No information could be found at the time of compilation.
The artist Alfred Stevens (1818-1875) in 1856 entered a competition to design a monument to Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), Duke of Wellington, for St Paul's Cathedral. Although his design was placed only sixth in the competition in 1857, it proved to be the only one fit for the proposed site and consequently execution of the monument was entrusted to him. Partly through his procrastination, but chiefly owing to bureaucratic and financial hindrances, the work was unfinished at his death and remained for many years standing in an unfavourable position in the consistory court of St Paul's. In 1892, owing to the recommendation of the artist Sir Frederic (afterwards Lord) Leighton (1830-1896), who raised and contributed to a fund for the purpose, it was moved to the position originally intended. It consisted of a sarcophagus supporting a recumbent bronze effigy of the Duke, surmounted by an arched canopy of late Renaissance style, flanked by large bronze allegorical groups. An equestrian statue of the Duke, designed to surmount the canopy, was never executed.
James Yates was born at Toxteth Park, near Liverpool, on 30 April 1789, the son of a minister. He went in 1805 to Glasgow University and in 1808 to Manchester College, followed by York College, to study Divinity. In 1810 he attended Edinburgh University, followed by Glasgow University again in 1811. He became the unordained minister of a Unitarian congregation in October 1811 and graduated MA from Glasgow in 1812. With Thomas Southwood Smith, he founded the Scottish Unitarian Association in 1813. He published his 'Vindication of Unitarianism' in 1815. In 1817 he succeeded Joshua Toulmin as colleague to John Kentish at the new meeting, Birmingham, a post which he resigned at the end of 1825, and for a time left the ministry. In 1827 he spent a semester at the University of Berlin, as a student of classical philology. He was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society, 1819; Linnean Society, 1822; Royal Society, 1831; and appointed secretary to the Council of the British Association, 1831. In the same year he was elected a trustee of Dr Williams' foundations (resigned 1861). In 1832 he succeeded John Scott Porter as minister of Carter Lane Chapel, Doctors' Commons, London. He issued in 1833 proposals for an organisation of the Unitarian congregations of Great Britain on the Presbyterian model: the plan did not come to fruition. Soon after 1836 he left the ministry and, being unordained, became a lay minister. His interest in denominational history and controversy was unabated. Yates contributed much material to Sir William Smith's 'Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities', published in 1842, and numerous papers on archaeological subjects to the learned societies of London and Liverpool. He died at Lauderdale House, Highgate, on 7 May 1871, and was buried at Highgate cemetery. In his will he left endowments for Chairs at University College London.
Born in Great Berkhamsted, 1850; entered University College London, 1867; Demonstrator at University College London; Professor of Anatomy, University College London, 1877-1919; married Jenny Klingberg of Stockholm, god-daughter of the famous soprano Jenny Lind, 1884; three children, but his only son died young; examiner in anatomy at many universities, and to the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons; a founder member of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and President, 1896-1897; knighted for his services to medical education in London and as inspector under the Vivi-Section Act (1876), 1919; Emeritus Professor of Anatomy, University College London; Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; LLD, Edinburgh; ScD, Dublin; Fellow of the Zoological Society; a member of various scientific societies overseas; died, 1930. Publications: with others, edited and contributed to Quain's Anatomy (9th and 10th editions) and Ellis's Demonstrations of Anatomy (10th and 11th editions).
Bertel Thorvaldsen (or Thorwaldsen): born in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1768 or 1770; son of an Icelandic wood-carver who had settled in Denmark; studied at the Copenhagen Academy; arrived in Rome on a travelling scholarship, 1797; lived in Rome for most of his life, inspired by the Italian enthusiasm for classical sculpture; the success of Thorvaldsen's model for a statue of Jason (1803) attracted the attention of the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova andlaunched his internationally successful career; returned to visit Copenhagen, progressing through Berlin, Warsaw and Vienna, 1819; returned from Rome and settled in Copenhagen, 1838; a Neoclassical museum in Copenhagen, designed to house his collection of works of art (the models for his sculptures) and endowed with a large part of his fortune, was begun, 1839; died, 1844; buried at the museum endowed by him; his Neoclassical works were regarded by contemporaries as reincarnating the antique, but his reputation declined in the 20th century.
