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

​HUGHES, JOSHUA (1807–1889), bishop of St. Asaph, son of C. Hughes, esq., of Newport, Pembrokeshire, was born at Nevern, Pembrokeshire, in 1807. He was educated at Ystradmeurig grammar school, and at St. David's College, Lampeter; at both `his performances gave promise of future distinction. With two brothers, Hughes took orders in the church of England, being ordained deacon in 1830, and priest in 1831. His first curacy was at Aberystwith, whence he passed to St. David's, Carmarthen, and to Abergwilly. At Abergwilly he first enjoyed the intimacy of Bishop Thirlwall, whose influence left its mark upon his character. At Abergwilly Hughes worked with conspicuous zeal until 1846, when he was presented to the vicarage of Llandovery. For the twenty-four years of his residence there Hughes was one of the most laborious of Welsh clergy. He thought little of riding twenty-five miles on Sunday in order to conduct four services in his parish. His bishop made him rural dean, and his fellow clergy sent him to convocation. In 1870 Mr. Gladstone, at the suggestion, it is said, of Dr. Thirlwall, offered the vacant bishopric of St. Asaph to the Welsh-speaking vicar of Llandovery. The appointment was criticised somewhat adversely because Hughes was not a university man, was practically unknown outside the Principality, and had had exclusively parochial experience. Events justified the choice. Hughes (who was made D.D. by the Archbishop of Canterbury) administered his diocese with vigour and impartiality. Exacting a high standard from candidates for holy orders, and strenuously upholding the prerogatives of the church, he still cultivated friendly relations with nonconformity. He favoured all reasonable measures of church reform; laboured hard to secure Welsh-speaking clergy for Welsh and bi-lingual parishes; promoted the provision of services in Welsh for Welsh residents in English towns; and was one of the first as well as warmest supporters of the movement for promoting higher education in Wales. In August 1888 Hughes was struck with paralysis while at Crieff in Perthshire. He never rallied, and died there on 21 Jan. 1889. Hughes married in 1832 Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas McKenny, and widow of Captain Gun, by whom he had three sons and five daughters.
Hughes was the author of several charges, sermons, and pamphlets. One of the latter, ​on 'The University of Brecknock' (n.d.? 1856, and signed `Veritas'), was much discussed.
A. R. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hughes, Robert (1744?-1785)

​HUGHES, ROBERT (Robin Ddu o Fon) (1744?–1785), Welsh poet, was born at Caint Bach, in the parish of Penmynydd in Anglesey about 1744. After receiving a good education under the care of the vicar of the parish, he became a schoolmaster at Amlwch, and afterwards spent twenty years in London as barrister's clerk. Ultimately his health failed; he returned to Wales, acted as a schoolmaster at Carnarvon, and dying of consumption 27 Feb. 1785, aged 41, was buried in the parish churchyard of Llanbeblig, Carnarvonshire, where the Society of Gwyneddigion, of which he was a founder, erected a monument to his memory. A portrait of him was engraved.
Hughes's 'Cywydd Molawd Mon,' and a couple of Englynion appeared with a brief biographical notice by the vicar of Llanllyfni, Carnarvonshire, in the 'Diddanwch Teuluaidd,' 1817 (pp. xxx, xxxi, 234, 236). In the `Brython,' iii. 376, appears his 'Cywydd Myfyrdod y Bardd am ei Gariad, pan oedd hi yn mordwyo o Fon i Fanaw; mewn cwch a elwid "Tarw,"' i.e. 'The bard's meditation on his sweetheart's setting sail from Anglesey to the Isle of Man in a boat called the Taurus.' This is dated 1763. There is a 'Cywydd y Byd' by him in Blackwell's 'Cylchgrawn,' i. 265, 1834, and a `Beddargraph' (epitaph) consisting of three Englynion in the 'Greal' (London, 1805), p. 72. Nine of his poems are published in 'Cyfres y Ceinion,' Liverpool, 1879. Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 14993 contains unpublished poems by Hughes dating from 1765 to 1780 in his own handwriting. The statement that there are poems by Hughes in the 'Dewisol Ganiadau' is erroneous.
R. J. J.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cumberland, Richard Francis G.

