OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Romney, Francis Darby

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​ROMNEY. (Retired Commander, 1847. f-p., 15; h-p., 33.)
Francis Darby Romney was born in 1786. Five of his family were in the Naval and Military services.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 July, 1799, as L.M., on board the Osprey 18, Capts. John Watts, John Edgell, and Geo. Irwin, under whom he was for two years employed in the Downs and on the coast of Africa. Joining, then, the Bellerophon 74, Capts. Lord Viscount Garlies and John Loring, he was present under the latter officer, as Midshipman, at the blockade of Cape Francois, St. Domingo, and at the surrender, in the course of 1803, of the 74-gun ship Duquesne and schooner Oiseau, of La Mignonne corvette of 16 guns, of the 40-gun frigate La Créole, having on board the French General Morgan and 530 troops, and of a squadron with the remains of General Rochambeau’s army from Cape Francois. In April, 1805, having returned to England, he removed with Capt. Loring to the Salvador del Mundo, lying at Plymouth. He joined next the Aeolus 32, Capt. Lord Wm. FitzRoy, part of the force employed in Sir Rich. Strachan’s action; and on 8 June, 1807, up to which time he had been serving on the Irish station, he was nominated Sub-Lieutenant of the Charger 12, Lieut.-Commander John Aitkin Blow. In that vessel he witnessed the siege of Stralsund, and assisted at the taking of Copenhagen. Falling, 3 Nov. in the same year, into the hands of the enemy, Mr. Romney was detained a prisoner of war until Jan. 1809. On 25 March following he was made Lieutenant into the Princess of Orange 74, Capt. Fras. Beauman, lying at Sheerness; and he was subsequently appointed – 3 May, 8 July, and 21 Sept. in the same year, to the Venerable 74, flag-ship of Sir R. J. Strachan, Rolla 10, Capt. Sam. Clarke, and Gluckstadt 18, Capt. John Geo. Boss, stationed in the North Sea, Downs, and Baltic – 3 Feb. 1810, to the Dictator 64, Capts. Rich. Harrison Pearson and Robt. Williams, also in the Baltic – 11 April, 1811, to the Leveret 10, Capt. Geo. Wickens Willes, lying at North Yarmouth – in the spring of 1813, to the gun-boat service on the river Elbe, where he remained about 12 months and 4 Oct. 1814, for a few weeks, to the Icarus 10, Capt. Thos. Barker Devon, fitting at Portsmouth. In the Dictator’s boats he cut out two Danish privateers from under a battery on the island of Zealand; he commanded a boat belonging to the Leveret at the capture of L’Eole privateer of 6 guns and 31 men off Heligoland, and at the destruction of another on the coast of Denmark; and while in the gun-boat service above alluded to, he was severely wounded in an attack upon a Danish flotilla at Busum, and was present at the reduction of Cuxhaven and Gluckstadt. Not having been afloat ​since he left the Icarus, he accepted, 9 April, 1847, the rank he now holds. Agents – Burnett and Holmes.
* ↑ Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 1541.
* ↑ Vide Gaz. 1814, p. 127.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rooke, Charles Thomas

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​ROOKE. (Commander, 1841.)
Charles Thomas Rooke entered the Navy, 11 April, 1821; and obtained his first commission 10 May, 1827. His succeeding appointments were – 26 June, 1827, and 20 Nov. 1830, to the Isis 50 and Belvidera 42, Capts. Sir Thos. Staines and Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas, both in the Mediterranean – and 11 Feb. 1833, to the Victory 104, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Williams at Portsmouth, where he remained until superseded in the spring of 1835. He does not appear to have been since employed. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place 23 Nov. 1841.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rooke, Francis

