LELAND or LEYLAND, JOHN (1506-1552).—Antiquary,b.in London, anded.at St. Paul's School and at Camb., Oxf., and Paris. He was a good linguist, and one of the first Englishmen to acquire Greek, and he was likewise acquainted with French, Italian, Spanish, Welsh, and Anglo-Saxon. He became chaplain and librarian to Henry VIII., from whom he received the Rectory of Poppeling, near Calais, and in 1533 the appointment of King's Antiquary. Soon afterwards he was permitted to do his work in France by deputy, and was commissioned to go over England in search of documents and antiquities; and on the strength of this made his famous tour, which lasted for about six years. He was able to do something to stem the destruction of manuscripts on the dissolution of the monasteries, and made vast collections of documents and information regarding the monuments and general features of the country, which, however, he was unable fully to digest and set in order. They formed, nevertheless, an almost inexhaustible quarry in which succeeding workers in the same field, such as Stow, Camden, and Dugdale, wrought. In his last years he was insane, and hence none of his collections appeared in his lifetime. HisItinerarywas, however, at lengthpub.by T. Hearne in 9 vols. (1710-12), and hisCollectaneain 6 vols. (1715).
LEMON, MARK (1809-1870).—Journalist and humorist,b.in London, wrote many theatrical pieces, and a few novels, of which the best isFalkner Lyle, others beingLeyton Hall, andLoved at Last. He also wrote stories for children, lectured and gave public readings, and contributed to various periodicals. He is best known as one of the founders and, from 1843 until his death, the ed. ofPunch. HisJest Bookappeared in 1864.
LENNOX, CHARLOTTE (RAMSAY) (1720-1804).—Wasb.in New York, of which herf., Colonel Ramsay, was Governor. She wrote a novel,The Female Quixote(1752), which had considerable vogue in its day. Her other writings—novels, translations, and a play—are now forgotten. She was befriended by Dr. Johnson.Mrs. Thrale(q.v.) said that "everybody admired Mrs. L., but nobody liked her."
LESLIE, or LESLEY, JOHN (1527-1596).—Historian, studied at Aberdeen and Paris, at the former of which he became, in 1562, Prof. of Canon Law. He was a Privy Councillor 1565, and Bishop of Ross 1566, and was the confidential friend of Queen Mary, who made him her ambassador to Queen Elizabeth. He was thrown into the Tower for his share in promoting a marriage between Mary and the Duke of Norfolk, whence being released on condition of leaving England, he went first to Paris and then to Rome, where he busied himself on behalf of his mistress. He became Vicar-General of the diocese of Rouen in 1579, andd.at the monastery of Guirtenburg near Brussels. While in England he wrote in Scots vernacular hisHistory of Scotlandfrom the death of James I. (where Boece left off) to his own time. At Rouen he rewrote and expanded it in Latin (1575), from which it was re-translated into Scots by James Dalrymple in 1596.
L'ESTRANGE, SIR ROGER (1616-1704).—Journalist and pamphleteer, youngests.of a Norfolk baronet, was probably at Camb., and in 1638 took arms for the King. Six years later he was captured, imprisoned in Newgate, and condemned to death. He, however, escaped, endeavoured to make a rising in Kent, and had to flee to Holland, where he was employed in the service of Charles II. On receiving a pardon from Cromwell he returned to England in 1653. In view of the Restoration he was active in writing on behalf of monarchy, and in 1663pub.Considerations and Proposals in order to Regulating of the Press, for which he was appointed Surveyor of Printing-Presses and Licenser of the Press, and received a grant of the sole privilege of printing public news. His first newspaper,The Intelligencer, appeared in the same year, and was followed byThe Newsand theCity Mercury, or Advertisements concerning Trade. Thereafter his life was spent in ed. newspapers and writing political pamphlets in support of the Court and against the Whigs and Dissenters. In 1685 he was knighted. His controversies repeatedly got him into trouble, and after the Revolution he lost his appointments, and was more than once imprisoned. In addition to his political writings he translatedÆsop's Fables, Seneca'sMorals, and Cicero'sOffices. HisÆsopcontains much from other authors, including himself. In his writings he was lively and vigorous but coarse and abusive.
