Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/332

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

316 RICHARDSON RICHELIEU was the first to employ ether spray for local pain (1866), and in 1867 he introduced methy- lene bichloride as a general anaesthetic. He has published "Discourses on Practical Phys- ic," and many monographs in periodicals, and edited the " Journal of Public Health," found- ed by him, and the " Social Science Review." RICHARDSON, Charles, an English philologist, born in July, 1775, died at Feltham, Middlesex, Oct. 6, 1865. In 1815 appeared his "Illustra- tions of English Philology," in which he advo- cated the principles set forth by Home Tooke. He undertook the lexicographical portion of the "Encyclopaedia Metropolitana," the first part appearing in January, 1818 ; but after the issue of the fourth part the work was suspended for some years. The publication of the dictionary as a separate work was commenced in January, 1835, and finished at the end of 1837 (2 vols. 4to). He also publfshed a volume " On the Study of Languages" (12mo, 1854), an exposi- tion of the principles laid down in the " Diver- sions of Purley." RICHARDSON, James, an English traveller, born in Boston, Lincolnshire, Nov. 8, 1809, died at Ungurutua, central Africa, March 4, 1851. He early visited Algeria and the Bar- bary states, and in 1845 travelled across the desert of Sahara as far as Ghadames and Ghat, and after his return published "Travels in the Great Desert of Sak'ara" (2 vols., London, 1849). The English government placed him at the head of a new expedition, and, joined by Barth and Overweg, he left Tripoli in 1850, and was the first European visitor of the stony desert of Hammadah, whence he proceeded to Bornoo, where he died. Bayle St. John edited his " Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa" (2 vols., 1853). RICHARDSON, Sir John, a Scottish naturalist, born in Dumfries, Nov. 5, 1787, died near Gras- mere, June 5, 1805. He entered the navy in 1801 as an assistant surgeon, and subsequently became acting surgeon in the Hercules, 74. In 1819-'22 and 1825-'7 he accompanied Sir John Franklin in his arctic expeditions as sur- geon and naturalist, and in the second with one detachment of the party explored the coast E. of the Mackenzie to the mouth of the Cop- permine river. In 1848 he commanded one of the three expeditions which went out in search of Sir John Franklin, and returned in Novem- ber, 1849. In 1855 he retired from the naval service. His most important work is the Fauna Boreali- Americana (4 vols. 4to, Lon- don. 1829-'37), in which he was assisted by Swamson and Kirby. He also published " The Arctic Searching Expedition, a Journal of a Boat Voyage through Rupert's Land and the Arctic Sea," &c. (2 vols. 8vo, 1851), and "The Polar Regions" (8vo, Edinburgh, 1861). RICHARDSON, Samuel, an English author, born in Derbyshire in 1689, died in London, July 4, 1761. He was apprenticed to a printer of London, with whom he remained several years in the capacity of foreman. He then set up a printing office for himself, and obtained the employment of printing the journals of the house of commons. In 1754 he was master of the stationers' company. To his avocation of printer he gradually united that of prepar- ing indexes, prefaces, or dedications to the works which he printed ; and finally, after he was 50 years old, he wrote his novel "Pame^ la" (2 vols. 8vo, 1741), five editions of which were published within a year. He afterward wrote two additional volumes, which are con- sidered greatly inferior to the first. The ridi- cule of Fielding is well known. Richardson was deeply hurt by it, and predicted for Field- ing a speedy fall into oblivion. In 1748-'9 appeared " The History of Clarissa Harlowe " (8 vols.), which, besides passing through sev- eral editions at home, was speedily translated into French and German. His last work of fiction was " The History of Sir Charles Gran- dison" (6 vols., 1753-'4). He also published "./Esop's Fables with Reflections," and "Fa- miliar Letters to and from several Persons upon Business and other Subjects," out of which the project of "Pamela" had arisen. His " Correspondence " was published by Mrs. Barbauld in 1804 (6 vols. 12mo). A con- densed edition of " Clarissa Harlowe " ap- peared in New York in 1874. RICHELIEU, a S. W. county of Quebec, Can- ada, bounded N. W. by the St. Lawrence river; area, 189 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 20,048, of whom 19,317 were of French origin or descent. It is intersected by the Richelieu river, and bound- ed S. E. by the Yamaska. Capital, Sorel. RICHELIEU, Armand Jean Daptessis, cardinal and duke de, a French statesman, born in Paris, Sept. 5, 1585, died there, Dec. 4, M42. Ho was first destined to the career of arms, and began his military education as marquis du Chillon ; but his elder brother having resigned the bishopric of Lucon, he decided to take holy orders in order to succeed to that office. He studied theology, and was consecrated bishop on April 16, 1607. In 1614 he was one of the deputies of the clergy to the states general, and ingratiated himself with Maria de' Medici, assisted by Barbin, then comptroller of the treasury, and by Marshal d'Ancre. lie was appointed almoner of the queen mother, and in November, 1616, he entered the council as secretary of state. When, after the murder of Marshal d'Ancre, Maria de' Medici was ex- iled to Blois, Richelieu accompanied her, ac- tuated less by gratitude than by self-interest. His efforts to bring about a reconciliation be- tween the king and his mother resulted only in his own banishment to his diocese of Lu- con, which was followed in 1618 by a removal to Avignon, where he produced among othef works one entitled De la perfection du Chre- tien, a book of exalted asceticism. "When Maria de' Medici was recalled to the court, she rein- stated Richelieu in favor. From that period his credit constantly increased. Having strength- ened his position by the marriage of his niece