OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Downes, John (fl.1662-1710)

​DOWNES, JOHN (fl. 1662–1710), writer on the stage, was prompter to the company known as ‘The Duke's Servants,’ with which, under a patent from Charles II, Sir William D'Avenant [q. v.] opened in 1662 the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and continued in this employment until 1706. In No. 193 of the ‘Tatler,’ 4 July 1710, Steele speaks of receiving at the hands of Doggett [q. v.] ‘a letter from poor old Downes, the prompter, wherein that retainer to the theatre desires my advice and assistance in a matter of concern to him,’ and adds, ‘I have sent my private opinion for his conduct.’ The letter signed ‘J. Downes’ which follows is obviously by Steele. It supplies the information, doubtless correct, that Downes had from his youth ‘been bred up behind the curtain, and had been a prompter from the time of the Restoration,’ and establishes the fact that he was at that date alive. That a proposal had lately been made him to come ‘again into business and the sub-administration of stage affairs’ is also probable. The duties of ‘book-keeper,’ i.e. one who holds the book or manuscript of a play, necessitated his writing out the various parts of the different pieces given by the company, and attending the morning rehearsals and the afternoon performances. The information thus obtained, pieced out by that supplied him by Charles Booth, sometime book-keeper to the company of Thomas Killigrew, holder of the second patent from Charles II, enabled Downes to write his ‘Roscius Anglicanus, or an Historical Review of the Stage,’ London, 1708. Meagre as is the information supplied in this work, it is practically all to which we have to trust for our knowledge of the Restoration stage. The details furnished include the names of the actors comprised in the two companies, and the casts of the novelties produced, with statements as to the fortunes of the play, and an occasional expression of opinion as to the merits of piece or acting. Downes's style is singularly crabbed, confused, and inelegant, and is charged with the most marvellous latinism. The verdicts are, however, accepted; his inaccuracies are neither numerous nor important, and the only charge he has incurred is that he has been miserly in dispensing information the subsequent value of which he was in no position to estimate. Downes chronicles his attempt to be an actor. The experiment was made on the opening night of Lincoln's Inn Fields (1662), when he was cast for the character of Haly in the ‘Siege of Rhodes.’ The sight of the king, the Duke of York, and a brilliant assemblage of nobility filled him with stage fright, and spoiled him for an actor. His ‘Roscius Anglicanus’ was with other works reprinted by Waldron in a work entitled ‘The Literary Museum.’ It was accompanied with notes by Waldron and Tom Davies, the bookseller. The ‘Roscius Anglicanus’ was again reprinted, this time in facsimile, with an introduction by the writer of the present notice, in 1886.
J. K.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Downes, Theophilus

​DOWNES, THEOPHILUS (d. 1726), nonjuror, the son of John Downes of Purslow, Shropshire, became a commoner of Balliol College, Oxford, towards the close of 1672, when aged about fifteen, and took the two degrees in arts, B.A. 17 Oct. 1676, M.A. 10 July 1679. He was fellow of his college, but was ejected in 1690 on declining to take the oath of allegiance to William III. Two years later he went abroad. Downes died in 1726. In the letters of administration, P. C. C., granted on 16 Aug. 1726 to his niece Mary, wife of John Bright, he is described as late of the parish of St. George the Martyr, Middlesex, bachelor. In support of his views he published anonymously ‘A Discourse concerning the Signification of Allegiance, as it is to be understood in the New Oath of Allegiance,’ pp. 27, 4to [London? 1689?], and ‘An Examination of the Arguments drawn from Scripture and Reason, in Dr. Sherlock's Case of Allegiance, and his vindication of it,’ pp. 78, 4to, London, 1691. Wood mentions another tract by Downes, ‘An Answer to a Call to Humiliation, &c. Or a Vindication ​of the Church of England from the Reproaches and Objections of William Woodward, in two Fast Sermons preached in his Conventicle at Lempster in the county of Hereford, and afterwards published by him,' 4to, London, 1690 (Fasti Oxon., ed. Bliss, ii. 353, 369).
Downes differed from Henry Dodwell as to the antiquity of the famous iron shield formerly in the possession of Dr. Woodward. After his death his 'De Clipeo Woodwardiano Strictune breves' were published in two octavo leaves (Gough, British Topography, i. 720).
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 476-7; Wood's Fasti Oxon. (Bliss), ii. 363, 369; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beadle, John