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​ROOKE. (Lieut., 1846. f-p., 8; h-p., 3.)
Francis Rooke is fourth son of Capt. Fred. Wm. Rooke, R.N.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College in July, 1836; and embarked, in May, 1837, as a Volunteer, on board the Talavera 74, Capt. Wm. Bowen Mends. After visiting the Mediterranean and the coast of North America, he became Midshipman, in the early part of 1839, of the Pylades 18, Capt. Talavera Vernon Anson, and proceeded to China; where, in command of a boat, he assisted at the capture of one of three piratical junks, whose fierce resistance occasioned to themselves a loss, out of 200 men, of 53 killed, and to the British of 3 killed and 5 wounded. During a successive attachment to the Pylades, Wellesley 72, Capt. Thos. Maitland, and Blenheim 72, Capt. Sir Thos. Herbert, Mr. Rooke took part in the chief operations connected with the Chinese campaign. In two severe engagements he was a volunteer, and for his gallantry he obtained two special certificates and was twice mentioned in the Gazette. In March, 1843, seven months after he had passed his examination, he returned to England. He was subsequently, from July, 1844, until Jan. 1845, and from Jan. 1846 until promoted, for his services, to the rank of Lieutenant 10 March, 1846, employed at Portsmouth, in the St. Vincent 120, under the flags of Sir Chas. Rowley and Sir Chas. Ogle. His appointments have since been – 15 May and 7 Aug. 1846, to the Devastation and Gorgon steam-sloops, Capts. Sir Chas. Hotham and Edw. Crouch – 9 April, 1847, to the Avenger steam-frigate of 650 horse-power, Capts. Sidney Colpoys Dacres and Chas. Geo. Elers Napier, employed at first on particular service, and next in the Mediterranean, where he was wrecked, 20 Dec. following, on the Sorelle rocks, and was one of the very few who escaped – and, 7 March, 1848, to the Blenheim of 450 horse-power, Capt. Horatio Thos. Austin, steam guard-ship at Portsmouth.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rootes, John

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​ROOTES. (Lieut., 1810. f-p., 17; h-p., 34.)
John Rootes, born 23 Feb. 1780, at Elham, co. Kent, is eldest son of the late Chas. Rootes, Esq., Surgeon, of that place.
​This officer entered the Navy, 7 Jan. 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Formidable 98, Capts. Geo. Murray, Hon. Geo. Cranfield Berkeley, Robt. Williams, John Irwin, Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, Edw. Thornbrough, and Rich. Grindall: in which ship, bearing for some time the flags of Sir Roger Curtis and Sir Chas. Thompson, he continued employed as Midshipman, in the Channel, North Sea, Mediterranean, and West Indies, until Sept. 1802. In the course of 1803 he became attached in succession to the Minerve and Helder frigates, Capts. Jahleel Brenton and Edw. Hawkins, and, as Master’s Mate, to the Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall. In Jan. 1805, he removed to the Weymouth 42, Capt. John Draper, attached to the force in the East Indies; and, on 4 Sept. 1805, he was ordered to act as a Lieutenant in that ship. Between July, 1806, and Dec. 1803 he served, on the Home station, as Lieutenant, in the Ardent 64, Capt. Geo. Eyre, Inconstant 36, Capt. Edw. Stirling Dickson, and Peruvian 18, Capt. Fras. Douglas. While Senior of the latter vessel he was employed in watching the Boulogne flotilla and in landing secret papers on the coast of France. On 30 Dec. 1809 he was dismissed the service by sentence of court-martial for a breach of discipline in having, upon complaint from the officers, punished the gnn-room cook. Being however strongly recommended to the court by his Captain, who on the occasion produced a letter of thanks highly laudatory of the conduct he had displayed on the secret service above alluded to, he was restored by the Admiralty 3 Feb. 1810, and appointed to the Monmouth 64, Capt. Michael Dodd, stationed in the Downs. He afterwards, from May, 1812, until March, 1814, served in the Channel on board the Tigre 80, Capt. John Halliday. He has since been on half-pay.
The Lieutenant married, 10 May, 1815, Miss Eleanor Rose, a lady by whom he has had issue 20 children, 15 of whom are yet living.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rolland, William Rue

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​ROLLAND. (Lieutenant, 1841.)
William Rue Rolland entered the Navy 13 Jan. 1832; passed his examination 16 Feb. 1838; and for his services as Mate of the Blonde 42, Capt. Thos. Bourchier, during the war in China (where he assisted, and was mentioned as “a young officer of much promise,” at the capture of Amoy, landed at the taking of Chinghae, and aided in towing several fire-vessels clear of H.M. shipping in the Ningpo river), was presented with a commission bearing date 8 Oct. 1841. His appointments have since been – 25 Sept. 1842, to the Pylades 18, Capt. Louis Symonds Tindal, in the East Indies, whence he returned to England and was paid off at the close of 1843 – 9 Sept. 1844, to the Daring 12, Capt. Henry Jas. Matson, on the Home station – 9 Dec. 1845, to the Alarm 26, Capts. Chas. Colville Frankland and Granville Gower Loch, of which ship, attached to the force in North America and the West Indies, he became First-Lieutenant – and 22 March, 1848, in the capacity last mentioned, to the Sidon steam-frigate of 560 horse-power, Capt. Wm. Honyman Henderson, now in the Mediterranean. Agent – John P. Muspratt.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rooke, Leonard Charles

