Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 49.djvu/363

 on 21 March 1865. He was buried at Caerau, near Llanidloes. At an Eisteddfod at Eglwysfaer in 1865, a prize for the best elegy on Rowlands was won by E. Edwards of Aberystwith, and the elegy was published in 1866.

Rowlands published several religious works, among them an essay on ‘Providence’ (1836), a translation of Wesley's tract on Romanism (1838), and memoirs of the Rev. J. Milward (1839) and the Rev. J. Davies (1847). He was editor of the ‘Eurgrawn Wesleyaidd’ from 1842 to 1845, and from 1852 to 1856. But he is best known by his bibliographical and biographical work: ‘Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry’ (‘Cambrian Bibliography’), a record of all Welsh books, all books printed in Wales, and all having reference to the country, from 1546 to 1800. This important enterprise was begun about 1828, and Rowlands was from this time untiring, during his movements through Wales, in such researches as were needed to make his catalogue exhaustive. A portion of his list of books was printed in the ‘Traethodydd,’ but a plan for publishing the whole came to nothing in the author's lifetime, and it was not until 1869 that the book appeared at Llanidloes, edited and enlarged by D. Silvan Evans. Its value as a work of reference for the student of Welsh literature is generally recognised. ‘Gwilym Lleyn’ (to use Rowlands's literary title) also compiled a large number of biographies of minor Welsh worthies, which on his death were acquired by the publisher of ‘Enwogion Cymru’ (1870), and embodied in that work under the title ‘Lleyn MSS.’



ROWLANDSON, MARY (fl. 1682), colonist, daughter of John White of New England, married Joseph Rowlandson, first minister of Lancaster, Massachusetts. On 10 Feb. 1675 Lancaster was attacked and destroyed by the Indians, and Mrs. Rowlandson, with her children, carried into captivity. After nearly three months she was released by agreement. She wrote an account of her captivity, very graphic and interesting, albeit at times a little confused in detail. This was published at Cambridge in New England and also in London in 1682 under the title ‘A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, a Minister's Wife in New England, whereunto is annexed a Sermon by Mr. Joseph Rowlandson, her Husband.’ The work, of which several editions have appeared in America, was printed in the ‘Somers Tracts,’ vol. viii. While the narrative illustrates the ferocity of Indian character and the squalor of Indian life, it yet shows that Mrs. Rowlandson was treated with a certain capricious kindness.



ROWLANDSON, THOMAS (1756–1827), artist and caricaturist, was born in the Old Jewry in July 1756, his father being a respectable tradesman. He was sent to school at Dr. Barrow's in Soho Square, where, following the precedent of many of his craft, he was more remarkable for his sketches than his studies. He had, in fact, learned to draw before he could write, and by the time he was ten had already lavishly decorated his exercise-books with caricatures of his masters and his schoolfellows. Among these latter were Edmund Burke's son Richard; J. G. Holman, afterwards an actor and a dramatic author; [q. v.], another and better-known actor, who was besides a clever amateur artist; and Henry Angelo of the ‘Reminiscences,’ also an excellent draughtsman. Angelo, who, like Bannister, continued a lifelong friend to Rowlandson, soon left Soho for Eton, but Rowlandson and Bannister passed from Dr. Barrow's to the Royal Academy as students, carrying with them a supply of mischief and animal spirits which manifested itself in much playful tormenting of Moser, the then keeper, and of the librarian, Richard Wilson. As a Royal Academy student Rowlandson made rapid progress, and early gave evidence of that inexhaustible fancy and power of rapid execution which are his most marked characteristics; but, although his gift of grace and elegance was unmistakable, he also showed from the outset an equally unmistakable leaning towards humorous art.

When he was about the age of sixteen he left the Royal Academy, and, upon the invitation of his aunt, a French lady, whose maiden name had been Chatelier, went to Paris. Here he became an adept in French, and at the same time continued his art studies in one of the Parisian drawing-schools, advantages which not only gave to his work a certain Gallic verve and lightness, but helped to perfect his knowledge of figure-drawing. After two years' residence in Paris he returned to England, resuming his attendance at the academy, where his proficiency made it the fashion to pit him against the then all-popular favourite of the life school, John