There is a typo in the author initials in the original.
​BEADLE, JOHN (d. 1667), author of the 'Journal or Diary of a Thankful Christian. Presented in some Meditations upon Numbers xxxiii. 2. By J[ohn] B[eadle], Master of Arts, and Minister of the Gospel at Barnstone in Essex, 1656,' matriculated at the university of Cambridge on 8 July 1613. He was first rector of Little Leighs, in which capacity he signed a petition to Laud in favour of Thomas Hooker, afterwards a famous New England divine. He was presented by Laud to the rectory of Barnstone in May 1632, at the recommendation of Samuel Collins, who describes him as 'a young man' of a 'conformable way.' In Laud's account of his ' Province for 1633'there occurs the following entry: 'I did likewise convent Mr. John Beedle, rector of Barnstone in Essex, for omitting some part of the divine service and refusing conformity. But upon his submission and promise of reformation I dismissed him with a canonicnl admonition.' Later, in 1638,another entry shows that Laud had an eye upon him. In Arthur Wilson's 'Autobiography' (see Peck's Desiderata Curiosa) there is this entry under 21 July 1644: 'Mr. Beedle, of Barnstone, preached at Leez [Leighs]. His text was Numbers xxxiii. 2, insisting upon this, that every christian ought to keep a record of his own actions and ways. This made me run back to the beginning of my life, assisted by my memories and some small notes, wherein I have given a true, though a meane, delineation of eight and forty years progress in the world.' This shows that Beadle had his delightful book then in embryo.
Beadle was one of the 'classis' for the county of Essex. He was also one of the signatories to t he historical' Essex Test imony.' In 1650 he is returned as ' an able preacher.' On 25 April 1656, as appears by a manuscript entry on the exemplar in the British Museum, he published his 'Journal or Diary of a Thankful Christian.' It is dedicated to Robert, earl of Warwick, and to the countess. When the Act of Uniformity was passed in 1662, he elected to remain in his rectory. He died in 1667. The following entry is in the parish register: 'Beginning at the east end and north side lye interred the body of Mr. John Bedle 30 years rector of the parish, buried 11 May 1667.' His widow survived him many years, being buried 14 July 1676. There are entries of seven children of theirs baptised between 1632 and 1646.
[Communications from Rev. R. A. Toke, M.A., Barnstone; David's Annals of Evangelical Nonconformity in Essex (1863), pp. 346-8, and authorities and references therein; Laud's Tryals and Troubles in Anglo-Cath. edit, of Laud's Works; Baker's Notes on Calamy.] A. R. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beach, Thomas (d.1737)

​BEACH, THOMAS (d. 1737), poet, was a wine merchant at Wrexham in Denbighshire. Besides other poems, he published in 1737 ‘Eugenio, or the Virtuous and Happy Life.’ It was inscribed to Pope, and was submitted by the author to Swift, partly to receive his criticisms and partly to be brought before the notice of Sir William Fownes, who, it appears, was specially referred to in the ‘Virtuous and Happy Life.’ Swift in his reply suggested many verbal emendations, which were adopted by the author, and informed him that Fownes was dying. Beach committed suicide in the same year on 17 May 1737.
A. G-n.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beal, William

​BEAL, WILLIAM (1815–1870), religious writer, was born in 1815, and educated at King s College, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He took the degree of B.A. in 1841; in the same year he was ordained deacon, and he was made vicar of Brooke near Norwich in 1847. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the university of Aberdeen. He is best known as the promoter of harvest homes for country districts in 1854. At Norwich he was vice-president of the People's College, and corresponding member of the Working Men's Congregational Union. He died in 1870. He was the editor of the 'West of England Magazine' and author of the following works: 1. 'An Analysis of Palmer's Origines Liturgicæ' (1850). 2. 'The Nineveh Monuments and the Old Testament.' 3. 'A Letter to the Earl of Albemarle on Harvest Homes.' 4. 'A First Book of Chronology' (1846). He edited with a preface 'Certain godly Prayers originally appended to the Book of Common Prayer.'
[Men of the Time, 7th ed.; Brit, Mus. Cat.]
A. G-n.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beadon, Richard

