A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature Part 34

MONBODDO, JAMES BURNETT, LORD (1714-1799).--Philosopher and philologist, _b._ at the family seat in Kincardines.h.i.+re, was _ed._ at the Univ. of Aberdeen, Edin., and Groningen, and called to the Scottish Bar in 1737.

Thirty years later he became a judge with the t.i.tle of Lord Monboddo. He was a man of great learning and acuteness, but eccentric and fond of paradox. He was the author of two large works alike learned and whimsical, _An Essay on the Origin and Progress of Language_ (6 vols.

1773-92), and _Ancient Metaphysics_ (6 vols. 1779-99). He mooted and supported the theory that men were originally monkeys, and gradually attained to reason, language, and civilisation by the pressure of necessity. His doctrines do not sound so absurd now as they did in his own day. He was visited by Dr. Johnson at Monboddo.

MONTAGU, ELIZABETH (ROBINSON) (1720-1800).--Critic, _dau._ of a gentleman of Yorks.h.i.+re, _m._ a grandson of Lord Sandwich. She was one of the original "blue-stockings," and her house was a literary centre. She wrote an _Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare_ (1769), in which she compared him with the cla.s.sical and French dramatists, and defended him against the strictures of Voltaire. It had great fame in its day, but has long been superseded.

MONTAGU, LADY MARY WORTLEY (PIERREPONT) (1690-1762).--Letter-writer, was the eldest _dau._ of the 1st Duke of Kingston. In her youth she combined the attractions of a reigning beauty and a wit. Her early studies were encouraged and a.s.sisted by Bishop Burnet, and she was the friend of Pope, Addison, and Swift. In 1712 she _m._, against the wishes of her family, Edward Wortley-Montagu, a cousin of the celebrated Charles Montagu, afterwards Earl of Halifax. Her husband having been appointed Amba.s.sador to the Porte, she accompanied him, and wrote the sparkling _Letters from the East_ which have given her a place high among the great letter-writers of the world. While in Turkey she became acquainted with the practice of inoculation against smallpox, which she did much to introduce into western countries. After her return to England she settled at Twickenham, and renewed her friends.h.i.+p with Pope, which, however, ended in a violent quarrel, arising out of her publication of _Town Eclogues_. She was furiously attacked by both Pope and Swift, and was not slow to defend herself. In 1737, for reasons which have never been explained, she left her husband and country, and settled in Italy. Mr.

M. having _d._ 1761, she returned at the request of her _dau._, the Countess of Bute, but _d._ the following year.

MONTGOMERIE, ALEXANDER (1545?-1610?).--Poet, probably _b._ in Ayrs.h.i.+re, was in the service of the Regent Morton and James VI., by whom he was pensioned. He is sometimes styled "Captain," and was laureate of the Court. He appears to have fallen on evil days, was imprisoned on the Continent, and lost his pension. His chief work is _The Cherrie and the Slae_ (1597), a somewhat poor allegory of Virtue and Vice, but with some vivid description in it, and with a comparatively modern air. He also wrote _Flyting_ (scolding) _betwixt Montgomerie and Polwart_, _pub._ 1621, and other pieces.

MONTGOMERY, JAMES (1771-1854).--Poet, _s._ of a pastor and missionary of the Moravian Brethren, was _b._ at Irvine, Ayrs.h.i.+re, and _ed._ at the Moravian School at Fulneck, near Leeds. After various changes of occupation and abode, he settled in Sheffield in 1792 as clerk to a newspaper. In 1796 he had become ed. of the _Sheffield Iris_, and was twice imprisoned for political articles for which he was held responsible. In 1797 he _pub._ _Prison Amus.e.m.e.nts_; but his first work to attract notice was _The Wanderer of Switzerland_ (1806). It was followed by _The West Indies_ (1809), _The World before the Flood_ (1812), _Greenland_ (1819), and _The Pelican Island_ (1828), all of which contain pa.s.sages of considerable imaginative and descriptive power, but are lacking in strength and fire. He himself expected that his name would live, if at all, in his hymns, and in this his judgment has proved true.

