OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Molyneux, Edmund (d.1552)

​MOLYNEUX, Sir EDMUND (d. 1552), judge, was eldest son of Sir Thomas Molyneux of Haughton, Nottinghamshire, by his second wife, Catherine, daughter of John Cotton of Hamstall Ridware, Staffordshire, relict of Thomas Poutrell of Hallam, Derbyshire. He graduated B.A. at Oxford on 1 July 1510, and about the same time entered Gray's Inn, where he was made an ancient in 1528, and elected Lent reader in 1532 and 1536. On 20 Nov. 1542 he was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law, and on the coronation of Edward VI was made a knight of the Bath (20 Feb. 1546-7). He appears as one of the witnesses to the patent of 24 Dec. 1547, by which the powers of the protector Somerset were at once amplified and made terminable at the pleasure of the king, signified under the great seal. In 1549 he was placed on the council of the north, and on 22 Oct. 1550 was created a justice of the common pleas. He appears to have been a sound lawyer. He died in 1552.
Molyneux was lord of the manor of Thorpe, near Newark, and of lands adjoining which had belonged to the Knights Hospitallers of the Preceptory of Eagle. By his wife Jane, daughter of John Cheyney of Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire, he had issue four sons one of whom, Edmund, is noticed below and four daughters.
[Burke's Extinct Baronetage ; Wotton's Baronetage, i. 148-50; Reg. Univ. Oxon. (Oxford Hist. Soc.), i. 70 ; Dugdale's Orig. pp. 292, 293 ; Chron. Ser. p. 87 ; Nicolas's Orders of Knighthood, vol. iii. Chron. List, p. xiii ; Thoroton's Nottinghamshire, pp. 13, 179; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1601-3, Addenda, 1547-65, p. 399; Archæologia, xxx. 463 et seq. ; Strype's Mem. fol. vol. i. pt. i. pp. 22-3, pt. ii. p. 458; Burnet's Reformation, vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 312; Visitation of Nottinghamshire (Harl. Soc.), iv. 72 ; Visitation of Huntingdonshire (Camden Soc.), p. 26 ; Plowden's Reports, p. 49 ; Foss's Lives of the Judges.]
J. M. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Molloy, Francis

​MOLLOY or O'MAOLMHUAIDH, FRANCIS (fl. 1660), theologian and grammarian, was a native of the county of Meath, Ireland. The family of which he was a member had extensive landed possessions in the district known as O'Molloys' Country, and some of them engaged actively in the Irish movements from 1641 to 1652.
Francis Molloy entered the order of St. Francis, became a priest, was appointed professor of theology at St. Isidore's College, Rome, and acted as agent for the Irish catholics at the papal court in the reign of Charles II. His first published work was entitled 'Tractatus de Incarnatione ad men- tern Scoti,' 1645. This was followed in 1658 by 'Jubilatia genethliaca in honorem Prosperi Balthasaris Philippi, Hispani principis, carmine,' and by a Latin treatise on theology in 1666. A catechism of the doctrines of the catholic church in the Irish language was published by Molloy in 1676 with the title : 'Lucerna fidelium, seu fasciculus decerptus ab authoribus magis versatis qui tractarunt de doctrina Christiana.' It was printed at Rome at the press of the Congregation 'de propaganda fide,' from which, in 1677, issued another book by Molloy, entitled 'Grammatica Latino-Hibernica,' 12mo, the first printed grammar of the Irish language. It is in Latin, and consists of twenty-five chapters : nine on the letters of the alphabet, three on etymology, one on contractions and cryptic writings, and twelve on prosody and versification. At the end is an Irish poem by Molloy on the neglect of the ancient language of Ireland and the prospects of its resuscitation.
Edward Lhuyd [q. v.], in his 'Archæologia Britannica,' published at Oxford in 1 707, mentioned that he had seen a manuscript grammar of the Irish language copied at Louvain in 1669 which partially corresponded with that of Molloy. He added that Molloy's grammar, although the most complete extant in his time, was deficient as to syntax and the variation of the nouns and verbs. The date of Molloy's death has not been ascertained.
[Manuscripts in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin; Wadding's Scriptores Ordinis Minorum, ed. Sbaralæus, Rome, 1806; Transactions of Iberno-Celtic Society, 1820; Remarks on the Irish Language, by J. Scurry, 1827; Grammar of the Irish Language, by J. O'Donovan, 1845; Contemporary Hist. of Affairs in Ireland, 1641–1652, Dublin, 1879.]
J. T. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Molyneux, Edmund (fl.1587)

