Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 28.djvu/423

 to flourish for several centuries, sending forth a large number of missionaries until, early in the twelfth century, its revenues were appropriated to the abbey of Tewkesbury (, Cartæ et Munimenta de Glamorgan, i. 21). Besides teaching his pupils, Illtyd is said to have worked with his own hands; to have been specially skilful in agriculture, and to have reclaimed a large portion of land from the sea (, loc. cit.), which may be the explanation of the miracle which is alleged to have united the island to the mainland. Later writers assert that he introduced improved methods of agriculture, and invented a new kind of plough. The story of Illtyd's life is the subject of a poem by Lewis Morganwg (fl. 1520) (Iolo MS. ff. 292-5). According to Cressy, his commemoration was held on 7 Feb., but the year in which he died is uncertain. At least twelve churches, seven of which are still called after his name, are dedicated to Illtyd in different parts of Wales; most of those in Glamorganshire were probably founded by him, as Llantwit Major, where a cross bearing an inscription to the memory of Iltet, Samson, and Ebisar, and erected about the ninth century, is still to be seen. It is engraved in Westwood's 'Lapidarium Walliæ,' pl. 4, and in Hübner's `Inscriptiones Christianæ,' p.23, where also is to be found Professor Rhŷs's reading of the inscription, which differs from that given in Haddan and Stubbs's `Councils,' i. 628.

 IMAGE, THOMAS (1772–1856), geologist, born in 1772, was son of John Image, vicar of Peterborough, and rector of Elton, Northamptonshire. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. 1795 and M.A. 1798. In 1798 he presented himself to the rectory of Whepstead, near Bury St. Edmund's, and in 1807 he became also rector of Stanningfield. Image was a very diligent collector of fossils, and the specimens in the museum at Whepstead fully illustrated the geology of the eastern counties (cf. and, Life of Sedgwick. ii. 320-2). In 1840 he was elected F.G.S. In 1856, owing to the exertions of Sedgwick, the fossils were bought by the university of Cambridge; they are now in the Woodwardian Museum. Image died at Whepstead rectory 8 March 1856. After his death his collection of minerals was sold by auction.

 IMISON, JOHN (d. 1788), mechanic and printer, was in business at Manchester in 1783-5 as a clock and watch maker and optician, and also as a printer. Lemoine states that 'among other pursuits he made some progress in the art of letter-founding, and actually printed several small popular novels at Manchester, with woodcuts cut by himself.' He printed 'Drill Husbandry Perfected, by the Rev. James Cooke' (about 1783), ' The History of the Lives, Acts, and Martyrdoms of … Blessed Christians,' with cuts (1785), and a pamphlet on `The Construction and Use of the Barometer or Weather Glass.' His best work was 'The School of Arts, or an Introduction to Useful Knowledge,' 1785. A portion of this was separately issued as 'A Treatise on the 'Mechanical Powers,' London, 1787. Second editions of both came out in 1794, and there were subsequent issues of the 'School of Arts' in 1803, entitled 'Elements of Science and Art,' and in 1807 and 1822. Imison died in London on 16 Aug. 1788.

 IMLAH, JOHN (1799–1846), poet, the son of an innkeeper, was born in Aberdeen on 15 Nov. 1799. On completing his education at the grammar school, he was apprenticed as piano-tuner to a local musicseller, and ultimately secured an appointment in the London house of Messrs. Broadwood. He died of yellow fever on 9 Jan. 1846, at St. James's, Jamaica, whither he had gone on a visit to a brother. Imlah had written poetry from his boyhood, and in 1827 he published `May Flowers,' London, 12mo, which was followed in 1841 by `Poems and Songs,' London, 12mo. He also contributed to Macleod's 'National Melodies' and the 'Edinburgh Literary Journal.' His songs are rich in fancy, and show a true instinct for the music of words. Several of them have won considerable popularity, and find a place in all Scotch collections. `Oh, gin I were where Gadie rins' is a special favourite, and its tune was for long the quick-march of the Aberdeen city rifle battalion.

 IMLAY, GILBERT (fl. 1793), author and soldier, was born in New Jersey about 1755, as may be inferred from an allusion in the preface to his account of Kentucky. He served in the American war of independence on the patriotic side, attaining the rank of captain. After its termination he went to Rh