OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Randall, John (fl.1764)

Joseph Randall in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
​RANDALL, JOHN (fl. 1764), schoolmaster and agriculturist, may have been the John Randall who graduated B.A. from Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1718 and M.A. in 1727. Later in the century he described himself as master of the academy at Heath, near Wakefield; no mention of him appears in Cox's history of Wakefield grammar school. Subsequently he carried on a private school at York. Six pupils resided with him. At York, too, he professed to resolve all questions relating to annuities, leases, reversions, livings, and matters of intricate accounts, and he interested himself in practical agriculture. ​He advocated a modification of the then new system of pulverisation, or drill cultivation, which was invented by Jethro Tull [q. v.] about 1730. Randall embodied his views in a verbose treatise, dedicated to the Society of Arts, and entitled ‘The Semi-Virgilian Husbandry, deduced from various Experiments, or an Essay towards a new Course of National Farming, formed from the Defects, Losses, and Disappointments of the Old and New Husbandry, and put on the true Biass of Nature, in the Production of Vegetables and in the Power of every Ploughman with his own Ploughs, &c. to execute. With the Philosophy of Agriculture, exhibiting at large the Nutritive Principles derived from the Atmosphere, in a Rotation of Nature, from their being exhaled to their Descent into the Pores of the Soil when duly prepared for the Purposes of Vegetables,’ London, 1764. At the same time Randall invented (but did not patent) a seed-furrow plough, on the principle of Tull's drill plough, and described this and other ingenious performances in ‘Construction and extensive use of a new invented Seed-furrow Plough, of a Draining Plough, and of a Potato-drill Machine, with a Theory of a common Plough,’ 1764. A drawing of the seed plough is engraved in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ 1764, p. 460, and an article upon it which condemns it as complicated was answered by Randall, who dated from York.
M. G. W.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Randall, Thomas

​RANDALL, THOMAS (1605-1635), poet and dramatist. [See Randolph.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Randolph, Edward (d.1566)

​RANDOLPH, EDWARD (d. 1566), soldier, probably a brother of Thomas Randolph (1523–1590) [q. v.], was born at Badlesmere in Kent. He made himself sufficiently prominent in Edward VI's time to find it necessary to flee to Paris on the accession of Mary. But, like other rebels, he soon tired of exile, and his known value as a soldier rendered the negotiations for his pardon easy. Wotton wrote to Petre on 17 April 1554, recommending him to mercy; but Mary wrote in May that, though he was forgiven, he must stay and supply information as to the movements of his friends. The formal grant of pardon is dated 9 Oct. 1554. He soon found favour, and on 3 April 1555 Philip wrote to his treasurer, Dominico d'Orbea, ordering a pension of two hundred crowns to be paid to Randolph, who is described as colonel of infantry.
Under Elizabeth he was at first employed in Scotland. On 1 April 1560 Grey, writing to Norfolk, alluded to ‘good Mr. Randall's stout and valiant endeavour;’ and Cecil, writing from Edinburgh on 26 June, speaks of his worth. As a reward he was offered the post of marshal of Berwick, but refused it.
In 1563 he was made marshal of Havre ​(then called in England Newhaven), and aided the French Huguenots with two hundred men. In July 1563 he was ill of the plague. Elizabeth, on Randolph's return to England, made him lieutenant-general of ordnance, and colonel of footmen in Ireland. There he soon had plenty of fighting, and was killed in a battle with O'Neil at Knockfergus on 12 Nov. 1566. A poetical epitaph is in Egerton MS. 2642, f. 198 (cf. Hatfield MSS. ii. 100, 341).
W. A. J. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ralfe, James

