Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 38.djvu/77

Mitchell . He also served in a similar capacity in the campaign of 1814 in Holland and Flanders, and with the head-quarters of the army of occupation in Paris. His knowledge of languages made him of use to Wellington in correspondence and negotiations with the allied powers. He was promoted major on 19 July 1821, and placed on the unattached half-pay list on 1 June 1826. His father died in Edinburgh on 17 Oct. the same year.

Mitchell did not return to military duty, but devoted himself to literature, passing a considerable portion of each year on the continent up to 1848, after which he spent the remainder of his life with his sisters in Edinburgh. In 1833-4 he contributed a series of articles to 'Fraser's Magazine,' under the name of 'Bombardino,' or 'Captain Orlando Sabretache.' In 1837 he published a life of Wallenstein, making himself thoroughly acquainted with the scenes of his life by visiting all the localities. Between 1841 and 1855 he contributed to the ' United Service Journal,' and in 1841-2 he wrote seven letters to the 'Times' newspaper dealing with defects in the British army. In 1845 he published 'The Fall of Napoleon,' and soon after received a diamond brooch from King Augustus of Hanover as a token of his majesty's appreciation of the light he had thrown on the history of the emperor. He also received a complimentary letter from Sir Robert Peel. In 1846 he contributed to 'Fraser's Magazine' a series of articles on Napoleon's early campaigns. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel unattached on 10 Jan. 1837, colonel 11 Nov. 1851, and major-general on 31 Aug. 1855. Mitchell was a man of handsome exterior and pleasing manners and address. He died in Edinburgh on 9 July 1859, and was buried in the family vault in the Canongate churchyard.

The following are his principal works: [Cates's Biog. Dict.; Chambers's Biog. Dict. of Eminent Scotsmen; Military Records; Allibone's Dict. of English Lit.]  MITCHELL, JOHN (1806–1874), theatre and music agent and manager, was born on 21 April 1806. Early in life he was employed by William Sams of St. James's Street, London, who started the modern system of theatrical agency. In 1834 Mitchell opened a library in Old Bond Street, the headquarters of his extensive business for forty years. He made a practice of engaging a large number of the best seats in every theatre and public hall.
 * 1) 'The Life of Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland,' 8vo, London. 1837; 2nd edit. 1853.
 * 2) 'Thoughts on Tactics and Military Organisation, together with an Enquiry into the Power and Position of Russia,' 8vo, London, 1838.
 * 3) 'The Art of Conversation, with Remarks on Fashion and Address, by Captain Orlando Sabretache,' 8vo, London, 1842.
 * 4) 'The Fall of Napoleon: an Historical Memoir,' 3 vols. 8vo, London, 1845.
 * 5) 'Biographies of Eminent Soldiers of the Last Four Centuries: edited, with a Memoir of the Author, by Leonhard Schmitz,' Edinburgh and London, 8vo, 1865.

In 1836 and the two following seasons Mitchell opened the Lyceum Theatre for Italian comic opera, giving to it the name of 'Opera Buffa.' 'L'Elisir d'Amore,' on 10 Dec. 1836, was the first of a series of light operas, which, as well as Rossini's 'Stabat Mater' in 1842, were thus introduced to England. In 1842 Mitchell brought over French plays and players, who for a number of years performed at St. James's Theatre. For the same theatre he engaged a French comic opera company, which opened with ' Le Domino Noir ' on 15 Jan. 1849. In 1853 he brought the Cologne Choir to London.

Mitchell was held in great esteem and friendship by the leaders of the stage and concert-room. He died in London on 11 Dec. 1874, in his sixty-eighth year, leaving a son and daughter.

[The Choir, xxiii. 400; Grove's Dictionary, ii. 338; Times and Daily Telegraph, quoted by Musical World, 1874, p. 842; Era, 20 Dec. 1874; Athenaeum theatrical notices, 1836 et seq.]  MITCHELL, JOHN (1804-1886), field-marshal. [See Michel, John (DNB00).]  MITCHELL, JOHN MITCHELL (1789–1865), antiquary, was the second son of John Mitchell of Falkirk, where he was born in 1789. Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell [q. v.] was his brother. He was educated at the Polmont school in Falkirk, and subsequently at the university of Edinburgh. For nearly half a century he was engaged in business as a merchant at Leith, and for some time acted as consul-general for Belgium. Nevertheless Mitchell found time for the study of archaeology, natural history, and mineralogy, and was a student of Scandinavian languages and literature. He was fellow (and joint secretary for its foreign correspondence) of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, of the Royal Physical Society, and the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of Denmark, contributing to the 'Transactions' of each many valuable papers. He lived on terms of friendly intercourse with the king of Denmark and the king of the Belgians, and received from the latter the gold medal of the order of Leopold. Mitchell died at his