A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature Part 21

_Life_ by Gosse (Men of Letters Series, 1882).

GREELEY, HORACE (1811-1872).--Journalist and miscellaneous writer, was the _s._ of a small farmer in New Hampshire. His early life was pa.s.sed first as a printer, and thereafter in editorial work. He started in 1841, and conducted until his death, the _New York Tribune_. He was long a leader in American politics, and in 1872 was an unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency. His writings, which are chiefly political and economical, include _Essays on Political Economy_ (1870), and _Recollections of a Busy Life_ (1868).

GREEN, JOHN RICHARD (1837-1883).--Historian, was the _s._ of a tradesman in Oxf., where he was _ed._, first at Magdalen Coll. School, and then at Jesus Coll. He entered the Church, and served various cures in London, under a constant strain caused by delicate health. Always an enthusiastic student of history, his scanty leisure was devoted to research. In 1869 he finally gave up clerical work, and received the appointment of librarian at Lambeth. He had been laying plans for various historical works, including a History of the English Church as exhibited in a series of Lives of the Archbishops of Canterbury, and, what he proposed as his _magnum opus_, A History of England under the Angevin Kings. The discovery, however, that his lungs were affected, necessitated the abridgment of all his schemes, and he concentrated his energies on the preparation of his _Short History of the English People_, which appeared in 1874, and at once gave him an a.s.sured place in the first rank of historical writers. In 1877 he _m._ Miss Alice Stopford, by whose talents and devotion he was greatly a.s.sisted in carrying out and completing such work as his broken health enabled him to undertake during his few remaining years. Abandoning his proposed history of the Angevins, he confined himself to expanding his _Short History_ into _A History of the English People_ in 4 vols. (1878-80), and writing _The Making of England_, of which one vol. only, coming down to 828, had appeared when he _d._ at Mentone in March 1883. After his death appeared _The Conquest of England_. The _Short History_ may be said to have begun a new epoch in the writing of history, making the social, industrial, and moral progress of the people its main theme. To infinite care in the gathering and sifting of his material G. added a style of wonderful charm, and an historical imagination which has hardly been equalled.

GREEN, MATTHEW (1696-1737).--Poet, is known as the author of _The Spleen_, a lively and original poem in octosyllabic verse on the subject of low spirits and the best means of prevention and cure. It has life-like descriptions, sprightliness, and lightness of touch, and was admired by Pope and Gray. The poem owes its name to the use of the term in the author's day to denote depression. G., who held an appointment in the Customs, appears to have been a quiet, inoffensive person, an entertaining companion, and a Quaker.

GREEN, THOMAS HILL (1836-1882).--Philosopher, was _b._ at Birken Rectory, Yorkshire, and _ed._ at Rugby and Balliol Coll., Oxf., where he became Whyte Prof. of Moral Philosophy and, by his character, ability, and enthusiasm on social questions, exercised a powerful influence. His chief works are an _Introduction to Hume's Treatise on Human Nature_ (Clarendon Press ed.), in which he criticised H.'s philosophy severely from the idealist standpoint, and _Prolegomena to Ethics_, _pub._ posthumously.

GREENE, ROBERT (1560?-1592).--Poet, dramatist, and pamphleteer, was _b._ at Norwich, and studied at Camb., where he _grad._ A.B. He was also incorporated at Oxf. in 1588. After travelling in Spain and Italy, he returned to Camb. and took A.M. Settling in London he was one of the wild and brilliant crew who pa.s.sed their lives in fitful alternations of literary production and dissipation, and were the creators of the English drama. He has left an account of his career in which he calls himself "the mirror of mischief." During his short life about town, in the course of which he ran through his wife's fortune, and deserted her soon after the birth of her first child, he poured forth tales, plays, and poems, which had great popularity. In the tales, or pamphlets as they were then called, he turns to account his wide knowledge of city vices. His plays, including _The Scottish History of James IV._, and _Orlando Furioso_, which are now little read, contain some fine poetry among a good deal of bombast; but his fame rests, perhaps, chiefly on the poems scattered through his writings, which are full of grace and tenderness. G. _d._ from the effects of a surfeit of pickled herrings and Rheinish wine. His extant writings are much less gross than those of many of his contemporaries, and he seems to have given signs of repentance on his deathbed, as is evidenced by his last work, _A Groat's worth of Wit bought with a Million of Repentance_. In this curious work occurs his famous reference to Shakespeare as "an upstart crow beautified with our feathers." Among his other works may be mentioned _Euphues' censure to Philautus_, _Pandosto, the Triumph of Time_ (1588), from which Shakespeare borrowed the plot of _The Winter's Tale_, _A Notable Discovery of Coosnage_, _Arbasto, King of Denmark_, _Penelope's Web_, _Menaphon_ (1589), and _Coney Catching_. His plays, all _pub._ posthumously, include _Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay_, _Alphonsus, King of Aragon_, and _George-a-Greene, the Pinner of Wakefield_. His tales are written under the influence of Lyly, whence he received from Gabriel Harvey the nickname of "Euphues' Ape."

