A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature Part 32

MANNING, HENRY EDWARD (1808-1892).--Cardinal and theologian. _B._ at Totteridge, Herts, and _ed._ at Harrow and Oxf., where he became notable as an eloquent preacher, and as one of the ablest of the Tractarian party. He was rector of Woollavington-c.u.m-Graffham 1833, and Archdeacon of Chichester 1840. In 1851 he entered the Church of Rome, in which he attached himself to the Ultramontane party. More even than Newman he was the leading spirit of the Roman Church in England. His writings consist of sermons, of which he _pub._ several vols. before his secession from the Church of England, and controversial works, including _Petri Privilegium_ (1871), _The Vatican Decrees_ (1875), in answer to Gladstone's _Vaticanism_, and _The Eternal Priesthood_ (1883). He became Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster 1865, and Cardinal 1875.

MANNYNG, ROBERT, or ROBERT DE BRUNNE (_fl._ 1288-1338).--Was a Canon of the Gilbertine Order. His work, _Handlynge Sinne_ (_c._ 1300), translated with original additions from the _Manuel des Peches_, a book written in French verse by William of Waddington, is practically a collection of tales and short stories on the Commandments, Seven Deadly Sins, Sacraments, etc., and is of value as giving a contemporary picture of the time. He also made (_c._ 1335) a translation in verse of the French _Chronicle_ of Peter Langtoft, the second and more interesting part of which covers the period from the death of Cadwallader to the end of the reign of Edward I.

MANSEL, HENRY LONGUEVILLE (1820-1871).--Metaphysician, _s._ of a clergyman, was _b._ at Cosgrave, Northamptons.h.i.+re, and _ed._ at Merchant Taylors' School and Oxf. He took orders, was Reader in Theology at Magdalen Coll. 1855, Bampton Lecturer 1858, Prof. of Ecclesiastical History 1867, and Dean of St. Paul's 1869. Among his writings are _Prolegomena Logica_ (1851), _The Limits of Demonstrative Science_ (1853), _Man's Conception of Eternity_ (1854), _Limits of Religious Thought_ (1858), _Philosophy of the Conditioned_ (1866). He was also joint ed. of Sir. W. Hamilton's _Lectures_.

MAP, or MAPES, WALTER DE (_fl._ 1200).--Ecclesiastical statesman and romancist. Most of the facts about him are gleaned from his _De Nugis Curialium_ (Of the Trifles of the Courtiers), a miscellany of contemporary notes and anecdotes, throwing much light on the manners and opinions of the Court of Henry II. He was _b._ probably in Herefords.h.i.+re, and had Celtic blood in his veins, his _f._ had rendered service to the King, and he had studied at Paris, and on his return attended the Court, where he found favour, and obtained preferment both in Church and State, and in 1173 was a travelling justice. Thereafter he attended the King, probably as chaplain, on his foreign wars, represented him at the French Court, and went to Rome to the Lateran Council of 1179. After the death of Henry II. he seems to have continued in favour under Richard I. and John, and was Archdeacon of Oxf. in 1196. M. is the reputed author of some at least of the _Golias_ poems, rough satires on the vices of the clergy, but his great work, which has influenced the future of English literature, was his systematising and spiritualising the Arthurian legends with additions of his own, including the legends of _Launcelot_, of the _Quest of the Holy Grail_, and of the _Morte d' Arthur_.

MARKHAM, GERVASE (1568?-1637).--Translator and miscellaneous writer, served as a soldier in the Low Countries and Ireland. Retiring into civil life about 1593 he displayed extraordinary industry as a translator, compiler, and original writer. Among his original writings are a poem on the _Revenge_ (1595) (Sir R. Grenville's s.h.i.+p), a continuation of Sidney's _Arcadia_, _The Discourse of Horsemans.h.i.+ppe_ (1593), _The Young Sportsman's Instructor_, _Country Contentments_ (1611), and various books on agriculture; also plays and poems, some of the latter of which are religious.