LEVER, CHARLES JAMES (1806-1872).—Novelist,b.at Dublin, anded.at Trinity Coll. there. He studied medicine at Göttingen, and practised at various places in Ireland. In 1837 he contributed to theDublin University Magazinehis first novel,Harry Lorrequer, and the immediate and wide acceptance which it found decided him to devote himself to literature. He accordingly followed it withCharles O'Malley(1840), his most popular book. After this scarcely a year passed without an addition to the list of his light-hearted, breezy, rollicking stories, among which may be mentionedJack Hinton(1842),Tom Burke of Ours,Arthur O'Leary, andThe Dodd Family Abroad.The O'DonoghueandThe Knight of Gwynne(1847) are more in the nature of historical romances. In 1864 he contributed toBlackwood's Magazinea series of miscellaneous papers,Cornelius O'Dowd on Men, Women, and Things in General. L.'s life was largely spent abroad. After practising his profession in Brussels 1840-42 he returned to Dublin to ed. theDublin University Magazine, which he did until 1845, after which he went to Italy, settled at Florence, and thereafter was British Consul successively at Spezzia and Trieste, at the latter of which hed.He continued to produce novels up to the end of his life. Among the later ones areSir Brooke Fosbrooke,The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly, andLord Kilgobbin(1872).
LEWES, GEORGE HENRY (1817-1878).—Philosopher and miscellaneous writer,b.in London, anded.at Greenwich, and inJersey and Brittany. His early life was varied; he tried law, commerce, and medicine successively, and was then for two years in Germany, on returning from which he tried the London stage, and eventually settled down to journalism, writing for theMorning Chronicle, for thePenny Encyclopædia, and various periodicals. Thereafter he ed. theLeader(1851-54), and theFortnightly Review(which he founded) (1865-66). His articles deal with an extraordinary variety of subjects—criticism, the drama, biography, and science, both physical and mental. His chief works areThe History of Philosophy from Thales to Comte,Comte's Philosophy of the Sciences(1853),The Psychology of Common Life(1859),Studies in Animal Life(1862),Problems of Life and Mind(1873-79). L. was an exceptionally able dramatic critic, and in this department he producedActors and the Art of Acting(1875), and a book on the Spanish Drama. By far his greatest work, however, is hisLife and Works of Goethe(1855), which remains the standard English work on the subject, and which by the end of the century had, in its German translation, passed into 16 ed. He also wrote two novels,Ranthorpe(1847), andRose, Blanche, and Violet(1848), neither of which attained any success. In his writings he is frequently brilliant and original; but his education and training, whether in philosophy or biology, were not sufficiently thorough to give him a place as a master in either. L.'s life was in its latter section influenced by his irregular connection with Miss Evans ("George Eliot"), with whom he lived for the last 24 years of it, in close intellectual sympathy. To his appreciation and encouragement were largely due her taking up prose fiction.
LEWIS, SIR GEORGE CORNEWALL (1806-1863).—Scholar and statesman,s.of Sir Thomas F.L., a Radnorshire baronet, wased.at Eton and Oxf. He studied law, was called to the Bar in 1831, and entered Parliament in 1847, where his intellect and character soon gained him great influence. After serving on various important commissions and holding minor offices, he became Chancellor of the Exchequer 1855-58, Home Sec. 1859-61, and War Sec. 1861-63. His official labours did not prevent his entering into profound and laborious studies, chiefly in regard to Roman history, and the state of knowledge among the ancients. In hisInquiry into the Credibility of Ancient Roman History(1855), he combated the methods and results of Niebuhr. Other works areOn the Use and Abuse of Political Terms,Authority in Matters of Opinion,The Astronomy of the Ancients, and aDialogue on the best Form of Government. The somewhat sceptical turn of his mind led him to sift evidence minutely, and the labour involved in his wide range of severe study and his public duties no doubt shortened his valuable life.
LEWIS, MATTHEW GREGORY (1775-1818).—Novelist,s.of Matthew L., Deputy Sec. in the War Office, wased.at Westminster and Oxf. Thereafter he went to Germany. From his childhood tales of witchcraft and the supernatural had a powerful fascination for him, and in Germany he had ample opportunities for pursuing his favourite study, with the result that at the age of 20 he became the author ofThe Monk, a tale in which the supernatural and thehorrible predominate to an unprecedented extent, and from which he is known as "Monk L." The same characteristic appears in all his works, among which may be mentionedTales of Terror(1779),Tales of Wonder(to which Sir W. Scott contributed), andRomantic Tales(1808). Though affected and extravagant in his manners, L. was not wanting in kindly and generous feelings, and in fact an illness contracted on a voyage to the West Indies to inquire into and remedy some grievances of the slaves on his estates there was the cause of his death.
