Anonymous

“ A poet, born at Berkhampstead, whose writings are full of the best and highest teaching. He is best known by The Task, The Castaway, and Table Talk; but his smaller poems, On My Mother’s Picture, The Three Hares, John Gilpin, etc., more fully show his sensibility, general kindness, and playful wit. He also translated the Iliad. Cowper’s blameless and useful life was darkened by fits of despondency and depression, which in the end nearly destroyed his mind; but the light of religion never failed him. ”

“ This extraordinary man, who has with justice been called the greatest of all the line of English kings, was the son of Ethelwulf and Osburga, and was born at Wantage in Berkshire. He learnt to read at six years old, and steadily set himself to gain and spread the love of learning, when he began his reign at seventeen. ”

“ WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY. Born 1811.—Died 1863.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.—Victoria.
This celebrated writer was a Charterhouse boy. His career began by his lectures upon the English Humorists and the Four Georges (the kings of that name) , upon whom he discanted in terms of the most pungent and biting satire. His novels, Esmond, The Newcomes, Vanity Fair, The Virginians, have become English classics. Thackeray’s knowledge of life and character was wonderful, but he indulged in too bitter and censorious views of society. ”

“ Who had been educated in King Edward I.’s household, succeeded Wallace as leader of the Scots against Edward I. Having slain his rival claimant the Red Comyn in the Grey Friars Church at Dumfries, Bruce borrowed robes, chain, and gold rim from some saint’s image, p. 15and had himself crowned King of Scotland at Scone. After the most romantic escapes and adventures, and retaking all the castles Edward I. had gained, except Stirling, Bruce defeated Edward II. at the great battle of Bannockburn, not far from Stirling, and freed Scotland from the English yoke. ”

“ This celebrated mechanic and natural philosopher began life as a mathematical instrument maker, but having his attention very early called to the nature and power of steam, he directed all his energies to improvements in steam engines, and made important experiments and discoveries. ”

“ JOHN WESLEY, Born 1703.—Died 1791.—Anne.—George I.—George II.—George III.
The founder of Methodism, was born at Epworth, Lincolnshire. He was a missionary for three years in North America among the Red Indians. In his day the English Church was characterized by a great want of vigour and discipline, and Wesley and his disciples did a great work in rousing the zeal of the Church, from which he had no intention of separating, and stirring up a spirit of labour and good works. ”

“ O’Connell supported the Government in the passing of the Reform Bill, but came into collision with Earl Grey upon the Irish Coercion Bill (1837) . He foolishly began an “agitation” for the Repeal of the Union p. 76 (1843) , and was arrested on a charge of sedition, found guilty, and condemned to pay a fine of £2,000 and suffer two years’ imprisonment. The House of Lords, however, guided by the discernment and firmness of Lord Lyndhurst, reversed the decision and set O’Connell free. He went abroad in broken health, and died at Genoa in 1847. ”

“ Son of Henry III. Married (1) p. 14Eleanor of Castile and (2) Margaret of France. Annexed Wales to England. Began the conquest of Scotland, and removed the block of marble on which the Scottish kings were crowned, from Scone (now in Westminster Abbey) . The nobles, asserting the privileges of the Great Charter, began to assemble and act in this reign as the first House of Lords; and by creating “Barons by writ” Edward broke in upon the monopolies of the nobles, and laid the foundations of the House of Commons. ”

“ A poet who, if he had lived a little later, would have been admired, praised, and had a school of imitators. As it was his sensibilities were so wounded by the severe criticisms made upon his poems that he fell into ill-health and died. His Endymion is the poem by which he is p. 65best known, but his volume shows that he had the merit of being beforehand with the “Lake School” in freeing English poetry from artificial trammels and opening for it a wider and more natural spirit. ”

“ She is well known for her life devoted to works of philanthropy, and chiefly for her memorable labours for the reformation of female prisoners. Her earliest endeavours were made in Newgate prison, and the reforms introduced there under her influence were extended to all the other prisons in the kingdom. ”

“ Some of the timbers of Drake’s famous ship were made into a chair, which was given to the university of Oxford. Drake took a distinguished part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
WILLIAM CECIL, Born 1520.—Died 1598.—Henry VIII.—Edward VI.—Mary.—Elizabeth.
Lord Burleigh, was born in Lincolnshire. He was the greatest of all Queen Elizabeth’s statesmen and the chief originator of the English merchant p. 27navy. By taking their privileges from the Hanse Town steelyard merchants, who monopolized nearly all the foreign trade of England, he obliged English merchants to build their own ships ”

“ Under Henry VIII. Wolsey was successively made king’s almoner, chancellor of the garter, archbishop of York, cardinal legate, and lord chancellor of England. His splendour and state surpassed that of any minister ever seen in England. York Place (now Whitehall) , Esher, and Hampton Court were his residences in and near London. He built Christ Church College in Oxford, and a grammar school at Ipswich. When Wolsey failed to induce Cardinal Campeggio to annul p. 22Henry’s marriage with Katherine of Arragon, the king refused to see him again. ”

“ In 1798 Nelson fought the battle of Aboukir near Alexandria, in Egypt. The French admiral’s ship, L’Orient, blew up, and only two French ships escaped. Nelson was immediately created ‘Lord Nelson of the Nile.’ In 1805 he hoisted his flag on board the Victory, and fought the battle of Trafalgar, between Cadiz and Gibraltar. When grappled to the Redoutable, whose rigging was full of sharpshooters, a shot was fired through Nelson’s shoulder and spine, p. ”

“ For five years he presented the pitiful sight of vast genius, united to a total want of principle or high character, and with all his splendid gifts he died despised and in disgrace.
BEN JONSON. Born 1574—Died 1637.—Elizabeth.—James I.—Charles I.
This celebrated English poet and dramatist was born in Westminster. After serving to his credit as a soldier in the Netherlands, he became a player and dramatic writer. He was distinguished for his wit, learning, and various information, as well as for his writings. ”

“ Lucia with Abercrombie, was employed in the Irish rising, and fought in Egypt and Holland. While commanding an English army in Spain during the Peninsular war, he made his famous retreat on and was killed at Corunna.
RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN. Born 1751.—Died 1816.—George II.—George III.
An Irishman, born in Dublin, whose wit, oratory, and parliamentary eloquence won him a dazzling reputation. He was the personal friend of Fox, and the companion of George IV. as Prince of Wales, but was always in debt and many difficulties. ”

“ WILLIAM LAUD, Born 1573—Died 1644.—Elizabeth.—James I.—Charles I.
Archbishop of Canterbury, was born in Berkshire, and educated at the grammar school, Reading, and at St. John’s College, Oxford, of which he became President. As Primate in the turbulent reign of Charles I., he was associated with repressive measures against the Puritans, to p. 32whom he made himself so obnoxious that through their instrumentality he was beheaded on Tower Hill. ”

“ GEORGE CRABBE. Born 1754.—Died 1832.—George III.—George IV.
A poet, born at Aldborough, in Suffolk, who perhaps first opened men’s eyes in England to the poetry of common things. His tales in verse are admirable pictures of everyday life, full of pathos. Crabbe went to London to try to make his fortune by literature, p. 70but would have perished of want had it not been for Edmund Burke, who generously befriended him in every possible way. ”