MARLOWE, CHRISTOPHER (1564-1593).--Dramatist, _s._ of a shoemaker at Canterbury, where he was _b._, was _ed._ at the King's School there, and in 1581 went to Benet's (now Corpus Christi) Coll., Camb., where he graduated B.A. 1583, and M.A. in 1587. Of his life after he left the Univ. almost nothing is known. It has, however, been conjectured, partly on account of his familiarity with military matters, that he saw service, probably in the Low Countries. His first play, _Tamburlaine_, was acted in 1587 or 1588. The story is drawn from the Spanish Life of Timur by Pedro Mexia. Its resounding splendour, not seldom pa.s.sing into bombast, won for it immediate popularity, and it long held the stage. It was followed in 1604 by _Faustus_, a great advance upon _Tamburlaine_ in a dramatic sense. The absence of "material horror" in the treatment, so different in this respect from the original legend, has often been remarked upon. M.'s handling of the subject was greatly admired by Goethe, who, however, in his own version, makes the motive knowledge, while M. has power, and the mediaeval legend pleasure. In his next play, _The Jew of Malta_, M. continues to show an advance in technical skill, but the work is unequal, and the Jew Barabas is to Shylock as a monster to a man. In _Edward II._, M. rises to his highest display of power. The rhodomontade of _Tamburlaine_ and the piled-up horror of _The Jew_ are replaced by a mature self-restraint, and in the whole workmans.h.i.+p he approaches more nearly to Shakespeare than any one else has ever done.

Speaking of it Lamb says, "The death scene of Marlowe's King moves pity and terror beyond any scene, ancient or modern, with which I am acquainted." M. is now almost certainly believed to have had a large share in the three parts of _Henry VI._, and perhaps also he may have collaborated in _t.i.tus Andronicus_. His next plays, _The Ma.s.sacre of Paris_ and _The Tragedy of Dido_ (written with Nash, _q.v._), both show a marked falling off; and it seems likely that in his last years, perhaps, breaking down under the effects of a wild life, he became careless of fame as of all else. Greene, in his _Groat's Worth of Wit_, written on his deathbed, reproaches him with his evil life and atheistic opinions, and a few days before his hapless death an information was laid against him for blasphemy. The informer was next year hanged for an outrageous offence, and his witness alone might not be conclusive, but M.'s life and opinions, which he made no secret of, were notorious. On the other hand, his friends, Shakespeare, Nash, Drayton, and Chapman, all make kindly reference to him. To escape the plague which was raging in London in 1593, he was living at Deptford, then a country village, and there in a tavern brawl he received a wound in the head, his own knife being turned against him by a serving man, upon whom he had drawn it. The quarrel was about a girl of the town. The parish record bears the entry, "Christopher Marlowe, slain by ffrancis Archer, the 1 of June 1593." M. is the father of the modern English drama, and the introducer of the modern form of blank verse. In imagination, richness of expression, originality, and general poetic and dramatic power he is inferior to Shakespeare alone among the Elizabethans. In addition to his plays he wrote some short poems (of which the best known is _Come live with me and be my love_), translations from Ovid's _Amores_ and Lucan's _Pharsalia_, and a glowing paraphrase of Musaeus' _Hero and Leander_, a poem completed by Chapman.

Ed. of _Works_ by Dyce, Cunningham, and Bullen; Ingram's _C. Marlowe and his a.s.sociates_, etc.

MARMION, SHACKERLEY (1603-1639).--Dramatist, _s._ of a country gentleman of Northamptons.h.i.+re, was _ed._ at Oxford. After a youth of extravagance, he fought in the Low Countries. His writings consist of an epic, _Cupid and Psyche_, and three comedies, _Holland's Leaguer_, _A Fair Companion_, and _The Antiquary_. His plays show some power of satire, and were popular, but he had little of the dramatist.

