D. A portrait engraved by Thorowgood is mentioned by Bromley.
Seally contributed occasional verses to various magazines, projected a short-lived political paper signed 'Britannicus,' conducted for some time the 'Universal Museum' and the 'Freeholder's Magazine,' and was concerned in the 'St. James's Magazine, edited by Robert Lloyd [q. v.] He likewise published several novels, poems, and school books, including: 1. 'The Loves of Calisto and Emira, or the Fatal Legacy' 12mo, London, 1776; a French translation was published at Paris in 1778. 2. 'Moral Tales after the Eastern manner,' 12mo, London (1780?). 3. 'The Marriage of Sir Gawaine,' an opera, 1782. 4. 'A complete Geographical Dictionary,' 2 vols. 4to, London, 1787. 6, 'The Lady's Encyclopaedia,' 3 vols, 12mo, London, 1788.
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seaman, William

​SEAMAN, WILLIAM (1606–1680), orientalist, and first translator of the New Testament into Turkish, was born in 1606. In 1623-4 he matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, graduating B.A. at the same time, and M.A. in 1626. In 1628 he became rector of Upton-Scudamore, a living in the gift of Queen's College, Oxford, which he held up to the time of his death. Soon after his institution he travelled to Constantinople, and there entered the service of Sir Peter Wyche [q. v.], the English ambassador, though in what capacity does not appear. Twells, in a note to his 'Life of Dr, Edward Pocock' (London, 1740), doubtfully states that Seaman was chaplain to an English ambassador at the Porte, Sir Peter was ambassador from 1628 to 1639, and Thomas Hunt was his chaplain from 1628 till 1636. In 1652 Seaman published a translation from the Turkish ​of Hojah Effendi's ‘Reign of the Sultan Orchan,’ and dedicated it to Lady Jane Merick, who had formerly been the wife of Sir Peter Wyche. Seaman states as the reason of his presenting the work to her: ‘Not only because (during my youth) I began the study of the Turkish language while I was a servant of your family, but likewise as having had my education, in the use of my pen, under the Right Honourable Sir Peter Wyche (your then noble husband) in the time of his embassie there.’
After 1650 Seaman, at the instigation of the Hon. Robert Boyle, who contributed 60l. to the cost of the undertaking, commenced his magnum opus, the translation of the New Testament into Turkish, and in 1659 he published the three epistles of St. John, under the title ‘Specimen S.S. Scripturæ … Turcicè redditæ opera G. S.’ In the following year he prepared, also at the desire of Boyle, a Turkish version of the ‘Short Catechisme’ of John Ball (1585–1640) [q. v.] This work (of which a copy exists in the Bodleian Library) is a small octavo, printed apparently at Oxford. There is neither title-page, author's name, nor date.
The New Testament was completed and published in quarto at Oxford in 1666. It is a creditable monument of Seaman's erudition and industry, and remained for a century and a half the only printed Turkish version. In 1670 Seaman published a Turkish grammar, concerning which several letters passed between himself and Dr. Pococke, who bestowed great care and pains in correcting and improving the style of the Latin preface and epistle dedicatory. In the dedication Seaman acknowledges the assistance he had received from Boyle, who contributed 20l. (to be paid in books) towards the cost of the work, and to Cyril Wyche, the son of his former patron, Sir Peter. At this time Seaman had a house in Whitecross Alley, Moorfields. He died on 7 Nov. 1680, and was buried in the church of Upton-Scudamore, having held the rectory for fifty-two years. He is stated to have been a moderate nonconformist. He was married and left issue.
H. L. T.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Searchfield, Rowland

​SEARCHFIELD, ROWLAND (1565?–1622), bishop of Bristol, born in 1564 or 1565, entered Merchant Taylors' School in 1575, and matriculated as fellow from St John's College, Oxford, on 6 July 1582, aged 17. He graduated B.A. on 11 Oct 1586, M.A. on 2 June 1590, and B.D. on June 1597, being dispensed from the usual exercises on the ground that he was 'engaged on certain duties at the command of the archbishop of Canterbury.' He graduated D.D. on 1 June 1608, maintaining in his theses that various forms of religion were incompatible with unity of faith; that no one could be saved by the faith of another; and that heretics should be compelled to conform outwardly. He was appointed rector of the university on 21 April 1596, and was licensed to preach on 17 Feb. 1605-6. In 1601 he was made vicar of Evenley, Northamptonshire, and rector of Burthrop, Gloucestershire, and in 1606 he became vicar of Charlbury, Oxfordshire. On 18 March 1618-19 he was elected bishop of Bristol, being consecrated on 9 May following, and receiving back the temporalities on the 28th. He died on 11 Oct, 1622, and was buried in Bristol Cathedral. John Manningham describes him as 'a dissembled Christian, like an intemperate patient which can gladly heare his physician discourse of his dyet and remedy, but will not endure to obserue them' (Diary, Camd. Soc. p. 11). By his wife Anne, daughter of Ralph and Mary Hutchinson, he had one or more sons. The stone placed over his grave was subsequently removed to make room for the communion table.
A. F. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seaton, Edward Cator

