Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 49.djvu/104

 short grammar (Calcutta, 1811; 2nd edit. 1813; 4th 1848; 5th, re-edited and enlarged as a ‘Laskari Dictionary’ by George Small, M.A., London, 1882). In March 1811 Roebuck was attached to the college of Fort William, Madras, as assistant-secretary and examiner. Here he had leisure to pursue his oriental studies, to superintend the publication of a Hindustani version of Persian tales, and to edit, with notes in Persian, a Hindu-Persian dictionary (Calcutta, 1818). He died prematurely of fever at Calcutta on 8 Dec. 1819. Just before his death he completed ‘The Annals of the College of Fort William’ (Calcutta, 1819, 8vo) and ‘A Collection of Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases in the Persian and Hindustani Languages’ (Calcutta, 1824). His unpublished materials for a lexicon of the latter language, which he had long projected, became, after his death, the property of the government, and were deposited in the library of the college. Roebuck was a member of the Asiatic Society.

[Memoir by Professor H. H. Wilson in his edition of Roebuck's Persian Proverbs; Registers of the East India Company, 1803–1819; Roebuck's Works; Dodwell and Miles's Indian Army List, pp. 148–9.] 

ROESTRATEN, PIETER (1627–1700), painter of portraits and still life, son of Gerrit van Roestraten of Amsterdam, was born at Haarlem in Holland in 1627. He was a pupil of Frans Hals, whose daughter Ariaentge he married in 1654. Although he practised portrait-painting, Roestraten devoted himself principally to painting still life, this class of art being practised with great success in Haarlem by the sons and pupils of Frans Hals. Roestraten especially excelled in the delineation of gold and silver plate, musical instruments, &c. He came over to England, and was patronised by his fellow-countryman, Peter Lely, who showed some of his work to Charles II. Lely is doubtfully said to have been jealous of him as a portrait-painter, and therefore to have encouraged him to devote himself to still life. Roestraten met with great success in England, and his pictures are far from uncommon, although they have seldom met with the recognition they deserve. Two pictures by him are in the royal collection at Hampton Court, six at Newbattle Abbey, others at Chatsworth, Waldershare, and other seats of the nobility and gentry. During the fire of London Roestraten received an injury to his hip which lamed him for the rest of his life. A portrait of him (engraved in Walpole's ‘Anecdotes of Painting’) suggests that he was of a convivial disposition. In his will, dated 29 April 1700 (P. C. C. 105, Noel), he is described as of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, ‘picture-drawer.’ The will was proved on 24 July 1700 by his widow, Clara, who was his second wife.

[Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, ed. Wornum; De Piles's Lives of the Painters; Bode's Studien der holländischen Malerei; Oud Holland, iii. 310, xi. 215; Houbraken's Groote Schouburgh der Nederlantsche Konstschilders; information from Dr. A. Bredius, Dr. C. Hofstede De Groot, and Mr. Oswald Barron.] 

ROETTIERS, JAMES (1663–1698), medallist, the second son of John Roettiers [q. v.], the medallist, was born in London in 1663. From about 1680 he assisted his father at the English mint in making dies and puncheons (Cal. Treasury Papers, 1556–1696 pp. 108, 110, 513, 1697–1701–2 p. 195), and in 1690 was officially employed as an assistant engraver at the mint together with his brother Norbert. An annual salary of 325l. was divided between the brothers. In 1697 (before July) James Roettiers was removed from his office at the mint in consequence of the theft of dies from the Tower [see under ]. He was however allowed to retain his dies and puncheons for medals. He died in 1698 at Bromley in Kent.

His principal medals are: 1. ‘Battle of La Hogue,’ rev. ‘Nox nulla secuta est’ (probably by him), 1692. 2. ‘Death of Queen Mary,’ rev. inscription, 1694–5 (by James and Norbert Roettiers). 3. ‘Death of Mary,’ rev. Sun setting behind hill, 1694–5. 4. ‘Death of Mary,’ rev. Interior of chapel (signed I. R.), 1694–5. 5. ‘Medal of Charles I,’ rev. ‘Virtutem ex me,’ &c. (by James and Norbert Roettiers), 1694–5. 6. ‘Presentation of collar to the Lord Mayor of Dublin,’ signed ‘James R.’ (one of his best medals), 1697.

He was the father of (1698–1772), medallist, who was born in London in 1698, and held the office of engraver-general of the Low Countries from 31 Aug. 1733 till his death at Brussels on 15 July 1772.

[For authorities see under ROETTIERS, JOHN.] 

ROETTIERS, ROETTIER, or ROTIER, JOHN (1631–1703), medallist, born on 4 July 1631, was the eldest son of Philip Roettiers (or Rotier), medallist and goldsmith of Antwerp, by his wife Elizabeth Thermés. John's younger brothers, Joseph (1635–1703) and Philip (b. 1640), were born at Antwerp, but it is doubtful if this was his own birthplace. John Roettiers adopted the profession of a