LEYDEN, JOHN (1775-1811).—Poet and Orientalist,b.at Denholm, Roxburghshire, gave early evidence of superior ability, and hisf., who was a shepherd, destined him for the Church. He accordingly entered the Univ. of Edin., where he had a brilliant career, showing a special aptitude for languages and natural history. In 1800 he became a licentiate of the Church, but continued his scientific and linguistic studies, and also began to write. In 1799 he hadpub.a sketch of theDiscoveries and Settlements of the Europeans in Northern and Western Africa, and he contributed to Scott'sMinstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and to "Monk" Lewis'sTales of Wonder. His enthusiasm for Oriental learning led to application being made on his behalf to Government for some situation which would make his acquirements available for the public service, but the only opening which could be obtained was that of a ship's surgeon. By extraordinary exertions L. qualified himself for this in a few months, and set sail for the East, after finishing his poem,Scenes of Infancy. Soon after his arrival at Madras his health gave way, and after some time passed in Prince of Wales Island he visited the Malay Peninsula, and some of the East Indian Islands, collecting vast stores of linguistic and ethnographical information, on which was founded his greatDissertation on the Indo-Persian, Indo-Chinese, and Dekkan Languages(1807). Soon after this L. was appointed a prof. in the Bengal Coll., and a little later a judge in Calcutta. In 1811 he accompanied the Governor-General, Lord Minto, to Java. His health, however, had been undermined by his almost super-human exertions, and immediately after landing he contracted a fever, of which hed.in three days at the early age of 36. Two Oriental works translated by him,Sejârah Malâyu(Malay Annals) andCommentaries of Baberwerepub.respectively in 1821 and 1826.
LIDDELL, HENRY GEORGE (1811-1898).—Historian, etc.Ed.at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxf., of which in 1855 he became Dean. He wrote aHistory of Ancient Rome(1855), and, along with R. Scott,pub.aGreek-English Lexicon(1843).
LIDDON, HENRY PARRY (1829-1890).—Divine,s.of a captain in the navy, wasb.at North Stoneham, Hants, anded.at King's Coll. School, London, and Oxf. He took orders 1853, was Vice-Principal of Cuddesdon Theological Coll. 1854-59, Prebendary of Salisbury 1864, and Canon of St. Paul's 1870. He was also Ireland Prof. of Exegesis at Oxf. 1870-82. In 1866 he delivered his Bampton Lectures onThe Divinity of Our Lord, and came to be recognised as one of the ablest and most eloquent representatives ofthe High Church party. His sermons in St. Paul's were among the leading features of the religious life of London. L. was an ardent protagonist in the various controversies of his time bearing upon ecclesiastical and moral questions.
LIGHTFOOT, JOSEPH BARBER (1828-1889).—Theologian and scholar,b.at Liverpool, anded.at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Camb., entered the Church, and was successively Hulsean Prof. of Divinity 1861, Chaplain to Queen Victoria 1862, member of the New Testament Company of Revisers 1870-80, Margaret Prof. of Divinity, Camb., 1875, and Bishop of Durham 1879. He was probably the greatest scholar of his day in England, especially as a grammarian and textual critic. Among his works areCommentarieson several of the minor Pauline epistles, a fragmentary work on the Apostolic Fathers,Leaders in the Northern Church(1890), andThe Apostolic Age(1892).
LILLO, GEORGE (1693-1739).—Dramatist, of Dutch descent, wasb.in London, succeeded hisf.in business as a jeweller, in which he had good speed, and devoted his leisure to the composition of plays in the line of what was known as the "domestic drama." He wrote in all seven of these, among which areThe London Merchant, or the History of George Barnewell, acted 1731,The Christian Hero(1735), andFatal Curiosity(1736). He was a friend of Fielding, who said of him that "he had the spirit of an old Roman joined to the innocence of a primitive Christian."
