A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature Part 5

BOECE, or BOETHIUS, HECTOR (1465?-1536).--Historian, probably _b._ at Dundee, and _ed._ there and at Paris, where he was a regent or professor, 1492 to 1498. While there he made the acquaintance of Erasmus. Returning to Scotland he co-operated with Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, in founding the univ. there of which he was the first Princ.i.p.al. His literary fame rests on two works, his _Lives of the Bishops of Mortlach and Aberdeen_, in which his friend Elphinstone figures prominently, and his _History of Scotland_ to the accession of James III. These works were, of course, composed in Latin, but the _History_ was translated into Scottish prose by John b.e.l.l.e.n.den, 1530 to 1533, and into English for Hollinshed's _Chronicle_. The only predecessor of the work was the compendium of Major, and as it was written in a flowing and pleasing style it became very popular, and led to ecclesiastical preferment and Royal favour. B. shared in the credulity of his age, but the charge of inventing his authorities formerly brought against him has been shown to be, to some extent at any rate, unfounded.

BOKER, GEORGE HENRY (1823-90).--Poet, was in the American Diplomatic Service. Among his dramas, generally tragedies, are _Anne Boleyn_, _The Betrothed_, and _Francesca da Rimini_, and among his books of poetry, _Street Lyrics_, _Konigsmark_, and _The Book of the Dead_. His dramas combine poetic merit with adaptability for acting.

BOLINGBROKE, HENRY ST. JOHN, 1ST VISCOUNT (1678-1751).--Statesman and philosopher, _s._ of Sir Henry St. J., _b._ at Battersea, and _ed._ at Eton and perhaps Oxf., was during his youth noted chiefly for dissipation, but entering Parliament in 1701 as a supporter of Harley, soon made himself a name by his eloquence and talent. He held office as War and Foreign Sec. successively, became a peer in 1712, intrigued successfully against Harley, and formed an administration during the last days of Queen Anne, with the intention of bringing back the Stuarts, which was frustrated by the Queen's death. On the arrival of George I.

and the accession to power of the Whigs, B. was impeached, and his name erased from the Roll of Peers. He went to France, and became Sec. of State to the Pretender James, who, however, dismissed him in 1716, after which he devoted himself to philosophy and literature. In 1723 he was pardoned and returned to England, and an act was pa.s.sed in 1725 restoring his forfeited estates, but still excluding him from the House of Lords.

He thereupon retired to his house, Dawley, near Uxbridge, where he enjoyed the society of Swift and Pope, on the latter of whom he exerted a strong influence. After some ineffectual efforts to regain a position in political life, he returned to France in 1735, where he remained for 7 years, and wrote most of his chief works.

B. was a man of brilliant and versatile talents, but selfish, insincere, and intriguing, defects of character which led to his political ruin. His writings, once so much admired, reflect his character in their glittering artificiality, and his pretensions to the reputation of a philosopher have long been exploded; the chief of them are _Reflections upon Exile_, _Letters on the Study of History_ (in which he attacked Christianity), _Letters on the Spirit of Patriotism_, and _Idea of a Patriot King_. He left his MSS. to David Mallet (_q.v._), who _pub._ a complete ed. of his works in 5 vols. (1753-54).

BONAR, HORATIUS (1808-1889).--Divine and poet, _s._ of James B., Solicitor of Exise for Scotland, _b._ and _ed._ in Edin., entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland, and was settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the Disruption in 1843, and in 1867 was translated to Edin. In 1853 he was made D.D. of Aberdeen. He was a voluminous and highly popular author, and in addition to many books and tracts wrote a number of hymns, many of which, _e.g._, "I heard the voice of Jesus say,"

are known all over the English-speaking world. A selection of these was _pub._ as _Hymns of Faith and Hope_ (3 series). His last vol. of poetry was _My Old Letters_.

