Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/454

 some independence. His 'Tales from Greek Mythology' (1861), 'A Manual of Mythology' (1867), 'The Mythology of the Aryan Nations' (1870; new edit. 1882), and 'An Introduction to the Science of Comparative Mythology' (1881), all enjoyed a wide vogue, although they pressed to extravagant limits the solar and nebular theory of the origin of myths. He was a frequent contributor to the leading reviews, and joint editor with [q. v.] of the 'Dictionary of Science, Literature, and Art' (3 vols. 1865-7; new edit. 1875).

In 1877 Cox claimed to succeed to the baronetcy of Cox of Dunmanway, which had been granted to Sir [q. v.] in 1706. He believed himself to be the heir male of William the eighth son of the first baronet. On the death in 1873 of a distant cousin, Sir Francis Hawtrey Cox, the twelfth baronet, the title had been treated by the Ulster office of arms as extinct. Nevertheless it was then assumed by Cox's uncle, Colonel (Sir) Edmund Cox, on whose death in 1877 Cox adopted the titular prefix. His right to the dignity was disallowed after his death by a committee of the privy council on 9 Nov. 1911, when his son and heir, Mr. Edmund Charles Cox, petitioned for recognition as a baronet. The petition was opposed by one who asserted descent from the eldest son of the first baronet.

In 1880 Cox was appointed vicar of Bekesbourne by A. C. Tait, archbishop of Canterbury, and from 1881 to 1897 he was rector of the crown living of Scrayingharn, Yorkshire. In 1886 he was chosen bishop of Natal by the adherents of Colenso, but was refused consecration by Archbishop Benson owing to his election being unacceptable to the high church party (, Life of Edward White Benson, 1899, p. 500). On 18 May 1896 he received a civil list pension of 120l. He died at Ivy House, Walmer, on 9 Feb. 1902, His ashes were buried after cremation at Long Cross, Chertsey. Cox married in 1850 Emily Maria, daughter of Lieutenant-colonel W. Stirling (d. 1898) of the East India Company's service. He had five sons and two daughters. His eldest surviving son, Edmund Charles Cox, at the time district superintendent of police at Poona, was the unsuccessful claimant to the baronetcy.

 CRAIG, ISA, poetical writer. [See (1831–1903).]

CRAIG, WILLIAM JAMES (1843–1906), editor of Shakespeare, born on 6 Nov. 1843 at Camus juxta Bann, known also as Macosquin, co. Derry, was second son of George Craig (1800–1888), who was then curate of that place and from 1853 till his retirement in 1880 was rector of Aghanloo in the same county. Craig's mother was Mary Catherine Sandys (1803–1879), daughter of Charles Brett of Belfast and of Charleville, co. Down.

After attending Portora School, Enniskillen, Craig entered Trinity College, Dublin, as a pensioner on 1 July 1861, and graduated B.A. in 1865 as junior moderator with silver medal in history and English literature, proceeding M.A. in 1870. From his undergraduate days he devoted himself with enthusiasm to English study, and was a pedestrian of unusual endurance. After graduating, he acted as private tutor in history and literature at Trinity, and in 1874 he migrated to London to engage in private coaching for the army and civil service. In 1876 he was appointed professor of English language and literature at University College, Aberystwyth. A Shakespeare reading class, which he instituted there, did much to stimulate a knowledge of the dramatist's work, and he infected his pupils, who included Thomas Edward Ellis (afterwards M.P. for Merionethshire) and Sir Samuel Evans (afterwards president of the probate and divorce division of the high court), with something of his own eager literary zeal. He resigned his professorship in 1879 to resume coaching in London. Save during 1884, when he was tutor at Hatfield to Lord Hugh Cecil, youngest son of the marquis of Salisbury, he was continuously employed in private tuition in London till 1898.

From that year till his death Craig confined his energies to philological and literary research, frequently reading at the British Museum. He had already published in 1883, for the New Shakspere Society, a minute collation of the first folio text of 'Cymbeline' with the later folios. There followed in 1894 a one-volume edition of Shakespeare's complete works with a brief glossary for the Clarendon Press at Oxford. This edition, known as 'The Oxford Shakespeare,' has