MARRYAT, FREDERICK (1792-1848).--Novelist, _s._ of a West India merchant, was _b._ in London. In 1806 he entered the navy as a mids.h.i.+pman under Lord Cochrane (afterwards Earl of Dundonald), and saw much service in the Mediterranean, at Walcheren, and in the Burmese War of 1824. He returned in 1830 as a Captain and C.B. The scenes and experiences through which he had pa.s.sed were the preparation for and the foundation of his numerous novels, of which the first, _Frank Mildmay_, was _pub._ in 1829. It was followed by over 30 others, of which perhaps the best are _Peter Simple_, _Jacob Faithful_ (1834), _Mr. Mids.h.i.+pman Easy_ (1836), _The Dog Fiend_ (1837), and _The Phantom s.h.i.+p_ (1839). M. is the prince of sea story-tellers; his knowledge of the sea, vigorous definition of character, and hearty and honest, if somewhat broad, humour never failing to please.

MARSH, HERBERT (1757-1839).--Theologian and controversialist, _s._ of a clergyman, _ed._ at Canterbury, Cambridge, and Leipsic, was the first to introduce the German methods of Biblical criticism into England, and gave lectures on the subject at Camb., which excited great interest and controversy. In 1816 he was made Bishop of Llandaff, and was translated to Peterborough in 1819. His critical views and his opposition to the evangelical party in the Church, to the Bible Society, to hymns in Divine service, and to Catholic emanc.i.p.ation, involved him in controversy with high, low, and broad churchmen alike. He was the author of a _History of the Politics of Great Britain and France_ (1799), _Comparative View of the Churches of England and Rome_, and _Horae Pelasgicae_.

MARSTON, JOHN (1575?-1634).--Dramatist and satirist, _b._ at Coventry, was _ed._ at Oxf. In later life he gave up writing for the stage, took orders, and was inc.u.mbent of Christchurch, Hants, 1616-31. He began his literary career in 1598 with satire, _The Scourge of Villanie_ and _The Metamorphosis of Pygmalion's Image_ (1598), the latter of which was burned by order of Archbishop Whitgift. In 1602 appeared _The History of Antonio and Mellida_, and its sequel, _Antonio's Revenge_, ridiculed by Ben Jonson. In repayment of this M. co-operated with Dekker in attacking Jonson in _Satiromastix_ (a Whip for the Satirist). A reconciliation, however, took place, and his comedy, _The Malcontent_ (1604), was dedicated to J., another, _Eastward Ho_ (1605), was written in collaboration with him and Chapman. Other plays of his are _Sophonisba_, _What You Will_ (1607), and possibly _The Insatiate Countess_ (1613).

Amid much bombast and verbiage there are many fine pa.s.sages in M.'s dramas, especially where scorn and indignation are the motives. Sombre and caustic, he has been called "a screech-owl among the singing birds."

MARSTON, PHILIP BOURKE (1850-1887).--Poet, was _b._ in London, and lost his sight at the age of 3. His poems, _Song-tide_, _All in All_, and _Wind Voices_ bear, in their sadness, the impress of this affliction, and of a long series of bereavements. He was the friend of Rossetti and of Swinburne, the latter of whom has written a sonnet to his memory.

MARTIN, SIR THEODORE (1816-1909).--Poet, biographer, and translator, _s._ of James M., solicitor in Edin., where he was _b._ and _ed._ at the High School and Univ. He practised as a solicitor in Edin. 1840-45, after which he went to London and became head of the firm of Martin and Leslie, parliamentary agents. His first contribution to literature was _The Bon Gaultier Ballads_, written along with W.E. Aytoun (_q.v._), full of wit and humour, which still retain their popularity; originally contributed to a magazine, they appeared in book form in 1855. His translations include _Dante's Vila Nuova_, Oehlenschlager's _Correggio_ and _Aladdin_, Heine's _Poems and Ballads_, Schiller's _Song of the Bell_, and Hertz's _King Rene's Daughter_. He also _pub._ a complete translation of Horace with a Life, and one of Catullus. He is, however, perhaps best known for his _Life of the Prince Consort_ (1874-80), the writing of which was committed to him by Queen Victoria, a work which he executed with such ability and tact as to win for him her lifelong friends.h.i.+p. He also wrote Lives of Prof. Aytoun and Lord Lyndhurst. He _m._ in 1851 Miss Helen Faucit (_d._ 1898), the well-known actress, and auth.o.r.ess of studies on _Shakespeare's Female Characters_, whose Life he _pub._ in 1901. M. kept up his intellectual activity into old age, _pub._ in 1905 a translation of Leopardi's poems, and _Monographs_ (1906). He was Lord Rector of St.

