OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomson, Henry (1773-1843)

​THOMSON, HENRY (1773–1843), painter, the son of a purser in the navy, was born at St. George's Square, Portsea, on 31 July 1773. He was at school for nearly nine years at Bishop's Waltham. In 1787 he went with his father to Paris, and returned to London on the breaking out of the revolution. He became a pupil of the painter John Opie [q. v.], and in 1790 entered the schools of the Royal Academy. In 1793 his father took him again to the continent to complete his studies, and he travelled in Italy till 1798, visiting Parma, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Venice. He returned by ​Vienna, Dresden, Berlin, and Hamburg in 1799. He found ‘Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery’ in course of active preparation, and contributed to it ‘Perdita’ and some subjects from ‘The Tempest.’ As early as 1792 he had exhibited a portrait at the Royal Academy, but he did not become a regular contributor till 1800, after his return to England. In 1801 he was elected an associate, and in 1802 an academician. From this time onwards he continued to exhibit many mythological and domestic subjects, as well as portraits, until 1825. Among his chief works were ‘Mercy interceding for a fallen Warrior,’ 1804; ‘Love Sheltered’ and ‘The Red Cross Knight,’ 1806 (both engraved in mezzotint by William Say); ‘Love's Ingratitude,’ 1808; ‘The Distressed Family,’ 1809; ‘Titania,’ 1810; ‘Peasants in a Storm,’ 1811; ‘The Infancy of Jupiter’ (engraved by Henry Meyer), and ‘Lavinia,’ 1812; ‘Eurydice’ (engraved by William Ward) and ‘Thais,’ 1814; ‘Cupid Disarmed’ and ‘Icarus,’ 1815; ‘Christ raising Jairus's Daughter,’ 1820; ‘Juliet,’ 1825. He designed a large number of small illustrations for Sharpe's ‘Poets’ and ‘British Classics,’ and other publications. In 1825 he was appointed keeper of the Royal Academy, in succession to Henry Fuseli [q. v.], but resigned the office after two years owing to a severe illness, from which he never recovered sufficiently to undertake any more work of importance. He retired to Portsea, where he died on 6 April 1843, and was buried in Portsmouth churchyard. Thomson's pictures were extremely popular in his own day, but they are now chiefly known by the good mezzotint engravings in which they were reproduced. A portrait of Thomson, by John Jackson, was engraved by Robert Cooper in 1817; another was painted by Sir Martin Archer Shee (Cat. Third Loan Exhib. No. 346).
C. D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomson, George (fl.1643-1668)

​THOMSON, GEORGE (fl. 1643–1668), parliamentarian, was the son of Robert Thomson of Watton, Hertfordshire, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Harsflet or Halfehead of the same place. The family were staunch parliamentarians, and early in 1643 George held the commission of captain of a troop of horse under William Russell, fifth earl of Bedford. In the following year he served under Sir William Waller [q. v.] in his western campaign, and about the same time attained the rank of colonel; but, losing his leg in action, he retired from military service (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1644, pp. 33, 102, 107, 108, 136, 153). He was returned to parliament for the borough of Southwark, probably in August 1645, and on 18 Feb. 1650–1 was appointed a member of the council of state (ib. 1651, p. 45). On 8 April following he became a commissioner of customs, and in 1652 he was sent to the fleet as a commissioner to consult with Blake and report the condition of affairs to the council (ib. 1651–2, passim; Journals of the House of Commons, vii. 118). On 2 Dec. 1652 he was appointed to the committee for the admiralty, the committee for the ordnance, and the committee for trades, plantations, and foreign affairs (Cal. State Papers, 1652–3, p. 2). But in April 1653 the differences between Cromwell and the Long parliament came to a head, and the parliament was dissolved. On 18 May Thomson was dismissed from his posts of commissioner of the customs and of the army and navy, as well as from his other offices (ib. p. 335). Released from active employment, he occupied his leisure with the mystical speculations of the Fifth-monarchy men, whose opinions he embraced.
He returned to Westminster on 7 May 1659 with the remainder of the Long parliament. On 16 May he was appointed a member of the council of state, and on 8 July he was added to the committee for intelligence (ib. 1658–9 p. 349, 1659–60 p. 11). On 18 Aug. he was appointed colonel of a regiment of volunteers to be raised in London (ib. pp. 124, 563).
After the Restoration Thomson took refuge at the residence of his brother Morris at Lee in Kent, and occupied himself in anti-royalist intrigues (ib. 1661–2, pp. 97, 122, 125). On 31 Oct. 1661 a warrant was issued for his apprehension. For some time he remained in obscurity, but about the beginning of 1668 he was nominated to the commission of accounts (Pepys, Diary, ed. Braybrooke, iv. 285, 287, 355, v. 67). The date of his death is unknown. He married Elizabeth, daughter of James Brickland of Thorncliff in Cheshire.
[Harl. Soc. Publ. xvii. 282; Cal. State Papers, passim; Peacock's Army Lists, p. 49; Masson's Life of Milton, index; Thurloe's State Papers, p. 492; Whitelocke's Memorials, p. 235.]
E. I. C.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Chickweed