​CUMBERLAND, RICHARD FRANCIS G. (1792–1870), captain, grandson of Richard Cumberland (1731–1811) [q. v.], was son of Richard Cumberland, once an officer in the 3rd foot guards, who died in the island of Tobago when awaiting a civil appointment there, and his wife, Lady Albinia Hobart, daughter of the third earl of Buckinghamshire, who died in 1853. He was born in 1792. Through his mother, who was one of the ladies of Queen Charlotte's suite, he became a page of honour, and on 27 Jan. 1809 was appointed to an ensigncy in the 3rd foot guards, in which he became lieutenant and captain in 1814. He served as aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington, of whose personal staff he was one of the last survivors, in the principal actions in the Peninsular war in 1812–14, and was wounded at the repulse of the French sortie from Bayonne. He left the army after the war. He died at the Royal Mint 9 March 1870.
[Foster's Royal Lineage, p. 180; Memoirs of Richard Cumberland (London, 1804); Times, 14 March 1870.]
H. M. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cumming, James (d.1827)

​CUMMING, JAMES (d. 1827), official in the India Office, son of Alexander Cumming [q. v.], watchmaker, of Bond Street, entered the service of the board of control in 1793 as a clerk. In 1807 he was appointed head of the revenue and judicial department under the board of control, which post he held until 1823, when he retired with his health broken down by overwork. According to the statement drawn up by himself and published in 1825, with a view to obtaining a pension equal to his salary of 1,000l. a year, he assisted in drawing up the fifth report of the select committee of the House of Commons on the internal government of Madras, for which he was voted a gratuity of 500l. in 1814, and 300l. in 1816. He also quotes in this pamphlet the minute of the board of control on his retirement in 1823, and the testimony of Canning, the Right Hon. John Sulivan, Lord Teignmouth, and Lord Binning to the efficiency of his services. In 1824 Lord Liverpool gave his sister, Miss Cumming, a pension of 200l. a year, after a laudatory notice of his services in a speech of Lord Binning's on the Superannuation Bill in the House of Commons on 12 June 1854. He died at Lovell Hill Cottage, Berkshire, on 23 Jan. 1827, and as in the notice of his death he is spoken of as an F.S.A., he is probably the same James Cumming, F.S.A., who published an edition of Owen Felltham's ‘Resolves’ in 1806, with a dedication to the Duke of Gloucester.
[Gent. Mag. February 1827; Brief Notice of the Services of Mr. Cumming, late head of the Revenue and Judicial Department in the office of the Right Hon. the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, 20 July 1825.]
H. M. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cuming, Hugh

​CUMING, HUGH (1791–1865), naturalist, was born at West Alvington, Kingsbridge, Devonshire, on 14 Feb. 1791. His early love for natural history was fostered by Colonel Montagu, who lived in the neighbourhood. He was apprenticed to a sail-maker, and in 1819 he sailed to South America and settled at Valparaiso. Here he found an ample opportunity for collecting shells, and was encouraged by the consul there, and several naval officers, particularly Captains King and FitzRoy. In 1826 he gave up business in order to devote himself to his favourite pursuit. For this he built a yacht and cruised for twelve months among the Pacific Islands, so successfully that on a second voyage the ​Chilian government gave him special exemption from port dues, and privileges of buying stores free of duty. He thus spent two years on the coast of Chili, returning to his native land with his abundant collections.
In 1835 he determined to explore the Philippine Islands, and credentials from the Spanish authorities at Madrid, with his knowledge of the language, placed him at once on the most favourable footing. He was thus able to enlist the services of the clergy and their scholars, who were encouraged to hunt the wood for snails and other shells. Cuming returned after four years' labours, paying passing visits to Malacca, Singapore, and St. Helena. The dried plants amounted to a hundred and thirty thousand specimens; these, with the living orchids, were at once distributed, and his zoological collections also rendered available for science by being placed in museums at home and abroad. He died on 10 Aug. 1865 at his house in Gower Street, London, after long suffering from bronchitis and asthma.
G. B. Sowerby named a genus of bivalved shells Cumingia, after him, in 1833.
[Athenæum, 19 Aug. 1865, pp. 247–8; Gent. Mag. 3rd ser. xix. (1865), 517–19 (reprint of former); Proc. Linn. Soc. (1865–6), pp. 57–9; Roy. Soc. Cat. Sci. Papers, ii. 103–4.]
B. D. J.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cumming, Alexander

