Chapter Oliphant to Oxford of O by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

authority on fishes and reptiles. He published various books of poetry, including Epic of Women (1870), Lays of France (1872), and Music and Moonlight (1874). Jointly with his wife he wrote Toyland, a book for children. He was associated with D. G. Rossetti and the other pre-Raphaelites. There is a certain remoteness in his poetry which will probably always prevent its being widely popular. He has a wonderful mastery of metre, and a “haunting music” all his own.

Otway, CÆsar (1780-1842).—writer of Irish tales. His writings, which display humour and sympathy with the poorer classes in Ireland, include Sketches in Ireland (1827), and A Tour in Connaught (1839). He was concerned in the establishment of various journals.

Otway, Thomas (1651 or 1652-1685).—Dramatist, son of a clergyman, was born near Midhurst, Sussex, and educated at Oxford, which he left without graduating. His short life, like those of many of his fellows, was marked by poverty and misery, and he appears to have died practically of starvation. Having failed as an actor, he took to writing for the stage, and produced various plays, among which Don Carlos, Prince of Spain (1676), was a great success, and brought him some money. Those by which he is best remembered, however, are The Orphan (1680), and Venice Preserved (1682), both of which have been frequently revived. Otway made many adaptations from the French, and in his tragedy of Caius Marius incorporated large parts of Romeo and Juliet. He has been called “the most pathetic and tear- drawing of all our dramatists,” and he excelled in delineating the stronger passions. The grossness of his comedies has banished them from the stage. Other plays are The Cheats of Scapin, Friendship in Fashion, Soldier’s Fortune (1681), and The Atheist.

Ouida (See Ramée).

Outram, George (1805-1856).—Humorous poet, was a Scottish advocate, a friend of Professor Wilson, and for some time editor of the Glasgow Herald. He printed privately in 1851 Lyrics, Legal and Miscellaneous, which were published with a memoir in 1874. Many of his pieces are highly amusing, the Annuity being the best.

Overbury, Sir Thomas (1581-1613).—Poet and miscellaneous writer, educated at Oxford, became the friend of Carr, afterwards Earl of Rochester and Somerset, and fell a victim to a Court intrigue connected with the proposed marriage of Rochester and Lady Essex, being poisoned in the Tower with the connivance of the latter. He wrote a poem, A Wife, now a Widowe, and Characters (1614), short, witty descriptions of types of men. Some of those published along with his are by other hands.

Owen, John (1560-1622).—Epigrammatist, born at Plas Dhu, Carnarvonshire, educated at Winchester and Oxford, and became head master of King Henry VIII. School at Warwick. His Latin epigrams, which have both sense and wit in a high degree, gained him much applause, and were translated into English, French, German, and Spanish.

Owen, John (1616-1683).—Puritan divine, born at Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, and educated at Oxford, from which he was driven by Laud’s statutes. Originally a Presbyterian, he passed over to Independency. In 1649 he accompanied Cromwell to Ireland, and in 1650 to Edinburgh. He was Dean of Christ Church, Oxford (1651-60), and one of the “triers” of ministers appointed by Cromwell. After the Restoration he was ejected from his deanery, but was favoured by Clarendon, who endeavoured to induce him to conform to the Anglican Church by offers of high preferment. Strange to say Charles II. also held him in regard, and gave him money for the Nonconformists; and he was allowed to preach to a congregation of Independents in London. His great learning and ability rendered him a formidable controversialist, specially against Arminianism and Romanism. His works fill 28 vols; among the best known being The Divine Original, etc., of the Scriptures, Indwelling Sin, Christologia, or … The Person of Christ, and a commentary on Hebrews.

Owen, Robert (1771-1858).—Socialist and philanthropist, born at Newton, Montgomeryshire, had for his object the regeneration of the world on the principles of socialism. His sincerity was shown by the fact that he spent most of the fortune, which his great capacity for business enabled him to make, in