Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 23.djvu/235

Griffin . He eventually became a member of the catholic society of the Christian Brothers, a body devoted to teaching. Griffin discharged his duties as a brother of the order till prostrated by a fever, of which he died on 12 June 1840 at the North Monastery, Cork. Griffin's play of ‘Gisippus,’ which had been declined in the author's lifetime by Charles Kean and others, was produced in 1842 at Drury Lane by Macready, who impersonated the principal character, while Miss Helen Faucit appeared as Sophrania. In the same year it was published at London, and reached a second edition immediately. An edition of Griffin's novels and poems, with a memoir of his life and writings by his brother, William Griffin, M.D., was issued at London, in eight volumes, in 1842–3, and subsequently reprinted at Dublin. Many of Griffin's novels formed separate volumes of Duffy's ‘Popular Library’ issued at Dublin in 1854. His ‘Poetical Works’ were issued separately in 1851, and his ‘Poetical and Dramatic Works’ with ‘Gisippus’ in 1857 and 1859. A portrait of Griffin is extant at Dublin, in the possession of a relative. By those acquainted with Irish life, Griffin's novels have been highly praised. Thomas Osborne Davis [q. v.], of the Irish ‘Nation,’ describes the ‘Collegians’ and ‘Suil Dhow’ as ‘two of the most perfect prose fictions in the world.’ The fidelity with which the scenery of South Ireland and the manners of the Irish upper and middle classes of the eighteenth century are depicted in the whole series to which these stories belong, leads Davis to compare Griffin with Sir Walter Scott. In ‘Gisippus’ Davis sees ‘the greatest drama written by an Irishman’ (cf. Davis, Prose Writings, ed. Rolleston, 1889, p. 282). Miss Mitford, a more sober critic, is hardly less enthusiastic in the sympathetic sketch which she gives of Griffin in her ‘Recollections.’ On Griffin's ‘Collegians’ Mr. Dion Boucicault founded his well-known play entitled ‘The Colleen Bawn; or the Brides of Garry-Owen,’ first produced at the Adelphi Theatre, London, on 10 Sept. 1860. A popular edition of the novel, illustrated by ‘Phiz,’ was issued in 1861 as ‘The Colleen Bawn; or the Collegian's Wife.’ ]

 GRIFFIN (formerly ), JOHN GRIFFIN, (1719–1797), field-marshal, born 13 March 1719 at Oundle in Northamptonshire, was the eldest son of William Whitwell of that place and his wife Ann, youngest sister of Lord Griffin of Braybrooke and grand-daughter of James Howard, third earl of Suffolk and baron Howard de Walden. He entered the army, became captain in the 3rd regiment of foot-guards in March 1744, and served with the allied forces in the Netharlands and Germany during the war of the Austrian succession and the seven years' war. In this service he distinguished himself, and succeeded to the command of the 33rd regiment, stationed in Germany. He was promoted major-general on 25 June 1759, lieutenant-general on 19 Jan. 1761, general on 2 April 1778, and field-marshal on 30 July 1796. As a reward for his military services he was made a knight of the Bath, and installed in Henry VII's Chapel on 26 May 1761.

In 1749 he assumed by act of parliament the surname and arms of Griffin, on receiving from his aunt Elizabeth, wife of the first Earl of Portsmouth, her share in the estate of Saffron Walden in Essex. On the death of the same aunt he also inherited Audley House with its demeenes. On 26 Nov. 1749 he was elected member of parliament for Andover Vice Viscount Lymington, deceased, and continued to represent the constituency till 1784, when he succeeded to the House of Lords as Baron Howard de Walden, his claim to the barony as representative of the last lord having been allowed by a committee of the house on 8 Aug. 1784.

He married, (1) on 9 Feb. 1749, Anne Mary (d. 18 Aug. 1764), daughter of John, baron Schutz, and, (2) on 11 June 1765, Catherine, daughter of William Clayton, esq., of Harleyford in Buckinghamshire. He was created in 1788 Baron Braybrooke of Braybrooke in Northamptonshire, with special remainder in his kinsman Richard Aldworth Neville. He died on 2 June 1797 without issue, when the barony of Howard de Walden again fell for a time into abeyance. At the time of his death he was lord-lieutenant (chosen in 1784) and vice-admiral of the county of Essex, colonel of the Queen's Own dragoons, and recorder of Saffron Walden.

 GRIFFIN, JOHN JOSEPH (1802–1877), chemist, was born in London in 1802, and was brought up as a bookseller in the firm of Messrs. Tegg & Co. In 1832 he married Mary Ann Holder, by whom he had twelve children, including William Griffin, F.C.S (d. July 1888), and Charles Griffin, F.S.A. Griffin commenced business in Glasgow as a bookseller and publisher and dealer in chemical Rh