Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 37.djvu/340

 was fluent, if verbose. In addition to the works above mentioned, and many tracts and printed speeches, his chief publications were: 1. ‘The British Churches in relation to the British People,’ 1849. 2. ‘The Franchise as a means of a People's Training,’ 1851. 3. ‘An Editor off the Line: Wayside Musings,’ 1865. 4. ‘Social Influences of the State Church,’ 1867. 

MICHAEL BLAUNPAYN (fl. 1250), also called and, Latin poet, was clearly a native of Cornwall, for in his satire he says: Nam rex Arturus nos primos Cornubienses. He is said to have studied at Oxford and Paris, and to have finally become dean of Utrecht. More reasonably, perhaps, he may be conjectured to have been a Cambridge scholar, for he thought fit to recite his satire before the chancellor and masters of that university. Michael boasts of being a better scholar and teacher than his adversary, Henry of Avranches. Henry was a poet who enjoyed the favour of the court, and had reflected on Cornish rusticity. This moved Michael to reply, which he did in a satire that was recited before Hugh, abbot of Westminster, the Dean of St. Paul's, and R. de Mortimer, an official of the Archbishop of Canterbury; afterwards it was again recited before the Bishop of Ely and the chancellor and masters of Cambridge. This poem, in leonine hexameters, is contained in MS. Royal 14, C. xiii. f. 269, and Cotton MS. Titus A. xx. ff. 52–69, in the British Museum, in MS. Bodley O.C. 3041 (, Cat. MSS. Angliæ), and MS. Ff. vi. 13, in the Cambridge University Library. An allusion to the bishop-elect of Winchester fixes its date between 1250 and 1260. In Cotton MS. Vespasian, D. v. f. 149, there are ‘Epistolæ et Carmina,’ which are ascribed to Michael by Richard James [q. v.] The introductory epistle begins ‘Solus et sapiencia.’ The poems include verses to various prelates, as Fulk Basset, William Ralegh, and Peter des Roches, and some lines ‘De veteri Sarisburie et ecclesie mutatione,’ inc. ‘Mons Saltisberie.’ Camden, in his ‘Remaines’ (ed. 1674, p. 10), quotes some lines against Normandy, which ‘merry Michael the Cornish poet piped on his oaten pipe for England.’ They begin: Nobilis Anglia pocula, prandia donat et æra. Michael is also credited with a ‘Life of St. Birinus’ and a ‘Historia Normannorum.’ 

MICHEL, JOHN (1804–1886), field-marshal, was eldest son of General John Michel of Dewlish and Kingston Russell, Dorset, by his second wife, Anne, daughter of the Hon. Henry Fane, M.P., of Fulbeck, Lincolnshire, and granddaughter of the eighth earl of Westmoreland. The father, who had no issue by the first wife, was a subaltern in the 51st foot at the memorable defence of Minorca in 1781, of which he was one of the last survivors, was lieutenant-colonel commanding the 30th light dragoons in 1794–6, and the 14th light dragoons in 1799–1806, and afterwards held a brigade command in Ireland. He died in April 1844, leaving, according to report, considerable wealth (Gent. Mag. 1844, pt. i. p. 554).

John, born on 1 Sept. 1804, was educated at Eton. On 3 April 1823 he obtained an ensigncy by purchase in the 57th foot, passing through the 27th to the 64th foot, joining that corps at Gibraltar, and obtaining his lieutenancy in it on 28 April 1825. He purchased an unattached company on 12 Dec. 1826, and on 15 Feb. 1827 exchanged back to the 64th at Gibraltar. On 8 Feb. 1832 he entered the senior department of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and on 7 Nov. 1833 passed his examination and received a first certificate. He then rejoined his regiment, and served with it in Ireland until February 1835, when he exchanged to the 3rd buffs in Bengal. He was aide-de-camp to his uncle, General Sir Henry Fane, G.C.B. [see ], while commander-in-chief in India in 1835–40. On 6 May 1840 he was promoted to a majority by purchase in the 6th foot, over the heads of many old officers in the regiment, an appointment which provoked much criticism at the time, and on 15 April 1842, a few weeks after the arrival of the regiment in England, he purchased the lieutenant-colonelcy. He commanded the 6th at home and at the Cape until 1854. He was in command of a brigade during the Kaffir war of 1846–7, and during part of the war of 1852–3 was in command of the 2nd division of the army in the Waterkloof (medal). At the close he was made C.B. ‘for distinguished service in the Kaffir wars of 1846–7 and 1851–3.’ He became brevet-colonel on 20 Jan. 1854, and was appointed to command the York recruiting