A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature Part 36

OLIPHANT, LAURENCE (1829-1888).--Novelist and miscellaneous writer, _s._ of Sir Anthony O., Chief Justice of Ceylon. The first 38 years of his life were spent in desultory study, travel, and adventure, varied by occasional diplomatic employment. His travels included, besides Continental countries, the sh.o.r.es of the Black Sea, Circa.s.sia, where he was _Times_ correspondent, America, China, and j.a.pan. He was in the Crimean War, Indian Mutiny, Chinese War, the military operations of Garibaldi, and the Polish insurrection, and served as private sec. to Lord Elgin in Was.h.i.+ngton, Canada, and China, and as Sec. of Legation in j.a.pan. In 1865 he entered Parliament, and gave promise of political eminence, when in 1867 he came under the influence of Thomas L. Harris, an American mystic of questionable character, went with him to America, and joined the Brotherhood of the New Life. In 1870-71 he was correspondent for the _Times_ in the Franco-German War. Ultimately he broke away from the influence of Harris and went to Palestine, where he founded a community of Jewish immigrants at Haifa. After revisiting America he returned to England, but immediately fell ill and _d._ at Twickenham. O. was a voluminous and versatile author, publis.h.i.+ng books of travel, novels, and works on mysticism. The most important are as follows: _The Russian Sh.o.r.es of the Black Sea_ (1853), _Minnesota and the Far West_ (1855), _The Transcaucasian Campaign_ (1856), _Patriots and Fillibusters_ (adventures in Southern States) (1860), _Narrative of a Mission to China and j.a.pan_ (1857-59), _The Land of Gilead_ (1880), _Piccadilly_ (1870), and _Altiora Peto_ (1883) (novels), and _Scientific Religion_.

OLIPHANT, MRS. MARGARET OLIPHANT (WILSON) (1828-1897).--Novelist and miscellaneous writer, was _b._ near Musselburgh. Her literary output began when she was little more than a girl, and was continued almost up to the end of her life. Her first novel, _Mrs. Margaret Maitland_, appeared in 1849, and its humour, pathos, and insight into character gave the author an immediate position in literature. It was followed by an endless succession, of which the best were the series of _The Chronicles of Carlingford_ (1861-65), including _Salem Chapel_, _The Perpetual Curate_, and _Miss Marjoribanks_, all of which, as well as much of her other work, appeared in _Blackwood's Magazine_, with which she had a lifelong connection. Others of some note were _The Primrose Path_, _Madonna Mary_ (1866), _The Wizard's Son_, and _A Beleaguered City_. She did not, however, confine herself to fiction, but wrote many books of history and biography, including _Sketches of the Reign of George II._ (1869), _The Makers of Florence_ (1876), _Literary History of England_ 1790-1825, _Royal Edinburgh_ (1890), and Lives of _St. Francis of a.s.sisi_, _Edward Irving_, and _Princ.i.p.al Tulloch_. Her generosity in supporting and educating the family of a brother as well as her own two sons rendered necessary a rate of production which was fatal to the permanence of her work. She was negligent as to style, and often wrote on subjects to which her intellectual equipment and knowledge did not enable her to do proper justice. She had, however, considerable power of painting character, and a vein of humour, and showed untiring industry in getting up her subjects.

OPIE, MRS. AMELIA (ALDERSON) (1769-1853).--Novelist, _dau._ of a medical man, was _b._ at Norwich. In 1798 she _m._ John Opie, the painter. Her first acknowledged work was _Father and Daughter_ (1801), which had a favourable reception, and was followed by _Adeline Mowbray_ (1804), _Temper_ (1812), _Tales from Real Life_ (1813), and others, all having the same aim of developing the virtuous affections, the same merit of natural and vivid painting of character and pa.s.sions, and the same fault of a too great preponderance of the pathetic. They were soon superseded by the more powerful genius of Scott and Miss Edgeworth. In 1825 she became a Quaker. After this she wrote _Ill.u.s.trations of Lying_ (1825), and _Detraction Displayed_ (1828). Her later years, which were singularly cheerful, were largely devoted to philanthropic interests.

ORDERICUS VITALIS (1075-1143?).--Chronicler, _b._ near Shrewsbury, was in childhood put into the monastery of St. Evroult, in Normandy, where the rest of his life was pa.s.sed. He is the author of a chronicle, _Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy_ (_c._ 1142) in 13 books.

Those from the seventh to the thirteenth are invaluable as giving a trustworthy, though not very clear, record of contemporary events in England and Normandy. It was translated into English in 1853-55.

