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

​OLDHAM, NATHANIEL (fl. 1740), virtuoso, was the son of a dissenting minister. Early in life he went to India ' in a military capacity ' (Caulfield), but returned to England on inheriting from a near relation a fortune said to be of 100,000l. In 1728 he was living at Ealing, Middlesex, where he occupied Ealing House, formerly the residence of Sir James Montagu (1666-1723) [q. v.], baron of the exchequer (Lysons, Environs of London, ii. 228; Walford, Greater London, i. 21). He had another house at Witton, near Hounslow, and a London house in Southampton Row, Bloomsbury. He was intimate with Sir Hans Sloane, Dr. Mead, and other collectors, and began to collect natural and artificial curiosities, though with little taste or judgment. A 'choice collection of butterflies' was one of his principal acquisitions. He was a constant visitor at 'Don Saltero's' coffee-house at Chelsea, where he used to meet Sloane and others, and compare shells, plants, and insects. He patronised the arts, collected paintings, and had also a taste for the turf. He was at length compelled by his extravagant expenditure (chiefly on his collections) to take refuge from his creditors within the sanctuary of the court of St. James's. Here be used to frequent the refreshment-room, kept by one Drury, on Duck Island, in St. James's Park. He had at last decided to sell his collections, with a label over the door, 'Oldham's last shift,' when he was arrested by a creditor and sent to the king's bench, where he is supposed to have died. His career in several respects resembles that of Henry Constantine Jennings [q. v.]
Oldham's portrait was painted more than once by his friend Highmore. A full-length of Oldham (date 1740), engraved by J. Faber after Highmore, represents him in a green velvet hunting coat with a gun (Caulfield, op. cit.; Bromley, Cat. of Engraved Portraits, p. 286). Oldham was godfather to Nathaniel Smith the printseller, whose son, J. T. Smith of the British Museum, contributed an account of Oldham to J. Caulfield's ' Portraits, Memoirs, &c., of Remarkable Persons.'
[Caulfield's Portraits, Memoirs, &c. 1813, ii. 133-7; Granger's Biog. Hist. (Noble), iii. 349.]
W. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Oldys, Valentine

​OLDYS or OLDIS, VALENTINE (1620–1685), poet, son of Valentine Oldis, was born in 1620, and educated at Cambridge. He was made M.D. of Cambridge per literas regias on 6 Oct. 1671, and honorary member of the College of Physicians on 30 Sept. 1680. He died in 1686, and was buried near his father in Great St. Helen's, by St. Mary Axe. Oldis published 'A Poem on the Restoration of King Charles,' 1660, fol., and was a patron of literature and men of letters. He is among the contributors of commendatory verses to Henry Bold's 'Poems Lyrique, Macaronique, Heroique, &c.,' London, 1664, and has one of the poems in the volume addressed to him. He also contributed to Alexander Brome's 'Songs, and other Poems,' London, 1664. John Phillips dedicated to Oldis his 'Macaronides: or Virgil Travesty,' London, 1673.
[Memoirs of the Family of Oldys, Birch MS. (Brit. Mus.); Munk's Coll. of Phys. i. 415; Corser's Collectanea Anglo-Poetica, iv. 1., 34, 36; Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary, xxiii. 339.]
R. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kirk, Thomas (1765?-1797)

​KIRK, THOMAS (1765?–1797), painter and engraver, born about 1765, was a pupil of Richard Cosway, R.A. [q. v.] He attained some excellence as a painter of historical subjects in the insipid prettiness of the time, and also as a miniature-painter in the style of Cosway. In 1765 he exhibited at the Royal Academy ‘Venus presenting Love to Calypso,’ and was an occasional exhibitor of Shakespearean, scriptural, and other subjects up to 1795, when he exhibited a number of drawings illustrating popular works of fiction. In 1796 he exhibited for the last time, sending ‘Evening’ and ‘A Dream.’ He made a number of graceful drawings, which were engraved as illustrations to Cooke's ‘Poets.’ Kirk also practised as an engraver in the stipple method, among his engravings being a portrait of the Pelew prince Lee Boo, from a drawing by Miss Keate, 1789; ‘Shepherds in Arcadia,’ after G. B. Cipriani, 1789; and ‘Titus Andronicus and Lavinia,’ from his own painting, done for Boydell's ‘Shakespeare,’ 1793. He painted other pictures for Boydell, and also for Macklin's ‘Bible.’ Kirk died of consumption 18 Nov. 1797, and was buried in St. Pancras Church. He worked on an engraving up to the day before he died. There is a pretty admission ticket designed by him for a concert of the Choral Fund at the Haymarket Theatre in 1796.
[Dayes's Sketches of Modern Artists; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Dodd's manuscript Hist. of English Engravers (Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 33402); Royal Academy Catalogues.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kirkby, John (1705-1754)

