OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Stewart, John (1457?-1479?)

​STEWART, JOHN, Earl of Mar (1457?–1479?), third and youngest son of James II of Scotland, by Mary of Gueldres, was born after October 1456, his name not occurring in the list of the king's sons in the comptroller's account of that date. James III [q. v.] and Alexander Stewart, duke of Albany [q. v.], were his elder brothers. Between 21 June 1458 and 23 June 1459 he was created Earl of Mar and Garioch (Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vi. 516). He sat in the parliament of March 1478–9 (Acta Parl. Scot. ii. 120), but between that date and October 1479—for he was not present at the parliament which met in the latter month (ib. p. 124)—was arrested by James III at the instance of Cochrane, the king's favourite. The traditional story is that he was accused by Cochrane of using magical arts against the king; but the probability is that Cochrane and the king dreaded a combination against them. Mar was confined in Craigmillar Castle, and, according to one story, an incision being made in one of his veins, he was allowed to bleed to death; while those who desired to absolve the king of blame asserted that his death was the result of misadventure while he was being bled by a physician for fever. ‘The Earl of Mar,’ says Lindsay of Pitscottie, ‘was ane fair lustie man, of ane great and weill proportioned stature, weill faced and comelie in all his behaviours who knew nothing but nobilitie. He used meikle hunting and hawking, with other gentlemanlie exercise, and delighted also in interteaming of great and stout hors and meares, that thair of spring micht florisch, so that he might be served thairwith in tyme of warres’ (Chronicle, p. 178). He was unmarried, and his honours became extinct.
T. F. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Stewart, John (1700-1752)

​STEWART, JOHN, called John Roy (Gaelic ruadh = red) (1700–1752), Jacobite, was son of Donald Stewart by his second wife, Barbara Shaw. He belonged to the Stewarts of Kincardine, Inverness-shire, the first of whom, Walter, third son of Alexander Stewart, earl of Buchan [q. v.], was knighted for his valour at Harlaw (24 July 1411), and obtained the barony by charter from Robert III in 1400. The property continued in the family till 1683, when it was sold to the Duke of Gordon.
‘John Roy’ was born at Knock, Kincardine, in 1700, when his mother was fifty-two years of age. He served for some time as lieutenant and quartermaster in the Scots greys, but, being refused a commission in the Black Watch, he resigned. Subsequently he was employed as a Jacobite agent, and, on being arrested, he broke out of Inverness gaol by the connivance of Simon Fraser, lord Lovat [q. v.], 1736 (State Trials, vol. xviii.) Retiring to France, then a sort of Cave of Adullam for discontented Scots, he was next sent on a mission to Rome. He fought in the French army at Fontenoy (30 April 1745). At the opening of the Jacobite rebellion in the summer of 1745 he joined Prince Charles at Blair in Atholl, and was placed in command of the ‘Edinburgh regiment.’ His regiment was actively employed in all the engagements from Prestonpans (21 Sept. 1745) to Culloden. Scott calls him ‘a most excellent partisan officer,’ and Chambers says he was ‘the beau ideal of a clever highland soldier.’ His courage and devotion, his gift of song, and the knowledge and culture which he had acquired by service at home and in France, made him a great favourite with the Prince, who called him ‘the Body’ (‘Lyon in Mourning’). The highland chiefs had such confidence in his skill and resource that it was at one time proposed to make him commander in place of Lord George Murray (1700?–1760) [q. v.] After Culloden a price was set on his head, but, though he had many hairbreadth escapes, he was never betrayed. He described his immunity in a poem which he called ‘John Roy's Psalm.’ After hiding for some weeks on Speyside, he joined the prince in Lochaber and accompanied him to France, where he died in 1752.
John Roy was noted as a poet as well as a soldier. His Gaelic songs and laments are marked by strength and ardour, with fine touches of humour and pathos. They are still popular in the highlands.
W. F.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jackson, Henry (1831-1879)

