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

​OWENSON, ROBERT (1744–1812), actor, was born in the barony of Tyrawley, co. Mayo, in 1744. His parents were poor people named MacOwen, which their son afterwards englished into Owenson. He was primarily educated at a hedge-school, and acted for a short time as steward to a neighbouring landowner. Having acquired a taste for theatricals, he communicated to Oliver Goldsmith his desire to go on the stage, and the latter introduced him to Garrick about 1771. He had a handsome and commanding figure and sang well, having received tuition from Worgan and Arne, and was quite successful when he appeared in the provincial theatres. Of his many parts the best was Teague in the 'Committee' and Major O'Flaherty in the 'West Indian,' and he was already popular when he made his London debut at Covent Garden in 1774. He was admitted a member of the famous 'Literary Club' on Goldsmith's recommendation, and in 1774 married Jane Mill, the daughter of a tradesman of Shrewsbury, and a distant relative of the Mills of Hawkesley in Shropshire. The first child of the marriage was Sydney, the afterwards celebrated Lady Morgan [see Morgan, Sydney]. Owenson appeared on the Dublin stage in October 1776, and remained there some years, becoming part-proprietor of Crow Street Theatre. In 1785, after a quarrel with his manager, he opened the Fishamble Street Theatre, but returned in less than a year. Subsequent attempts to carry on theatres at Kilkenny, Londonderry, and Sligo were failures, and in 1798 he retired from the stage. He died in Dublin at the house of his son-in-law, Sir Arthur Clarke, at the end of May 1812, and was buried at Irishtown, outside the city. He has been placed only a little lower than John Henry Johnstone [q. v.] as an Irish comedian, and he was also a capable composer, the well-known airs of 'Rory O'More' and 'My Love's the Fairest Creature' being attributed to him. His kindness of heart is illustrated by the generosity he extended to Thomas Dermody [q. v.] His only literary productions are a song preserved in T. C. Croker's 'Popular Songs of Ireland' and 'Theatrical Fears' (12mo, Dublin, 1804), a long poem, after the manner of the 'Rosciad,' published under the signature of 'R. N. O.'
D. J. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Owenson, Sydney

​OWENSON, Miss SYDNEY (1783?–1859), novelist and traveller. [See Morgan, Sydney, Lady.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Owens, Owen

​OWENS, OWEN (d. 1593), divine. [See under Owen, John, 1580–1651, bishop of St. Asaph.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smyth, Edward

​SMYTH, EDWARD (1749–1812), sculptor, born in co. Meath in 1749, was son of a stonecutter who went to Dublin about 1750. The younger Smyth was apprenticed to Simon Vierpyl (whose name is sometimes incorrectly given as Verpyle), a sculptor, of Bachelor's Walk, Dublin, and was afterwards employed in mantelpiece work by Henry Darley, a master stonecutter. Here he attracted the notice of James Gandon [q. v.], who engaged him to execute the sculpture for the custom-house, then in course of erection. Gandon thought Smyth the best artist Ireland had produced, and considered his talent remarkable in one who had never been out of the country. Smyth executed, besides nearly all the figures on the custom-house, the statues of Justice, Wisdom, and Liberty, over the eastern portico of the Irish parliament-house, and later on the figures over the southern portico of the building. As early as 1772 he exhibited in Dublin a model of the statue of Dr. Charles Lucas [q. v.], now in the Royal Exchange of that city, and among his other works were the statues of Faith, Hope, and Charity in the Castle chapel, and the busts of the four evangelists for the same building, the bas-reliefs over the entrance to the Four Courts, and all the sculptures on the Inns of Court. He also executed the statue of St. Andrew on the portico of St. Andrew's Church in Dublin, and the heads on the keystones of the arches of Carlisle (now O'Connell) Bridge. His wax models of figures personifying the twelve most important rivers of Ireland were exhibited in 1800–2, and won high praise. They are now in the possession of the Royal Hibernian Academy. Smyth died in 1812. A portrait of him by an anonymous artist was sold at the Whaley sale in Dublin, 1848.
Of Edward Smyth's many children John Smyth (1775?–1854?), sculptor, born in Dublin about 1775, studied under his father. Many of his works in Dublin have merit, particularly the statues of Hibernia, Mercury, and Fidelity over the portico of the General Post Office (1817); the statues of Æsculapius, Minerva, and Hygeia on the Royal College of Surgeons (the royal arms of which were also sculptured by him); and the monument of George Ogle (1742–1814) [q. v.] in St. Patrick's Cathedral. He also designed the monument of Archbishop Arthur Smythe in that edifice, and executed some of the sculptural work in the south transept, and two busts by him of Irish surgeons are in the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. John Smyth was an associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and died about 1834.
D. J. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smyth, James Carmichael (1741-1821)