​CUMMING, ALEXANDER (1733–1814), mathematician and mechanic, was a native of Edinburgh. He was apprenticed to the watchmaking business, which he carried on with great reputation for many years in Bond Street, London. On retiring from trade he settled in Pentonville, where he had several houses. He was appointed a county magistrate, and elected a fellow of the Royal Society. He continued to pursue his mechanical studies with diligence to the time of his death, which occurred on 8 March 1814. He was the father of James Cumming (d. 1827) [q. v.]
Besides some papers in the ‘Communications to the Board of Agriculture,’ he wrote: 1. ‘The Elements of Clock and Watch Work, adapted to practice,’ London, 1766, 4to. 2. ‘Observations on the Effects which Carriage Wheels, with Rims of different Shapes, have on the Roads’ [London, 1797], 8vo, and 1809, 4to. 3. ‘Dissertation on the Influence of Gravitation, considered as a Mechanic Power,’ Edinburgh, 1803, 4to. 4. ‘The Destructive Effects of the Conical Broad Wheels of Carriages controverted; with the improving effects of cylindrical wheels of the same breadth, as they regard the roads, the labour of cattle, &c.,’ 1804, 4to. 5. ‘A Supplement to the Observations on the Contrary Effects of Cylindrical and Conical Carriage Wheels,’ London, 1809, 4to.
[Gent. Mag. lxxxiv. pt. i. p. 414; Biog. Dict. of Living Authors (1816), 83, 425; Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cumming, Joseph George

​CUMMING, JOSEPH GEORGE (1812–1868), geologist and divine, was born on 15 Feb. 1812 at Matlock, Derbyshire. He was educated at Oakham grammar school, where he was remarkable for his grave earnestness, scarcely ever indulging in games. He was, however, fond of wrestling, and was a great walker, especially visiting Derbyshire and collecting fossil remains. He gained exhibitions at Oakham and proceeded to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was senior optime in 1834. He was ordained in 1835 to the curacy of his uncle, James Cumming [q. v.], professor of chemistry at Cambridge, and rector of North Runcton, Norfolk. In 1838 he was appointed classical master of the West Riding proprietary school, and in 1841 he became vice-principal of King William's College in the Isle of Man. Cumming remained in the Isle of Man for fifteen years, and studied the geology and antiquarian remains of the district with great care. In 1848 he published ‘The Isle of Man: its History, Physical, Ecclesiastical, Civil, and Legendary.’ In this volume he has dealt largely with the mythical tales, succinctly recording the history of the island, and carefully examining all the interesting geological phenomena. The lithological character of the island and the disturbances which have produced the subsidence of some geological formations, and the emergence of others, are carefully and accurately described.
Cumming was appointed in 1856 to the mastership of King Edward's grammar school, Lichfield. In 1858 he became warden and professor of classical literature and geology in Queen's College, Birmingham. In 1862 he was presented by the lord chancellor to the rectory of Mellis, Suffolk, which he exchanged in 1867 for the vicarage of St. John's, Bethnal Green.
Cumming married in 1838 Agnes, daughter of Mr. Peckham, by whom he had a family of four sons and two daughters, who survived him. He became a fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1846, and he published some papers in the journal of that society. He died quite suddenly on 21 Sept. 1868.
[Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, 1849; Cambridge Calendar; Walford's Men of the Time, 1862; New Philosophical Magazine, 1869; Journal of the Archæological Institute.]
R. H-t.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Davy, Edmund

​DAVY, EDMUND (1785–1857), professor of chemistry, son of William Davy, was born at Penzance in 1785, where he obtained his early education. He remained there until 1804, when he removed to London, and was appointed operator and assistant in the laboratory of the Royal Institution, through the influence of Humphry Davy [q. v.], then professor of chemistry. Edmund Davy had the entire control of the laboratory. Humphry Davy was not remarkable for keeping things in order himself, but we find, from the laboratory book of the institution, that he demanded considerable attention to such matters from his assistant. Edmund Davy remained in the Royal Institution for eight years, holding also for a considerable portion of that time the office of superintendent of the mineralogical collection.
In 1813 Edmund Davy was unanimously elected professor in the Royal Cork Institution, and he acted also as secretary. In 1826 he became professor of chemistry of the Royal Dublin Society. Shortly after this he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of London, a fellow of the Chemical Society of London, and an honorary member of the Société Française Statistique Universelle. Davy was an earnest advocate for the extension of scientific knowledge, and through his influence popular courses of lectures were established in most of the provinces of Ireland. He gave upwards of thirty courses of lectures on chemical subjects, especially selecting the applications of chemistry to agriculture. This was always a favourite study with him, and he published several useful papers relating to manures, and the chemical aids which the farmers might find useful. ‘An Essay on the Use of Peat or Turf as a Means of Promoting the Public Health and the Agriculture of the United Kingdom,’ was published for him by Hodges & Smith, of Dublin, in 1850, and in the ‘Journal of the Dublin Society,’ in 1856, we find ‘An Account of some Experiments made to determine the relative deodorising Powers of Peat-Charcoal, Peat, and Lime,’ and in the ‘Chemist’ of 1855 he published a paper on an allied subject, namely, ‘The relative Deodorising Powers of different Substances.’
Several papers on the applications of electro-chemistry, on metallurgy, dealing especially with the rarer metals, were published by Davy in the ‘Philosophical Transactions and Proceedings,’ in ‘Thomson's Records,’ in the ‘British Association Reports,’ and the ‘Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy.’ Altogether thirty-three papers were published by Davy between 1812 and 1857. The ‘Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers’ credits Davy with thirty papers. When the government were effecting changes in the constitution of the several Irish scientific societies, they recognised Davy's claims, by awarding him his whole salary on his retirement from his official position, which he enjoyed for the remainder of his life. At the same time the Royal Dublin Society requested him to still carry on that portion of his duties which related to agricultural chemistry. After June 1856 Davy suffered from ill-health. He died on 5 Nov. 1857 at Kimmage Lodge, county Dublin.
R. H-t.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Davy, Charles