Andrews 1881, LL.D. of Edin. 1875, and K.C.B. 1880.

MARTINEAU, HARRIET (1802-1876).--Novelist and economist, _b._ at Norwich, where her _f._, descended from a French family, was a manufacturer. From her earliest years she was delicate and very deaf, and took to literary pursuits as an amus.e.m.e.nt. Afterwards, when her _f._ had fallen into difficulties, they became her means of support. Her first publication was _Devotional Exercises for Young Persons_ (1823). Becoming interested in political economy, she endeavoured to ill.u.s.trate the subject by tales, of which two were _The Rioters_ and _The Turn-out_. Later she _pub._ a more serious treatment of it in _Ill.u.s.trations of Political Economy_ (1832-4), _Poor Law and Paupers_ (1833), and _Ill.u.s.trations of Taxation_ (1834).

About this time she went to London, and was regarded as an authority on economic questions, being occasionally consulted by Cabinet Ministers.

Among her books of travel are _Society in America_ (1837), and _Eastern Life, Present and Past_ (1848), which she considered her best book: in it she declared herself no longer a believer in revelation. She also wrote two novels, _Deerbrook_ (1839), and _The Hour and the Man_ (1840), also a number of books for children. Perhaps her most important work is her _History of England during the Thirty Years' Peace_, 1816-46, which appeared in 1849. She translated Comte's _Philosophy_ (1853), and _pub._ a collection of letters between herself and Mr. H.G. Atkinson _On the Laws of Man's Nature and Development_, which encountered severe criticism. In addition to her separate publications she wrote innumerable articles for newspapers, specially the _Daily News_, and for periodicals.

In 1845 she settled in the Lake District, where she died.

MARTINEAU, JAMES (1805-1900).--Unitarian theologian, younger brother of the above, was _b._ at Norwich. Possessed of considerable inventive and mathematical talents, he was originally intended for engineering, but studied for the Unitarian ministry, to which he was ordained in 1828.

After serving as pastor in various places he became in 1840 Prof. of Mental and Moral Philosophy in the Manchester New Coll. (subsequently removed to London), and Princ.i.p.al 1869-85. Among his writings, which were very influential, are _Rationale of Religious Inquiry_ (1836), _Ideal Subst.i.tutes for G.o.d_ (1879), _Study of Spinoza_ (1882), _Types of Ethical Theory_ (1885), _Study of Religion_ (1888), _Seat of Authority in Religion_ (1890), and religious poems and hymns. M. was a man of very elevated character and powerful intellect; of great acuteness, candour, and openness to new ideas. He was D.D. of Edin. 1884, and D.C.L. of Oxf.

1888.

MARVELL, ANDREW (1621-1678).--Poet and satirist, _s._ of the Rector of Winestead, Yorks.h.i.+re, where he was _b._, _ed._ Camb., and thereafter travelled in various Continental countries. He sat in Parliament for Hull, proving himself an a.s.siduous and incorruptible member, with strong republican leanings. In spite of this he was a favourite of Charles II., who took pleasure in his society, and offered him a place at Court, and a present of 1000, which were both declined. In his own day he was best known as a powerful and fearless political writer, and for some time from 1657 was a.s.sistant to Milton as Latin Sec. After the Restoration he wrote against the Government, his chief work in this kind being on the _Growth of Popery and Arbitrary Government in England_ (1677). He was also the author of an _Historical Essay regarding General Councils_. His controversial style was lively and vigorous, but sometimes coa.r.s.e and vituperative. His fame now rests on his poems which, though few, have many of the highest poetical qualities. Among the best known are _The Emigrants in the Bermudas_, _The Nymph complaining for the Death of her Fawn_, and _Thoughts in a Garden_. Of the last Palgrave says that "it may be regarded as a test of any reader's insight into the most poetical aspects of poetry," and his _Horatian Ode on Cromwell's Return from Ireland_. The town of Hull voted him a monument, which was, however, forbidden by the Court. His appearance is thus described, "He was of middling stature, pretty strong-set, roundish-faced, cherry-cheeked, hazel-eyed, brown-haired."

