Modern English Biography (volume 1 of 4) A-H. Frederic Boase
Utilitarianism 1874; Supernatural revelation 1879 and many other books. d. 6 Salisbury villas, Cambridge 19 July 1883. Record 27 July 1883 p. 741.
BIRLEY, Hugh. b. Blackburn 21 Oct. 1817; ed. at Winchester; a partner in firm of Macintosh and Co. india-rubber manufacturers; chairman of National educational union; M. P. for Manchester 1868 to death. d. Moorland, Withington, Manchester 9 Sep. 1883.
BIRMINGHAM, John. b. 1816; lived at Millbrook near Tuam; discovered a remarkable new star in Corona Borealis 12 May 1866; author of Catalogue of red stars in Transactions of Royal Irish Academy xxvi, 249 (1879); Cunningham medallist of the Academy 1884; discovered 22 May 1881 a deep red star in Cygnus which proved strikingly variable and became known by his name; author of a small poetical work entitled Anglicania or England’s mission to the Celt 1863. d. Millbrook 7 Sep. 1884.
BIRMINGHAM, Very Rev. Patrick. Dean of the lay college and professor of humanity Carlow college 1851 to July 1854 when he went to Australia; vice pres. and professor of theology at Carlow college Sep. 1864 to July 1871 when he went again to Australia. d. Fitzroy sq. London 9 Sep. 1883.
BIRNIE, Alexander. b. Morayshire 1826; a baptist minister at Preston; walked to Falkirk 1860; a painter at the Carron works Falkirk; wrote articles in Falkirk Advertiser under signature of Cock of the Steeple; started the Falkirk Liberal a penny weekly paper 1861 which soon collapsed; having been without food or drink for a fortnight, he entered the workhouse Morpeth where he d. March 1862.
BIRRELL, David. b. 15 Sep. 1800; entered Bengal army 1817; commanded a brigade at battle of Sobraon 10 Feb. 1846; lieut. col. 51 N.I. 1851, of 52 N.I. 1852 and of 72 N.I. 1857 to 1858; M.G. 25 April 1858; general 23 July 1876. d. 28 Oct. 1878.
BIRT, William Radcliff. b. 15 July 1804; employed by Sir John Herschel in the reduction and arrangement of his barometric observations; investigated subject of atmospheric waves for the British Association; reduced and discussed electrical observations made at Kew 1848; F.R.A.S. 14 Jany. 1859; the first pres. of the Selenographical society 1877 or 1878 to death; author of Hurricane and Sailor’s guide 1850; Handbook of the law of storms 1854, new ed. 1878. d. Leytonstone, Essex 14 Dec. 1881. Monthly notices of Royal Astronom. Soc. xlii, 142–43 (1882).
BIRTWHISTLE, John. Ensign 32 Foot 14 April 1813; major 19 Jany. 1839 to 12 March 1841 when placed on h.p; M.G. 28 Aug. 1865. d. Cheltenham 6 Oct. 1867 aged 75.
BISHOP, Anne (dau. of Daniel Riviére of London, artist). b. London 1814; student at Royal academy of music June 1824 to June 1828; a singer at Philharmonic concerts 1831; one of chief singers at Vauxhall gardens, the Oratorio concerts and country festivals; went abroad with R. N. C. Bochsa the harpist 1839; sang at 260 concerts in chief cities of Europe Sept. 1839 to May 1843; sang with great success at St. Petersburg 1840–41 and in Italy 1843–46; appeared in 20 operas at the San Carlo, Naples; went to America 1846 where she appeared at Park theatre New York 4 Aug. 1847 as Linda; went to Australia 1855; sang at the Crystal palace London 1858; gave her farewell concert at Surrey music hall 17 Aug. 1859; sang in Canada, Mexico and Havana 1859–65; went to California 1865; wrecked on her way from Honolulu to China Feb. 1866; arrived in India 1867; sang in Australia 1868; re-appeared at Steinway hall New York Jany. 1881. (m. (1) 1832 Sir Henry Rowley Bishop 1786–1855. m. (2) at New York 30 April 1858, Martin Schultz). d. New York 18 March 1884. Drawing room portrait gallery of eminent personages, third series 1860, portrait; N. P. Willis’s Hurry-graphs, 2 ed. (1851) 200–203.
BISHOP, Rev. Daniel Godfrey. Head master of Buntingford gr. sch. Herts. 1841–74; V. of Tibshelf near Alfreton, Derbyshire 1874 to death; author of numerous articles upon biblical criticism, classical literature, and general biography in Penny Cyclopædia. d. Briston vicarage, Norfolk 14 April 1880 in 86 year.
