John Jones, L.L.D., an eminent divine and philologist, was a native of Caermarthenshire. He was educated at the Dissenting College of Hackney; and he became tutor in several Dissenting academies successively in Wales and England. He finally settled in London, where he spent his time in editing his numerous works; among the most popular of which are his “Greek and English Lexicon,” and his “Grammar,” both Greek and Latin, besides other works on education; and he likewise was held in great esteem as a private tutor. He died in London in 1827.
William Jones, an eminent mathematician, was born in the Isle of Anglesey in 1680. At a very early age he applied himself diligently to the study of mathematics; and in his twenty-second year he published a “Compendium of the Art of Navigation,” which was much approved of. He began his career in teaching these sciences on board of a man-of-war; and he was present at the capture of Vigo. On his return to England, he gave instructions in the mathematics in London, and having attracted the notice of some influential men, he was appointed by Lord Hardwicke secretary of the peace. He enjoyed the friendship of the great mathematicians and writers of the age, among whom were Newton, Halley, Head, and Dr. Johnson. He was member of the Royal Society, and then vice-president. He was author of several valuable papers on mathematics, which were published in the Philosophical Transactions. He died of a polypus in the heart in July, 1749.
Sir William Jones, the celebrated oriental scholar, was the son of the subject of the preceding article, and was born in London, September, 1746. He received his early education at Harrow School, where he was sent in his eighth year. He very soon attracted the notice of the masters by his splendid genius; and in 1764, he was entered at University College, Oxford. While here, he supported, at his own expense, a native of Aleppo, for the purpose of acquiring the true pronunciation of the Arabic. And having undertaken the office of tutor to Lord Althorpe, he went with him to the German Spa, where he perfected himself in the German language; and on his return, he distinguished himself by translating the “Life of Nadir Shah” into French, which language he wrote with much elegance. He obtained a college fellowship, and afterwards entered himself as a law student in the Temple. In 1772, he published some poems, and in the same year was elected a fellow of the Royal Society; and in 1774, he was called to the bar; about two years after, he was made commissioner of bankrupts. In the mean time, he published several works, chiefly in oriental literature, which excited the admiration of the world; and at the same time he was advancing rapidly in professional reputation. In an election for the University of Oxford he offered himself as a candidate, where, however, though respectably supported, he did not succeed. On the accession of the Shelburne administration, he obtained what had long been the summit of his ambition—the appointment of Judge in the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal, to which he was nominated in 1783, and received the honour of knighthood. He married Miss Shipley, the daughter of the Bishop of St. Asaph; and in the same year he arrived at Calcutta. While in India, he wrote numerous translations from the Hindostanee, and formed there a society, similar to the Royal Society of London, of which he was chosen the first president. He next undertook to compile a complete digest of the Hindoo and Mohammedan laws, which was not however completed by him. In 1794, he was seized with an inflammation of the liver, and died on the 27th of April, in the forty-eighth year of his age. Few men have died more respected and lamented than Sir William Jones: his genius and profound learning had attracted the praise of all; and as a linguist, he has not been surpassed, for he knew no less than twenty-nine languages, and most of them critically. All his works were collected and published by his widow, in six volumes, quarto.
Lloyd, Lord Kenyon, was born in Gredington, Flintshire, in 1732. He was the second son of a gentleman of independent fortune, and was originally intended to be brought up as a solicitor, and he was under the instruction of an eminent lawyer at Nantwich. In consequence of the death of an elder brother, he was entered at the Middle Temple, and after being called to the bar, he attended various circuits before he obtained any practice, which caused him to despair of succeeding in his profession, and think of applying himself to divinity, and taking orders. Active attention, however, and indefatigable industry, brought him at length to notice and extensive practice. He confined himself afterwards entirely to the Court of Chancery, where he obtained the most distinguished celebrity, although he ranked high as a common lawyer. He conducted the defence of Lord George Gordon, when he was tried for high treason. In 1780 he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of Chester, and he twice filled the office of Attorney-general. On the death of Sir John Sewell, he accepted the office of Master of the Rolls, and in 1788 he succeeded Lord Mansfield as Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, where he gave the greatest satisfaction by his integrity and able administration of justice. He died in 1802, in his seventieth year.
