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

Muru mac Feradaig in the ODNB.
​MURA (d. 645?), Irish saint, called by Irish writers Múra Othaine or Múra Fhothaine, and in Latin Murus or Muranus, was son of Feradach, who was fifth in descent from Niall Naighiallaigh, king of Ireland, and was born in Tireoghain, in the north of Ulster. Derinill was his mother's name. She is called in Irish Cethirchicheach, a cognomen expressing the not uncommon variety of structure in which a pair of supplementary mammæ are present, and was also the mother by another husband of St. Domangurt. Mura rounded the abbey of Fahan, on the eastern shore of Lough Swilly, and was the first of a succession of learned abbots [see Maelmura]. He received a grant of lands from Aodh Uairidhneach, king of Ireland (605-12), who had made a pilgrimage to Fahan before his accession, and when the king was dying in 612 he sent for Mura to receive his confession. The saint reproved him for desiring to enslave the Leinstermen, the countrymen of so holy a person as St. Brigit, and administered the last sacraments to him (Fragment of Annals, copied by MacFirbis from a manuscript of Gillananaemh MacÆdhagain, Irish Archæological Society, 1860, ed. O'Donovan, pp. 12-16). A poem on the life of St. Columcille, of which only a few lines are extant, begiuning ‘Rugadh i ngartan da dheoin,’ is attributed to Mura. No early authority for this exists, but it is quoted by Maghnus O'Donnell [q. v.] in 1532 as universally accepted in his time, and Colgan in 1645 states that it had been preserved till modern times with other compositions of the saint (Acta Sanctorum Hiberniæ, p. 587) at Fahan. The staff and the bell of the saint were also preserved there, and both still exist—the staff in the museum of the Royal Irish Academy, and the bell in the collection of Lord Otho Fitzgerald (Ulster Journal of Archæology, vol. i.; Proceedings of Royal Irish Academy, vol. v.) He died about 645, and 12 March was the day observed at Fahan as that of his death. He became the patron saint of the Cinel Eoghain and the O'Neills, and MacLochlainns used to take solemn oaths upon his staff. The foundation of the church of Banagher, co. Londonderry, was also his, and the present very ancient church is probably the immediate successor of the one built by him. His tomb, a sandstone structure of great antiquity, with a rude vertical effigy, stands on the same hill as the church in the townland of Magheramore, and a handful of the sand near it is believed in the country to insure the holder from drowning. At Banagher the identity of the saint has been lost, and Reeves (Primate Colton's Visitation, p. 107) prints his name Muriedach O'Heney, which is an attempt to represent the native pronunciation. The guttural is a modern addition, often made to terminal vowels in Ulster, and O'Heney is not a ​patronymic, but the genitive case with aspirated initial sound of the name of the saint's abbey of Fathan. The identity of the founder of Fahan with the founder of Banagher has not been determined before. The abbot of Fahan is always spoken of in Irish writings as 'comharba Mura,' successor of Mura.
N. M.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Murdoch, John

