Chapter Carruthers to Caxton of C by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Carruthers to Caxton

Carruthers, Robert (1799-1878).—Journalist and miscellaneous writer, born in Dumfriesshire, was for a time a teacher in Huntingdon, and wrote a History of Huntingdon (1824). In 1828 he became editor of the Inverness Courier, which he conducted with great ability. He edited Pope’s works with a memoir (1853), and along with Robert Chambers (q.v.) edited the first edition of Chambers’s Cyclopædia of English Literature (1842-44). He received the degree of LL.D. from Edinburgh

Carte, Thomas (1686-1754).—Historian, born near Rugby, and educated at Oxford, took orders, but resigned his benefice at Bath when required to take the oath of allegiance to George I. He was secretrayto Francis Atterbury (q.v.), and was involved in the consequences of his conspiracy, but escaped to France, where he remained until 1728. After his return he published a life of the Duke of Ormonde (1736), and a History of England to 1654 in 4 vols. (1747-54), the latter a work of great research, though dry and unattractive in style.

Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806).—Miscellaneous writer, born at Deal, daughter of a clergyman. Originally backward, she applied herself to study with such perseverance that she became perhaps the most learned Englishwoman of her time, being mistress of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic, besides several modern European languages. She was also well read in science. She translated Epictetus 1758, and wrote a small vol. of poems. She was the friend of Dr. Johnson and many other eminent men. She was of agreeable and unassuming manners.

Cartwright, William (1611-1643).—Dramatist, son of a gentleman of Gloucestershire, who had run through his fortune and kept an inn at Cirencester, educated at Westminster School and Oxford, entered the Church, was a zealous Royalist, and an eloquent preacher, and lecturer in metaphysics. He also wrote spirited lyrics and four plays. He was the friend of Ben Jonson, H. Vaughan, and Izaak Walton. He died at Oxford of camp fever. Among his plays are The Royal Slave, The Siege, and The Lady Errant. His virtues, learning, and charming manners made him highly popular in his day.

Cary, Alice (1820-1871), and Phœbe (1824-1871).—Were the daughter of a farmer near Cincinnati. The former wrote Clovernook Papers and Clovernook Children, and other tales, and some poems. The latter wrote poems and hymns. Both sisters attained considerable popularity.

Cary, Henry Francis (1772-1844).—Translator, was born at Gibraltar, and educated at Oxford, where he was distinguished for his classical attainments. His great work is his translation of the Divina Commedia of Dante (1805-1814), which is not only faithful to the original, but full of poetic fire, and rendered into such fine English as to be itself literature apart from its merits as a translation. He also translated from the Greek. Cary, who was a clergyman, received a pension in 1841.

Catlin, George (1796-1872).—Painter and writer, born at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, practised for some time as a lawyer, but yielding to his artistic instincts he took to painting. He spent the 7 years, 1832-39, among the Indians of North America, of whom he painted about 500 portraits. He became thoroughly acquainted with their life, and published an interesting work, Illustrations of the Manners, etc., of the North American Indians (1857). His later years were spent chiefly in Europe.

Cave, Edward (1691-1754).—Publisher, born near Rugby, started in 1731 The Gentleman’s Magazine, for which Dr. Johnson was parliamentary reporter from 1740. He published many of Johnson’s works.

Cavendish, George (1500-1561).—Biographer, was Gentleman Usher to Cardinal Wolsey, to whom he was so much attached that he followed him in his disgrace, and continued to serve him until his death. He left in MS. a life of his patron, which is the first separate biography in English, and is the main original authority of the period. Admitting Wolsey’s faults, it nevertheless presents him in an attractive light. The simple yet eloquent style gives it a high place as a biography.

Caxton, William (1422-1491).—Printer and translator, born in the Weald of Kent, was apprenticed to a London mercer. On his master’s death in 1441 he went to Bruges, and lived there and in various other places in the Low Countries for over 30 years, engaged apparently as head of an association of English