Some of these, such as _For ever with the Lord_, _Hail to the Lord's Anointed_, and _Prayer is the Soul's sincere Desire_, are sung wherever the English language is spoken. M. was a good and philanthropic man, the opponent of every form of injustice and oppression, and the friend of every movement for the welfare of the race. His virtues attained wide recognition.

MONTGOMERY, ROBERT (1807-1855).--Poet, a minister of the Scottish Episcopal Church, wrote some ambitious religious poems, including _The Omnipresence of the Deity_ and _Satan_, which were at first outrageously puffed, and had a wide circulation. Macaulay devoted an essay to the demolition of the author's reputation, in which he completely succeeded.

MOORE, EDWARD (1712-1757).--Fabulist and dramatist, _s._ of a dissenting minister, was _b._ at Abingdon. After being in business as a linen-draper, in which he was unsuccessful, he took to literature, and wrote a few plays, of which _The Gamester_ (1753) had a great vogue, and was translated into various languages. He is best known by his _Fables for the Female s.e.x_ (1744), which rank next to those of Gay (_q.v._).

MOORE, JOHN (1729 or 1730-1802).--Physician and miscellaneous writer, _s._ of an Episcopal minister, was _b._ in Stirling. After studying medicine at Glasgow, he acted as a surgeon in the navy and the army, and ultimately settled in Glasgow as a physician. In 1779 he _pub._ _View of Manners and Society in France, Switzerland, and Germany_, which was well received. A similar work, relating to Italy, followed in 1781. He is, however, chiefly remembered by his romance _Zeluco_ (1786?). One or two other novels followed, and his last works are a _Journal during a Residence in France_ (1792), and _Causes and Progress of the French Revolution_ (1795), the latter of which was used both by Scott and Carlyle. M. was one of the friends of Burns, and was the _f._ of Sir John M., the hero of Corunna.

MOORE, THOMAS (1779-1852).--Poet, _b._ in Dublin, _s._ of a grocer and wine-merchant in a small way, was _ed._ at Trinity Coll., after which he went to London, and studied law at the Middle Temple, 1799. He took with him a translation of _Anacreon_, which appeared, dedicated to the Prince Regent, in 1800, was well received, and made a position for him. In the following year appeared _Poems by Thomas Little_. In 1803 he received the appointment of Admiralty Registrar at Bermuda, and after visiting the island and travelling in America, he committed his official duties to a deputy (an unfortunate step as it proved), and returned to England. The literary fruit of this journey was _Epistles, Odes, and other Poems_ (1806). In 1807 M. found his true poetic vocation in his _Irish-Melodies_--the music being furnished by Sir John Stevenson, who adapted the national airs. The reception they met with was enthusiastic, and M. was carried at once to the height of his reputation. They continued to appear over a period of 25 years, and for each of the 130 songs he received 100 guineas. His charming singing of these airs, and his fascinating conversational and social powers made him sought after in the highest circles. In 1815 there appeared _National Airs_ which, however, cannot be considered equal to the _Melodies_. After making various unsuccessful attempts at serious satire, he hit upon a vein for which his light and brilliant wit eminently qualified him--the satirical and pungent verses on men and topics of the day, afterwards _coll._ in _The Twopenny Post Bag_, in which the Prince Regent especially was mercilessly ridiculed, and about the same time appeared _Fables for the Holy Alliance_. In 1818 he produced the _Fudge Family in Paris_, written in that city, which then swarmed with "groups of ridiculous English."

