The son of a bookseller at Lichfield, was a man of immense learning and capacity. His English Dictionary, Essays, Rambler, Idler, Rasselas, and Tour to the Hebrides, show his great range of knowledge and powers of mind. His life has been admirably written by his friend James Boswell.
CHARLES EDWARD STUART.
Born 1720.—Died 1788.—George I.—George II.—George III.
This Second Pretender to the British crown was the grandson of James II. of England. He embarked in the Dentelle from the Loire month, and landed in Invernesshire, near Moidart, and soon raised 1,600 men. He entered Perth, Linlithgo, and took up his abode in Holyrood Palace. The Highlanders’ charge at Prestonpans chiefly won the engagement there, and a second at Falkirk; but at Culloden the unfortunate Pretender was obliged to see that any attempt to disturb the English throne was a vain bubble. The Duke of Cumberland, known as the Butcher, committed atrocious cruelties after the battle. Charles Edward was once saved by Flora Macdonald, and again by hiding in a cave on Mount Benalder. At length a French privateer came off the Scottish coast, and after many hairbreadth escapes, he reached France in safety. Lords Kilmarnock, Balmerino, and Lovat were executed for their share in this rebellion of ’45. He died at Rome in 1788.
THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH.
Born 1727.—Died 1788.—George I.—George II.—George III.
This famous painter was for a long time self-taught, and his genius was first made known by his painting the head of a thief, who was looking over the wall of the garden in which the boy was painting by stealth. The head was so strikingly like, that the man was convicted upon it.
JOHN WESLEY,
Born 1703.—Died 1791.—Anne.—George I.—George II.—George III.
The founder of Methodism, was born at Epworth, Lincolnshire. He was a missionary for three years in North America among the Red Indians. In his day the English Church was characterized by a great want of vigour and discipline, and Wesley and his disciples did a great work in rousing the zeal of the Church, from which he had no intention of separating, and stirring up a spirit of labour and good works. Wesley was a preacher of great eloquence, with an aptness of illustration which was very attractive to the classes to whom he chiefly addressed himself.