OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seton, Alexander (1639?-1719)

​SETON, Sir ALEXANDER, Lord Pitmedden (1639?–1719), Scottish judge, born about 1640, was younger son of James Seton of Pitmedden (killed at the battle of Bridge of Dee, June 1639) and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Samuel Johnston of Elphinston. He was admitted an advocate of the Scottish bar on 10 Dec. 1661, and was knighted by Charles II in 1664. He was nominated an ordinary lord of the court of session on 31 Oct. 1677, on the death of Sir Richard Maitland of Pittrichie, and took his seat as Lord Pitmedden on 13 Nov. 1677. He was also admitted a lord of justiciary on 5 July 1682, on the promotion of Lord-president Falconer, and was created a baronet of Nova Scotia on 15 Jan. 1684. He represented the county of Aberdeen in parliament in 1681, 1685, and 1686, and gave deep offence by the boldness with which he opposed the mea​sures of the government. James II was resolved to secure the repeal of the test and penal laws, and of nine judges who held seats in parliament, Pitmedden was the only one who opposed the royal will. He was consequently removed from office by a royal letter dated 12 May 1686. At the revolution he declined reappointment as a judge, holding it to be inconsistent with the oath of allegiance which he had taken to James; and, retiring into private life, he died in 1719. He married Margaret, daughter of William Lauder, one of the clerks of session, by whom he had five sons and five daughters (Douglas, Baronage, p. 184).
According to Wodrow, Pitmedden possessed a vast and curious library. He wrote ‘A Treatise of Mutilation and Demembration and their Punishments’ as an appendix to the 1699 edition of Sir George Mackenzie's ‘Laws and Customs of Scotland in Matters Criminal.’ He was also the author of ‘Explication of the XXXIX Chapter of the Statutes of King William concerning Minors,’ Edinburgh, 1728, 8vo.
Sir William Seton (d. 1744), second baronet of Pitmedden, the eldest son, was in his father's lifetime chosen to represent the county of Aberdeen in the Scots parliament from 1702 till 1706, when the queen named him one of the commissioners to treat of the union between Scotland and England. He was also made one of the commissioners to adjust the equivalent to be allowed to Scotland in recognition of the agreement by the Scots to equality of duties, and consequently to liability for a share of the English debt. He died in 1744, having married Catherine, daughter of Sir Thomas Burnet of Leys, by whom he had issue four sons and four daughters. Sir William wrote: 1. ‘The Interest of Scotland in Three Essays,’ 1700, 8vo. 2. ‘Some Thoughts on Ways and Means for making this Nation a Gainer in Foreign Commerce,’ 1705, 8vo. 3. ‘Scotland's Great Advantages by an Union with England,’ 1706, 4to (reprinted in Scott's edition of ‘Somers Tracts’). He also published a ‘Speech on the First Article of the Treaty of Union,’ 1706.
G. S-h.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seton, Alexander (fl.1311-1340)

