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George Russell French
George Russell French (1803–1881), antiquary, was born in London in 1803. After being privately educated he became an architect, and was for many years surveyor and architect to the Ironmongers' Company. French was an accomplished scholar, and devoted his leisure to antiquarian researches. He was long an active member of the council, and subsequently one of the vice-presidents, of the London and Middlesex Archæological Society. In 1841 French published an elaborate account of the ancestries of Queen Victoria and of the Prince Consort; and in 1847 his ''Address delivered on the sixth anniversary of the College of the Freemasons of the Church''. He next traced the royal descent of Nelson and Wellington from Edward I, king of England, and published in 1853 the tables of pedigree and genealogical memoirs in connection therewith. In 1861–9 he prepared and issued a ''Catalogue of the Antiquities and Works of Art exhibited at Ironmongers' Hall''. French published in two parts the re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antiquary
An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts. The essence of antiquarianism is a focus on the empirical evidence of the past, and is perhaps best encapsulated in the motto adopted by the 18th-century antiquary Sir Richard Colt Hoare, "We speak from facts, not theory." The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' first cites "archaeologist" from 1824; this soon took over as the usual term for one major branch of antiquarian activity. "Archaeology", from 1607 onwards, initially meant what is now seen as "ancient history" generally, with the narrower modern sense first seen in 1837. Today the term "antiquarian" is often used in a pejorative sense, to refer to an excessively narrow focus on factual historical trivia, to the exclusion of a sense of historic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Macbeth
''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambitions and power. It was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book, and is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy. Scholars believe ''Macbeth'', of all the plays that Shakespeare wrote during the reign of King James I, contains the most allusions to James, patron of Shakespeare's acting company. In the play, a brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to violence by his wife, Macbeth murders the king and takes the Scottish throne for himself. Then, racked with guilt and paranoia, he commits further violent murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion, soon becoming a tyrannical ruler. The bloo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1881 Deaths
Events January * January 1– 24 – Siege of Geok Tepe: Russian troops under General Mikhail Skobelev defeat the Turkomans. * January 13 – War of the Pacific – Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos: The Chilean army defeats Peruvian forces. * January 15 – War of the Pacific – Battle of Miraflores: The Chileans take Lima, capital of Peru, after defeating its second line of defense in Miraflores. * January 24 – William Edward Forster, chief secretary for Ireland, introduces his Coercion Bill, which temporarily suspends habeas corpus so that those people suspected of committing an offence can be detained without trial; it goes through a long debate before it is accepted February 2. Note that Coercion bills had been passed almost annually in the 19th century, with a total of 105 such bills passed from 1801 to 1921. * January 25 – Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company. February * Febru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1803 Births
Events January–March * January 1 – The first edition of Alexandre Balthazar Laurent Grimod de La Reynière's ''Almanach des gourmands'', the first guide to restaurant cooking, is published in Paris. * January 4 – William Symington demonstrates his ''Charlotte Dundas'', the "first practical steamboat", in Scotland. * January 30 – James Monroe, Monroe and Livingston sail for Paris to discuss, and possibly buy, New Orleans; they end up completing the Louisiana Purchase. * February 19 ** An Act of Mediation, issued by Napoleon Bonaparte, establishes the Swiss Confederation (Napoleonic), Swiss Confederation to replace the Helvetic Republic. Under the terms of the act, Graubünden, Canton of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Thurgau, the Ticino and Vaud become Swiss cantons. ** Ohio is admitted as the 17th U.S. state. * February 20 – Kandyan Wars: Kandy, Ceylon is taken by a British detachment. * February 21 – Edward Despard and six others are hanged and beheaded for plotti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Temperance Movement
The temperance movement is a social movement promoting Temperance (virtue), temperance or total abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and its leaders emphasize alcohol (drug), alcohol's negative effects on people's Health effects of alcohol, health, personalities, and family lives. Typically the movement promotes alcohol education and it also demands the passage of new Alcohol law, laws against the sale of alcohol: either regulations on the availability of alcohol, or the prohibition of it. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the temperance movement became prominent in many countries, particularly in English-speaking, Scandinavian, and majority Protestant ones, and it eventually led to national prohibitions Prohibition in Canada, in Canada (1918 to 1920), Norway (spirits only from 1919 Norwegian prohibition referendum, 1919 to 1926 Norwegian continued prohibition ref ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arden Family
The Arden family is an English gentry family that can be traced back in the male line to Anglo-Saxon landholders who managed to maintain status after the 1066 invasion of England by the Normans of France. The family held lands in Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcester, Cheshire and Shropshire. The family shares its name with the Forest of Arden, a culturally defined area ranging across these counties south of Watling Street which is associated with the setting of the action in Shakespeare's play ''As You Like It''. By the 14th century, under Sir John de Arderne, the most senior line of the Arden family had their primary estate near Solihull at Park Hall, Castle Bromwich. A branch of the Arden family were in Stockport in 1500s at Underbank Hall, Arden Hall (also known as Harden or Hawarden). It has been claimed the Ardens are one of only five families in England that can trace its lineage in the male line back to Anglo-Saxon times. The other four are the Berkeley family, S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Warwickshire
Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire to the south, and Worcestershire and the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county to the west. The largest settlement is Nuneaton and the county town is Warwick. The county is largely rural; it has an area of and a population of 571,010. After Nuneaton (88,813), the largest settlements are Rugby, Warwickshire, Rugby (78,125), Leamington Spa (50,923), Warwick (36,665), Bedworth (31,090) and Stratford-upon-Avon (30,495). For Local government in England, local government purposes, Warwickshire is a non-metropolitan county with five districts. The county Historic counties of England, historically included the city of Coventry and the area to its west, including Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, Sutton Coldfield ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (theatre), play depicts Prince Hamlet and his attempts to exact revenge against his uncle, King Claudius, Claudius, who has murdered Ghost (Hamlet), Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Gertrude (Hamlet), Hamlet's mother. ''Hamlet'' is considered among the "most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language", with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." It is widely considered one of the greatest plays of all time. Three different early versions of the play are extant: the Hamlet Q1, First Quarto (Q1, 1603); the Second Quarto (Q2, 1604); and the First Folio (F1, 1623). Each version includes lines and passages missing from the others. Many works have been pointed to as possible s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Henry VIII (play)
''The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eighth'', often shortened to ''Henry VIII'', is a collaborative history play, written by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, based on the life of Henry VIII. An alternative title, , is recorded in contemporary documents, with the title not appearing until the play's publication in the First Folio of 1623. Stylistic evidence indicates that individual scenes were written by either Shakespeare or his collaborator and successor, John Fletcher. It is also somewhat characteristic of the late romances in its structure. It is noted for having more stage directions than any of Shakespeare's other plays. During a performance of ''Henry VIII'' at the Globe Theatre in 1613, a cannon shot employed for special effects ignited the theatre's thatched roof (and the beams), burning the original Globe building to the ground. Characters * Prologue/Epilogue * Henry VIII – King of England * Cardinal Wolsey – Archbishop of York and Lo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Worshipful Company Of Ironmongers
The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers is one of the Great Twelve livery companies of the City of London, incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1463. History The Ironmongers, originally known as the Ferroners, were incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1463. Their company's original association with iron merchants has lessened, especially due to the movement of the industry from Southern England to the North, where iron ore is more available. It is now primarily a charitable institution. The Worshipful Company ranks tenth in the order of precedence among the City of London's Great Twelve City Livery Companies. Its motto is "God Is Our Strength". Hall Ironmongers' Hall is the home of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. It is located in Aldersgate Street in the City of London. The first hall, dating back to 1457, was in Fenchurch Street; it was rebuilt in 1587 and rebuilt again in 1745 on the same site. The third hall was destroyed on 7 July 1917 by a bomb dropped during W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
King John (play)
''The Life and Death of King John'' (also ''King John''), by William Shakespeare, is a history play about the reign of John, King of England (r. 1199–1216), the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the father of Henry III. ''King John'' was written in the mid-1590s, but published in 1623 in the First Folio of Shakespeare's works. __TOC__ Characters * King John – King of England * Eleanor – the Queen mother, widow of King Henry II * Prince Henry – his son, later King Henry III * Blanche of Castile – John's niece * Earl of Essex – an English nobleman * Earl of Salisbury – an English nobleman * Earl of Pembroke – an English nobleman * Lord Bigot – Earl of Norfolk * Peter of Pomfret – a prophet * Philip Faulconbridge – also known as Philip the Bastard and Sir Richard the Plantagenet; natural son of Richard I of England * Robert Faulconbridge – his half brother; legitimate son of Sir Robert Faulconbridge * Lady Faulconbridge – their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dramatis Personae
Dramatis personae (Latin: 'persons of the drama') are the main characters in a dramatic work written in a list. Such lists are commonly employed in various forms of theatre, and also on screen. Typically, off-stage characters are not considered part of the dramatis personae. It is said to have been recorded in English since 1730, and is also evident in international use. It is customary to give a cast list, which also has next to each character in a second column the name of the actor or actress playing the part; an alternative version lists the names of the actors who played the parts originally. In order not to give away vital parts of the plot some names may be altered, for example, mixed up with another name. Some minor characters may be listed just as the actors who perform the parts. Other uses In a wider sense, the term can be applied to any situation in which people or characters play a role, or appear to do so—such as a metaphor, a drama, or a court case. It may ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