Plays ed. by Dyce (2 vols., 1831, new ed., 1861). His works are included in Grosart's "Huth Library."

GREG, WILLIAM RATHBONE (1809-1881).--Essayist, _b._ in Manchester, and _ed._ at Bristol and Edin., was for some years engaged in his father's business as a millowner at Bury. Becoming deeply interested in political and social questions he contributed to reviews and magazines many papers and essays on these subjects, which were _repub._ in three collections, viz., _Essays on Political and Social Science_ (1854), _Literary and Social Judgments_ (1869), and _Miscellaneous Essays_ (1884). Other works of his are _Enigmas of Life_ (1872), _Rocks Ahead_ (1874), and _Mistaken Aims, etc._ (1876). In his writings he frequently manifested a distrust of democracy and a pessimistic view of the future of his country. He held successively the appointments of Commissioner of Customs and Controller of H.M. Stationery Office.

GREVILLE, CHARLES CAVENDISH FULKE (1794-1865).--Political annalist, _ed._ at Eton and Oxf., was a page to George III., sec. to Earl Bathurst, and afterwards held the sinecure office of Sec. of Jamaica. In 1821 he became Clerk to the Privy Council, an office which brought him into close contact with the leaders of both political parties, and gave him unusual opportunities of becoming acquainted with all that was pa.s.sing behind the scenes. The information as to men and events thus acquired he fully utilised in his _Journal of the Reigns of George IV., William IV., and Queen Victoria_, which, ed. by Henry Reeve, of the _Edinburgh Review_, was _pub._ in three series between 1874 and 1887. The _Journal_ covers the period, from 1820-60, and const.i.tutes an invaluable contribution to the history of the time.

GRIFFIN, BARTHOLOMEW? (_fl._ 1596).--Poet, of whom almost nothing is known, _pub._ in 1596 a collection of 62 sonnets under the t.i.tle of _Fidessa_, of which some are excellent.

GRIFFIN, GERALD (1803-1840).--Dramatist, novelist, and poet, _s._ of a tradesman, _b._ and _ed._ in Limerick, he went in 1823 to London, where most of his literary work was produced. In 1838 he returned to Ireland and, dividing his property among his brothers, devoted himself to a religious life by joining the Teaching Order of the Christian Brothers.

Two years thereafter he _d._, worn out by self-inflicted austerities. His chief novel, _The Collegians_, was adapted by Boucicault as _The Colleen Bawn_, and among his dramas is _Gisippus_. His novels depict southern Irish life.

GRIMOALD, NICHOLAS (1519-1562).--Poet, was at Camb. and Oxf., and was chaplain to Bishop Ridley. He contributed to Tottel's _Songs and Sonnettes_ (1557), wrote two dramas in Latin, _Archi-propheta_ and _Christus Redivivus_, and made translations.

GROOME, FRANCIS HINDES (1851-1902).--Miscellaneous writer, _s._ of a clergyman, wrote for various encyclopaedias, etc. He was a student of the gipsies and their language, and _pub._ _In Gypsy Tents_ (1880), _Gypsy Folk Tales_ (1899), and an ed. of Borrow's _Lavengro_ (1900). Other works were _A Short Border History_ (1887), _Kriegspiel_ (1896), a novel, and _Two Suffolk Friends_ (his _f._ and Edward Fitzgerald, _q.v._).

GROSART, ALEXANDER BALLOCH (1827-1899).--Was a minister of the English Presbyterian Church. He wrote Lives of various Puritan divines, ed. their works, and also issued ed., with Lives, of the poems of Michael Bruce (_q.v._) and Robert Fergusson (_q.v._). But his chief service to literature was his reprints, with notes, of rare Elizabethan and Jacobean literature, including _Fuller's Worthies Library_, 39 vols. (1868-76), _Occasional Issues of Unique and Very Rare Books_, 38 vols. 1875-81, _Huth Library_, 33 vols. (1886), Spenser's _Works_, 10 vols., _Daniel's Works_, etc.