​SETON, Sir ALEXANDER (fl. 1311–1340), keeper of Berwick, was probably a brother of Sir Christopher Seton [q. v.] His name is found among those of the Scottish nobles who, in 1320, signed the letter to the pope asserting the independence of Scotland. From Robert I he received the manor of Tranent and other lands, as well as the fortalice and lands of Fawside. In February 1311–12 he was named prior or inquisitor of forfeited lands in Lothian (Cal. Documents relating to Scotland, 1307–57, No. 245). He had a safe-conduct in September 1322 to go and return from England (ib. No. 767), and on 25 July 1324 he received a safe-conduct to go to Scotland and come again (ib. No. 846). In 1327 he was appointed keeper of Berwick (Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, i. 63), and while it was besieged by the English in 1333 held command of the town, the Earl of March being entrusted with the defence of the castle. After a long blockade, during which provisions ran short, they agreed to capitulate within a certain time unless succour was obtained, giving as hostage, among others, Thomas Seton, son of Sir Alexander. Just before the period expired Sir William Keith succeeded in throwing himself into the town with a body of Scots soldiers. Keith, who was now chosen governor, refused to surrender, whereupon Edward, on the ground that the Scots had broken the stipulations of the treaty, hanged Thomas Seton before the gate of the town in the sight of the garrison. Alarmed for the safety of the other hostages, the Scots renewed negotiations, and signed an agreement to deliver up the town, unless they were relieved before 19 July by two hundred men-at-arms or the English were defeated in pitched battle. It was accordingly surrendered after the defeat of the Scots at Halidon Hill on 19 July 1333.
Seton was present in Edward Baliol's parliament on 10 Feb. following, and witnessed the cession of Berwick to the English. He had a safe-conduct to go into England, 15 Oct. 1337, and he was one of the hostages for John, earl of Moray, on his liberation in August 1340. By his wife Christian, daughter of Cheyne of Straloch, he had three sons and a daughter: Alexander, killed in opposing the landing of Edward Baliol, 6 Aug. 1332; Thomas, put to death by Edward III before the walls of Berwick; William, drowned during an attack on the English fleet at Berwick in July 1333; and Margaret, who being predeceased by her three brothers, became heiress of Seton. She married Alan de Wyntoun, whose son, Sir William Seton of Seton, was created a lord of parliament.
T. F. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Setchel, Sarah

​SETCHEL, SARAH (1803–1894), water-colour painter, daughter of John Frederick Setchel, a bookseller in King Street, Covent Garden, London, was born in 1803. After leaving school, she took up drawing with energy, but received no regular instruction beyond that which she derived from studying at the British Museum and the National Gallery, and from some lessons in miniature-painting from Louisa Sharpe [q. v.] Her first exhibited work, ‘Fanny,’ appeared at the Royal Academy in 1831, and she continued to exhibit there and at the Society of British Artists until 1840, when she sent to the latter exhibition ‘A Scene from Howitt's Rural Life of England.’ She was elected in 1841 a member of the New Society (now the Royal Institute) of Painters in Water-colours, and in the following year contributed to its exhibition ‘A Scene from “Smugglers and Poachers” in Crabbe's Tales of the Hall,’ a drawing of much power and pathos, representing a prison interior where a young man whose life is in jeopardy is visited by his betrothed. It became very popular, and was engraved in mezzotinto by Samuel Bellin as ‘The Momentous Question.’ Her works appeared but seldom in the exhibitions, and one other only became well known. This was ‘The Heart's Resolve,’ a subject from Crabbe's tale of ‘Jesse and Colin,’ exhibited in 1850, and engraved by Samuel Bellin as a companion plate to ‘The Momentous Question.’ She continued to exhibit domestic subjects until 1867, but her later works did not sustain her earlier reputation.
​Miss Setchel died at Sudbury, near Harrow, Middlesex, on 8 Jan. 1894, aged 80.
R. E. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Worsdale, James