​SMYTH, JAMES CARMICHAEL (1741–1821), medical writer, only son of Thomas Carmichael of Balmadie and Margaret Smyth of Athenry, was born in Fifeshire in 1741. He assumed the name and ​arms of Smyth in addition to his own. After studying for six years at Edinburgh University, he graduated as M.D. in 1764, taking for his thesis ‘De Paralysi,’ and introducing into it a short history of medical electricity. He then visited France, Italy, and Holland. In 1768 he settled in London, and received the appointment of physician to the Middlesex Hospital. He engaged in experiments with nitrous-acid gas for prevention of contagion in cases of fever, these experiments being continued at the request of the government on board the Spanish prison-ship at Winchester, where an epidemic prevailed. In 1802, for his services in this respect, parliament voted him a reward of 5,000l. His claim to the merit of the discovery was disputed by Dr. James Johnstone of Kidderminster, for his father, and by M. Chaptal, a Frenchman, for Guyton-Morveau; but, after a keen controversy, Smyth's claims were upheld. He subsequently went to the south of France for his health, and on his return settled at Sunbury. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society in May 1779 (Thomson, Hist. of Royal Soc. App. p. lvii), and was also a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and physician-extraordinary to George III. He died on 18 June 1821. In 1775 he married Mary, only child and heiress of Thomas Holyland of Bromley, Kent, and had by her eight sons and two daughters. His eldest son was General Sir James Carmichael Smyth (1779–1838) [q. v.] His eldest daughter, Maria, married, in 1800, Dr. Alexander Monro ‘tertius’ [q. v.]
Smyth was the author of a large number of medical treatises illustrative of his experiments. Among them were: 1. ‘An Account of the Effects of Swinging, employed as a remedy in Pulmonary Consumption,’ London, 1787, 8vo. 2. ‘A Description of the Jail Distemper, as it appeared among the Spanish Prisoners at Winchester in 1780,’ London, 1795, 8vo. 3. ‘An Account of the Experiments made on board the Union Hospital Ship to determine the Effect of the Nitrous Acid in destroying Contagion,’ London, 1796, 8vo. 4. ‘The Effect of the Nitrous Vapour in preventing and destroying Contagion,’ London, 1799, 8vo. 5. ‘Letter to William Wilberforce’ [on Dr. Johnstone's claim], 1805, London, 8vo. 6. ‘Remarks on a Report of M. Chaptal,’ 1805, London, 8vo. 7. ‘A Treatise on Hydrocephalus,’ 1814, London, 8vo. Smyth also edited the ‘Works of the late Dr. William Stark,’ 1788, London, 4to.
G. S-h.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smyth, John Talfourd

