Biographical Outlines: British History — John Shaqi
Biographical Outlines: British HistoryAnonymous
History
Biographical Outlines: British History
Anonymous
Great Britain -- Biography
SIR WALTER SCOTT.
Born 1771.—Died 1832.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.
One of the most extraordinary literary men on record. He was born in
Edinburgh, and intended for the law, and practised for a short time in
Edinburgh; but his literary genius asserted itself too strongly to allow
of any other pursuit. His _Border Minstrelsy_ was succeeded by longer
poems—the _Lay of the Last Minstrel_, the _Lady of the Lake_, _Lord of
the Isles_, _Marmion_, and others; and these again by a succession of
novels, all differing in their rich abundance of character and incident,
and all possessing a charm which few other works of fiction can even now
present. He bought a property called Abbotsford, on the Tweed, and
having fallen into difficulties through the failure of one of his
publishers, he ruined his health by excessive work to pay his debts.
Scott is often called, from the enchantment of his genius, “The Wizard of
the North.”
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE,
Born 1759.—Died 1833.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.
Was a native of Hull. After many years’ active labour to obtain the
emancipation of slaves in the English dependencies, in which his chief
coadjutors were Clarkson, Granville Sharpe, and Lord Brougham,
Wilberforce lived to see the Act of Emancipation passed under William IV.
HANNAH MORE.
Born 1745.—Died 1833.—George II.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.
This excellent and remarkable woman, born at Stapleton, near Bristol, who
lived through four English reigns, was a well-known moral writer. In her
early life she was distinguished for her brilliant social qualities, and
was well known in the circles which Johnson, Burke, Reynolds, and Garrick
frequented. Afterwards she withdrew from the world and devoted her time
to active good works and writing. Her tracts on many useful subjects
have been much read.
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.
Born 1772.—Died 1834.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.
A native of Devonshire. This original and profound thinker was a moral
philosopher, a most eloquent writer, and a poet. He was also remarkable
for his singular conversational powers. His translation of Schiller’s
_Wallenstein_, his _Ancient Mariner_, _Remorse_, _Christabel_, etc., and
his essays called _The Friend_, stamp him as a true poet and philosopher.
SIR DAVID WILKIE.
Born 1785.—Died 1841.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.—Victoria.
A powerful and careful painter of common subjects, was born near Cupar,
in Fifeshire. The _Blind Fiddler_ first established his reputation. His
portraits in the National Gallery at Edinburgh are well worth seeing.
SIR FRANCIS CHANTREY.
Born 1781.—Died 1841.—George III.—George IV.—William IV.—Victoria.
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