​MOLYNEUX, EDMUND (fl. 1587), biographer, was third son of Sir Edmund Molyneux [q. v.] by Jane, daughter of John Cheney of Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire (Gisbourne Molineux, Memoir of the Moltneux Family, p. 30). Tanner, citing 'Cabala,' ed. 1663, p. 140, identifies him with 'one Moleneux,' who, after being in the employ of Sir William Cecil and misusing' him, sought in August 1567 the post of secretary ​to Sir Henry Norris, the French ambassador. An Edmund Molyneux was admitted of Gray's Inn in 1574 (Harl. MS. 1912, f. 53). Edmund Molyneux became secretary to Sir Henry Sidney, and accompanied him to Ireland, where he acted as clerk of the council (Cal. State Papers, Irish Ser. 1509-73, pp. 422, 443). Sidney did his best to advance his interests at court. On 20 Sept. 1576 he wrote a long letter in his favour to Burghley (ib. 1574-85, p. 99), and in November 1576 vainly asked the privy council to appoint Molyneux, along with another, supervisor of the attorneys, who had 'grown very crafty and corrupt' (Collins, Sidney Letters and Memorials, i. 145, 187-8, 194). In September 1578 he was sent by Sidney to London to report upon the state of Ireland. On 31 Dec. 1579 he petitioned the privy council for his ' despatch and payment after long suit' (Cal. State Papers, Irish Ser. 1574-85, pp. 142, 203).
Molyneux furnished an account of Sir Henry, Sir Philip, Sir Robert, and Thomas Sidney to Holinshed's 'Chronicles' (ed. 1587, iii. 1548-56), in which he complained that Sir Henry Sidney, however he might strive, never succeeded in obtaining for him a comfortable office or reward of any kind. The enmity of Burghley probably retarded his advancement.
[Cal. State Papers, Carew MSS. 1515-74, pp. 401, 402; Tanner's Bibl. Brit. p. 530; Holinshed's Chronicle, ed. 1587, iii. 1590 ; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1547-80, p. 195; Collins's Sidney Letters and Memorials, i. 66, 210, 227, 239, 240, 296.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Molineux, Thomas

​MOLINEUX, THOMAS (1759–1850), stenographer, born at Manchester on 14 May 1759, received his education in the school kept at Salford by Henry Clarke [q. v.], who taught him Byrom's system of shorthand, and before he was seventeen he became a writing-master and teacher of accounts in King Edward VI's Grammar School at Macclesfield. He resigned that situation in 1802, and died at Macclesfield on 15 Nov. 1850, aged 91.
He published 'An Abridgement of Mr. Byrom's Universal English Short-hand,' London, 1796, 8vo, called the second edition, though it was really the first. It is mainly a simpler representation of the system with a few alterations. Molineux afterwards brought out other works on the same subject, with beautifully engraved copperplates. One of them is partly written in an epistolary form. They were very popular, and passed through about twelve editions. Some of these are entitled 'An Introduction to Byrom's Universal English Short-hand,' and others' The Short-hand Instructor or Stenographical Copy Book.' To the editions of the 'Instructor' published in 1824 and 1838 the portrait of the author, engraved by Roffe from a painting by Scott, is prefixed. Molineux was also the author of a small treatise on arithmetic.
His letters to Robert Cabbell Roffe, an engraver of London, whom he taught short-hand by correspondence, and who became the author of another modification of the same system, were edited and printed privately (London, 1860, 4to), but the impression was limited to twenty copies. The volume bears the title of 'The Grand Master,' suggested by the appellation given to Byrom by his pupils. This quaint book contains many gossiping notes on shorthand authors, including Byrom, Palmer, Gawtress, Lewis (whose 'History' and works are alleged to have been written by Hewson Clark), Carstairs, Nightingale, Gurney, Kitchingman, and Shorter.
[Bailey's Memoir of Dr. Henry Clarke, p. xxxviii; Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, p. 237; Evans's Cat. of Engraved Portraits, No. 7276; Journalist, 15 July 1887, p. 223; Phonotypic Journal, 1847, p. 332 n.; Sutton's Lancashire Authors, p. 161; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Molloy, Charles (1646-1690)

