Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-01-05
Famous People
Named Christmas


For instance, there was Gerard
Christmas, the famous carver of stat
uary. who flourished in the early part
Of the seventeenth century. He de-
signed Aldersgate and carved with his
own hands the richly ornamented por-
tai of Northumberland House, ia
miliar object to the older generation
Of living Londoners.
His chief energies, however, were
directed toward ornamenting and
identifying the ships of the royal ma
w. and the highly decorative style he
originated was continued right down
to the middle Of the last century,
when iron superseded oak in the con-
struction of battleships.
At his death his two sons, John
Christmas and Matthias Christmas,
whom he had brought up to his art,
succeeded him as official carvers to
the lords of the admiralty and WORTH
" carried on the work he had so well
begun.
Every one interested in coins and
coinage is familiar with the name Of
Henry Christmas, the eminent numis-
matist. who died In 1868 Besides
being fellow Of the Royal society
and Of the Society Of Antiquaries, he
was for many years honorary secre-
tary of the Numismatic society, to
whose publications he contributed
largely. He also wrote and published
large number Of religious and his
torical works.
John William Christmas ("Jean OF
the Iron Hand') was one of the most
famous of the many English adven
turers who during the French revolu
tionary disturbances of 1901 fought on
the losing side.
Joining the Chouans or royalist in
surgents of Brittany, he soon made
his mark and was Entrusted with the
conduct Of a division by George Ca
doudal, their supreme commander
Later on, when Cadoudal, disguised
with the dissensions Of his highborn
generals. organized a new army In
which no aristocrat was permitted to
hold command, Christmas was forced
to resign with the rest. He was, how
ever, reinstated on his pointing out
that he was not. as had all along been
/ supposed. Of noble lineage, but was, on
the contrary the son of south of
England peasant.
Thence onward he acted as Cadou-
/ dal's adiutant general and did splendid
/ service against the royalist forces until
| January, 1913. when he had the mis-
fortune to be taken prisoner. He was
shot at daybreak on the morning fol-
lowing his capture.
Noel is, of course, only another form
of the word Christmas, and of famous
Noels. both living and dead. there is a
lengthy list.
1t is, for instance, the family name
of the earls OF Gainsborough, whose
history has been a distinguished one
for generations past.
Noel-Hill, again. is the name of Bar
on Berwick. famous member of IA
nous old English family.
Then there Is Ernest Noel, who has
done more to improve the housing of
the working classes than has probably
any other man living.
Vice Admiral Sir Gerard Noel. who
has been commander IN chief on the
China station since 1903. has received
many decorations, including the much
coveted gold medal of the Royal Unit
I'd Service institution.
Going farther back. there was that
Henry Noel, the famous courtier of
the reign Of Queen Elizabeth and au-
thor Of the now familiar phrase Mon
ey was made to spend" His extrava-
gance knew no bounds and very much
displeased his royal mistress, herself
one Of the most extravagant of mon
archs.
OF very different type was Baptist
Wriothesley Noel, the eminent non
conformist divine. He was at first ed
ucated for and indicted into the
Church of England. But the result of
the Gorham case, which drove many
high churchmen into the fold oc Rome.
sent Noel into the ranks Of the Bap-
lists.
He publicly renounced on Dec. 3.
1913, his connection with the Estab-
lished church and was a little later
publicly rebaptized by immersion in
John Street chapel, Holborn. build
ing situated hard by the very church
wherein he had ministered during long
years prior to his conversion"
Thomas Noel, the poet, who died IN
1861, ought to be well known by his
Papers Drive" than which no poem
has been more widely read, recited
and quoted. The verses are. however,
almost universally ascribed to Hood,
even by people who ought to know
better. and the real authors name
remains in consequence buried in OBJ
livion.
Another poet named Noel, who en-
1oyed considerable reputation in his
day, was Roden Berkeley Noel, the
author of Behind the Veil," "Bea-
trice," The Red Flag" and other
nOamc His collaotnd vUorLc Uora ruI