PERCIVAL, James Gates, an American poet, was born in 1795 at Kensington, Connecticut. He studied at Yale college, and in his twentieth year wrote a tragedy entitled "Zamor." In 1820 he published a volume of poetry, and settled the same year as a doctor of medicine in Charleston. In 1822 he published the first and second parts of "Clio," a miscellany in prose and verse, of which the third part appeared in 1827. He was appointed professor of chemistry to the military academy of West Point in 1824, a post he soon quitted for a residence in Boston. He assisted Noah Webster in his dictionary. He has given a further proof of his versatility by his "Report on the geology of Connecticut," 1842, of which state he was appointed geologist in 1854. A collection of his poetical works was published in 1826, and reprinted in London.—R. H.
PERCIVAL, Thomas, M D., a physician, well-known as the author of many works on science and morals, was born at Warrington on September 29, 1740. At the age of three he lost both his parents in one day. The place of a mother, however, was in some degree supplied by an elder sister, who brought him up with exemplary care. He was sent first to a private school, and afterwards to the free grammar-school at Warrington, where he received a good classical education under the Rev. Mr. Hayward. He subsequently studied at the Warrington academy, of which institution a dissenting minister, the Rev. Dr. Taylor, was at the time principal. At the age of twenty-one he had chosen medicine for his profession, and commenced his studies at the university of Edinburgh. There he remained three sessions, and secured the acquaintance of Hume, Robertson, and many others distinguished in science and literature. The following year was spent in acquiring professional knowledge in London, and at same time cultivating the friendship of Lord Willoughby de Parham, through whose influence he was early elected F.R.S. In his twenty-fifth year he went to Leyden for the purpose of completing his studies and graduating. Having publicly defended his inaugural thesis "De Frigore," he obtained his degree on the 6th July, 1765. After spending a short time in travel, he returned to England, married a daughter of Mr. N. Bassnett, merchant, of London, and commenced practice. He first went to Warrington, where he remained two years, but finally settled at Manchester. He rapidly acquired professional reputation and practice. He was instrumental in founding the Manchester Philosophical Society, an institution which originated in a weekly meeting of literary men at his house. Of this society Dr. Percival was first president. He died at Manchester after a short illness in August, 1804. Dr. Percival's scientific writings consist principally of papers originally contributed to the Transactions of the Royal and Manchester Philosophical Societies, and to various periodicals. These he afterwards collected and published in three successive volumes, under the title of "Essays, Medical and Experimental." Amongst them is an essay on the use and preparations of cinchona bark, with regard to which his experiments led him to the conclusion that its aqueous solution was the preparation of greatest efficacy; a paper on the medicinal properties of the calumbo root; and an experimental inquiry into the action of medicines on the blood and animal fluids. His scientific works also comprise memoirs on the poisonous effects of lead; on the use of zinc in epilepsy; experiments and observations on water; observations on the waters of Buxton and Manchester; on a new mode of preparing potash, and on several other subjects connected with medicine. Amongst his miscellaneous writings may be mentioned a paper on the Roman colonies in Cheshire and Lancashire, and one on the population of Manchester. His principal ethical writings are "Moral Dissertations," and "A Father's Instructions to his Children." The last work he composed, which he dedicated as a legacy to his son, was on medical ethics. After his death his works were collected and published, with a memoir, by one of his sons.—F. C. W.
