Chapter Minot to Montagu of M by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Minot to Montagu

Minot, Laurence (1300?-1352?).—Poet. Nothing is certainly known of him. He may have been a soldier. He celebrates in northern English and with a somewhat ferocious patriotism the victories of Edward III. over the Scots and the French.

Minto, William (1845-1893).—Critic and biographer, born at Alford, Aberdcenshire, and educated at Aberdeen and Oxford, went to London, and became editor of the Examiner, and also wrote for the Daily News and the Pall Mall Gazette. In 1880 he was appointed Professor of Logic and Literature at Aberdeen. He wrote a Manual of English Prose Literature (1873), Characteristics of the English Poets (1874), and a Life of Defoe for the Men of Letters Series.

Mitchell, John (1815-1875).—Journalist and political writer, son of a Presbyterian minister, was born in Ulster. For some time he practised as a solicitor, but becoming acquainted with Thomas Davis (q.v.), he associated himself with the Young Ireland party, and was a leading contributor to the Nation newspaper. His political sympathies and acts were carried so far as to bring about in 1848 his trial for treason-felony, and his transportation for 14 years. After his release he resided chiefly at New York, and edited various papers, and opposed the abolition of slavery; but in 1874 he was elected M.P. for Tipperary, for which, however, he was declared incapable of sitting. On a new election he was again returned, but died before the resulting petition could be heard. He wrote a Jail Journal, a work of great power, The Last Conquest of Ireland (perhaps) (1860), and a History of Ireland of little value.

Mitford, Mary Russell (1787-1855).—Poetess and novelist, born at Alresford, Hants, daughter of a physician, without practice, selfish and extravagant, who ran through three fortunes, his own, his wife’s, and his daughter’s, and then lived on the industry of the last. After a vol. of poems which attracted little notice, she produced her powerful tragedy, Julian. In 1812, what ultimately became the first vol. of Our Village appeared in the Lady’s Magazine. To this four additional vols. were added, the last in 1832. In this work Miss Mitford may be said to have created a new branch of literature. Her novel, Belford Regis (1835), is somewhat on the same lines. She added two dramas, Rienzi (1828), and Foscari, Atherton and other Tales (1852), and Recollections of a Literary Life, and died at her cottage at Swallowfield, much beloved for her benevolent and simple character, as well as valued for her intellectual powers.

Mitford, William (1744-1827).—Historian, e.s. of John Mitford of Exbury, Hants, descended from an old Northumbrian family, was born in London, and educated at Cheam School and Oxford He studied law, but on succeeding to the family estates devoted himself to study and literature, and to his duties as an officer of the militia. His first published was an Essay on the Harmony of Language (1774). His great work, The History of Greece, is said to have been undertaken at the suggestion of Gibbon, who was a fellow-officer in the South Hants Militia. This work, the successive vols. of which appeared at considerable intervals between 1784 and 1810, was long a standard one, though it is now largely superseded by the histories of Thirwall and Grote. Mitford wrote with strong prejudices against democracy, and in defence of tyrants, but his style is forcible and agreeable, and he brought learning and research to bear on his subject. He sat for many years in Parliament.

Moir, David Macbeth (1798-1851).—Poet and miscellaneous writer, was a doctor at Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, and a frequent contributor, under the signature of D, to Blackwood’s Magazine in which appeared Mansie Waugh, a humorous Scottish tale. He also wrote The Legend of Genevieve (1824), Domestic Verses (1843), and sketches of the poetry of the earlier half of the 19th century. His poetry was generally grave and tender, but occasionally humorous.

Monboddo, James Burnett, Lord (1714-1799).—Philosopher and philologist, born at the family seat in Kincardineshire, was educated at the University of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Groningen, and called to the Scottish Bar in 1737. Thirty years later he became a judge with the title of Lord Monboddo. He was a man of great learning and acuteness, but eccentric and fond of paradox. He was the author of two large works alike learned and whimsical, An Essay on the Origin and Progress of Language (6 vols. 1773-92), and Ancient Metaphysics (6 vols. 1779-99). He mooted and supported the theory that men were originally monkeys, and gradually attained to reason, language, and civilisation by the pressure of