​DAVY, CHARLES (1722–1797), miscellaneous writer, was the son of Charles Davy of Hatton Garden, London. He was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1742, M.A. in 1748 (Cantabrigienses Graduati, ed. 1787, p. 112). He was instituted to the rectory of Topcroft, Norfolk, in 1764, to the rectory of Benacre, Suffolk, in 1766, and to that of Onehouse in the same county in 1776. He died on 8 April 1797, and was buried in the chancel of Onehouse church.
His publications were: 1. ‘Conjectural Observations on the Origin and Progress of Alphabetical Writing,’ 1772, 8vo. 2. ‘Letters addressed chiefly to a Young Gentleman, upon subjects of Literature; including a translation of Euclid's Section of the Canon, and his Treatise on Harmonic; with an explanation of the Greek musical modes, according to the doctrine of Ptolemy,’ 2 vols. Bury St. Edmunds, 1787, 8vo. In 1768 there appeared ‘Proposals for printing by subscription. An Essay upon the Principles and Powers of Vocal and Instrumental Music. By Charles Davy and Christopher Smear, Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge.’ The work was never printed, but the manuscript is still in existence.
By his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Sheppard, he had two sons, Charles and Frederick. Charles became a fellow of Caius College, Cambridge (M.B. 1781), vicar of Wickham Market, Suffolk (1803), rector of Barking and of Combs, in the same county (1818), and died on 7 March 1836, aged 79. He published (conjointly with his brother Frederick) ‘A Relation of a Journey to the Glaciers in the Dutchy of Savoy; translated from the French of M. T. Bourrit, precentor of the cathedral church of Geneva,’ 8vo, Norwich, 1775 (Davy, Athenæ Suffolcenses, ii. 234, iii. 229; Gent. Mag. new ser. v. 562).
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Davison, Walter

​DAVISON, WALTER (1581–1608?), poet, was the fourth and youngest son of William Davison [q. v.], secretary of state, and his wife Catharine, daughter of Francis Spelman. He was born in London on 17 Dec. 1581, and was a fellow-commoner of King's College, Cambridge, in 1596, but he left the university without taking a degree. About 1602 he was a soldier in the Low Countries. As he is not mentioned in his father's will, which bears date 18 Dec. 1608, it is probable that he was then dead.
He was the author of poems in the 'Poetical Rhapsody,' 1602, the poetical collection compiled by his brother Francis [q. v.] At the time these poems were composed he was under eighteen years of age.
[Nicolas's Memoir of William Davison, p. 226; Nicolas's Biographical Notices prefixed to his edition of the Poetical Rhapsody, p. lxi; Cooper's Athenæ Cantab, iii. 13; Lowndes's Bibl. Man. (Bohn). p. 602.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Davy, Henry

​DAVY, HENRY (fl. 1829), architect and landscape painter, belonging to Ipswich, published at Southwold in 1818 and 1827 different sets of etchings illustrative of the antiquities of Suffolk and the noblemen's seats in the county. He also exhibited three landscape paintings in 1829 in the Suffolk Street exhibition of the Society of British Artists. His works as a practising architect are unknown, and he is now remembered chiefly as the author of the etchings first named, which are carefully and artistically executed, and form an important contribution to the antiquarian lore of the district. His works are:
* ‘A Set of ten Etchings illustrative of Beccles Church, and other Suffolk Antiquities,’ 1818.
* ‘Series of Etchings illustrative of the Architectural Antiquities of Suffolk, accompanied with an Historical Index, drawn and etched by Henry Davy,’ Southwold, 1827, fol.
* ‘Views of the Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen in Suffolk, from drawings by Henry Davy,’ Southwold, 1827, fol.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists; Lowndes's Bibl. Man.]
G. W. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hunter, Robert (fl.1750-1780)