_Life and Works_ by Cooke, 1726, reprinted 1772; Thomson, 1726; Dove, 1832; and specially Grosart (4 vols., 1872-74).

MASON, WILLIAM (1724-1797).--Poet, _s._ of a clergyman, was _b._ at Hull, and _ed._ at Camb. He took orders and rose to be a Canon of York. His first poem was _Musaeus_, a monody on the death of Pope, and his other works include _Elfrida_ (1752), and _Caractacus_ (1759), dramas--an _Heroic Epistle_ to Sir William Chambers, the architect, in which he satirised some modern fas.h.i.+ons in gardening, _The English Garden_, his largest work, and some odes. He was a close friend of Gray, whose Life he wrote. His language was too magnificent for his powers of thought, but he has pa.s.sages where the rich diction has a pleasing effect.

Ma.s.sEY, GERALD (1828-1907).--Poet, _b._ near Tring, Herts. As a boy he worked in a silk-factory, and as a straw-plaiter and errand boy. When he was 15 he came to London, where he was taken up by Maurice and Kingsley.

His first book was _pub._ in 1851, but he first attracted attention by _Babe Christabel_ (1854). This was followed by _War Waits_, _Craigcrook Castle_, and _Havelock's March_. A selection from these was _pub._ 1889, under the t.i.tle of _My Lyrical Life_. Later he wrote and lectured on spiritualism, and produced prose works on the origin of myths and mysteries in _The Book of Beginnings_ (1881), _The Natural Genesis_ (1883), and _Ancient Egypt: the Light of the World_ (1907). He also wrote a book on the sonnets of Shakespeare. M. had a true lyrical vein, but though often musical, he was at times harsh and rugged, and did not give sufficient attention to form and finish.

Ma.s.sINGER, PHILIP (1583-1640).--Dramatist, was probably _b._ at Salisbury. His _f._ appears to have been a retainer of the Earl of Pembroke, by whom and by Queen Elizabeth he was employed in a confidential capacity. M. was at Oxf., but quitted the Univ. suddenly without graduating. He is next found in London writing for the stage, frequently in collaboration with others. Few details of his life have come down, but it seems that he was on the whole unfortunate. He was found dead in bed on March 16, 1640, and was buried in St. Saviour's, Southwark, by some of the actors. The burial register has the entry, "buried Philip Ma.s.singer, a stranger." Of the many plays which he wrote or had a hand in, 15 believed to be entirely his are extant, other 8 were burned by a servant in the 18th century. He, however, collaborated so much with others--Fletcher, Dekker, etc., that much fine work probably his can only be identified by internal evidence. Among his plays may be mentioned _The Unnatural Combat_ (_pr._ 1639), _The Virgin Martyr_ (1622) (partly by Dekker), which contains perhaps his finest writing. His best plays on the whole, however, are _The City Madam_ (1632), and _A New Way to pay Old Debts_ (_pr._ 1633), which latter kept the stage until the 19th century. He is believed to have joined with Fletcher and Shakespeare in _Henry VIII._ and _The Two n.o.ble Kinsmen_. Other plays which he wrote or had a hand in are _The Duke of Milan_, _The Bondman_, _The Renegado_, _The Roman Actor_, _The Great Duke of Florence_, _The Maid of Honour_, _The Picture_, and _The Fatal Dowry_. His verse is fluent and sweet, and in his grave and reflective pa.s.sages he rises to a rich and stately music. He often repeats himself, has little humour, and is not seldom coa.r.s.e. He has, however, much skill in the construction and working out of a story.