BOORDE, or BORDE, ANDREW (1490?-1549).--Traveller, _b._ near Cuckfield, Suss.e.x, was brought up as a Carthusian, and held ecclesiastical appointments, then practised medicine at various places, including Glasgow, and was employed in various capacities by T. Cromwell. He travelled widely, going as far as Jerusalem, and wrote descriptions of the countries he had visited. His _Dyetary_ is the first English book of domestic medicine. The _Boke of the Introduction of Knowledge_ describes his journeys on the Continent. Other works are _The Boke of Berdes_ (Beards), _Handbook of Europe_, and _Itinerary of England_.

BORROW, GEORGE (1803-1881).--Philologist and miscellaneous author, and traveller, _b._ at East Dereham, Norfolk, _s._ of a recruiting officer, had a somewhat wandering childhood. He received most of his education in Edin., and showed a peculiar talent for acquiring languages. After being for a short time in the office of a solicitor in Norwich, he travelled widely on the Continent and in the East, acquainting himself with the people and languages of the various countries he visited. He specially attached himself to the Gipsies, with whose language he became so familiar as to _pub._ a dictionary of it. His learning was shown by his publishing at St. Petersburg _Targum_, a work containing translations from 30 languages. B. became a travelling agent of the Bible Society, and his book, _The Bible in Spain_ (1843), giving an account of his remarkable adventures in that country, made his literary reputation. It was followed by _Lavengro_ (1851), and its sequel, _Romany Rye_ (1857), and _Wild Wales_ (1862), which, though works of originality and extreme interest, and now perhaps his most popular books, were received with less public favour. The two first give a highly coloured picture of his own story. He translated the New Testament into Manchu. In his latter years he settled at Oulton Broad, Norfolk, where he _d._ B. was a man of striking appearance and great vigour and originality of character and mind. His writings hold a unique place in English literature.

BOSTON, THOMAS (1677-1732).--Scottish divine, was successively schoolmaster at Glencairn, and minister of Simprin in Berwickshire, and Ettrick in Selkirkshire. In addition to his best-known work, _The Fourfold State_, one of the religious cla.s.sics of Scotland, he wrote an original little book, _The Crook in the Lot_, and a learned treatise on the Hebrew points. He also took a leading part in the Courts of the Church in what was known as the "Marrow Controversy," regarding the merits of an English work, _The Marrow of Modern Divinity_, which he defended against the attacks of the "Moderate" party in the Church. B., if unduly introspective, was a man of singular piety and amiability. His autobiography is an interesting record of Scottish life, full of sincerity and tenderness, and not devoid of humorous touches, intentional and otherwise.

BOSWELL, SIR ALEXANDER (1775-1822).--Antiquary and song writer, _s._ of James B., of Auchinleck, Johnson's biographer, was interested in old Scottish authors, some of whose works he reprinted at his private press.

He wrote some popular Scotch songs, of which _Jenny's Bawbee_ and _Jenny dang the Weaver_ are the best known. B. _d._ in a duel with Mr. Stuart of Dunearn.

BOSWELL, JAMES (1740-1795).--Biographer, _s._ of Alexander B. of Auchinleck, Ayrshire, one of the judges of the Supreme Courts of Scotland, was _ed._ at the High School and Univ. of Edin., and practised as an advocate. He travelled much on the Continent and visited Corsica, where he became acquainted with the patriot General Paoli. Fortunately for posterity he was in 1763 introduced to Dr. Johnson, and formed an acquaintance with him which soon ripened into friendship, and had as its ultimate fruit the immortal _Life_. He was also the author of several works of more or less interest, including an _Account of Corsica_ (1768), and _Journal of Tour to the Hebrides_ (in the company of Johnson) (1786).

Vain and foolish in an exceptional degree, and by no means free from more serious faults, B. has yet produced the greatest biography in the language. _The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D._ appeared in 1791, and at once commanded an admiration which has suffered no diminution since. But by this time a cloud had fallen upon the author. He had lost his excellent wife, his health had given way, the intemperance to which he had always been subject had mastered him, and he _d._ four years after the appearance of his great work. B. was called to the English as well as to the Scottish Bar, but his various foibles prevented his reaching any great success, and he had also vainly endeavoured to enter on a political career. The question has often been raised how a man with the characteristics of B. could have produced so unique a work, and has been discussed at length by Macaulay and by Carlyle, the former paradoxically arguing that his supreme folly and meanness themselves formed his greatest qualifications; the latter, with far deeper insight, that beneath these there lay the possession of an eye to discern excellence and a heart to appreciate it, intense powers of accurate observation and a considerable dramatic faculty. His letters to William Temple were discovered at Boulogne, and _pub._ 1857.