​SMYTH, JOHN TALFOURD (1819?–1851), engraver, was born in Edinburgh about 1819, and, after studying for a time at the Trustees' Academy there, devoted himself to line engraving. Though practically self-taught in this art, he was eventually able to produce plates of great merit. His earliest published works were ‘A Child's Head’ after Sir J. Watson Gordon, and ‘The Stirrup Cup’ after Sir William Allan. In 1838 he removed to Glasgow, but, after residing there a few years, returned to Edinburgh, where he worked with extreme industry during the remainder of his life. Smyth engraved for the London ‘Art Journal’ Wilkie's ‘John Knox dispensing the Sacrament,’ Ary Scheffer's ‘The Comforter,’ Mulready's ‘The Last in,’ and Allan's ‘Banditti dividing ​Spoil.’ He was engaged upon a plate from Faed's ‘First Step’ when he died at Edinburgh on 18 May 1851, at the age of thirty-two.
F. M. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smyth, John Rowland

​SMYTH, Sir JOHN ROWLAND (d. 1873), lieutenant-general, was fifth son of Grice Smyth of Ballynatray, co. Waterford, by Mary, daughter and coheiress of H. Mitchell of Mitchellsfort, co. Cork. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and was commissioned as cornet in the 16th lancers on 5 July 1821. He was promoted lieutenant on 26 May 1825, and in the following year was present at the capture of Bhartpur (18 Jan.). On 22 April he was made captain on the half-pay list, from which he exchanged to the 32nd foot on 29 Nov. 1827. After ten years' service in that regiment, mostly in Canada, he returned to half-pay on 6 April 1838, and exchanged from it to the 6th dragoon guards (Carabiniers) on 10 May 1839.
On 17 Aug. 1841 he obtained a half-pay majority, and on 6 May 1842 he returned to his old regiment, the 16th lancers. He served with it in the Gwalior campaign of 1843, commanding the advanced wing of cavalry at Maharajpur, and in the Sutlej campaign of 1846, during which he was in command of the regiment. It greatly distinguished itself at Aliwal by routing the Sikh cavalry and breaking up a square of infantry, Smyth being severely wounded while leading it. He was mentioned in despatches, and was made brevet lieutenant-colonel and C.B. He received the medal and clasp for this campaign, having already received the medal and clasp for Bhartpur and the bronze star for Maharajpur.
Smyth was lieutenant-colonel of the 16th lancers from 10 Dec. 1847 till 2 Nov. 1855, when he exchanged to half-pay. He had been given one of the rewards for distinguished service on 1 June 1854, and had been made colonel in the army on 20 June. He became major-general on 22 Dec. 1860, and lieutenant-general on 1 April 1870, and was given the colonelcy of the 6th dragoon guards on 21 Jan. 1868.
Smyth died at Kensington on 14 May 1873. He married Catherine, daughter of the first Lord Tenterden, and had one daughter, who married the fourth Lord Tenterden.
E. M. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smitz, Caspar

Caspar Smits in the ODNB.
[Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting (Dallaway and Wornum); Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Nagler's Künstler-Lexikon.]
F. M. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sempill, Hugh

​SEMPILL or SEMPLE, HUGH, Hugo Sempilius (1596–1654), mathematician, born at Craigevar in Scotland in 1596, was nephew of Colonel William Sempill [q. v.] He was aggregated to the Society of Jesus at Toledo in 1615, and became rector of the Scottish College at Madrid, where he died on 29 Sept. 1654.
He was the author of: 1. ‘De Mathematicis Disciplinis lib. XII, in quibus earum utilitas, dignitas, natura, divisio explicantur,’ Antwerp, 1635, fol. (dedicated to Philip IV, king of Spain). 2. ‘Experientia Mathematica, de compositione numerorum, linearum quadratorum, &c.,’ Madrid, 1642, 8vo. 3. ‘Dictionarium Mathematicum,’ which was prepared for the press but never published.
The following manuscripts by him are preserved in the National Library at Madrid: ‘Historia de regimine Philippi IV’ (G. 73); ‘Parecer sobre el riego de los prados de Aranjuez y lugares vecinos, en tiempo de Felipe IV;’ ‘Parecer sobre las señales que se vieron en el cielo, año 1637’ (S. 104); ‘Discurso contra los ministros codiciosos.’
[Catholic Miscellany, ix. 40; De Backer's Bibl. de la Compagnie de Jésus (1876), ii. 755; Foley's Records; vii. 697; Leith's Narratives of Scottish Catholics, p. 372; Oliver's Jesuit Collections, p. 37; Southwell's Bibl. Script. Soc. Jesu, p. 354; Stothert's Catholic Mission in Scotland, p. 611.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Semple, James George