​JACKSON, HENRY (1831–1879), novelist, born at Boston, Lincolnshire, on 15 April 1831, was son of a brewer. After attending Sleaford and Boston grammar schools, he was placed first in a bank, and subsequently in his father's brewery. Severe illness left him an invalid for life at eighteen, and he devoted himself thenceforth to literary work. He died at Hampstead on 24 May 1879.
Jackson's earliest stories were published in ‘ Chambers's Journal,’ beginning with a brief tale called ‘A Dead Man's Revenge.’ His first novel, entitled ‘A First Friendship,’ was published in ‘Fraser's Magazine’ while Mr. J. A. Froude was editor; it was reissued in one volume in 1863. His next novel, ‘Gilbert Rugge,’ appeared in the same magazine, and was published in three volumes in 1866. ​Both novels were reprinted in America, where they had a larger circulation than in England. In 1871 Jackson published a volume of three stories, called ‘Hearth Ghosts,’ and in 1874 a novel in three volumes, entitled ‘Argus Fairbairn,’ the only one of his writings to which his name is attached.
[Information from F. Jackson, esq.]
G. G.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jackson, John (1801-1848)

​JACKSON, JOHN (1801–1848), wood-engraver, was born of humble parentage at Ovingham, Northumberland, on 19 April 1801. His early attempts at drawing attracted the notice of his neighbours, and in the expectation that he might follow the example of Thomas Bewick [q. v.], a native of the same village, he was apprenticed to Messrs. Armstrong & Walker, engravers and printers at Newcastle. On the failure of their business he was apprenticed to Bewick, and at the close of his apprentice​ship came to London. Here he assisted William Hughes to engrave the illustrations of Mr. Weare's murder for the ‘Observer,’ and was afterwards employed by James Northcote, R.A. [q. v.], to engrave most of his well-known series of ‘Fables.’ Henceforth Jackson was one of the first engravers of illustrations on wood for popular literature or journalism. His work for Charles Knight's ‘Penny Magazine’ did much to insure the success of the periodical. Jackson also drew and painted domestic subjects with some success. Some of his drawings were engraved in the ‘New Sporting Magazine,’ and to that magazine as well as to Hone's ‘Every-day Book’ he contributed literary articles. Jackson took a literary and historical, as well as a practical interest in his profession as a wood-engraver, and continually collected materials for a history of wood-engraving. Ultimately he and his intimate friend, William Andrew Chatto [q. v.], joined together in bringing out the work in 1839. The project was Jackson's; the subjects were selected by him, and he contributed some of the historical matter, bore the cost of production, and engraved the illustrations; some of his best work as a wood-engraver is to be found in the first edition. The whole was edited and brought into shape by Chatto. A dispute followed between Jackson and Chatto as to their respective shares in the credit of producing it. Jackson died in London of chronic bronchitis on 27 March 1848, and was buried in Highgate cemetery. He was the brother of Mason Jackson, the well-known wood-engraver. There are good examples of his work in the print room at the British Museum.
[Information from Mr. Mason Jackson.]
L. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jackson, Francis James

​JACKSON, FRANCIS JAMES (1770–1814), diplomatist, born in December 1770, was son of Thomas Jackson, D.D. (1745–1797). The father, a Westminster scholar, matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1763, and graduated B.A. 1767, M.A. 1770, B.D. and D.D. 1783 (Welch, Alumni Westmon.) He was tutor to the Marquis of Carmarthen, afterwards fifth Duke of Leeds; minister of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, until 1796; chaplain to the king, 1782; prebendary of Westminster, 1782–92; canon residentiary of St. Paul's, 1792; and rector of Yarlington, Somerset. He died at Tunbridge Wells 1 Dec. 1797.
Francis James, his eldest son, entered the diplomatic service at the early age of sixteen, and was secretary of legation from 1789 to 1797, first at Berlin, and afterwards at Madrid. His letters to the fifth Duke of Leeds during this time are among British Museum Addit. MSS. 28064–7. He was appointed ambassador at Constantinople 23 July 1796, and minister plenipotentiary to France on 2 Dec. 1801, after Cornwallis had returned from the peace congress at Amiens [see Cornwallis, Charles, first Marquis]. In October 1802 Jackson was sent as minister plenipotentiary to Berlin, where he married. Except for a brief period, when his younger brother George [see Jackson, Sir George, 1785–1861] was in temporary charge, Jackson stayed at Berlin until the breaking-off of diplomatic relations consequent upon the occupation of Hanover in 1806. He was employed in 1807 on a special mission to Denmark previous to the bombardment, which he witnessed. Afterwards, in 1809, he was sent as minister plenipotentiary to Washington on the recall of David Montagu Erskine [q. v.], second lord Erskine, whose arrangement of the difficulty arising out of the conflict between H.M.S. Leopard and the U.S. frigate Chesapeake in 1807 the British government refused to ratify [cf. Berkeley, George Cranfield]. Jackson remained at Washington until the rupture between Great Britain and the United States in 1811, which ended in the war of 1812–15.
Jackson died at Brighton, after a lingering illness, on 5 Aug. 1814, in the forty-fourth year of his age. A number of his diaries and letters during the period 1801–10 are included in Lady Jackson's ‘Diaries and Letters of Sir George Jackson.’
[Welch's Alumni Westmon. 1852; Gent. Mag. lxvii. 1075, lxxxiv. pt. ii. 198; Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. under name; Nelson Desp. vol. iii.; Lady Jackson's Diaries and Letters of Sir George Jackson (London, 1872, 2 vols.). Also Foreign Office Papers in Public Record Office, London; correspondence under countries and dates; Haydn's Book of Dignities; Military Auxiliary Expeditions.]
H. M. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Townsend, Joseph