David Lloyd, L.L.D., was born at Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, in the year 1603. He was entered at the age of fourteen at All Soul’s College, Oxford, where he afterwards became a fellow. Having taken orders, he obtained the rectory of Trevdraeth, in Anglesea, in 1641, which he resigned on his presentation to Llangynhaval in the following year, and became successively vicar of Llanvair, in Dyfryn Clwyd, and warden of Ruthin, and prebendary of Chester; out of all of which he was ejected after the breaking out of the civil war, and for his loyalty he was a great sufferer. On the accession of Charles the Second, he was restored to his benefices, and promoted to the deanery of St. Asaph in 1660. He was esteemed an ingenious man, and a good poet; and he published several pieces which were prized for their wit. He died at Ruthin in September, 1663.
David Lloyd, M.A., was born at Trawsvynydd, Merionethshire, in 1635, and educated at Ruthin School. He removed thence to Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated, and obtained a college living. He subsequently retired to Wales, where he was appointed chaplain to Bishop Barrow, who, besides other preferment, gave him a canonry in the diocese of St. Asaph. He was afterwards vicar of Northop, where he resided for several years; he published several works, of which the principal are “Worthies of the World,” 1665, octavo; “Memories of Statesmen and Favourites of England,” octavo. He was zealous and industrious in the discharge of his clerical duties, and esteemed by all for his charitable disposition. On finding his health decaying, he retired to the place of his nativity, where he died in 1691.
Henry Lloyd was the son of a clergyman in Wales, where he was born in 1729. His early education he received from his father, who instructed him in the classics and mathematics. Being intended for the army, he went abroad, and was at the battle of Fontenoy; he afterwards travelled in Germany, and resided in Austria for some years, where he was appointed aid-de-camp to Marshal Lascy, and received higher promotion. In 1760 he commanded a large detachment of cavalry and infantry, which was destined to observe the motions of the Prussians. He executed this service with great success; but soon after, for some reason, he threw up his commission in disgust. He was next employed by the King of Prussia, and served in two campaigns until the peace. On the breaking out of the war between the Turks and Russians, he offered his services to Catherine the Second, who made him a major-general, and he greatly distinguished himself at the seige of Silistria in 1774, and subsequently he had the command of 30,000 men in the war with Sweden. After his return to England, he published several works on military tactics, which are highly thought of, and placed him in a high rank as a military writer. He died at Huy, in the Netherlands, in 1783.
Hugh Lloyd, D.D., was a native of South Wales, where he was born in the year 1589, and having been brought up for the church, and having received an University education, he became rector of Llangatoc, in Breconshire, and archdeacon of St. David’s. In 1660 he was advanced to the bishopric of Llandav, where he continued until his death, which took place in 1667, and he was buried in his cathedral.
Humffrey Lloyd, D.D., was born in 1610, at Trawsvynydd, Merionethshire. He received an academical education; and having taken orders, he became in time, a prebendary of York, and vicar of Rhiwabon, in Denbighshire, and likewise a prebendary of Chester; out of which he was ejected in the great rebellion; but living to be restored in 1660, he was made canon of St. Asaph the following year, and in 1667 dean of the same cathedral; in 1673 he was raised to the bishopric of Bangor. He was a great benefactor to his cathedral, and greatly increased the revenues of his see. He died in 1688.
John Lloyd, D.D., was a native of Caermarthenshire, where he was born in 1638. He was entered at Merton College, Oxford, whence he removed to Jesus College, where he graduated, and of which in time he became prebendary. He also discharged the office of vice-chancellor in that University with great satisfaction, and was held in high esteem for his piety and learning. In 1686 he was promoted to the bishopric of St. David’s, but by reason of ill health he removed to Oxford, and died at Jesus College in 1687.