Page images
PDF
EPUB

PAGE

Sweden, King of. (See Charles XV.) 94 Veuillot, Louis

Syme, James, M.D.

363 Viardot, Pauline Garcia

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Victor Emmanuel II., K. of Sardinia 383

363 Victoria, Her Majesty the Queen

383

Taglioni, Marie

Tait, Right Rev. Archibald
Taunton, Right Hon. Lord

Taylor, Alfred Swaine, M.D.

Taylor, Bayard

Taylor, Isaac

Taylor, Isidore, Baron

Taylor, Tom

Tenerani, Pietro

Tennent, Sir James E., M. P.

Tennyson, Alfred, D. C. L.

[ocr errors]

Thackeray, William Makepeace

Thalberg, Sigismund

[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors]

250 Vittoria, Duke of. (See Espartero). 154

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

384
. 385

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

Wales, Prince of. (See Albert Edwd.) 10
Walewski, Florian Alexandre
Walpole, Right Hon. Spencer, M.P.
368 Walter, John, M.P.

369 Ward, Edward Matthew, R. A.

Thesiger, Sir Fred. (See Chelmsford) 95 Warren, Samuel

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

5 386

387

. 387

. 387

388

. 389

[ocr errors]

. 389

. 389

390

390

390

. 391

392

373 Whiteside, Right Hon. James, M.P. 392

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

.

373 Whitty, Edward Michael

[ocr errors]

373 Whitworth, Joseph

[ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

374 Wilberforce, Right Rev. Samuel
374 Wilkes, Charles

[merged small][ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

394

Wilkinson, Sir John Gardner, Kt.. 393
William III., King of Holland
Williams, Major-General Sir W. F. 395
376 Willis, Nathaniel Parker

Titmarsh, M. Angelo. (See Thackeray)368
Todleben, Francis Edward .
Trench, Very Rev. Rich. Chenevix 376
Trollope, Mrs. Frances .
Troubridge, Col. Sir T., Bart., C. B. 376
Tuam, Archbishop of. (See M'Hale) 256
Tulloch, Rev. John, D.D.

Tupper, Martin Farquhar, D.C.L.
Turkey, Sult. of. (See Abdul-Medjid)

Uhland, Johann Ludwig

Ullman, Karl

Urquhart, David

[ocr errors]

377

[ocr errors]

395

Willis, Rev. Robert, M.A., F.R.S. 396
Wills, William Henry
Wilmore, James Tibbits

[ocr errors]

396

397

377 Windham, Major-General C., C.B. 397
3 Windischgrätz, Alfred, Prince de. 397
Winslow, Forbes, M.D.
Winterhalter, Franz Xavier
Wiseman, Nicholas, Cardinal

[ocr errors]

377

378

[blocks in formation]

Valencia, Duke of. (See Narvaez) 290 Wood, Right Hon. Sir C., M.P.

[blocks in formation]

.

.

398

398

399

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

379 Wright, Thomas

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

380 Wurtemburg, King of, William I. . 401

. 380 Wyatt, Matthew Digby

401

.

380 Yendys, Sydney. (See Dobell)

[merged small][ocr errors]

381 Young, Brigham

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small]

COTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY.

AAL

ABB

AALI PASHA, MEHEmit EmIN, a the Conferences of Vienna, he returned Turkish statesman and legislative re- to Turkey to become Grand Vizier : an former, was born at Constantinople office which he held when a commission in 1815. At the age of fifteen he was was appointed, over which he presided, admitted to the Translation Office of to draw up, in concert with the representhe Porte, on the recommendation of tatives of the Western Powers, those Reschid Pasha, the enlightened Turkish measures favourable to the Christian Reformer, who had the year before acted population of the Turkish Empire which as Secretary to the Turkish Plenipoten- were confirmed in 1856. As Plenipotentiaries at Adrianople. In 1834 Aali Pasha tiary of the Porte to the Paris Conferwas appointed Second-class Secretary to ences, he took an active part in the the Embassy of Ahmed Fethi Pasha to deliberations, and signed the treaty of Vienna, where he spent two years. He peace of 1856. In November, 1856, he visited Russia before returning to Con- resigned the office of Grand Vizier, and stantinople, making no stay, however, was succeeded by his old patron Reschid in the empire of the Czar. In November Pasha. Three weeks after, he entered 1837, he became Chief Interpreter to the the council as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Divan, and in 1838 Chargé d'Affaires which post, however, he resigned imto London, in which post he remained mediately on the death of Reschid in till the following year. In 1841 he was January, 1858. He was then re-invested appointed Ambassador to England, re- with the functions of Grand Vizier, in taining that office until 1844. With the which he has manifested a sincere desire elevation of Reschid Pasha to be Grand to reform Turkish abuses. From "A Vizier, Aali rose to be Foreign Minister, Biography of Aali Pasha," published in and participated in all the political for- Turkish by Fatin Effendi, it appears tunes, good and bad, of his patron from that the former enjoys a high reputa1846 to 1852. In 1852 he became Grand tion among his countrymen for poetical Vizier, and held the office for a few ability. A small, modest-looking man, months, when he retired for some time no one would conclude from his appearfrom public life. In 1854, however, he ance that he possessed such energy and obtained the post of Governor-General firmness of purpose as he has manifested of Broussa, and in October of the same in diplomatic negociations. year was recalled to Constantinople, ABBOTT, REV. JACOB, an American where he again became Minister of Fo-author, and Congregational minister, was reign Affairs, and filled various other born at Hallowell, in the State of Maine, offices. After representing the Porte at in 1803. He graduated at Bowdoin