1904 Errata appended.
​BEADON, RICHARD (1737–1824), bishop of Bath and Wells, son of Robert Beadon and Mary, daughter of Rev. S. Squire, rector of Oakford, was born at Pinkworthy, Devon. He was educated at Blundell's school at Tiverton, and afterwards at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of B.A. in 1758, and the following year obtained the prize for a Latin essay. He became fellow and tutor of his college, and in 1768 was appointed public orator of the university. He held the prebend of Reculverland in St. Paul's cathedral 1771–5. In 1775 he was made archdeacon of London, with the prebend of Mapesbury, which he held till 1802. He was elected master of Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1781. While holding this office he had charge of William Frederick, afterwards duke of Gloucester, during his residence at the university. He was vice-chancellor of Cambridge 1781–2. Having gained the favour of George III he was in 1789 made bishop of Gloucester, and in 1802 was translated to the see of Bath and Wells. He was kindly and hospitable to his clergy and his neighbours. He married Rachel, daughter of Dr. J. Gooch, by whom he had one son, Richard. For the last few years of his life he was rendered incapable of discharging his episcopal duties by the infirmities of age. He did not neglect the opportunities which his bishopric afforded him of forwarding the interests of his family. He made his son Richard the chancellor of the diocese, and when the rich episcopal manor of Wiveliscombe fell in also granted it to him on a lease for three lives. His only published works are two sermons, one preached before the House of Lords on a public fast-day, 19 April 1798, and the other before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He died 21 April 1824. His son, Richard, was father of Sir Cecil Beadon [q. v.]
W. H.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.18 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 462 | i | 16 | Beadon, Richard: after Denmark insert He held the prebendal stall of Reculverland in St. Paul's Cathedral 1771-5 |
| | | 17 | after London insert with the prebend of Mapesbury in St. Paul's Cathedral, which he held till 1802 |
| | | 22 | after university insert He was vice-canchellor at Cambridge 1781-2 |
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beale, Francis

1904 Errata appended.
​BEALE, FRANCIS (fl. 1656), was the author of the 'Royall Game of Chesse Play, sometimes the Recreation of the late King with many of the Nobility, illustrated with almost one hundred Gambetts, being the study of Biochimo, the famous Italian,' London, 1656. A portrait of Charles I, engraved by Stent, forms the frontispiece of the volume; the dedication is addressed to Montague, Earl of Lindsey. The book is translated from Gioacchimo Greco's famous work on chess; was reissued in 1750, and again in 1819 (with remarks by G. W. Lewis). He contributed a poem to 'The Teares of the Isle of Wight shed on the tombe of ... Henrie, Earle of Southampton, ... as also James, Lord Wriothesley,' London, 1625; a copy of which is in the Grenville Library. The poem is reprinted in Malone's 'Shakspeare' (1821), xx. 452.
[Brit. Mus. Cat.; Hunter's MS. Chorus Vatum in MSS. Addl. 24489 f. 285.]
S. L. L.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.19 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 1 | i | 3 f.e. | Beale, Francis: for He read Beale |
| | i | 5 | after xx. 452 add Beale lived in Westminster and had a son of his own names (cf. Mayor, Adm., St. John's Coll. Cambridge, i. 54, 61) |
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Ashburner, Lionel Robert

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​ASHBURNER, LIONEL ROBERT (1827-)
I.C.S.: born 1827: educated at Haileybury: entered the Bombay Civil Service in 1848, and retired in 1883: in the mutiny, 1857, raised and organized a body of horse and foot to protect the E. frontier of Gujarat: was Special Commissioner to try offences against the State: tried and convicted certain chiefs: C.S.I.: Member of Council in Bombay, 1877–83: acted as Governor of Bombay from March 13 to April 28, 1880.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Ashburnham, Hon. Thomas

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​ASHBURNHAM, HON. THOMAS ( ? –1872)
General: son of George, third Earl of Ashburnham, K.G.: entered the Army, 1823: Lt-Colonel, 1835: commanded a Brigade in the Satlaj campaign, 1845–6, at Firozshahr and Sobraon: C.B.: A.D.C. to the Queen: appointed to the command of the forces in China, 1857: transferred to a military command in India: returned to England, 1858: Colonel of the 82nd regt., 1859: General, 1868: died March 3, 1872.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Arnould, Sir Joseph

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​ARNOULD, SIR JOSEPH (1814–1886)
Judge: son of Joseph Arnould: born Nov. 12, 1814: educated at Charterhouse and Wadham College, Oxford: Newdi-gate Verse Prize, 1834: Fellow of his College: called to the bar by the Middle Temple, contributed to journalism and wrote legal works: in 1859 was made a Judge of the Bombay Supreme (afterwards the High) Court, and knighted: retired in 1869: died Feb. 16, 1886.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Asman Jah, Bahadur, Nawab Sir

