Modern English biography, volume 1 (of 4), A-H by Frederic Boase

(1882). BIRTWHISTLE, JOHN. Ensign 32 Foot 14 April 1813; major 19 Jany. 1839 to 12 March 1841 when placed on h.p; M.G. 28 Aug. 1865. _d._ Cheltenham 6 Oct. 1867 aged 75. BISHOP, ANNE (_dau. of Daniel Riviére of London, artist_). _b._ London 1814; student at Royal academy of music June 1824 to June 1828; a singer at Philharmonic concerts 1831; one of chief singers at Vauxhall gardens, the Oratorio concerts and country festivals; went abroad with R. N. C. Bochsa the harpist 1839; sang at 260 concerts in chief cities of Europe Sept. 1839 to May 1843; sang with great success at St. Petersburg 1840–41 and in Italy 1843–46; appeared in 20 operas at the San Carlo, Naples; went to America 1846 where she appeared at Park theatre New York 4 Aug. 1847 as Linda; went to Australia 1855; sang at the Crystal palace London 1858; gave her farewell concert at Surrey music hall 17 Aug. 1859; sang in Canada, Mexico and Havana 1859–65; went to California 1865; wrecked on her way from Honolulu to China Feb. 1866; arrived in India 1867; sang in Australia 1868; re-appeared at Steinway hall New York Jany. 1881. (_m._ (1) 1832 Sir Henry Rowley Bishop 1786–1855. _m._ (2) at New York 30 April 1858, Martin Schultz). _d._ New York 18 March 1884. _Drawing room portrait gallery of eminent personages, third series_ 1860, _portrait_; _N. P. Willis’s Hurry-graphs, 2 ed._ (1851) 200–203. BISHOP, REV. DANIEL GODFREY. Head master of Buntingford gr. sch. Herts. 1841–74; V. of Tibshelf near Alfreton, Derbyshire 1874 to death; author of numerous articles upon biblical criticism, classical literature, and general biography in _Penny Cyclopædia_. _d._ Briston vicarage, Norfolk 14 April 1880 in 86 year. BISHOP, REV. FRANCIS. _b._ Dorchester 27 July 1813; Unitarian minister at Cheltenham 1840, at Warrington 1841, at George’s meeting Exeter 1844–47, at Liverpool 1847–56, at Manchester 1856–58 and at Chesterfield 1858 to death; edited _The Christian Investigator_; author of _The atonement, or God’s way of speaking and man’s way of speaking_ 1843. _d._ Chesterfield 5 Aug. 1869. _The Inquirer_ (1869) 533. BISHOP, GEORGE. _b._ Leicester 21 Aug. 1785; a maker of British wines in London, being the largest maker in England; erected an observatory at South Villa, Regent’s Park 1836 where 11 planets were discovered 1847–54, after his death the dome and the instruments were removed by his son George Bishop to his house at Twickenham; F.R.A.S. 1830, sec. 1833–39, treasurer 1840–57, pres. 1857–59; F.R.S. 9 June 1848; published in 1852 _Astronomical observations during the years 1839–51_. _d._ South villa, Regent’s Park, London 14 June 1861. _Monthly notices of Royal Astronomical Soc. xxii_, 104–106 (1862). BISHOP, SIR HENRY ROWLEY (_son of Mr. Bishop of London, Watchmaker_). _b._ Great Portland st. London 18 Nov. 1786; pupil of Francesco Bianchi the composer; composer of ballet music at Italian opera house 1806; produced his opera of _The Circassian bride_ at Drury Lane theatre 23 Feb. 1809, theatre was burnt down the next night; musical director and composer at Covent Garden theatre 1810–23, where he produced 50 musical dramas; director of music at King’s theatre, Haymarket 1816–17; received freedom of city of Dublin 2 Aug. 1820; composer at Drury Lane theatre 1825–28; musical director of Vauxhall gardens 1830–33; director of Her Majesty’s concerts of ancient music 1840–48; Reid professor of Music in Univ. of Edin. Nov. 1841 to Dec. 1843; knighted at St. James’s palace 1 June 1842, being the first musician who ever received that honour; professor of music in Univ. of Ox. Jany. 1848 to death; Mus. Bac. Ox. 1848, Mus. Doc. 1853; author of many songs and glees, best known being _Bid me discourse_, _Should he upbraid_, _The winds whistle cold_, _My pretty Jane_, _Mynheer Van Dunck_ and of the trio and chorus _The chough and crow_. _d._ 13 Cambridge st. Edgware road, London 30 April 1855. _I.L.N. xix_, 669–70 (1851), _portrait_; _Charles Mackay’s Forty years recollections ii_, 165–217 (1877); _Illust. news of the world iv_, 381 (1859), _portrait_. BISHOP, JAMES. _b._ Trowbridge, Wiltshire 1793; a cloth worker 1813; partner with Atkins and Gillman, proprietors