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​ROOKE. (Captain, 1842. f-p., 17; h-p., 20.)
Leonard Charles Rooke, born 10 Aug. 1797, is youngest son of the late Hon. Mr. Justice Rooke, by Harriet Sophia, daughter of Colonel Wm. Burrard and sister of the late Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Bart., G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 24 July, 1810, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Hamadryad 36, Capt. Sir Thos. Staines, under whom we find him cruizing off the Western Islands, escorting troops to the mouth of the Tagus, and accompanying a fleet of East Indiamen from St. Helena to the Downs. In Oct. 1811 he removed to the Tisiphone sloop, Capt. Wm. Love, lying off South Yarmouth; and from 13 May, 1812, until 17 Dec. 1816, he served on the Home and East India stations, as Midshipman, in the Boyne 98 and Ville de Paris 110, flag-ships of his uncle Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Belle Poule 38, Capt. Geo. Harris (part of the force employed at the forcing of the Gironde in April, 1814), Ville de Paris again, Glasgow 50, Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan, and Amphion 32 and Magicienne 36, both commanded by Capt. John Brett Purvis. He then became Acting-Lieutenant of the Bacchus 18, Capt. John Pengelly Parkin; in which vessel (being confirmed to her by commission dated 15 Oct. 1818) he continued, on the East India station, until 1820. His succeeding appointments were – 24 June, 1820, to the Forte 44, Capt. Sir Thos. John Cochrane, fitting at Chatham – 25 July following, to the Cambrian 48, Capt. Gawen Wm. Hamilton, whom he accompanied to the Mediterranean – and, 20 March, 1823, to the Revenge 78, as Flag-Lieutenant, on that station, to Sir H. B. Neale. He attained the rank of Commander 14 Oct. 1824; served in that capacity in the Jasper 10, from 28 April, 1827, until wrecked on the north end of Sta. Maura 13 Oct. 1828; and was lastly, in 1830-1, employed as an Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard. He was advanced to bis present rank 4 April, 1842. Capt. Rooke married, 24 June, 1830, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the late Lieut.-Colonel Wm. Home, of the Isle of Wight, by whom he has issue seven children. One of his sons is a Midshipman in the service.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rorie, John James

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​RORIE. (Retired Commander, 1842. f-p., 19; h-p., 38.)
John James Rorie entered the Navy, 28 June, 1790, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Echo sloop, and, after serving in that capacity in the Scout, was received, about 1793, on board the Druid 32, Capt. Joseph Ellison, with whom and with Capts. Wm. Lukin, Geo. Burlton, Thos. Revell Shivers, and Thos. Parr, he was employed as Midshipman, from 1795 until 1798, in the Standard 64. In the Druid he assisted at the capture of several of the enemy’s vessels, and was frequently engaged with the batteries along the French coast: in the Standard he fought in Lord Bridport’s action 23 June, 1795, and accompanied Sir John Borlase Warren in the expedition to Quiberon. After cruizing for a short time in the Channel in the Ambuscade 32, Capt. Henry Jenkins, he was made Lieutenant, 4 Dec. 1798, into the Echo 18, Capts. Robt. Philpot, John Serrell, and Edm. Boger, on the West India station; where he removed, as First, in Sept. 1803, to the Shark sloop, bearing the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth – obtained command, in Dec. of the same year, of the Papillon 10 – again, in Nov. 1804, joined the Shark – and from Jan. 1805 to Jan. 1809 commanded the Morne Fortunée 10. While attached to the Echo, of which sloop he was for a long period First-Lieutenant, Mr. Rorie contributed to the capture of many French and Spanish vessels, and served in the boats in several cutting-out affairs on the coasts of Puerto Rico and St. Domingo. On one occasion, 15 Oct. 1799, he had charge of the jolly-boat, and aided, in company with the pinnace under Lieut. Chas. Fred. Napier, in taking, in Lagnadille Bay, a Spanish brig, laden with cocoa and indigo, and mounting 2 4-pounders, with 20 men. At another time the bow of the boat he commanded was carried away by a round shot. In the Papillon he made prize of a smuggler; and during his command of the Morne Fortunée he took, among a variety of vessels, consisting in all of 23 sail, the French and Spanish privateers Le Luni of 2 guns and 47 men, L’Aimable Jeannette of 2 guns and 20 men, the Babillon of 2 guns and 45 men, and the Santo Christo of 1 gun and 15 men. He bore an active part too in the operations connected with the memorable reduction of Curaçoa in 1807. In the preceding year he had been contused by the bursting of a gun in an attack upon an enemy’s battery and vessels at Puerto Rico. He became a Retired Commander upon the Junior List 26 Nov. 1830; and upon the Senior 2 July, 1842.
Commander Rorie is married, and has issue four sons and one daughter. Agent – J. Hinxman.
# A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Anstis, John (1669—1744)