​MURDOCH, JOHN (1747–1824), miscellaneous writer and friend of Burns, was born at Ayr in 1747. He received a liberal education in that town and finished his studies at Edinburgh. For some time he was assistant at a private academy and was afterward appointed master of Ayr school. Among his pupils was Burns, who is described by Murdoch as being 'very apt,' but his ear was 'remarkably dull and his voice untuneable.' Desiring to extend his knowledge of the world, he left Ayr for London, and spent the night before his departure at the house of Burns's father, reading aloud part of the tragedy of 'Titus Andronicus,' by which the poet was much affected. Several letters subsequently passed between Burns and Murdoch. After a short stay in London Murdoch went on to Paris, where he formed a lifelong intimacy with Colonel Fullarton, secretary to the British embassy. On his return to London Murdoch taught the French and English languages with much success, both at pupils' houses and at his own house in Staple Inn. Talleyrand during his residence 'as an emigrant in this country was taught English by him. Murdoch fell into much distress in old age and was obliged to appeal to the public for support. The 'Gentleman's Magazine' inserted a notice begging for aid for him (1824, pt. i. p. 165). He died on 20 April 1824. His wife, whom he married in 1780, survived him.
Murdoch edited the stereotyped edition of 'Walker's Pronouncing Dictionary.' His own works consist of: 1. 'An Essay on the Revolutions of Literature,' translated from the Italian of Signor C. Denina, 1771. 2. 'A Radical Vocabulary of the French Language,' 1782. 3. 'Pictures of the Hearts,' 1783, a collection of essays, tales, and a drama. 4. 'The Pronunciation and Orthography of the French Language,' 1788. 5. 'The Dictionary of Distinctions,' 1811, to facilitate spelling and pronunciation. In this book 'The Tears of Sensibility' was announced as preparing for publication. It was to contain novels from the French of D'Arnaud, but no copy is to be found in the British Museum Library.
[European Mag., 1783, iii. 130; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. xii. 419; Diet, of Living Authors, 1816, p. 245; Gent. Mag., 1824, pt. ii. p. 186; R. Chambers's Life and Works of Burns, 1891, i. 9, 11, 14, 17, ii. 161, iii. Ill, 125.]
M. G. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Williams, David (d.1794)

​WILLIAMS, DAVID (d. 1794), Welsh hymn-writer, son of William Rhys, was a native of Carmarthenshire. The year of his birth is variously given as 1712 (from his tombstone) and 1718 (from the second part of ‘Gorfoledd ym Mhebyll Seion’). On the rise of the methodists he became one of their ‘exhorters,’ and acted for a time as one of the superintendents of the Carmarthenshire societies. He was also sent on a mission to Bala (Methodistiaeth Cymru, i. 487). Leaving his home at Llan Fynydd and his employment as a tailor, he settled at Llan Deilo Tal y Bont, Glamorganshire, as master of one of Madam Bevan's schools, and subsequently kept school at Bassaleg, Monmouthshire, and Tre Witting, near Peterston super Ely (Llanbedr y Fro), Glamorganshire. At Peterston he joined in 1777 the baptists, being among the first members of the church formed at Croes y Parc. He died at Peterston on 1 Oct. 1794, and was buried there. His wife was the daughter of a prosperous farmer, and her want of sympathy with her husband's pursuits was the occasion of much bickering, which, tradition alleges, brought about his retirement from the methodist body. They had one son, Israel.
Williams, who usually called himself ‘Dafydd Wiliam,’ was a prolific writer of religious elegies; twelve are recorded under his name in ‘Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry’ between 1763 and 1792. But he is best known as a writer of hymns. Of these he published a first collection about 1762 (Carmarthen), under the title ‘Gorfoledd ym Mhebyll Seion’ (‘Joy in the Tents of Zion’); a second part was issued in 1777 (Carmarthen), a third and a fourth in 1778 (both at Brecon), while an English translation appeared at Brecon in 1779. The four parts were published as one at Brecon in 1782. Other collections of hymns written by him were ‘Diferion o Ffynon Iechydwriaeth’ (‘Droppings from the Fount of Salvation’), 1777; ‘Telynau i Blant yr Addewid’ (‘Harps for the Children of Promise’), Brecon, 1782; ‘Gwin i'r Diffygiol’ (‘Wine for the Fainting’), Carmarthen, 1787; and ‘Yr Udgorn Arian’ (‘The Silver Trumpet’), Carmarthen, 1789. Some of the most popular Welsh hymns are by this writer, including the so-called miners' hymn ‘Yn y dyfroedd mawr a'r tonnau’ (‘In the Billows of Great Waters’).
[Griffiths's Hanes Emynwyr Cymru; Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry; Elvet Lewis's Sweet Singers of Wales.]
J. E. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Williams, Edward (fl.1650)