​TOWNSEND, JOSEPH (1739–1816), geologist, born 4 April 1739, was fourth son of Chauncy Townsend (d. 1770), a merchant in Austin Friars, London, by his wife Bridget (d. 1762), daughter of James Phipps, governor of Cape Coast Castle. He was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1762 and M.A. in 1765. He was elected a fellow, and subsequently studied medicine in Edinburgh. He took orders, and for a time showed sympathy with the Calvinistic methodists, occasionally preaching in Lady Huntingdon's chapel at Bath [see Hastings, Selina]. In 1769 he travelled in Ireland, and in the following year in France, Holland, and Flanders. After that he went to Spain, publishing an account of his journey, and to Switzerland, taking the opportunities afforded by his travels to make the acquaintance of distinguished men of science on the continent. Also, as he states, he frequently visited Cornwall in the winter season to study mineralogy. After acting as chaplain to the Duke of Atholl he became rector of Pewsey, ​Wiltshire, where he died on 9 Nov. 1816. He was twice married: first, on 27 Sept. 1773, to Joyce, daughter of Thomas Nankivell of Truro. She died on 8 Nov. 1785, and on 26 March 1790 he was married to Lydia Hammond, widow of Sir John Clerke. She died in 1812. By his first wife Townsend left four sons—Thomas, Charles, James, and Henry—and two daughters—Charlotte and Sophia.
Townsend was the author of the following works: 1. ‘Every True Christian a New Creature,’ 1765. 2. ‘Free Thoughts on Despotic and Free Governments,’ 1781. 3. ‘The Physician's Vade Mecum,’ 1781; 10th edit. 1807. 4. ‘A Dissertation on the Poor Laws,’ 1785. 5. ‘Observations on various Plans for the Relief of the Poor,’ 1788. 6. ‘Journey through Spain,’ 1791; 3rd ed. 1814; French translation, Paris, 1800. 7. ‘A Guide to Health,’ 1795–6; 3rd ed. 1801. 8. ‘Sermons on various Subjects,’ 1805. 9. ‘The Character of Moses established,’ 2 vols., 1812–15; reissued 1824. This work shows him to have had a good knowledge of mineralogy and geology, and some of his criticisms of Hutton's uniformitarian views are acute, but he was so firmly persuaded of the literal accuracy of the Mosaic record as to expose himself also to attack [see Hutton, James, (1715–1795)]. His works, however, show that he was a thoughtful, well-read man, of considerable literary power. A work by him on ‘Etymological Researches’ appeared after his death in 1824. A correspondent in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ (1816, ii. 606) states that he possessed a fine collection of minerals and fossils at the time of his death.
T. G. B.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Townsend, William Charles

​TOWNSEND, WILLIAM CHARLES (1803–1850), historical and legal writer, born in 1803, was the second son of William Townsend of Walton, Lancashire. He matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford, on 4 July 1820, graduating B.A. in 1824 and M.A. in 1827, and on 25 Nov. 1828 he ​was called to the bar by the society of Lincoln's Inn. He first attached himself to the northern circuit, and afterwards practised at the Cheshire and Manchester assizes. Later he obtained a large practice on the North Wales circuit. In 1833 he was elected recorder of Macclesfield. In March 1850 he was appointed a queen's counsel, and in the same year became a bencher of Lincoln's Inn. He survived these preferments only a few weeks, dying without issue on 8 May at Burntwood Lodge, Wandsworth Common, the house of his elder brother, Richard Lateward Townsend, vicar of All Saints', Wandsworth, Surrey. He was buried in the vaults of Lincoln's Inn. In 1834 he married Frances, second daughter of Richard Wood of Macclesfield, who survived him.
As an author Townsend was unequal. His works embody great historical and legal knowledge, but their value is impaired by a want of proportion. While the ordinary reader is fatigued by detail, the student often finds necessary information lacking. He was the author of: 1. ‘The Pæan of Orford, a poem,’ London, 1826, 8vo. 2. ‘The History and Memoirs of the House of Commons,’ London, 1843–4. 3. ‘The Lives of Twelve Eminent Judges of the Last and of the Present Century,’ London, 1846, 8vo. 4. ‘Modern State Trials revised and illustrated,’ London, 1850, 8vo. He also contributed poems to Fisher's ‘Imperial Magazine’ as early as 1820.
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Townsend, George Henry