​KIRKBY, JOHN (1705–1754), divine, son of the Rev. Thomas Kirkby, is stated in the register of St. John's College, Cambridge, to have been born at ‘Lownsborough,’ i.e. Londesborough, Yorkshire, but he says himself that he was a native of Cumberland. He was educated at home by his father, and proceeded, 4 May 1723, aged 18, to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1726 and M.A. 1745. According to his own account he began life as a poor curate in Cumberland. On 8 Dec. 1739 he was appointed vicar of Waldershare in Kent, and on 19 Nov. 1743 rector of Blackmanstone, Romney Marsh. ‘A Demonstration from Christian Principles that the present regulation of ecclesiastical revenues in the Church of England is contrary to the design of Christianity,’ which he published on behalf of the poorer clergy at Canterbury in 1743, is said to have excluded him from further preferment (cf. manuscript note in Brit. Mus. copy). To eke out his slender income he in 1744 became tutor to Edward Gibbon, then a boy of seven. He held, while at Putney with the Gibbons, some clerical appointment, but lost it by unluckily omitting the name of King George in the morning prayers, and so irritating his patron (Gibbon, ‘Memoirs’ in Miscell. Works, i. 20). Gibbon liked and respected him, says that he had thought much on the subjects of languages and education, and seems to have regretted his hasty departure. Kirkby died 21 May 1754.
Kirkby's chief works are: 1. ‘The Capacity and Extent of the Human Understanding, exemplified in the extraordinary case of Automathes, a young nobleman … accidentally left in his infancy upon a desert island,’ London, 1745, 12mo; an attempt to illustrate the growth of men's ideas in a state of nature. A second edition appeared at Dublin in 1746. Gibbon describes it as a poor performance, and as a plagiarism of well-known romances. It seems largely borrowed from the ‘History of Autonous’ (1736). It is reprinted in Weber's ‘Popular Romances’ (Edinb. 1812, pp. 583–638). 2. ‘The Impostor detected, or the Counterfeit Saint turn'd inside out,’ London, 1750; a bitter attack on ‘those diabolical seducers called Methodists.’ 3. ‘An Effectual and Easy Demonstration of the Truth of the coequal Trinity of the Godhead,’ London, 1752. An introduction of thirteen pages gives an account of a ‘new system of logic’ projected by Kirkby. Kirkby also published in 1734, under the title ‘The Usefulness of Mathematical Learning explained,’ a translation from the Latin of the mathematical lectures of Dr. Isaac Barrow, and Gibbon credits him with a Latin and English grammar (1746), of which he speaks highly. De Morgan mentions as by Kirkby ‘Arithmetical Institutions, containing a Compleat System of Arithmetic, Natural, Logarithmetical, and Algebraical,’ 4to (Arithmetical Books, pp. 67, 71).
[Hasted's Hist. of Kent, iii. 432, &c.; Kirkby's books; Notes and Queries, 6th ser. xii. 68, 177; information kindly supplied by R. F. Scott, esq., of St. John's College, Cambridge.]
R. E. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kirk, Thomas (1777-1845)

Date of birth 1781 in the ODNB.
​KIRK, THOMAS (1777–1845), sculptor, born in 1777 at Newry, co. Down, was son of William Kirk and Elizabeth Bible, his wife. His parents moved to Cork when he was a child, but Kirk settled in Dublin in early life and studied sculpture in the art school of the Dublin Society of Artists. He became noted for his fine work in relief on mantelpieces, monuments, &c.; two pieces of ‘Spanish Banditti’ and ‘The Rokeby Cavern Scene’ attracted especial attention. His busts also gained him rapid reputation, and they were considered remarkable for the delicate handling of the marble and for distinctness of detail. He exhibited with the Dublin Society, and on the foundation of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1822 he was chosen one of the foundation members, contributing to their first exhibition several busts and the colossal statue of Thomas Spring-Rice, lord Monteagle, now at Limerick. Kirk was successful in the competition for the Nelson monument in Dublin, and executed the colossal statue of him on the memorial column in Sackville Street. He also executed the statue of George IV in the Linen Hall, that of the Duke of Wellington, and a model of that of George III for the bank in Dublin, which was carried out in marble by other hands. His most important work, however, was the statue of Sir Sidney Smith, commissioned by parliament and placed in Greenwich Hospital. Many busts from his hand are in the Dublin College of Surgeons, the Royal Dublin Society's rooms, the library of Trinity College, and elsewhere in Dublin. Among them are busts of Curran, Thomas Moore, J. Wilson Croker, Mme. Catalani, and other notabilities. Among his groups were ‘The Young Champion’ executed for Lord de Grey when lord-lieutenant, ‘The Orphan Girl’ in Christ Church Cathedral, ‘The Young Dogstealer’ for Viscount Powerscourt, &c. Kirk rarely exhibited in London, but he sent busts to the Royal Academy there in 1825, and occasionally afterwards. Kirk married a Miss Eliza Robinson, and died in 1845, leaving twelve children. One son, Mr. Joseph R. Kirk, inherited his father's skill as a sculptor, and is a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy; other of his sons are the Rev. William Boyton Kirk, D.D., and the Very Rev. Francis J. Kirk of St. Mary of the Angels, Bayswater, London.
[Bolster's Quarterly Magazine, 1827, ii. 263; Sarsfield Taylor's Fine Arts in Great Britain and Ireland; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880; information kindly supplied by Joseph R. Kirk, R.H.A.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kirk, John (1724?-1778?)