​WILLIAMS, EDWARD (fl. 1650), was the author of an early descriptive work on Virginia. The book, which was entitled ‘Virgo Triumphans, or Virginia truly valued,’ was published in London in 1650, 4to. A second edition appeared the same year with the addition of a chapter on the ‘Discovery of Silk-worms,’ which last was also published separately, with a dedication to the Virginia merchants. The second edition was reprinted in volume iii. of Force's ‘Tracts,’ Washington, 1844. It is doubtful whether Williams ever visited the country which he extolled so highly; indeed his ignorance of the geography of its coast led him to formulate schemes of advancement not promising of fulfilment.
[Williams's Works; North American Review, 1815, i. 1–5; Allibone's Dict. of English Lit.]
B. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Williams, Edward (1750-1813)

​WILLIAMS, EDWARD (1750–1813), nonconformist divine, was born at Glan Clwyd, near Denbigh, on 14 Nov. 1750. His father, a farmer of good position, sent him to St. Asaph grammar school, and he was intended for the church. But he came as a lad under the influence of the methodists of the district, and, while studying with a clergyman at Derwen (probably the curate, David Ellis, who translated several books into Welsh), attended their meetings. Finally, he joined the independent church at Denbigh, began to preach, and in 1771 entered the dissenting academy at Abergavenny. His first pastoral charge was at Ross, where he was minister from 1775 to 1777; in September of the latter year he settled at Oswestry. When Dr. Benjamin Davies left Abergavenny for Homerton, the academy was moved in May 1782 to Oswestry, and placed under Williams's care. At the end of 1791 he gave up both church and academy, and, with the new year, commenced his ministry at Carr's Lane, Birmingham. In 1792 he was appointed first editor of the ‘Evangelical Magazine’ and received the degree of D.D. from the university of Edinburgh. He left Birmingham in 1795, becoming in September theological tutor at the Rotherham academy. He died at Rotherham on 9 March 1813. Among dissenting divines he is known as the advocate of a moderate form of Calvinism, expounded in his book on the ‘Equity of Divine Government’ (London, 1813). He was also the author of a discourse on the ‘Cross of Christ’ (Shrewsbury, 1792), an abridgment of Dr. Owen's ‘Commentary on Hebrews,’ and a controversial work on baptism. His collected works were edited by Evan Davies [q. v.] in four volumes (London, 1862).
[Williams's Eminent Welshmen; Methodistiaeth Cymru, iii. 136; Cathrall's History of Oswestry; Hanes Eglwysi Annibynol Cymru, iv. 47.]
J. E. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Williams, Edward (1762-1833)