​WORSDALE, JAMES (1692?−1767), portrait-painter, born about 1692, was the son of a poor colour-grinder. He was engaged as a servant to Sir Godfrey Kneller, and subsequently became his apprentice, but was dismissed for surreptitiously marrying Lady Kneller's niece. In later times he claimed to be a natural son of Sir Godfrey. Though possessed of little artistic ability, Worsdale obtained a considerable amount of patronage as a portrait-painter, and was appointed master-painter to the board of ordnance, his success being due mainly to his amusing conversation and clever singing and acting. His portraits of Princess Louisa, Sir John Ligonier, the Duke of Devonshire, ‘Beau’ Nash, and other persons of mark, were engraved by Brooks, Bockman, and Faber. Worsdale was much associated with the stage, both in London and Dublin, and for a time belonged to a travelling company. In 1753 he acted at Drury Lane the part of Lady Pentweazle in Foote's comedy ‘Taste.’ He was professedly the author of a number of songs, plays, and operas, but these seem to have been chiefly the work of others needy writers whom he exploited. Lætitia Pilkington [q. v.], who was one of these, describes him in her ‘Memoirs’ in extremely uncomplimentary terms; and Vertue asserts that he pushed himself into notoriety solely by his artful ways and ‘shameless mountebank lies.’ Worsdale died on 11 June 1767, and was buried in St. Paul's, Covent Garden. A portrait of him, painted by R. E. Pine, was engraved by Dickinson, with the motto ‘Ridendo dicere verum.’ The dramatic works ascribed to Worsdale are:
* ‘A Cure for a Scold,’ a ballad opera or farce taken from the ‘Taming of the Shrew,’ 1735 (acted at Drury Lane 25 Feb. 1735, and at Covent Garden 27 March and 26 April 1750).
* ‘The Assembly,’ a farce in which he himself played the part of Lady Scandal.
* ‘The Queen of Spain,’ 1744.
* ‘The Extravagant Justice.’
* ‘Gasconade the Great,’ 1759.
Of these only the first and last were printed.
[Walpole's Anecdotes (Dallaway and Wornum); Vertue's collections in Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 23076, f. 37; Memoirs of Lætitia Pilkington, 1748−54; Cooke's Memoirs of Samuel Foote; Baker's Biographia Dramatica; Chaloner Smith's British Mezzotinto Portraits; Genest's Hist. Account, iii. 448.]
F. M. O'D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wordsworth, Dorothy

​WORDSWORTH, DOROTHY (1804−1847), author. [See under Quillinan, Edward.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Worgan, John

​WORGAN, JOHN (1724−1790), organist and composer, of Welsh descent, and the son of a surveyor, was born in London in 1724. He became a pupil of his brother, James Worgan (1715−1753), organist of Vauxhall Gardens, and he subsequently studied under Thomas Roseingrave [see under Roseingrave, Daniel] and Geminiani. John Worgan speedily took a foremost place as a skilful organist. In succession to his brother James he was organist at St. Mary Undershaft with St. Mary Axe, about 1749, at Vauxhall Gardens, 1751 to 1774, and at St. Botolph, Aldgate, in 1753. He subsequently became organist of St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, in 1760; and, in succession to his brother, he held the post of ‘composer’ to Vauxhall Gardens from 1753 to 1761, and again from 1770 to 1774. He took the degree of bachelor in music at Cambridge in 1748, and the doctorate in 1775. He died at 22 (now 65) Gower Street on 24 Aug. 1790, and was buried in St. Andrew Undershaft on 31 Aug., when Charles Wesley (1757−1834) [q. v.], one of his favourite pupils, presided at the organ.
Four interesting tributes are extant to the remarkable powers of Worgan as an organist, whose performances always attracted great crowds of both professors and amateurs ​Handel said: ‘Mr. Worgan shall sit by me; he plays my music very well at Vauxhall.’ Richard Cecil [q. v.] wrote: ‘Admiration and feeling are very distinct from each other. Some music and oratory enchant and astonish, out they speak not to the heart. … Dr. Worgan has so touched the organ at St. John s that I have been turning backward and forward over the prayer-book for the first lesson in Isaiah and wondered that I could not find Isaiah there!’ Martin Madan (1726−1790) [q. v.], in a satirical song upon Joah Bates [q. v.], issued anonymously, and set to music by Samuel Wesley (1766−1837) [q. v.], entitled ‘The Organ laid open, &c.,’ placed him as a player upon an equality with Handel:
Let Handel or Worgan go thresh at the organ.
Burney refers to him as ‘a very masterly and learned fuguist on the organ.’
As a composer Worgan was not great. His compositions, now forgotten, include two oratorios: ‘Hannah’ (King's Theatre, Haymarket, 3 April 1 764) and ‘Manasseh’ (Lock Hospital Chapel, 30 April 1766); ‘We will rejoice in Thy salvation,’ a thanksgiving anthem for victories (29 Nov. 1759); many songs for Vauxhall Gardens, of which thirteen books (at least) were published; psalmtunes, glees, organ music, and sonatas and other pieces for the harpsichord. Some of his manuscripts are in British Museum Addit. MSS. 31670, 31693, 34609, and 35038.
Worgan is persistently credited with having composed the Easter hymn. As a matter of fact the tune appeared (anonymously) in ‘Lyra Davidica’ (1708) sixteen years before Worgan was born.
[Quarterly Musical Magazine and Review, v. 113 (a very full memoir); Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, iv. 486; biographical preface to Rev. Henry Parr's Church of England Psalmody; Barney's Hist, of Music, iv. 665; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Musical Times, August 1888, p. 490, for a reference to Worgan's grandson, George Worgan.]
F. G. E.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Worlidge, John

