OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parsons, William (fl.1785-1807)

​PARSONS, WILLIAM (fl. 1785–1807), poet, was a member of the ‘knot of fantastic coxcombs’ who printed verses in the ‘World’ magazine during 1784 and 1785. At that period he was residing in Florence, and he is mentioned by Mrs. Piozzi as being a flattering and agreeable member of her coterie in that city. In the ‘Florence Miscellany’ of 1785, the joint production of Mrs. Piozzi, Robert Merry, the Della Cruscan, Bertie Greatheed, and others, Parsons had the lion's share [see under Merry, Robert]. According to William Gifford, Parsons was considerably nettled at not being included, ‘though an undoubted Bavian,’ in the first edition of the ‘Baviad.’ ‘He accordingly applied to me,’ says Gifford, ‘(in a circuitous method, I confess), and as a particular favour was finally admitted. … But instead of gratifying the ambition of Mr. Parsons, as I fondly expected, and quieting him for ever, this reference had a most fatal effect upon his poor head, and from an honest, painstaking gentleman converted him in imagination into a minotaur.’ Parsons's attempts at retaliation in the ‘Telegraph’ and other London papers were marked by the same puerilities which characterise his verses. He showed his incorrigibility in ‘A Poetical Tour in the years 1784, 1785, and 1786. By a member of the Arcadian Society at Rome,’ London, at the Logographic Press, 1787, in which his traveller's trivialities are eked out by imitations, translations, and complimentary verses to Mrs. Piozzi and Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu. In November 1787 Parsons was elected a member of the Royal Society. His subsequent productions were: 1. ‘Ode to a Boy at Eton,’ London, 1796, 4to, intended to ‘counteract the gloomy conclusions’ of Gray's well-known ‘Ode.’ 2. ‘Fidelity, or Love at First Sight: a Tale [in verse], with other Poems,’ London, 1798, 4to. 3. ‘Travelling Recreations,’ 2 vols. London, 1807, 8vo. Parsons, who, when not on the continent, seems to have resided mainly at Bath, here defines his ambition as ‘merely to be classed among the mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease,’ but the ease is nowhere apparent. His earlier effusions are reprinted in nearly all his subsequent volumes.
T. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Partridge, Peter

​PARTRIDGE, PARTRICHE, or PERTRICH, PETER (d. 1451), chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, was educated at Oxford University, where he graduated B.D., and was subsequently styled ‘S. Theol. professor.’ He was a contemporary at Oxford of Peter Payne [q. v.] the Taborite, whom, according to Payne's account, he first introduced to Wiclif's doctrines, proving their truth to him by the scriptures; but, having a prebend, apparently that of Carlton​Kyme-cum-Dalby in Lincoln Cathedral, he soon drew back, and Payne consequently avoided him. Partridge maintained, on the other hand, that in his own house he urged Payne to abandon his heresies because they would ruin him; even if they were true he could not possibly profit by them, as they would hinder him in the way of preaching and teaching, and he would be useless in the church (Petrus Zatacensis, pp. 343–7). In 1413 Partridge was one of the inquisitors into the heresies of the lollards, and was present at the citation of Payne, who was diffamed for heresy about 1416. On 15 April 1417 he was one of those appointed at Constance to settle a dispute concerning the church at Bayonne (Rymer, ix. 449). On 30 Oct. 1424 he exchanged his prebend for the chancellorship of Lincoln Cathedral; and in July 1428 was sent on an embassy to the king of Aragon and king of the Romans.
In December 1432 he was appointed one of the representatives of the English clergy at the council of Basle; on 8 Dec. he received permission to take a hundred pounds of gold from England with him, and on the 21st was granted letters of protection. He was chiefly prominent at the council by his opposition to Payne, with whom he had frequent arguments; on 31 March 1433 he accused him of having fled from England to escape martyrdom, and on 6 April corroborated the charge of heresy brought against him. During the course of the debates he read two protests, one of which, entitled ‘Provocatio facta ex parte archiepiscopi Cantuar. et omnium episcoporum provinciæ ejusdem per Petrum Patriche eccl. Lincoln. cancellarium,’ is extant in Digby MS. No. 66 in the Bodleian Library. A note states that it was read ‘in domo T. Browne coram omnibus ambassiatoribus testibus et ad hoc vocatis, etc., 1433, 5to Maii.’
Partridge's tenure of the chancellorship of Lincoln was marked by frequent disputes between the dean, John Mackworth, and the chapter; on 8 June 1435 the dean sent a body of his servants, headed by his chaplain, into the cathedral while vespers were being sung under Partridge's direction. They attacked him, tore off his choral habit, and left him for dead upon the floor; the perpetrators of this outrage were brought before the justices for the county, but proceedings had to be abandoned on the ground that the cathedral was in the city of Lincoln, not the county.
In 1438 Partridge held the prebend of Sutton-in-the-Marsh (Tanner); he died on 10 Jan. 1450–1, and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral; according to Tanner, a ‘Tabula super Cowton a Petro Partriche compilata’ is extant among the manuscripts in Lincoln Cathedral.
A. F. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Partridge, Seth