BOUCICAULT, DION (1820-90).--Actor and dramatist, _b._ in Dublin and _ed._ in London, joined Macready while still young, and made his first appearance upon the stage with Benj. Webster at Bristol. Soon afterwards he began to write plays, occasionally in conjunction, of which the first, _London a.s.surance_ (1841) had an immediate success. He was an excellent actor, especially in pathetic parts. His plays are for the most part adaptations, but are often very ingenious in construction, and have had great popularity. Among the best known are _The Colleen Bawn_, _Arrah-na-Pogue_, _Faust and Marguerite_, and _The Shaughraun_. B. _d._ in America.

BOWDLER, THOMAS (1754-1825).--Editor of _The Family Shakespeare_, _b._ near Bath, _s._ of a gentleman of independent fortune, studied medicine at St. Andrews and at Edin., where he took his degree in 1776, but did not practise, devoting himself instead to the cause of prison reform. In 1818 he _pub._ his _Family Shakespeare_ in 10 vols., "in which nothing is added to the original text, but those words and expressions are omitted which cannot with propriety be read aloud in a family." The work had considerable success, 4 editions having been _pub._ before 1824, and others in 1831, 1853, and 1861. It was, however, subjected to some criticism and ridicule, and gave rise to the expression "bowdlerise,"

always used in an opprobrious sense. On the other hand, Mr. Swinburne has said, "More nauseous and foolish cant was never chattered than that which would deride the memory or depreciate the merits of B. No man ever did better service to Shakespeare than the man who made it possible to put him into the hands of intelligent and imaginative children." B.

subsequently essayed a similar enterprise in regard to Gibbon, which, however, was not so successful.

BOWER, ARCHIBALD (1686-1766).--Historian, _b._ at Dundee, and _ed._ at the Scots Coll., Douay, became a Jesuit, but afterwards joined the Church of England, and again became a Jesuit. He wrote a _History of Rome_ (1735-44), a _History of the Popes_ (1748-66). These works are ill-proportioned and inaccurate. His whole life appears to have been a very discreditable one.

BOWER, or BOWMAKER, WALTER (_d._ 1449).--Was Abbot of Inchcolm, and continued and enlarged Fordun's _Scotichronicon_.

BOWLES, WILLIAM LISLE (1762-1850).--Poet and antiquary, _b._ at King's Sutton, Northamptonshire, of which his _f._ was vicar, and _ed._ at Winchester and Oxf., was for the most of his life Vicar of Bremhill, Wilts, and became Prebendary and Canon Residentiary of Salisbury. His first work, _pub._ in 1789, was a little vol. containing 14 sonnets, which was received with extraordinary favour, not only by the general public, but by such men as Coleridge and Wordsworth. It may be regarded as the harbinger of the reaction against the school of Pope, in which these poets were soon to bear so great a part. B. _pub._ several other poems of much greater length, of which the best are _The Spirit of Discovery_ (1805), and _The Missionary of the Andes_ (1815), and he also enjoyed considerable reputation as an antiquary, his princ.i.p.al work in that department being _Hermes Britannicus_ (1828). In 1807 he _pub._ a _Life of Pope_, in the preface to which he expressed some views on poetry which resulted in a rather fierce controversy with Byron, Campbell, and others. He also wrote a _Life of Bishop Ken_. B. was an amiable, absent-minded, and rather eccentric man. His poems are characterised by refinement of feeling, tenderness, and pensive thought, but are deficient in power and pa.s.sion.

Other works are _Coombe Ellen and St. Michael's Mount_ (1798), _The Battle of the Nile_ (1799), _The Sorrows of Switzerland_ (1801), _St.

