OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomas, William (1670-1738)

​THOMAS, WILLIAM, D.D. (1670–1738), antiquary, was grandson of William Thomas (1613–1689) [q. v.], bishop of Worcester, being the only child of John Thomas by his wife Mary, whose father, William Bagnal, assisted in the escape of Charles II after the battle of Worcester. William was admitted to Westminster school in 1685, and thence was elected on 25 June 1688 to a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he became a fellow in 1691. He graduated B.A. in 1691, M.A. in 1695, B.D. in 1723, and D.D. in 1729. In 1700 he travelled in France and Italy, where he formed a close friendship with Sir John Pakington (1671–1727) [q. v.] Afterwards he obtained the living of Exhall, Warwickshire, through the interest of Lord Somers, to whom he was distantly related. He had a considerable estate at Atherstone in the same county, and another at the Grange, near Toddington, Gloucestershire. He removed to Worcester for the education of his numerous children in 1721, and in 1723 he was presented by John Hough [q. v.], bishop of Worcester, to the rectory of St. Nicholas in that city. With a view to the publication of a history of Worcestershire he transcribed many documents, besides visiting every church in the county, and his collections were of great service to Nash, who acknowledges his obligations to them. His industry was amazing, and he hardly allowed himself time for sleep, meals, and amusement. He died on 26 July 1738, and was buried in the cloisters of Worcester Cathedral. He married Elizabeth, only daughter of George Carter, esquire, of Brill, Buckinghamshire.
His works are: 1. ‘Antiquitates Prioratus Majoris Malverne in agro Wicciensi, cum Chartis originalibus easdem illustrantibus, ex Registris Sedis Episcopalis Wigornensis,’ London, 1725, 8vo. 2. ‘A Survey of the Cathedral Church of Worcester, with an account of the Bishops thereof from the foundation of the see to the year 1660 [a mistake for 1610], also an appendix of many original papers and records, never before printed,’ London 1736, 4to; also with a new title-page, dated 1737. Thomas is best known as the editor of the second edition, ‘revised, augmented, and continued,’ of Sir William Dugdale's ‘Antiquities of Warwickshire,’ 2 vols. London, 1730, fol. His ‘Index of Places to Dugdale's “Warwickshire,” 2nd edit.’ fol., was privately printed by Sir Thomas Phillips at Middle Hill about 1844. Thomas contributed verses to the collection published by the University of Cambridge on the birth of the Prince of Wales, 1688.
In Nash's ‘Worcestershire’ (i. 177) there is a portrait of Thomas engraved in mezzotint by Valentine Green.
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomas, William (1832-1878)