1904 Errata appended.
​TOWNSEND, GEORGE HENRY (d. 1869), compiler, was grandson of John Townsend [q. v.] and first cousin once removed of George Townsend [q. v.] He was chiefly known as a literary compiler and journalist. A conservative in politics, he made himself conspicuous in the general election of 1868 by his exertions for his party, and in consequence received a promise of preferment. Unfortunately Disraeli's government resigned before this pledge was fulfilled, and Townsend felt the disappointment deeply. He committed suicide at Kennington on 23 Feb. 1869.
He was the author of: 1. ‘Russell's History of Modern Europe epitomised,’ London, 1857, 8vo. 2. ‘Shakespeare not an Impostor,’ London, 1857, 8vo. 3. ‘The Manual of Dates,’ London, 1862, 8vo; 5th edit. by Frederick Martin [q. v.], 1877. 4. ‘The Handbook of the Year 1868,’ London, 1869, 8vo. 5. ‘The Every-day Book of Modern Literature,’ London, 1870, 8vo. He also edited, among other works, ‘Men of the Time,’ 7th edit. London, 1868, 8vo.
Besides these works, Townsend between 1860 and 1866 wrote several pamphlets containing selections of madrigals and glees for John Green, the proprietor of Evans's music and supper rooms, 43 Covent Garden. As these pamphlets purport to be compiled by John Green, some confusion has arisen, and Green has been regarded as a pseudonym of Townsend. The two are, however, entirely distinct. John or ‘Paddy’ Green (1801–1874), born in 1801, was an actor at the Old English Opera House, London, and at Covent Garden. He became manager of the Cider Cellars in Maiden Lane, Strand, and took part, as a singer, in the entertainments there. In 1842 he became chairman and conductor of music at Evans's Hall, and in 1845 succeeded W. C. Evans (d. 1855) as proprietor. In 1865 he sold the concern to a joint-stock company for 30,000l. In 1866 he gave evidence before a parliamentary committee on theatrical licenses. He died in London at 6 Farm Street, Mayfair, on 12 Dec. 1874. His collection of theatrical portraits was sold at Christie's on 22 July 1871. The Cider Cellars and Evans's Hall were the originals of Thackeray's ‘Cave of Harmony’ (Boase, Modern Biogr.)
E. I. C.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.267 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 105 | i | 7 | Townsend, George H.: for Henry read Herbert |
| | | 8 | for nephew read grandson of John Townsend [q. v.], and first cousin once removed |
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Townsend, John

​TOWNSEND, JOHN (1757–1826), founder of the London asylum for the deaf and dumb, born in Whitechapel on 24 March 1757, was the son of Benjamin Townsend, ‘citizen and pewterer,’ by his wife Margaret (Christ's Hospital Register). His father was disinherited for his attachment to Whitefield. On 6 March 1766 John was admitted to Christ's Hospital on the presentation of William Brockett. He was ‘discharged by his father’ on 8 April 1771, and was apprenticed to him for seven years at Swallow's Gardens. In 1774 he was ‘converted,’ and turned his attention to preaching, and on 1 June 1781 was ordained pastor of the independent church at Kingston, Surrey. Finding that William Huntington [q. v.], who resided there, was influencing his congregation by his antinomian views, he resigned his charge, and on 28 Oct. 1784 became minister of the independent church at Bermondsey. In 1792 his attention was called to the neglected condition of deaf and dumb children, and with the assistance of Henry Cox Mason, rector of Bermondsey, of Henry Thornton [q. v.] and others, he founded the asylum for the deaf and dumb in the parish of Bermondsey. The institution rapidly grew in public esteem, and became a great national charity. On 11 July 1807 the first stone of the present asylum was laid by the Duke of Gloucester. It stands in the Old Kent Road, and recently a subordinate asylum has been established at Margate.
On 25 Sept. 1810 Townsend was moved by the poverty of his fellow-ministers and the insufficient education of their families to address a letter on the subject ‘To the Ministers, Officers, and all other Members and Friends of the Congregational Churches in England.’ In 1811 a school was established for the free education of the sons of poor independent ministers, and in 1815 a house was taken at Lewisham to accommodate the children. The school, after continuing long at Lewisham, was removed in recent years to Caterham Valley in Surrey, where it now stands. It contains accommodation for 150 scholars.
Townsend was also concerned in founding the London Missionary Society in 1794, and the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1802, suggesting the name of the latter institution. He died at Bermondsey on 7 Feb. 1826. In June 1781 he married Cordelia Cahusac, by whom he had issue.
Besides single sermons, Townsend was the author of: 1. ‘Three Sermons addressed to Old, Middle-aged, and Young People,’ London, 1797, 8vo. 2. ‘Nine Sermons on Prayer,’ London, 1799, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1799. 3. ‘Hints on Sunday-schools and Itinerant Preaching,’ London, 1801, 8vo. He also published an abridgment of Bunyan's ‘Pilgrim's Progress,’ London, 1806, 8vo, and a life of Jean Claude, prefixed to a translation of his ‘Defence of the Reformation,’ London, 1815, 8vo.
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Townsend, Richard (1821-1884)