BISHOP, Rev. Francis. b. Dorchester 27 July 1813; Unitarian minister at Cheltenham 1840, at Warrington 1841, at George’s meeting Exeter 1844–47, at Liverpool 1847–56, at Manchester 1856–58 and at Chesterfield 1858 to death; edited The Christian Investigator; author of The atonement, or God’s way of speaking and man’s way of speaking 1843. d. Chesterfield 5 Aug. 1869. The Inquirer (1869) 533.
BISHOP, George. b. Leicester 21 Aug. 1785; a maker of British wines in London, being the largest maker in England; erected an observatory at South Villa, Regent’s Park 1836 where 11 planets were discovered 1847–54, after his death the dome and the instruments were removed by his son George Bishop to his house at Twickenham; F.R.A.S. 1830, sec. 1833–39, treasurer 1840–57, pres. 1857–59; F.R.S. 9 June 1848; published in 1852 Astronomical observations during the years 1839–51. d. South villa, Regent’s Park, London 14 June 1861. Monthly notices of Royal Astronomical Soc. xxii, 104–106 (1862).
BISHOP, Sir Henry Rowley (son of Mr. Bishop of London, Watchmaker). b. Great Portland st. London 18 Nov. 1786; pupil of Francesco Bianchi the composer; composer of ballet music at Italian opera house 1806; produced his opera of The Circassian bride at Drury Lane theatre 23 Feb. 1809, theatre was burnt down the next night; musical director and composer at Covent Garden theatre 1810–23, where he produced 50 musical dramas; director of music at King’s theatre, Haymarket 1816–17; received freedom of city of Dublin 2 Aug. 1820; composer at Drury Lane theatre 1825–28; musical director of Vauxhall gardens 1830–33; director of Her Majesty’s concerts of ancient music 1840–48; Reid professor of Music in Univ. of Edin. Nov. 1841 to Dec. 1843; knighted at St. James’s palace 1 June 1842, being the first musician who ever received that honour; professor of music in Univ. of Ox. Jany. 1848 to death; Mus. Bac. Ox. 1848, Mus. Doc. 1853; author of many songs and glees, best known being Bid me discourse, Should he upbraid, The winds whistle cold, My pretty Jane, Mynheer Van Dunck and of the trio and chorus The chough and crow. d. 13 Cambridge st. Edgware road, London 30 April 1855. I.L.N. xix, 669–70 (1851), portrait; Charles Mackay’s Forty years recollections ii, 165–217 (1877); Illust. news of the world iv, 381 (1859), portrait.
BISHOP, James. b. Trowbridge, Wiltshire 1793; a cloth worker 1813; partner with Atkins and Gillman, proprietors of a menagery which became a formidable opponent to George Wombwell’s menagery; attended all the great fairs in England; proprietor of various exhibitions; father of 20 children; the oldest showman in England. d. Plymouth 19 Feb. 1881.
BISHOP, John (4 son of Samuel Bishop of Pimperne, Dorset). b. 15 Sep. 1797; studied at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; M.R.C.S. 1824, F.R.C.S. 1843, member of council 1851, Hunterian orator 1859; member of Medical society of London 1839, councillor, trustee, orator and Lettsomian lecturer successively, and pres. 1852; F.R.S. 9 May 1844; very successful in treatment of impediments of speech; author of On articulate sounds and on the causes and cure of impediments of speech 1851; Researches into the pathology and treatment of deformities in the human body 1852; The Lettsomian lectures on Bones 1855; On the construction of hearing and speaking instruments 1856. d. Strangeways-Marshall, Dorset 29 Sep. 1873. Proc. of royal society xxi, 5–6 (1873); British medical journal ii, 450 (1873).
BISHOP, William. Agent at 170 New Bond st. London for Westley Richards the gunmaker 1820 to death; brought into public notice by Vincent Dowling, who rarely wrote a report of a prize fight without bringing him on the scene; got the Dog Stealers act passed which is known as Bishop’s act; well known in London as “the Bishop of Bond st.” d. 170 New Bond st. 16 March 1871 in 74 year. Illust. sporting news ii, 164 (1863), portrait.
BISSET, Rev. James (2 son of George Bisset of Udny, Aberdeenshire, schoolmaster who d. 1812). b. Udny 20 April 1795; ed. at Marischal coll. and Univ. of Aberdeen; kept a school at Udny 1812–25 which became celebrated; licensed by presbytery of Ellon 31 March 1819; minister of parish of Bourtie, Aberdeenshire June 1825 to death; ordained 19 April 1826; D.D. Aberdeen 23 Feb. 1850; moderator of general assembly 22 May 1862. d. Bourtie 8 Sep. 1872.
BISSET, Sir John. b. Perth 1777; commissary general 31 July 1811 to 1819 when placed on h.p.; served through Peninsular war; K.C.H. 1832; knighted at St. James’s Palace 6 Nov. 1832; K.C.B.