of a menagery which became a formidable opponent to George Wombwell’s menagery; attended all the great fairs in England; proprietor of various exhibitions; father of 20 children; the oldest showman in England. _d._ Plymouth 19 Feb. 1881. BISHOP, JOHN (_4 son of Samuel Bishop of Pimperne, Dorset_). _b._ 15 Sep. 1797; studied at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; M.R.C.S. 1824, F.R.C.S. 1843, member of council 1851, Hunterian orator 1859; member of Medical society of London 1839, councillor, trustee, orator and Lettsomian lecturer successively, and pres. 1852; F.R.S. 9 May 1844; very successful in treatment of impediments of speech; author of _On articulate sounds and on the causes and cure of impediments of speech_ 1851; _Researches into the pathology and treatment of deformities in the human body_ 1852; _The Lettsomian lectures on Bones_ 1855; _On the construction of hearing and speaking instruments_ 1856. _d._ Strangeways-Marshall, Dorset 29 Sep. 1873. _Proc. of royal society xxi_, 5–6 (1873); _British medical journal ii_, 450 (1873). BISHOP, WILLIAM. Agent at 170 New Bond st. London for Westley Richards the gunmaker 1820 to death; brought into public notice by Vincent Dowling, who rarely wrote a report of a prize fight without bringing him on the scene; got the Dog Stealers act passed which is known as Bishop’s act; well known in London as “the Bishop of Bond st.” _d._ 170 New Bond st. 16 March 1871 in 74 year. _Illust. sporting news ii_, 164 (1863), _portrait_. BISSET, REV. JAMES (_2 son of George Bisset of Udny, Aberdeenshire, schoolmaster who d. 1812_). _b._ Udny 20 April 1795; ed. at Marischal coll. and Univ. of Aberdeen; kept a school at Udny 1812–25 which became celebrated; licensed by presbytery of Ellon 31 March 1819; minister of parish of Bourtie, Aberdeenshire June 1825 to death; ordained 19 April 1826; D.D. Aberdeen 23 Feb. 1850; moderator of general assembly 22 May 1862. _d._ Bourtie 8 Sep. 1872. BISSET, SIR JOHN. _b._ Perth 1777; commissary general 31 July 1811 to 1819 when placed on h.p.; served through Peninsular war; K.C.H. 1832; knighted at St. James’s Palace 6 Nov. 1832; K.C.B. 16 Aug. 1850; granted pension of £550; author of _Memoranda regarding the duties of the Commissariat on field service abroad_ 1846. _d._ Perth 3 April 1854. BISSHOPP, CECIL (_son of Harry Bisshopp, colonel in the army_). Cornet 14 Dragoons 10 Dec. 1799; major 11 Foot 6 Sep. 1834 to 17 May 1844 when placed on h.p.; M.G. 11 Nov. 1851; colonel 16 Foot 16 May 1857 to death; C.B. 26 Dec. 1818. _d._ Stoke, Plymouth 21 March 1858. BISSHOPP, SIR EDWARD CECIL, 11 Baronet. _b._ 23 Feb. 1826; succeeded 15 Dec. 1865. _d._ 27 Jany. 1870. BISSHOPP, SIR GEORGE CURZON, 10 Baronet. _b._ 10 April 1823; succeeded 23 Jany. 1849. _d._ Parham park near Hastings 15 Dec. 1865. BISSON, EDWARD LEONARD (_son of Rev. Amias Bisson, R. of St. Laurens, Jersey_). _b._ St. Laurens 1797; jurat or judge of the royal court Jersey 1832 to death; lieutenant bailiff 1839 to death. _d._ St. Heliers, Jersey 1 April 1884 in 88 year. BLAAUW, WILLIAM HENRY (_only son of Wm. Blaauw of Beechland, Newick, Sussex 1748–1808_). _b._ Queen Anne st. London 25 May 1793; ed. at Eton and Ch. Ch. Ox., B.A. 1815, M.A. 1818; chief founder of Sussex Archæological Society 18 June 1846, sec. 1846–58, edited Society’s Collections 1846–56; elected F.S.A. 30 May 1850, admitted 27 Feb. 1851; member of council of Camden Society 1848–65, treasurer 1861–65; sheriff of Sussex 1859; author of _The barons’ war, including the battles of Lewes and Evesham_ 1844, _2 ed._ 1871. _d._ Beechland 26 April 1870. _Sussex Archæological Collections xxii_, 9–11 (1870), _portrait_. BLACHFORD, AUGUSTUS GEORGE. Ensign 24 Foot 12 Nov. 1825; lieut. col. 30 March 1858 to 9 March 1860 when he retired on full pay with hon. rank of major general. _d._ Sheringham near Cromer 13 Nov. 1884 aged 78. BLACHFORD, JOHN. _b._ 1790; solicitor in City of London 1818 to death; head of firm of Blachford, Riches and Wood of 25 Abchurch lane to death; vestry clerk of parish of St. James Aldgate 40 years. _d._ 4 Jany. 1886. BLACHLEY, HENRY. 2 Lieutenant R.A. 10 Aug. 1804; lieut. col. 23 Nov. 1841 to 4 April 1843 when he retired on full pay; L.G. 27 Feb.