​WILLIAMS, EDWARD (1762–1833), antiquary, son of Edward Williams of Eaton Mascott, Shropshire, by his wife Barbara Letitia, daughter of John Mytton of Halston, was born at Eaton Mascott, and baptised at Leighton on 8 Sept. 1762. He was educated at Repton school, matriculated from Pembroke College, Oxford, on 28 Oct. 1779, and graduated B.A. in 1783 (M.A. 1787). He subsequently obtained a fellowship at All Souls' College, which he held until 1818. Entering holy orders, he was appointed by his kinsman, John Corbet of Sundorne, in 1786 to the perpetual curacies of Battlefield and Uffington in Shropshire; and on 13 June 1817 All Souls' College presented him to the rectory of Chelsfield in Kent, all of which livings he held until his death.
At an early age Williams became interested in the study of antiquities and topography; and, though he did not print any works, he left behind him a great many manuscripts on the history and antiquities of Shropshire, and executed beautiful drawings of all the parish churches, the principal ​gentlemen's seats, and the monuments in the county. He was also a good classical scholar and botanist.
Williams gave considerable assistance to John Brickdale Blakeway in his ‘Sheriffs of Shropshire’ and ‘History of Shrewsbury,’ and to Archdeacon Joseph Plymley in his ‘Agricultural Survey of Shropshire.’ During the latter years of his life Williams discontinued his antiquarian pursuits, and devoted himself entirely to his parochial duties. He died unmarried at his residence, Coton Terrace, Shrewsbury, on 3 Jan. 1833, and was buried on 10 Jan. in Battlefield churchyard, on the south side of the church.
Williams left numerous manuscripts relating to his researches in Shropshire, and most of them passed at his death to William Noel-Hill, third lord Berwick. Almost all Williams's manuscripts in Lord Berwick's collection were dispersed by sale in 1843. Two of Williams's manuscripts, now in the British Museum Library (Add. MSS. 21236 and 21237), contain drawings of monuments and inscriptions, from Shropshire churches, 1792–1803, with indexes.
Seven volumes of his manuscripts, which passed from Lord Berwick's possession to that of Sir Thomas Phillipps, were purchased at Sir Thomas Phillipps's sale on 20 May 1897 for the Shrewsbury Free Library; these are a transcript of the cartulary of Haughmond Abbey, with an index of names and places; historical, topographical, and genealogical collections relating to Shropshire (4 vols. fol.); and collections (2 vols. fol.) for the ‘History of Shropshire.’ Other volumes of Williams's manuscripts were: a transcript of the cartulary of Shrewsbury Abbey, with an index of names and places; transcripts from 154 Shropshire parish registers; a volume of monumental inscriptions, notes of effigies, and extracts from records; and a list of Shropshire plants.
W. G. D. F.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Williams, David (1792-1850)

​WILLIAMS, DAVID (1792–1850), geologist, son of John Williams of Barry, Glamorganshire, was born at Bleadon in 1792. ​He matriculated from Jesus College, Oxford, on 24 Oct. 1810, proceeding B.A. in 1814 and M.A. in 1820. Prior to this he was ordained, and in 1826 was presented to the vicarage of Kingston and the rectory of Bleadon, both in Somerset. The latter place appears to have been his residence, but he died at Weston-super-Mare on 7 Sept. 1850. He was elected F.G.S. in 1828, and in 1831 published his first paper, and continued to write at intervals on geological subjects till 1849. Thirty-one scientific papers appear under his name in the Royal Society's catalogue, most of them relating to the south-west of England, and seventeen treat of the geology of Cornwall and Devon. He was evidently a careful observer, but held views as to the origin of certain igneous rocks which would not be generally accepted at the present day.
[Royal Soc. Cat. of Scientific Papers; Boase and Courtney's Bibliotheca Cornubiensis; Gent. Mag. 1850, ii. 557.]
T. G. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Chichester, Henry Manners

​CHICHESTER, HENRY MANNERS (1832–1894), writer on military history, born in London in 1832, was son of a barrister of Lincoln's Inn. He entered the army in 1853 and became lieutenant in the 85th regiment (the Shropshire light infantry). For ten years he served abroad with his regiment, chiefly at Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope, and at the Cape he was employed for a time as acting engineer officer. Returning home in 1863 he retired from the army, and thenceforth devoted himself almost exclusively to the study of military history. He gave valuable assistance in compiling and editing several regimental histories. The 'Historical Records' of the 24th foot and of the 40th foot (2nd Somersetshire regiment, now 1st battalion the Prince of Wales's volunteers)—the former published in 1892 and the latter in 1893—owe much to his labours, and at the time of his death he was beginning work on the records of his own regiment, the 80th foot. In 1890 he edited 'The Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp ' in Mr. Fisher Unwin's 'Adventure Series.' He collaborated with Major Burges-Short in preparing 'The Records and Badges of every Regiment and Corps in the British Army,' which was published in 1895, the year following Chichester's death. Probably Chichester's most important contributions to military history appeared in this dictionary, for which he wrote memoirs of 499 military officers or writers on military subjects. His name figured in the list of writers prefixed to each volume from the first to the forty-sixth (omitting the forty-fifth). Among the more conspicuous military names entrusted to him were Lords Cadogan and Cutts, Viscount Hardinge of Lahore, Rowland, first Viscount Hill, Lord Lynedoch, Stringer Lawrence, and Sir John Moore. He was indefatigable in his efforts to collect authentic biograpliic details. His method of work is well illustrated by his notice of Francis Jarry [q. v.], a Frenchman who founded the Royal Military College now located at Sandhurst. It was already known that Jarry in earlier life had served at various times in both the Prussian and French armies, but, in order to ascertain definitely his services abroad, Chichester applied to the ministries of war at both Paris and Berlin, and induced the authorities in both places to make investigation, of which the results appeared in the 'Dictionary.'
Chichester died in London in March 1894.
[Athenæum and Times, 3 March 1894.]
S. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Betham-Edwards, Matilda Barbara

