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 on 5 Dec. 1645, in order to bring proposals of peace (‘Mercurius Rusticus’ under date, quoted in, and , 6th ser. vi. 83). Having acquired a competency by frugality (according to New View of London), he spent his time, after his voluntary sequestration, in going ‘up and down to look for poor ministers' widows that were sequestered, though sequestered himself, inquiring for objects of charity.’ He built and endowed a new almshouse over against the new chapel at Westminster for twelve poor people (, Worthies, p. 512;, Sufferings, ii. 174). Attached were ‘a free school and a commodious habitation for the schoolmaster, and a convenient chapel for prayers and preaching, where he constantly, for divers years before his death, once a week gave a comfortable sermon.’ He endowed the foundation with a ‘competent yearly revenue of freehold estate, committed to the trust and care of ten considerable persons of ye place to be renewed as any of them dye.’ Within the last ten years the almshouses have been re-established in a new building in Rochester Row, Westminster. The educational portion of the endowment has been merged with other endowments in the united Westminster schools, and in the day-schools belonging to this institution there are a number of Palmer scholarships, providing free education without clothing (Notes and Queries, ubi supra).

Fuller warmly declared that he found more charity in this one sequestered minister than in many who enjoyed other men's sequestrations (Hist. Cambr. p. 173). Palmer died on 5 Jan. 1659–60, and was buried in the church of St. Margaret's, Westminster, where a fine monument was erected to his memory by Sir William Playter, bart., ‘a loving friend.’ This monument now occupies a central place on a pier of the north wall of the church. The monument is of early classic design, and attributed to the school of Inigo Jones, and bears Palmer's bust and arms. The bust has all the appearance of being a faithful portrait, is painted in proper colours, with a black gown and black cap.

Palmer was probably unmarried, and should doubtless be distinguished from James Palmer who obtained a license to marry Elizabeth Robinson of St. Mary, Whitechapel, on 8 Nov. 1609 (Harl. Soc. Publ. xxv. 316). In several authorities—Newcourt and Walker, followed by Bailey (Life of Fuller, pp. 406, 589)—Palmer is incorrectly called Thomas Palmer.

[Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714; Addit. MS. 15669, ff. 370, 405; Notes and Queries, 6th ser. vi. 83–4, 136; Harl. Soc. Publ. xxv. 316; Walcott's Memorials of Westminster, p. 294; State Papers, Dom. Car. I, ccclxxi; Stow's Survey, bk. vi. p. 45; Newcourt's Repertorium, i. 315; Fuller's Hist. of Cambridge, p. 173; Walker's Sufferings, ii. 174; Lloyd's Worthies, p. 512; Bailey's Fuller, p. 406; Lords' and Commons' Journals.] 

PALMER, JAMES FREDERICK (1804–1871), first president of the legislative council of Victoria, youngest son of John Palmer, rector of Great Torrington, Devonshire, and prebendary of Lincoln, and of Jane, daughter of William Johnson, was born at Torrington in 1804. His great-uncle was Sir Joshua Reynolds. He was educated for the medical profession, and for some years practised in London, where he was, till 1838, the senior surgeon to the St. George's and St. James's Dispensary. His health seems to have failed, and induced him to go out, in 1839, to New South Wales; he practised as a doctor at Port Phillip for some time, and then he began business as a manufacturer of cordials, eventually becoming a wine merchant.

Taking a prominent part from the first in the social and political life of the new settlement, Palmer was made mayor of Melbourne in 1846, and in that capacity laid the foundation-stone of the Melbourne hospital. In September 1848 he was elected to the legislature of New South Wales as member for Port Phillip, for which he sat till July 1849. On the separation of Victoria he became, on 29 Oct. 1851, member of the legislative council (the single chamber) for Normanby district, and was elected speaker, though he frequently left the chair and interposed in debate. On 23 Nov. 1855, when the constitution was altered, he was elected for the western province to the new legislative council, of which he became president on 21 Nov. 1856. He was re-elected five times, resigning in October 1870 on account of the ill-health which had compelled his absence in England from March 1861 to 18 June 1862. For several successive years he was chairman of the commissioners of education, and president of the board under the system instituted in 1862. He was knighted in 1857. On 23 April 1871, soon after his retirement, he died at his residence, Burwood Road, Hawthorn, and was buried at the Melbourne general cemetery.

Palmer edited, with notes, ‘The Works of John Hunter’ the anatomist, in 4 vols. 8vo, with a 4to volume of plates, 1835–7, and compiled, in 1837, a glossary to the ‘Dialogue in the Devonshire Dialect’ of his great-aunt, Mary Palmer [q. v.]

He married, in 1832, Isabella, daughter of Dr. Gunning, C.B., inspector of hospitals.

[Melbourne Daily Telegraph, 24 April 1871; Mennell's Dict. of Austral. Biogr.] 