​KIRK, JOHN (1724?–1778?), medallist, was probably born about 1724 (cf. Hawkins, Med. Illustr. ii. 559-60), He became (about 1740?) the pupil of James Anthony Dassier [q. v.], and from about 1740 till 1776 produced a large number of medals signed kirk or i. kirk. He was a medallist of moderate ability. In 1745 Kirk was living in St. Paul's Churchyard, London (ib. ii. 603). In 1762 and 1763 he received premiums from the Society of Arts. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and exhibited medals of the royal family, &c., in 1773-5-6. Redgrave states that Kirk died in London on 27 Nov. 1776; but several medals in the British Museum (cf. Numistic Chronicle, 1890, p. 54, No. 7) signed by Kirk bear the date 1778, and are almost conclusive evidence that he was Mill alive in that year. Kirk's principal medals are:
* Bust of George II (no reverse), signed 'I. Kirk F. ætate 18.' 1740(?)
* Sir John Barnard, circ. 1744.
* Recapture of Prague, 1744.
* Loyal Association Medal, 1745.
* Medals relating to the Rebellion of '45, 1745-6.
* Tuesday Club of Annapolis, 1746.
* Counters with heads of the Royal Family, 1746.
* William, Prince of Orange, 1746.
* Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1749.
* Free British Fishery Society, 1751.
* Louisburg taken (from design by Cipriani), 1758.
* Battle of Minden, 1759.
* Lord-chancellor Camden, 1766.
* Series of thirteen medalets given away to subscribers to the 'Sentimental Magarine,' 1773-5 (Gent. Mag. 1797, pp. 469, 471).
* Duke of Athol, 1774.
* Lord Balhurst (Six Clerks Office), 1776.
* Death of Lord Chatham, 1778.
* Lord Chesterfield, 1778.
Certain medals of 1745 and 1746 were made and signed by John Kirk in conjunction with A. Kirk (Hawkins, ii. 606, 608, 613; cf. 614). The editors of the 'Medallic Illustrations' conjecture (ii. 729) that this A. Kirk was a brother of John, and suppose that he died in 1761, apparently assuming that he was identical with the 'Mr. Kirk, senr.,' whose death in St. Paul's Churchyard is recorded in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' (1761, p. 539) as having taken place on 19 Nov. 1761.
(Hawkins's Medalic Illustrations, ed. Franks and Groeber, ii. 729; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists of Engl. School; Kirk's Medals in Brit. Mus.]
W. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kirk, Robert