​SEMPLE alias SEMPLE-LISLE, JAMES GEORGE (fl. 1799), adventurer, who also passed under the names Maxwell, Harrod, and Grant, was born at Irvine in 1759, and was the son of James Semple, formerly an exciseman, who eventually laid claim to the extinct title of Viscount Lisle. In 1776 he was serving in America, where he was taken prisoner, but was released in 1777, and returned to England. He then became acquainted with Mrs. Eliza Gooch the novelist. Marrying a goddaughter of the notorious Duchess of Kingston [see Chudleigh, Elizabeth], he accompanied the latter to the continent. There he claims to have accompanied Frederick the Great during his bloodless campaign of 1778, to have been introduced to the Empress Catharine of Russia, to have accompanied Prince Potemkin to the Crimea, and to have designed a uniform for the Russian army. He also visited Copenhagen. Returning to England in 1784, he was arrested for obtaining goods by false pretences, and on 2 Sept. 1786 was sentenced to seven years' transportation. Released on condition of quitting England, he repaired to Paris, where he represents himself as serving on General Berruyer's staff, and as witnessing in that capacity the execution of Louis XVI. Returning to England in time to avoid arrest, he was again, on 18 Feb. 1795, sentenced to transportation for defrauding tradesmen. Disappointed in his hopes of pardon, he stabbed himself in Newgate in 1796, when about to be shipped for Botany Bay, and tried to starve himself to death. He recovered, however, and in 1798 was despatched in the Lady Jane Shore transport, bound for Australia. During the voyage a mutiny broke out, Semple's warning of the plot having been disregarded by the captain, Wilcox. Semple, with several others, was allowed to put off in a boat, landed in South America, and, after many adventures, reached Tangier, where he surrendered, and was sent back to England. He was committed to Tothill Fields prison, and at the time of publishing his autobiography in 1799 was still confined there. Nothing further is known of him. A portrait engraved by Barlow is mentioned by Bromley.
[Life, 1799; Mem. of the Northern Impostor, 1786; Life of Mrs. E. S. Gooch, 1792; Ann. Register, 1796, App. p. 46, and 1798, App. p. 60; Gent. Mag. 1796.]
J. G. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Semple, David

​SEMPLE, DAVID (1808–1878), antiquary, was born at Townhead, Paisley, on 21 Aug. 1808. Educated in the local grammar school and trained in a lawyer's office, he settled in business on his own account in Paisley, and was considered an able conveyancer. He was long the agent for the liberals of the burgh. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He died at Paisley on 23 Dec. 1878.
Semple's works—mainly dealing with local history—are: 1. ‘Poll-tax Rolls of Renfrewshire of 1695,’ published in 1862. 2. ‘The Lairds of Glen’ and ‘History of the Cross Steeple,’ 1868. 3. ‘St. Mirin, with two supplements, a learned and patient treatise on the patron saint of Paisley, 1872. 4. ‘Barons and Barony of Renfrewshire,’ 1876. 5. ‘The Tree of Crockston,’ 1876. 6. ‘Abbey Bridge of Paisley,’ 1878. He also prepared a complete edition of Tannahill's ‘Poems,’ with a memoir and notes (Glasgow, 1870, 8vo).
[Irving's Book of Eminent Scotsmen; Brown's Paisley Poets.]
T. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Semple, George

