Chapter Cherry to Cibber of C by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Cherry to Cibber

Cherry, Andrew (1762-1812).—Dramatist, son of a bookseller at Limerick, was a successful actor, and managed theatres in the provinces. He also wrote some plays, of which The Soldier’s Daughter is the best. His chief claim to remembrance rests on his three songs, The Bay of Biscay, The Green Little Shamrock, and Tom Moody.

Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of (1694-1773).—Statesman and letter-writer, was the eldest son of the 3rd Earl. After being at Trinity Coll., Cambridge, he sat in the House of Commons until his accession to the peerage in 1726. He filled many high offices, including those of Ambassador to Holland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and secretray of State. He was distinguished for his wit, conversational powers, and grace of manner. His place in literature is fixed by his well-known Letters addressed to his natural son, Philip Dormer Stanhope. Though brilliant, and full of shrewdness and knowledge of the world, they reflect the low tone of morals prevalent in the age when they were written. He was the recipient of Johnson’s famous letter as to his “patronage.”

Chettle, Henry (1565-1607?).—Dramatist. Very little is known of him. He edited R. Greene’s Groat’s- worth of Wit (1592), is believed to have written 13 and collaborated in 35 plays. He also wrote two satires, Kind Harts Dreame (1593), and Pierre Plainnes Prentship (1595). He was imprisoned for debt 1599.

Among his own plays, which have considerable merit, is Hoffmann, which has been reprinted, and he had a hand in Patient Grissill (1603) (which may have influenced Shakespeare in the Merry Wives of Windsor), The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green, and Jane Shore.

Child, Francis J. (1825-1896).—English scholar, born at Boston, Mass., was a professor at Harvard, one of the foremost students of early English, and especially of ancient ballads in America. He edited the American edition of English Poets in 130 vols., and English and Scottish Ballads. He was also a profound student of Chaucer, and published Observations on the Language of Chaucer, and Observations on the Language of Gower’s Confessio Amantis.

Child, Mrs. Lydia Maria (Francis) (1802-1880).—w as the author of many once popular tales, Hobomok, The Rebels, Philothes, etc.

Chillingworth, William (1602-1644).—Theologian and controversialist, born and educated at Oxford, was god-son of Archbishop Laud. Falling into theological doubts he subsequently became a convert to Roman Catholicism, and studied at the Jesuit College at Douay, 1630. In the following year he returned to Oxford, and after further consideration of the points at issue, he rejoined the Church of England, 1634. This exposed him to violent attacks on the part of the Romanists, in reply to which he published in 1637 his famous polemic, The Religion of the Protestants a Safe Way to Salvation, characterised by clear style and logical reasoning. For a time he refused ecclesiastical preferment, but ultimately his scruples were overcome, and he became Prebendary and Chancellor of Salisbury. Chillingworth is regarded as one of the ablest controversialists of the Anglican Church.

Church, Richard William (1815-1890).—Divine, historian, and biographer, was born at Lisbon, and educated at Oxford, where he became a friend of J. H. Newman (q.v.). He took orders, and became Rector of Whatley, Somerset, and in 1871 Dean of St. Paul’s. He was a leading member of the High Church party, but was held in reverence by many who did not sympathise with his ecclesiastical views. Among his writings are The Beginning of the Middle Ages (1877), and a memoir on The Oxford Movement (1891), published posthumously. He also wrote Lives of Anselm, Dante, Spenser, and Bacon.

Churchill, Charles (1731-1764).—Satirist, son of a clergyman, was educated at Westminster School, and while still a school-boy made a clandestine marriage. He entered the Church, and on the death of his flourished in 1758 succeeded him in the curacy and lecture-ship of St. John’s, Westminster. In 1761 he published the Rosciad, in which he severely satirised the players and managers of the day. It at once brought him both fame and money; but he fell into dissipated habits, separated from his wife, and outraged the proprieties of his profession to such an extent that he was compelled to resign his preferments. He also incurred the enmity of those whom he had attacked, which led to the publication