Biographical Outlines Part 13

ROBERT SOUTHEY.

Born 1774.-Died 1843.-George III.-George IV.-William IV.-Victoria.

Poet Laureate, born at Bristol. His numerous works embrace many varieties of literature. In poetry the _Curse of Kehama_, _Thalaba_, and _Vision of Don Roderick_; in prose his _History of Brazil_, _The Doctor_, and the _Life of Nelson_, show his great learning and research, power of language, and variety of attainments.

THOMAS CAMPBELL.

Born 1777.-Died 1844.-George II.-George III.-William IV.-Victoria.

A poet and essayist. The _Pleasures of Hope_, _Gertrude of Wyoming_, _Exile of Erin_, and _Mariners of England_, are universally known and admired.

MRS. ELIZABETH FRY,

Born 1780.-Died 1845.-George III.-George IV.-William IV.-Victoria.

Was the third daughter of Mr. John Gurney of Norwich. 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. In the pursuit of her object she visited the chief cities of Europe, where she met with warm sympathy and encouragement. Her energies were always at the service of the sufferers and the wretched of every cla.s.s.

DANIEL O'CONNELL.

Born 1775.-Died 1845.-George III.-George IV. William IV.-Victoria.

This famous Irish political agitator was born in Kerry, and educated at St. Omer's, in France. He was called to the bar in 1798, and elected member for Clare in 1828. In spite of the continued opposition of George IV., Irish agitation through O'Connell urged the Government to pa.s.s the Catholic Relief Bill, which was done in 1829, and one of the king's last reluctant acts was to sign it. O'Connell supported the Government in the pa.s.sing 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 (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.

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

Born 1786.-Died 1847.-George III.-George IV.-William IV.-Victoria.

When Captain Franklin this brave and persevering explorer went out to discover the north-west pa.s.sage, and after several expeditions to the North and Polar seas, he started on a last Polar voyage, from which he never returned. In 1859 Captain Maclure went out on the same track, and found that Sir John Franklin had preceded him by five years in his discoveries, and been lost in the attempt.

MARIA EDGEWORTH.

Born 1767.-Died 1849.-George III.-George IV.-William IV.-Victoria.

This accomplished woman wrote a number of useful and educational tales, for which the children of many generations owe her a debt of grat.i.tude.

Her _Frank_, _Rosamond_, _Harry and Lucy_, _Moral_, _Popular_, _and Fashionable Tales_, _Patronage_, _Belinda_, _Harrington and Ormond_, etc., are all written with a purpose of instruction that is admirably carried out. Her last and most beautiful story, _Helen_, shows the wretched consequences of departing from truth.

SIR ROBERT PEEL.

Born 1788.-Died 1850.-George III.-George IV.-William IV.-Victoria.

This celebrated statesman (sprung from the cla.s.s of artizans) raised himself to the highest station by his great talents and their careful and refined cultivation. His love of literature and general knowledge were considerable, and he was a most accomplished leader of the House of Commons. His political life was marked by the pa.s.sing of the Roman Catholic Relief and the Reform Bills, and his administration by the measures pa.s.sed for repealing the Corn Laws and General Free Trade. He died from injuries sustained by a fall from his horse, in London.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

Born 1770.-Died 1850.-George III.-George IV.-William IV.-Victoria.

This eminent poet is the chief founder of what is called the "Lake School" of poetry. Throwing off the fetters of conventional and "fine"

language, and clothing the reality of thought in the simplest words, Wordsworth, as a poet, is the greatest moral teacher of modern times, and no one can make a study of his works without finding himself the better for it. _The Excursion_, _the White Doe of Rylstone_, _The Brothers_, and a mult.i.tude of smaller poems, are well known. Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Southey were all strict and intimate friends; but the former outlived most of his early companions, dying at Rydal at eighty years of age. It is much to be regretted that his poems are not spread in cheap forms.

DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

Born 1769.-Died 1852.-George III.-George IV.-William IV.-Victoria.

Arthur Wellesley, the third son of the Earl of Mornington, went into the army as an ensign in the 73rd Foot, and became a very great general and afterwards a statesman. He went to India in 1797, where his wonderful military career may be said to have begun. From India he pa.s.sed to the command of the English armies in the Peninsular war against Buonaparte, where he steadily overcame the best French generals, and at Waterloo broke the whole strength of France, and obliged Buonaparte to surrender to the allies. The Duke of Wellington was a man of the loftiest character as a commander and statesman, with no thought of himself, or love of praise or gain. He lived in an una.s.suming way, with great simplicity, and died at Walmer Castle in 1852.

THOMAS MOORE.