​BETHAM-EDWARDS, MATILDA BARBARA (1836-1919), novelist and writer on French life. [See Edwards.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Phillips, George (fl.1597)

​PHILLIPS, GEORGE (fl. 1597), divine, was matriculated as a pensioner of Trinity College, Cambridge, on 2 Dec. 1579. He graduated B.A. in 1582–3, and commenced M.A. in 1587 (Cooper, Athenæ Cantabr. iii. 18).
He was the author of: 1. ‘Five Sermons: (i) A Recreation for the Soule, on Col. iii. 16; (ii) The End of Vsury, on Habak. ii. 9; (iii) The Armour and Patience of a Christian, on 2 Tim. ii. 3; (iv) The Mirth of Israel, on Psalm xxi. 1–3; (v) Noah his Arke, on ​Gen. viii. 6–9,’ London, 1594, 8vo. 2. ‘Gods General Summons to his last Parliament, a sermon on 2 Cor. v. 10,’ London, 1595, 8vo. 3. ‘A Peril of the Church, a sermon on Acts v. 17–19,’ London, 1596, 8vo. 4. ‘The Effect of the Last Daie, wrote in Latyn by Dyionisus Carthusianus, and Englished,’ licensed to William Leake, 1596. 5. ‘The Embasse of Gods Angel, a sermon on Acts v. 20, 21,’ London, 1597, 8vo.
‘A Preparative to the Lordes Supper, with an Exercise thereof,’ was licensed to Thomas Gosson, and also to William Leake, 1597.
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Phillips, Henry (1801-1876)

​PHILLIPS, HENRY (1801–1876), musician, son of Richard Phillips, an actor, was born at Bristol on 13 Aug. 1801. At the age of eight he appeared as a singing boy at Harrogate Theatre, and soon afterwards was engaged to sing soprano parts, first at the Haymarket, and then at Drury Lane. He became a pupil of Broadhurst, and began his career as a bass at Covent Garden in Bishop's ‘Law of Java.’ At this time his voice was weak, and the poor effect he produced caused him to retire temporarily to Bath. He returned to London in 1823, studied under Sir George Smart, and was engaged by Kemble to sing in Arne's ‘Artaxerxes.’ In this also he made no impression, the newspapers recording the ‘total failure of Mr. Phillips at Covent Garden last night.’ In 1824, however, he sang the music of Caspar, on the production of ‘Der Freischütz,’ with great success, and thenceforth he rapidly rose in public estimation. He soon took a leading place at the provincial musical festivals, and was much engaged for theatre and concert work. In 1825 he became principal bass at the ancient music concerts, and entered the choir of the Bavarian Chapel. In 1834 he sang at the Lyceum in Loder's ‘Nourjahad’ and in Barnett's ‘Mountain Sylph.’ In the latter opera his singing of the ballad ‘Farewell to the Mountain’ constituted the chief success. In 1843 he gave up the theatre, and began a series of ‘table entertainments,’ which he continued at intervals to the end of his career. In 1844 he visited America. Mendelssohn composed a ‘scena’ for him to words from Ossian, ‘On Lena's gloomy heath,’ and he sang it at the Philharmonic Concert on 15 March 1847. His engagements gradually decreased, and he retired at a farewell concert given on 25 Feb. 1863. He was subsequently employed as a teacher, first at Birmingham, and then near London. He died at Dalston on 8 Nov. 1876, and was buried at Woking cemetery.
Phillips was a clever and versatile musician and a good actor. His voice lacked power, but he made admirable use of it. In oratorio and ballad he was specially successful. He composed music to many songs, of which the most popular were ‘The best of all good Company,’ and ‘Shall I, wastynge in despaire.’ His ‘Musical and Personal Recollections of Half a Century,’ 2 vols., London, 1864, with portrait, contains much interesting matter. He also wrote ‘Hints on Declamation,’ London, 1848, and ‘The True Enjoyment of Angling,’ London, 1843.
J. C. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Phillips, George Searle