_Lalla Rookh_, with its gorgeous descriptions of Eastern scenes and manners, had appeared in the previous year with great applause. In 1818 the great misfortune of his life occurred through the dishonesty of his deputy in Bermuda, which involved him in a loss of 6000, and necessitated his going abroad. He travelled in Italy with Lord John Russell, and visited Byron. Thereafter he settled for a year or two in Paris, where he wrote _The Loves of the Angels_ (1823). On the death of Byron his memoirs came into the hands of Moore, who, in the exercise of a discretion committed to him, destroyed them. He afterwards wrote a _Life of Byron_ (1830), which gave rise to much criticism and controversy, and he also ed. his works. His last imaginative work was _The Epicurean_ (1827). Thereafter he confined himself almost entirely to prose, and _pub._ Lives of Sheridan (1827), and Lord Edward Fitzgerald (1831). His last work, written in failing health, was a _History of Ireland_ for Lardner's _Cabinet Cyclopaedia_, which had little merit. Few poets have ever enjoyed greater popularity with the public, or the friends.h.i.+p of more men distinguished in all departments of life. This latter was largely owing to his brilliant social qualities, but his genuine and independent character had also a large share in it. He left behind him a ma.s.s of correspondence and autobiographical matter which he committed to his friend Lord John (afterwards Earl) Russell for publication. They appeared in 8 vols. (1852-56).

_Memoir, Journal, and Correspondence_, by Lord John Russell (1856).

MORE, HANNAH (1745-1833).--Miscellaneous and religious writer, was one of the five daughters of a schoolmaster at Stapleton, Gloucesters.h.i.+re. The family removed to Bristol, where Hannah began her literary efforts. Some early dramas, including _The Search after Happiness_ and the _Inflexible Captive_ brought her before the public, and she went to London in 1774, where, through her friend, Garrick, she was introduced to Johnson, Burke, and the rest of that circle, by whom she was highly esteemed. After publis.h.i.+ng some poems, now forgotten, and some dramas, she resolved to devote herself to efforts on behalf of social and religious amelioration, in which she was eminently successful, and exercised a wide and salutary influence. Her works written in pursuance of these objects are too numerous to mention. They included _Hints towards forming the Character of a young Princess_ (1805), written at the request of the Queen for the benefit of the Princess Charlotte, _Coelebs in search of a Wife_ (1809), and a series of short tales, the _Cheap Repository_, among which was the well-known _Shepherd of Salisbury Plain_. This enterprise, which had great success, led to the formation of the Religious Tract Society. The success of Miss M.'s literary labours enabled her to pa.s.s her later years in ease, and her sisters having also retired on a competency made by conducting a boarding-school in Bristol, the whole family resided on a property called Barley Grove, which they had purchased, where they carried on with much success philanthropic and educational work among the people of the neighbouring district of Cheddar. Few persons have devoted their talents more a.s.siduously to the well-being of their fellow-creatures, or with a greater measure of success.

MORE, HENRY (1614-1687).--Philosopher, _b._ at Grantham, and _ed._ at Camb., took orders, but declined all preferment, including two deaneries and a bishopric; and also various appointments in his Univ., choosing rather a quiet life devoted to scholars.h.i.+p and philosophy, especially the study of writings of Plato and his followers. He led a life of singular purity and religious devotion, tinged with mysticism, and his writings had much popularity and influence in their day. Among them may be mentioned _Psychozoia Platonica_ (1642), _repub._ (1647) as _Philosophicall Poems_, _Divine Dialogues_ (prose) (1668), _The Mystery of G.o.dliness_, and _The Mystery of Iniquity_. His life was written by his friend Richard Ward.

MORE, SIR THOMAS (1478-1535).--Historical and political writer, _s._ of Sir John M., a Justice of the King's Bench, was _b._ in London. In his 16th year he was placed in the household of Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was wont to say, "This child here waiting at the table ... will prove a marvellous man." In 1497 he went to Oxf., where he became the friend of Erasmus and others, and came in contact with the new learning. He studied law at New Inn and Lincoln's Inn, and for some time thought of entering the Church. He was, however, in 1504 sent up to Parliament, where his powerful speaking gained for him a high place.