GROSE, FRANCIS (1731-1791).--Antiquary and lexicographer, of Swiss extraction, was Richmond Herald 1755-63. He _pub._ _Antiquities of England and Wales_ (1773-87), which was well received, and thereafter, 1789, set out on an antiquarian tour through Scotland, the fruit of which was _Antiquity of Scotland_ (1789-91). He afterwards undertook a similar expedition to Ireland, but _d._ suddenly at Dublin. In addition to the works above mentioned he wrote _A Cla.s.sical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue_ (1785), _A Provincial Glossary_ (1787), a _Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons_, etc. He was an accomplished draughtsman, and ill.u.s.trated his works.

GROSSETESTE, ROBERT (_d._ 1253).--Theologian and scholar, was _b._ of poor parents at Stradbrook, Suffolk, and studied at Oxf. and possibly Paris. His abilities and learning procured him many preferments; but after an illness he refused to be longer a pluralist, and resigned all but a prebend at Lincoln. Later he was a strenuous and courageous reformer, as is shown by his refusing in 1253 to induct a nephew of the Pope to a canonry at Lincoln, of which he had been Bishop since 1235. He was equally bold in resisting the demand of Henry III. for a tenth of the Church revenues. Amid his absorbing labours as a Churchman, he found time to be a copious writer on a great variety of subjects, including husbandry, physical and moral philosophy, as also sermons, commentaries, and an allegory, the _Chateau d'Amour_. Roger Bacon was a pupil of his, and testifies to his amazing variety of knowledge.

GROTE, GEORGE (1794-1871).--Historian, _s._ of a wealthy banker in London, was _b._ at Beckenham, and _ed._ at Charterhouse School. In 1810 he entered the bank, of which he became head in 1830. In 1832 he was elected one of the members of Parliament for the City of London. In 1841 he retired from Parliament, and in 1843 from the bank, thenceforth devoting his whole time to literature, which, along with politics, had been his chief interest from his youth. He early came under the influence of Bentham and the two Mills, and was one of the leaders of the group of theorists known as "philosophical Radicals." In 1820 he _m._ Miss Harriet Lewin who, from her intellectual powers, was fitted to be his helper in his literary and political interests. In 1826 he contributed to the _Westminster Review_ a severe criticism of Mitford's _History of Greece_, and in 1845 _pub._ the first 2 vols. of his own, the remaining 6 vols.

appearing at intervals up to 1856. G. belongs to the school of philosophical historians, and his _History_, which begins with the legends, ends with the fall of the country under the successors of Alexander the Great. It is one of the standard works on the subject, which his learning enabled him to treat in a full and thorough manner; the style is clear and strong. It has been repeatedly re-issued, and has been translated into French and German. G. also _pub._, in 1865, _Plato and other Companions of Socrates_, and left unfinished a work on _Aristotle_. In political life G. was, as might be expected, a consistent and somewhat rigid Radical, and he was a strong advocate of the ballot.

He was one of the founders of the first London Univ., a Trustee of the British Museum, D.C.L. of Oxf., LL.D. of Camb., and a Foreign a.s.sociate of the Academie des Sciences. He was offered, but declined, a peerage in 1869, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

GRUB, GEORGE (1812-1892).--Historian, was _b._ in Old Aberdeen, and _ed._ at King's Coll. there. He studied law, and was admitted in 1836 to the Society of Advocates, Aberdeen, of which he was librarian from 1841 until his death. He was appointed Lecturer on Scots Law in Marischal Coll., and was Prof. of Law in the Univ. (1881-91). He has a place in literature as the author of an _Ecclesiastical History of Scotland_ (1861), written from the standpoint of a Scottish Episcopalian, which, though dry, is concise, clear, fair-minded, and trustworthy. G. also ed. (along with Joseph Robertson) Gordon's _Scots Affairs_ for the Spalding Club, of which he was one of the founders.

GUEST, LADY CHARLOTTE (BERTIE) (1812-1895).--_Dau._ of the 9th Earl of Lindsey, _m._ in 1833 Sir Josiah J. Guest, a wealthy ironmaster, after whose death in 1852 she managed the works. She was an enthusiastic student of Welsh literature, and aided by native scholars translated with consummate skill the _Mabinogion_, the ma.n.u.script of which in Jesus Coll., Oxf., is known as the _Red Book of Hergest_, and which is now a recognised cla.s.sic of mediaeval romance. She also prepared a 'Boys'

_Mabinogion_ containing the earliest Welsh tales of Arthur. She was also noted as a collector of china, fans, and playing cards, on which subjects she wrote several volumes. She entered into a second marriage in 1855 with Dr. C. Schreiber, but in literature she is always referred to under her first married name.