​KIRK, ROBERT (1641?–1692), Gaelic scholar, was youngest son of James Kirk, minister at Aberfoyle, Perthshire, and was born presumably there about 1641. He studied at Edinburgh University (where he graduated M.A. in 1681), and afterwards at St. Andrews. In 1664 he became minister of Balquhidder, Perthshire, and in 1685 appointed to his father's old charge at Aberfoyle, where he continued until his death on 14 May 1692. He was buried near the east end of the church, and his grave is marked by a stone with the inscription, 'Robertus Kirk, A.M., Linguie Hiberniæ Lumen.' He is said to have had a benefice in England (Reid), but this is incorrect. He was twice married, and when his first wife died cut out with his own hands an epitaph for her (ib.), which is still to be seen at Balquhidden His eldest son, Colin, became a writer to the signet, and another, Robert, was appointed minister of Dornoch, Sutherlandshire.
Kirk was an admirable Gaelic scholar, and most of his literary work lay in this direction. He was the author of the first complete translation of the Scottish metrical psalms into Gaelic, published at Edinburgh in 1684 under the title of 'Psalms of Dbarbhidh an Meadrachd,' &c. ('Psalms of David Metre,' &c.) This version bears a grant of 'privilidge' from the lords of the privy council, forbidding any one to print it for eleven years. During its preparation Kirk learned that the synod of Argyle intended to bring out a rival version, and some curious stories are told of the expedients to which he resorted in order to keep himself awake while ​working almost night and day in order to be first in the field (Reid). Kirk's psalter is extremely rare, but copies are in the British Museum, Advocates' (Edinburgh), and Glasgow University Libraries. In 1689 Kirk was called to London to superintend the printing of the Gaelic Bible prepared under the direction of Bishop Bedell, and published in 1690. To this version he added a short Gaelic vocabulary (6 pp.), which was republished, with additions, ‘by the learned Mr. Ed. Lhuyd,’ in Nicolson's ‘Historical Library’ (8vo, London, 1702). He had a firm belief in fairy superstitions, and wrote a curious work bearing the title of ‘The Secret Commonwealth; or an Essay on the Nature and Actions of the Subterranean (and for the most part) Invisible People heretofoir going under the name of Faunes and Fairies, or the lyke, among the Low Country Scots, as they are described by those who have the second sight,’ 1691. There have been two reprints: Edinb. 1815, 4to (100 copies), and, with commentary by Andrew Lang, London, 1893, 8vo.
[Reid's Bibliotheca Scoto-Celtica, Glasgow, 1832, p. 21; Nisbet's Heraldry, i. 420; Scott's Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, ii. pt. ii. 718; Marshall's Historic Scenes in Perthshire, p. 393; New Statistical Account, vols. iii. and x.; Chambers's Domestic Annals; Scott's Demonology and Witchcraft.]
J. C. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Fitzgerald, Peter George

​FITZGERALD, Sir PETER GEORGE (1808–1880), nineteenth Knight of Kerry, eldest surviving son of the Right Hon. Maurice Fitzgerald [q. v.] of Glanleam, by Maria, daughter of the Right Hon. David la Touche of Marlay, co. Dublin, was born 15 Sept. 1808. He began life in the banking-house of his maternal grandfather at Dublin. He subsequently entered the public service, and was appointed vice-treasurer of Ireland in the last ministry of Sir Robert Peel. Succeeding his father in 1849, from that period he resided almost constantly on the island of Valentia, devoting himself indefatigably to the duties of an Irish landlord, the improvement of his estates, and the welfare of his tenantry. He especially earned the thanks of the people by the erection of substantial homesteads in place of the wretched cabins with which the middleman system had covered the west of Ireland. Fitzgerald manifested a keen interest in all questions which had a practical bearing on the progress or prosperity of Ireland; and in able contributions to the 'Times' he deprecated the censure which at that time and since was cast indiscriminately upon all Irish landlords. His own admirable personal qualities, his hatred of abuses, his engaging manners, and his generous nature, made him a great favourite with the Irish peasantry. His hospitality at Glanleam was enjoyed by the Prince of Wales and other distinguished guests. The Atlantic cable had its British termination on his estates, and he evinced much public spirit and energy in connection with the successful laying of the cable. He married in 1838 Julia Hussey, daughter of Peter Bodkin Hussey of Farranikilla House, co. Kerry, a lineal descendant of the Norman family of Hoses, which settled on the promontory of Dingle in the thirteenth century. By this lady he had four sons and seven daughters. Fitzgerald was a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for co. Kerry, and was high sheriff of Kerry in 1849, and of co. Carlow in 1875. On 8 July 1880 the queen conferred upon him a baronetcy. Fitzgerald was then, however, suffering from a dangerous malady, and he died on 6 Aug. following. He was succeeded in the title and estates by his eldest son, Captain Maurice Fitzgerald, who served with distinction in the Ashantee war, being present at the battles of Amoaful, Becquah, and Ordahau, and at the capture of Coomassie.
G. B. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ruggles, Thomas

​RUGGLES, THOMAS (1737?–1813), writer on the poor law, the son of Thomas Ruggles, by his wife Anne, eldest daughter of Joshua Brise of Clare, Suffolk, was born about 1737. He inherited Spains Hall, Essex, on the death of a cousin in 1776, and became deputy-lieutenant of Suffolk and Essex. He married, in 1779, Jane Anne, daughter of John Freeland of Cobham, Surrey, by whom he had issue three sons and three daughters. He died on 17 Nov. 1813. His wife died in 1823. His eldest son, John (1782–1852), assumed the name Brise, in addition to Ruggles, and his son, Col. Sir Samuel Ruggles-Brise, succeeded to Spains Hall. Ruggles published: 1. ‘The Barrister; or Strictures on the Education proper for the Bar,’ 1792, 8vo; 2nd ed. corrected, London, 1818, 12mo. 2. ‘The History of the Poor, their Rights, Duties, and the Laws respecting them. In a Series of Letters,’ 2 vols. London, 1793–4, 8vo; new edition, London, 1797, 4to. This work is not of much value, but contains some materials useful to the economic historian. It was translated into French by A. Duquesnoy.
W. A. S. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rumold