Edition of 1802.
​CHICKWEED, or Alsine, L. a genus of plants, comprising five species, of which that most generally known in England is the media, or common chick weed.
It grows in almost every situation, whether damp, or even boggy woods, or the driest gravel walks in gardens. In its wild state, this plant frequently exceeds half a yard in height, and varies so ​much from the garden chickweed, that if a person were acquainted only with the latter, he would with difficulty recognize it in the woods. On account of its upright flowers, which blow from March to October, it may be considered as a natural barometer: for, if they are closed, it is a certain sign of approaching rain; while, during dry weather, they are regularly open, from nine o'clock in the morning till noon.
This species affords a striking instance of what is called the sleep of plants. Every night the leaves approach in pairs, so as to include, within their upper surfaces, the tender rudiments of the new shoots: and the uppermost pair, but one, at the end of the stalk, is furnished with longer leaf-stalks than the others, so that it can close upon the terminating pair, and protect the end of the branch.
Swine are extremely fond of chickweed, which is also eaten by rows and horses, but is not led by sheep, and is refused by goats. It likewise furnishes a grateful food to small birds, and young chickens: its tender shoots and leaves, when boiled, can be scarcely distinguished from early spinach, and are in every respect as wholesome. They are reputed to be refrigerating and nutritive food for persons of a consumptive habit.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Cholera Morbus

Edition of 1802.
​Cholera Morbus, See Diarrhœa and Vomiting.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Cichory 1

Edition of 1802.
​Cichory. See White Succory.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Cinquefoil

Edition of 1802.
​CINQUEFOIL, or Potentilla, L. a genus of plants, comprising thirty-five species, of which only eight are indigenous; the principal of these are: 1. The fruticosa, or shrubby cinquefoil, which is set with fine silvery hairs, has reddish stems, and yellow blossoms, that appear in the month of June: the flowers are conspicuous for their number and beauty.
This plant has been usefully employed on the Continent, in tanning calf-skins; and it is also eaten by cows, horses, goats, and sheep; but is refused by hogs.
2. The anserina, or wild tansey, or goose-grass. See Silver-weed.
3. The argentea, or hoary cinquefoil, which grows on meadows and pastures, in a gravelly soil, and flowers in June.—The whole may be used for tanning, and dyeing black colours; as it is not touched by cattle.—Bechstein.
4. The reptans, or common creeping cinquefoil, which grows in a moist, clayey soil of meadows, pastures, and by road-sides. It is perennial, and flowers from June to August.—A fine-grained calf-leather has, likewise, been prepared from this plant, on the Continent.—The red cortical part of the root is mildly astringent, and antiseptic: a decoction of it has been found an excellent gargle for loose teeth, and spongy gums.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Christopher, the Herb