​WORLIDGE or WOOLRIDGE, JOHN (fl. 1669−1698), agricultural writer, who resided at Petersfield, Hampshire, is of interest in the history of agricultural literature as the compiler of the first systematic treatise on husbandry on a large and comprehensive scale. He was a correspondent of John Houghton [q. v.], who gives in his ‘Letters’ (1681) two contributions by ‘the ingenious Mr. John Worlidge of Petersfield in Hampshire,’ on ‘a great improvement of land by parsley,’ and on ‘improving and fyning of Syder.’
Worlidge's ‘Systema Agriculturæ, or the Mystery of Husbandry discovered … by J. W., Gent.,’ first published in 1669, went through a number of editions (1675, 1681, 1687, 1716) before it was supplanted in popular favour by the numerous agricultural reference books which are a feature of the eighteenth century. He appears to have carefully studied the writings of his predecessors, Fitzherbert, Sir Richard Weston, Robert Child, Walter Blith, Gabriel Plattes, Sir Hugh Plat [q. v.], and the anonymous writers whose works were published by Samuel Hartlib [q. v.] Worlidge's system of husbandry may be regarded as gathering into a focus the scattered information published during the period of the Commonwealth.
Besides the ‘Systema Agriculturæ,’' Worlidge wrote (mostly under the initials of ‘J. W., Gent.’) the following: 1. ‘Vinetum Britannicum, or a Treatise of Cider,’ 1676; 2nd edit. 1678; 3rd edit. 1691, dedicated to Elias Ashmole. 2. ‘Apiarium, or a Discourse of Bees,’ 1676. 3. ‘Systema Horticulture, or the Art of Gardening,’ 1677. 4. ‘The most easie Method of Making the best Cyder,’' 1687. 5. ‘The Complete Bee Master’ (a revised edition of No. 2), 1698.
[Houghton's Letters, 1681, pp. 136, 163; Cuthbert Johnson's Farmer's Cyclopædia, p. 1311; Worlidge's works cited above; Brit. Mus. s.v. ‘J. W., Gent.’]
E. C.-E.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Armour, John Douglas