​THOMAS, WILLIAM (Islwyn) (1832–1878), Welsh poet, was born at Ynysddu, a small village on the banks of the Howy, in the parish of Mynyddislwyn in Monmouthshire, on 3 April 1832. His father was a native of Ystradgynlais, and his mother of Blaengwawr. Both became members of the Calvinistic methodist church of Goitre. William, the youngest of nine children, received the best education his parents could give. He attended schools at Tredegar, Newport, Cowbridge, and Swansea, but his career at school was cut short by the sudden death of his father, and he began life as a land surveyor in Monmouthshire.
Under the influence of Daniel Jenkins, who had married his eldest sister, and was pastor of the church of Y Babell (The Tabernacle), Thomas resolved to enter the Calvinistic methodist ministry. His first sermon was preached in 1854, but it was not till 1859 that his ordination took place at Llangeitho.
Thomas, who wrote verse from an early age, and adopted the bardic name of Islwyn, long devoted his leisure to a remarkable philosophical poem in Welsh called ‘The Storm,’ which was to extend to over nine thousand lines (cf. Wales, June 1896, p. 357). He published some extracts in a volume of poems which appeared at Wrexham in 1867 with a dedication to Jenkins. Translated specimens of this and of others of Thomas's Welsh poems may be seen in ‘Welsh Lyrics of the Nineteenth Century,’ 1896. His Welsh poetry, although now acknowledged to be the finest of the century, was not widely recognised in his own lifetime. He edited the Welsh column of poetry in the periodicals entitled ‘Cylchgrawn,’ ‘Ymgeisydd,’ ‘Star of Gwent,’ ‘Y Glorian,’ ‘Y Gwladgarwr,’ ‘Cardiff Times,’ and ‘Baner Cymru.’ Thomas's attempts in English poetry were failures, giving no indication of the high quality of his Welsh poetry. Some twenty specimens were published in ‘Wales’ for 1896 and in ‘Young Wales,’ 1896.
Islwyn spent his life in Mynyddislwyn and its vicinity, the district of his birth. There he won a reputation as a preacher, and he died there on 20 Nov. 1878. He was buried in the churchyard of Y Babell, where a granite column was erected to his memory by public subscription. In 1864 he married Martha, daughter of William Davies of Swansea. There was no issue.
His published works were: 1. ‘Barddoniaeth [Poetry] gan Islwyn,’ Cardiff, 1854, 12mo. 2. ‘Caniadau [Songs of] Islwyn,’ Wrexham, n.d.; 1867, 16mo. 3. ‘Ymweliad y Doethion â Bethlehem [Visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem] gan Islwyn,’ Aberdare, 1871, 12mo. 4. ‘Pregethau [Sermons] y Parch. William Thomas (Islwyn) yn nghyda Rhagdraethawd ar “Islwyn fel Pregethwr” [An Essay on Islwyn as a Preacher] gan y Parch. Edward Matthews,’ Treherbert, 1896, 8vo. 5. A complete collection of his Welsh poems, ‘Gweithiau Islwyn,’ edited by Mr. Owen M. Edwards in 1897, Wrexham, 8vo.
R. J. J.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomas, William (fl.1780-1794)

​THOMAS, WILLIAM (fl. 1780–1794), architect, was from 1780 to 1794 an occasional exhibitor at the Royal Academy of Arts. He practised as an architect, chiefly, if not solely, in London. In 1783 he published ‘Original Designs in Architecture’ (London, fol.), with twenty-seven plates, comprising villas, temples, grottoes, and tombs. Between 1786 and 1788 he designed Willersley Castle, Derbyshire, for Richard Arkwright. He was a member of the Artists' Club. The date of his death is unknown.
W. A.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomas, Thomas

​THOMAS, THOMAS (1553–1588), printer and lexicographer, born in the city of London on 25 Dec. 1553, was educated at Eton school. He was admitted a scholar of King's College, Cambridge, on 24 Aug. 1571, and a fellow on 24 Aug. 1574. He proceeded B.A. in 1575, commenced M.A. in 1579, and on 20 Jan. 1580–1581 was enjoined to divert to the study of theology. On 3 May 1582 he was constituted the first printer to the university of Cambridge, but nothing from his press appeared before 1584, when he issued the edition of Ramus's ‘Dialectics’ by (Sir) William Temple (1555–1627) [q. v.] About 1583 he had begun to print a book by William Whitaker [q. v.], and had other works in readiness for the press, when the Stationers' Company of London, regarding the proceedings as an infringement of their privileges, seized his press and materials. The vice-chancellor and heads of colleges applied to their chancellor, Lord Burghley, requesting his interposition on behalf of their ancient privilege. Eventually Burghley wrote in reply, stating that he had consulted Sir Gilbert Gerrard, master of the rolls, to whom he had submitted their charter, and who concurred with him in opinion that it was valid.
Thomas, who was called by Martin Mar-Prelate the puritan Cambridge printer, laboured with such assiduity at the compilation of his Latin dictionary as to bring on a fatal disease. He was buried in the church of St. Mary the Great, Cambridge, on 9 Aug. 1588.
Ames enumerates seventeen works which came from his press. He was the author of: ‘Thomæ Thomasii Dictionarium summa fide ac diligentia accuratissime emendatum, magnaque insuper Rerum Scitu Dignarum, et Vocabulorum accessione, longè auctius locupletiusque redditum. Hinc etiam (præter Dictionarium Historicum & Poeti​cum, ad profanas historias, poëtarumque fabulas intelligendas valdè necessarium) novissimè accessit utilissimus de Ponderum, Mensurarum, & Monetarum veterum reductione ad ea, quæ sunt Anglis iam in usu, Tractatus,’ Cambridge, 1587, 8vo; 3rd ed. Cambridge, 1592, 4to; 4th ed. Cambridge, 1594, 4to; ‘quinta editio superioribus cum Græcarum dictionum, tum earundem primitivorum adiectione multo auctior,’ Cambridge, 1596, 4to; 6th edit. Cambridge, 1600, 8vo; 7th ed. Cambridge, 1606, 4to; 10th ed. Cambridge, 1610, 4to; ‘cum Supplemento Philemonis Hollandi,’ London, 1615, 4to, 1619, 8vo; 12th ed. London, 1620, 4to; 13th ed. 1631, 4to; 14th ed. London, 1644, 4to. The dictionary is dedicated to Lord Burghley. It was largely used by John Rider (1562–1632) [q. v.] in his ‘Dictionary’ published in 1589. In the subsequent editions Rider was obliged to make numerous additions and alterations in consequence of an action brought against him by Thomas's executors. Francis Gouldman of Christ's College, Cambridge, afterwards brought out a new edition of Thomas's dictionary.
The following work is also ascribed to Thomas: ‘Fabularum Ovidii interpretatio ethica, physica, et historica, tradita in academia Regiomontana a Georgio Sabino; in unum collecta et edita studio et industria T. T.,’ Cambridge, 1584, 12mo.
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thomas, Vaughan