Edition of 1802.
​CHRISTOPHER, the Herb, or Actæa spicata, L. is an indigenous plant, growing in woods and shady places, and is found chiefly near Malham-Cove, Clapham, Thorpe Arch, and other places in the north-west of Yorkshire. It is perennial, attains the height of about 2 1/2 feet; flowers in the months of May, or June; and produces black, shining, pulpy berries in autumn, about the size of peas, which are considered as poisonous.
On account of its fetid smell, this plant is said to be frequented by toads: it is, nevertheless, eaten by sheep and goats, but refused by cows, horses, and swine. The dry leaves are extremely sharp and rough, so that they may be usefully employed for polishing hard wood and ivory.—The berries, boiled with alum, yield a deep, black dye; and Thielbein, a German writer (in Crell's "Chemical Discoveries, vol. ii.), asserts that the red berries of the Actæa spicata, give a beautiful dye, equal to that obtained from cochineal; after boiling them with cream of tartar, and dropping into the decoction a solution of tin in aqua fqrtis, the colour became permanent.—We believe he alludes to the berries produced by another species of this herb, either the Actæa alba, or racemosa of North America, or the cimicifuga, of Siberia (which is an excellent preservative against the worm in paper, moths, and bugs); because our native species generally produces black berries.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Cinquefoil, the Marsh

Edition of 1802.
​Cinquefoil, the Marsh. See Purple Marshlocks.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Circulation

Edition of 1802.
​Circulation. See Transfusion.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Chilblain

Edition of 1802.
​CHILBLAIN, in medicine, is a small tumor, or ulcer, in the hands, feet, heels, &c. It is occasioned either by exposing warm parts too suddenly to a cold temperature; or holding the hands, or feet, when extremely cold, too precipitately to a considerable degree of heat. Such affections always have a great tendency to mortification, in which they frequently terminate.
Children of sanguine habits, and delicate constitutions, are most liable to chilblains; which may be prevented by such remedies as invigorate the system; by wearing flannel socks, from the beginning of September to the latter part of spring, and occasionally taking gentle laxatives, when they are disposed to become costive. All these precautions, however, will be attended with no benefit, if young people are suffered to repair to the fire, immediately after coming from the most severe external cold.
In the commencement of this painful complaint, the cure is easy: immerse the part affected, several times a day, for a few minutes, into cold water, and guard against sudden vicissitudes of heat and cold; as either are equally hurtful. But, if simple water procure no speedy relief, dissolve an ounce of salt-petre in half a pint of vinegar and an equal quantity of water, and foment with it the part affected every night. When the tumors will not yield to these applications, and still remain in a swelled and painful state, without producing ulceration, a few drops of the pure tincture of benzoin may be rubbed occasionally on them; and the parts should be defended against the external air, by soft linen cloths: from this simple treatment, we have experienced the best effects.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Child

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Edition of 1802.
​CHILD, a term of relation to parent; but also metaphorically applied to adults, expressing either simplicity, or imbecility. We shall consider it only in the former sense.
​As the physical education of children, in its different branches, would require a greater portion of room, than can be devoted to it in an alphabetical work; and as this subject has been amply discussed in a work, just published from the German of Dr. Struve, we shall, in this place, give a few hints, relative to the moral duties of children to their parents. Having incidentally treated of various subjects, not less connected with the bodily prosperity of youth, than that of adults, and resuming others in alphabetical order, we venture to hope, our readers will approve of this arrangement.
The obligations of children to their parents, arise from a principle of natural justice and retribution. To those who gave us existence, we instinctively owe submission, and obedience, during our minority, as well as gratitude and reverence ever after; those who protected us in the weak state of infancy, are justly entitled to our protection in the infirmity of their age: those who, by nurture and education, have enabled their offspring to prosper, ought reciprocally to be supported by that offspring, if unfortunately they should stand in need of assistance. Upon this self-evident principle are established all the filial duties enjoined by positive laws. And, although by the statutes of this country, an illegitimate child appears to be exempt from such obligations towards its parent; yet we find, that, in cases of legal issue, the tie of nature is not dissolved by any misconduct of the parent; and consequently a child ought equally to defend the person, or maintain the cause, or suit, of a bad parent, as of a virtuous one; and is alike compellable, if of sufficient ability, to maintain and provide for a wicked and unnatural progenitor, as for one who has shewn the greatest affection, and parental piety.—It does not behove us to comment upon the consequences of these injunctions, nor shall we attempt to reconcile them to general principles of equity, but submit this arduous task to the wisdom of our legislators.
With respect to the management of children, in the early stages of life, we refer to the article Infancy.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Longhurst, William Henry