​RALFE, JAMES (fl. 1820–1829), writer on naval history, was the author of ‘The Naval Chronology of Great Britain; an Historical Account of Naval and Maritime Events from the commencement of the War in 1803 to the end of the Year 1816’ (3 vols. 8vo, London, 1820), a useful compilation, intended as a continuation of the ‘Naval Chronology’ of Captain Isaac Schomberg [q. v.], but on a more extended scale. It appears to have been issued in parts, the date on the title-page being that of the completion of the work. He afterwards wrote ‘The Naval Biography of Great Britain, consisting of Historical Memoirs of those Officers of the British Navy who distinguished themselves during the reign of his Majesty George III,’ 4 vols. 4to, London, 1828. This was certainly published in parts, as appears from the reprint of the ‘Memoir of Admiral Charles Stirling’ (12mo, 1826), and an appendix to the ‘Memoir of Sir James Athol Wood,’ containing a criticism on it by Sir Charles ​Brisbane, dated 29 Dec. 1827. The appendix also contains an account of the battle of Navarino, and in the following year, 1829, Ralfe issued a pamphlet in justification of Sir Edward Codrington's conduct. The matter of the several memoirs in the ‘Naval Biography’ seems to have been for the most part contributed by the subjects of them, and may be accepted as correct as to facts. The inferences are less certain, and the style is stilted and verbose to an extreme degree. As a pecuniary venture it is said to have been unsuccessful, and in 1829 an attempt was made by some of the senior officers of the navy to raise a fund for the author's benefit, the subscriptions to be paid to his publishers, Messrs. Whitmore & Fenn, 6 Charing Cross (advertisement at the end of the ‘Navarino’ pamphlet).
J. K. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ralph

​RALPH. [See also Randolph and Randulf.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ralph (d.1123)

​RALPH, RADULF, RANULF, or RANDULF (d. 1123), chancellor, was a chaplain or clerk of Henry I, and became chancellor in 1107–8 (Monasticon, v. 192), from which date he appears frequently as holding that office until his death. For the last twenty years of his life he suffered much from bodily infirmity; but his mind was active, and he is described as crafty, prompt to work evil of every kind, oppressing the innocent, robbing men of their lands and possessions, and glorying in his wickedness and ill-gotten gains. In the first days of 1123 he rode with the king from Dunstable, where Henry had kept Christmas, escorting him to the castle of Berkhampstead, which belonged to the chancellor. As he came in sight of his castle his heart, it was believed, was puffed up with pride. At that moment be fell from his horse, and a monk of St. Albans, who had been despoiled of his possessions by him, rode over him. He died of his injuries a few days afterwards. He had a son, who joined him in some benefactions to Reading Abbey, and he also granted the manor of Tintinhull, Somerset, to Montacute Priory in that county (ib. p. 167).
W. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ralph (d.1144?)

​RALPH (d. 1144?), bishop of Orkney, whose name usually appears as Ralph Nowell, was a native of York, where he became a priest (‘Actus Pont. Ebor.’ in Historians of the Church of York, ii. 372, Rolls Ser.; Hugh the Chantor, ii. 127). York writers assert that, apparently about 1110, Ralph was elected (by men of the Orkneys) to the bishopric of the islands in the church of St. Peter at York. He was consecrated before 1114 by Thomas, archbishop of York, to whom he made his formal profession (Act. Pont. Ebor. l.c.). The primate of Trondhjem, however, claimed ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Orkneys, and Ralph, as the nominee of the archbishop of York, was ignored by prince, clergy, and people of the Orkneys (Flor. Wig. ii. 89, Engl. Hist. Soc.) He never went into residence, and the bishopric was filled by the archbishop of Trondhjem. But Ralph's position was upheld by Calixtus II and Honorius II, who successively addressed letters to the kings of Norway directing his restoration, and describing him as the ‘canonically elected and consecrated bishop’ (Dugdale, Mon. Angl. vi. 1186). Ralph, however, did not waste his life in litigation, but spent it usefully as a suffragan of York and Durham.
Ralph staunchly supported Thurstan [q. v.], archbishop-elect of York, in his struggle for the independence of the see of York against the claims of Canterbury. He visited Thurstan during his exile in France, and in October 1119 was at Rheims just before the opening of the council, when Thurstan was consecrated to the archbishopric of York, 19 Oct. 1119 (Hugh the Chantor, l.c., p. 164). Next day, upon the opening of the council, Ralph alone of the English and Norman bishops dared to take his seat beside the metropolitan (ib. p. 166). On his return to England he had to face the anger of Henry I. Ralph, however, declared that he and the archdeacon who had accompanied him had not gone to Rheims for the purpose of being present at Thurstan's consecration (ib. p. 172).
In 1138 Ralph represented the aged archbishop at the Battle of the Standard. Some writers improbably ascribe to him the well-known exhortation to the English army (Rog. Hov. i. 193, Rolls Ser.; Hemingburgh, i. 59, sq., Engl. Hist. Soc.; Brompton, Ap. x. Scriptt. col. 1026), which Ailred of Rievaulx [see Ethelred] assigns to Walter Espec [q. v.] Ralph was certainly conspicuous in exhorting and absolving the English host (John of Hexham, ib. col. 262, and Richard of Hexham, ib., col. 321).
In 1143 Ralph acted as suffragan of William of St. Barbe, bishop of Durham. In that year he, with two others, represented the latter at the consecration of William FitzHerbert [q. v.], archbishop of York, at Winchester (John of Hexham, l.c., col. 273). This is the last trustworthy mention we have of him.
A. M. C.-e.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ralph, Baron of Mortemer