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​ASMAN JAH, BAHADUR, NAWAB SIR (1839–1898)
Great-grandson of the second Nizam of Hyderabad: born 1839: Minister of Justice in 1869, and acted as Prime Minister and Regent during Sir Salar Jang's absence in Europe: on the latter's death, in 1883, he became a member of the Council of Regency: represented the Nizam at Queen Victoria's Jubilee, 1887: was for 7 years Prime Minister of Hyderabad, 1887: made K.C.I.E., 1887: died 1898.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Astell, Henry Godfrey

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​ASTELL, HENRY GODFREY (1816–1903)
I.C.S.: son of William Astell, (q. v.). Chairman of the Directors of the E.I.Co.: educated at Eton and Haileybury: in the mutiny was Judge of Azimghar, N.W.P.: was supported by two companies of sepoys and some cavalry of doubtful loyalty, when he was attacked by about 2,000 rebels: after an engagement, in which his cavalry deserted, he was forced to retire to his entrenchments and Ghazipur: was later besieged at Jaunpur, until relieved by General Lugard with a force from Lucknow: died July 6, 1903.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Arnold, Thomas Walker

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​ARNOLD, THOMAS WALKER (1864–)
Born April 19, 1864: educated at the City of London School and Magdalen College, Cambridge: Professor at the M.A.O. College, Alighar: Professor of Philosophy at the Government College, Lahore: Dean of the Oriental Faculty, Pan jab University: Assistant Librarian at the India Office, 1904: Professor of Arabic at University College, London, since 1904: published The Preaching of Islam, 1896: Al Mutazilah, 1902.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Arthur, Sir George, Baronet

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​ARTHUR, SIR GEORGE, BARONET (1784–1854)
Son of John Arthur of Plymouth: entered the Army in 1804: served in Italy, 1806, Egypt, 1807, Sicily, 1808, Walcheren, 1809: D.A.A.G.: Military Secretary to the Governor of Jersey: Major in a regiment in Jamaica, 1812: Lieutenant-Governor of British Honduras and Colonel, 1814–22: Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land, 1824–37: received the Hanoverian Order: Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, 1837–41: made Baronet in 1841: Governor of Bombay from June 9, 1842 to Aug. 5, 1846, during the difficult time of the latter portion of the first Afghan War, and of Lord Ellenborough's tenure of office as Governor-General: appointed provisional Governor-General: after retirement he was made a Privy Councillor and D.C.L., Oxford: Lt-General, and Colonel of the 50th regt.: died Sep. 19, 1854.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Arnold, William Delafield

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​ARNOLD, WILLIAM DELAFIELD (1828–1859)
Son of Dr. Arnold, of Rugby: born April 7, 1828: educated at Rugby: student of Christ Church, Oxford: went to India in 1848, into the Native Infantry: was an Assistant Commissioner in the Panjab, and, in 1856, Director of Public ​Instruction: did good service in organising the Department: died at Gibraltar on April 9, 1859, on his way to England: wrote essays on social and Indian subjects, and Oakfield, or Fellowship in the East: his brother, Matthew Arnold, wrote A Southern Night in memory of him, and alluded to him in Stanzas from Carnac.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Astell, William

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​ASTELL, WILLIAM (1774–1847)
Son of Godfrey Thornton, Bank of England Director: changed his name to Astell, 1807: was Director of the E.I.Co., 1807–46, and M.P. for Bridgewater 1807–32, afterwards for Bedfordshire: Chairman of the Directors in 1810, 1824, 1830, 1838: much opposed to Lord Ellen-borough's administration of India: Colonel of the Royal East India Volunteers: died March 7, 1847.
# Dictionary of Indian Biography/Atkinson, Edwin Felix Thomas

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​ATKINSON, EDWIN FELIX THOMAS ( ? –1890)
I.C.S.: educated at Trinity College, Dublin: went out to the N.W.P., 1862: ​Census officer in the N.W.P., 1881: compiled the Gazetteer of the N.W.P.: Accountant-General of the N.W.P., and of Bengal: President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal: took a keen interest in intellectual pursuits: died Sep. 18, 1890.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cook, Samuel