LINDSAY, or LYNDSAY, SIR DAVID (1490-1555).—Scottish poet and satirist,s.of David L. of Garmylton, near Haddington, wasb.either there or at The Mount in Fife, anded.at St. Andrews. Early in life he was at the Court of James IV., and on the King's death was appointed to attend on the infant James V., whose friend and counsellor he remained, though his advice was, unhappily for his country, not always given heed to. In 1529 he was knighted and made Lyon King at Arms. He was employed on various missions to the Emperor Charles V., and to Denmark, France, and England. He was always in sympathy with the people as against the nobles and the clergy, and was their poet, with his words in their mouths. He favoured the Reformers, and was one of those who urged Knox to become a preacher. He did not, however, adhere to the reformed congregation, andd.at least nominally in the Roman Church. Yet he lashed the vices of the clergy as they had never been lashed before, and only escaped their vengeance by the protection of the King, who also condoned the severities directed against himself. His latter days were spent at The Mount, where hed.His chief writings areThe Dreme, written 1528,The Complaynt to the King(1529),The Testament and Complaynt of our Soverane Lord's Papyngo(Parrot) (1530),Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Three Estaitis,A Dialogue betwixt Experience and a Courtier(1552),The Monarchy(1554), andThe History of Squyer Meldrum. L. was a true poet, gifted with fancy, humour, and a powerful satiric touch and a love of truth and justice. He had a strong influence in turning the minds of the common people in favour of the Reformation.
Worksed. by Chalmers (3 vols., 1806), and D. Laing (3 vols., 1879).
LINDSAY, or LINDESAY, ROBERT (1500?-1565?).—Historian, Laird or tenant of Pitscottie, Fife, wrote a history entitledThe Chronicles of Scotland, intended as a continuation of that of Boece. It deals with the period 1436-1515, and though often inaccurate in detail, is often vivid and quaint.
LINGARD, JOHN (1771-1851).—Historian,b.at Winchester of humble Roman Catholic parentage, was in 1782 sent to the English Coll. at Douay, whence he escaped from the revolutionaries in 1793, and returning to England, went to Crookhall Coll., near Durham, and afterwards to Ushaw. Ordained a priest in 1795, he became Vice-Pres. and Prof. of Philosophy at the latter coll. In 1806 hepub.The Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church, and while a missioner at Hornby, Lancashire, began hisHistory of England to the Accession of William and Mary(8 vols., 1819-30). In the preparation of this work L. had access to material hithertounpub., and not available for Protestant historians, such as documents in the Vatican and other Roman Catholic sources, and was consequently able to throw new light on various parts of his subject. The work was attacked by various writers from the Protestant standpoint. L. replied to his critics with the result that it is now generally admitted that the history, while in parts coloured by the theological and political point of view of the author, is generally an impartial and valuable work, and it remains a leading authority on the Reformation period viewed from the side of the enlightened Roman Catholic priesthood. This opinion is supported by the fact that the Ultramontane party among the Roman Catholics regarded the book as a dangerous one in respect of the interests of their Church.
LINTON, MRS. ELIZA LYNN (1822-1898).—Novelist and miscellaneous writer,dau.of a clergyman, settled in London in 1845, and next year produced her first novel,Azeth, the Egyptian; Amymone(1848), andRealities(1851), followed. None of these had any great success, and she then joined the staff of theMorning Chronicle, andAll the Year Round. In 1858 shem.W.J. Linton, an eminent wood-engraver, who was also a poet of some note, a writer upon his craft, and a Republican. In 1867 they separated in a friendly way, the husband going to America, and the wife devoting herself to novel-writing, in which she attained wide popularity. Her most successful works wereThe True History of Joshua Davidson(1872),Patricia Kemball(1874), andChristopher Kirkland. She was a severe critic of the "new woman."
LISTER, THOMAS HENRY (1800-1842).—Novelist,ed.at Westminster and Camb., was latterly the first Registrar-General for England and Wales. He wrote several novels, among which areGranby(1826),Herbert Lacy(1828),Arlington(1832). He was also the author of a Life of Clarendon.
LITHGOW, WILLIAM (1582-1645).—Traveller,b.at Lanark, claimed at the end of his various peregrinations to have tramped 36,000 miles on foot. Previous to 1610 he had visited Shetland, Switzerland, and Bohemia. In that year he set out for Palestine and Egypt. His next journey, 1614-16, was in Tunis and Fez; but his last, 1619-21, to Spain, ended unfortunately in his apprehensionat Malaga and torture as a spy. He gave an account of his travels inRare Adventures and Paineful Peregrinations, and wroteThe Siege of Breda,The Siege of Newcastle, andPoems.
