Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 37.djvu/458

 1807 he exhibited three figure-drawings at the Royal Academy. After an industrious life he died at Walworth on 7 Dec. 1833, aged 57, leaving a wife and six children. 

MILLS, CHARLES (1788–1826), historical writer, born on 29 July 1788 at Croom's Hill, Greenwich, was youngest son of Samuel Gillam Mills, surgeon. He was educated privately, and, after a brief experience in a merchant's counting-house, was articled in 1804 to a firm of solicitors. In 1810 he placed himself for a year's study in conveyancing under James Humphreys. From boyhood he had always been a hard reader, and he now permanently injured his health by studying through the night. An attack of lung disease compelled him to winter in Nice in 1814–15. He had no liking for the law, and, on inheriting a moderate fortune, abandoned it for literature. Neglecting the directions of his doctors, he died of a recurrence of his old complaint at Southampton on 9 Oct. 1826. He was a bachelor. A few months before his death he was elected one of the knights of Malta, in recognition of his allusions to that fraternity in his ‘History of the Crusades.’

Mills was a man of learning, but as an historian was a very humble follower of Gibbon. His first work, ‘An History of Muhammedanism,’ 8vo, London, 1817 (2nd edit. 1818), had been accidentally seen in manuscript by Sir John Malcolm [q. v.], who not only warmly recommended its publication, but aided in the revision by the loan of many valuable Oriental treatises from his own library. It was translated into French by G. Buisson, 8vo, Guernsey, 1826. His next book ‘The History of the Crusades,’ 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1820 (4th edit. 1828), bears fewer traces of the influence of Gibbon, and was praised by Sir Walter Scott, who assisted him with notes from the Scottish chronicles (letter of Scott to Mills in Book Circular of William Downing of Birmingham, No. 254, p. 9). An ambitious imitation of the ‘Travels of Anacharsis’ entitled ‘The Travels of Theodore Ducas of Candia in Various Countries in Europe at the Revival of Letters and Art,’ 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1822, followed. It proved unsuccessful, and only the first part, comprising ‘Italy,’ appeared. A design of writing a history of Rome came to nothing. Mills soon afterwards became absorbed in his last and most popular book, ‘The History of Chivalry, or Knighthood and its Times,’ 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1825 (2nd edit. 1826). Scott was delighted with it, and, through the medium of Constable, sent the author a letter full of generous praise. Mills's collective works were translated into French by P. Tiby (7 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1825).

A bust of Mills was executed about 1824 by Sievier, from which a portrait was engraved. 

MILLS, GEORGE (1792?–1824), medallist, was born in 1792 or before 28 Jan. 1793. He gained three gold medals from the Society of Arts, and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1816 to 1823 (, Dict. of Artists). His first patron was Benjamin West, P.R.A., who pronounced him the first medallist in England, and to whose memory Mills dedicated a portrait-medal. He was never employed at the Royal Mint, but engraved for James Mudie a silver pattern-crown of George III (, Engl. Pattern Coins, p. 38), and a pattern-crown (in gold and silver) of George IV, published by Whiteave (ib. p. 41). These patterns show little decorative taste, but he obtained three gold medals from the Society of Arts, presented as the reward of merit. Among Mills's medals which display moderate ability the following may be mentioned: 1. Admiral Sir J. T. Duckworth [1817?] (Num. Chron. 1890, p. 96, pl. iv. 15). 2. James Watt, rev. Watt's steam-engine [1819?] (, Catal. of Scott. Medals, p. 117; pl. xxiv. 2). 3. Benjamin West [1820?] (, English Personal Medals, p. 21). 4. Medals for J. Mudie's series of ‘National Medals’ issued about 1820, including battle of Talavera (, Brit. Mus. Guide to Engl. Medals, No. 545), Sir John Moore, Lord Hill, Sir Thomas Picton, and Lord Lynedoch (ib. Nos. 554–7). 5. Visit of George IV to Ireland [1821], (reverse only; obv. by B. Wyon). 6. Medal of the Astronomical Society, first awarded in 1822, obv. bust of Newton, rev. Herschel's telescope (, Med. Illustr. ii. 472, No. 88). 7. Lismore School medal (, Medallists of Ireland). Mills died at Birmingham on 28 Jan. 1824, aged 31 (Gent. Mag. 1824, pt. i. p. 186). His works are usually signed, sometimes. 

MILLS, GEORGE (1808–1881), ship-builder, journalist, and novelist, born in 1808, was son of William Mills, lord provost of Glasgow 1833–6. He was educated at the university of Glasgow, and from 1827 to 1833 was manager for the company then started by his father to run steamers from Leith to London. From 1835, in partnership with Charles Wood, he carried on the business of ship-