​MOLLOY, CHARLES (1646–1690), legal writer, a native of King's County, born in 1646, was probably a member of the family of Molloy of Clonbeale, which claims to be the representative of the O'Molloys of Farcale or O'Molloys' Country. He seems to have entered at Lincoln's Inn on the last day of Trinity term 1663, and Gray's Inn on 28 June 1669. In the books of Gray's Inn it is stated that in consequence of his previous standing at Lincoln's Inn his admission was to date from 7 Aug. 1667.
Molloy was the compiler of an extensive treatise on maritime law and commerce, entitled 'De Jure Maritimo et Navali,' which was the standard work on the subject till superseded by the publications of J. A. Park, S. Marshall, and Lord Tenterden. Molloy's work contained little that was not also to be found in the ' Consuetudo vel Lex Mercatoria ' by Gerard Malynes [q. v.] The small portion of the book devoted to the law concerning bills of exchange is said by Kent (Commercial and Maritime Law, p. 122) to be inferior to the treatise of John Marius. 'De Jure Maritimo' was published in London in 1676, 1677, 1682, 1688, 1690, 1707, 1722, 1744, 1769, 1778. Molloy also published 'Holland's Ingratitude, or a Serious Expostulation with the Dutch,' London, 1666, in which he introduced laudatory verses on George Monck, duke of Albemarle, and Prince Rupert.
Molloy married, at East Barnet, on 17 Dec. 1670 (par. reg.), Elizabeth Day, by whom he had at least one son, Charles, who edited the 1722 edition of 'De Jure Maritimo.' Molloy died in Crane Lane Court, Fleet Street, in 1690, his wife having predeceased him. Administration was granted to his creditors in April 1692.
[Burke's Landed Gentry, 1886, vol. ii.; Webb's Compendium of Irish Biography; Ware's Writers, ed. Harris, p. 203; Marvin's Legal Bibliography; Reddie's Maritime Commerce, p. 431; Story's Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 265-6; Admon. P. C. C. April 1692; Catalogues of Library at Lincoln's Inn, Bodleian Library, Library of Incorporated Law Soc.; Admissions Reg. of Gray's Inn, per Dennis W. Douthwaite, esq.]
B. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Molloy, Charles (d.1767)

​MOLLOY, CHARLES (d. 1767), journalist and dramatist, born probably at Bir in King's County, was educated in Dublin. The statements that he was a member of Trinity College, Dublin, and the Middle Temple are erroneous. On 23 May 1764, being then a resident of St. Anne, Soho, London, he became a student of Gray's Inn (Register, ed. Foster, p. 384).
Molloy was author of three dramas: 1. 'The Perplex'd Couple; or, Mistake upon Mistake,' 12mo, London, 1715, a comedy mostly borrowed from Moliere's 'Cocu Imaginaire.' It was brought out at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 16 Feb. 1715, and acted three times, with little success (Genest, Hist. of the Stage, ii. i 567). 2. 'The Coquet; or, the English Chevalier,' 8vo, London, 1718, a comedy ' acted with applause at Lincoln's Inn Fields; on 19 April 1718 and two following nights, and revived at the Haymarket on 23 Nov. 1793 with alterations (ib. ii. 630). 3. 'The Half-pay Officers,' 12mo, London, 1720, a comedy founded in part on Sir William ​Davenant's 'Love and Honour.' It was first performed at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 11 Jan. 1720, and ran seven nights (ib. iii. 35). Much of its success was due to the fact that Peg Fryer, an actress of Charles II's days, who was then eighty-five, and had not appeared upon the stage for fifty years, took the part of Widow Rich. She acted admirably, and at the close of the performance danced a jig with wonderful agility.
Molloy ultimately adopted whig journalism as his profession, and became the principal writer in 'Fog's Weekly Journal,' the successor of 'Mist's Journal,' the first number of which appeared in October 1728 (Fox Bourne, English Newspapers, i. 122). He was also almost the sole author of another periodical, entitled 'Common Sense; or. the Englishman's Journal,' a collection of letters, political, humorous, and moral, extending from 5 Feb. 1737 to 27 Jan. 1739, afterwards collected into 2 vols. 12mo, 1738-9. To this journal Dr. William King, Lord Chesterfield, and Lord Lyttelton were occasional contributors. His papers are remarkable for their bright style, knowledge of affairs, and closeness of reasoning.
He died in-Soho Square on 16 July 1767 (Probate Act Book, P. C. C., 1767), and was buried on the 20th at Edmonton, Middlesex. In July 1742 he had married Miss Sarah Duffkin (1702-1758) of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, who brought him an ample fortune. He had no issue (Robinson, Hist. of Edmonton, pp. 72, 105).
[Baker's Biog. Dramat. 1812; Lysons's Environs, ii. 262, 272; Will of Sarah Molloy, formerly Duffkin, in P. C. C. 47, Button; Will of Charles Molloy in P. C. C. 174, Legard.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morgan, Alice Mary

