Voo (G. W. van der), Dutch writer, b. 6 April, 1806. For more than half a century he was schoolmaster and teacher of the French language at Rotterdam, where he still lives. He contributed many articles to De Dageraad.
Vosmaer (Carel), Dutch writer, b. the Hague 20 March, 1826. Studied law at Leyden. He edited the Tydstroom (1858–9) and Spectator (1860–73), and wrote several works on Dutch art and other subjects. Died at Montreux (Switzerland), 12 June, 1888.
Voysey (Charles), English Theist, b. London 18 March, 1828. Graduated B.A. at Oxford, ’51, was vicar of Healaugh, Yorkshire, ’64–71, and deprived 11 Feb. ’71 for heresy in sermons published in The Sling and the Stone. He has since established a Theistic Church in Swallow Street, Piccadilly, and his sermons are regularly published. He has also issued Fragments from Reimarus, ’79, edited The Langham Magazine and published Lectures on the Bible and the Theistic Faith, etc.
Vulpian (Edme Felix Alfred), French physician, b. 5 Jan. 1826. Wrote several medical works and upon being appointed lecturer at the School of Medicine, ’69, was violently opposed on account of his Atheism. He was afterwards elected to the Academy of Sciences. Died 17 May, 1887.
Wagner (Wilhelm Richard), German musical composer and poet, b. Leipsic, 22 May, 1813. From ’42–49 he was conductor of the Royal Opera, Dresden, but his revolutionary sentiments caused his exile to Switzerland, where he produced his “Lohengrin.” In ’64 he was patronised by Ludwig II. of Bavaria, and produced many fine operas, in which he sought that poetry, scenery, and music should aid each other in making opera dramatic. In philosophy he expressed himself a follower of Schopenhauer. Died at Venice, 13 Feb. 1883.
Waite (Charles Burlingame), American judge, b. Wayne county, N.Y. 29 Jan. 1824. Educated at Knox College, Illinois, he was admitted to the Bar in ’47. After successful practice in Chicago, he was appointed by President Lincoln Justice of the Supreme Court of Utah. In ’81 he issued his History of the Christian Religion to the year A.D. 200, a rationalistic work, which explodes the evangelical narratives.
Wakeman (Thaddeus B.), American lawyer and Positivist, b. 29 Dec. 1834, was one of the editors of Man and a president of the New York Liberal Club. A contributor to the Freethinkers’ Magazine.
Walferdin (François-Hippolyte), b. Langres, 8 June, 1795. A friend of Arago he contributed with him to the enlargement of science, and was decorated with the Legion of Honor in 1844. He published a fine edition of the works of Diderot in ’57, and left the bust of that philosopher to the Louvre. Died 25 Jan. 1880.
Walker (E.), of Worcester. Owenite author of Is the Bible True? and What is Blasphemy? 1843.
Walker (Edwin C.), editor of Lucifer and Fair Play, Valley Falls, Kansas.