​ARMOUR, JOHN DOUGLAS (1830–1903), judge of the supreme court of Canada, born on 4 May 1830, near Peterborough, Ontario, was youngest son of Samuel Armour, rector of Cavan, Canada, by his wife Margaret Douglas. The father, of Irish origin, graduated M.A. from Glasgow University in 1806, and emigrating to Canada about 1821, taught in a school in York (now Toronto) before taking orders in the Church of England. The son John, after early education at the local schools and at Upper Canada College, where he was head boy, entered the University of Toronto as a King's College exhibitioner, and graduated B.A. in 1850, gaining the gold medal in classics. He began the study of law under his brother, Robert Armour, and in the office of Chancellor Vankoughnet. Called to the bar in 1853, he practised in Cobourg in partnership with Sidney Smith, afterwards postmaster-general of Canada. He was appointed county crown attorney for Northumberland and Durham on 26 Mar. 1858, and clerk of the peace on 2 May 1861, and a queen's counsel by Lord Monck in 1867. He was elected warden of the counties in 1859-60. In the same year he was chosen a senator of the University of Toronto, and in 1871 became a bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada. In 1874 he declined the liberal nomination for West Northumberland in the House of Commons. He was appointed a puisne judge of the court of queen's bench in 1877, and was promoted chief justice of the court in 1887. He was made commissioner to revise the Ontario statutes in 1896. In July 1900 he became chief justice of Ontario, and president of the court of appeal. He declined a knighthood more than once. In June 1902 he received an honorary LL.D. from his university. In November 1902 he was nominated a judge of the supreme court of Canada by Sir Wilfrid Laurier. In May 1902, as one of the 'distinguished jurists of repute,' he was chosen by the Canadian government to represent Canada on the international tribunal constituted to decide the Alaska boundary dispute. He died in London on 11 July 1903, whither he had gone to attend the sittings of the arbitration. A memorial service was held at the Temple Church. He was buried in St. Peter's cemetery, Cobourg, Ontario.
Armour was among the greatest jurists whom Canada has produced. Absolutely fearless and outspoken, he not infrequently aroused hostile prejudice. His alleged unfriendliness to corporations failed to affect his judgments, which were based on a thorough knowledge of the law and a profound insight into human nature.
He married on 28 April 1855 Eliza, daughter of Francis Schimerhorn Clench of Cobourg and Eliza Cory. Of eleven children of this marriage ten survive (1912). Several portraits exist. One by E. Wyly Grier is in the National Gallery, Ottawa, and three replicas of this are owned by the family. Another by G. T. Berthon is at Osgood Hall, Toronto. There is a bust by Lady Ross (Miss Peel) in the Normal School, Toronto.
[The Times, 13 July 1903; The Canada Law Journal, xxxix. 458 seq.; Canadian Law Times, xxiii. 319.]
P. E.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Arnold, George Benjamin

​ARNOLD, GEORGE BENJAMIN (1832–1902), organist and musical composer, born on 22 Dec. 1832 at Petworth, Sussex, was son of George Frederick Arnold, organist of the parish church there, by his wife Mary. He was articled to George William Chard [q. v.], the organist of Winchester Cathedral, in 1849, and on Chard's death the articles were transferred to his successor, Dr. Samuel Sebastian Wesley [q. v.]. Arnold was organist successively at St. Columba's College, Rathfarnham, near Dublin (1852), St. Mary's Church, Torquay (1856), and New College, Oxford (1860). He graduated Mus. Bac. at Oxford in 1853 and Mus. Doc. in 1860. In 1865 he succeeded Wesley at Winchester, retaining the post for the rest of his life. He was a fellow of the College of Organists, acting long as an examiner for that body. He died at Winchester on 31 Jan. 1902, and was buried there. He married on 6 June 1867 Mary Lucy Roberts, who survived him with three sons and a daughter. An alabaster tablet to his memory, with a quotation from one of his works, was placed in the north transept of the cathedral in 1904.
Arnold, whose sympathies were with Bach and his school, was a composer, chiefly of church music. His published compositions include a national song, 'Old England' (1854); an oratorio, 'Ahab,' produced by the National Choral Society at Exeter Hall (1864); 'Sennacherib,' a sacred cantata, produced at the Gloucester festival of 1883; 'The Song of the Redeemed,' written for and produced at St. James's Church, New York (1891); 'An orchestral introduction and chorus in praise of King Alfred,' performed at the inauguration of the Alfred Memorial at Winchester in 1901, besides two motets, two psalms, anthems, part songs, and two sonatas.
[Musical Times, Nov. 1901, March 1902 (with portrait), May 1902; Brown and Stratton, Musical Biog., 1897; Brit. Mus. Cat.; private information.]
F. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Stepney, Catherine