ORM, or ORMIN (_fl._ 1200).--Was an Augustinian canon of Mercia, who wrote the _Ormulum_ in transition English. It is a kind of mediaeval _Christian Year_, containing a metrical portion of the Gospel for each day, followed by a metrical homily, largely borrowed from aelfric and Bede. Its t.i.tle is thus accounted for, "This boc iss nemmed the _Ormulum_, forthi that Orm it wrohhte."

ORME, ROBERT (1728-1801).--Historian, _s._ of an Indian army doctor, _b._ at Travancore, and after being at Harrow, entered the service of the East India Company. Owing to failure of health he had to return home in 1760, and then wrote his _History of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan from 1745_ (1763-78), a well-written and accurate work, showing great research. He also _pub._ _Historical Fragments of the Mogul Empire, the Morattoes and English Concerns in Indostan from 1659_ (1782). His collections relating to India are preserved at the India Office.

ORRERY, ROGER BOYLE, 1ST EARL of (1621-1679).--Statesman and dramatist, third _s._ of the Earl of Cork, was _ed._ at Trinity Coll., Dublin. After having fought on the Royalist side he was, on the death of the King, induced by Cromwell to support him in his Irish wars and otherwise. After the death of the Protector he secured Ireland for Charles II., and at the Restoration was raised to the peerage. He wrote a romance in 6 vols., ent.i.tled _Parthenissa_, some plays, and a treatise on the _Art of War_.

He has the distinction of being the first to introduce rhymed tragedies.

O'SHAUGHNESSY, ARTHUR WILLIAM EDGAR (1844-1881).--Poet, _b._ in London, entered the library of the British Museum, afterwards being transferred to the natural history department, where he became an authority on fishes and reptiles. He _pub._ various books of poetry, including _Epic of Women_ (1870), _Lays of France_ (1872), and _Music and Moonlight_ (1874).

Jointly with his wife he wrote _Toyland_, a book for children. He was a.s.sociated with D.G. Rossetti and the other pre-Raphaelites. There is a certain remoteness in his poetry which will probably always prevent its being widely popular. He has a wonderful mastery of metre, and a "haunting music" all his own.

OTWAY, CaeSAR (1780-1842).--Writer of Irish tales. His writings, which display humour and sympathy with the poorer cla.s.ses in Ireland, include _Sketches in Ireland_ (1827), and _A Tour in Connaught_ (1839). He was concerned in the establishment of various journals.

OTWAY, THOMAS (1651 or 1652-1685).--Dramatist, _s._ of a clergyman, was _b._ near Midhurst, Suss.e.x, and _ed._ at Oxf., which he left without graduating. His short life, like those of many of his fellows, was marked by poverty and misery, and he appears to have _d._ practically of starvation. Having failed as an actor, he took to writing for the stage, and produced various plays, among which _Don Carlos, Prince of Spain_ (1676), was a great success, and brought him some money. Those by which he is best remembered, however, are _The Orphan_ (1680), and _Venice Preserved_ (1682), both of which have been frequently revived. O. made many adaptations from the French, and in his tragedy of _Caius Marius_ incorporated large parts of _Romeo and Juliet_. He has been called "the most pathetic and tear-drawing of all our dramatists," and he excelled in delineating the stronger pa.s.sions. The grossness of his comedies has banished them from the stage. Other plays are _The Cheats of Scapin_, _Friends.h.i.+p in Fas.h.i.+on_, _Soldier's Fortune_ (1681), and _The Atheist_.

OUIDA, (_see_ RAMeE).

OUTRAM, GEORGE (1805-1856).--Humorous poet, was a Scottish advocate, a friend of Prof. Wilson, and for some time ed. of the _Glasgow Herald_. He printed privately in 1851 _Lyrics, Legal and Miscellaneous_, which were _pub._ with a memoir in 1874. Many of his pieces are highly amusing, the _Annuity_ being the best.

OVERBURY, SIR THOMAS (1581-1613).--Poet and miscellaneous writer, _ed._ at Oxf., became the friend of Carr, afterwards Earl of Rochester and Somerset, and fell a victim to a Court intrigue connected with the proposed marriage of Rochester and Lady Ess.e.x, being poisoned in the Tower with the connivance of the latter. He wrote a poem, _A Wife, now a Widowe_, and _Characters_ (1614), short, witty descriptions of types of men. Some of those _pub._ along with his are by other hands.

OWEN, JOHN (1560-1622).--Epigrammatist, _b._ at Plas Dhu, Carnarvons.h.i.+re, _ed._ at Winchester and Oxf., and became head master of King Henry VIII.

