Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/178

 a classical scholarship in 1857, and a first senior moderatorship and gold medal in experimental science in 1859. In 1860 he graduated B.A. and in 1863 M.A. Subsequently (1885) he proceeded LL.D. In 1861 he obtained the degree of B.A., ad eundem, and also that of M.A., with honours and first gold medal in experimental science, in the Queen's (afterwards Royal) University of Ireland. Called to the Irish bar in 1862, he practised successfully for some years, and in 1882 took silk. From 1884 to 1890 he was regius professor of feudal and English law in Dublin University, and in 1890 became a judge of the supreme court of judicature of Ireland, and judicial commissioner of the Irish Land Commission. Owing to declining health he retired in 1898, when he was knighted. He was elected F.S.A. 10 Jan. 1908, and died at Dublin on 27 June following.

Bewley married in 1866 Anna Sophie Stewart, daughter of Henry Colles, a member of the Irish bar, and by her had two sons and one daughter.

Bewley spent his leisure in genealogical pursuits. He was a frequent contributor to the 'Genealogist,' 'Ancestor,' and other genealogical periodicals. His most important researches were privately printed. His three books, 'The Bewleys of Cumberland' (1902); 'The Family of Mulock' (1905); and 'The Family of Poe' (1906), are sound and patient investigations into family history; in the monograph on the Poe family he proved that Edgar Allan Poe was descended from a family of Powell, for generations tenant-farmers in co. Cavan. Bewley was also author of 'The Law and Practice of Taxation of Costs' (1867); 'A Treatise on the Common Law Procedure Acts' (1871); and joint-author of 'A Treatise on the Chancery (Ireland) Act, 1867' (1868).



BICKERSTETH, EDWARD HENRY (1825–1906), bishop of Exeter, only son of the Rev. (1786–1850) [q. v.] by his wife Sarah, eldest daughter of Thomas Bignold of Norwich, was born at Barnsbury Park, Islington, on 25 Jan. 1825, when his father was assistant secretary to the Church Missionary Society. (1814–1892) [q. v.], dean of Lichfield, and [q. v.], bishop of Ripon, were his cousins. Brought up at the rectory of Watton, Hertfordshire, which his father accepted in 1830, Edward remained faithful through life to the earnest evangelical piety of his family. At fourteen he determined to take holy orders. Educated entirely at home, his tutor was [q. v.], his father's curate, and subsequently his son-in-law. In 1843 he matriculated from Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1847 he graduated B.A. as a senior optime and third classman in classics. He proceeded M.A. in 1850, and hon. D.D. in 1885. His comparatively low place in the class lists was atoned for by his unique success in winning the chancellor's medal for English verse in three successive years, 1844^-5-6 (a volume of 'Poems' collected these and other verses in 1849). Later, in 1854, he won the Seatonian prize for an English sacred poem on 'Ezekiel,' which was also published. Ordained deacon in 1848 and priest in 1849 by Bishop Stanley, Bickersteth was licensed as curate-in-charge of Banningham near Aylsham. On a failure of health in 1851 he became curate to Christ Church, Tunbridge Wells. In 1853 he was appointed by Lord Ashley, afterwards earl of Shaftesbury, to the rectory of Hinton Martell near Wimborne, Dorset, and in 1855 he accepted the important vicarage of Christ Church, Hampstead.

Bickersteth remained vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead, for thirty years. His incumbency furnishes a typical example of the pastoral ideals of current evangelical piety. He insisted on the value of retreats and quiet days. In 1879 he established daily services in his parish and recommended the open church. His devotion to the Church Missionary Society was hereditary. Throughout his Hampstead incumbency he was a member of the committee, and the yearly contribution of his congregation ultimately reached 1000l. He paid two long visits to the East, mainly to encourage missionary work, in 1880-1, when he visited India and Palestine, and in 1891, when he went to Japan. When he was a deacon he composed for the jubilee of the Church Missionary Society the well-known hymn 'O Brothers, lift your voices,' and fifty years later he composed another for use when he presided over the centenary of the society. He also impartially supported many church and diocesan societies which lacked earlier evangelical sanction.

While at Hampstead Bickersteth won a wide recognition as a religious writer in both verse and prose. In 1866 he published 'Yesterday, To-day, and For Ever; a poem in twelve books,' which achieved remarkable popularity among religious people. It was estimated that 27,000 copies were 