​RALPH, Baron of Mortemer (d. 1104?). [See Mortimer.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ralph, George Keith

​RALPH, GEORGE KEITH (fl. 1778–1796), portrait-painter, was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1778 to 1796. His ​portraits include one of Lady Mary Bertie in 1788, and one of Mr. King, master of the ceremonies at Bath, in 1790. In 1794 he was appointed portrait-painter to the Duke of Clarence, and exhibited for the last time in 1796. Ralph appears to have obtained considerable employment in the provinces, notably in the eastern counties. His portraits are well and straightforwardly painted, but lack distinction.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Royal Academy Catalogues; information from G. Milner-Gibson-Cullum, esq., F.S.A.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ralph (d.1160?)

Despite what is said here, this person is the same as Papilon, Ralph, according to the ODNB article on Arundel, Ralph.
​RALPH (d. 1160?), theological writer, was almoner of Westminster and prior of Hurley, a dependent cell. He had a brother who served the brethren of the monastery in the secular habit, and upon this brother's sudden death by drowning, Ralph begged a monk of Durham to inform the hermit Godric [q. v.] of his misfortune. Godric recommended prayers to release the brother from purgatory, and these were ordered to be said by monks and nuns all over England (Vita Godrici, p. 360, Surtees Soc.) Ralph was a friend of Abbot Laurence (d. 1176), and wrote sermons at his request. He must be distinguished from Ralph Papilon [q. v.], abbot of Westminster.
Ralph's works were: 1. Twenty Latin homilies, dedicated to Abbot Laurence, beginning ‘Nunquid capies leviathan hamo,’ of which Leland saw copies in the hospital of Austin canons, Cambridge (Leland, Coll. iii. 15), and at Westminster (ib. p. 45). 2. ‘Conciones,’ begun at Laurence's request, dedicated to Walter, the next abbot, which begin ‘Ecce fratres delectissimi,’ of which Leland saw a copy at Westminster. 3. ‘Homeliæ in Epistolas,’ beginning ‘Ecce dies veniunt, dicit Dominus.’ 4. ‘Homeliæ in Evangelia,’ one book beginning ‘In illo tempore cum appropinquasset.’ 5. ‘De peccatore,’ one book beginning ‘Ego cum sim pulvis et cinis;’ there is a copy among the Royal MSS. in the British Museum. 6. ‘Postilla in dies dominicos et festos,’ in the Bodleian Library (Bernard's Catalogue, No. 3501).
M. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robertson, Archibald (1789-1864)

​ROBERTSON, ARCHIBALD (1789–1864), medical writer, was born at Cockburnspath, near Dunbar, on 3 Dec. 1789, and educated at Dunse school, and afterwards by Mr. Strachan in Berwickshire. After prosecuting his medical studies in Edinburgh, he passed as assistant surgeon in 1808, and was appointed to Mill prison hospital for French prisoners at Plymouth. In 1809 he was in Lord Gambier's flagship the Caledonia in Basque roads, when Lord Dundonald tried to burn the French fleet. He then served in the Baltic, and afterwards in the West Indies, in the Persian and the Cydnus, besides boat service in the attempt on New Orleans. At the peace of 1813 with America he went on half-pay, having received a medal with two clasps. He graduated M.D. at Edinburgh in 1817, his thesis being on the dysentery of hot climates. He settled in 1818 at Northampton, where he obtained a lucrative practice. In 1820 he was elected physician to the Northampton infirmary. In 1853 he retired to Clifton. On 11 Feb. 1836 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and in the same year became a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He died at 11 West Mall, Clifton, on 19 Oct. 1864, leaving one son, the Rev. George Samuel Robertson (1825–1874), M.A. of Exeter College, Oxford. ​Robertson wrote: 1. ‘De Dysenteria regionum calidarum,’ 1817. 2. ‘Medical Topography of New Orleans, with an Account of the Principal Diseases that affected the Fleet and Army of the late unsuccessful Expedition against that City,’ 1818. 3. ‘A Lecture on Civilisation,’ 1839. He also contributed to Sir John Forbes's ‘Cyclopædia of Practical Medicine,’ 1833–5, 4 vols.
[Proceedings of the Medical and Chirurgical Society, 1867, v. 46; Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1866, v. 305–6; Procedings of Royal Society, 1865, vol. xiv. p. xvii; British Medical Journal, 1865, i. 16.]
G. C. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Roberts, William Prowting

