Chapter Maxwell to Melville of M by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Maxwell to Melville

Maxwell, William Hamilton (1792-1850).—Novelist, a Scoto-Irishman, born at Newry, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, entered the army, and saw service in the Penisula, and at Waterloo. Afterwards he took orders, but was deprived of his living for nonresidence. His novels, O’Hara, and Stories from Waterloo, started the school of rollicking military fiction, which culminated in the novels of Lever. Maxwell also wrote a Life of the Duke of Wellington, and a History of the Irish Rebellion.

Max-Müller, Friedrich (1823-1900).—Philologist, son of the German poet, Wilhelm Max-Müller, was born at Dessau, and educated at Leipzig, Berlin, and Paris. In 1846 he was requested by the East India Company to edit the Rig Veda. He settled at Oxford in 1848, and in 1850 was appointed deputy Taylorian Professor of Modern European languages, becoming Professor 4 years later, and Curator of the Bodleian Library in 1856. In 1868 he was elected first Professor of Comparative Philology. He edited Sacred Books of the East, and wrote in English Chips from a German Workshop (1867-75). He did much to stimulate the study of comparative religion and philology. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1896.

May, Thomas (1595-1650).—Poet and historian, born in Sussex, son of Sir Thomas May, of Mayfield, went to Cambridge, and thence to Gray’s Inn, but discarded law for literature. In 1622 he produced his first comedy, The Heir, and also a translation of Viril’s Georgics. Six years later, 1627, appeared his translation of Lucan, which gained him the favour of Charles I., at whose command he wrote two poems. The Reigne of King Henry II., and The Victorious Reigne of King Edward III., each in 7 books. When the Civil War broke out May, to the disappointment of his friends, took the side of the Parliament, and was made Sec. to the Long Parliament, the historian of which he became, published 1647, The History of the Parliament of England, which began Nov. 3, 1640. This work he prefaced with a short review of the preceding reigns from that of Elizabeth. The narrative closes with the Battle of Newbury, 1643, and is characterised by fulness of information and candour. May was also the author of several tragedies, including Antigone, of no great merit.

May, Sir Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Farnborough (1815-1886).—Jurist and historian, educated at Bedford School, and after holding various minor offices became in 1871 clerk to the House of Commons, retiring in 1886, when he was raised to the peerage. He had previously, 1866, been made K.C.B. He was the author of a treatise on the laws, privileges, etc., of Parliament, which, first published in 1844, reached in 1901 its tenth ed., and was translated into various languages. His Constitutional History of England, 1760-1860 is practically a continuation of Hallam’s great work. He also wrote Democracy in Europe. As an historical writer May was learned, painstaking, and impartial.

Mayne, Jasper (1604-1672).—Dramatist, was at Oxford, entered the Church, and became Archdeacon of Chichester. He wrote two dramas, The City Match (1639), and The Amorous War (1648), in neither of which did he sustain the clerical character. He had, however, some humour.

Mayne, John (1759-1836).—Poet, was born in Dumfries. In 1780 he published the Siller Gun in its original form in Ruddiman’s Magazine. It is a humorous poem descriptive of an ancient custom in Dumfries of shooting for the “Siller Gun.” He was continually adding to it, until it grew to 5 cantos. He also wrote a poem on Hallowe’en, and a version of the ballad, Helen of Kirkconnel. His verses were admired by Scott.

Melville, Herman (1819-1891).—Novelist, born in New York, and took to the sea, which led to strange adventures, including an imprisonment of some months in the hands of cannibals in the Marquesas Islands. His first novel, Typee (1846), is based upon this experience. Omoo followed in 1847, Moby Dick, or the White Whale, a powerful sea story, in 1852, and Israel Potter in 1855. He was a very unequal writer, but occasionally showed considerable power and originality.

Melville,. James (1556-1614).—Scottish divine and reformer, son of the laird of Baldovie, in Forfarshire, and nephew of the great reformer and scholar, Andrew Melville, by whom, when Principal of the University of Glasgow, he was chosen to assist him as a regent or professor. When, in 1580, Andrew became Principal of St. Mary’s College, St. Andrews, James accompanied him, and acted as Professor of Hebrew