​HUNTER, ROBERT (fl. 1750–1780), portrait-painter, a native of Ulster, studied under the elder Pope, and had a considerable practice in Dublin about the middle of the eighteenth century. He modelled his tone of colouring on the painting of old masters. His portraits were excellent likenesses, if not of the first rank in painting. He had an extensive practice until the arrival of Robert Home [q.v.] in 1780, who attracted the leaders of fashion. Hunter took a prominent part in the foundation of the Dublin Society of Artists, and was a frequent contributor to their exhibitions in Dublin. Many of his portraits were engraved in mezzotint, including John, ​lord Naas (by W. Dickinson), Simon, earl Harcourt, now at Nuneham Park (by E. Fisher), Dr. Samuel Madden (by R. Purcell), John Wesley, painted in Dublin (by James Watson), and others. In the Mansion House at Dublin there is a portrait of the Earl of Buckinghamshire by Hunter. A portrait of Thomas Echlin is stated to have been etched as well as drawn by him.
[Sarsfield Taylor's State of Fine Arts in Great Britain and Ireland; Dodd's manuscript Hist. of English Engravers (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 33402); Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Chaloner Smith's British Mezzotinto Portraits.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Huntingdon, Gregory of

​HUNTINGDON, GREGORY of (fl. 1290), monk of Ramsey. [See Gregory.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Huntingdon, Henry of

​HUNTINGDON, HENRY of (1084?–1155), historian. [See Henry.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hunter, Thomas (1712-1777)

​HUNTER, THOMAS (1712–1777), author, eldest son of William Hunter, born at Kendal, Westmoreland, and baptised there on 30 March 1712, was educated at the Kendal grammar school, and matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford, on 2 July 1734. In 1737 he was elected master of the Blackburn grammar school, and was subsequently appointed curate of Balderstone, Lancashire. One of his pupils was Edward Harwood [q. v.], who spoke of him as a 'most worthy preceptor,' and 'most learned and worthy clergyman' (Nichols, Lit. Anecd. ix. 579). He left Blackburn in 1750, on being appointed vicar of Garstang, Lancashire, and was preferred on 18 April 1755 to the vicarage of Weaverham, Cheshire, where he died on 1 Sept. 1777. He was blind for many ​years, during which some of his later works were produced. He married at Blackburn, on 28 Feb. 1738, Mary, widow of Hugh Baldwin, and among his children were William Hunter, fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, and minister of St. Paul's, Liverpool, and Thomas Hunter, who succeeded him as vicar of Weaverham. Both published sermons.
Hunter wrote:
* 'A Letter to the Hon. Colonel John —— in Flanders, on the subject of Religion,' 1744, 8vo.
* 'A Letter to a Priest of the Church of Rome on the subject of Image Worship,' 8vo.
* 'Observations on Tacitus,' 1752, 8vo.
* 'An Impartial Account of Earthquakes,' Liverpool, 1756, 8vo.
* 'A Sketch of the Philosophical Character of Lord Bolingbroke,' 1770, 8vo second edition, 1776. For this work he received the degree of M.A. by diploma from the university of Oxford. Bishop Warburton's opinion of it was not very favourable (Letters to Hurd, cciv.)
* 'Moral Discourses on Providence and other Important Subjects,' 1774, 2 vols. 8vo; second edition, 1776.
* 'Reflections, Critical and Moral, on the Letters of the late Earl of Chesterfield,' 1776, 8vo.
[Fishwick's Hist. of Garstang (Cheth. Soc.), ii. 193; Earwaker's Local Gleanings, vols. i. ii. Abram's Hist. of Blackburn, 1877, pp.339, 347, 478; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Ormerod's Cheshire, orig. edit. ii. 58.]
C. W. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Huntingdon, Countess of

​HUNTINGDON, Countess of (1707–1791). [See Hastings, Selina.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Huntingdon, Earls of

​HUNTINGDON, Earls of. [See Hastings, Francis, second Earl (of the Hastings family), 1514?–1561; Hastings, George, first Earl, 1488?–1545; Hastings, Hans Francis, eleventh Earl, 1779–1828; Hastings, Henry, third Earl, 1535–1595; Hastings, Theophilus, seventh Earl, 1650–1701; Herbert, William, 1460–1491, under Herbert, Sir William, Earl of Pembroke, d. 1469; Holland, John, first Earl (of the Holland family), 1352?–1400; Holland, John, second Earl (of the Holland family), 1395–1447; Malcolm, King of Scotland, d. 1165.]