ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

THE

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, 30325

Actor, Lenox and Tiiden

Foundations.

1906

PRELIMINARY NOTE BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR.

THE basis of the present work is the "Cyclopedia of Biography," edited by Rich, and published in London during the past year. The plan of that book will be found fully detailed in its preface, which is reprinted in the present volume.

Upon the appearance of the work above mentioned, an early copy having reached the hands of the publishers, whose names appear on our title-page, it occurred to them that a reprint of Rich, with the addition of American names (in which the English publication was almost entirely deficient), would be both acceptable and useful in our country; and at their request the present editor undertook the task of making the desired additions.

As in the case of the European original, the articles supplied in this edition are from different hands, though it has not been thought necessary, by initials, at the close of each, to indicate the authorship. Indeed some of the writers were unwilling to be thus designated.

A moment's reflection must satisfy any one, that of all books, a biographical dictionary is least likely to attain to perfection. Death postpones not his visits to suit the convenience of the compiler; and even while he works, as his labors pass through the press, some new and distinguished victim drops into the grave, and should be registered with the past, when the speed of the printing press has made it too late to record, in its appropriate place, the name of the departed. Nay, the very writers themselves of some of the American articles in this book, passed into eternity ere yet their labors had reached the hands of the compositor, and on the editor devolved the melancholy duty of adding to the long list of the dead here recorded, the names of some of his co-laborers. In such a book as this, therefore, there must be omissions that are unavoidable. Again, a biographical dictionary is not a general obituary record; hence, designed omissions may to some imply imperfection, when they find little, perhaps no space allowed to names which they may think deserved honorable notice. And, indeed, one of the difficulties of the editor has been to discriminate. While he would gladly have allowed space for names not mentioned at all, or increased the limits allotted to those but briefly noticed, he could not

4

NOTE BY THE

AMERICAN

EDITOR.

lose sight of the great object of the work, which was to present, in portable form, the largest possible amount of biographical memoranda; and thus furnish to the student, as a book of ready reference, a companion to his study table, which might serve readily to recall a leading fact or an unremembered date, that might otherwise cost the labor of much, and perhaps unavailing research.

The want of such a book has been so often felt by the editor himself, that he naturally supposed ethers must have shared the want with him; and, in fact, his own necessities were in part the motive which prompted him to undertake the labors of the editor. Of the extent of those labors he has only to say that he has added some thousands to the names in the English publication. These are the names mostly of Americans; but, as his wish was to bring up, as far as he could, the work to the end of 1855, European names, not contained in the English book, will be found here inserted.

His greatest fear is of inaccuracy in the matter of dates. Amid so many thousands of these, it would be idle to hope for escape from all error. He can only say, he has done what he could to avoid mistakes, and submits the work to his fellow students in the hope that it may sometimes meet a present want, or at least serve as a guide-book to the track that will lead to fuller information. It may perhaps be worth something as "a labor-saving machine," if it be no more.

December, 1855.

PREFACE.

SEVERAL works, more or less resembling the present one, being already in circulation, it is necessary to state why the Publishers have ventured to expect a share of the public favor for a new Biographical Dictionary.

To many of these Dictionaries, considered as the production of individual writers, a degree of merit, far from slight, must, in fairness, be conceded; but it would seem sufficiently evident, that no single scholar, however extensive his attainments, could ever be expected to catch, or even appreciate all the points of interest belonging to the numerous and varied classes of lives, which must be included in a General Biography. The necessity of seeking a combination of apt and effective talent, for the right production of any comprehensive Dictionary, has long been recognized in the case of our great 'Encyclopædias;' and such a combination was obtained for the service of Biography, by the editors of the voluminous 'Biographie Universelle.' But the principle has not hitherto been applied in the construction of any work of the latter kind, which would be portable and adapted for general circulation.

The volume now issued aspires to be a first attempt in the important direction alluded to. The Publishers have desired to intrust the execution of the principal lives of each class of remarkable men, to practised writers, who have cultivated the corresponding departments of Learning; and from whom they had therefore reason to expect biographical notices, really characteristic, and of assured value.

In the departments appertaining to History, Politics, Law, Military science and art, and Ecclesiastical affairs, valuable assistance has been obtained from Sir Archibald Alison, John Hill Burton, Professor Creasy, Professor Eadie, Professor Ferguson, and the Editor. The latter has also endeavored to delineate the peculiar character and services of the leading Mystics.

Classical authors are treated by Professor Ferguson. Theological and Religious literature was given in charge to Professor Eadie and Dr. Jamieson. Poets, Novelists, and other great Men of Letters, are described by Professor Spalding: a memoir of Shakspeare comes from the pen of Charles Knight; and notices of the Bards of Scotland from James Hedderwick and Thomas Davidson.

The principal names in the department of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences were intrusted to Sir David Brewster and Professor Nichol. In the Experimental Sciences, the department of Chemistry has been treated by Dr. R. D. Thomson; that of Natural History by Dr. Baird; and Applied Science by Professor Gordon. The distinguished names in Medical Science are treated

by Mr. M'Connechy. The eminent Geographers have been attended to by Mr Bryce, who has endeavored, by considerable research, to give exact informatior on the discoveries made by great travellers.

In Mental Philosophy, our volume is chiefly indebted to Professor Nichol, who has furnished a résumé of the doctrines taught by many of the Founders of the great schools, under their respective names. To render this department more complete, the Editor has ventured to introduce the name of Sir William Hamilton, although, happily for science, that distinguished Metaphysician still labors amongst us.

The list of articles written by Professor Eadie in Theology and Church History, includes the Fathers and Reformers, besides many of the mediæval Divines and Schoolmen. Dr. Jamieson's catalogue is graced by the names of our modern Divines, Missionaries, and Philanthropists.

In the department of the Fine Arts, the great Painters, Engravers, Sculptors, and Architects, are characterized by Mr. Wornum, whose exact acquaintance with the literature of these subjects is well known. The same may be said regarding the Musicians, under charge of Mr. Manson; and of the great Actors, whose lives have been written by the dramatic writer and critic, Mr. Heraud.

In a work so varied in its contents, so closely printed, and produced by so many hands, the Editor is conscious that there must be error; and that to many readers, the space will appear unequally divided. Perfection in all respects is not pretended to; but it is certainly hoped, that the design of the work and its general execution, entitle it to be regarded as a step of the right kind in furtherance of popular literature. It has been his aim to allot sufficient space for a satisfactory-however brief-memoir of all the leading or representative men in each department; room being provided, by limiting those of lesser note to a chronological notice, or brief description. It will be found, that many thousand names are contained in this volume more than in any other portable Biography; and among novelties, may be mentioned the names of sovereigns, and ancient families of importance, arranged in complete lists. The advantage of such lists to the reader of history, will be obvious: many of them have been collated with great pains, in order to the removal of current discrepancies.

The volume is further enlivened by numerous illustrations of the birth-places, monuments, or other memorials of departed greatness; all copied from the most authentic sources.

LONDON, 10th May, 1854.