Chapter Crashaw to Crowe of C by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Crashaw to Crowe

Crashaw, Richard (1613?-1649).—Poet, son of William Crashaw, a Puritan divine, was born in London, and educated at Charterhouse and Cambridge, where he became a Fellow of Peterhouse, from which, however, he was, in 1643, ejected for refusing to take the Solemn League and Covenant. Thereafter he went to France, and joined the Roman communion. He suffered great straits, being almost reduced to starvation, but was, through the influence of Queen Henrietta Maria, appointed secretray to Cardinal Palotta. About 1649 he went to Italy, and in the following year became a canon of the Church of Loretto. He died the same year. Crashaw is said to have been an eloquent preacher, and was a scholar as well as a poet of a high order in the ecstatic and transcendental style. His chief work is Steps to the Temple (1646), consisting mainly of religious poems somewhat in the style of Herbert; his Weeping of the Magdalen is full of the most extravagant conceits, a fondness for which is, indeed, his besetting sin as a poet. His friend Cowley commemorated him in a beautiful ode.

Crawford, Francis Marion (1854-1909).—Novelist and historian, son of Thomas Crawford, an American sculptor, born at Bagni di Lucca, Italy, and educated in America, at Cambridge, and in Germany, he went to India and edited The Indian Herald (1879-80). Thereafter he settled in Italy, living chiefly at Sorrento, and becoming a Roman Catholic. His principal historical works are Ave Roma Immortalis (1898), The Rulers of the South (reprinted as Sicily, Calabria, and Malta, 1904), and Venetian Gleanings (1905), but his reputation rests mainly on his novels, of which he wrote between 30 and 40, the best known of which are perhaps Mr. Isaacs (1882), Dr. Claudius (1883), A Roman Singer (1884), Marzio’s Crucifix (1887), Saracinesca (1887), A Cigarette-maker’s Romance (1890), generally considered his masterpiece, Don Orsino (1892), Pietro Ghisleri (1893), and The Heart of Rome (1903). His one play is Francesca da Rimini. His novels are all interesting, and written in a style of decided distinction. His historical works, though full of information, lack spirit.

Creasy, Sir Edward Shepherd (1812-1878).—Historian, educated at Eton and Cambridge, and called to the Bar in 1837, he became in 1840 Professor of History, London University, and in 1860 Chief Justice of Ceylon, when he was knighted. His best known contribution to literature is his Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World (1852). Other works are Historical and Critical Account of the Several Invasions of England (1852), History of the Ottoman Turks, and Imperial and Colonial Institutions of the British Empire (1872).

Creech, Thomas (1659-1700).—Translator, born near Sherborne, educated at Oxford, became Head Master of Sherborne School. He translated Lucretius in verse (1682), for which he received a Fellowship at Oxford, also Horace, Theocritus, and other classics. Owing to a disappointment in love and pecuniary difficulties he hanged himself.

Creighton, Mandell (1843-1901).—Churchman and historian, born at Carlisle, and educated at Durham Grammar School and Merton Coll., Oxford, he took orders, and was presented to the living of Embleton, Northumberland, in 1875, where, in addition to zealous discharge of pastoral duties, he pursued the historical studies on the results of which his reputation chiefly rests. In 1882 the first two vols. of his History of the Papacy appeared, followed by two more in 1887, and a fifth in 1894. In 1884 he was appointed first Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge He edited the English Historical Review (1886-91). In 1891, after having held canonries at Worcester and Windsor, he became Bishop of Peterborough, from which he was in 1897 translated to London. His duties as Bishop of London made the completion of his great historical work an impossibility. He wrote in addition to it various text-books on history, a life of Queen Elizabeth, a memoir of Sir George Grey, and many articles and reviews. He was recognised as a leading authority on the department of history to which he had specially devoted himself, and he made his mark as a Churchman.

Croker, John Wilson (1780-1857).—Politician and miscellaneous writer, Editor at Trinity Coll., Dublin, he entered Parliament as a Tory, and was appointed to various offices, including the Secretaryship of the Admiralty, which he held for 20 years. He was one of the founders of the Quarterly Review, and wrote some of its most violent political articles and reviews. He published in 1831 and edition of Boswell’s Life of Johnson. He also wrote some historical essays and satirical pieces.