GUTHRIE, THOMAS (1803-1873).--Divine and philanthropist, _b._ at Brechin, studied for the Church, and became a minister in Edin. Possessed of a commanding presence and voice, and a remarkably effective and picturesque style of oratory, he became perhaps the most popular preacher of his day in Scotland, and was a.s.sociated with many forms of philanthropy, especially temperance and ragged schools, of the latter of which he was the founder. He was one of the leaders of the Free Church, and raised over 100,000 for manses for its ministers. Among his writings are _The Gospel in Ezekiel_, _Plea for Ragged Schools_, and _The City, its Sins and Sorrows_.

HABINGTON, WILLIAM (1605-1654).--Poet, _s._ of a Worcestershire Roman Catholic gentleman, was _ed._ at St. Omer's, but refused to become a Jesuit. He _m._ Lucia, _dau._ of Lord Powis, whom he celebrated in his poem _Castara_ (1634), in which he sang the praises of chaste love. He also wrote a tragi-comedy, _The Queen of Arragon_ (1640), and a _Historie of Edward IV._ His verse is graceful and tender.

HAILES, DALRYMPLE DAVID, LORD (1726-1792).--Scottish judge and historical writer, was _b._ at Edin. Belonging to a family famous as lawyers, he was called to the Bar in 1748, and raised to the Bench in 1766. An excellent judge, he was also untiring in the pursuit of his favourite studies, and produced several works of permanent value on Scottish history and antiquities, including _Annals of Scotland_ (1776), and _Canons of the Church of Scotland_ (1769). He was a friend and correspondent of Dr.

Johnson.

HAKE, THOMAS GORDON (1809-1895).--Poet, _b._ at Leeds, _ed._ at Christ's Hospital, was a physician, and practised at various places. His books include _Madeline_ (1871), _Parables and Tales_ (1873), _The Serpent Play_ (1883), _New Day Sonnets_ (1890), and _Memoirs of Eighty Years_ (1893).

HAKLUYT, RICHARD (1553?-1616).--Collector of voyages, belonged to a good Herefordshire family of Dutch descent, was _b._ either at Eyton in that county or in London, and _ed._ at Westminster School and Oxf. The sight of a map of the world fired his imagination and implanted in his mind the interest in geography and the lives and adventures of our great navigators and discoverers, which became the ruling pa.s.sion of his life; and in order to increase his knowledge of these matters he studied various foreign languages and the art of navigation. He took orders, and was chaplain of the English Emba.s.sy in Paris, Rector of Witheringsett, Suffolk, 1590, Archdeacon of Westminster, 1602, and Rector of Gedney, Lincolnshire, 1612. After a first collection of voyages to America and the West Indies he compiled, while at Paris, his great work, _The Princ.i.p.al Navigations, Voyages ... and Discoveries of the English Nation made by Sea or over Land to the Remote and Farthest Distant Quarters of the Earth ... within the Compa.s.s of these 1500 Years_. It appeared in its final form (three folio vols.) in 1599. Besides it he _pub._ _A Discourse of Western Planting_, and he left a vast ma.s.s of MS. afterwards used (in far inferior style) by S. Purchas (_q.v._). In all his work H. was actuated not only by the love of knowledge, but by a n.o.ble patriotism: he wished to see England the great sea-power of the world, and he lived to see it so. His work, as has been said, is "our English epic." In addition to his original writings he translated various works, among them being _The Discoveries of the World_, from the Portuguese of Antonio Galvano.

HALE, SIR MATTHEW (1609-1676).--Jurist and miscellaneous writer, has left a great reputation as a lawyer and judge. Steering a neutral course during the political changes of his time, he served under the Protectorate and after the Restoration, and rose to be Chief Justice of the King's Bench. He is mentioned here as the author of several works on science, divinity, and law. Among them are _The Primitive Origination of Mankind_, and _Contemplations, Moral and Divine_. His legal works are still of great authority. Though somewhat dissipated in early youth, he has handed down a high reputation for wisdom and piety.

HALES, JOHN (1584-1656).--Theologian, _b._ at Bath, and _ed._ there and at Oxf., became one of the best Greek scholars of his day, and lectured on that language at Oxf. In 1616 he accompanied the English amba.s.sador to the Hague in the capacity of chaplain, and attended the Synod of Dort, where he was converted from Calvinism to Arminianism. A lover of quiet and learned leisure, he declined all high and responsible ecclesiastical preferment, and chose and obtained scholarly retirement in a Fellowship of Eton, of which his friends Sir Henry Savile and Sir Henry Wotton were successively Provost. A treatise on _Schism and Schismatics_ (1636?) gave offence to Laud, but H. defended himself so well that Laud made him a Prebendary of Windsor. Refusing to acknowledge the Commonwealth, he was deprived, fell into poverty, and had to sell his library. After his death his writings were _pub._ in 1659 as _The Golden Remains of the Ever-Memorable Mr. John Hales of Eton College_.

