Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-11-17
GREAT MEMS DESC NDANTs.

DR.. Mackenzie, in the last number Of
the Press, has an article called "Great
Mems Descendants" in which he incl
dentally reviews the married life of the
late Duke of Wellington and that of his
second son, who lately died. The Dukes
family did not amount to much-seem-
ed to have been rather feeble every way.
The Doctor then goes on to oconsider the
singular fact that very many of the great
men of the earth have never been repre-
sented by male heirs, and large num-
Der Of them were altogether childless.
We quote what he says on this head:
1t is somewhat singular that very
many great men. in ancient as well as in
modern times, have either left no.male
children, or are now represented through
the female line or by collateral conne1-
ions. In our own land, the name Of
Washington stands foremost. He was
childless. So were Madison, Jackson
and Polk. Jefferson is represented,
through living descendants, only by his
daughter. Aaron Burr had daughter,
bnt no son. Gen. Winfield Scott had
daughters only. President Buchanan,
Washington Irving, and many others,
distinguished as statesmen, soldiers, men
of letters, &C., have never married.
1t is the same way in France. Cor
nellie, Racine, and Moliere were child
less. Voltaire was unmarried. Napo-
leon is represented only by his nephew.
Guizot and Theirs have no children
In all other countries of Europe the same
rule seems to obtain. Shakespeare, Ba-
con, Newton and Locke left no male de-
scendants. Milton's family consisted oi
two daughters. Ben johnson left nc
male heir. Pope, Fielding. Smollet,
Sterne, Steele. Addison. BoIingbroke,
(St. John Johnson. Goldsmith, Hayley
Cowper. John Wilkes, Chancellor Thur.
low, and long array of eminent litera'
ry and legal men were either unmarried,
or had no male children by their wives
The great Duke of Marlborough. the
Wellington of his day, los; his only sol
early, and his Duchy descended 10 hi;
daughter, by act of Parliament. finally
going to her nephew, the Earl of Sun
derland, whenthe Churchill family there
by became superseded by the Spencer
Lord Hills title descended to his neph
ew. Lord Nelson's to his brother -
Lord Lynedock, Lord Beresiord, Sir c
Napier, and others, left sons. The grea
Lord Clive's titles have descended to III,
Powis Family through his daughter
And the newly made Lord Clyde, bet
ter known as Sir Colin Campbell, is al
old bachelor.
In literary men, this want of success
sion isvery apparent. To the names al
ready enumerated here, we easily coul'
add others of m ark and note. Regiual
Heber left no son. Both CT Lor'
BroughIm's daughters are dead. Lort
Lyndhurst has 30 son. OF Thoma
Moore there is not now any descendant
all his children died during his own life
time. Byron and Scott are represente
only by the children of their daughters
James Montgomery was unmarried. Q
r artists, the number who have no direC
descendants is unusually large. 1t
the same with statesmen. Pitt, an
, Lord Liverpool were never married.
Burke's only son died before his fathe
Lord Wellesley, Fox. and Palmersto
had no legitimate children. In trutf
the principle seems very general. W
merely state the fact; those who hay
2 more leisure and industry than we pos
sess may endeaYOr to ascertain tn
r causes.