School at Warwick. His Latin epigrams, which have both sense and wit in a high degree, gained him much applause, and were translated into English, French, German, and Spanish.

OWEN, JOHN (1616-1683).--Puritan divine, _b._ at Stadhampton, Oxfords.h.i.+re, and _ed._ at Oxf., from which he was driven by Laud's statutes. Originally a Presbyterian, he pa.s.sed over to Independency. In 1649 he accompanied Cromwell to Ireland, and in 1650 to Edinburgh. He was Dean of Christ Church, Oxf. (1651-60), and one of the "triers" of ministers appointed by Cromwell. After the Restoration he was ejected from his deanery, but was favoured by Clarendon, who endeavoured to induce him to conform to the Anglican Church by offers of high preferment. Strange to say Charles II. also held him in regard, and gave him money for the Nonconformists; and he was allowed to preach to a congregation of Independents in London. His great learning and ability rendered him a formidable controversialist, specially against Arminianism and Romanism. His works fill 28 vols; among the best known being _The Divine Original, etc., of the Scriptures_, _Indwelling Sin_, _Christologia_, or ... The Person of Christ_, and a commentary on Hebrews.

OWEN, ROBERT (1771-1858).--Socialist and philanthropist, _b._ at Newton, Montgomerys.h.i.+re, had for his object the regeneration of the world on the principles of socialism. His sincerity was shown by the fact that he spent most of the fortune, which his great capacity for business enabled him to make, in endeavours to put his theories into practice at various places both in Britain and America. He was sincerely philanthropic, and incidentally did good on a considerable scale in the course of his more or less impracticable schemes. He propounded his ideas in _New Views of Society, or Essays on the Formation of the Human Character_ (1816).

OXFORD, EDWARD DE VERE, EARL of (1550-1604).--Was a courtier of Queen Elizabeth, who lost his friends by his insolence and pride, and his fortune by his extravagance. He _m._ a _dau._ of Lord Burghley, who had to support his family after his death. He had some reputation as a writer of short pieces, many of which are in the _Paradise of Dainty Devices_.

PAINE, THOMAS (1737-1809).--Political and anti-Christian writer, _s._ of a stay-maker and small farmer of Quaker principles at Thetford, became with large cla.s.ses perhaps the most unpopular man in England. After trying various occupations, including those of schoolmaster and exciseman, and having separated from his wife, he went in 1774 to America where, in 1776, he _pub._ his famous pamphlet, _Common Sense_, in favour of American independence. He served in the American army, and also held some political posts, including that of sec. to a mission to France in 1781. Returning to England in 1787 he _pub._ his _Rights of Man_ (1790-92), in reply to Burke's _Reflections on the French Revolution_. It had an enormous circulation, 1,500,000 copies having been sold in England alone; but it made it necessary for him to escape to France to avoid prosecution. Arrived in that country he was elected to the National Convention. He opposed the execution of Louis XVI., and was, in 1794, imprisoned by Robespierre, whose fall saved his life. He had then just completed the first part of his _Age of Reason_, of which the other two appeared respectively in 1795 and 1807. It is directed alike against Christianity and Atheism, and supports Deism. Becoming disgusted with the course of French politics, he returned to America in 1802, but found himself largely ostracised by society there, became embroiled in various controversies, and is said to have become intemperate. He _d._ at New York in 1809. Though apparently sincere in his views, and courageous in the expression of them, P. was vain and prejudiced. The extraordinary lucidity and force of his style did much to gain currency for his writings.

PAINTER, WILLIAM (1540?-1594).--Translator, etc., _ed._ at Camb., was then successively schoolmaster at Sevenoaks, and Clerk of the Ordnance, in which position his intromissions appear to have been of more advantage to himself than to the public service. He was the author of _The Palace of Pleasure_ (1566), largely consisting of translations from Boccaccio, Bandello, and other Italian writers, and also from the cla.s.sics. It formed a quarry in which many dramatists, including Shakespeare, found the plots for their plays.

PALEY, WILLIAM (1743-1805).--Theologian, _s._ of a minor canon of Peterborough, where he was _b._, went at 15 as a sizar to Christ's Coll., Camb., where he was Senior Wrangler, and became a Fellow and Tutor of his coll. Taking orders in 1767 he held many benefices, and rose to be Archdeacon of Carlisle, and Sub-Dean of Lincoln. P., who holds one of the highest places among English theologians, was the author of four important works--_Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy_ (1785), _Horae Paulinae_, his most original, but least popular, book (1790), _View of the Evidences of Christianity_ (1794), and _Natural Theology_ (1802).

