Biographical Outlines Part 10

Born 1730.-Died 1795.-George II.-George III.

Born at Burslem, in Staffords.h.i.+re, the son of a potter. Wedgwood had the merit of inst.i.tuting an entirely new era in the manufacture of English pottery. By intelligent observation, the study of chemical appliances, and unwearied industry, he worked a complete revolution in the making, glazing, and painting of earthenware and china. His pottery-works in Staffords.h.i.+re, 'Etruria,' became celebrated all over the world, and he earned for himself and his family great wealth as well as distinction.

His delicate manufacture of embossing white figures on a coloured ground, called '_Wedgwood ware_,' is well known and much prized. He first gave the impetus to the Staffords.h.i.+re and other potteries which has enabled England to rival the first china manufactories in the world.

EDMUND BURKE,

Born 1728.-Died 1797.-George II.-George III.

Born in Dublin, was one of the most distinguished parliamentary orators ever known. He was in opposition during the Grafton Ministry (1769), but was afterwards drawn to Fox by the debates on the taxation of the American colonies, especially on tea, against which Burke made a famous speech (1771). He also supported Fox with all the splendour of his oratory under the Duke of Portland (1783). The grandest of all his speeches was said to be that against Warren Hastings, in whose impeachment he took a great part. He also spoke in the strongest way against the French Revolution, and by so doing separated himself from Fox (1791). Burke died in 1797. His writings are voluminous; the best known are his _Reflections upon the French Revolution_ and his _Discourse on the Sublime and Beautiful_. He lived (when in the country), died, and was buried at Beaconsfield, in Buckinghams.h.i.+re, where "Burke's Grove" is well known.

WILLIAM COWPER.

Born 1731.-Died 1800.-George II.-George III.

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.

SIR RALPH ABERCROMBIE

Born 1738.-Died 1801.-George II.-George III.

This brave General was engaged against Napoleon I. in Holland and Egypt, and always maintained the fame of English arms. He won two battles at Aboukir, in Egypt, the last of which cost him his life. He fought on, though desperately wounded, till the battle was over.

LORD CORNWALLIS.

Born 1738.-Died 1805.-George II.-George III.

A soldier who first served under the Marquis of Granby in the Seven Years' War in Germany. On the breaking out of the American war he was sent there, and at first was very successful, but in 1781 was obliged to surrender at York Town to the United American and French armies. In 1786 he was sent to India, where he took Bangalore and defeated Tippoo Sahib; on returning to England he was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and was instrumental in carrying out the Union of England and Ireland. He died of fever in India, whither he was sent as Governor General, on his way to join the army at Ghazepore.

HORATIO, LORD NELSON.

Born 1758.-Died 1805.-George II.-George III.

This most famous of all the English admirals was the son of the rector of Burnham Thorpe, in Norfolk, where he was born, and went to sea first as a mids.h.i.+pman in the _Raisonable_, 64 guns, then in a West Indiaman. He afterwards returned to the Royal Navy, and saw service in the Arctic Ocean, the West Indies, and South America. He was a Commodore at the battle of St. Vincent, when he first boarded the _San Nicholas_, jumping through the cabin window, and then sprang on to the _San Joseph_, crying, "Victory or Westminster Abbey!" In 1798 Nelson fought the battle of Aboukir near Alexandria, in Egypt. The French admiral's s.h.i.+p, _L'Orient_, blew up, and only two French s.h.i.+ps 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, and he died three hours afterwards, cheered by the news that the French were totally defeated.

WILLIAM PITT,

Born 1752.-Died 1806.-George II.-George III.

The second son of Lord Chatham, born at Hayes, in Kent, was a greater statesman even than his father. At the age of twenty-three he became Chancellor of the Exchequer, and was Prime Minister almost till his death. His eloquence was brilliant and startling, and in spite of opposition sneers, and the ridicule which nicknamed him "the ambitious young man," and of being often in a minority, the support of the king (George III.) and of the country, who enthusiastically seconded his opposition to Napoleon Buonaparte and the First Empire, steadily maintained him in power, and he held his ground against Fox and the Coalition ministries. War was declared with France, against all that Fox, Sheridan, and Grey could advance. The battle of Trafalgar raised his hopes of peace, which the news of Austerlitz quenched; and being worn out with gout, toil, and anxieties, the great minister, as has been well said, "died of old age at forty-six," after nineteen years of public service. He was so thoroughly beloved that the nation voted him a magnificent funeral, burial in Westminster Abbey, and 40,000 to pay his debts.

CHARLES JAMES FOX.

Born 1749.-Died 1806.-George II.-George III.

This great orator and statesman, the third son of the first Lord Holland, belonged to the opposite party in politics to Pitt, and they were continually at war throughout their public career,-Pitt representing the Tory, Fox the Whig party. Fox made his first speech in Parliament against John Wilkes, who at that time was always stirring up sedition and spreading his infidel opinions. The Fox and North coalitions broke up on an Indian Bill, and the one hundred and sixty supporters of Fox who lost their seats in the election that followed, were known as "Fox's Martyrs."

Fox estranged Burke from him by his opposing the war with France, and thus tacitly supporting the French Revolution. After the death of Pitt, Fox again came into power under Lord Grenville, and his last acts were striving to put an end to slavery in the British dependencies, and bringing about peace with France. He was attacked with dropsy about seven months after the death of Pitt, at whose funeral he had spoken a n.o.ble eulogium on his great public rival.

MUNGO PARK.

Born 1771.-Died 1806.-George III.

Born near Selkirk, was the first modern traveller who penetrated into the heart of Africa. He went down the Niger, and after pa.s.sing through a great variety of adventures and hards.h.i.+ps, he was killed near Boussa.

SIR JOHN MOORE,

Born 1761.-Died 1809.-George II.-George III.

The son of a Dr. Moore, born at Glasgow, became a brave general. He was at the taking of St. 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.