No information on J M Thiele could be found at the time of compilation, but he is presumably the author of Danmark 1845. fotografisk genoptryk af 'Kortfattet Beskrivelse af Den danske Stat', ed Richard G Nielsen (Odense, Historisk Topografisk Information, 1978, a facsimile reprint of the edition published in Copenhagen, 1845).
The soup kitchen first operated in 1853 and was founded to relieve Jewish poor in Spitalfields, London, taking on premises and providing rations to local recipients.
Albert Pollard was born in Ryde on 16 December 1869. He went to Jesus College Oxford and achieved a first class honours in Modern History in 1891. He became Assistant Editor of the Dictionary of National Biography in 1893. He was Professor of Constitutional History at University College London from 1903 to 1931. He was a member of the Royal Historical Manuscripts Commission, and founder of the the Historical Association, 1906. He was Editor of History, 1916-1922, and of the Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research, 1923-1939. He published 500 articles in the Dictionary of National Biography, and many other books and papers concerning history. Pollard died on 3 August 1948.
Ernest Gardner was born in London. He was educated in London and Caius College Cambridge. From 1884 he was continuously employed in archaeological work, excavation, study and teaching, on many sites, especially in Greece. From 1887 to 1895 he was Director of the British School of Archaeology at Athens. He was Yates Professor of Archaeology at University College London from 1896 to 1929. Gardner published many writings on archaeology, with emphasis on Greek art, archaeology and excavations.
Miers was born in Rio de Janeiro on 25 May 1858. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College Oxford. In 1882 he joined the British Museum as an Assistant, a post he held till 1895; he was also an Instructor in Crystallography at the Central Technical College in South Kensington from 1886 to 1895. Miers became Editor of the Mineralogical Magazine, 1891-1900. From 1895 to 1908 he was Waynflete Professor of Mineralogy at Oxford. He was Principal of the University of London from 1908 to 1915; and also Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester and Professor of Crystallography, 1915-1926. Miers was Vice-President of the Chemical Society, 1901-1904; of the Geological Society, 1902-1904; and of the Royal Society of Arts, 1913. He was President of the Mineralogical Society, 1904-1909; President of the Museums Association, 1928-1933; Library Association, 1932; and the Council of the Royal Society, 1901-1903. He was a trustee of the British Museum, 1926-1939. Throughout his life, Miers published numerous scientific papers. He died on 10 December 1942.
No information could be found at the time of compilation.
George Croom Robertson was awarded a Ferguson Scholarship in classics and mental philosophy in October 1861 and attended lectures at University College London from 1861 to 1862. He went to Germany and studied in 1862 in Heidelberg and Berlin, in 1863 in Gottingen, and later in Paris. In 1864 he assisted Alexander Bain in revising The senses and the intellect for a second edition. He also assisted Bain in revising The emotions and the will; compiled the classification of the species of poetry and versification for Bain's Manual of English composition and rhetoric (London, 1866); and later assisted Bain with parts of the manual of ethics for Mental and moral science (London, 1868). In September 1864 he was appointed Assistant to Professor Geddes at Aberdeen University, and lectured on Greek for the two following sessions. He was elected to the Chair of Mental Philosophy and Logic at University College London in December 1866. He began working on Hobbes; part of the result of his researches appeared in the article on Hobbes for the Encyclopaedia Britannica and part appeared in Volume 10 of Backwood's Philosophical Classics for English readers (London, 1886). From 1868 to 1873 and again from 1883 to 1888 he was an examiner in philosophy in the University of London. From 1870 to 1876 he was a member of the Committee of the London National Society for Women's Suffrage. In 1871 he took the principal share in a posthumous edition of Grote's Aristotle (with Bain). In 1872 he married Caroline Anna Crompton. Bain first mentioned the founding of a quarterly journal of philosophy in 1874, and Robertson accepted the editorship. At first they hoped to bring out the journal, entitled Quarterly review of mental science, in 1875: it finally appeared in January 1876 with the revised title Mind. Various articles by Robertson on Abelard, Analogy, Analysis, Analytic judgements, Autonymy, Association, Axiom, and Hobbes appeared in the Encyclopaedia Britannica in 1875. From 1877 to 1878 Robertson was an examiner for the Moral Sciences Tripos in Cambridge. In 1880 he experienced his first onset of serious illness. In 1886 he was elected to serve on the Council of the College. In April 1888 he tried to resign his professorship but this was not accepted by the Council: it was finally accepted in May 1892. In 1891 he resigned as Editor of Mind. In May 1892 Mrs Robertson died, and Robertson died in September of the same year.