Though now to a large extent superseded, these works had an immense popularity and influence in their day, and are characterised by singular clearness of expression and power of apt ill.u.s.tration. The system of morals inculcated by P. is Utilitarian, modified by theological ideas.

His view of the "divine right of Kings" as on a level with "the divine right of constables" was unpleasing to George III., notwithstanding which his ecclesiastical career was eminently successful. His manners were plain and kindly.

PALGRAVE, SIR FRANCIS (1788-1861).--Historian, _s._ of Meyer Cohen, a Jewish stockbroker, but at his marriage in 1823, having previously become a Christian, a.s.sumed his mother-in-law's name of Palgrave. He studied law, and was called to the Bar in 1827. From 1838 until his death in 1861 he was Deputy Keeper of the Records, and in that capacity arranged a vast ma.s.s of hitherto inaccessible doc.u.ments, and ed. many of them for the Record Commission. His historical works include a _History of England in Anglo-Saxon Times_ (1831), _Rise and Progress of the English Commonwealth_ (1832), and _History of Normandy and England_ (4 vols., 1851-64), _pub._ posthumously. He was knighted in 1832. His works are of great value in throwing light upon the history and condition of mediaeval England.

PALGRAVE, FRANCIS TURNER (1824-1897).--Poet and critic, _s._ of the above, _ed._ at Oxf., was for many years connected with the Education Department, of which he rose to be a.s.sistant Sec.; and from 1886-95 he was Prof. of Poetry at Oxf. He wrote several vols. of poetry, including _Visions of England_ (1881), and _Amenophis_ (1892), which, though graceful and exhibiting much poetic feeling, were the work rather of a man of culture than of a poet. His great contribution to literature was his anthology, _The Golden Treasury of Songs and Lyrics_ (1864), selected with marvellous insight and judgment. A second series showed these qualities in a less degree. He also _pub._ an anthology of sacred poetry.

PALTOCK, ROBERT (1697-1767).--Novelist, was an attorney, and wrote _The Life and Adventures of Peter Wilkins, a Cornish Man_ (1751), admired by Scott, Coleridge, and Lamb. It is somewhat on the same plan as _Robinson Crusoe_, the special feature being the _gawry_, or flying woman, whom the hero discovered on his island, and married. The description of Nosmnbdsgrutt, the country of the flying people, is a dull imitation of Swift, and much else in the book is tedious.

PARDOE, JULIA (1806-1862).--Novelist and miscellaneous writer, _b._ at Beverley, showed an early bias towards literature, and became a voluminous and versatile writer, producing in addition to her lively and well-written novels many books of travel, and others dealing with historical subjects. She was a keen observer, and her Oriental travels had given her an accurate and deep knowledge of the peoples and manners of the East. Among her books are _The City of the Sultan_ (1836), _Romance of the Harem_, _Thousand and One Days_, _Louis XIV. and the Court of France_, _Court of Francis I._, etc.

PARIS, MATTHEW (_c._ 1195-1259).--Chronicler, entered in 1217 the Benedictine Monastery of St. Albans, and continued the work of Roger de Wendover (_q.v._) as chronicler of the monastery. In 1248 he went on the invitation of Hacon King of Norway to reform the Abbey of St. Benet Holm.

In this he was successful, and on his return to England enjoyed the favour of Henry III., who conversed familiarly with him, and imparted information as to matters of state, which const.i.tutes a valuable element in his histories. He had a high reputation for piety and learning, was a patriotic Englishman, and resisted the encroachments of Rome. His chief work is _Historia Major_, from the Conquest until 1259. In it he embodied the _Flores Historiarum_ of his predecessor Roger, and the original part is a bold and vigorous narrative of the period (1235-59). He also wrote _Historia Minor_ and _Historia Anglorum_, a summary of the events (1200-1250).

PARK, MUNGO (1771-1806).--Traveller, _b._ near Selkirk, studied medicine at Edin. As a surgeon in the mercantile marine he visited Sumatra, and on his return attracted the attention of various scientific men by his botanical and zoological investigations. In 1795 he entered the service of the African a.s.sociation, and made a voyage of discovery on the Niger.

His adventures were _pub._ in _Travels in the Interior of Africa_ (1799), which had great success. He _m._ and set up in practice in Peebles; but in 1805 accepted an invitation by Government to undertake another journey in Africa. From this he never returned, having perished in a conflict with natives. His narratives, written in a straightforward and pleasing style, are among the cla.s.sics of travel.