* related authors: John Anstis.
* sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item.
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Admitted 31 January, 1689-90.
Son and heir of John Anstis, of St. Neots in Cornwall, where he was born on 28 Sept. 1669. He was called to the Bar 19 May, 1699, to the Bench 8 June 1722, appointed Reader in the following year, and elected Treasurer in 1730.
Being heir to a good fortune, he devoted himself at first to politics, and during the reigns of Queen Anne and George I., represented St. Mawes and Launceston in Parliament. In 1703 he was appointed Deputy-General to the Auditors of the Imprest, and in the following year, one of the Commissioners of Prizes. His distinguished attainments in Heraldry recommended him to Queen Anne, who on the 2 April, 1714, gave him a reversionary patent for the office of Garter King-at-Arms. When the vacancy occurred, however, his claim was disregarded, as he had meanwhile fallen under suspicion of being concerned in plots for the restoration of the Stuarts, and had been imprisoned. Nevertheless, having succeeded in clearing himself of all complicity with Jacobite designs, and having proved the validity of the Queen's patent, on the 20 April, 1718, he was admitted to the office.
He died at his seat at Mortlake, in Surrey, on Sunday, 4 March, 1744, and was buried on the 23rd of the same month, at Duloe, in Cornwall. Of his merits as an heraldric writer, it has been observed that he joined the learning of Camden with the industry, without the inaccuracy, of Dugdale."
His published essays are: Curia Militaris, or a Treatise on the Court of Chivalry, in 3 books (1702), 8vo. [of this work only a fragment, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum, is known to exist]; Letters to a Peer, concerning the Honour of Earl Marshal (a fragment printed in 1706); The Form of the Installation of the Garter (1720), 8vo; Brook's Errors of Camden (1724); The Register of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, usually called the Black Book, with Specimen of the Lives of the Knights Companions (1724); Observations introductory to an Historical Essay on the Knighthood of the Bath (1725).
Besides these he is the author of several detached pieces, and of some curious works in MS.
# A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Anstis, John (1708—1754)

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Admitted 16 October, 1730.
Son and heir of John Anstis (q.v.). He was a gentleman-commoner of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and in 1727 became associated with his father in the office of Garter King-at-Arms. He was called to the Bar 29 Oct. 1731, and to the Bench of the Inn 14 April, 1749. He had been elected F.S.A. in 1736. He was Reader at the Inn in 1753, and died the following year (5 Dec.).
# A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Ashley, Robert

* related authors: Robert Ashley.
* sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item.
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Admitted 8 October, 1588.
Second son of Anthony Ashley, of Dimeram (Damerham), Wiltshire, where he was born in 1565. Wood says that he became a gentleman-commoner of Hart Hall in 1580, and was there trained up in the arts and learned languages. From college he proceeded to New Inn, whence he entered at the Middle Temple, and "being made a barrester, he was engaged and denominated among the professors of the common law. But finding the practice thereof to have ebbs and tides, he applyed himself to the learning of the languages of our neighbours, the French, Dutch, Spaniard, and Italian, to the end that he might be partaker of the wisdom of those nations. … At length he travelled into France, Holland, etc., and spending some time among the learned and in the public libraries thereof, he returned a very knowing and compleat gentleman" (see Advertisement to his Almansor). After his return he took up his residence at the Middle Temple, where he lived many years, and at his death, which occurred in the year 1641, he bequeathed his whole library to the Honourable Society of his Inn, "to be unto them as the foundation of a library, together with £300 in ready money." The books thus bequeathed, and which formed the nucleus of the present Middle Temple Library, consisted of a well-chosen collection of works on all subjects of contemporary and earlier literature, English, Spanish, French, and Italian, and include some rare and choice editions.
Mr. Ashley was the author of the following translations: A Relation of the Kingdom of Cochin-China [from the Italian of Christopher Barri] (1633); Urania, or Celestial Muse [from the French of W. de Saluste], London (1589); Of the Interchangeable Course [from the French of Louis le Roy] (1594); Almansor of Spain, his Life and Death [from the Spanish] (1627); Il Davide Perseguitate, or David Persecuted [from the Italian] (1637).
# A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Ashmole, Elias