Meanwhile, he had brilliant success in the Law Courts, and was introduced by Wolsey to Henry VIII., with whom he soon rose into high favour. He became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Speaker of the House of Commons, 1523, and was sent on missions to Charles V. and Francis I. At length, on the fall of Wolsey, M. was, much against his will, appointed Lord Chancellor, an office which he filled with singular purity and success, though he was harsh in his dealings with persons accused of heresy. But differences with the King soon arose. M. disapproved of Henry's ecclesiastical policy, as well as of his proceedings in regard to the Queen, and in 1532 he resigned his office. In 1534 he refused the oath which pledged him to approval of the King's marriage to Anne Boleyn, and for this he was imprisoned in the Tower, and on July 7, 1535, beheaded. His body was buried in St. Peter's in the Tower, and his head exhibited on London Bridge, whence it was taken down and preserved by his _dau._, the n.o.ble Margaret Roper. All Catholic Europe was shocked at the news of what was truly a judicial murder. Among his works are a Life of _Picus, Earl of Mirandula_ (1510), and a _History of Richard III._, written about 1513. His great work, _Utopia_, was written in Latin in two books--the second 1515, and the first 1516. It had immediate popularity, and was translated into French 1530, English 1551, German 1524, Italian 1548, and Spanish 1790. It gives an account of an imaginary island and people, under cover of which it describes the social and political condition of England, with suggested remedies for abuses. The opinions on religion and politics expressed in it are not, however, always those by which he was himself guided. M. wrote many works of controversy, among which are _Dyaloge concerning Heresies_, also epigrams and dialogues in Latin. His pure and religious character, his sweet temper, his wit, his constancy and fort.i.tude under misfortune combine to render him one of the most attractive and admirable figures in English history.

_Life_ by W. Roper (son-in-law), Lord Campbell, _Lives of Chancellors, Utopia_ was translated by Robinson (1551, etc.), Bishop Burnet (1684, etc.), and ed. by Lupton (1895), and Michelis (1896).

MORGAN, LADY (SYDNEY OWENSON) (1780?-1859).--Novelist, _dau._ of Robert Owenson, an actor, was the author of several vivacious Irish tales, including _The Wild Irish Girl_ (1806), _O'Donnel_ (1814), and _The O'Briens and the O'Flaherties_ (1827); also two books on society in France and in Italy characterised by "more vivacity and point than delicacy," and a Life of Salvator Rosa.

MORIER, JAMES JUSTINIAN (1780?-1849).--Traveller and novelist, _s._ of Isaac M., descended from a Huguenot family resident at Smyrna, where he was _b._, was _ed._ at Harrow. Returning to the East he became in 1809 Sec. of Legation in Persia. He wrote accounts of travels in Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor; also novels, in which he exhibits a marvellous familiarity with Oriental manners and modes of thought. The chief of these are _The Adventures of Hajji Baba_ (1824), and _Hajji Baba in England_ (1828), _Zohrab the Hostage_ (1832), _Ayesha_ (1834), and _The Mirza_ (1841). All these works are full of brilliant description, character-painting, and delicate satire.

MORISON, JAMES COTTER (1832-1888).--Was _ed._ at Oxf. He wrote _Lives of Gibbon_ (1878), and _Macaulay_ (1882); but his best work was his _Life of St. Bernard_ (1863). _The Service of Man_ (1887) is written from a Positivist point of view.

MORLEY, HENRY (1822-1894).--Writer on English literature, _s._ of an apothecary, was _b._ in London, _ed._ at a Moravian school in Germany, and at King's Coll., London, and after practising medicine and keeping schools at various places, went in 1850 to London, and adopted literature as his profession. He wrote in periodicals, and from 1859-64 ed. the _Examiner_. From 1865-89 he was Prof. of English Literature at Univ.

Coll. He was the author of various biographies, including Lives of _Palissy_, _Cornelius Agrippa_, and _Clement Marot_. His princ.i.p.al work, however, was _English Writers_ (10 vols. 1864-94), coming down to Shakespeare. His _First Sketch of English Literature_--the study for the larger work--had reached at his death a circulation of 34,000 copies.

