Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 12.djvu/51

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Constable
45
Constable

all 'conveyed in a mass together' (ib. i. 457). True bills were returned against them, and after their condemnation it seemed to the king 'not amiss' that some of them should be remitted to their county for execution, 'as well for example as to see who would groan' (State Papers, i. 666). Constable and Aske were therefore sent down to Yorkshire, exhibited as traitors in the towns through which they passed, and Constable was hanged in chains at Hull in June. He married Jane, daughter of Sir William Ingloby, by whom he had eight children (Foster, Yorkshire Pedigrees).

[Authorities cited above.]

R. W. D.


CONSTABLE, THOMAS (1812–1881), printer and publisher, youngest son of Archibald Constable [q. v.] by his first marriage to Mary, daughter of David Willison, was born at Craigcrook, near Edinburgh, 29 June 1812. He learned the business of a printer with Mr. C. Richards in St. Martin's Lane, London, and commencing on his own account in Edinburgh soon occupied a position of prominence. On 7 Sept. 1839 he was appointed her majesty's printer and publisher in Edinburgh. Shortly after the death of Dr. Chalmers in 1847 he purchased the copyright of Dr. Chalmers's works, and of the 'Life' by Dr. Hanna, for 10,000l. Although the undertaking resulted in loss, it did not deter him from further publishing enterprises. About 1864 he began to issue the series of schoolbooks still known as 'Constable's Educational Series,' among the more notable books of the series being Morell's 'English Grammar' and Clyde's 'Geography.' In the same year he published the first volume of the complete edition of Dugald Stewart's 'Works,' edited by Sir William Hamilton and extending to ten volumes. About 1866 he projected 'Constable's Foreign Miscellany,' consisting of translations of important foreign works in general literature. The series was continued for several years, but was not remarkably successful. Among other publications of Constable were Calvin's 'Commentaries,' the novels of Giovanni Ruffini, and the earlier works of Dr. John Brown, author of 'Rab and his Friends.' In 1860 he discontinued the publishing business, his stock being chiefly disposed of to Messrs. Edmonston & Douglas. In his later years Constable devoted his leisure to literary occupation. His life of his father, published under the title 'Archibald Constable and his Literary Correspondents,' 1878, while of permanent interest from the valuable materials he had at his disposal, displays both sound judgment and considerable literary skill. He was also the author of 'Memoir of Lewis D. B. Gordon, F.R.S.E., Professor of Civil Engineering and Mechanics in the University of Glasgow,' printed for private circulation, Edinburgh, 1877, and of a 'Memoir of the Rev. Charles A. Chastel de Boinville,' London, 1880. He died 26 May 1881. By his wife Lucia Anne, daughter of Alexander Cowan, papermaker, Valleyfield, near Edinburgh, he had issue. His son Archibald became partner with him in 1865, and received the appointment of printer to her majesty in 1869, the business being carried on under the designation of 'Thomas & Archibald Constable, printers to the queen and to the university of Edinburgh.'

[Notice in Scotsman by Dr. Walter C. Smith, 28 May 1881; private information.]

T. F. H.


CONSTABLE, Sir THOMAS HUGH CLIFFORD (1762–1823), topographer and botanist, was the eldest son of Thomas Clifford (fourth son of Hugh, third Lord Clifford of Chudleigh), and Barbara Aston, youngest daughter and coheiress of James, fifth lord Aston of Forfar. His parents being catholics sent him to be educated in the academy opened at Liège by the English ex-jesuits after their expulsion from Bruges (Gillow, Bibl. Dict. of the English Catholics, i. 656); and he continued his studies at the college of Navarre, in Paris, after which he travelled on foot over Switzerland. Having lost his mother in 1786, and his father in 1787, he settled at Tixall in Staffordshire, the estate of the Astons, which he inherited from his mother; and he married in 1791 Mary Macdonald, second daughter of John Chichester of Arlington, Devonshire. During his residence at Bath he gave a cordial welcome to the French emigrants, and when Louis XV in visited that city in 1813, a few months before the Restoration, he twice invited him to his table (Annuaire Nécrologique,, 1824, p. 387). By patent dated 22 May 1816 Clifford was created a baronet at the particular request of Louis XVIII. In 1821 he succeeded to the estates of Francis Constable, esq., of Burton Constable and Wycliffe Hall (Gent. Mag. 1823, i. 470), and two years later he was, by royal sign-manual, allowed to take the name of Constable only. He died at Ghent on 26 Feb. 1823.

Of his extensive knowledge of botany he has left a proof in the 'Flora Tixalliana,' appended to the 'Historical and Topographical Description of the Parish of Tixall' (Paris, 1817, 4to, privately printed), which he composed in conjunction with his brother, Arthur Clifford [q. v.], and to which he furnished almost all the materials (Gent. Mag. 1830, i. 274). One copy of this work was