1904 Errata appended.
​ROBERTS, WILLIAM PROWTING (1806–1871), solicitor and trades-union advocate, the youngest son of Thomas Roberts, vicar of Chelmsford, Essex, and master of the grammar school there, was born at Chelmsford in 1806, and educated at Charterhouse School, London, which he entered in 1820. In 1828 he was admitted a solicitor and practised at Bath, and afterwards at Manchester, having an office also in Essex Street, Strand, London. While he was at Bath, in 1838, he became acquainted with Henry Vincent and other leading chartists, and was subsequently closely associated in many agitations for the extension of the franchise and the improvement of the condition of the working classes. He acted as legal adviser to Feargus O'Connor's ‘land bank,’ and his association with that scheme caused him considerable pecuniary loss. From 1843 he was concerned in nearly all the law affairs of the trade unions, and in 1844 was formally appointed by the Miners' Association of Great Britain and Ireland as their standing legal adviser, at 1,000l. a year, his popular title being the ‘miners' attorney-general.’ He was a most able, indefatigable, and pertinacious advocate, and became the ‘terror of many a local bench.’
In 1862 and 1863, after a visit to the Holy Land, he delivered lectures on biblical subjects in Manchester and neighbourhood, at the request of local church of England societies. One of the last cases in which he was engaged was the organisation, in 1867, of the defence of the fenians Allen, Larkin, and O'Brien, the so-called Manchester martyrs, who were hanged for the murder of a policeman. He shortly afterwards retired to Heronsgate House, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, where he died on 7 Sept. 1871, aged 64, and was buried at Chorley Wood church, Rickmansworth.
He was married twice: first to Mary Moody of Bath; and, secondly, to Mary Alice Hopkins, granddaughter to Dr. Hopkins, bishop of Londonderry, and left children by both marriages.
He published: 1. ‘The Haswell Colliery Explosion, 28 September 1844: Narrative-Report of the Proceedings at the Coroner's Inquest,’ &c., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1844. 2. ‘What is a Traveller? Random Chapters on the Sunday Restriction Bill of August 1854,’ 1855. 3. ‘Trade Union Bill, 1871,’ 1871.
C. W. S.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.234 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robertson, Archibald (d.1847)

​ROBERTSON, ARCHIBALD (d. 1847), major-general and director of the East India Company, was nominated a cadet in 1800, and was made ensign in the 6th native infantry (Bombay establishment) on 22 May 1801. On 17 Oct. he became lieutenant. Shortly before this the gaekwar of Gujarat had called in the help of the government of Bombay, and a British resident (Major Walker) had been appointed. The Arab troops, which formed the garrison of Baroda, mutinied and seized the gaekwar. Robertson took part in the siege by which Baroda was recovered. In 1803 he was given the command of a local corps in Gujarat, and in the following year he was also employed as a revenue officer.
In 1805, when arrangements were made for the administration of Gujarat, he was appointed first assistant of the collectorship of Kaira, and remained twelve years in this position. He assisted Colonel Walker in the operations undertaken in 1807–8 to compel the rajputs of Kattiawar to pay their tribute to the gaekwar, including the siege of the fort of Kandorna; and he was also present at the siege of Malia in 1809. He became captain in the army on 4 July 1811, and in the 6th native infantry on 1 Oct. 1812.
In 1817 he was made collector of the eastern zilla, north of the Mahi; and in 1823 he was given charge of the province of Khandeish as collector and magistrate. He found this important district in a very disturbed state, but he organised police, put down robbery and murder, corrected abuses, and at the end of three years left it in good order. In 1827 he was appointed resident at Satara (a post afterwards occupied by Outram and Bartle Frere). There he worked smoothly with the rajah while satisfying his own government. He became major on 9 Jan. 1822, lieutenant-colonel on 1 May 1824, colonel on 1 Dec. 1829, and major-general (local rank) on 28 June 1837.
He returned to England in 1831, and was elected a director of the East India Company in 1840. He died in London on 9 June 1847.
E. M. L.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robertson, Archibald (1765-1835)