LIVINGSTONE, DAVID (1813-1873).—Missionary explorer,b.at Blantyre, Lanarkshire, spent the years between 10 and 24 as an operative in a cotton mill there. Becoming interested in foreign missions he qualified himself, and entering the service of the London Missionary Society, set out in 1846 to South Africa. He subsequently made journeys into the interior, which ultimately developed into his great pioneering and exploration expeditions, in which he discovered Lake Ngami 1849, and the river Zambesi 1851. In 1856 he visited England,pub.hisMissionary Travels(1857), and retired from the service of the London Missionary Society. He was Consul at Quilimane 1858-64, and in 1858 commanded an expedition for exploring Eastern and Central Africa, in the course of which he discovered Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa 1859. Again visiting England hepub.his second book,The Zambesi and its Tributaries(1865). Returning to Africa he organised an expedition to the Nile basin, discovered Lake Bangweolo, explored the cannibal country, enduring terrible sufferings and dangers, from which he was rescued just in time by H.M. Stanley. His last journey was to discover the sources of the Nile, but it proved fatal, as hed.at a village in Ilala. His remains were brought home and buried in Westminster Abbey. L. was a man of indomitable courage, and of a simple nobility of character. His writings are plain, unadorned statements of his work and experiences. He ranks among the greatest explorers and philanthropists. The diary which he kept waspub.asLast Journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa(1874). His view of his duty in the circumstances in which he found himself was to be a pioneer opening up new ground, and leaving native agents to work it up.
LLOYD, ROBERT (1733-1764).—Poet,ed.at Westminster and Camb.,pub.The Actor(1760), a poem which had considerable popularity, some miscellaneous verses, and a comic opera,The Conscious Lovers(1764). He was a friend of Churchill, who showed him much kindness in his frequent misfortunes; and on hearing of C.'s death he took to bed, and soond., apparently of a broken heart.
LOCKE, DAVID Ross (PETROLEUM V. NASBY) (1833-1888).—Humorist,b.in New York State. His political satires really influenced opinion during the war. He was a printer and then a journalist, and his writings includeSwingin' round the Cirkle,Struggles of P.V. Nasby,Nasby in Exile, and two novels,A Paper CityandThe Demagogue.
LOCKE, JOHN (1632-1704).—Philosopher,s.of a landsteward, wasb.at Wrington, near Bristol, anded.at Westminster School and Oxf. In 1660 he became lecturer on Greek, in 1662 on Rhetoric, and in 1664 he went as sec. to an Embassy to Brandenburg. While a student he had turned from the subtleties of Aristotle and the schoolmen, had studied Descartes and Bacon, and becoming attracted to experimental science, studied medicine, and practised a little in Oxf. At the same time his mind had been much exercised by questions of morals and government, and in 1667 hewrote hisEssay on Toleration. In the same year he became known to Lord Ashley (afterwards 1st Earl of Shaftesbury), in whose house he went to reside. Here he made the acquaintance of Buckingham, Halifax, and other leading men of the time, and was entrusted by Ashley with the education of hiss., and afterwards of his grandson, the famous3rd Earl of Shaftesbury(q.v.). He was also employed by him to draw up a constitution for the new colony of Carolina, the provisions of which in regard to religion were regarded as too liberal and were, at the instance of the Established Church, departed from. In 1672 when Ashley became Chancellor he bestowed upon L. the office of Sec. of Presentations, and afterwards a post at the Board of Trade. In 1675 L. graduated M.B., and in the same year went for the benefit of his health, which had always been delicate, to Montpelier, where there was then a celebrated medical school, and subsequently to Paris, where he became acquainted with most of the eminent Frenchmen of the day. Recalled by Shaftesbury in 1679 he returned to England but, his patron having in 1682 been obliged to take refuge in Holland from a prosecution for high treason, he followed him there. In consequence of this he became obnoxious to the Government, and was in 1684 deprived of his studentship at Christ Church. Shaftesbury havingd.in Holland, L. remained there until the Revolution, when he returned to England in the fleet which carried the Princess of Orange. He was now in favour with Government, and had the offer of diplomatic employment which, on account of his health, he declined, but was appointed a Commissioner of Appeals. In 1698 he was an adviser of the Government on the question of the coinage, and was made a member of the newly instituted Council on Trade, which position he resigned in 1700. During his last years he lived with Sir Francis and Lady Masham at Gates in Essex, where Lady M., who was adau.ofRalph Cudworth(q.v.), and an old friend, assiduously tended his last years. The services of L. to his country in civil and religious matters were various and great; but it is upon his philosophical writings, and chiefly on hisEssay on the Human Understanding(1690) that his fame rests. It is divided into four books, of which the first treats of innate ideas (the existence of which he denies), the second traces the origin of ideas, the third deals with language, and the fourth lays down the limits of the understanding. Other works of his areThoughts concerning Education(1693),On the Conduct of the Understanding(pub.posthumously),The Reasonableness of Christianity(1695),Treatise on Government, andLetters on Toleration. If not a very profound or original philosopher L. was a calm, sensible, and reasonable writer, and his books were very influential on the English thought of his day, as well as on the French philosophy of the next century. His style is plain and clear, but lacking in brightness and variety.