PARKER, THEODORE (1810-1860).--Theologian, _b._ at Lexington, Ma.s.sachusetts, _ed._ at Harvard, was an indefatigable student, and made himself master of many languages. In 1837 he was settled at West Roxbury as a Unitarian minister, but the development of his views in a rationalistic direction gradually separated him from the more conservative portion of his co-religionists. He lectured on theological subjects in Boston in 1841, travelled in Europe, and in 1845 settled in Boston, where he lectured to large audiences, and exercised a wide influence. He took a leading part in the anti-slavery crusade, and specially in resisting the Fugitive Slave Act. In 1859 his health, which had never been robust, gave way; he went to Italy in search of restoration, but _d._ at Florence. Although he was a powerful theological and social influence, his writings are not of corresponding importance: it was rather as a speaker that he influenced his countrymen, and he left no contribution to literature of much permanent account, though his _coll._ works fill 14 vols. Among the most outstanding of his writings are _A Discourse of Matters Pertaining to Religion_, and _Sermons for the Times_.

PARKMAN, FRANCIS (1823-1893).--Historian, _s._ of a Unitarian minister in Boston, Ma.s.sachusetts, graduated at Harvard, and qualified as a lawyer, but never practised, and though hampered by a state of health which forbade continuous application, and by partial blindness, devoted himself to the writing of the history of the conflict between France and England in North America. This he did in a succession of works--_The Conspiracy of Pontiac_ (1851), _The Pioneers of France in the New World_ (1865), _The Jesuits in North America_ (1867), _La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West_ (1869), _The Old Regime in Canada_ (1874), _Count Frontenac and New France_ (1877), _Montcalm and Wolfe_ (1884), and _A Half Century of Conflict_ (1892). In these the style, at first somewhat turgid, gradually improved, and became clear and forcible, while retaining its original vividness. P. spared no labour in collecting and sifting his material, much of which was gathered in the course of visits to the places which were the scenes of his narrative, and his books are the most valuable contribution in existence to the history of the struggle for Canada and the other French settlements in North America. He also wrote two novels, which had little success, and a book upon rose-culture.

PARNELL, THOMAS (1679-1718).--Poet, _b._ and _ed._ in Dublin, took orders in 1700, and was Vicar of Finglas and Archdeacon of Clogher. The death of his young wife in 1706 drove him into intemperate habits. He was a friend of Swift and Pope, a contributor to the _Spectator_, and aided Pope in his translation of the _Iliad_. He wrote various isolated poems showing a fine descriptive touch, of which the most important are _The Hermit_, _The Night Piece_, and _The Hymn to Contentment_. P. was a scholar, and had considerable social gifts. His Life was written by Goldsmith.

PARR, DR. SAMUEL (1747-1825).--Scholar, _s._ of an apothecary at Harrow, where and at Camb. he was _ed._ He was successively an a.s.sistant-master at Harrow and headmaster of schools at Colchester and Norwich, and having taken orders, finally settled down at Hatton, Warwicks.h.i.+re, where he took private pupils. He was undoubtedly a great Latinist, but he has left no work to account for the immense reputation for ability which he enjoyed during his life. His chief power appears to have been in conversation, in which he was bold, arrogant, and epigrammatic. He was nicknamed "the Whig Johnson," but fell very far short of his model. His writings, including correspondence, were _pub._ in 8 vols.

PATER, WALTER HORATIO (1839-1894).--Essayist and critic, _s._ of Richard G.P., of American birth and Dutch extraction, a benevolent physician, _b._ at Shadwell, and _ed._ at the King's School, Canterbury, and at Queen's Coll., Oxf., after leaving which he made various tours in Germany and Italy where, especially in the latter, his nature, keenly sensitive to every form of beauty, received indelible impressions. In 1864 he was elected a Fellow of Brasenose, and in its ancient and austere precincts found his princ.i.p.al home. As a tutor, though conscientious, he was not eminently successful; nevertheless his lectures, on which he bestowed much pains, had a fit audience, and powerfully influenced a few select souls. He resigned his tutors.h.i.+p in 1880, partly because he found himself not entirely in his element, and partly because literature was becoming the predominant interest in his life. In 1885 he went to London, where he remained for 8 years, continuing, however, to reside at Brasenose during term. The reputation as a writer which he had gained made him welcome in whatever intellectual circles he found himself. Leaving London in 1893 he settled in a house in St. Giles, Oxf. In the spring of 1894 he went to Glasgow to receive the honorary degree of LL.D., a distinction which he valued. In the summer he had an attack of rheumatic fever, followed by pleurisy. From these he had apparently recovered, but he succ.u.mbed to an attack of heart-failure which immediately supervened. Thus ended prematurely in its 55th year a life as bare of outward events as it was rich in literary fruit and influence.