Oliver Lodge studied at University College London from 1874 to 1881. During this time he assisted George Carey Foster in the teaching of physics. From 1876 he also taught physics and later chemistry at Bedford College London. He received his DSc in 1877 and in 1881 was appointed Professor of Physics and Mathematics at University College Liverpool. He was awarded the Rumford Medal by the Royal Society in 1898 and in 1900 became Principal of Birmingham University.
Andrew Amos, lawyer and professor of law, was born in India in 1791. He attended Eton and Trinity College Cambridge. He was called to the bar by the Middle Temple and joined the Midland circuit, where he soon acquired a reputation for legal expertise, and his personal character secured him a large arbitration practice. When University College London was founded, Amos became the first Professor of English Law. Between 1829 and 1837 his lectures were very popular and well attended. He was appointed a member of the Criminal Law Commission in 1834. In 1837 he went to India as 'fourth member' of the governor-general's council, in succession to Lord Macaulay. Returning to England in 1843, he became one of the newly established county-court judges. In 1849 he was elected Downing Professor of Laws at Cambridge. He died in 1860. Many of the lectures Amos gave at University College London were published in the Legal Examiner and Law Chronicle.
John Marshall was a student in the Faculty of Arts at University College London from 1874 to 1876. He studied comparative philology and became a philologist.
Sir Samuel Bentham: born, 1757; youngest son of Jeremiah Bentham, an attorney, and brother of the philosopher Jeremy Bentham; educated at Westminster; aged fourteen, apprenticed to the master-shipwright of Woolwich Dockyard; lived in France, 1775; invited to accompany the Bienfaisanhim on the summer cruise of the Channel fleet, 1778; witnessed the battle of Ushant; suggested improvements in steering gear and gun fittings; travelled in order to study the shipbuilding and naval economy of foreign powers, arriving in St Petersburg, Russia, 1780; travelled over much of Russia, from Archangel to the Crimea, and through Siberia to the frontier of China, examining mines and methods of working metals; on his return to St Petersburg presented a report to the Empress, 1782; declined a commissionership in the British navy, because his prospects in Russia seemed more advantageous, 1783; accepted Potemkin's offer to send him to Cherson as lieutenant-colonel; settled at Kritchev, where the prince hoped to establish a shipbuilding yard; his military rank was made substantive and he was appointed commander of a battalion, 1784; owing to the limited number of officers at his disposal, introduced the plan of central observation, with workshops radiating from his own office, a scheme of which his brother Jeremy's 'Panopticon' was a modification; ordered to Cherson to direct the equipment of a flotilla against the Turks, 1787; Bentham's innovations allowed the fittings of recoilless guns of larger calibre than was previously thought possible for small craft, and were instrumental in defeating the Turks, 1788; was rewarded with the military cross of St George and the rank of brigadier-general; appointed to a command in Siberia, where he developed navigation of the rivers and promoted further exploration and trade with China; revisited England, 1791; on his return, spent the remainder of his career as Inspector-General of Navy Works, and later as one of the Commissioners of the Navy, urging and introducing improvements in machinery, equipment and administration of navy dockyards; pensioned off, 1812; moved to France, 1814; returned to England, 1827; during his retirement, prepared papers on professional subjects and continued correspondence with several navy departments until his death, 1831.
Harris was a student in the Faculty of Science at University College London from 1886 to 1892.