Livesby Lord King (1829), and Bourne (1876).Worksed. by Prof. A.C. Fraser (1894).Seealso T.H. Green's Introduction to Hume (1874).
LOCKER-LAMPSON, FREDERICK (1821-1895).—Poet,s.of the sec. of Greenwich Hospital, held appointments in Somerset House and the Admiralty. He wrote a number of cleververs de societé,which werecoll.asLondon Lyrics(1857). He also compiledLyra Elegantiarum, an anthology of similar verse by former authors, andPatchwork, a book of extracts, and wrote an autobiography,My Confidences(1896).
LOCKHART, JOHN GIBSON (1794-1854).—Novelist and biographer,s.of a minister of the Church of Scotland of good family, wasb.at Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, anded.at Glasgow and Oxf. He studied law at Edin., and was called to the Scottish Bar in 1816, but had little taste for the profession. Having, however, already tried literature (he had translated Schlegel'sLectures on the History of Literature), he devoted himself more and more to a literary life. He joined John Wilson, and became one of the leading contributors toBlackwood's Magazine. After bringing outPeter's Letters to his Kinsfolk(1819), sketches mainly of Edinburgh society, he produced four novels,Valerius(1821),Adam Blair(1822),Reginald Dalton(1824), andMatthew Wald(1824). HisLife of Burnsappeared in 1828. He was ed. of theQuarterly Review1824-53. In 1820 he hadm.Sophia,dau.of Sir Walter Scott, which led to a close friendship with the latter, and to his writing his famousLife of Scott, undoubtedly one of the greatest biographies in the language. His later years were overshadowed with deep depression caused by the death of his wife and children. A singularly reserved and cold manner led to his being regarded with dislike by many, but his intimate friends were warmly attached to him.
LODGE, THOMAS (1558?-1625).—Poet and dramatist,s.of Sir Thomas L., Lord Mayor of London, wased.at Merchant Taylor's School and Oxf. He was a student of Lincoln's Inn, but abandoned law for literature, ultimately studied medicine, and took M.D. at Oxf. 1603; having become a Roman Catholic, he had a large practice, chiefly among his co-religionists. In 1580 hepub. A Defence of Playsin reply to Gosson'sSchool of Abuse; and he wrote poems, dramas, and romances. His principal dramatic works areThe Wounds of Civil War, and (in conjunction withGreene,q.v.)A Looking-glass for London and England. Among his romances may be mentionedEuphues' Shadow,Forbonius and Prisceria(1584), andRosalynde, Euphues' Golden Legacie(1590). His poems includeGlaucus and Scilia(1589),Phillis honoured with Pastoral Sonnets, Elegies, and Amorous Delights(1593).Rosalynde, his best known work, and the source from which Shakespeare is said to have drawnAs you like It, was written to beguile the tedium of a voyage to the Canaries.Robin the DivellandWilliam Longbeardare historical romances. L. was also a voluminous translator. He was one of the founders of the regular English drama, but his own plays are heavy and tedious. His romances, popular in their day, are sentimental and over-refined in language, but are enlivened by lyrical pieces in which he is far more successful than in his dramatic work.
LOGAN, JOHN (1748-1788).—Poet,s.of a small farmer at Soutra, Midlothian, was destined for the ministry of a small Dissenting sect to which hisf.belonged, but attached himself to the Church of Scotland, and became minister of South Leith in 1773. He read lectures on the philosophy of history in Edin., and wasthe author of a vol. of poems. He also ed. those of his friend,Michael Bruce(q.v.), in such a way, however, as to lead to a controversy, still unsettled, as to the authorship of certain of the pieces inserted. L., in fact, suppressed some of Bruce's poems and introduced others of his own. Unfortunately for the reputation of both poets the disputed authorship extends to the gem of the collection, the exquisiteOde to the Cuckoo, beginning "Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove," which Burke considered the most beautiful lyric in the language. L. fell into dissipated habits, resigned his ministerial charge, and went to London, where he took an active part in the controversy regarding the impeachment of Warren Hastings.