John in Patmos_ (1833), etc.

BOWRING, SIR JOHN (1792-1872).--Linguist, writer, and traveller, was _b._ at Exeter. His talent for acquiring languages enabled him at last to say that he knew 200, and could speak 100. He was appointed editor of the _Westminster Review_ in 1824; travelled in various countries with the view of reporting on their commercial position; was an M.P. 1835-37 and 1841-49, and held various appointments in China. His chief literary work was the translation of the folk-songs of most European nations, and he also wrote original poems and hymns, and works on political and economic subjects. B. was knighted in 1854. He was the literary executor of Jeremy Bentham (_q.v._).

BOYD, ANDREW KENNEDY HUTCHISON (1825-1899).--Miscellaneous writer, _s._ of Rev. Dr. B. of Glasgow, was originally intended for the English Bar, but entered the Church of Scotland, and was minister latterly at St.

Andrews, wrote in _Fraser's Magazine_ a series of light, chirping articles subsequently collected as the _Recreations of a Country Parson_, also several books of reminiscences, etc., written in a pleasant chatty style, and some sermons. He was D.D. and LL.D.

BOYD, ZACHARY (1585-1653).--Divine, belonged to the family of B. of Pinkhill, Ayrshire, was _ed._ at Glasgow and at Saumur. He translated many parts of Scripture into uncouth verse. Among his works are _The Garden of Zion_ and _Zion's Flowers_.

BOYLE, THE HON. ROBERT (1627-1691).--Natural Philosopher and chemist, 7th _s._ of the 1st Earl of Cork, was _b._ at Lismore, Co. Waterford, and _ed._ at Eton and by private tutors, after which he pursued his studies on the Continent. On his return to England he devoted himself to the study of science, especially natural philosophy and chemistry. He was one of the founders of the Royal Society, and, by his experiments and observations added to existing knowledge, especially in regard to pneumatics. He at the same time devoted much study to theology; so much indeed that he was strongly urged by Lord Clarendon to enter the Church.

Thinking, however, that he could serve the cause of religion better as a layman, he declined this advice. As a director of the East India Co. he did much for the propagation of Christianity in the East, and for the dissemination of the Bible. He also founded the "Boyle Lectures" in defence of Christianity. He declined the offer of a peerage. B. was a man of great intellectual acuteness, and remarkable for his conversational powers. Among his writings are _Origin of Forms and Qualities_, _Experiments touching Colour_, _Hydrostatical Paradoxes_, and _Observations on Cold_; in theology, _Seraphic Love_. His complete works were _pub._ in 5 vols. in 1744.

BRADLEY, EDWARD (1827-1889).--Novelist, was a clergyman. He wrote under the name of "Cuthbert Bede" a few novels and tales, _Fairy Fables_ (1858), _Glencraggan_ (1861), _Fotheringhay_ (1885), etc.; but his most popular book was _Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman_, which had great vogue.

BRADWARDINE, THOMAS (1290?-1349).--Theologian, was at Oxf., where he became Prof. of Divinity and Chancellor, and afterwards Chaplain to Edward III., whom he attended in his French wars. He was twice elected Archbishop of Canterbury by the monks, and on the second occasion accepted, but _d._ of the plague within 40 days. He wrote on geometry, but his great work was _De Causa Dei_ (on the Cause of G.o.d against Pelagius), in which he treated theology mathematically, and which earned for him from the Pope the t.i.tle of the Profound Doctor.