HALIBURTON, THOMAS CHANDLER (1796-1865).--_B._ at Windsor, Nova Scotia, was a lawyer, and rose to be Judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony. He was the author of _The Clock-maker, or Sayings and Doings of Samuel Slick of Slickville_, and a continuation, _The Attache, or Sam Slick in England_. In these he made a distinctly original contribution to English fiction, full of shrewdness and humour. He may be regarded as the pioneer of the American school of humorists. He wrote various other works, including _The Old Judge_, _Nature and Human Nature_, _A Historical and Statistical Account of Nova Scotia_, etc. In 1856 he settled in England, and sat in the House of Commons for Launceston.

HALIFAX, CHARLES MONTAGU, 1ST EARL of (1661-1715).--A famous wit, statesman, and patron of literature, was _ed._ at Westminster School and Trinity Coll., Camb. Entering Parliament he became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1694, and First Lord of the Treasury 1697. Vain and arrogant, he soon lost popularity and power. His chief literary effort was his collaboration with Prior in _The Town and Country Mouse_ (1687), a parody of and reply to Dryden's _Hind and Panther_. H. was the friend and patron of Addison, Steele, Congreve, and many other of the cla.s.sical writers of his day. He became a peer in 1701.

HALL, MRS. ANNA MARIA (FIELDING) (1800-1881).--Novelist, was _b._ in Dublin, but left Ireland at the age of 15. Nevertheless, that country gave her the motive of several of her most successful books, such as _Sketches of Irish Character_ (1829), _Lights and Shadows of Irish Character_ (1838), _Marian_ (1839), and _The White Boy_ (1845). Other works are _The Buccaneer_, and _Midsummer Eve_, a fairy tale, and many sketches in the _Art Journal_, of which her husband, SAMUEL CARTER HALL (1800-1889), was ed. With him she also collaborated in a work ent.i.tled _Ireland, its Scenery, Character, etc._ Mrs. H. was a very voluminous writer; her descriptive talents were considerable, as also was her power of depicting character. Her husband was likewise a writer of some note, chiefly on art.

HALL, BASIL (1788-1844).--Traveller, _s._ of Sir James H., an eminent man of science, was in the navy, and rose to be captain. He was one of the first to visit Corea, and wrote _Voyage of Discovery to Corea_ (1818), also _Travels in North America in 1827-28_, a lively work which gave some offence in the U.S., _Fragments of Voyages and Travels_ (1831-40), and some tales and romances. He was latterly insane.

HALL, or HALLE, EDWARD (1499?-1547).--Chronicler, _b._ in London, studied successively at Camb. and Oxf. He was a lawyer, and sat in Parliament for Bridgnorth, and served on various Commissions. He wrote a history of _The Union of the two n.o.ble and Ill.u.s.tre Families of Lancastre and Yorke_, commonly called _Hall's Chronicle_. It was _pub._ after the author's death by Richard Grafton, and was prohibited by Queen Mary.

HALL, JOSEPH (1574-1656).--Divine, _b._ at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, and _ed._ at Camb., he entered the Church, and became in 1627 Bishop of Exeter, and in 1641 Bishop of Norwich. He had a chequered career. He accompanied James I. to Scotland in 1617, and was a Deputy to the Synod of Dort.

Accused of Puritanism, and at enmity with Laud, he fell on troublous days, and was, in 1641, imprisoned in the Tower for joining those bishops who protested against the validity of laws pa.s.sed during their exclusion (owing to tumult in the streets) from Parliament. Returning to Norwich he found that his revenues had been sequestrated, and his private property seized. In 1647 he retired to a small farm near Norwich, where he pa.s.sed the remainder of his life. Among his works are _Contemplations_, _Characters of Virtues and Vices_ (1614), and his _Virgidemiarum, or Satires_ (1597-8), the last written before he was in orders, and condemned by Archbishop Whitgift to be burned. Pope, however, thought them "the best poetry and truest satire in the English language." H.'s _Divine Right of Episcopacy_ gave rise to much controversy, in which Archbishop Ussher, Milton, and the writers who called themselves "Smectymnuus" (a combination of their initials) took part.