Modern English biography

_Musical Times 1 April 1876 p._ 427. PYCROFT, GEORGE. _b._ Corsham, Somerset 1819; M.R.C.S. Eng. and F.S.A. 1842; a surgeon at Kenton, Exeter from 1844–90; one of the starters of the volunteer movement 1852; hon. surgeon major of the 1 Devon artillery volunteers 7 Dec. 1865 to 1 Oct. 1877, surgeon major 1887; a promoter of the art department of the Bath and West of England soc.; a popular lecturer; a founder of the Devonshire Association 1862; F.G.S.; author of Art in Devonshire, with the biographies of artists, Exeter 1883; Short biographies of Devonshire artists 1885; Memoir of Samuel Cousins 1887; resided 2 Camborne terrace, Richmond, Surrey from 1890. _d._ Willesley, Torquay 23 March 1894. _bur._ Mamhead 27 March. _Report and Trans. Devonshire association_ (1894) 49–50. PYCROFT, JAMES (2 son of Thomas Pycroft of Pickwick, Wiltshire, barrister). _b._ Geyers House, Wiltshire 1813; educ. Trin. coll. Oxf., B.A. 1836; played at Lord’s 23 and 24 June 1836 in the third cricket match Oxford v. Cambridge; student of Lincoln’s inn 1836; ordained deacon 1840; second master of collegiate school at Leicester 1840; C. of Clardstock, Dorset 1845; P.C. of St. Mary Magdalen, Barnstaple 1845–56; resided at Bathwick, Bath; member of the Lansdown cricket club; edited Valpy’s Virgil improved 1846; W. Enfield’s The Speaker 1851; author of Principles of scientific batting 1835; A course of English reading adapted to every taste and capacity 1844, 4 ed. 1861; The collegian’s guide, or recollections of college days. By the Rev. ****, ******, M.A.,---- college, Oxford 1845, 2 ed. 1858; The cricket field, or the history and the science of cricket 1851, 9 ed. 1887; Twenty years in the church: an autobiography 1859, and a second part entitled Elkerton rectory 1860; Agony point: or the groans of gentility, 2 vols. 1861, 2 ed. 1862; Dragon’s teeth, a novel, 2 vols. 1863; Oxford memoirs: a retrospect after fifty years, 2 vols. 1886. _d._ Dudley mansion, Lansdowne place, Brighton 10 March 1895. _Church of England photographic portrait gallery_ (1860), _part xlvii_, _portrait_; _Wisden’s Cricketers’ almanack_ (1892) _pp. xlix, l_; _Times 13 March 1895 p._ 10. PYCROFT, SIR THOMAS (brother of the preceding). _b._ 1807; educ. Bath gr. sch.; matric. from Trin. coll. Oxf. 13 May 1826, exhibitioner there 1826–8; hon. M.A. 1829; writer Madras civil service 1828; sub-secretary to board of revenue 1843–4, secretary 1845–50; secretary to the government in revenue department 1850, chief secretary 1855–62; member of council of the governor of Madras 1862, retired on annuity 25 Oct. 1867; K.C.S.I. 24 May 1866; was the first of the competition wallahs, being the first man appointed to the Indian civil service on the result of a competitive examination. _d._ Folkestone 29 Jany. 1892. PYE, CHARLES (eld. son of Charles Pye of Birmingham, author of works on provincial coins and tokens). _b._ 1777; pupil of James Heath, the engraver; a good line engraver, chiefly of small book illustrations; illustrated Mrs. Inchbald’s British theatre, 25 vols. 1806–9; Walker’s Effigies poetica 1822, and Physiognomical portraits 1824; engraved a view of Brereton Hall after P. de Wint 1818, a portrait of Robert Owen after M. Heming 1823, and a Holy family after Michael Angelo 1825. _d._ Leamington 14 Dec. 1864. PYE, JOHN (2 son of Charles Pye). _b._ Birmingham 7 Nov. 1782; paid assistant to James Heath, the engraver, in London 1801; engraved many plates after Turner, which placed him at the head of his profession; engraved all the head pieces in the Royal repository or picturesque pocket diary 1817–39, Le Souvian or pocket tablet 1822–43, and Peacock’s polite repository 1813–58; exhibited 4 engravings at Suffolk st. gallery 1824–9; published a series of 29 engravings from pictures in the National Gallery, three of these were by himself 1830–40; retired 1858; chief founder of the Artists’ annuity fund, which received a royal charter 1827; a corresponding member of the Académie des beaux arts 1862; formed a fine collection of impression of Turner’s Liber studiorum, which is in the print-room of the British Museum; author of Patronage of British art, a sketch 1845; A glance at the rise and constitution of the royal academy of arts, London 1851; Notes respecting the Liber studiorum of J. M. W. Turner 1879. _d._ 17 Gloucester terrace, Regent’s park, London 6 Feb. 1874. _I.L.N. lxiv_ 185, 186 (1874) _portrait_. PYKE, HUGH. _b._ about 1774; law stationer at 87 Chancery lane, London and proprietor of the Law and Clerical agency establishment 1811–57. _d._ in a London workhouse 31 July 1858. NOTE.--His only son Henry Hugh Pyke _b._ 1809, barrister G.I. 24 Jany. 1838, was disbarred and expelled by the benchers 11 Dec. 1844, this decision was affirmed by 11 of the judges 9 June 1845. PYM, EDWARD LAWES. _b._ 23 March 1824; 2 lieut. R.M. 21 Aug. 1843, lieut. col. 24 Jany. 1873, col. commandant 25 Dec. 1877; M.G. 4 June 1879, general 22 June 1887; placed on retired list 23 March 1889; served in China 1858–60, at capture of Canton 5 Jany. 1858, and subsequently commanded the English constabulary in Canton. _d._ 44 Nevern sq. Earl’s Court, London 6 April 1892. _bur._ Brompton cemet. 9 April. NOTE.--He was tried at Hampshire assizes 6 March 1846 for being accessory to the murder of James Alexander Seaton, late of the 11th Hussars, who fought a duel with lieut. H. C. M. Hawkey of the R.M. on the shore near Gosport 21 May 1845 and _died_ on 2 June. Pym was found not guilty. PYM, HORATIO NOBLE. Solicitor at 6 Victoria st. Westminster 1867; member of firm of Tathams, Curling and Pym 3 Frederick’s place, Old Jewry, London 1870 to death; had an extensive practice as a confidential solicitor; possessed a fine library at Brasted, near Sevenoaks; among his friends were Robert Browning, Wilkie Collins, W. B. Richmond, R.A., James Payn, Andrew Lang and Corney Grain; a very perfect raconteur; edited Memories of old friends, being extracts from the journals and letters of Caroline Fox of Pengerrick, Cornwall from 1835 to 1871, 1882; Excerpts from the Diary of Samuel Pepys 1889; author of Odd and ends at Foxwold 1887; A tour round my bookshelves