1904 Errata appended.
​THOMAS, VAUGHAN (1775–1858), antiquary, son of John Thomas of Kingston, Surrey, was born in 1775. He matriculated from Oriel College, Oxford, on 17 Dec. 1792, and on 6 May 1794 was admitted a scholar of Corpus Christi College. He was afterwards elected to a fellowship, which he held till 1812. From Corpus he graduated B.A. in 1796, M.A. in 1800, and B.D. in 1809. On 12 Feb. 1803 he became vicar of Yarnton in Oxfordshire; on 11 June 1804 he was appointed vicar of Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, and on 25 March 1811 he received the rectory of Duntisborne Rouse in Gloucestershire. These three livings he held during the remainder of his life. He died at Oxford on 26 Oct. 1858, leaving a widow, but no children.
Thomas was a voluminous author. His most important work was ‘The Italian Biography of Sir Robert Dudley [q. v.], Knight,’ Oxford, 1861, 8vo, for which he began to collect materials in 1806. Among his other writings may be mentioned: 1. ‘A Sermon on the Impropriety of conceding the Name of Catholic to the Church of Rome,’ Oxford, 1816, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1838. 2. ‘The Legality of the present Academical System of the University of Oxford asserted,’ Oxford, 1831, 8vo; 2nd part, 1832; 2nd edit. 1853 (Edinburgh Review, liii. 384, liv. 478). 3. ‘The universal Profitableness of Scripture for Doctrine,’ Oxford, 1836, 8vo. 4. ‘On the Authenticity of the Designs of Raffaelle and Michael Angelo,’ Oxford, 1842, 8vo. 5. ‘Thoughts on the Cameos and Intaglios of Antiquity,’ Oxford, 1847, 8vo. 6. ‘Account of the March of King Charles the First from Oxford,’ Oxford, 1850, 8vo. 7. ‘Christian Philanthropy exemplified in a Memoir of the Rev. Samuel Wilson Warneford [q. v.] ’, Oxford, 1855, 8vo.
E. I. C.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.264 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 193 | i | 8 f.e. | Thomas, Vaughan: for Gloucestershire read Oxfordshire |
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/York, Cardinal of

​YORK, Cardinal of. [See Henry Benedict Maria Clement, 1725–1807.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Yonge, Nicholas