B

"The

an insurrec

College in 1820, and became a Congrega- | having already appeared, and tional minister. In 1825 he commenced History of Italy" being on the eve of the publication of a series of moral and publication. religious works, with which his name ABD-EL-KADER was born in the has now become identified, of which neighbourhood of Mascara, in 1807. He "The Young Christian," "The Corner was educated with his three brothers in Stone," "The Way to do Good," and the Guetna, a sort of seminary kept in his illustrated "Histories," are the best the house of his father; the latter being known. He has written besides a great a Saint, who claimed descent from the number of juvenile works, which have Prophet. He early distinguished himhad a wide circulation, especially in self by his learning and eloquence. An America. Among these are the "Rollo attempt of the Dey of Algiers to assassiBooks," the "Lucy Books," and the nate him induced him to seek an asylum "Jonas Books;" the "Franconian Sto- | in Egypt, whence he did not return till ries," "Marco Polo's Adventures," "Sto- after the French conquest. His father, ries of the Rainbow," "The Florence who had taken the lead in Series," and "Harper's Story Books," tion of the Arab tribes near Oran, each of these forming a series in an incre- handed over his power to his son, who dible number of volumes. These works in 1832 attacked the city at the head of are all intended for the use of the young, 10,000 mounted Arabs. They thought and have attained to great popularity, that the Turkish power being overthrown owing to the clearness and simplicity by the French at Algiers, they might of the author's style, and the talent he achieve their independence. He was possesses of infusing interest into his opposed, however, by General Boyer, narratives; many of his works have who defended Oran with French troops, been reprinted in this country and repulsing the Arab leader after a terrible translated into various languages. engagement. Nevertheless his influence continued to increase with the wild tribes of Barbary. In 1834 General Des Michels entered into a treaty with him, whereby the Chelif became the boundary between the French and native possessions. The result of this arrangement was, that a sort of small monarchy was formed for him with Mascara for his capital, where he had ample leisure to prepare for a wide-spread resistance. The time came when he thought he might venture on a new attack. He crossed the Chelif, took possession of Medeah, and at the head of 20,000 mounted Arabs drove back the French from the course of the Macta. General Bugeaud was the first French commander who was successful in checking the resistance of the native population, and in breaking the prestige of Abd-el-Kader, who was of course looked upon by his countrymen as a prophet as well as a

ABBOTT, REV. JOHN, S. C., an American author, Congregational minister, and brother of the Rev. Jacob Abbott, was born in 1805 at Brunswick, in the State of Maine. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1825, and at the Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1829, where he was trained as a Congregational minister. His principal works are "Kings and Queens; or, Life in a Palace," "The Mother at Home," "The Child at Home," "The History of Napoleon Bonaparte," "The History of the French Revolution, as viewed in the light of Republican Institutions," and Memoirs of "Marie Antoinette," "Joséphine," MadameRoland,” “Henry IV.," "Cortes," Hind Philip, Chief of Narragansett Indians." He is at present writing the Histories of the Monarchies of Continental Europe, those relating to "The Empires of Austria and Russia"

[ocr errors]

He afterwards settled at Brusa, where he lived in retirement until the town was destroyed by an earthquake. In 1853 and again in 1854 he visited Paris, and was quite a lion among the Parisians. He was anxious to take part in the Crimean war, but the state of his health forced him to remain at Constantinople; when last heard of he was in Damascus. He has lately (1860) taken the part of the Christians during the massacre perpetrated by the Druses, and his conduct in this respect would have done credit to one professing a higher degree of

of his ability all the fugitives who arrived in Damascus, and he has received a decoration from the French Emperor in acknowledgment of his noble interference.