​PARTRIDGE, SETH (1603–1686), mathematical writer, is probably identical with the Seth Partridge who died on 25 Feb. 1685–1686, aged 82, and was buried in the church at Hemel-Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where there is an inscription to his memory (Nichols, Lit. Anecd. ix. 507; Cussans, Hertfordshire, i. 160). He describes himself as a surveyor, but his time seems to have been mostly occupied in teaching various branches of mathematics, including ‘arithmetic, astronomy, land-measuring, gauging of vessels, trigonometry, navigation, and cosmography.’ For the use of his pupils he prepared some notes on ‘Napier's bones’ [see Napier or Neper, John], which he published in 1648 under the title ‘Rabdologia, or the Art of numbering by Rods … with many Examples for the practice of the same, first invented by Lord Napier, Baron of Merchiston, and since explained and made useful for all sorts of men. By Seth Partridge, Surveyor and Practitioner in the Mathematicks,’ London, 12mo. It is dedicated to Dr. Wright; its object is to explain in a popular manner the use of ‘Napier's bones,’ and for this reason it was written in English, being the first book on logarithms in the vernacular. On 1 Aug. 1657 Partridge completed another mathematical work, entitled ‘The Description and Use of an Instrument called the Double Scale of Proportion;’ but it does not seem to have been published until 1672; other editions followed in 1685 and 1692, but these are, except for the title-pages, merely reprints. The book is dedicated to Sir Richard Combe, knt.
Partridge's son (1635–1703) and grandson (1675–1748), a citizen and goldsmith of London, both named Seth Partridge, were also buried in Hemel-Hempstead church.
A. F. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Cavendish, Ada

​CAVENDISH, ADA (1839–1895), actress, made her first appearance at the New Royalty on 31 Aug. 1863 as Selina Squeers in a burletta called 'The Pirates of Putney,' on 28 Sept. was Venus in Mr. Burnand's 'Ixion,' and on 13 April 1865 Hippodamia in 'Pirithous, Son of Ixion.' At the Haymarket, in 'A Romantic Attachment,' on 15 Feb. 1866, she essayed comedy for the first time. After playing Mrs. Featherley in 'A Widow Hunt' ​and at the St. James's Lady Avondale in the 'School of Reform,' she first distinguished herself as the original Mrs. Pintchbeck in Robertson's adaptation 'Home,' Haymarket, 8 Jan. 1869. At the opening of the Vaudeville on 16 April 1870 she was the original Mrs. Darlington in 'For Love or Money.' At the Globe she played the Marchesa San Pietro in 'Marco Spada;' at the Royalty Grace Elliot in Marston's 'Lamed for Life;' at the Gaiety Donna Diana in a revival of the piece so named; and at the Court Estelle in 'Broken Spells.' Her greatest success was Mercy Merrick in Wilkie Collins's 'New Magdalen,' at the Olympic, on 19 May 1873, when her acting made the fortune of an unpleasant piece. She was for a time manager of the Olympic, at which she played several original parts, and was seen as Juliet. Lady Clancarty, an original part in Taylor's piece so named, was given on 9 March 1874. She was also seen as Madonna Pia in 'Put to the Test.' In April 187o, at the Gaiety, she played Beatrice in 'Much Ado about Nothing.' At the Globe, on 15 April 1876, she was the lieroine of Wilkie Collins's 'Miss Gwilt.' On 15 Jan. 1877 she was at the Olympic the Queen of Connauglit in the piece so named. In 1878 she went to America, opening at the Broadway as Mercy Merrick, and playing through the United States as Rosalind, Lady Teazle, and Juliet. In 1877 she opened the St. James's as Lady Teazle. On 10 June she played Blanche in 'Night and Morning,' a rendering of ' La Joie fait Peur.' On her marriage, on 8 May 1885, to Francis Albert Marshall [q. v.], she practically retired from the stage, but after his death, on 28 Dec. 1889, acted occasionally in the country. She had good gifts in comedy and serious drama, and was more than respectable in Shakespearean characters. She died in London 5 Oct. 1895.
[Personnl knowledge; Pascoe's Dramatic List; Scott and Howard's Blanchard; Hollingshead's Gaiety Chronicles; Cook's Nights at the Play; Athenæum, 12 Oct. 1895; Sunday Times; The Theatre; Era, various years.]
J. K.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Cennick, John

