Chapter Kingsley to Kyd of K by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Kingsley to Kyd

Kingsley, Mary Henrietta (1862-1900).—Traveller, daughter of George Henry Kingsley (himself a traveller, and author of South Sea Bubbles, a very successful book), and niece of Charles Kingsley (q.v.). She travelled in West Africa, where she made valuable observations and collections. Her Travels in West Africa is one of the most original and stimulating books of its class. Miss Kingsley had a singular power of viewing the religious rites of savage peoples from their point of view. She was about to undertake another journey, but stopped to nurse Boer prisoners, and died of fever.

Kingston, William Henry Giles (1814-1880).—writer of tales for boys, born in London, but spent much of his youth in Oporto, where his father was a merchant. His first book, The Circassian Chief, appeared in 1844. His first book for boys, Peter the Whaler, was published in 1851, and had such success that he retired from business and devoted himself entirely to the production of this kind of literature, in which his popularity was deservedly great; and during 30 years he wrote upwards of 130 tales, including The Three Midshipmen (1862), The Three Lieutenants (1874), The Three Commanders (1875), The Three Admirals (1877), Digby Heathcote, etc. He also conducted various papers, including The Colonist, and Colonial Magazine and East India Review. He was also interested in emigration, volunteering, and various philanthropic schemes. For services in negotiating a commercial treaty with Portugal he received a Portuguese knighthood, and for his literary labours a Government pension.

Kirkland, Joseph (1830-1894).—Novelist, born in New York State, was a lawyer in Chicago, then served in the war. He is remembered as the author of two very vivid and life-like novels of pioneer life in the Far West, Illinois Zury and The McVeys. Other works are The Captain of Company Kirkland and The Story of Chicago.

Kitto, John (1804-1854).—Biblical scholar, son of a Cornish stonemason, was born at Plymouth. At the age of 12 a fall led to his becoming totally deaf. From poverty and hardship he was rescued by friends, to whom his mental powers had become known, and the means of education were placed within his reach. By these he profited so remarkably that he became a valuable contributor to Biblical scholarship. He travelled much in the East in the pursuit of his favourite studies. Among his works are Scripture Lands, Daily Bible Illustrations, and The Lost Senses in 2 vols., one dealing with Deafness and the other with Blindness. He also edited The Pictorial Bible, The Journal of Sacred Literature, The Cyclopædia of Bible Literature, and contributed to various periodicals. He received a pension of £100 from Government. In 1844 the University of Giessen conferred upon him the degree of D.D.

Knight, Charles (1791-1873).—Publisher and writer, born at Windsor, where his father was a bookseller. After serving his apprenticeship with him he went to London, and in 1823 started business as a publisher, and co-operated effectively with Brougham and others in connection with The Society for Diffusing Useful Knowledge. He was publisher for the Society, and issued The Penny Magazine, Penny Cyclopædia, Pictorial History of England, etc. He edited with success The Pictorial Shakespeare, and was the author of a vol. of essays, Once upon a Time, an autobiography, Passages from a Working Life (1863), a History of the Thirty Years’ Peace, which was completed by Miss Harriet Martineau, and various other works.

Knight, Henry Gally (1786-1846).—A country gentleman of Yorkshire, educated at Eton and Cambridge, was the author of several Oriental tales, Ilderim, a Syrian Tale (1816), Phrosyne, a Grecian Tale, and Alashtar, an Arabian Tale (1817). He was also an authority on architecture, and wrote various works on the subject, including The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Italy, and The Normans in Sicily, which brought him more reputation than his novels.

Knolles, Richard (1550?-1610).—Historian, born at Coldashby, Northamptonshire, and educated at Oxford, published in 1603 The History of the Turks, which went through many edition Its principal value now is as a piece of fine English of its time, for which it is ranked high by Hallam. Knolles was master of a school at Sandwich. The History was continued by Sir Paul Rycaut (1628-1700).