soldier. The French commander offered terms of peace to his vanquished enemy, and entered into the treaty of Tafna with him on May 3rd, 1837. Two years after Abd-el-Kader found a pretext in ill-defined clauses of the treaty for a fresh war. The campaign of 1840 followed. General Bugeaud was then appointed Governor of Algeria, and introduced a new system of attack. He organized razzias whereby French military operations being carried across the whole width of Barbary to the shores of the desert, he endeavoured to starve the Arabs into submission. The cap- civilization. He protected to the utmost ture of Smala in February, 1842, forced Abd-el-Kader to retreat into Morocco; the emperor of that state having, it is alleged, subsidized him. In 1844 the combined troops of Abd-el-Kader and the Emperor of Morocco attacked General Bugeaud, who at Isly, on the 14th August, 1844, gained a decisive victory. The bombardment of the Moorish seaports by the French put an end to all overt interference on the part of the "Marocains," but it did not prevent the Arabs to the west of the Algerian frontier from joining the standard of insurrection. So late as 1845, he again menaced the great plain of the Metidja, the head-quarters of French colonization, which lies immediately behind Algiers. It was two years before the French troops, now acting with such part of the Emperor of Morocco's army as could be induced to fight against their countrymen, succeeded in crushing the Arab leader. Abd-el-Kader at last gave in his submission to General Lamoricière, on condition of being taken to Alexandria or St. Jean d'Acre. He was removed to France with his family, and afterwards confined at Toulon, the castle of Pau, and the castle of Amboise, with questionable respect to the pledge made him in Africa. The present Emperor set him at liberty in 1852, on the occasion of the proclamation of the Empire.

ABDUL-MEDJID, KHAN, Sultan of Turkey, was born April 23rd, 1823, and is the eldest son of Mahmoud II., whom he succeeded on the 1st July, 1839. His early education was conducted by mollahs and astrologers, and he has thus not had the advantage of a personal acquaintance with the customs and social life of Western nations. AbdulMedjid ascended the throne of his ancestors at a most critical epoch in the history of Turkey. The battle of Nezib had just been gained by Ibrahim Pasha, who seemed to have beaten down the might of the Ottoman empire, and thus the Sultan commenced his reign in an unfortunate state of affairs in every respect, and at a very early age. In this critical juncture the leading European powers interfered, to prevent the dismemberment of the dominions of the Sultan. The Pasha of Egypt refusing to accede to the terms of the treaty of London, his obstinacy was ultimately brought to reason by British cannon. had been anticipated that the reforms initiated under the stern rule of Mahmoud would be prevented under his somewhat facile successor. But in the

It

November of the year following his accession, the famous statute of Gulhani, or the Tanzimat or reforming ordinance, was proclaimed, which was to serve as the new basis of Turkish legislation. It had for its object the complete reformation of all the abuses which had converted Turkish rule into a perpetual state of anarchy. The Sultan thus vigorously prepared to follow out the dying requests of his parent. A conspiracy ensued, which was, however, speedily quelled. It is unfortunate that the reforms which the statute sought to introduce into Turkey have, practically speaking, been carried out nowhere, except in Constantinople and its immediate vicinity. As connecting itself intimately with late important events in the career of the Sultan, it is worthy of note that religious liberty has been very fully enjoyed under his sway; indeed neither of the powers that quarrelled over the guardianship of the holy places exhibits any thing approximating to the same toleration of opinion. And his protection of the Polish and Hungarian refugees of 1848, even in presence of the menaces of Russia and Austria, evinced a resolution which ultimately America and England became emulous of seconding. The Sultan has been for some time past endeavouring, by reforming the executive, to introduce an economy to which the Turkish government has long been a stranger. He is, however, surrounded by ministers who have only their own ends in view. His personal expenditure is also of the most lavish kind, and unfortunately he lacks the energy required to give his reforms effect. The expenses of the Russian war have also tended to impoverish the nation. He has obtained loans through the guarantee of England and France, which, however, have only served to meet extraordinary expenditure, and which still leave him in an embarrassed state. Educated in the manner above referred to, the good in

tentions of the Sultan are to a great extent neutralized by the pernicious influence of early associations.

ABERDEEN, GEORGE HAMILTON GORDON, EARL OF, was born in Edinburgh on 28th January, 1784. He received his early education at Harrow School, and afterwards entered the University of Cambridge, becoming M. A. in 1804. After returning from a lengthened tour in Europe, he published the results of some of his observations in a work entitled "An Inquiry into the Principles of Beauty in Grecian Architecture," which indicated the possession of an accurate and discriminating taste on the part of its author. Turning his attention to politics, Lord Aberdeen became Special Envoy to Vienna. This occurred at a time of great importance, and his mission was attended with success. Having entered the House of Lords, he was without office for many years, until he became Foreign Secretary under the Duke of Wellington in 1828, a post which he resigned towards the end of 1830. On Sir Robert Peel becoming Premier in 1834, Lord Aberdeen was chosen as Colonial Secretary. On the dissolution of this ministry, he remained without office for some years, and resumed the Foreign Department on Sir Robert Peel again becoming Premier. During his repeated official employments, Lord Aberdeen has been distinguished by an earnest attention to the duties of his position, and in political matters was generally opposed to liberal principles, until within the last few years, when Sir Robert Peel's conversion to Free-trade opinions made a breach in the ranks of the old Tory party. On Lord Derby resigning in 1852, Lord Aberdeen had assigned to him the difficult task of forming a new ministry, and his materials were of a most heterogeneous kind, inasmuch as he had to make his appointments from three different parties. Under such circumstances, it is a matter of surprise

« PreviousContinue »