Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Charles Mills
Charles Mills,
HISTORIAN,
Was the son of a physician at Greenwich, where he was born in 1788. He served his time as clerk to a solicitor in Lincoln's Inn, but he relinquished his legal pursuits for literature. In 1817 he published a "History of Mahommedanism," which was followed in 1819 by a "History of the Crusades," "The Travels of Theodore Ducas" (a voyage imaginaire, like that of Anarcharsis), and a "History of Chivalry." The works give evidence of much talent, taste, and learning, but are now so little known that a modem writer asks—"Who was Charles Mills?" and replies to the question, "I answer, many a worse man, many a writer with one-third of his knowledge has lived and does live; whilst he is chiefly to be found in a dusty back room (i.e., his remains) at Messrs. Longman's, Paternoster Row. Admirable, neglected works!" He died in 1825.
[See "Gentleman's Magazine," 1826, and "Allibone's Dictionary of Authors."]