​LONGHURST, WILLIAM HENRY (1819–1904), organist and composer, son of James Longhurst, organ-builder, was born at Lambeth on 6 Oct. 1819. In 1821 his father started business in Canterbury, and Longhurst began his seventy years' service for the cathedral there when he was admitted a chorister in January 1828. He had lessons from the cathedral organist, Highmore Skeats, and afterwards from Skeats's successor, Thomas Evance Jones. In 1836 he was appointed under-master of the choristers, assistant-organist, and lay clerk. He was the thirteenth successful candidate for the fellowship diploma of the College of Organists, founded in 1864. In 1873 he succeeded Jones as organist of Canterbury Cathedral, and held the post until 1898. His services were recognised by the dean and chapter in granting him, on his retirement, his full stipend, together with the use of his house in the Precincts. The degree of Mus. Doc. was conferred on him by the archbishop of Canterbury in 1875. He died at Harbledown, Canterbury, on 17 June 1904.
As a composer Longhurst devoted himself chiefly to church music. His published works include twenty-eight short anthems in three books, and many separate anthems; a morning and evening service in E; a cantata for female voices, 'The Village Fair'; an 'Andante and Tarantella' for violin and piano; many hymn tunes, chants, songs, and short services. An oratorio, 'David and Absalom,' and other works remain in MS.
[Musical Age, Aug. 1904 (with portrait); Grove's Dict. of Music; Brit. Musical Biog.; Musical Times, June 1906.]
J. C. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Littler, Ralph Daniel Makinson

​LITTLER, Sir RALPH DANIEL MAKINSON (1835–1908), barrister, second son of Robert Littler, minister of the Lady Huntingdon Chapel at Matlock Bath, where he was born on 2 Oct. 1835. His father was cousin of Sir John Hunter Littler [q. v.], and his mother was Sarah, daughter of Daniel Makinson, cotton spinner and borough reeve of Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire. He was educated at University College School and University College, London, where he graduated B.A. in 1854. Admitted to the Inner Temple on 14 Nov. 1854, he was called to the bar on 6 June 1857. He went the northern and afterwards the north-eastern circuit, but acquiring no large practice, he was appointed a revising barrister for Northumberland in 1868. In 1866 he contributed to a treatise by (Sir) John Henry Fawcett on ‘The Court of Referees in Parliament’ a chapter on engineering and a digest of the reports made by the referees. Turning his attention to the parliamentary bar, he obtained a position there. His interest in engineering proved useful as counsel for the railway companies, and he became an associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1877. He took silk in 1873. He was made a bencher of the Middle Temple (to which he had been admitted ad eundem on 28 April 1870) on 24 Nov. 1882, and was treasurer 1900–1. He was created C.B. in 1890 and was knighted in 1902. From 1889 till death Littler was chairman of the Middlesex sessions. While anxious to assist the young offender to reform, he gave long sentences even for small offences to the habitual criminal, and his judicial action was often adversely criticised in the press. At the time of his death he was taking proceedings for libel against two newspapers, ‘Reynolds's Newspaper’ and ‘Vanity Fair.’ He was also chairman of the Middlesex county council from 1889, and in recognition of his long service in the two capacities he was presented in July 1908 with a testimonial amounting to 1300l. (The Times, 8 July 1908). As a freemason he attained the rank of past deputy grand registrar and past provincial grand senior warden for Middlesex. He died on 23 Nov. 1908 at his residence, 89 Oakwood Court, Kensington, and was buried at Hampstead.
Two portraits commissioned by Littler's fellow justices—one painted by Sir Hubert von Herkomer and the other by Miss B. O. Offer—are in the Guildhall, Westminster.
In addition to various pamphlets and the book already mentioned Littler wrote (with Richard Thomas Tidswell) a volume on ‘Practice and Evidence in Cases of Divorce and other Matrimonial Causes’ (1860), and (with Mr. Arthur Hutton) ‘The Rights and Duties of Justices’ (1899).
[The Times, 24 Nov. 1908; Law Journal, 28 Nov. 1908; Foster, Men at the Bar; Brit. Mus. Cat.; private information.]
C. E. A. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Lockey, Charles