MORRIS, SIR LEWIS (1833-1907).--Poet, _b._ at Penrhyn, Carnarvons.h.i.+re, and _ed._ at Sherborne and Oxf., was called to the Bar, and practised as a conveyancer until 1880, after which he devoted himself to the promotion of higher education in Wales, and became honorary sec. and treasurer of the New Welsh Univ. In 1871 he _pub._ _Songs of Two Worlds_, which showed the influence of Tennyson, and was well received, though rather by the wider public than by more critical circles. It was followed in 1876-77 by _The Epic of Hades_, which had extraordinary popularity, and which, though exhibiting undeniable talent both in versification and narrative power, lacked the qualities of the higher kinds of poetry. It deals in a modern spirit with the Greek myths and legends. Other works are _A Vision of Saints_, _Gwen_, _The Ode of Life_, and _Gycia_, a tragedy.

MORRIS, WILLIAM (1834-1896).--Poet, artist, and socialist, _b._ at Walthamstow, and _ed._ at Marlborough School and Oxf. After being articled as an architect he was for some years a painter, and then joined in founding the manufacturing and decorating firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co., in which Rossetti, Burne-Jones, and other artists were partners. By this and other means he did much to influence the public taste in furnis.h.i.+ng and decoration. He was one of the originators of the _Oxford and Cambridge Magazine_, to which he contributed poems, tales, and essays, and in 1858 he _pub._ _Defence of Guenevere and other Poems_.

_The Life and Death of Jason_ followed in 1867, _The Earthly Paradise_ in 1868-70, and _Love is Enough_ in 1875. In the last mentioned year he made a translation in verse of Virgil's _aeneid_. Travels in Iceland led to the writing of _Three Northern Love Stories_, and the epic of _Sigurd the Volsung_ (1876). His translation of the _Odyssey_ in verse appeared 1887.

A series of prose romances began with _The House of the Wolfings_ (1889), and included _The Roots of the Mountains_, _Story of the Glittering Plain_, _The Wood beyond the World_, _The Well at the World's End_ (1896), and posthumously _The Water of the Wondrous Isles_, and _Story of the Sundering Flood_. In addition to poems and tales M. produced various illuminated ma.n.u.scripts, including two of Fitzgerald's _Omar Khayyam_, and many controversial writings, among which are tales and tracts in advocacy of Socialism. To this cla.s.s belong the _Dream of John Ball_ (1888), and _News from Nowhere_ (1891). In 1890 M. started the Kelmscott Press, for which he designed type and decorations. For his subjects as a writer he drew upon cla.s.sic and Gothic models alike. He may perhaps be regarded as the chief of the modern romantic school, inspired by the love of beauty for its own sake; his poetry is rich and musical, and he has a power of description which makes his pictures live and glow, but his narratives sometimes suffer from length and slowness of movement.

_Life_ by J.W. Mackail (2 vols., 1899), _The Books of W. Morris_, Forman, etc.

MORTON, THOMAS (1764-1838).--Dramatist, _b._ in Durham, came to London to study law, which he discarded in favour of play-writing. He wrote about 25 plays, of which several had great popularity. In one of them, _Speed the Plough_, he introduced Mrs. Grundy to the British public.

MOTHERWELL, WILLIAM (1797-1835).--Poet, _b._ and _ed._ in Glasgow, he held the office of depute sheriff-clerk at Paisley, at the same time contributing poetry to various periodicals. He had also antiquarian tastes, and a deep knowledge of the early history of Scottish ballad literature, which he turned to account in _Minstrelsy, Ancient and Modern_ (1827), a collection of Scottish ballads with an historical introduction. In 1830 he became ed. of the _Glasgow Courier_, and in 1832 he _coll._ and _pub._ his poems. He also joined Hogg in ed. the Works of Burns.

MOTLEY, JOHN LOTHROP (1814-1877).--Historian, _b._ at Dorchester, a suburb of Boston, Ma.s.sachusetts, was _ed._ at Harvard, where O.W. Holmes (_q.v._), afterwards his biographer, was a fellow-student. After graduating he went to Europe, studied at Gottingen and Berlin, and visited Italy. On his return he studied law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1837. He did not, however, practise, and was in 1840 sent to St.