* related authors: Elias Ashmole.
* sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item.
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Admitted 9 November, 1657-8.
Son and heir of Simon Ashmole, of Lichfield, where he was born 23 May, 1617. He had already published his treatises on Alchemy when he was called to the Bar on 2 Nov. 1660, and, a few days later, was invited to the Bench of the Inn, an honour which he, however, declined. In 1653 he was introduced to the great Selden, and from that time, abandoning the pursuit of Astrology and Alchemy, which had hitherto been his chief occupation, he devoted himself to the study of English antiquities, and especially of Heraldry. On the accession of Charles II. he was appointed Windsor Herald (as a reward for loyal services in early life), Comptroller-General, and afterwards Accountant-General of Excise. In 1677 he was offered the office of Garter King-at-Arms, but declined it in favour of Sir William Dugdale, whose daughter he had married as third wife. In 1662 he became possessed of the valuable collection of rarities preserved at South Lambeth, known as the Museum Tradescantium,. and this collection, with additions, he presented in 1677 to the University of Oxford, where the building, since known as the Ashmolean Museum, was built to receive them, Mr. Ashmole died 18 May, 1692, and was buried in Lambeth Church.
During many years he had chambers in the Middle Temple, the Library of which he enriched with many valuable donations of books, including especially the works of Spelman, Dugdale, Ogilby, and some of his own. The following is a list of his published works; Fasciculus Cheviicus or Chymical Collections [containing extracts from the writings of English and foreign alchemists by the notorious Dr. Dee] … made English by James Hasolle, Esq., qui est Mercuriophilus Anglicus (1650); Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum [a collection of poems on the Hermetic Mysteries] (1652); The Way to Bliss, in three Books, made public by Elias Ashmole [a reprint of an anonymous alchemical treatise] (1658); The Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Order of the Garter (1672); The Antiquities of Berkshire. 3 vols. (1719). His Memoirs, drawn up by himself by way of Diary, were published by C. Burman in 1717.
# A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Archibald, Sir Thomas Dickson

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Admitted 11 November, 1840.
Third son of the Hon. Samuel George William Archibald, LL.D., Attorney-General of Nova Scotia, where he was born in 1817. At the Temple he was a pupil of Serjeant Petersdorff, whom he assisted in his well-known Abridgment. He was called to the Bar 30 Jan. 1852, and in 1868 became Junior Counsel to the Treasury. In 1872 he succeeded Mr. Justice Hannen (q.v.) as a ​Justice of the Queen's Bench, and at the same time became a Serjeant. In the following year he was knighted, and two years later transferred to the Court of Common Pleas. He died 18 Oct. 1876. He was joint compiler of the Digest to the Law Times Reports, 1840—1845.
# A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Arden, Richard Pepper

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Admitted 7 June, 1762.
Second son of John Arden of Pepper Hall, near Richmond (Yorks.), born in 1745. He was educated at the Grammar School of Manchester, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was Twelfth Wrangler in 1766, and was called to the Bar 10 Feb. 1769.
By family influence he obtained the Recordership of Macclesfield before he was much known at the Bar. In 1776 he was made a Welsh Judge, and in 1780 obtained a silk gown. In 1783 he became Solicitor-General, and entered Parliament as member for Newtown in the Isle of Wight. In 1784 he was raised to the Attorney-Generalship, which he held for five years. He was Reader at the Middle Temple in 1787, and Treasurer of the Inn in 1791.
In 1788, chiefly through the influence of Mr. Pitt, he became Master of the Rolls, and in 1801 succeeded Lord Eldon (q.v.) as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, being at the same time raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Alvanley of Alvanley in Cheshire.
Lord Alvanley's judgments whilst Master of the Rolls are found recorded in Brown's Chancery Cases, and Vesey Jun.'s Reports; whilst Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, in Bosanquet and Puller's Reports.
# A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Arnould, Sir Joseph

* related authors: Joseph Arnould.
* sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item.
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Admitted 10 November, 1836.
Only son of Joseph Arnould, M.D., of Camberwell, where he was born 12 Nov. 1814. He was educated at Charterhouse and Oxford, where he had a distinguished career. After his call to the Bar 19 Nov. 1841, he varied his legal with literary work, and contributed to the Daily News, and other journals. Whilst in the Temple he shared chambers with Alfred Domett (q.v.). In 1859 he obtained a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court of Bombay, and was knighted. The Arnould Scholarship at the Bombay University commemorates his connection with that city. He retired from his judgeship in 1869, and died at Florence in 1886.
He is known as the author of a work on the Law of Marine Insurance (1848), and a Memoir of Lord Denman (1873). Also of a report of The Judgment in the Kojah Case (1866).