​CENNICK, JOHN (1718–1755), divine, was born in Reading on 12 Dec. 1718. His grandparents were imprisoned in Reading gaol as quakers, but his father, John Cennick, conformed to the church of England, and both he and his son were regular attendants at St. Lawrence's church in Reading. As a youth, Cennick suffered much from religious despondency. In 1738 he was greatly affected by the reading of Whitefield's 'Journal.' In the following year he went on a visit to Oxford, saw Wesley, and became a devout member of the early methodist band; the widespread indifference to the terrors of sin which had caused him so much anguish ceased to oppress him. He now went down to Bristol and began to preach under Wesley's guidance, but devoted the best of his time to teaching in Kingswood school for the children of colliers. After some months' combined work he had a serious difference with Wesley, and made a closer union with Whitefield. In 1745 he made a tour in Germany among the Moravian brethren. In 1747 he married Jane Bryant of Clack, Wiltshire, and two years later was ordained deacon in the Moravian church at London. He died in London on 4 July 1755, leaving a daughter, who married J. Swertner of Bristol.
A great number of Cennick's sermons, preached in Moorfields, Bristol, South Wales, Ireland, and elsewhere, were separately printed. Two volumes, of his sermons appeared in 1753-4. 'Twenty Discourses,' including many of these, followed in 1762. The 'Sermons' were collected on a larger scale in two volumes, London, 1770; were reprinted in 'Village Discourses,' under the supervision of Matthew Wilks, in 1819; and a selection of them was issued in one duo-decimo volume, Loudon, 1852. In addition to the sermons Cennick published four small collections of hymns:
* 'Sacred Hymns for the Children of God in the Day of their Pilgrimage,' London, n.d.; 2nd edit. 1741.
* 'Sacred Hymns for the use of Religious Societies,' Bristol, 1743.
* 'A Collection of Sacred Hymns,' Dublin, 3rd edit. 1749.
* 'Hymns for the Honour of Jesus Christ,' Dublin, 1754.
Several of these, such as 'Ere I [we] sleep, for every favour,' are widely known. The most popular, in a slightly abbreviated form, is 'Children of the Heavenly King.' A few of Cennick's hymns, left in manuscript, were printed in the 'Moravian Hymn Book' of 1789. All his hymns contain fine stanzas, but are very unequal.
A portrait, engraved by Atkinson 'after an original picture,' is prefixed to 'Village Discourses,' 1819.
[Bastard's A Monody to the Memory of John Cennick, Exeter, 1765; An Abstract of the Sufferings of the Quakers, 1738, ii. 13; Julian's Dict. of Hymnology; Darling's Bibl. Cyclop. i. 615 (with a detailed list of forty discourses); Rogers's Lyra Brit. 1867, p. 666; Tyerman's Life of Wesley, passim; Boase and Courtney's Bibl. Cornub.; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
T. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Scott, James (1733-1814)

​SCOTT, JAMES, D.D. (1733–1814), political writer, son of James Scott, incumbent of Trinity Church, Leeds, and vicar of Bardsey, Yorkshire, by Annabella, daughter of Henry, fifth son of Tobias Wickham, dean of York, was born at Leeds in 1733. He was educated at Bradford grammar school, St. Catharine Hall and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1757, proceeded M.A. in 1760, B.D. in 1768, and D.D. in 1775. He was thrice successful in the competition for the Seatonian prize, was elected fellow of Trinity College in 1758, and was a frequent and admired preacher at St. Mary's between 1760 and 1764. He was lecturer at St. John's, Leeds, between 1758 and 1769, and curate of Edmonton between 1760 and 1761. In 1765, under the inspiration of Lord Sandwich and the pseudonym of ‘Anti-Sejanus,’ he contributed to the ‘Public Advertiser’ a series of animated diatribes against Lord Bute, which were reprinted in 1767 in ‘A Collection of Interesting Letters.’ He was also the author of the pieces signed ‘Philanglia’ which appear in the same collection, and of others published with the signature of ‘Old Slyboots’ in 1769, and collected in ‘Fugitive Political Essays,’ London, 1770, 8vo. In 1771, through Lord Sandwich's interest, he was presented to the rectory of Simonburn, Northumberland, where he spent twenty years and 10,000l. in endeavouring to get in his tithes. Worsted at law, some of his parishioners at length made a determined attempt on his life, upon which he removed to London, where he died on 10 Dec. 1814. By his wife Anne, daughter of Henry Scott, who survived him, he left no issue.
Besides his political jeux d'esprit and his Seatonian poems, ‘Heaven,’ ‘Purity of Heart: a Moral Epistle,’ and ‘An Hymn to Repentance’ (Cambridge, 1760–3, 4to), Scott was author of: 1. ‘Odes on Several Subjects,’ London, 1761, 4to. 2. ‘The Redemption: a Monody,’ Cambridge, 1763–4. 3. ‘Every Man the Architect of his own Fortune, or the Art of Rising in the Church,’ a satire, London, 1763, 4to; and 4. ‘Sermons on Interesting Subjects’ (posthumously with his ‘Life’ by Samuel Clapham), London, 1816, 8vo.
J. M. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Scott, James Sibbald David