​YONGE, NICHOLAS (d. 1619), musician, was almost certainly the Nicholas Young who was one of the singing-men at St. Paul's Cathedral in the latter part of the sixteenth century. He was born at Lewes, Sussex; his mother's name was Bray. He settled in the parish of St. Michael's, Cornhill, and several of his nine children remained there, their descendants being traceable for a century after his death. Yonge gave daily musical performances in his house, which were much frequented by ‘gentlemen and merchants of good accompt;’ and about 1583 a gentleman whom Yonge calls a ‘counsellor of estate,’ translated many of the Italian madrigals performed there. After the appearance of the first English madrigals printed, the ‘Psalmes, Sonets, and Songs of Sadness and Pietie,’ by William Byrd [q. v.], Yonge published some of the translated works under the title of ‘Musica Transalpina, Madrigales, translated of foure, five, and six parts, chosen out of divers excellent Authors, with the first and second part of “La Verginella,” made by Maister Byrd upon two stanz's of “Ariosto,” and brought to speak English with the rest.’ The dedication to Gilbert Talbot (afterwards seventh Earl of Shrewsbury) [q. v.] is dated 1 May 1588. No secular music had previously been printed in England, except the feeble songs published in 1571 by Thomas Whithorne [q. v.], and ​at any rate the success of Byrd's and Yonge's publications seems to have been great and immediate. Thomas Watson (1557?–1592) [q. v.] and afterwards Thomas Morley [q. v.] also issued translations of Italian madrigals, and in 1597 Yonge published another collection entitled ‘Musica Transalpina. The Second Booke of Madrigalles, to 5 and 6 Voices.’ The selections were admirably made from Ferabosco, Marenzio, Palestrina, Lassus, and others of the best Italian and Flemish composers; many numbers of both books have always remained upon the repertory, and have been reprinted in various forms during the nineteenth century. Three of the poems were included in ‘England's Helicon,’ 1600. In the portrait of William Heather [q. v.] in the Music School, Oxford, he is represented holding a volume lettered ‘Musica Transalpina.’ In 1843 G. W. Budd began a complete edition in score, but issued only six of the eighty-one pieces. Some of the poems are in Oliphant's ‘La Musa Madrigalesca’ and Bullen's ‘Lyrics from the Song-books of the Elizabethan Age;’ and the whole text of the first collection was included in Arber's ‘English Garner,’ vol. iii.
Yonge's will is dated 19 Oct. 1619; and he was buried at St. Michael's, Cornhill, on the 23rd. His wife Jane proved the will on 12 Nov.
H. D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/York, Duchess of

​YORK, Duchess of. [See Hyde, Anne, 1637–1671.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/York

​YORK. [See also Yorke.]
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Yonge, James (fl.1423)

​YONGE, JAMES or JOHN (fl. 1423), translator, belonged to an English family settled in the Irish pale. William Yonge, archdeacon of Meath from 1407 to 1437, was possibly his brother (Cotton, Fasti Eccl. Hib. iii. 127). Both James and John Yonge occur in the Irish patent and close rolls early in the fifteenth century. James Yonge was in prison in Trim Castle from January to October 1423, being removed in the latter month to Dublin Castle, and being pardoned on 10 May 1425 (Cal. Rot. Pat. et Claus. Hiberniæ, pp. 234 b, 236 b, 252 b). A John Yonge was serjeant of the county of Limerick in the reign of Richard II, held a lease of various lands, and was convicted of unspecified felonies (ib. pp. 116, 128, 148). The translator was servant to James Butler, fourth earl of Ormonde [q. v.], at whose request, about 1423, he translated into English the ‘Secreta Secretorum’ attributed to Aristotle. It was a book in much request in the middle ages, and translations were made in the early fifteenth century by Hoccleve, John Shirley (1366?–1456) [q. v.], Lydgate, and Burgh, and Gower used it in his ‘Confessio Amantis.’ Yonge's translation appears to have been made from a French version by one Gofroi of Waterford; it was dedicated to Ormonde and is ‘perhaps the only lengthy ​work known written in the English of the Pale early in the fifteenth century’ (Steele). It is divided into seventy-two chapters and is interspersed with passages from Irish history, including some of Ormonde's exploits in 1422. Several manuscripts of it are extant; (1) Rawlinson MS. B 490, which has been printed by Mr. R. Steele in his ‘Three Prose Versions of the Secreta Secretorum’ (Early English Text Soc. 1898, pp. 121 sqq.); (2) Lambeth MSS. 633 (Todd, Cat. Lambeth MSS. p. 144); and (3) Carew MS. 633; a note on this manuscript in Sir George Carew's handwriting states that it was written in the time of Henry V, and attributes it, as does the Lambeth manuscript, to John Yonge (Book of Howth, ed. Brewer, pp. 226, 331–3); while in the Rawlinson manuscript it is ascribed to James Yonge, an ascription accepted by Mr. Steele. Yonge appears also to be the author of the abridged translation of Giraldus Cambrensis' ‘Expugnatio Hiberniæ,’ which precedes the translation of the ‘Secreta’ in Rawlinson MS. B 490.
A. F. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Scrivener, Matthew

