Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/638

 Ellery's work is mainly recorded in the 'Astronomical Results of the Melbourne Observatory,' vols. i. to viii. (1869-88), in the 'First Melbourne General Catalogue ' (1874), the 'Second Melbourne General Catalogue' (1890), and in various papers and Reports of the Melbourne Observatory by him in the 'Monthly Notices, R.A.S.' vols. xv. to lv. A 'Third Melbourne General Catalogue' was in preparation at his death.



ELLICOTT, CHARLES JOHN (1819–1905), bishop of Gloucester, was born on 25 April 1819 at Whitwell, near Stamford, where his father, Charles Spencer Ellicott, was rector. His mother was a Welsh lady, Ellen, daughter of John Jones. His grandfather was also a clergyman beneficed in Rutland, and was grandson of [q. v.], clock-maker to King George III and man of science. Ellicott was educated at the grammar schools of Oakham and Stamford, and proceeded in 1837 to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he won in 1838 the Bell University scholarship. At his tripos examinations he only passed as a senior optime and as second in the second class of the classical tripos; but he won the members' prize for a Latin essay in 1842 and the Hulsean prize for an essay on the Sabbath in 1843 (published the following year), and was elected to a Platt fellowship at St. John's College in 1845. He graduated B.A. in 1841 and M.A. in 1844, and was ordained deacon in 1846 and priest in 1847. After taking his degree he engaged in tutorial work. His fellowship lapsed on his marriage in 1848, and he accepted the small living of Pilton, Rutlandshire, where he pursued mathematical studies, publishing in 1851 'A Treatise on Analytical Statics.' He also began a series of commentaries on St. Paul's Epistles, and contributed an essay on the apocryphal gospels to 'Cambridge Essays' (1856). Until Bishop Lightfoot's works began to appear, Ellicott's commentaries on St. Paul's Epistles were recognised as the best in the English language for scholarship and breadth of view. His commentary on Galatians came out in 1854 (5th edit. 1884); that on Ephesians, on the pastoral epistles, on Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, and on Thessalonians, followed successively in 1855-6-7-8; all reached four editions. The commentary on 1 Corinthians was not published until 1887, and those on Romans and on 2 Corinthians he never completed. In 1851 Ellicott reviewed the first volume of Henry Alford's New Testament in the 'Christian Remembrancer.' complaining of his reliance upon German commentators. Alford issued a pamphlet in reply, but his cordial appreciation of Ellicott's 'Galatians' in 1854 led to a close friendship. Alford helped to broaden Ellicott's intellectual and religious views. In 1858 Ellicott left Pilton to succeed Trench as professor of New Testament exegesis at King's College, London. In 1859 he was Hulsean lecturer at Cambridge, and delivered the 'Historical Lectures on the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1860; 6th edit. 1876 which proved one of his most popular books. Next year he became Hulse professor, holding the post for some time with his King's College professorship and residing in Cambridge. On 19 Feb. 1860 he was seriously injured in a railway accident at Tottenham, while travelling from Cambridge to London; his gallantry ministering spiritually to his fellow suffer attracted public admiration. Despite a permanent limp (he could never wear episcopal gaiters), he continued to skate and enjoyed mountaineering. He joined the Alpine Club in 1871 and remained a member till 1904.

In 1861 Ellicott was made dean of Exeter, and also undertook the task of organising a diocesan training college. In the same year he contributed to 'Aids to Faith,' a volume designed as a counterblast to 'Essays and Reviews'; his essay dealt with Jowett's article on the 'Interpretation of Scripture.' In 1863 he was called to united sees of Gloucester and Bristol, an was consecrated in Canterbury Cathedral on 25 March 1863.

Ellicott's episcopate lasted for forty-two years. He threw himself vigorously in diocesan work, improving the efficiency of his clergy, showing himself sympathetic to all schools of thought, helping the establishment of the Gloucester Theological College, and raising in Bristol 85,000l. for the restoration of the 'truncated and nave-less' cathedral. He promoted the work of church extension, forming in Bristol in 1867 the Church Aid Society, and encouraging the Bristol Church Extension Fund. Outside his own diocese his activity and influence were so conspicuous that in 1868, on Archbishop Longley's death, was recommended by Disraeli for the vacant see of Canterbury; but Queen Victoria chose [q. v.]. Ellicott was secretary of the first Lambeth conference in 1867, and of its successors in 1878 and 1888; at the conference of 1898 he 