Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/543

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science a detailed account of the collection of John Templeton of Belfast, said to have been one of the earliest, as well as most distinguished and original of Irish zoolo- gists. After the withdrawal of the gov- ernment grant to the Cork Scientitic Institution, to which he was Lecturer on Botany and Natural History, he retired to an estate at Dunkerron, near Kenraare, where he spent the remainder of his life, discharging the dutiesof a magistrate, occu- pying himself with country pui'suits, and devoting his leisure to botany. He died February 1848. '^ "^O)

Taylor, William B. Sarsfield, artist and author, was born in 1781, presumably in Ireland. On his father's side he was descended from an officer of the Enniskil- leners, and on his mother's from General Sarsfield. He wrote chiefly on the fine arts, and contributed critical essays to the Morning Chronicle. For many years he was Curator of the Model Academy in St. Martin's-lane, London. He was also a prominent archaeologist. The most important works from his pen were : History of the Fine Arts in Great Britain and Ireland, 2 vols., 1841 ; History of the University of Dublin, octavo, 1845, originally commenced in quarto numbers, with coloured plates, many years before. He died 23rd December 1850, aged 69. ' '^

Taylor, John Sydney, a writer, younger brother of preceding, was born at Donnybrook, near Dublin, in 1795. At Trinity College he was the intimate friend of the Rev. Charles Wolfe. In 1824 he was called to the English Bar, and subsequently took part in some re- markable trials, but devoted himself chiefly to literature. By his contributions to the Morning Herald, extending over a period of fourteen years, he materially advanced the cause of Parliamentary Re- form and the amelioration of the criminal code. Several beautiful old English churches are said to owe their preservation to his vigorous articles in denunciation of proposed "restorations." He died in Lon- don, loth December 1841, aged 46, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. A volume of selections from his writings was published in 1 843. '* ^^

Taylor, William Cooke, LL.D., a voluminous writer, was born at Youghal, 1 6th April 1800. When little more than sixteen he entered Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained many piizes, graduating B.A. ia 1825, and LL.D. in 1835. His first work was a classical geography for the use of Youghal school. His connexion with literature in London commenced in 1828, when he contributed to Pinnock's series

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a Catechism of the Christian Religion. Thenceforward a constant succession of works, chiefly historical and biographical, flowed from his pen. In AUibone's list they number twenty-six, the last being Memoirs of the House of Orleans, 3 vols., 1849. H^ '^^^ * strenuous advocate for the repeal of the Corn Laws and of the introduction of the system of National Education in Ireland. In politics he was a Whig, " without bitterness or asperity." He was employed by Government in the preparation of several important reports, and was enrolled in Lord Clarendon's Irish administration as Statistician, in which capacity his services were of infinite value. He edited the Evening Post, the Government organ in Ireland. He died of cholera in Dublin, 12th September 1849, aged 49, leaving a widow and family, for whose benefit a public subscription was made. The Gentleman's Magazine, in noticing his death, says : " In the fields of miscellaneous literature, he was, for con- stancy of application, fertility of thought, and variety of subject, quite unrivalled. He did not aflFect to climb the heights of science, or penetrate the depths of a pro- found philosophy. Neither his habits nor his inclinations would have led him to any secluded or exclusive application of his powers, even if the exigencies of his posi- tion did not require of him a compliance with the demands of the publisher in the line, whatever it was, to interest ' the reading public' He was literally a writer for his daily bread ; and the calls upon him, multiplied and various as they were, never found him unprepared. . . His style was equable and unpretending ; al- ways clearly expressive of the thought which it conveyed. . . On proper occasions he could be touching and pathetic in a very high degree." '* "'^

Teeling, Bartholomew, a leading United Irishman, was boi-n at Lisburn, of an old Catholic family, in 1774. His father, Luke Teeling, suffered imprison- ment for many years, as a suspect, through 1 798 and the Union, not being liberated until 1802. Bartholomew received a good classical and general education. He entered with ardour into the United Irish move- ment, and was well known and beloved by several of the leaders, especially by Lord Edward FitzGerald. He enlisted in the French army under the name of Veron, and held the rank of captain in Humbert's expedition that lauded at Killala in Au- gust 1798. His bravery in the field was only equalled by his humanity in saving the persons and property of the gentry from the hands of the insurgent peasantry.

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