​ROBERTSON, ARCHIBALD (1765–1835), miniature-painter, born at Monymusk in Scotland on 8 May 1765, was eldest son of William Robertson of Drumnahoy, near Aberdeen, and Jean Ross, his wife; Andrew Robertson [q. v.] was his brother. He was educated at Aberdeen, and received his first instruction in drawing from a deaf-and-dumb artist. In 1786 he came to London and became a student of the Royal Aca​demy, working under Sir Joshua Reynolds and Benjamin West. His miniature portraits soon attracted attention. Hearing through some Scottish friends that there was an opening for his art in the new world, Robertson removed to America. The Earl of Buchan, who was interested in his progress, gave him a letter of recommendation to Washington, and entrusted to him a gift known as the ‘Wallace Box,’ requesting at the same time a portrait of Washington from the pencil of Robertson. This introduction gained for Robertson admission into the family circle of Washington. He painted a portrait of Washington in oils for Buchan, and miniatures of Washington and his wife in watercolours on ivory, which are in the possession of two of Robertson's grand-daughters. Robertson met with so much success that he settled in New York, and was joined by his brother Alexander in 1792. They set up a drawing school at 79 Liberty Street, New York, known as the Columbian Academy. Both brothers became prominent citizens in New York. Archibald died there in 1835. An engraved portrait of him was published in 1805.
Archibald married, in 1793, Eliza, daughter of Andrew Abramse and Magdalen Lispenard of New York, and had a numerous family, of whom the fourth son, Anthony Lispenard Robertson, became chief justice of New York.
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robertson, David

​ROBERTSON, DAVID (1795–1854), bookseller, son of a farmer, was born in the parish of Kippen, Perthshire, in 1795. He received a fair education in his native district, and in 1810 was apprenticed to William Turnbull, bookseller, Trongate, Glasgow. On the death of Turnbull in 1823, Robertson carried on the business for seven years, in partnership with Thomas Atkinson. In 1830 the partnership was dissolved, and Robertson opened new premises in a different part of Trongate. His gift of story-telling, his love of Scottish poetry, and his tact and shrewdness, soon won him valued friendships and success, and his place of business became a rendezvous for local men of letters. To his ordinary trade as bookseller he gradually added publishing. As a citizen he was highly appreciated, and in 1842 his portrait, painted by Sir Daniel Macnee, was publicly presented to him. He died of cholera on 6 Oct. 1854, and was buried in Glasgow necropolis, where his friends placed a memorial obelisk, with medallion portrait. He married, in 1826, Frances Aitken, daughter of a prominent Glasgow builder. Three daughters and a son David, who succeeded to the business, survived him.
In 1832 Robertson published the first issue of ‘Whistle Binkie,’ a collection of contemporary Scottish lyrics. This he followed up with four similar series, and in 1846 with a separate volume of ‘Songs for the Nursery,’ which was highly praised by Lord Jeffrey in a letter to the publisher (Whistle Binkie, i. 89, ed. 1890). The whole were reissued in one volume in 1848, in two volumes in 1853, and again, with considerable additions, in 1878 and 1890. Two series of ‘The Laird of Logan,’ graphic and characteristic Scottish stories narrated by Robertson himself and others, appeared in 1835 and 1837, and a complete enlarged edition, dedicated to the prince consort, in 1841. New issues, with additions, were published in 1845 and 1854, and frequently reprinted. Robertson also published William Motherwell's ‘Poems’ (1832, 1847, 1849) and Henderson's excellent collection of ‘Scottish Proverbs’ (1832), besides the ‘Western Supplement’ to ‘Oliver and Boyd's Almanac,’ from 1824 onwards.
[Information from Robertson's son, Mr. David Robertson, Glasgow; Whistle Binkie, ed. 1878 and 1890; Strang's Glasgow and its Clubs; Aird's Sketches of Glasgow Notabilities; Mackay's Through the Long Day; Hedderwick's Backward Glances.]
T. B.