​MORGAN, Mrs. ALICE MARY (1850–1890), painter, whose maiden name was Havers, was born in 1850. She was third daughter of Thomas Havers, esq., of Thelton Hall, Norfolk, where the family had been seated for many generations. As her father held the appointment of manager of the Falkland Islands, Miss Havers was brought up with her family first in those islands, and later at Montevideo. On her father's death in 1870she returned to England and entered the school of art at South Kensington, where she gained a free studentship in the first year. In ​April 1872 Miss Havers married Mr. Frederick Morgan, an artist, but she always continued to be known professionally under her maiden name. She first exhibited at the Society of British Artists in Suffolk Street, and in 1873 for the first time at the Royal Academy, She quickly obtained success and popularity, and her pictures were always given good places at the various exhibitions to which she contributed. One of her early pictures, 'Ought and carry one,' was purchased by the queen, and has been engraved. In 1888 she removed to Paris with her children, in order to be under the influence of the modern French school of painting. In 1889 she exhibited at the Salon two pictures, one of which (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888), 'And Mary kept all these sayings in her heart,' attracted much attention and was honourably commended. Her career was, however, cut short by her sudden death, at her residence in Marlborough Road, St. John's Wood, London, on 26 Aug. 1890. She left two sons and one daughter. Miss Havers was an industrious worker, and executed many kinds of tasteful art-illustration. She illustrated some of the stories written by her sister, Mrs. Boulger, better known under her pseudonym of 'Theo. Gift.'
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morgan, Charles Octavius Swinnerton

​MORGAN, CHARLES OCTAVIUS SWINNERTON (1803–1888), antiquary, born on 15 Sept. 1803, was the fourth son of Sir Charles Morgan [see under Gould, afterwards Morgan, Sir Charles], second baronet, of Tredegar Park, Monmouthshire, by Mary Magdalen, daughter of Captain George Stoney, R.N. Sir Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan, baron Tredegar (1794–1890), was his elder brother. Educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, he graduated B.A. in 1825 and M.A. in 1832. From 1841 to 1874 he sat in parliament in the conservative interest, for the county of Monmouth, of which he was a justice of the peace and deputy-lieutenant. Interested in archaeology, he read numerous papers before the Caerleon Antiquarian Association, of which he was president, and they were subsequently printed. In 1849 he communicated to the Society of Antiquaries some 'Observations on the History and Progress of the Art of Watchmaking from the earliest Period to Modern Times.' In 1850 he published a 'Report on the Excavations prosecuted by the Caerleon Antiquarian Association within the Walls of Caerwent.' In No. 35 of the 'Archaeological Journal' there appears his 'Observations on the Early Communion Plate used in the Church of England, with Illustrations of the Chalice and Paten of Christchurch.' In 1869 he published a valuable account of the monuments in the church at Abergavenny.
He died, unmarried, 5 Aug. 1888, and was interred in the family vault at Bassaleg churchyard, Monmouthshire.
J. A. J.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Moret, Hubert

​MORET, HUBERT (fl. 1530–1550), goldsmith and jeweller, was a Paris merchant (Acts of Privy Council, 1547–50, p. 461), but was in the habit of visiting London with jewels and plate. Henry VIII occasionally purchased jewels from him (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 20030) to a considerable amount, for in 1531 he received 56l. 9s. 4d., and in 1536 282l. 6s. 8d. for jewels bought by the king (Letters and Papers, ed. Gardner, v. 757). Moret was a friend of Hans Holbein, and is said to have carried out in goldsmith's work many of that artist's designs. His portrait was twice painted by Holbein; one of these portraits was in the Arundel collection, and was engraved by W. Hollar in 1647 (Bromley); the other hangs now in the Dresden galleries, where it is described in the catalogue by error as the portrait of Thomas Moret.
[Acts of Privy Council, 1547-50; Hans Holbein, par Paul Mantz; Brit. Mus. Print Room; Granger's Biog. Dict.]
W. C.-r.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morgan, Abel