​COOK, SAMUEL (1806–1859), water-colour painter, was born in 1806 at Camelford, Cornwall. His mother kept a bakehouse, and under the same roof there was a small school, which he attended early in life, learning there reading and writing. He did not obtain any further education, as at the age of nine he was apprenticed to a firm of woollen manufacturers at Camelford, his duty being to feed a machine called a ‘scribbler’ with wool. During the intervals of his labour he used to amuse himself by drawing with chalk on the floor to the annoyance of the foreman, who said that he would never be fit for anything but a limner. His talents gained him employment in painting signboards and scenes for itinerant showmen, and in graining wood. On the termination of his apprenticeship he went to Plymouth, and became assistant to a painter and glazier there, subsequently setting up business in that line on his own account. Every hour he could spare he devoted to sketching, especially by the seaside and on the quays at Plymouth. As his sketches showed increasing merit, they attracted the attention of resident connoisseurs, and found many generous and wealthy patrons. Encouraged by them, he sent, about 1830, some of his drawings to the New Water-colour Society, and was immediately admitted a member. From that time he was a regular contributor to the gallery in Pall Mall till his death, which took place 7 June 1859. His pictures were ​very much admired, though not numerous, as he never relinquished his trade. They were chiefly coast scenes, rather weak in colour, especially his early works, but they possessed quiet simplicity and truth and real artistic feeling. There is a view of Stonehouse, Plymouth, in the South Kensington Museum.
[Redgrave's Dict. of English Artists; Art Journal, 1861; Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers (ed. Graves).]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cook, Thomas

​COOK, THOMAS (1744?–1818), engraver, of London, was a pupil of Simon François Ravenet, the well-known French engraver, when resident in London. Cook was very industrious, and, soon reaching a high position in his art, was employed by Boydell and other art publishers on works which had a large circulation. He is best known from having copied the complete engraved work of Hogarth, to which he devoted the years 1795–1803, and which was published in 1806 under the title of ‘Hogarth Restored.’ This is a very valuable collection, as many of Hogarth's prints were of great rarity, and had not been made public before. He was employed also in engraving portraits, history, architecture, plates for magazines, &c. Among his best known works are ‘Jupiter and Semele’ and ‘Jupiter and Europa,’ after Benjamin West; ‘The English Setter,’ after J. Milton, engraved with S. Smith in 1770 as a pendant to ‘The Spanish Pointer,’ by Woollett; ‘The Wandering Musicians,’ a copy of Wille's engraving, after Dietrich; ‘St. Cecilia,’ after Westall, and several views after Paul Sandby for the ‘Copperplate Magazine.’ He engraved many portraits, especially for the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ and others, and as frontispieces. Among the persons engraved in this way were Thomas Howard, earl of Arundel; George Washington, Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, Charles Churchill, John Cunningham, William Harvey, David Hume, Joseph Spence, and others. Cook executed a reduced set of his Hogarth engravings for Nichol and Stevens's edition of Hogarth's works. He died in London in 1818, aged 74.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Nagler's Künstler-Lexikon; Gent. Mag. (1818) lxxxviii. 475; Bromley's Catalogue of Engraved Portraits.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cook, William

​COOK, WILLIAM (d. 1824), dramatist and miscellaneous writer, was descended from an old family originally from Cheshire, but for some time settled in Cork. He was educated at Cork grammar school, and afterwards by a private tutor. At the age of nineteen he married a lady of considerable fortune, but squandered a large portion of it in pleasure, and lost nearly all the remainder in his business, that of a woollen manufacturer. In 1766 he left Cork for London with strong recommendations to the Duke of Richmond, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Edmund Burke, and Dr. Goldsmith, whose friendship he retained through life. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1777, and for one or two years went on the home circuit, but already occupied himself chiefly with literature. His earliest publication was a poem on ‘The Art of Living in London,’ which met with some success, and in 1807 he published another of greater pretension, entitled ‘Conversation,’ in the 4th edition of which, published in 1815, he introduced the characters of several of the members of the well-known literary club in Gerrard Street, Soho, such as Burke, Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Goldsmith. He was also the author of ‘Elements of Dramatic Criticism,’ 1775; ‘Memoirs of Hildebrand Freeman, Esquire,’ n. d.; ‘The Capricious Lady,’ a comedy, altered from Beaumont and Fletcher's ‘Scornful Lady,’ 1783; ‘Memoirs of C. Macklin,’ the actor, including a history of the stage during Macklin's lifetime; ‘Memoirs of Samuel Foote, with some of his Writings,’ 1805, in three volumes. He died at his house in Piccadilly 3 April 1824 at a very advanced age.
[Gent. Mag. xciv. pt. i. 374–5; Annual Register, lxvi. 218; Biographia Dramatica, i. 147–8; Dict. of Living Authors, 74.]
T. F. H.