​SCOTT, Sir JAMES SIBBALD DAVID (1814–1885), bart., of Dunninald, Forfarshire, antiquary, born on 14 June 1814, was eldest son of Sir David Scott of Egham, nephew and successor of Sir James Sibbald of the East India Company's service, who was created a baronet in 1806. The mother of Sir Sibbald Scott was Caroline, daughter of Benjamin Grindall, a descendant of Elizabeth's archbishop.
He graduated B.A. in 1835 from Christ Church, Oxford, was a captain in the royal Sussex militia artillery from 21 April 1846 to 22 Jan. 1856, succeeded to the baronetcy in 1851, was J.P. and D.L. for Sussex and Middlesex. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and an active member of the Royal Archæological Institute. Various contributions from him are to be found in volumes xxx–xxxiii. and xxxix. of its journal.
His chief work was ‘The British Army: its Origin, Progress, and Equipment,’ a storehouse of information on military matters, copiously illustrated. The first two volumes were published in 1868, and a third volume in 1880, bringing down the record from the restoration to the revolution of 1688.
In the summer of 1874 he paid a short visit to Jamaica, and his diary was published in 1876 under the title ‘To Jamaica and Back.’ It contains a sketch of the military and naval history of the island, and describes in some detail the outbreak of 1865.
He died on 28 June 1885 at Upper Norwood. His wife, whom he married on 28 Nov. 1844, is noticed separately [see Scott, Harriet Anne]. By her he had three sons and four daughters.
E. M. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Patch, Richard

​PATCH, RICHARD (1770?–1806), criminal, born about 1770 at Heavitree, near Exeter, Devonshire, was the eldest son of a small farmer who for some daring acts of smuggling was imprisoned in Exeter gaol, where he afterwards became turnkey. Richard Patch was apprenticed to a butcher, and was liberally supplied with money by his father. On his father's death he inherited a small freehold estate of about 50l. a year, which he farmed, renting at the same time a small farm in the neighbourhood of Heavitree. In this occupation he was engaged for some years; but he was compelled to mortgage his estate, and in the spring of 1803 journeyed to London to avoid, according to his own account, an action for the non-payment of tithes. He was taken into the service of Isaac Blight, a ship-breaker living in the parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe. In the summer of 1803 Blight, in order to protect himself against his creditors, appears to have executed an instrument con​veying his property to Patch. In Aug. 1805 it was arranged that Patch should become a real, instead of a nominal, partner in Blight's business to the extent of one-third. For this share Patch paid Blight 250l., procured from the sale of his estate in Devonshire, and promised him, by 23 Sept. 1805, 1,000l., a sum that Patch knew he had no means of obtaining. On the evening of the 23rd Patch was alone with Blight in the front parlour of the latter's house, and about 8 P.M., just after Patch had been seen to leave the room, Blight was discovered by a servant lying wounded by a pistol-shot. Blight expired the next day, and Patch was tried for his murder on 5 April 1806, at the Sessions House in Horsemonger Lane, before Lord-chief-baron Macdonald. The prisoner, who appeared dressed ‘in a handsome suit of black,’ behaved with the utmost coolness, and read a written defence. He was found guilty on clear circumstantial evidence, skilfully marshalled by the prosecution. Patch was deeply affected when visited in prison by his brother and by the sister of his deceased wife, but does not appear to have confessed the murder. He was executed on 8 April 1806 at nine o'clock, on a platform on the front of the gaol, Horsemonger Lane. A man and his wife were at the same time hanged for coining.
The case excited great interest, and numerous accounts of the trial were published, among which were shorthand reports by J. & W. B. Gurney, and by Blanchard & Ramsey (London, 1806, 8vo). A view and plan of Blight's house appeared in the ‘Lady's Magazine’ for 1806, pp. 211–16. Fairburn's edition of the trial and an account published in vol. iv. of Kirby's ‘Wonderful and Eccentric Museum’ (pp. 43–97) contain portraits of Patch, who is described (Gent. Mag. 1806, p. 375, paged ‘383’) as a man of heavy build, ‘very round-shouldered, with a short thick neck and florid complexion.’
W. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Paston, Robert