LONG, GEORGE (1800-1879).—Classical scholar,ed.at Camb. He was Prof. of Ancient Languages in the Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1824-28, of Greek at University Coll., London, 1828-31, and of Latin there, 1842-46. He did much for the diffusion of education, was one of the founders and sec. of the Royal Geographical Society, and ed. of thePenny Cyclopædia. He translated Marcus Aurelius (1862), andThe Discourses of Epictetus(1877), and wroteTwo Discourses on Roman Law(1847), a subject on which he was the greatest English authority.
LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH (1807-1882).—Poet, wasb.at Portland, Maine, thes.of Stephen L., a lawyer. From childhood he cared little for games, but was always devoted to reading. In 1822 he was sent to Bowdoin Coll., of which hisf.was a Trustee, and after graduating was appointed to a new Chair of Modern Languages, which the coll. had decided to establish, and with the view of more completely qualifying him for his duties, he was sent to Europe for a three years' course of study. He accordingly went to France, Spain, and Italy. Returning in 1829 he commenced his professional duties, writing also in theNorth American Review. In 1831 he entered into his first marriage, and in 1833 hepub.his first books, a translation from the Spanish, followed by the first part ofOutre Mer, an account of his travels. At the end of the year L. was invited to become Prof. of Modern Languages at Harvard, an offer which he gladly accepted. He paid a second visit to Europe accompanied by his wife, who, however,d.at Amsterdam. He returned to his duties in 1836, and in 1838 appearedVoices of the Night, containing the "Psalm of Life" and "Excelsior," which had extraordinary popularity, and gave him a place in the affections of his countrymen which he held until his death. The same year saw the publication ofHyperion. His next work wasBallads and other Poems, containing "The Wreck of the Hesperus" and "The Village Blacksmith." In 1843 hem.his second wife, and in the same year appearedThe Spanish Student, a drama. TheBelfry of BrugesandEvangeline(1847), generally considered his masterpiece, followed. In 1849 hepub.Kavanagh, a novel which added nothing to his reputation, and in 1851Seaside and Fireside, andThe Golden Legend. Having now a sufficient and secure income from his writings, he resigned his professorship, and devoted himself entirely to literature.Hiawathaappeared in 1855, andThe Courtship of Miles Standishin 1858. In 1861 he lost his wife under tragic circumstances, a blow which told heavily uponhim. His latest works were a translation of Dante'sDivina Commedia,Tales of a Wayside Inn,The New England Tragedies, andThe Divine Tragedy, the last two of which he combined withThe Golden Legendinto a trilogy, which he namedChristus. In 1868 he paid a last visit to England, where he was received with the highest honour. Later works wereThree Books of Song,Aftermath, andUltima Thule. Hed.on March 14, 1882. L. lacked the intensity of feeling and power of imagination to make him a great poet; but few poets have appealed to a wider circle of readers. If he never soars to the heights or sounds the deeps of feeling he touches the heart by appealing to universal and deep-seated affections. He was a man of noble and chivalrous character.
Livesby S. Longfellow in Riverside ed. of works (11 vols. 1886-90), Robertson (Great Writers Series), and Higginson (American Men of Letters).
LOVELACE, RICHARD (1618-1658).—Poet,b.at Woolwich,s.of Sir William L., wased.at Oxf., where he is described by Anthony Wood as "the most amiable and beautiful person that eye ever beheld." He was an enthusiastic Royalist, and spent his whole fortune in support of that cause. For presenting "the Kentish petition" in favour of the King, he was imprisoned in 1642, when he wrote his famous song,When Love with unconfinéd wings. After his release he served in the French army, and was wounded at Dunkirk. Returning, he was again imprisoned, 1648, and produced hisLucasta: Epodes, Odes, etc. He lives in literature by a few of his lyrics which, though often careless, are graceful and tender. Hed.in poverty.
LOVER, SAMUEL (1797-1868).—Song-writer and novelist, was a painter of portraits, chiefly miniatures. He produced a number of Irish songs, of which several—includingThe Angel's Whisper,Molly Bawn, andThe Four-leaved Shamrock—attained great popularity. He also wrote some novels, of whichRory O'More(in its first form a ballad), andHandy Andyare the best known, and short Irish sketches, which, with his songs, he combined into a popular entertainment calledIrish Nights. He joined with Dickens in foundingBentley's Magazine.
LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL (1819-1891).—Poet and essayist,b.at Camb., Massachusetts,s.of a Unitarian minister, wased.at Harvard. He began active life as a lawyer, but soon abandoned business, and devoted himself mainly to literature. In 1841 hepub.a vol. of poems,A Year's Life, and in 1843 a second book of verses appeared. He also wrote at this time political articles in theAtlanticandNorth American Review. In 1848 hepub.a third vol. ofPoems,A Fable for Critics,The Biglow Papers, andThe Vision of Sir Launfal; and he was in 1855 appointed Professor of Modern Languages at Harvard in succession to Longfellow.Among my Booksappeared in 2 series, in 1870 and 1876. His later poems included variousOdesin celebration of national events, some of which werecoll.inUnder the Willows,The Cathedral, andHeartsease and Rue. In 1877 he was appointed United States minister to Spain, and he held a similar appointment in England 1880-85. Hed.atElmwood, the house in which he wasb.L. was a man of singularly varied gifts, wit, humour, scholarship, and considerable poetic power, and he is the greatest critic America has yet produced. He was a strong advocate of the abolition of slavery.
LOWTH, ROBERT (1710-1787).—Theologian and scholar,s.of William L., Prebendary of Winchester, and author of aCommentary on the Prophets, wasb.at Winchester, anded.there and at Oxf. Entering the Church he became Bishop successively of St. David's, Oxf., and London. In 1753 hepub.De Sacra Poesi Hebræorum. He also wrote aLife of William of Wykeham, the founder of Winchester Coll., and made a new translation of Isaiah.
LYDGATE, JOHN (1370?-1451?).—Poet,b.in Suffolk, was ordained a priest in 1397. After studying at Oxf., Paris, and Padua, he taught literature in his monastery at Bury St. Edmunds. He appears to have been a bright, clear-minded, earnest man, with a love of the beautiful, and a faculty of pleasant, flowing verse. He wrote copiously and with tiresome prolixity whatever was required of him, moral tales, legends of the saints, and histories, and his total output is enormous, reaching 130,000 lines. His chief works areTroy Book(1412-20), written at the request of Henry V. when Prince of Wales,The Falls of Princes(1430-38), andThe Story of Thebes(c.1420). These books were firstprintedin 1513, 1494, andc.1500 respectively. L. also wrote many miscellaneous poems. He was for a time Court poet, and was patronised by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester; but the greater part of his life was spent in the monastery at Bury St. Edmunds. He was an avowed admirer of Chaucer, though he largely follows the French romancists previous to him.
LYELL, SIR CHARLES (1797-1875).—Geologist and writer,s.of Charles L., of Kinnordy, Forfarshire (a distinguished botanist and student of Dante), was brought up near the New Forest. After going to school at various places in England, he was sent to Oxf., where under Buckland he imbibed a taste for science. He studied law, and was called to the Bar, but soon devoted himself to geology, and made various scientific tours on the Continent, the results of his investigations beingpub.chiefly in the Transactions of the Geological Society, of which he was afterwards repeatedly Pres. His two chief works areThe Principles of Geology(1830-33), andThe Elements of Geology(1838). In these books he combated the necessity of stupendous convulsions, and maintained that the greatest geologic changes might be produced by remote causes still in operation. He alsopub., among other works,Geological Evidence of the Antiquity of Man(1863). He was Prof. of Geology in King's Coll., London, 1831-33, Pres. of the British Association 1864, knighted in 1848, andcr.a Baronet in 1864. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. In his later years he was generally recognised as the greatest of living geologists.
LYLY, JOHN (1554?-1606).—Dramatist and miscellaneous writer, wasb.in the Weald of Kent, anded.at both Oxf. and Camb. He wrote several dramas, most of which are on classical and mythological subjects, includingCampaspeandSapho and Phao(1584),Endymion(1591), andMidas(1592). His chief fame,however, rests on his two didactic romances,Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit(1579), andEuphues and his England(1580). These works, which were largely inspired by Ascham'sToxophilus, and had the same objects in view, viz., the reform of education and manners, exercised a powerful, though temporary, influence on the language, both written and spoken, commemorated in our words "euphuism" and "euphuistic." The characteristics of the style have been set forth as "pedantic and far-fetched allusion, elaborate indirectness, a cloying smoothness and drowsy monotony of diction, alliteration, punning, and such-like puerilities, which do not, however, exclude a good deal of wit, fancy, and prettiness." Many contemporary authors, including Shakespeare, made game of it, while others,e.g.Greene, admired and practised it. L. also wrote light dramatic pieces for the children of the Chapel Royal, and contributed a pamphlet,Pappe with an Hatchet(1589) to the Mar-prelate controversy in which he supported the Bishops. He sat in Parliament for some years.