​RUMOLD, in Irish Ruthmael (d. 775?), bishop of Mechlin, born in Ireland, was consecrated a bishop, and laboured some time in Ireland early in the eighth century. He has been incorrectly called bishop of Dublin. There were no dioceses in Ireland at that time, but he may have been a bishop in Dublin, that is in one of the monasteries which were in Dublin or its vicinity in that age. For though the Danish city was of later origin, yet Ath Cliath, as it was and still is called by the native Irish, is mentioned in the seventh century by Adamnan and others.
Becoming dissatisfied with the results of his ministry in Ireland, Rumold resolved to go abroad, where his countrymen were then much valued. Crossing over to Britain in a coracle or skin-boat, ‘after the manner of his nation,’ he passed to Gaul, and ‘wherever he went he was always speaking of Jesus, and instructing the people about God and life everlasting.’ Crossing the Alps, he visited Rome, and saw with wonder the city ‘whither all the demons of the world used to congregate.’ Returning through France, he settled at Mechlin, near the Scheldt. The chieftain Ado and his wife, who were then in authority there, were grieved at being childless, and requested his prayers on their behalf. In answer to his prayers a child was born to them, who was named Libertus. The boy some years after, having fallen into the sea and been drowned, is said to have been restored to life by Rumold. Ado offered him a sum of money for this service, but he declined it, and said he would be content with some waste land. This Ado gladly bestowed on him, and here he formed a settlement from which ultimately grew the city of Mechlin. In due time he set about the erection of a church dedicated to St. Stephen the first martyr, but some of his workmen killed him by a blow on the head; his death is said to have taken place on 24 June 775 (Dict. Chr. Biogr.) Rumold's day is given ​as 1 July in the Martyrology of Donegal and by the Bollandists, although it is 3 July in the Roman Breviary.
T. O.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rumsey, Walter

​RUMSEY, WALTER (1584–1660), Welsh judge, son of John Rumsey, M.A., fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, by Anne, daughter of Thomas David of Usk, Monmouthshire, was born at Llanover, near Abergavenny, in 1584, and matriculated a gentleman commoner of Gloucester Hall, Oxford, on 17 Oct. 1600. He was admitted a student of Gray's Inn, 16 May 1603, and was called to the bar 3 June 1608. He secured a large practice, and was popularly styled the ‘Picklock of the Law.’ Having been made an ancient of Gray's Inn, 28 May 1622, he was called to the bench of that society 16 Nov. 1631, though he did not take his seat until 25 April 1634. Furthermore he was chosen Lent reader, 8 Nov. 1633, and dean of the chapel 6 Nov. 1640. He was made puisne justice of the great sessions for the counties of Brecknock, Glamorgan, and Radnor in September 1631, at a salary of fifty pounds a year (Privy Seals). He was chosen one of the knights of the shire for Monmouth in the Short parliament of 1640. On the outbreak of the civil war in 1642, Rumsey was appointed by the king a commissioner of array for Monmouth, but was taken prisoner on the capture of Hereford by the forces of parliament, 18 Dec. 1645. Information was laid against him, three days earlier, that he had lately fled to Hereford with Judge David Jenkins [q. v.], and had been taken by the clubmen, and that he had three rooms in Gray's Inn filled with goods. He was removed from his post by parliament in 1647. At the Restoration in 1660 he was nominated one of the intended knights of the Royal Oak, and in August 1660 he received a grant of the office of keeper of the judicial seal for the counties of Brecknock, Glamorgan, and Radnor. He died later in the year at the age of seventy-six, and was buried in the family vault at Llanover church. The judge was, according to Wood, ‘an ingenious man, had a philosophical head, was a good musician, and most curious for grafting, inoculating, and planting, and also for ordering of ponds.’ He was author of ‘Organon Salutis, an instrument to cleanse the stomach, as also Divers New Experiments of Tobacco and Coffee’ (London, 1657; 2nd edit. 1659; 3rd edit. 1664). He married Barbara Prichard of Llanover, and had one son, Edward Rumsey, an attorney.
W. R. W.