​PHILLIPS, GEORGE SEARLE (1815–1889), miscellaneous writer, was born in 1815 at Peterborough, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he is said to have graduated B.A., but his name does not appear among the ‘graduati.’ He then went to America, where he became connected with the ‘New York World’ and the ‘Herald.’ In 1845 he returned to England, and undertook the editorship of the ‘Leeds Times.’ In the following year he was appointed secretary of the People's College at Huddersfield, and in 1854 was made lecturer to the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutes and Literary Societies. A few years later he again went to the United States, and was associated with Charles A. Dana on the ‘Chicago Tribune;’ he then became literary editor of the ‘New York Sun.’ In 1873 he lost his reason, and was confined in the Trenton Insane Asylum. Three years later he was removed to the Morristown Asylum, New Jersey, where he died in January 1889.
Phillips was a ‘prolific and graceful writer.’ His works, most of them published under the pseudonym ‘January Searle,’ are: 1. ‘A Guide to Peterborough Cathedral,’ Peterborough, 1843. 2. ‘The Life, Character, and Genius of Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn-law Rhymer,’ London, 1850. 3. ‘Chapters in the History of a Life,’ London, 1850. 4. ‘Leaves from Sherwood Forest,’ London, 1851. 5. ‘The Country Sketch Book,’ London, 1851. 6. ‘Memoirs of William Wordsworth,’ London, 1852. 7. ‘Emerson, his Life and Writings,’ London, 1855. 8. ‘Gypsies of the Danes' Dyke,’ London, 1864. 9. ‘Chicago and her Churches,’ Chicago, 1868. He also published various pamphlets and some verse, edited, among other books, ‘The Memorials of Pel. Verjuice,’ by Charles Reece Pemberton [q. v.], and was a voluminous contributor to periodical literature.
A. F. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Phillips, Henry (fl.1780-1830)

Dates 1779 to 1840 in the ODNB.
​PHILLIPS, HENRY (fl. 1780–1830), horticultural writer, said to have been a schoolmaster, was living at Queen's House, Bayswater, in 1821, and at Bedford Square, Brighton, from 1823 to 1825. His ‘Sylva Florifera’ (1823) is dedicated to his wife, to whom he had been married twenty-five years. He was a ​fellow of the Horticultural Society, and in 1825 of the Linnean Society (Britten and Boulger, Index of Botanists, p. 135). He published: 1. ‘Pomarium Britannicum,’ 1820, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1821; 3rd edit. 1823. 2. ‘History of Cultivated Vegetables,’ 2 vols. 8vo; 2nd edit. 1822; another edition 1831. 3. ‘Sylva Florifera: the Shrubbery, historically and botanically treated,’ 2 vols. 1823, 8vo. 4. ‘Flora Domestica, or the Portable Flower Garden,’ 1823, 8vo; another edition 1827. 5. ‘Flora Historica,’ 1824, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1829. 6. ‘Floral Emblems,’ 1825, 8vo. 7. ‘Companion for the Orchard,’ 1831, 8vo. 8. ‘Companion for the Kitchen Garden,’ 2 vols. 8vo.
G. S. B.