​SEATON, EDWARD CATOR (1815–1880), author of the ‘Handbook of Vaccination,’ was born at Rochester in 1815, where his father, a retired naval surgeon, was in practice. He was educated at Edinburgh University, where he graduated M.D. in 1837, and, then joining his father at Rochester, was appointed surgeon to the North Aylesford Union. Purchasing a small practice, he settled at 77 Sloane Street, London, in 1841, removing to 33 Sloane Street in 1852, and remaining there until 1862. He took an active part in founding the Western Medical Society, of which he was secretary, librarian, and afterwards president. With the Epidemiological Society he was connected from its foundation in 1850 (serving as president in 1869). A committee of the society conducted inquiries concerning small-pox and vaccination, and reached the conclusion that the disease had much increased in foreign countries. The report, drawn up by Seaton, was presented to parliament (Parliamentary Papers, 1852–3, No. 434, and 1854–5, No. 88). The outcome of the inquiry was the Compulsory Vaccination Act of 1853. Among other papers printed by him were ‘The Protective and Modifying Process of Vaccination’ (Journal of Public Health and Sanitary Review, 1856–7, ii. 101, 343–68) and an ‘Account of an Epidemic of Small ​Pox in Jamaica,’ 1851–2 (Trans. Epidemiological Soc. 1858, pp. 1–12). In 1858 Seaton was appointed an inspector under the general board of health, and was engaged in reporting on the state of vaccination in England, which he found to be deficient and requiring an amendment in the law. He contributed the article on vaccination to Reynolds's ‘System of Medicine’ (1866, i. 483–519), and published his well-known ‘Handbook of Vaccination’ (1868), a ‘Report on Animal Vaccination,’ and ‘On the recent Small-pox Epidemic with reference to Vaccination,’ in the new local government series in 1874. His efforts led to improved arrangements for public vaccination. In 1872 he became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and represented Great Britain in the sanitary conference held at Vienna in 1874. From 1871 he acted as assistant medical officer to the local government board, and in June 1876 succeeded John Simon, C.B., as medical officer. In this capacity his sound clear judgment proved of great value. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Thomas Spooner Soden, at 48 Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, London, on 31 Jan. 1880, and was buried in Kensal Green cemetery.
Besides the works enumerated, he wrote: ‘General Memorandum on the Proceedings which are advisable in Places attacked by Epidemic Diseases,’ 1878; ‘Chelsea Vestry: Annual Reports of the Medical Officer of Health,’ 1885–90.
G. C. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seaton, John Thomas

​SEATON, JOHN THOMAS (fl. 1761–1806), portrait-painter, was son of Christopher Seaton, a gem-engraver, who was a pupil of Charles Christian Reisen [q. v.], and died in 1768. Seaton was a pupil of Francis Hayman [q. v.], and also studied in the St. Martin's Lane academy. He and his father were both members of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and signed their declaration roll in 1766. He resided for some time at Bath, whence he sent portraits to the exhibition of the society, and in 1774 he exhibited portraits at the Royal Academy. His portraits were usually small full-lengths in a landscape. He subsequently went to Edinburgh, where he practised with repute as a portrait-painter, and was living in 1806. A portrait by him of Walter Macfarlan (d. 1767) of Macfarlane is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seagrave, Robert