John Bellenden: born in the last decade of the 15th century; he is thought to have been brought up in Haddington or Berwick; matriculated as a student of St Andrew's University, 1508; proceeded from Scotland to Paris, and took the degree of DD at the Sorbonne; in Scotland during the reign of James V; brought over with him Hector Boece's Historia Scotorum (Paris, 1527) and, appointed by the king to translate it into the Scottish vernacular, embarked upon this project from 1530 to 1531-1532; delivered his translation to the king, 1533; the translation appeared in 1536, apparently semi-privately printed for the king and nobles and special friends; Bellenden added two poems of his own to the translation, one entitled 'The Proheme to the Cosmographe' and the other 'The Proheme of the History'; also translated Livy for the king; some enemies apparently caused Bellenden to be dismissed from the royal service; appointed archdeacon of Moray during the vacancy of the see, and about the same time canon of Ross; in the succeeding reign, being an adherent to Roman Catholicism, opposed the Reformation and fled overseas; some accounts state that he died at Rome in 1550, but Lord Dundrennan alleges that he was certainly still alive in 1587.
Hector Boece (or Boethius): born at Dundee, Scotland, c1465; historian and humanist; educated at Dundee and the University of Paris; a friend of Desiderius Erasmus; chief adviser to William Elphinstone, bishop of Aberdeen, in the foundation of the University of Aberdeen (King's College, Aberdeen); first Principal of the University; lectured on divinity; received a pension from the Scottish court, 1527-1534; a canon of Aberdeen; vicar of Tullynessle; later rector of Tyrie; author of the Latin history Scotorum historiae a prima gentis origine (The History and Chronicles of Scotland), 1527; the work, based on legendary sources, glorified the Scottish nation; the History had wide currency abroad in a French translation; Boece died, 1536.
Born, 1772; son of a Jew born in Holland, who settled in England early in life and became a successful member of the stock exchange; educated in England and Holland; employed in his father's business at the age of fourteen; after his marriage, set up in business for himself and was highly successful; influenced by Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and became interested in economics; author of a number of influential pamphlets and a leading authority on economic questions; a close friend of both Malthus and John Stuart Mill; a radical, he served as MP for Portarlington, Ireland; died, 1823.
Robert Lindsay: born, possibly in 1500, at Pitscottie in the parish of Ceres, Fifeshire; Scottish historian; a cadet of the principal family of Lindsays, Earls of Crawford, and probably a descendant of Patrick, fourth Lord Lindsay of the Byres; according to the `Privy Seal Register', received a grant of escheat, 1552; a service in the Douglas charter-chest proves that he was alive in 1562; probably died c1565; his History includes the period of Scottish history, from the death of James I to that of James III, about which very little is known; its preface states the author's intention of continuing what had been left unwritten by Hector Boece and John Bellenden, the period after James I; the History includes narrative passages, but also other brief entries, and contains inaccuracies and confusion as to dates; Pitscottie's History was first published by the printer Robert Freebairn, 1728, and again in 1749 and 1778, and in 1814 (2 volumes) by Graham Dalyell; the History was used as a source by Sir Walter Scott and other writers.
Hector Boece (or Boethius): born at Dundee, Scotland, c1465; historian and humanist; educated at Dundee and the University of Paris; a friend of Desiderius Erasmus; chief adviser to William Elphinstone, bishop of Aberdeen, in the foundation of the University of Aberdeen (King's College, Aberdeen); first Principal of the University; lectured on divinity; received a pension from the Scottish court, 1527-1534; a canon of Aberdeen; vicar of Tullynessle; later rector of Tyrie; author of the Latin history Scotorum historiae a prima gentis origine (The History and Chronicles of Scotland), 1527; the work, based on legendary sources, glorified the Scottish nation; the History had wide currency abroad in a French translation; Boece died, 1536.
Written in England.
Born in Marton, Cleveland, 1728; became an apprentice to shipowners in Whitby; became master of his own ship, HMS Northumberland, 1759; the following winter, while laid up in Halifax, studied mathematics and attained a sound knowledge of astronomical navigation; went on to become an eminent circumnavigator and made many geographical discoveries, including establishing knowledge of the Southern Pacific; kept a crew at sea without serious losses from sickness and death, which was unusual at that time; killed by natives of Hawaii, 1779.
From c1750 Masters of HM Ships were required by the Admiralty to keep Remark Books of details of coasts and ports they visited. James Cook followed this practice when serving in HMS Pembroke and HMS Northumberland on the North American Station from 1758 to 1762.