​SEMPLE, GEORGE (1700?–1782?), Irish architect, son of a builder's labourer, was born in Dublin about 1700. His earliest known work is the steeple (103 feet in height) of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, which he designed and erected in 1749. He also built St. Patrick's Hospital (1749–57), and several private mansions, including Ramsfort, co. Wexford, which was afterwards destroyed. His best known work was Essex Bridge across the Liffey. This was begun in 1752, and completed in 1754, and was considered one of the best bridges in Ireland. The government awarded him 500l. for his services. Essex Bridge was taken down in 1872, being replaced by the present Grattan Bridge, from Parliament Street to Capel Street. In 1777 Semple was living in Queen Street, Dublin, and died late in 1781 or early in 1782. His immediate descendants were also architects. He published a treatise ‘On Building in Water’ (Dublin, 1776, 4to).
[Gilbert's Hist. of Dublin; Whitelaw and Walsh's Hist. of Dublin; Dublin directories, 1770–82; Pasquin's Artists of Ireland. Redgrave erroneously gives his name as Temple.]
D. J. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Semple, Robert

​SEMPLE, ROBERT (1766–1816), traveller, and governor under the Hudson's Bay Company, son of British parents, who were made prisoners during the American war of independence, was born at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1766. Brought up to mercantile pursuits, he was associated with London firms, and travelled constantly in the course of business, recording his impressions and adventures in short plain narratives which were favourably received. He was in Cape Colony in 1802, and made a stay of some duration, journeying inland a short distance. In 1803 he was back in London, and on 26 June 1805 left for a journey through Spain and Italy to Naples, and thence to Smyrna and Constantinople. In 1808 and 1809 he made a second journey in Portugal and Spain, eventually going to Gibraltar and Tangier. In 1810 he travelled in the West Indies and Brazil, and was in Caracas, Venezuela, at the beginning of the rebellion against Spain. In 1813 he made an adventurous journey in the rear of the allied armies from Hamburg by Berlin to Gothenburg; he was on this occasion taken for an American spy by Lord Cathcart and placed under arrest.
In 1815 Semple was chosen by the influence of Lord Selkirk to be chief agent or governor of the Hudson's Bay Company's factories and territories. Leaving England in June, he arrived at Red River in September, and energetically moved from place to place inspecting the settlements. In the spring of 1816 he was back at Red River. There had long been a feud between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North-West Company. On 19 June 1816 a caravan belonging to the latter company was passing near the fort at Red River with the intention of occupying ground to which their right was disputed. Semple rode out with an escort to meet them. A fracas ensued in which shots were exchanged, and Semple was mortally wounded, dying soon after he was carried into the fort. A literature of recrimination between the two companies was the chief result of the affair.
Semple was admitted even by his opponents to have been just and honourable in his short administration. He had a taste for literature and science. His chief writings are:
* ‘Walks and Sketches at the Cape of Good Hope, &c.’ London, 1803.
* ‘Observations on a Journey through Spain and Italy to Naples, &c. in 1805,’ London, 1807, 2 vols. 8vo.
* ‘A Second Journey in Spain in the Spring of 1809, &c.’ London, 1810 (2nd edition, 1812).
* ‘Sketch of the Present State of Caracas,’ London, 1812. ​
* ‘Observations made on a Tour from Hamburg through Berlin to Gothenburg,’ London, 1814.
* ‘Charles Ellis, or the Friends,’ a novel, London, 1814.
[Works in Brit. Mus. Libr.; A review in a Collection of Modern … Voyages and Travels, London, 1808; Edinburgh Review, 1814, vol. xxii.; Gent. Mag. 1816, pt. ii. p. 454; Halkett's Statement respecting the Earl of Selkirk's Settlement … and the Massacre of Governor Semple, London, 1817; Lord Selkirk's Narrative of Occurrences respecting Lord Selkirk's Settlement, &c. 1817; note on p. viii of Amos's Report of Trials, &c. against Lord Selkirk, London, 1820.]
C. A. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Spencer, Robert Cavendish