​SEAGRAVE, ROBERT (1693–1760?), divine, son of Robert Seagrave, vicar of Twyford, Leicestershire, 1687–1720, was born there on 22 Nov. 1693. He was admitted subsizar at Clare Hall, Cambridge, on 8 Nov. 1710, and graduated B.A. in 1714, M.A. in 1718 (Grad. Cantabr. 1659–1823, p. 418). Seagrave, although ordained, held no cure, but acted as an extra-parochial clergyman, and preached in many places. He was one of the earliest to join the Oxford methodist movement, and, anxious to stir the church of England from her lethargy, published anonymously ‘A Remonstrance addressed to the Clergy,’ London, 1731, 8vo, and ‘A Letter to the People of England, occasioned by the falling away of the Clergy from the Doctrines of the Reformation,’ by Paulinus, London, 1735. To the fourth edition, 1739, he put his name. It was answered by an anonymous writer in ‘An Appeal to the People of England in defence of the Clergy.’ Seagrave next wrote in 1739, in defence of George Whitefield, ‘An Answer to Dr. Trapp's Four Sermons,’ which was answered in Trapp's ‘Observations on the Conduct and Writings of Mr. Seagrave,’ London, 1739, 8vo. Further vindications of Trapp appeared, and Seagrave issued, in further vindication of Whitefield, ‘Remarks upon the Bishop of London's Pastoral Letter.’ On 8 Sept. 1739 he held a dispute with Ebenezer Hewlett, an unlettered person at Blackwell's coffee-house. Some account of this was published by Hewlett in ‘Mr. Whitefield's Chatechise (sic), being an explanation of the doctrine of the methodists,’ London, 1739, 8vo.
In the same year Seagrave commenced preaching regularly on Sunday evenings at Lorimers' Hall, Cripplegate. Later he gave a Tuesday and a Thursday lecture. For the use of his congregation there he prepared ‘Hymns for Christian Worship’ (London, 1742, 8vo; 4th edit. 1748, reprinted 1860). Thirty of the hymns were his own. Among them are two still in common use, viz. ‘Now may the Spirit's holy fire,’ on the opening of a place of worship (included in Whitefield's ‘Hymns for Social Worship,’ 1753, and in Toplady's ‘Psalms and Hymns’); and ‘Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings,’ also in Whitefield's hymn-book. Seagrave was preaching up till 1759. He probably died soon afterwards. His other works are: 1. ‘Six Sermons on the Manner of Salvation,’ London, 1737, 8vo. 2. ‘A Draught of the Justification of Man different from the present Language of our Pulpits,’ London, 1740, 8vo, being a continuation of the ‘Letter to the People of England.’ 3. ‘Observations upon the Conduct of the Clergy, with an Essay towards a real Protestant Establishment,’ 1738; 3rd edit. 1740, 8vo. 4. ‘Christianity: how far it is and is not founded on Argument,’ London, 1743, 8vo. 5. ‘The True Protestant, addressed to the University of Cambridge,’ 4th edit. 1751, 8vo. 6. ‘The Principles of Liberty, or the Right of Mankind to judge for themselves in matters of Faith,’ London, 1755.
C. F. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seager, Edward

​SEAGER, EDWARD (1812–1883), lieutenant-general, was born on 11 June 1812, and, after serving in the ranks for nine years and one hundred and eighty-eight days from 1832, became a cornet of the 8th light dragoons on 17 Sept. 1841. He was adjutant from 5 Oct. 1841 to 25 Oct. 1854, being gazetted lieutenant on 29 June 1843, ​captain on 26 Oct. 1851, and major 31 Jan. 1858. He served with his regiment in the Crimean war of 1854, and up to February 1855, and was present at the battles of Alma, Balaclava (where he was wounded), Inkerman, and the siege of Sebastopol. On 28 June 1855 he was appointed assistant military secretary to Major-general Lord William Paulet [q. v.], commanding on the Bosphorus, and continued in the same office under Sir Henry Knight Storks [q. v.] until the end of the war on 31 July 1856, when he was rewarded with a medal and four clasps, the fifth class of Medjidie, and the Turkish medal. Later on he served in Central India, 1858–9, was present at the action of Boordah, was mentioned in the despatches, and received a medal. From 5 Aug. 1859 to 5 Aug. 1864 he was lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, and was then gazetted a brevet colonel in the army. From 3 Nov. 1864 to 31 Jan. 1870 he was acting quartermaster-general in the Dublin district, and from 1 April 1873 to 3 April 1878 inspecting officer of yeomanry cavalry at York. On 15 Jan. 1870 he became a major-general, and on 1 July 1881 was placed on the retired list with the rank of lieutenant-general. On 10 May 1872 he received one of the rewards for ‘distinguished and meritorious services,’ and on 2 June 1877 was gazetted C.B. He died at Sion House, Scarborough, on 30 March 1883.
G. C. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parker, William (fl.1535)

​PARKER, WILLIAM (fl. 1535), last abbot of St. Peter's, Gloucester. [See Malvern.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parkes, David