The London University Examiner was one of the earliest University magazines. Its title refers to what was later University College London, before 1836 called the University of London.
Henry Meen: a native of Norfolk; entered Emmanuel College Cambridge, 1761; graduated BA, 1766; MA, 1769; BD, 1776; Fellow of Emmanuel College; ordained; appointed to a minor canonry in St Paul's Cathedral; instituted to the rectory of St Nicholas Cole Abbey, with St Nicholas Olave, London, 1792; collated as prebendary of Twyford in St Paul's Cathedral, 1795; also held the office of lecturer there; obtained no other preferment, these posts leaving him ample time for literary pursuits; studied the writings of Lycophron, and proposed undertaking an edition of Lycophron's works; his criticisms on Lycophron appeared in the 'European Magazine', 1796-1813, but his complete translation was never published; died at the rectory, Bread Street Hill, London, 1817. Publications: while an undergraduate, published a poem in blank verse, 'Happiness, a Poetical Essay' (London, 1766); revised and completed the Revd Francis Fawkes's unfinished translation of 'Apollonius Rhodius' (1780), annexing his own version of Colothus's 'Rape of Helen, or the Origin of the Trojan War', afterwards also published elsewhere; 'A Sermon before the Association of Volunteers' (1782); 'Remarks on the Cassandra of Lycophron' (1800); collected the poems of Elizabeth Scot, 'Alonzo and Cora' (1801); 'Succisivae Operae, or Selections from Ancient Writers, with Translations and Notes' (1815).Gilbert Wakefield: an associate of Henry Meen; born in the parsonage house of St Nicholas, Nottingham, 1756; educated at the free schools of Nottingham and Kingston; obtained a scholarship at Jesus College Cambridge, 1772; followed a distinguished university career; elected Fellow of his college; ordained deacon, 1778; curate at Stockport and Liverpool; endeavoured to rouse public opinion against the slave trade; studied theology, which led him to adopt Unitarian doctrines; resigned his curacy; married and vacated his Fellowship, 1779; never formally connected with any dissenting body; classical tutor at the liberal Warrington Academy, 1779-1783; moved to Bramcote, near Nottingham, 1783; later moved to Richmond, Surrey, and to Nottingham; intended to take on private pupils, but these were not numerous; left Nottingham and became classical tutor in the newly established dissenting college in Hackney, 1790; resigned, 1791; continued to reside at Hackney, and devoted himself to scholarship; his political opinions were increasingly radical, and he sometimes defended them impulsively; Wakefield's 'Reply' to the tract of Richard Watson, Bishop of Llandaff ( 'Address to the People of Great Britain', 1798, which defended Pitt, the war, and the new income tax), opposing the war and contemporary civil and ecclesiastical system and accusing the bishop of absenteeism and pluralism, brought a prosecution for seditious libel; Wakefield defended himself, but was convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment in Dorchester gaol, 1799; corresponded with Charles James Fox, and pursued his scholarly work; released, 1801; returned to Hackney, but died of typhus fever soon after; buried in St Mary Magdalene's Church, Richmond. Publications: editions of classical works; New Testament translations; many tracts and pamphlets on religious and political subjects.
The transcriber of the manuscript, Louis Bellec, was a farmer in Kergoual, Pluméliau.
The document perhaps relates to the Dutch War when, following the Treaty of Dover between France and England in 1670, the British navy supported the French invasion of 1672. Following the Netherlands' alliance with Spain and other powers in 1673, the French had to retreat, and in 1674 the British made peace with the Dutch.
Unknown.
Flaxman was born in York on 6 July 1755. He was a sickly child, but showed a great aptitude for drawing. He spent his early life in London and attended the Academy Schools. He became known as a sculptor and draughtsman, with interests in art, architecture, engineering, construction, naval architecture and surveying. In 1787 he fulfilled a cherished ambition of travelling to Rome where he stayed until 1794, when he returned to London, a famous artist. In 1810 he was appointed Professor of Sculpture in the Academy. He died in 1826.