​MORGAN, ABEL (1673–1722), baptist minister, was born in 1673 at Allt Goch, Llanwenog, Cardiganshire. At an early age he removed to Abergavenny or its neighbourhood, became member of the baptist church at Llanwenarth in that district, and when about nineteen began to preach. In 1697 he was called to the pastorate of the newly formed church of Blaenau Gwent (Aberystruth and Mynydd Islwyn), but did not accept the invitation until 1700. In 1711 he resolved to emigrate to America, having laboured in the interval with much success, if we may judge from the fact that four years after his departure his church numbered one thousand members. He bade farewell to his flock at a meeting held on 23 Aug.; on 28 Sept. he took ship at Bristol. The voyage was a long and stormy one, and in the course of it he lost his wife and son. Accompanied by his brother, Enoch Morgan, and his half-brother, Benjamin Griffith, he settled in Pennsylvania, where there was a numerous Welsh colony, and there exercised the office of baptist minister until his death in 1722. Crosby's 'History of the English Baptists' contains a letter from him, in which he describes the position of the sect in Pennsylvania in 1715 (i. 122-123).
Morgan is best known as the compiler of the first 'Concordance of the Welsh Bible.' This he left in manuscript at his death. It was not published until 1730, when Enoch Morgan and some other friends caused it to be printed at Philadelphia. The printers, as we learn from the title-page, were 'Samuel Keimer' [q. v.] and 'Dafydd Harry,' both well known from the 'Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.' It is a mistake, however, to suppose that Franklin himself worked at the book; for by this time he had left Keimer's printing-house, and was printing on his own account. The book was probably one of the last turned out by Keimer before he removed to Barbados. Morgan's 'Concordance' was the basis of the one published in 1773 by the Rev. Peter Williams, and now commonly used in Wales.
[Rees's Hist. of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales, 2nd edit. 1883, pp. 300, 301; Rowlands's Cambrian Bibliography, p. 356; cf. art. on Samuel Keimer.]
J. E. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/MacCabe, William Bernard

​MACCABE, WILLIAM BERNARD (1801–1891), author and historian, was born of Roman catholic parents in Dublin on 23 Nov. 1801. In early life, from 1823, he was connected with the Dublin press (for which he reported many of O'Connell's earlier speeches), and was editor of more than one provincial Irish newspaper. About 1833 he settled in London, and at once obtained an engagement on the ‘Morning Chronicle,’ at a time when its staff included some of the most eminent men connected with journalism. MacCabe was an accomplished scholar, and his rare mastery of modern languages rendered him an exceptionally valuable foreign correspondent. In the parliamentary recesses most of his time was spent abroad, and he also contributed critical reviews to the ‘Morning Chronicle,’ and afterwards to the ‘Morning Herald.’ At all times an industrious student of history, he devoted many years to preparing a history of England during the Anglo-Saxon period. This work, which was founded upon original researches into the monastic records at home and abroad, appeared in London in three large volumes in 1847, 1849, and 1854, under the title of ‘A Catholic History of England,’ and the third volume closed with the Norman conquest. MacCabe was also the author of several interesting and dramatic historical romances, such as ‘Bertha,’ 1851, 3 vols. 8vo, which dealt with the struggle between the Emperor Henry of Germany and Hildebrand; ‘Adelaide, Queen of Italy,’ 1856, 12mo, and ‘Florine, Princess of Burgundy,’ 12mo. These works have been translated into German, Italian, and French. In 1852 MacCabe for a brief period renewed his connection with the Dublin press as editor of the ‘Telegraph’ newspaper; but he soon after retired from active literary work, and lived for many years in Brittany. He was a contributor to ‘Once a Week’ and to ‘Notes and Queries;’ and was also the author of many scholarly articles in the ‘Dublin Review.’ He died on 8 Dec. 1891 at Donnybrook, co. Dublin, at the age of ninety.
[Personal knowledge.]
E. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/MacBrady, Fiachra

​MACBRADY, FIACHRA (fl. 1712), Irish poet, whose name is written in Irish MacBraduigh, was born in co. Cavan, and became a schoolmaster at Stradone in that county. He wrote ‘Nach truagh libhse chairde gach buaireadh da dtarlaidh’ (‘Grieve not friends for the troubles that befell’), a witty description of a journey, and ‘Chonnairc me aisling air mo leaba mar do chifinn bean’ (‘I saw a vision on my bed as if I beheld a woman’). Both these have been printed in the ‘Anthologia Hibernica.’ He also wrote ‘Gnidhim diomus, brisim saoire dia domhnaigh’ (‘I indulge in pride, I break holidays and Sunday’), and other poems.
[Anthologia Hibernica, October and December, Dublin, 1793; E. O'Reilly in Transactions of Iberno-Celtic Society, Dublin, 1820.]
N. M.