Contains subarticle James Parkes (1794–1828).
​PARKES, DAVID (1763–1833), schoolmaster, draughtsman, and antiquary, son of John Parkes, of an old family in reduced circumstances, was born on 21 Feb. 1763, at Cakemore, near Halesowen, Shropshire. Parkes, after being educated in the village school, was apprenticed to a japanner at Birmingham, but soon set up a small school, and eventually obtained a situation as usher in a private school. He meanwhile cultivated a natural love of art, and became proficient in French. Parkes soon removed to Shrewsbury, where he established, in a house called ‘The Franciscan Friars,’ a school for the mercantile classes, which obtained some repute, and subsequently was transferred to larger premises in Castle Street. He spent his leisure in travelling about his native ​county, making innumerable drawings of antiquities and picturesque objects. He thus accumulated an important collection of books, prints, and antiquities connected with Shropshire. Parkes was a frequent contributor to the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ and was a well-known and prominent citizen at Shrewsbury. He died at Shrewsbury on 8 May 1833, and his library and collections were sold in the following August. He married Elizabeth Morris of Hadnall, Shropshire, by whom he had three sons and several daughters. Of his sons, James Parkes (1794–1828), born in 1794, practised as a drawing-master in Shrewsbury and assisted his father in his archæological drawings. He died on 31 March 1828. Twelve etchings by him of views of monastic and other remains in Shropshire were published posthumously in 1829. The younger son, John Parkes (1804–1832), also practised as a drawing-master.
[Gent. Mag. 1828 i. 376, 1832 ii. 578, 1833 i. 567; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parker, Thomas Lister

​PARKER, THOMAS LISTER (1779–1858), antiquary, born at Browsholme Hall, Yorkshire, on 27 Sept. 1779, was the eldest of the eight sons of John Parker of Browsholme, M.P. for Clitheroe, Lancashire, by his wife Beatrix, daughter of Thomas Lister of Gisburne Park, Yorkshire. He was educated at the Royal grammar school, Clitheroe, under the mastership of the Rev. Thomas Wilson, B.D., and at Christ's College, Cambridge. On the death of his father on 25 May 1797 he succeeded to the Browsholme estate. In 1804 and 1805 he made alterations in Browsholme Hall—a house of the sixteenth century—rebuilt the west wing, and afterwards made additions under the superintendence of Sir Jeffrey Wyatville. Parker had a taste for landscape gardening, and between 1797 and 1810 spent large sums in laying out his grounds. In the house he displayed a collection of antiquities and pictures, partly formed by himself. He had a large series of drawings and prints bought by him during a tour on the continent in 1800 and 1801, at Moscow, Venice, and Paris; a large collection of drawings of castles and manor-houses by J. C. Buckler, and many portfolios of his own drawings. He also possessed pictures of the Flemish school and works of Northcote and Gainsborough. In 1815 (London, 4to) he published a ‘Description of Browsholme Hall … and of the Parish of Waddington.’ The volume included a collection of letters of the reigns of Charles I, Charles II, and James II, printed from the originals at Browsholme. The frontispiece gives a view of the exterior of the hall in 1750. The views of Browsholme in Dr. Whitaker's ‘Whalley’ were prepared at Parker's expense, one of them, signed ‘Wm. Turner A.,’ being by J. W. M. Turner, R.A. (see edition of 1872, i. 336–7, p. xviii). Parker was a constant associate of Whitaker, who largely used his antiquarian and genealogical manuscripts for his ‘History of Whalley.’ He was also a friend of Charles Towneley, the Hebers, Turner, and James Northcote.
Parker was elected F.S.A. in 1801, and afterwards F.R.S. He was high sheriff for Lancashire in 1804. He had the sinecure post of ‘Trumpeter to the Queen,’ and held the office—hereditary in his family for many generations—of ‘Bow-bearer of the forest of Bowland,’ Lancashire. In 1824 he sold Browsholme estate, with the mansion, to his cousin, Thomas Parker of Alkincoates, Lancashire, who, dying without issue in 1832, devised it to his nephew, Thomas Goulbourne Parker. During the later years of his life Parker retired from society, and chiefly resided at the Star Inn in Deansgate, Manchester, where he died, unmarried, on 2 March 1858. He was buried on 9 March in his family chapel in Waddington Church, Yorkshire. Parker was a kind and liberal patron of artists, but his lavish expenditure brought him into pecuniary difficulties in the latter part of his life. There are two portraits of Parker by James Northcote, one of them representing him at the age of twenty-five (see Parker, Descript. of Browsholme). Some of his letters are printed in Raine's ‘Life of Wilson of Clitheroe,’ 1858.
W. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ryves, Lavinia, Janetta Horton de Serres

​RYVES, Mrs. LAVINIA JANETTA HORTON de SERRES (1797–1871), claiming to be Princess of Cumberland. [See under Serres, Mrs. Olivia.]