Ma.s.sON, DAVID (1822-1907).--Biographer and historian, _b._ at Aberdeen, and _ed._ at Marischal Coll. there and at Edin., where he studied theology under Chalmers. He did not, however, enter the Church, but began a literary career by ed. a newspaper in Aberdeen. He then returned to Edin., where he worked for the brothers Chambers, the eminent publishers, and where he became acquainted with Wilson, Sir William Hamilton, and Chalmers, for the last of whom he cherished an extraordinary veneration.

Going to London in 1847 he wrote extensively in reviews, magazines, and encyclopaedias. In 1852 he became Prof. of English Literature in Univ.

Coll., and in 1858 ed. of _Macmillan's Magazine_. He was appointed in 1865 Prof. of English Literature in Edin., where he exercised a profound influence on his students, many of whom have risen to high positions in literature. Though a most laborious student and man of letters, M. took a warm interest in various public questions, including Italian emanc.i.p.ation, and the higher education of women. He was the author of many important works, including _Essays Biographical and Critical_ (1856), _British Novelists_ (1859), and _Recent British Philosophy_ (1865). His _magnum opus_ is his monumental _Life of John Milton_ (6 vols., 1859-80) the most complete biography of any Englishman, dealing as it does not only with the personal life of the poet, but with the history, political, social, and religious of his time. Other books are _Drummond of Hawthornden_ (1873), _De Quincey_ (in English Men of Letters Series) (1878), _Edinburgh Sketches and Memories_ (1892), and _Carlyle Personally and in his Writings_. He also ed. the standard ed. of De Quincey's works, and the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, his introductions in connection with which are of great historical value. He was appointed Historiographer for Scotland in 1893. M. was full of learning guided by sagacity, genial, broad-minded, and sane in his judgments of men and things, and thoroughly honest and sincere.

MATHER, COTTON (1663-1728).--Divine, _s._ of Increase M., a leading American divine, was _ed._ at Harvard, became a minister, and was colleague to his _f._ He was laborious, able, and learned, but extremely bigoted and self-sufficient. He carried on a persecution of so-called "witches," which led to the shedding of much innocent blood; on the other hand he was so much of a reformer as to advocate inoculation for small-pox. He was a copious author, his chief work being _Magnalia Christi Americana_ (1702), an ecclesiastical history of New England.

Others were _Late Memorable Providences relating to Witchcraft and Possession_ (1689), and _The Wonders of the Invisible World_ (1693). In his later years he admitted that "he had gone too far" in his crusade against witches.

MATHIAS, THOMAS JAMES (1754?-1835).--Satirist, _ed._ at Camb., and held some minor appointments in the Royal household. He was an accomplished Italian scholar, and made various translations from the English into Italian, and _vice versa_. He also produced a fine ed. of Gray, on which he lost heavily. His chief work, however, was _The Pursuits of Literature_ (1794), an undiscriminating satire on his literary contemporaries which went through 16 ed., but is now almost forgotten.

MATURIN, CHARLES ROBERT (1782-1824).--Novelist, _b._ in Dublin of Huguenot ancestry, was _ed._ at Trinity Coll. there, and taking orders held various benefices. He was the author of a few dramas, one of which, _Bertram_, had some success. He is, perhaps, better known for his romances in the style of Mrs. Radcliffe and "Monk" Lewis. The first of these, _The Fatal Revenge_ appeared in 1807, and was followed by, among others, _The Milesian Chief_ (1812), _Women_, which was the most successful, and lastly by _Melmoth_, in which he outdoes his models in the mysterious, the horrible, and indeed the revolting, without, except very occasionally, reaching their power. His last work, _The Albigenses_, in a somewhat different style, was _pub._ in the year of his death.