​SPENCER, Sir ROBERT CAVENDISH (1791–1830), captain in the navy, born on 24 Oct. 1791, was third son of George John, second earl Spencer [q. v.], and brother of John Charles Spencer, viscount Althorp and third earl Spencer [q. v.] In August 1804 he entered the navy on board the Tigre with Captain Benjamin Hallowell, afterwards Carew [q. v.], and served continuously with him, in the Tigre and afterwards in the Malta—being promoted to be lieutenant on 13 Dec. 1810—till appointed to command the Pelorus brig in October 1812. On 22 Jan. 1813 he was promoted to be commander of the Kite, from which he was moved into the Espoir, one of the squadron off Marseilles, under the command of Captain Thomas Ussher [q. v.] He was afterwards appointed to the Carron, employed on the coast of North America, was actively engaged in the operations against New Orleans, and was promoted to post rank by the commander-in-chief, Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane [q. v.], on 4 June 1814. In 1815 he commanded the Cydnus on the home station, and in 1817–19 the 26-gun frigate Ganymede in the Mediterranean, where he conducted a successful negotiation with the bey of Tunis. From 1819 to 1822 he commanded the Owen Glendower on the South American station, and from 1823 to 1826 the 46-gun frigate Naiad in the Mediterranean, where he took an active part in the operations against Algiers in the summer of 1824 [see Neale, Sir Harry Burrard], and was afterwards employed on the coast of Greece during the war of independence. From August 1827 to September 1828 Spencer was private secretary and groom of the bedchamber to the Duke of Clarence, then lord high admiral; in October 1828 he was nominated a K.C.H., ​and was knighted on 24 Nov. In September 1828 he was appointed to command the Madagascar, again in the Mediterranean, where he died, off Alexandria, on 4 Nov. 1830. He had just been recalled to England on appointment as surveyor-general of the ordnance. During these years of peace service, and especially in the Naiad, Spencer acquired a reputation in the service as a first-rate gunnery officer and disciplinarian. When the Naiad paid off, she was spoken of as the perfection of a man-of-war. He was unmarried.
His younger brother, Frederick Spencer, fourth Earl Spencer (1798–1857), born on 14 April 1798, entered the navy in 1811, and was promoted to the rank of captain on 26 Aug. 1822. In 1831 he was M.P. for Worcestershire, and afterwards for Midhurst. On the death of his eldest brother, he succeeded as fourth Earl Spencer, 1 Oct. 1845; from 1846 to 1848 he was lord chamberlain of the queen's household; was made a K.G. on 23 March 1849; in 1854 was appointed lord steward, and died a vice-admiral on the retired list on 27 Dec. 1857, when he was succeeded by his eldest son, the present Earl Spencer, K.G.
[O'Byrne's Nav. Biogr. Dict.; Marshall's Roy. Nav. Dict. vii. (Suppl. pt. iii.) 256, viii. (Suppl. pt. iv.) 401; Gent. Mag. 1831, i. 82, 1858 i. 328; Letters of Sir Henry Codrington (privately printed); Official Letters in the Public Record Office; information from Earl Spencer, K.G.]
J. K. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Spencer, Gervase

​SPENCER, GERVASE (d. 1763), miniature-painter, began life as a servant in a gentleman's family. Having a taste for drawing, he obtained leave to copy a miniature portrait of one of his master's family, which was so successful that his master encouraged and assisted him to pursue his studies as an artist. Eventually Spencer was able to practise for himself, and attained such a pitch of excellence that he became one of the fashionable miniature-painters of the day. He worked both on ivory and in enamel, and his miniatures are carefully and artistically finished. He exhibited occasionally with the Society of Artists. Spencer was acquainted with Sir Joshua Reynolds, who painted his portrait in the act of painting. Spencer made an etching of this himself, and a few other etchings by him are known. He died in Great Marlborough Street, London, on 30 Oct. 1763. He left a daughter, Mrs. Lloyd, at whose death in 1797 Spencer's remaining works and collections were sold by auction by Hutchins in King Street, Covent Garden.
L. C.