​TOWNSEND, RICHARD (1821–1884), mathematician, born at Baltimore, co. Cork, on 3 April 1821, was the eldest son of Thomas Townsend (d. 1848) of Smithville, a commodore in the royal navy, by his wife Helena, daughter of John Freke of Baltimore, deputy governor of co. Cork. Richard was educated at local schools at Castletownsend and Skibbereen. He proceeded to Trinity College, Dublin, in October 1837, graduating B.A. in 1842 and M.A. in 1852. Distinguishing himself in mathematics, he was elected a fellow in May 1845, and in October 1847 he succeeded to a college tutorship. On 7 June 1866 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and on 25 June 1870 he was appointed professor of natural philosophy at Dublin, after acting as assistant from October 1862. Between 1863 and 1865 he published ‘Chapters on the Modern Geometry of the Point, Line, and Circle’ (Dublin, 8vo), which contained the substance of lectures given by him in Dublin University, and was a treatise of great importance in the history of pure geometry. While Townsend ranked among the most distinguished mathematicians of his day, his most valuable work was probably accomplished as a teacher, a capacity in which he was unrivalled. To him is owing no small part of the modern mathematical reputation of Trinity College. He showed singular kindness to his pupils, and ‘counted thousands of personal friends throughout the world who had passed officially through his hands.’ After the disestablishment of the Irish church, by an appeal to former students he raised about 2,500l. to endow his native parish.
Townsend died on 16 Oct. 1884 at his house, 54 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin, and was buried at Mount Jerome cemetery. He married his first cousin, Mary Jane Barret, who died on 28 Aug. 1881. He left no issue. A mathematical exhibition was founded in his memory at Trinity College, Dublin.
Besides his book on geometry, he wrote numerous mathematical articles to the ‘Cambridge and Dublin Mathematical Journal.’
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton

​MURDOCH, Sir THOMAS WILLIAM CLINTON (1809–1891), civil servant, born on 22 March 1809 in London, was son of Thomas Murdoch, F.R.S., of Portland Place, and Charlotte, daughter of John Leacock of Madeira. He was educated at the Charterhouse, and entered the colonial office as a junior clerk in 1826. In September 1839 he went out under Sir George Arthur to Canada to act as chief secretary, and, after acting also during part of 1841 as provincial secretary for Lower Canada, returned to the colonial office in September 1842. He became a senior clerk there in May 1846.
In November 1847 Murdoch was appointed to the important position of chairman of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, and it is in connection with the regulation of emigration and colonisation during the succeeding years that his name is best known. In 1870 he went to Canada on a special mission connected with the examination of the system of free grants to settlers. At the same time he carried important instructions on the Red River matter; and he went on to the United States to discuss the question of offences on British passenger ships plying to the States.
Murdoch was created a K.C.M.G. in 1870, and retired on pension in December 1876. He was a great reader, and spent his later years chiefly among his books. He died on 30 Nov. 1891, at 88 St. George's Square, London. He married in 1836 Isabella Anne, daughter of Robert Lukin of the war office, and left issue; the eldest son is C. S. Murdoch, C.B., of the home office.
[Private information; Colonial Office List and Records; Dod's Peerage.]
C. A. H.