MAURICE, FREDERICK DENISON (1805-1872).--Divine, _s._ of a Unitarian minister, was _b._ at Normanston, near Lowestoft, and studied at Camb., but being then a Dissenter, could not graduate. He went to London, and engaged in literary work, writing for the _Westminster Review_ and other periodicals, and for a short time ed. the _Athenaeum_. His theological views having changed, he joined the Church of England, went to Oxf., graduated, and was ordained 1834. He became Chaplain to Guy's Hospital, and held other clerical positions in London. In 1840 he was appointed Prof. of English Literature and History at King's Coll., and subsequently Prof. of Theology. He became a leader among the Christian socialists, and for a short time ed. their paper. On the publication of his _Theological Essays_ in 1853 he was asked to resign his professors.h.i.+p at King's Coll. In 1854 he was one of the founders of the Working Men's Coll., of which he became Princ.i.p.al, and in 1866 he was made Prof. of Moral Philosophy at Camb. Among his writings are _The Religions of the World and their Relation to Christianity_, _Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy_, _The Prophets and Kings of the Old Testament_ (1853), _The Doctrine of Sacrifice_, and _Theological Essays_. M.'s style was copious, and was often blamed as obscure; nevertheless, he exercised an extraordinary influence over some of the best minds of his time by the originality of his views, and the purity and elevation of his character.

MAXWELL, WILLIAM HAMILTON (1792-1850).--Novelist, a Scoto-Irishman, _b._ at Newry, and _ed._ at Trinity Coll., Dublin, entered the army, and saw service in the Peninsula, and at Waterloo. Afterwards he took orders, but was deprived of his living for non-residence. His novels, _O'Hara_, and _Stories from Waterloo_, started the school of rollicking military fiction, which culminated in the novels of Lever. M. also wrote a Life of the Duke of Wellington, and a _History of the Irish Rebellion_.

MAX-MuLLER, FRIEDRICH (1823-1900).--Philologist, _s._ of the German poet, Wilhelm M., was _b._ at Dessau, and _ed._ at Leipzig, Berlin, and Paris.

In 1846 he was requested by the East India Company to ed. the _Rig Veda_.

He settled at Oxf. in 1848, and in 1850 was appointed deputy Taylorian Prof. of Modern European languages, becoming Prof. 4 years later, and Curator of the Bodleian Library in 1856. In 1868 he was elected first Prof. of Comparative Philology. He ed. _Sacred Books of the East_, and wrote in English _Chips from a German Workshop_ (1867-75). He did much to stimulate the study of comparative religion and philology. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1896.

MAY, THOMAS (1595-1650).--Poet and historian, _b._ in Suss.e.x, _s._ of Sir Thomas M., of Mayfield, went to Camb., and thence to Gray's Inn, but discarded law for literature. In 1622 he produced his first comedy, _The Heir_, and also a translation of Virgil's _Georgics_. Six years later, 1627, appeared his translation of _Lucan_, which gained him the favour of Charles I. at whose command he wrote two poems, _The Reigne of King Henry II._, and _The Victorious Reigne of King Edward III._, each in 7 books.

When the Civil War broke out M., to the disappointment of his friends, took the side of the Parliament, and was made Sec. to the Long Parliament, the historian of which he became, _pub._ 1647, _The History of the Parliament of England, which began Nov. 3, 1640_. This work he prefaced with a short review of the preceding reigns from that of Elizabeth. The narrative closes with the Battle of Newbury, 1643, and is characterised by fulness of information and candour. M. was also the author of several tragedies, including _Antigone_, of no great merit.

MAY, SIR THOMAS ERSKINE, 1ST BARON FARNBOROUGH (1815-1886).--Jurist and historian, _ed._ at Bedford School, and after holding various minor offices became in 1871 clerk to the House of Commons, retiring in 1886, when he was raised to the peerage. He had previously, 1866, been made K.C.B. He was the author of a treatise on the laws, privileges, etc., of Parliament, which, first _pub._ in 1844, reached in 1901 its tenth ed., and was translated into various languages. His _Const.i.tutional History of England_, 1760-1860 is practically a continuation of Hallam's great work.

He also wrote _Democracy in Europe_. As an historical writer M. was learned, painstaking, and impartial.