​PASTON, ROBERT, first Earl of Yarmouth (1631–1683), was born at Oxnead, the seat of the Paston family in Norfolk, on 29 May 1631. He was eldest son of Sir William Paston, an antiquary, who had been high sheriff of Norfolk in 1636, was created a baronet 8 June 1642, and died 22 Feb. 1662–3 [see under Paston, Sir William, 1479?–1554]. His mother, Katherine, daughter of Robert Bertie, first earl of Lindsey [q. v.], died in 1636. He was educated at Westminster, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, and is said to have fought in the civil wars. His family suffered during the Commonwealth (cf. Cal. Comm. for the Advance of Money, i. 487), and he travelled abroad. When Charles II was restored, Paston was knighted on 29 May 1660. He sat in the House of Commons as member for Castle Rising from 1661 to 1673, and then gave place to Samuel Pepys. In 1661 he was made deputy-lieutenant for Norfolk, and captain in the Earl of Suffolk's regiment of militia horse.
On 22 Feb. 1662–3 Paston succeeded his father as second baronet; he became a fellow of the Royal Society on 20 May of the same year, and on 25 Jan. 1666–7 he was appointed gentleman of the privy chamber. On 19 Aug. 1673 he was created Baron Paston of Paston in Norfolk, and Viscount Yarmouth of Great Yarmouth, and took his seat on 20 Oct. of the same year. He was also appointed high Steward of Great Yarmouth 23 Dec. 1674; and he became lord-lieutenant of Norfolk 6 March, and vice-admiral of Norfolk 9 May 1675. In the same year he entertained Charles II at Oxnead, and on 9 Aug. he was wounded while in his coach by some ruffians who shot at him.
Yarmouth was evidently a friend of the king. He had obtained a lease of the subsidies of wood, glass, earthen and stone ware, oranges, citrons, lemons, and pomegranates in 1666, and on 24 Jan. 1677–8 he secured the joint surveyorship of the green wax. In 1679 he became colonel of the 3rd Norfolk militia. On 30 July 1679 he was advanced to the earldom of Yarmouth. He took some part in debates in the lords, and signed numerous protests. Yarmouth died 8 March 1682–3, and was buried at Oxnead. His portrait was painted by Kneller after 1675.
Yarmouth married Rebecca, daughter of Sir Jasper Clayton, by whom he left issue. His eldest son, William Paston, second Earl of Yarmouth (1652–1732), succeeded to the title, became a fellow of the Royal Society, and was treasurer of the household from 1686 to 1689. He was a supporter of James II, and married Charlotte Jemima Mary, natural daughter of Charles II; and, after her death, Elizabeth, widow of Sir Robert Wiseman and daughter of Lord North [see under North, Dudley, fourth Baron North]; but his sons, who were by his first wife, died before him, and the title, on his death on 25 Dec. 1732, became extinct. His estate was found to be so encumbered with debt that it had to be sold, and Oxnead was bought by George, afterwards Lord Anson [q. v.], the admiral, who pulled down the old mansion.
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pastorini, Benedict

​PASTORINI, BENEDICT (BENEDETTO) (fl. 1775–1810), draughtsman and engraver, a native of Italy, came to England, where he obtained employment as a decorator of ceilings in the style then in vogue. He also studied stipple engraving under Francesco Bartolozzi [q. v.], and executed some very successful plates in this manner, mostly subjects after Angelica Kauffmann, Zucchi, Rigaud, and others, but including a full-length portrait of Mrs. Billington after Sir Joshua Reynolds. Pastorini published in 1775 a very scarce set of ten engravings, entitled ‘A New Book of Designs for Girandoles and Glass Frames in the Present Taste.’ He exhibited two drawings for ceilings at the Royal Academy in 1775 and 1776. He also engraved some caricatures in aquatint. When the Society of Engravers was formed in 1803 to protect engravers and their widows and orphans, Pastorini was one of the first governors, the qualification being the contribution of a plate worth seventy-five guineas. It was this society which led to the foundation of the Artists' Benevolent Fund in 1810, and as Pastorini's name does not appear among the governors then, it is probable that his death had taken place before the latter date. Two members of his family, F. E. and J. Pastorini, practised as miniature-painters, and exhibited miniatures at the Royal Academy from 1812 to 1834. The latter died in Newman Street, London, on 3 Aug. 1839, aged 66.
L. C.