Petersburg as Sec. of Legation. Meanwhile, having _pub._ two novels, _Morton's Hope_ and _Merry Mount_, which had little success, he turned to history, and attracted attention by some essays in various reviews.

Having decided to write an historical work on Holland, he proceeded in 1851 to Europe to collect materials, and in 1856 _pub._ _The Rise of the Dutch Republic_. It was received with the highest approval by such critics as Froude and Prescott, and at once took its place as a standard work. It was followed in 1860 by the first two vols. of _The United Netherlands_. The following year M. was appointed Minister at Vienna, and in 1869 at London. His latest works were a _Life of Barneveldt_, the Dutch statesman, and _A View of ... the Thirty Years' War_. M. holds a high place among historical writers both on account of his research and accuracy, and his vivid and dramatic style, which shows the influence of Carlyle.

MOULTRIE, JOHN (1799-1874).--Poet, _ed._ at Eton and Camb., took orders and was Rector of Rugby. He wrote several books of poetry, his best known pieces are _My Brother's Grave_, and _G.o.diva_.

MULOCK, DINAH MARIA (MRS. CRAIK) (1826-1887).--Novelist, _dau._ of a Nonconformist minister of Irish descent. Beginning with stories for children, she developed into a prolific and popular novelist. Her best and most widely known book is _John Halifax, Gentleman_ (1857), which had a wide popularity, and was translated into several languages. Others are _The Head of the Family_, _Agatha's Husband_, _A Life for a Life_, and _Mistress and Maid_. She also wrote one or two vols. of essays.

MUNDAY, ANTHONY (1553-1633).--Dramatist, poet, and pamphleteer, _s._ of a draper in London, appears to have had a somewhat chequered career. He went to Rome in 1578, and _pub._ _The Englyshe Romayne Life_, in which he gives descriptions of rites and other matters fitted to excite Protestant feeling; and he appears to have acted practically as a spy upon Roman Catholics. He had a hand in 18 plays, of which four only are extant, including two on _Robert, Earl of Huntingdon_ (_Robin Hood_) (1598), and one on the _Life of Sir John Oldcastle_. He was ridiculed by Ben Jonson in _The Case is Altered_. He was also a ballad-writer, but nothing of his in this kind survives, unless _Beauty sat bathing in a Spring_ be correctly attributed to him. He also wrote city pageants, and translated popular romances, including _Palladino of England_, and _Amadis of Gaule_. He was made by Stow the antiquary (_q.v._) his literary executor, and _pub._ his _Survey of London_ (1618).

MURE, WILLIAM (1799-1860).--Scholar, laird of Caldwell, Ayrs.h.i.+re, _ed._ at Westminster, Edin., and Bonn, sat in Parliament for Renfrews.h.i.+re 1846-55. He was a sound cla.s.sical scholar, and _pub._ _A Critical History of the Language and Literature of Ancient Greece_ (5 vols., 1850-57). He held the view that the _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_ are now substantially as they were originally composed. M. was Lord Rector of Glasgow Univ.

1847-48.

MURPHY, ARTHUR (1727-1805).--Actor and dramatist, _b._ in Ireland, and _ed._ at St. Omer, went on the stage, then studied for the Bar, to which he was ultimately admitted after some demur on account of his connection with the stage. His plays were nearly all adaptations. They include _The Apprentice_ (1756), _The Spouter_, and _The Upholsterer_. He also wrote an essay on Dr. Johnson, and a Life of Garrick.

MURRAY, LINDLEY (1745-1826).--Grammarian, was _b._ in Pennsylvania, and practised as a lawyer. From 1785 he lived in England, near York, and was for his last 16 years confined to the house. His _English Grammar_ (1795) was long a standard work, and his main claim to a place in literature.

His other writings were chiefly religious.