GRIMES, ROBERT (d. 1701), colonel. [See Graham, Robert.]
GRIMESTONE, ELIZABETH (d. 1603). [See Grimston.]
GRIMM, SAMUEL HIERONYMUS (1734–1794), water-colour painter, son of a miniature-painter, was born in 1734 at Burgdorf, near Berne in Switzerland. He came to London, and in 1769 was an exhibitor at the first exhibition of the Royal Academy, sending drawings of 'The Death of Priam' and 'The Feast of the Centaurs.' Grimm resided for some time in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, and was a frequent exhibitor of drawings. In 1774 he exhibited two drawings of 'The Distribution of the Maundy in the Chapel Royal at Whitehall,' which were subsequently engraved by James Basire. Grimm's subjects were varied, but he was chiefly noted for his skill and accuracy as a topographical draughtsman. He was employed by Sir Richard Kaye to make drawings in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and other counties, and by Sir William Burrell to make drawings for his 'Sussex Collections.' Both of these large topographical collections are preserved in the department of manuscripts at the British Museum. In this line Grimm could hardly be excelled. His views of Cowdray House were published by the Society of Antiquaries in 'Vetusta Monumenta' He sometimes drew caricatures and humorous subjects, which were published by Carrington Bowles, and he occasionally practised etching himself. He died in Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, 14 April 1794, aged 60, and was buried in St. Paul's, Covent Garden. There are water-colour paintings by him in the print room at the British Museum and in the South Kensington Museum.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Edwards's Anecdotes of Painters; Royal Academy Catalogues.]
GRIMSHAW, WILLIAM (1708–1763), incumbent of Haworth, Yorkshire, was born at Brindle, Lancashire, on 3 Sept. 1708. He was educated at the grammar schools of Blackburn and Hesketh, and at the age of eighteen went to Christ's College, Cambridge. In 1731 he was ordained deacon, and became curate of Rochdale, but in the same year removed to Todmorden, which is a chaplaincy in the patronage of the vicar of Rochdale. At Todmorden he led at first a careless life; but in 1734 and the following years he passed through a long and severe spiritual struggle. The death of his wife, to whom he was deeply attached, is thought to have been the turning-point in his career. It does not appear that he was even aware of the similar change which was going on at about the same time in the Wesleys, Whitefield, and others. He was, however, much affected by the writings of the puritans of the preceding century, especially by Thomas Brooks's 'Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices' (1652), and 'Owen on Justification.' Some time before he left Todmorden he became a changed man, and when in 1742 he was appointed perpetual curate of Haworth, he entered upon his work in his new parish with the fervour characteristic of the early evangelicals. Haworth is a desolate parish on the Yorkshire moors. It is now famous as the home of the Brontes. Grimshaw had become acquainted with the leading methodists, and joyfully welcomed in his pulpit the two Wesleys, Whitefield, Romaine, and Henry Venn. He also became intimate with John Nelson, the stonemason, one of the most remarkable of John Wesley's lay-preachers. Grimshaw became in his own person a most successful evangelist. The effects which he produced in his own parish were marvellous. He raised the number of communicants from twelve to twelve hundred, and acquired so much influence in the place that he was able to put a stop to Haworth races, to enforce the strictest observance of the Lord's day, and bring his people to church whether they would or not. Though he was eccentric to the verge of madness, no one could help respecting 'the mad parson.' His earnestness, his self-denial, his real humility, his entire absorption in one great object, and the thorough consistency of his life with his principles, were patent to all. He was also most charitable, both in the ordinary and in the highest sense of the term. In the hot disputes between Calvinists and Arminians he lived in perfect amity with the adherents of both