Fragments of medieval and early modern manuscripts on parchment can commonly be found inside the binding of printed works. This method of recycling was a common practice between the medieval period and the 17th century, when manuscripts superseded by printed editions were sold to printers and bookbinders. Medieval manuscripts are often visually appealing and parchment was robust but expensive, so folios from manuscripts were recycled for use as decorative covers and endpapers or to reinforce the binding of new printed works.
Henri de Boulainviller (Boulainvilliers): born, 1658; trained in classical studies, French history, and the sciences; Comte De Saint-Saire; read widely and was familiar with the works of Descartes, Spinoza, Newton, and Locke; a historian and political writer whose conception of philosophical history influenced intellectual developments in the 18th century; among the first modern historians to claim that historical studies can supply the tools for analysing present society; died, 1722.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux: born in 1090, probably at Fontaine-les-Dijon, near Dijon, Burgundy; monk and mystic; founder and abbot of the abbey of Clairvaux; among the most influential churchmen of his time; died at Clairvaux, Champagne, 1153; canonized, 1174.
The Order of Saint Benedict comprises the confederated congregations of monks and lay brothers who follow the rule of life of St Benedict (c480-c547), written c535-540 with St Benedict's own abbey of Montecassino in mind. The rule, providing a complete directory for the government and spiritual and material well-being of a monastery, spread slowly in Italy and Gaul. By the late Middle Ages the Benedictine Rule had been translated into many languages owing to the diffusion of the order through many European countries.
The large abbey at Ottobeuren, near Memmingen, Bavaria, was founded in 764 and was among the most important early Benedictine monasteries, famous in the Middle Ages for its large library.
Written in Germany.
Headings suggest that the manuscript was written in Cologne.
John Nider (Johannes Nieder): born in Swabia, 1380; entered the Order of Preachers at Colmar; sent to Vienna for philosophical studies; finished his studies and was ordained at Cologne; active at the Council of Constance; returned to Vienna and taught as Master of Theology, 1425; prior of the Dominican convent at Nuremberg, 1427; served successively as socius to his master general and vicar of the reformed convents of the German province, in which capacity he maintained an earlier reputation as a reformer; prior of the convent of strict observance at Basle, 1431; became identified with the Council of Basle as theologian and legate; made embassies to the Hussites at the command of Cardinal Julian; as legate of the Council, succeeded in pacifying the Bohemians; travelled to Ratisbon to effect further reconciliation with them, 1434; proceeded to Vienna to continue reforming the convents; in dicussions following the dissolution of the Couneil of Basle joined the party in favour of continuing the Council in Germany, but abandoned it when the Pope remained firmly opposed; resumed his theological lectures at Vienna, 1436; twice elected dean of the University; author of various treatises, including (in German) the 'Goldene Harfen' (24 Golden Harps), based on the Collations of Cassianus; died at Colmar, 1438.
From the charterhouse 'zu Yttingen' (Ittingen, Thurgau, Switzerland).
Written in southern Germany for the use of Dominican nuns.
Christian Gottlob Heyne: born, 1729; German humanist, of the University of Göttingen; died, 1812.
Unknown.
Guido Delle Colonne: born, possibly in Sicily, c1215; jurist, poet, and author of several Latin chronicles and histories, whose version of the Troy legend was important in bringing the story to Italians and, through various translations, into other literatures; a poet of the Sicilian school, a group of early Italian vernacular poets; died, possibly in Sicily, c1290.
Grágás consituted the legal code of medieval Iceland. It was memorized and proclaimed at annual meetings of the national assembly. From the early 12th century scribes made written records of these older laws. Among these manuscripts of medieval Icelandic laws are two known collectively as Grágás (Grey Goose), a title of uncertain origin.
'Edda' comprises a body of ancient Icelandic literature contained in two books, the Prose (or Younger) Edda and the Poetic (or Elder) Edda, and constitutes the fullest source for modern knowledge of Germanic mythology. The Prose Edda was written by the Icelandic chieftain, poet,and historian Snorri Sturluson, probably in 1222-1223, and is a textbook intended to instruct young poets in the metres of the early Icelandic skalds (court poets) and to provide the Christian age with an understanding of the mythological subjects referred to in early poetry. The Poetic Edda is a manuscript of the later 13th century, but containing older materials (hence the 'Elder' Edda), and contains mythological and heroic poems of unknown authorship, usually dramatic dialogues in a terse and archaic style, composed from the 9th to the 11th century.