BRAITHWAITE, or BRATHWAITE, RICHARD (1588-1673).--Poet, _b._ near Kendal, and _ed._ at Oxf., is believed to have served with the Royalist army in the Civil War. He was the author of many works of very unequal merit, of which the best known is _Drunken Barnaby's Four Journeys_, which records his pilgrimages through England in rhymed Latin (said by Southey to be the best of modern times), and doggerel English verse. _The English Gentleman_ (1631) and _English Gentlewoman_ are in a much more decorous strain. Other works are _The Golden Fleece_ (1611) (poems), _The Poet's Willow_, _A Strappado for the Devil_ (a satire), and _Art Asleepe, Husband?_

BRAMSTON, JAMES (_c._ 1694-1744).--Satirist, _ed._ at Westminster School and Oxf., took orders and was latterly Vicar of Hastings. His poems are _The Art of Politics_ (1729), in imitation of Horace, and _The Man of Taste_ (1733), in imitation of Pope. He also parodied Phillips's _Splendid Shilling_ in _The Crooked Sixpence_. His verses have some liveliness.

BRAY, ANNA ELIZA (1790-1883).--Novelist, _dau._ of Mr. J. Kempe, was married first to C.A. Stothard, _s._ of the famous R.A., and himself an artist, and secondly to the Rev. E.A. Bray. She wrote about a dozen novels, chiefly historical, and _The Borders of the Tamar and Tavy_ (1836), an account of the traditions and superst.i.tions of the neighbourhood of Tavistock in the form of letters to Southey, of whom she was a great friend. This is probably the most valuable of her writings.

Among her works are _Branded_, _Good St. Louis and his Times_, _Trelawney_, and _White Hoods_.

BRETON, NICHOLAS (1545-1626).--Poet and novelist. Little is known of his life. He was the _s._ of William B., a London merchant, was perhaps at Oxf., and was a rather prolific author of considerable versatility and gift. Among his poetical works are _A Floorish upon Fancie, Pasquil's Mad-cappe_ (1626), _The Soul's Heavenly Exercise_, and _The Pa.s.sionate Shepherd_. In prose he wrote _Wit's Trenchmour_, _The Wil of Wit_ (1599), _A Mad World, my Masters_, _Adventures of Two Excellent Princes_, _Grimello's Fortunes_ (1604), _Strange News out of Divers Countries_ (1622), etc. His mother married E. Gascoigne, the poet (_q.v._). His lyrics are pure and fresh, and his romances, though full of conceits, are pleasant reading, remarkably free from grossness.

BREWSTER, SIR DAVID (1781-1868).--Man of science and writer, _b._ at Jedburgh, originally intended to enter the Church, of which, after a distinguished course at the Univ. of Edin., he became a licentiate.

Circ.u.mstances, however, led him to devote himself to science, of which he was one of the most brilliant ornaments of his day, especially in the department of optics, in which he made many discoveries. He maintained his habits of investigation and composition to the very end of his long life, during which he received almost every kind of honorary distinction open to a man of science. He also made many important contributions to literature, including a _Life of Newton_ (1831), _The Martyrs of Science_ (1841), _More Worlds than One_ (1854), and _Letters on Natural Magic_ addressed to Sir W. Scott, and he also edited, in addition to various scientific journals, _The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia_ (1807-29). He likewise held the offices successively of Princ.i.p.al of the United Coll. of St.

Salvator and St. Leonard, St. Andrews (1838), and of the Univ. of Edin.

(1859). He was knighted in 1831. Of high-strung and nervous temperament, he was somewhat irritable in matters of controversy; but he was repeatedly subjected to serious provocation. He was a man of highly honourable and fervently religious character.

BROKE, or BROOKE, ARTHUR (_d._ 1563).--Translator, was the author of _The Tragicall Historie of Romeus and Juliett_, from which Shakespeare probably took the story of his _Romeo and Juliet_. Though indirectly translated, through a French version, from the Italian of Bandello, it is so much altered and amplified as almost to rank as an original work. The only fact known regarding him is his death by shipwreck when crossing to France.

BROME, RICHARD (_d._ 1652?).--Dramatist, the servant and friend of Ben Jonson, produced upwards of 20 plays, some in conjunction with Dekker and others. Among them are _A Fault in Friendship_, _Late Lancashire Witches_ (with Heywood and Dekker), _A Jovial Crew_ (1652), _The Northern La.s.s_ (1632), _The Antipodes_ (1646), _City Wit_ (1653), _Court Beggar_ (1653), etc. He had no original genius, but knew stage-craft well.