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

BLACK, ADAM (_son of Charles Black of Edinburgh, builder_). _b._ Charles st. Edin. 20 Feb. 1784; ed. at high sch. Edin.; opened a bookseller’s shop at 57 North bridge, Edin. 1808; published _Edinburgh Review_ 1827 to death, and _Encyclopædia Britannica_, _7 ed. 22 vols._ 1830–42, _8 ed. 22 vols._ 1853–61, wrote many articles in it; master of the Merchant Company Edin. 1831; a member of the town council 1832; lord provost 1843–48; pres. of Philosophical Institution 1845; bought works of Sir Walter Scott on behalf of an association of 60 persons for £27,000 March 1851; M.P. for Edinburgh 9 Feb. 1856 to 6 July 1865; retired from business 1865. _d._ 38 Drummond place, Edin. 24 Jany. 1874. A bronze memorial statue of him in East Prince’s st. gardens was unveiled 3 Nov. 1877. A fine portrait of him by Sir J. W. Gordon is in the council room Edinburgh. _Life of A. Black by A. Nicolson_ 1885; _Crombie’s Modern Athenians_ (1882) 179–83, _portrait_; _Proc. of Royal Soc. of Edin. viii_, 467 (1865). BLACK, REV. ALEXANDER (_son of John Black of Aberdeen, gardener_). _b._ Aberdeen 1789; ed. at Aberdeen gr. sch. and Marischal college, B.A. 1807, D.D. May 1824; licensed by presbytery of Aberdeen 9 Feb. 1814; minister of Tarves Nov. 1817 to 27 June 1832; ordained 1 April 1818; professor of divinity in Marischal college Aberdeen April 1832 to 1843 when he joined the Free church at the Disruption; sent to the East to make enquiries as to expediency of beginning a mission to the Jews 1839; professor of exegetical theology in New college Edinburgh about 1844–1856. _d._ Edinburgh 24 or 27 Jany. 1864 in 75 year. BLACK, JAMES. _b._ Scotland 1787; L.R.C.S. Edin. 1808; assistant surgeon R.N. 1809; practised at Bolton to 1839 and 1848–56, at Manchester 1839–48, and at Edin. 1856 to death; M.D. Glasgow 1820, L.R.C.S. Eng. 1823, F.R.C.P. 1860; an original member of British Association 1831; pres. of British medical association 1842; pres. of Provincial medical association 1853; pres. of Manchester Geological Society; F.G.S. 1838, F.G.S. of France 1848; F.R.S. Edin. 1857; author of _An inquiry into the capillary circulation of the blood_ 1825; _A comparative view of the more intimate nature of fever_ 1826; _A manual of the bowels_ 1840; _A medico-topographical, geological and statistical sketch of Bolton and its neighbourhood_, a paper of 100 pages in the _Transactions of Provincial medical and surgical association_. _d._ 2 George sq. Edin. 30 April 1867 in 80 year. _Proc. of Royal Society of Edin. vi_, 188 (1869). BLACK, JOHN (_only son of Ebenezer Black of Burnhouses near Dunse, Berwickshire, farm labourer_). _b._ Burnhouses 1783; articled to a writer at Dunse 1796–1800; clerk in an accountant’s office Edinburgh; engaged on the _Morning Chronicle_ daily paper in London 1810, principal editor 1819–44; fought a harmless duel with John Arthur Roebuck, M.P. 19 Nov. 1835; sold his library of 30,000 volumes 1844; translated Humboldt’s _Political essay on the kingdom of New Spain 4 vols._ 1811–12 and other books. _d._ Birling, Kent 15 June 1855. _C. Mackay’s Forty years’ recollections i_, 70–95, _ii_, 177–78; _I.L.N. xxvii_, 13–14 (1855), _portrait_. BLACK, JOHN. _b._ Glenrinnes, Upper Banff 1834; professor of humanity in University of Aberdeen 1868 to death. _d._ at his college residence Old Aberdeen 17 Nov. 1881. BLACK, NEIL (_son of Archibald Black of Cowal Argyleshire, sheep farmer_). _b._ Cowal 1804; sailed for Adelaide April 1839; bought a station near Glenormiston, Victoria; bought the Sisters station; his annual sales of cattle attracted buyers from all parts of Australia; member of legislative council of Victoria for the Western province 1856 to death. _d._ Mount Noorat, Victoria 15 May