Chapter Pattison to Penn of P by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Pattison to Penn

Pattison, Mark (1813-1884).—Scholar and biographer, born at Hornby, Yorkshire, son of a clergyman, educated privately and at Oxford, where in 1839 he became Fellow of Lincoln College, and acquired a high reputation as a tutor and examiner. At first strongly influenced by Newman and the Tractarian movement, he ultimately abandoned that school. In 1851, failing to be elected head of his College, he threw up his tutorship, and devoted himself to severe study, occasionally writing on educational subjects in various reviews. In 1861, however, he attained the object of his ambition, being elected Rector of Lincoln College In 1883 he dictated a remarkable autobiography, coming down to 1860. In 1875 he had published a Life of Isaac Casaubon, and he left materials for a Life of Scaliger, which he had intended to be his magnum opus. He also wrote Milton for the English Men of Letters Series, and produced an edition of his sonnets.

Paulding, James Kirke (1779-1860).—Novelist, etc., born in the state of New York, was chiefly self- educated. He became a friend of W. Irving, and was part author with him of Salmagundi—a continuation of which by himself proved a failure. Among his other writings are John Bull and Brother Jonathan (1812), a satire, The Dutchman’s Fireside (1831), a romance which attained popularity, a Life of Washington (1835), and some poems.

Payn, James (1830-1898).—Novelist, son of an official in the Thames Commission, educated at Eton, Woolwich, and Cambridge He was a regular contributor to Household Words and to Chambers’s Journal, of which he was editor 1859-74, and in which several of his works first appeared; he also edited the Cornhill Magazine 1883-96. Among his novels—upwards of 60 in number—may be mentioned Lost Sir Massingberd, The Best of Husbands, Walter’s Word, By Proxy (1878), A Woman’s Vengeance, Carlyon’s Year, Thicker than Water, A Trying Patient, etc. He also wrote a book of poems and a volume of literary reminiscences.

Peacock, Thomas Love (1785-1866).—Novelist, born at Weymouth, the only child of a London merchant, was in boyhood at various schools, but from the age of 13 self-educated. Nevertheless, he became a really learned scholar. He was for long in the India Office, where he rose to be Chief Examiner, coming between James Mill and John Stuart Mill. He was the author of several somewhat whimsical, but quite unique novels, full of paradox, prejudice, and curious learning, with witty dialogue and occasional poems interspersed. Among them are Headlong Hall (1816), Nightmare Abbey (1818), Maid Marian (1822), Misfortunes of Elphin (1829), Crotchet Castle (1831), and Gryll Grange (1860). He was the intimate friend of Shelley, memoirs of whom he contributed to Fraser’s Magazine.

Pearson, Charles Henry (1830-1894).—Born at Islington, educated at Rugby and King’s College, London, at the latter he became Professor of Modern History. Owing to a threatened failure of sight he went to Australia, where he remained for 20 years, and was for a time Minister of Education of Victoria. Returning to England in 1892 he wrote his National Life and Character: a Forecast, in which he gave utterance to very pessimistic views as to the future of the race. He also wrote a History of England during the Early and Middle Ages (1867).

Pearson, John (1613-1686).—Theologian, son of an archdeacon of Suffolk, born at Great Snoring, Norfolk, educated at Eton and Cambridge, took orders, and after holding various preferments, including the archdeaconry of Surrey, the mastership of Jesus College, and of Trinity College, Cambridge, was made, in 1673, Bishop of Chester. His Exposition of the Creed (1659) has always been regarded as one of the most finished productions of English theology, remarkable alike for logical argument and arrangement, and lucid style. He was also the author of other learned works, including a defence of the authenticity of the epistles of Ignatius. In his youth Pearson was a Royalist, and acted in 1645 as a chaplain in the Royal army. He was one of the commissioners in the Savoy Conference.

Pecock, Reginald (1395?-1460?).—Theologian, born in Wales, entered the Church, and rose to be successively Bishop of St. Asaph 1444, and of Chichester 1450. He was a strenuous controversialist, chiefly against the Lollards; but his free style of argument, and especially his denial of the infallibility of the Church, led him into trouble, and on being offered the choice of abjuration or death at the stake,