​STEPNEY, CATHERINE, Lady (d. 1845), novelist, daughter of Thomas Pollok, LL.D. (d. 1801), rector of Grittleton, Wiltshire, by his wife Susannah (d. 1802), daughter of Charlton Palmer of London, was first married to Russell Manners, and under that name published two novels, ‘Castle Nuovier, or Henry and Adelina,’ 1806, and ‘The Lords of Erith,’ 1809. On 8 June 1813 she married, at Edinburgh, Sir Thomas Stepney, ninth and last baronet, groom of the bedchamber to H.R.H. the Duke of York. He had succeeded his brother, Sir John Stepney, in the baronetcy in October 1811. Sir Thomas died on 12 Sept. 1825 (Gent. Mag. 1825, ii. 277). His widow, who was pretty, accomplished, and fashionable, and made her house the rendezvous of authors and artists, died at Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, London, on 14 April 1845.
She wrote in later life four novels: ‘The New Road to Ruin,’ 1833; ‘The Heir Presumptive,’ 1835; ‘The Courtier's Daughter,’ 1838, 1841; and ‘The Three Peers,’ 1841, all in 3 vols. They show careful observation of London society. Lady Stepney also contributed to the fashionable annuals; but Miss Mitford declared that everything under Lady Stepney's name was rewritten by Miss Landon, ‘or the grammar and spelling would have disgraced a lady's maid’ (L'Estrange, Life of M. R. Mitford, iii. 94).
[Allibone's Dict. iii. 1214, 2241; Gent. Mag. 1845, ii. 86; Literary Gazette, 1845, pt. cclvii.; Jackson's History of Grittleton (Wiltshire Topographical Soc.), 1843, p. 22; Burke's Extinct Baronetage, p. 508.]
E. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sterling, Anthony Coningham

​STERLING, Sir ANTHONY CONINGHAM (1805–1871), author of ‘The Highland Brigade in the Crimea,’ eldest son of Captain Edward Sterling, by Hester, daughter of John Coningham of Londonderry, was born at Dundalk in 1805. John Sterling [q. v.] was a younger brother. After keeping some terms at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was on 18 Feb. 1826 gazetted an ensign in the 24th foot. From 21 March 1834 to 5 Dec. 1843 he was a captain in the 73rd foot, and was then placed on half-pay. He was on active service during the Crimean campaign of 1854–5, first as brigade major and afterwards as assistant adjutant-general to the Highland division, including the battles of the Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerman, and the siege of Sebastopol. He received the medal with four clasps, the order of the Legion of Honour, the Turkish medal, and the fourth class of the Medjidie. On 17 Oct. 1857 he sold his commission, retiring with the rank of colonel; but during 1858–9 he was again employed as military secretary to Colin Campbell, lord Clyde [q. v.], in the suppression of the Indian mutiny, and received a medal with clasp. In 1861 Lord Clyde accused Sterling of wilfully neglecting to insert the name of Colonel Pakenham in a list of persons recommended for reward by the bestowal of the K.C.B. at the close of the mutiny. This led to many letters, which are given in ‘Correspondence concerning Charges made by Lord Clyde against Sir Anthony Sterling,’ March 1861 (privately printed 1863). He was gazetted C.B. on 5 July 1855, and K.C.B. on 21 July 1860. He died at 3 South Place, Knightsbridge, London, on 1 March 1871, having married in 1829 Charlotte, daughter of Major-general Joseph Baird; she died on 10 April 1863.
Sterling was the author of ‘Russia under Nicholas I,’ a translation, 1841; ‘Letters from the Army in the Crimea, written by a Staff Officer,’ 1857; ‘The Story of the Highland Brigade in the Crimea, founded on Letters written during 1854, 1855, and 1856 by Lieut.-Col. A. Sterling, a Staff Officer who was there,’ 1895.
[Hart's Annual Army List, 1870, pp. 96, 106; Dodd's Peerage, 1871, p. 585; Ann. Reg. 1871, p. 147; Illustrated London News, 1871, lviii. 267, 315; Carlyle's Life of John Sterling.]
G. C. B.