Landnámabók (also called Landnáma), the Book of the Settlement: a unique Icelandic genealogical record, probably originally compiled in the early 12th century by Ari Thorgilsson the Learned, although it exists in several later versions. It lists the names of 400 original settlers of Iceland, their Norwegian origins, their descendants, and describes their landholdings with great topographical accuracy. Occasionally, anecdotes of marriages or feuds, or character sketches, are interspersed with the lists of names. The Landnámabók served as the source for many Icelandic sagas.
Born in Ellidhavatn, Iceland, 1864; son of a leader of the Icelandic independence movement; received a law degree at Copenhagen, 1892; briefly edited a newspaper, Dagskrá, advocating the cause of Icelandic independence, 1896-1898; spent much of his life abroad, raising capital to develop Icelandic industries; published five volumes of Symbolist verse, which reflected his patriotism, mysticism, love of nature, and the influence of his extensive travels; died at Herdísarvík, 1940. Publications: Sögur og kvaedi (1897; 'Stories and Poems'); Hafblik (1906; 'Smooth Seas'); Hrannir (1913; 'Waves'); Vogar (1921; 'Billows'); Hvammar (1930; 'Grass Hollows'); translated Ibsen's Peer Gynt into Icelandic; a selection of his poems was translated into English as Harp of the North by Frederic T Wood (1955).
Author of various works on Iceland, Icelandic language and literature, Britain, and English literature, 1923-1976.
Eggert Ólafsson: born to a farming family at Snaefellsnes, Iceland, 1726; took his bachelor's degree at the University of Copenhagen; interested in natural history and carried out a scientific and cultural survey of Iceland, 1752-1757; poet, antiquarian and advocate of Icelandic language and culture; died at sea in Breida Bay, off the northwest coast of Iceland, 1768. Publication: Reise igiennem Island (2 volumes, 1772) (Travels in Iceland).
'Edda' comprises a body of ancient Icelandic literature contained in two books, the Prose (or Younger) Edda and the Poetic (or Elder) Edda, and constitutes the fullest source for modern knowledge of Germanic mythology. The Prose Edda was written by the Icelandic chieftain, poet,and historian Snorri Sturluson, probably in 1222-1223, and is a textbook intended to instruct young poets in the metres of the early Icelandic skalds (court poets) and to provide the Christian age with an understanding of the mythological subjects referred to in early poetry. The Poetic Edda is a manuscript of the later 13th century, but containing older materials (hence the 'Elder' Edda), and contains mythological and heroic poems of unknown authorship, usually dramatic dialogues in a terse and archaic style, composed from the 9th to the 11th century.
Livorno (in English Leghorn) in Tuscany, central Italy, is a port on the Ligurian Sea. It came under the rule of the Florentine Medici family, and Ferdinand I, grand duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, gave asylum to many refugees, including Jews from Spain and Portugal. Pisa in Tuscany, central Italy, lies on the alluvial plain of the Arno River c6 miles from the Ligurian Sea.
Gaetano Polidori: born, 1764; secretary to the Italian dramatist and poet Alfieri; teacher of Italian in London; author of educational works; father of the physician and associate of Byron, John William Polidori, and of Frances Mary Lavinia Polidori, who by her marriage to Gabriele Rossetti became the mother of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Christina Rossetti; died, 1853. Publications include his translation of Milton, Traduzione delle Opere poetiche di Giovanni Milton (London, 1840). François-Auguste-René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand: born at Saint-Malo, France, 1768; author and diplomat; among the first French Romantic writers, and a prominent and influential literary figure in early 19th-century France; died in Paris, 1848.
Saint Bonaventure (San Bonaventura): born, c1217; original name Giovanni Di Fidanza (John of Fidanza); entered the University of Paris, 1235; received the master of arts degree, 1243; joined the Franciscan order; studied theology in the Franciscan school at Paris, 1243-1248; named Bonaventure, 1244; leading theologian, minister general of the Franciscan order, and cardinal bishop of Albano; author of several works on the spiritual life; recodified the constitution of his order, 1260; died, 1274.