Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 26.djvu/252

 third edition, revised and enlarged by F. W. Bedford, House Governor of Heriot's Hospital, 1872; Oliver and Boyd's Edinburgh Almanack for 1888, in which (article ‘George Heriot's Trust’) is given an account of the reconstitution of the governing body of the hospital, and the extended application of its funds under the scheme of 1885; Inventory of Original Documents in the Archives of George Heriot's Hospital, 1857; Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh, by James Grant; authorities cited.]  HERIOT, JOHN (1760–1833), author of ‘An Historical Sketch of Gibraltar,’ was born at Haddington on 22 April 1760. His father was sheriff-clerk of East Lothian. At the age of twelve he was sent to Edinburgh High School, and afterwards entered the university of Edinburgh, but domestic misfortunes dispersed the family. Heriot went to seek his fortune in London, where, Dr. Chambers states (Eminent Scotsmen, vol. ii.), he ‘enlisted’ in the marines. The army lists show that he was appointed a second lieutenant in the marines 13 Nov. 1778, and became first lieutenant in 1780. He served on board the Vengeance, the Preston, and afterwards the Elizabeth frigate on the coast of Africa and in the West Indies. In the last named vessel, a 32-gun frigate, commanded by Captain Maitland, he was present and was wounded in Rodney's action with the French fleet under De Guichen, 17 April 1780. Afterwards he exchanged to the Brune frigate, and was in her off Barbadoes in the terrible hurricane of 10 Oct. 1780. At the peace of 1783 Heriot was put on half-pay, which he commuted to aid his family. Like his brother, George Heriot, afterwards postmaster-general in Canada, and the author of some books of travel, Heriot had literary tastes, and had for many years a hard struggle. He wrote two novels, ‘The Sorrows of the Heart,’ 1787, and ‘The Half-pay Officer,’ 1789, embodying various incidents in his own career, on the proceeds of which he lived for two years. In 1792 he published his ‘Account of Gibraltar,’ intended as a handbook to Poggi's views of the rock. Heriot edited an account of the battle of the Nile from the notes of an officer of rank present in the battle, which went through several editions. He was for a while on the staff of the ‘Oracle’ newspaper, but, owing to a misunderstanding with the editor, transferred his services to the ‘World,’ of which he became editor, but which he was soon glad to abandon. At the suggestion of George Rose, clerk of parliaments (who had served some years in the navy), it was determined that Heriot should start a newspaper supporting the policy of Pitt, the expenses of which were to be guaranteed by certain other officials. With the aid of R. G. Clarke, afterwards printer of the ‘London Gazette,’ the first number of the ‘Sun’ appeared on 1 Oct. 1793. It speedily outstripped its rivals, the sales reaching the then large total of four thousand copies daily. ‘Peter Pindar’ and other writers of note were occasional contributors. Heriot started the ‘True Briton’ on 1 Jan. 1793, and continued to edit both papers until 1806, when he accepted a clerkship in the lottery office. In 1810 Heriot was appointed deputy paymaster-general of the troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands, in which capacity he was stationed at Barbadoes from 1810 to 1816. On his return home he was appointed by the Duke of York to the comptrollership of Chelsea Hospital, an easy berth, in which he ended his days. Heriot died at the age of seventy-three at Chelsea Hospital on 29 July 1833, within a week after his wife's death.

 HERKS, GARBRAND (fl. 1560), bookseller at Oxford. [See under, 1542–1589.]

HERKS, alias GARBRAND, JOHN, D.D., divine (1542–1589). [See .]

HERLE, CHARLES (1598–1659), puritan divine, third son of Edward Herle of Prideaux in Luxulyan, Cornwall, by his first wife, Anne, daughter of John Treffry of Fowey, was born at Prideaux in 1598. A member of the same family, Thomas Herle, was warden of Manchester College from 1559 to 1575 (Wardens of Manchester College, Chetham Soc., v. 75–84). Charles Herle matriculated on 23 Oct. 1612 at Exeter College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. on 7 July 1615 and M.A. in June 1618. He was ordained in the English church, and seems to have spent some years of his life as tutor of James Stanley, lord Strange, afterwards seventh earl of Derby, to whom he admitted deep indebtedness (dedication to Contemplations and Devotions, 1631). He became rector of Creed, Cornwall, in 1625 (, Fœdera, xviii. 639). Through his connection with the Stanleys he was presented on 26 June 1626 to the 