Page:Dictionary of National Biography. Sup. Vol III (1901).djvu/77

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Keux
63
King

his only incumbency, he resigned in 1870 to devote himself to literary work. He had already published a 'Catechism on Gospel History' (London, 1851, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1878), and two works suggested by the Irish disestablishment agitation, namely: 'A Short Account of the Reformation in Ireland,' and 'Rights and Liberties of the Church' (both London, 1869, 8vo). His energies were now mainly devoted to his work on Thomas à Kempis, and in 1877 he published 'The Authorship of the "De Imitatione Christi"' (London, 8vo); this was followed in 1882 by 'Thomas à Kempis and the Brothers of Common Life' (London, 2 vols. 8vo; 2nd edit. 1884). These two books were the fruit of much research in England, Holland, and Belgium. Kettlewell maintains the usually accepted authorship of the 'De Imitatione,' and collects all that is known about the life of Thomas à Kempis. In 1888 he published 'The Basis of True Christian Unity' (London, 2 vols. 8vo), and in 1892 a translation of the 'De Imitatione.' He had received the Lambeth M.A. in 1860, and in 1892, in recognition of his work, he was granted the Lambeth D.D., the queen countersigning his diploma. He died at his residence, Kesselville, Eastbourne, whither he retired in 1870, on 2 Nov. 1893; he was twice married, and his widow survives him.

[Works in Brit. Mus. Libr.; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1891; Eastbourne Chronicle, 5 Nov. 1893; Times, 21 Nov. 1893; Guardian, 8 Nov. 1893; private information.]

A. F. P.

KEUX, JOHN HENRY le (1812–1896), engraver. [See Le Keux.]

KEYMER or KEYMOR, JOHN (fl. 1610–1620), economic writer, is said to have written as early as 1601 his 'Observations upon the Dutch Fishing,' which was first published by Sir Edward Ford in 1664 (London, 4to). Keymer had no practical knowledge of the fisheries, being 'altogether unexperimented in such business' (Gentleman, Way to Win Wealth, 1614, p. 3); he collected his notes from conversation with fishermen like Tobias Gentleman [q. v. Suppl.] and others, with a view to stimulating English fishery, then almost a monopoly of the Dutch. Histract was translated into German, and published in part xii. of the 'Diarium Europæum,' Frankfort, 1666, 4to; it was reissued in English in the 'Phenix' [sic] 1707, vol. i., in 'A Collection of choice Tracts,' 1721, and in 'A small Collection of valuable Tracts relating to the Herring Fishery,' 1761.

Another work by Keymer, addressed to James I, on the importance of encouraging manufactures in England and increasing commerce by reducing customs, is extant in the Record Office (State Papers, Dom. James I, cxviii. 114). The latter suggestion was much in advance of the age, but on 20 Dec. 1622 Prince Charles, John Williams, bishop of Lincoln and Buckingham, were joined with others in a commission 'to hear the propositions of John Keymer, and consider whether they will tend to the good of the King and the Commonwealth, as is pretended' (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1619-22, p. 469). Nothing further seems to have been done in the matter.

[Editions of Keymer's book in Brit. Mus. Libr.; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1619-22; Gentleman's Way to Win Wealth, 1614; Palgrave's Dict. of Political Economy, s.v. 'Gentleman, Tobias.']

A. F. P.

KING, THOMAS (1835–1888), prize-fighter, was born in Silver Street, Stepney, on 14 Aug. 1835, and as a youth served before the mast both in the navy and in a trading vessel. About 1858 he obtained a position as foreman of labourers at the Victoria Docks. His courage in disposing of a dock bully known as 'Brighton Bill' commended him to the notice of the ex-champion, Jem Ward, who coached him with the gloves at the George in Ratcliffe Highway. On 27 Nov. 1860, on the Kentish marshes, he met Tommy Truckle of Portsmouth for 50l. a side, and defeated him in forty-nine rounds (sixty-two minutes). He was now taken in hand and trained by Nat Langham at the Feathers, Wandsworth, for a contest with William Evans ('Young Broome'), to be followed, if successful, by a fight for the championship with Jem Mace, the finest boxer in England since the retirement of Sayers. The betting of two to one on King was justified by the event on 21 Oct. 1861, after a long fight interrupted by the police at the seventeenth round, but resumed until the forty-third. The fight between the 'Young Sailor,' as King was called, and the 'scientific' Jem Mace of Norwich had another issue, King being outclassed after displaying the utmost pluck in a contest of sixty-eight minutes (28 Jan. 1862). A return match, which excited much greater interest, took place at Aldershot (26 Nov. 1862). The betting was seven to four on Mace, who had the best of the fighting, but was knocked out by a single blow, a 'terrific cross-counter on the left cheek,' in the nineteenth round. In this battle of thirty-eight minutes King had shown himself a glutton for punishment, of a 'bottom' and endurance worthy of the