Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 25.djvu/431

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the house-book of St. Caillin's Abbey, co. Leitrim; and in 1887 one volume of the ‘Annals of Ulster,’ carrying that chronicle up to 1056. He translated the ‘Tripartite Life of St. Patrick’ (1871); revised the ‘Pedigree of the White Knight’ (1856); edited the text of the ‘Poets and Poetry of Munster’ (Dublin, 1883); translated and added a tract on ‘Cath Cnucha’ from ‘Leabhar na h-Uidhre,’ and ‘Mac Conglinne's Dream’ from ‘Leabhar Breac’ (Fraser's Magazine, September 1873). He was elected Todd professor at the Royal Irish Academy 1882–4, and in that capacity prepared a text and translation of ‘Mesca Ulad,’ the drunkenness of the Ulstermen, which was published in 1889, immediately after his death. He left another old tale, ‘Bruiden Dáderga,’ in proof at the time of his death. He wrote an article in ‘La Revue Celtique’ (i. 3) on the ancient Irish goddess of war, and two admirable ‘Essays’ on MacPherson's Ossian and the Ossianic literature in the ‘Academy’ (1 and 15 Aug. 1871). These are the best examinations of the subject which have been published; they display excellent taste and exact Gaelic scholarship. Besides these published works, he left behind him numerous manuscript transcripts and translations of Irish texts, and an edition of O'Reilly's ‘Irish Dictionary’ with copious additions in his hand. He often wrote his transcripts in a Roman character, but his Irish handwriting was beautifully clear, and in general effect resembled that of Dubhaltach MacFirbisigh. He lost his wife and a married daughter, and these afflictions induced a condition of nervous depression from which he never rallied. He died at his residence, 71 Pembroke Road, Dublin, 13 Jan. 1889, and left no greater Irish scholar behind him in Ireland. His conversation was full of learning, and he was liberal in his communication of knowledge.

[Memoir by Standish H. O'Grady, Academy, No. 873; Works; Letters and personal knowledge; Sale Catalogue of his books and manuscripts, Dublin, 1890.]

N. M.

HENNIKER, Sir FREDERICK (1793–1825), traveller, eldest son of the Hon. Sir Brydges Trecothick Henniker of Newton Hall, Essex, bart., by his wife Mary, eldest daughter of William Press, and a grandson of John, first baron Henniker, was born on 1 Nov. 1793. He was educated at Eton and at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1815. He succeeded his father as second baronet on 3 July 1816, and subsequently travelled through France and Italy to Malta, and thence to Alexandria and Upper Egypt, Nubia, and the oasis Boeris. After revisiting Cairo he went to Mount Sinai and Jerusalem, returning home by Smyrna, Athens, Constantinople, and Vienna. While on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho he was severely wounded by banditti, and left stark naked. In 1823 he published an account of his travels under the title of ‘Notes during a Visit to Egypt, Nubia, the Oasis, Mount Sinai, and Jerusalem’ (London, 8vo); a second edition appeared, with a slightly altered title, in the following year (London, 8vo). In the spring of 1825 he canvassed Reading with a view of contesting that borough in the event of a dissolution, but withdrew his candidature, and died in the Albany, Piccadilly, on 6 Aug. 1825, in the thirty-second year of his age. He was buried at Great Dunmow, Essex. He was unmarried, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his brother, the Hon. and Rev. Sir Augustus Brydges Henniker.

[Gent. Mag. 1825, vol. xcv. pt. ii. pp. 185–6; Ann. Reg. 1825, Chron. pp. 270–1; Georgian Era, 1834, iii. 473–4; Burke's Peerage, &c., 1890, p. 693; Foster's Baronetage, 1881, p. 306; Stapylton's Eton School Lists, 1864, pp. 60, 66; Grad. Cantabr. 1884, p. 248.]

G. F. R. B.

HENNIKER-MAJOR, JOHN, second Lord Henniker (1752–1821), born on 19 April 1752, was the eldest son of Sir John Henniker, knt., M.P., F.R.S., of Stratford-upon-Slaney, co. Wicklow, Newton Hall, Dunmow, and Stratford House, Stratford, both in Essex, who was elevated to the peerage of Ireland as Baron Henniker on 30 July 1800. His mother was Anne, eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir John Major, bart., of Worlingworth Hall, Suffolk (Foster, Peerage, 1882, p. 344). He was educated at Eton and St. John's College, Cambridge (M.A. by royal mandate 1772, LL.D. 1811), and was called to the bar in 1777 as a member of Lincoln's Inn. He was elected F.S.A. on 9 June 1785 (Gough, Chronolog. List Soc. Antiq. 1798, p. 40), and F.R.S. on 15 Dec. following (Thomson, Hist. Roy. Soc. Appendix iv. p. lix). On 10 Aug. 1792 he took the surname and arms of Major by royal license. He succeeded his father as second Baron Henniker on 13 April 1803. From January 1805 till 1812 he was M.P. for Rutlandshire in the tory interest, and from 1812 till his retirement in 1818 M.P. for Stamford, Lincolnshire (H. S. Smith, Parliaments of England, i. 205, ii. 13). He died on 4 Dec. 1821 at Stratford House, Essex. On 21 April 1794 he married Emily, daughter of Robert Jones of Duffryn, Glamorganshire, but by her, who died on 18 Dec. 1819, had no issue. He was succeeded in his title and estate by his