​SCRIVENER, MATTHEW (fl. 1660), divine, was probably descended of the family of Scrivener of Sibtoft (Metcalfe, Visitation of Suffolk, p. 163), and was educated at Catharine Hall, Cambridge, being a contemporary there with Henry Hickman [q. v.] before 1647 (Wood, Athenæ Oxon. iv. 370). He became vicar of Haslingfield in Cambridge, and died shortly before 1688. He wrote: 1. ‘Apologia pro S. Ecclesiæ Patribus adversus Joannem Dalleum de Usu Patrum; accedit Apologia pro Ecclesia Anglicana adversus nuperum Schisma,’ 1672, 4to, replied to by Hickman in ‘The Nonconformists' Vindication,’ 1679. 2. ‘A Course of Divinity, or an Introduction to the Knowledge of the true Catholic Religion, especially as pro​fessed by the Church of England,’ 1674, fol. 3. ‘A Treatise against Drunkennesse described in its Nature, Kindes, Effectes, and Causes, especially that of drinking healths, to which are added two short Sermons of St. Augustine,’ London, 1685. 4. ‘The Method and Means to a true Spiritual Life, consisting of three parts agreeable to the ancient way’ (posthumous), 1688, 8vo.
W. A. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Tomkins, Martin

​TOMKINS, MARTIN (d. 1755?), Arian divine, is said to have been a brother or near relative of Harding Tomkins (d. 1758), attorney and clerk of the Company of Fishmongers. He may have been connected with Abingdon, where there was a nonconformist family of his name. In 1699 Martin went to Utrecht with Nathaniel Lardner [q. v.], where they found Daniel Neal [q. v.], the author of ‘The History of the Puritans.’ After studying at the university of Utrecht for three years, the three removed to Leyden, where Tomkins matriculated on 8 Sept. 1702 (Peacock, Index of English-speaking Students at Leyden University, Index Soc. 1883). In 1707 he was appointed minister of the dissenting congregation in Church Street, Stoke Newington, but in 1718 he was obliged to resign his charge in consequence of his Arian sympathies. In the following year, to justify himself, he published ‘The Case of Mr. Martin Tomkins. Being an Account of the Proceedings of the Dissenting Congregation at Stoke Newington’ (London, 4to). He did not again settle as pastor of a congregation, but, in addition to preaching occasionally, he wrote several theological treatises. The first of these, published anonymously, was entitled ‘A Sober Appeal to a Turk or an Indian concerning the plain Sense of Scripture relating to the Trinity’ (London, 1723, 4to; 2nd ed. with additions, 1748). It was an answer to Dr. Isaac Watts's ‘Christian Doctrine of the Trinity, or Father, Son, and Spirit, Three Persons and One God, asserted and proved’ (London, 1722, 12mo). In 1732 he published, also without his name, a work which gained some reputation, entitled ‘Jesus Christ the Mediator between God and Men’ (London, 4to; new ed. 1761). In 1738 appeared ‘A Calm Enquiry whether we have any Warrant from Scripture for addressing ourselves directly to the Holy Spirit’ (London, 4to). In 1738 Tomkins was settled at Hackney. It is believed he died in 1755. After his death there appeared in 1771 in the ‘Theological Repository’ (iii. 257) ‘A Letter from Mr. Tomkins to Dr. Lardner in reply to his Letter on the Logos.’ Although Lardner's letter was not published until 1759, it was written in 1730, and it appears from Tomkins's reply that Lardner had lent him the manuscript to peruse. Tomkins's criticism was answered by Caleb Fleming [q. v.] in an appendix to a ‘Discourse on Three Essential Properties of the Gospel Revelation’ (London, 1772, 8vo).
E. I. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Tomkins, Thomas (1743-1816)