PERCY; the name of an ancient and illustrious family, derived from the town of Percy in the canton of St. Lo, Lower Normandy. Descended from chieftains who aided Rollo to conquer Normandy, the barons of Percy were nobles of repute for nearly two centuries previous to the conquest of England. William de Percy (Alsgernons aux moustaches, or William of the whiskers), and his brother Serlo, stood high in the regard of Duke William and of his son Rufus, whom they accompanied to England. In a list preserved among the Harleian MSS. of the chieftains who served under the Conqueror in the Invasion, the first name is "Dominus Percye, magnus constabularius." This was Lord William, whose share in the spoil was a barony of thirty knights' fees, situated in Hampshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. Serlo became a monk, and died in 1102, prior of the monastery of St. Hilda in Yorkshire, which he and his brother founded anew. Lord William married a Saxon lady, daughter of one of the dispossessed earls, "in discharging of his conscience." He accompanied Duke Robert in the first crusade, and died in full view of the Holy City, at a place called Mount Joy, in 1096. With the death of his grandson William, the third lord from the Conquest, who distinguished himself at the battle of the Standard in 1138, the first race of Percys became extinct in the male line. Two daughters, Maud and Agnes, remained to share the vast inheritance. The former married the earl of Warwick, but died childless. Agnes married Josceline of Louvain, of the ancient house of Hainault, and brother to the queen of King Henry I. of England. The conditions of the marriage insisted upon by the lady were, that her husband should assume either the name or the arms of Percy. Josceline adopted the name, but retained his paternal arms, which were borne by the Percys, his descendants. Josceline added to the great possessions of his wife the honour of Petworth in Sussex, and five and a half knights' fees in Yorkshire.—His youngest son, Richard, succeeded to the headship of the Percy family, to the exclusion of a nephew, the rightful heir. Richard took up arms against King John in 1215, helped to extort the Great Charter at Runnymede, and was one of the twenty-five guardians appointed to see that it was duly observed. Dying in 1244 his possessions reverted to the true heir, Lord William, who died shortly afterwards, and was succeeded by his son Henry, who in the troublous times of King Henry III. played fast and loose with loyalty, and suffered many vicissitudes. He died in 1272, the same year with the unfortunate king.—His youngest son, Henry, became the next lord, and bravely followed the banner of King Edward I. in Wales, in Scotland, and in France; was knighted by the king before Berwick; and played a conspicuous part in the battle of Dunbar (1296). He bought the barony of Alnwick, which gave a new distinctive title to the family.—His son Henry, the second Lord Percy of Alnwick, supported Queen Isabel against her unhappy husband, Edward II., and subsequently enjoyed the confidence of Edward III. He was at the memorable battle of Halidon Hill (1333), in which the Scots suffered a total defeat, and overcame them again at Nevil's Cross (1346), where David Bruce, king of Scotland, was taken prisoner. He died in 1352, and was succeeded by his son Henry, who had already gained his laurels at the battle of Cressy, 1346. This third Lord Percy of Alnwick, as warden of the marches, had much to do in the affairs of Scotland. He became allied to the royal family by marrying Mary Plantagenet, daughter of Henry, earl of Lancaster, who was grandson of King Henry III.—The two sons of this nobleman, Henry and Thomas, both became eminent. The latter for his great services by sea and land, in peace and war, in France and elsewhere, was created, in 1397, earl of Worcester, by Richard II., who also made him admiral of the fleet, and bestowed other favours upon him. Nevertheless on that king's deposition Worcester accepted office under King Henry IV. (Bolingbroke), who strove, by conferring benefits, to gain his esteem and confidence. Commiseration for his old master may have influenced Worcester, when in 1403 he joined his brother and nephew in that insurrection which terminated so fatally for them at the battle of Shrewsbury. Worcester was taken prisoner, and beheaded at Shrewsbury. Henry Percy, the elder brother, was created Earl of Northumberland at the coronation of Richard II., 1377. He incurred much public odium, and some danger, from the favour he showed to the person and doctrines of John Wycliffe the reformer. A difference between him and John of Gaunt occurred in 1382 at Berwick, and was never entirely healed. Suspicions of Northumberland and his son Hotspur were instilled into the mind of the king, Richard II., who on his departure into Ireland in 1399 confiscated their estates, and proclaimed them traitors. This arbitrary act precipitated the revolution which has been called the conspiracy of the three Henrys—Bolingbroke, Northumberland, and Hotspur—and which terminated in the accession of Henry IV. to the throne. The services then rendered to King Henry were too great ever to be adequately rewarded. Northumberland was constable of England, and his power and authority threatened to overshadow the throne. In 1402 the Percys gained over
