Chapter Wolfe to Wordsworth of W by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Wolfe to Wordsworth

Wolfe, Charles (1791-1823).—Poet, son of a landed gentleman in Kildare, was born in Dublin, where he completed his educated at Trinity College, having previously been at Winchester. He took orders, and was Rector of Donoughmere, but his health failed, and he died of consumption at 32. He is remembered for one short, but universally known and admired poem, The Burial of Sir John Moore, which first appeared anonymously in the Newry Telegraph in 1817.

Wood, or À Wood, Anthony (1632-1695).—Antiquary, was born at Oxford, where he was educated and spent most of his life. His antiquarian enthusiasm was awakened by the collections of Leland, and he early began to visit and study the antiquities of his native county. This with history, heraldry, genealogies, and music occupied his whole time. By 1669 he had written his History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford, which was translated into Latin not to his satisfaction by the University authorities, and he wrote a fresh English copy which was printed in 1786. His great work was Athenæ Oxonienses; an exact History of all the Writers and Bishops who have had their Education in the University of Oxford, to which are added the Fasti or Annals of the said University (1691-92). For an alleged libel on the Earl of Clarendon in that work the author was expelled in 1694. He also wrote The Ancient and Present State of the City of Oxford, and Modius Salium, a Collection of Pieces of Humour, generally of an ill-natured cast.

Wood, Mrs. Ellen (Price) (1814-1887).—Novelist, writing as “Mrs. Henry Wood,” was born at Worcester. She wrote over 30 novels, many of which, especially East Lynne, had remarkable popularity. Though the stories are generally interesting, they have no distinction of style. Among the best known are Danesbury House, Oswald Cray, Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles, The Channings, Lord Oakburn’s Daughters, and The Shadow of Ashlydyat. Mrs. Wood was for some years proprietor and editor of the Argosy.

Wood, John George (1827-1889).—writer on natural history, son of a surgeon, born in London, and educated at home and at Oxford, where he worked for some time in the anatomical museum. He took orders, and among other benefices which he held was for a time chaplain to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. He was a very prolific writer on natural history, though rather as a populariser than as a scientific investigator, and was in this way very successful. Among his numerous works may be mentioned Illustrated Natural History (1853), Animal Traits and Characteristics (1860), Common Objects of the Sea Shore (1857), Out of Doors (1874), Field Naturalist’s Handbook (with T. Wood) (1879-80), books on gymnastics, sport, etc., and an edition of White’s Selborne.

Woolman, John (1720-1772).—Quaker diarist, born at Burlington, New Jersey, began life as a farm labourer, and then became a clerk in a store. He underwent deep religious impressions, and the latter part of his life was devoted to itinerant preaching and doing whatever good came to his hand. To support himself he worked as a tailor. He was one of the first to witness against the evils of slavery, on which he wrote a tract, Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes (1753). His Journal “reveals his life and character with rare fidelity” and, though little known compared with some similar works, gained the admiration of, among other writers, Charles Lamb, who says, “Get the writings of John Woolman by heart.” In 1772 he went to England, where he died of smallpox in the same year.

Woolner, Thomas (1826-1892).—Sculptor and poet, born at Hadleigh, attained a high reputation as a sculptor. He belonged to the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and contributed poems to their magazine, the Germ. He wrote several vols. of poetry, including My Beautiful Lady (1863), Pygmalion, Silenus, Tiresias, and Nelly Dale. He had a true poetic gift, though better known by his portrait busts.

Wordsworth, Christopher (1774-1846).—Biographer, etc., was a younger brother of the poet, educated at Cambridge, took orders, and became Chaplain to the House of Commons, and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge 1820-41. He was also Vice-Chancellor of the University 1820-21 and 1826-27. He published Ecclesiastical Biography (1810), and Who wrote Eikon Basiliké? in which he argued for the authorship of Charles I.

Wordsworth, Christopher (1807-1885).—Son of above, educated at Cambridge, took orders and became a Canon of Westminster 1844, and Bishop of Lincoln 1868. He travelled in Greece, and discovered the