Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 52.djvu/268

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entitled ‘Horæ Homileticæ; or discourses digested into one continued series, and forming a commentary upon every book of the Old and New Testament.’ This appeared in a long series of successive volumes, of which the first was published in 1796; the whole was first collected in 1819–20 in 11 vols. 8vo; with an appendix in 1828 in 6 vols. 8vo. An edition edited by Thomas Hartwell Horne [q. v.] appeared in 1832–3, and was often republished. The entire works of Simeon, including his translation of the Huguenot Jean Claude's ‘Essay on the Composition of a Sermon,’ were published in 21 vols. 8vo, London, 1840; a selection was issued in Bohn's series, 2 vols. 1854. Of the 5,000l. which he received for the copyright of the ‘Horæ Homileticæ’ Simeon appropriated upwards of three-fifths to missionary purposes.

[The Memoirs of the Life of Charles Simeon, together with a selection from his writings and correspondence, was edited by the Rev. William Carus (1804–1891), Simeon's intimate friend, curate and successor at Trinity Church, Cambridge (London, 1847, 8vo); see also Moule's Charles Simeon, 1892 (in English Leaders of Religion), with portrait; Close's Brief Sketch of the Character and Last Days of Charles Simeon, 1836; Christian Observer, 1837; Williamson's Brief Memoir of the Rev. Charles Simeon, 1848; Notes and Queries, 9th ser. i. 163.]

A. R. B.


SIMEON, Sir JOHN (1756–1824), master in chancery, born in 1756, was the son of Richard Simeon of Reading, and brother of Charles Simeon [q. v.] He matriculated from Merton College, Oxford, on 23 Oct. 1775, aged 19 (Foster, Alumni Oxon.) Having become a student of Lincoln's Inn on 12 Nov. 1773, he was called to the bar in Trinity term 1779. The same year he was elected recorder of his native town of Reading, and held that position until his resignation in 1807. He also represented it in parliament from June 1797 to 1802, when he suffered defeat, and again from 1806 to 1818. In 1789 he published a treatise on the ‘Law of Elections,’ which was well received by the profession; a second edition appeared in 1795. In November 1795 Simeon was appointed a master in chancery in ordinary, and discharged the duties of the office for twenty-eight years; for the last sixteen years of his life he was senior master. On 7 March 1812 he was placed at the head of the commission, composed of himself, Count Münster, and General Herbert Taylor, for placing George III's real and personal estate in trust during his majesty's illness; this delicate business was executed without salary. He acted as a commissioner for the protection of the king's property until his majesty's death in 1820. In consideration of his services a baronetcy was conferred upon Simeon on 22 May 1815, and by royal license on 26 May 1820 he received a grant of supporters to be borne by him and his successors in the title. On 9 July 1817 he petitioned to be called to the bench of Lincoln's Inn, but his application was not granted. Sir John died on 4 Feb. 1824, leaving by his wife Rebecca, eldest daughter of John Cornwall of Hendon, Middlesex, three sons and three daughters.

[Foster's Baronetage; Official Returns of Members of Parliament; Gent. Mag. 1824, i. 459; Ockerby's Book of Dignities; Lincoln's Inn Registers; Man's History of Reading.]

W. R. W.


SIMEON or SIMONS, JOSEPH (1594–1671), jesuit and dramatist, whose real name was Emmanuel Lobb, born at Portsmouth in 1594, was at the age of eleven sent to Portugal to learn the language with a view to mercantile life. There he was converted to the catholic faith by the jesuit father Henry Floyd. After a while he was sent to the college of the English jesuits at St. Omer, and he entered the English College at Rome, under the assumed name of Joseph Simeon, on 13 Oct. 1616. Having received minor orders in 1617, he left Rome for Belgium on 14 Sept. 1619, was received into the Society of Jesus at Liège, and was professed of the four vows on 25 Jan. 1632–3. After professing rhetoric and the belles-lettres in the English College at St. Omer for five years, he became professor of theology, philosophy, and sacred scripture in the English theologate of the Society of Jesus at Liège. In 1647 he was appointed rector of the English College at Rome, and in 1650 rector of the theologate at Liège. He was also instructor of the tertian fathers at Ghent. Being subsequently sent to the English mission he was at one period rector of the college of St. Ignatius. In 1667 he became the English provincial. When residing in London in 1669 he was consulted by the Duke of York, whom he afterwards reconciled to the Roman catholic church (Clarke, Life of James II, i. 440, 441; Sanders, Life of James II, 1704, p. 14). He died in London on 24 July 1671.

Simeon was author of the following tragedies, all of which are in five acts and in verse: 1. ‘Zeno, Tragœdia,’ Rome, 1648, 8vo, Antwerp, n.d. 12mo. 2. ‘Mercia, Tragœdia,’ Rome, 1648, 8vo. 3. ‘Theoctitus sive constans in Aula virtus,’ Liège, n.d. 12mo. 4. ‘Tragœdiæ quinque, quarum duæ postremæ nunc primum lucem vident,’ Liège, 1657, 12mo; Cologne, 1680 and 1697, 12mo. The two