​LOCKEY, CHARLES (1820–1901), tenor vocalist, son of Angel Lockey of Oxford, was born at Thatcham. near Newbury, on 20 March 1820. After being a ​choir-boy at Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1828 to 1836, he studied singing with Edward Harris at Bath, and afterwards became (in 1842) a pupil of (Sir) George Smart, then the fashionable 'coach' for singers. Lockey sang in the choirs of St. George's chapel, Windsor, and Eton College chapel. In 1843 he became a vicar-choral of St. Paul's Cathedral. His first public appearance in oratorio was in October 1842, when he sang in Rossini's 'Stabat Mater' for the Melophonic Society with excellent success. In 1848 he was appointed a gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and for the next ten years was much in demand at provincial festivals. The most noteworthy incident of his career was his being chosen to create the tenor part at the first production of Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' at Birmingham on 26 Aug. 1846, when he elicited the warmest praises of the composer. On the same occasion he sang at first sight a recitative which Mendelssohn had to vamp up hastily for an anthem of Handel (cf. Musical Times, 1846). Lockey retired from public life about 1862 on account of a throat affection, and entered into business at Grave send and Dover. He nominally held his position at St. Paul's till his death, but for forty-three years Fred Walker, Joseph Barnby, and Edward Lloyd were his deputies. He died on 3 Dec. 1901 at Hastings. On 24 May 1853 he married Martha Williams, an excellent contralto singer, who predeceased him in 1897, leaving one son, John.
[Notice, by son, in Grove's Dictionary; private information.]
F. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Lohmann, George Alfred

​LOHMANN, GEORGE ALFRED (1865–1901), Surrey cricketer, second of five children of Stewart Lohmann, member of the London Stock Exchange, by his wife Frances Watling, of a Gloucestershire family, was born at Kensington on 2 June 1865. After education at Louvain school, Wandsworth, he was for a time employed in the settlement department of the Stock Exchange. He showed early promise as a cricketer with the Church Institute Club at Wandsworth Common (1876–8); in 1883 he attracted the notice of Walter William Read [q. v. Suppl. II], and turning professional, first appeared for Surrey at the Oval in 1884. As a medium pace bowler he met with great success in 1885, when he took 150 wickets with an average of 14½ runs a wicket. His most brilliant seasons were from 1888 to 1890, when in first-class cricket he took 209, 202, and 220 wickets respectively. Lohmann played in the Gentlemen v. Players matches from 1886 to 1896. He visited Australia thrice: in 1886–7 and 1887–8, both times with Shaw and Shrewsbury's teams, and in 1891–2 with Lord Sheffield's team. His best bowling performances were against the Australians at Sydney, where in February 1887 he took ​8 wickets for 35 runs, in Jan. 1892, 8 for 68, and in Feb. 1888, with John Briggs [q. v. Suppl. II], he bowled unchanged through both innings. As a bowler he took the Australian cricketer Spofforth as his model, and cultivated great variety of pace; he had a high delivery and a swinging run, and was largely responsible for the cultivation of the off theory. He had no equal as a 'head' bowler, with his command of subtle devices for getting batsmen out, and a unique capacity for fielding his own bowling. As a batsman he was a good hitter, and in May 1889 at the Oval he scored 105 for Surrey v. Essex, adding with Sharpe 149 for the last wicket. As a fieldsman his catches at coverslip were marvellous, and gave that position a new importance in first-class cricket. His fine all-round play was largely the means of restoring Surrey to her leading position among the cricketing counties.
Lung trouble in 1892 compelled him to go to South Africa, where he remained in 1893-4. On his return he played for Surrey in 1895 and 1896. In 1896 he finally appeared at Lord's for England v. Australians. Differences with the Surrey club in that year led to his retirement from first-class cricket. He subsequently returned to South Africa, and died unmarried of consumption at Matjesfontein on 1 Dec. 1901. There in 1902 the Surrey Cricket Club erected a marble tombstone to his memory.
[The Times, 2 Dec. 1901; Daft's Kings of Cricket (with portrait, p. 233); Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack, 1902, p. liii; W. G. Grace's Cricketing Remimscences, 1899; Giants of the Game, ed. R. H. Lyttelton, pp. 68-61; Pycroft's Cricket Chat, 1886, p. 32-5; private information; notes from Mr. P. M. Thornton.]
W. B. O.