​TOMKINS, THOMAS (1743–1816), calligrapher, born in 1743, kept for many years a writing school in Foster Lane, London. For boldness of design, inexhaustible variety, and elegant freedom, he was justly considered to have attained the highest eminence in his art. Among the productions of his pen are: A transcript of the charter granted by Charles II to the Irish Society, containing 150 folio pages; ornamental titles to many splendid editions of valuable books, particularly Macklin's Bible (8 vols. 1800–16, fol.), Thomson's ‘Seasons,’ and the Houghton Collection of Prints; a transcript of Lord Nelson's letter announcing his victory at the battle of the Nile—this was engraved and published; titles to three volumes of manuscript music presented to the king by Thomas Linley the elder [q. v.]; honorary freedoms presented to celebrated generals and admirals for their victories (1776–1816)—framed duplicates of these are preserved among the city archives; and addresses to their majesties on many public occasions, particularly from the Royal Academy, duplicates of which documents were placed in the library of the academy as choice specimens of ornamental penmanship. Tomkins was intimate with Johnson, Reynolds, and other celebrities, whom he used to astonish by the facility with which he could strike a perfect circle with the pen. He died in Sermon Lane, Doctors' Commons, in September 1816. His partner in the writing academy, John Reddall, survived till 17 Aug. 1834. Besides being the finest penman of his time, Tomkins was a most amiable man, and certainly did not deserve the ridicule which was cast upon him by Isaac D'Israeli.
He bequeathed to the city of London his portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, from which there is a fine mezzotinto by Charles Turner. Another good portrait, painted by George Engleheart and engraved by Lewis Schiavonetti, is prefixed to Tomkins's ‘Rays of Genius.’
He published: 1. ‘The Beauties of Writing, exemplified in a variety of plain and ornamental penmanship. Designed to excite Emulation in this valuable Art,’ London, 1777, oblong 4to; again London, 1808–9, oblong 4to, and 1844, fol. 2. ‘Alphabets written for the improvement of youth in Round, Text, and Small Hands,’ 1779. 3. ‘Rays of Genius, collected to enlighten the rising generation,’ 2 vols., London, 1806, 12mo. 4. ‘Poems on various Subjects; selected to enforce the Practice of Virtue; ​and with a view to comprise … the Beauties of English Poetry,’ London, 1807, 12mo.
T. C.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Tomkins, John

​TOMKINS, JOHN (1663?–1706), quaker annalist, born about 1663, commenced in 1701 the first attempt at quaker biography in ‘Piety Promoted, in a Collection of Dying Sayings of many of the People called Quakers. With a Brief Account of some of their Labours in the Gospel and Sufferings for the same;’ it was reprinted in 1703, 1723, 1759, and followed in 1702 by the second part, which also was reprinted in 1711 and 1765. In 1706 he issued a third volume, with a preface by Christopher Meidel [q. v.] The five parts were reissued, Dublin, 1721, 8vo, and were revised by John Kendall (1726–1815) [q. v.] in 1789. The work was continued by other hands until 1829. Tomkins died at Maryland Point, Stratford, Essex, on 12 Sept. 1706.
Tomkins also published: 1. ‘The Harmony of the Old and New Testament,’ London, 1694, 12mo; reprinted in 1697, with a ‘Brief Concordance of the Names,’ 3rd edit. 1701, 12mo. 2. ‘A Brief Testimony to the Great Duty of Prayer,’ London, 1695, 12mo; reprinted, with additions, 1700. 3. ‘A Trumpet ​Sounded: a Warning to the Unfaithful,’ 1703, 12mo.
C. F. S.