Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 56.djvu/186

 Lange's ‘Geschichte des Materialismus,’ the second volume of which appeared in 1880, and the third in 1881. He issued in 1878 ‘Leading Statutes summarised for the use of Students,’ and in the same year became joint honorary secretary of the Library Association with Mr. H. R. Tedder, with whom he collaborated in writing the article ‘Libraries’ in the ninth edition of the ‘Encyclopædia Britannica’ (1882). He was called to the bar on 29 June 1881. He edited the ‘Monthly Notes’ of the Library Association for 1882, and published in January 1884 the first number of the ‘Library Chronicle: a Journal of Librarianship and Bibliography,’ which he carried on until 1888.

His chief claim to notice is his edition of the ‘Philobiblon of Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, treasurer and chancellor of Edward III’ (London, 1888, sm. 8vo; also large paper), of which he produced the first really critical text, based upon the early editions and a personal examination of twenty-eight manuscripts. The notes clear up most of the obscurities which have embarrassed successive editors and translators. The translation is scholarly and the bibliography a model of careful research. It is an illustration of Thomas's conscientious methods that, a later investigation having led him to doubt the real authorship of the ‘Philobiblon,’ he printed a pamphlet which questioned the fair literary fame of Richard de Bury. Thomas had at one time a small practice at the bar, but his life was chiefly devoted to literature and librarianship. He was a man of extensive reading, a brilliant talker, a keen debater, an excellent writer. He edited several volumes for the Library Association, and contributed many articles and papers to the proceedings and journals of that society, which owes much to his self-denying labours, and to which, with several colleagues, he acted as honorary secretary for twelve years. He died at Tunbridge Wells on 5 Feb. 1892.

[Biography, with a complete bibliography, by the present writer, reprinted from the ‘Library,’ 1893, iv. 73–80; personal knowledge.]  THOMAS, FRANCIS SHEPPARD (1794?–1857), archivist, was born at Kington in Herefordshire in 1793 or 1794. In 1826 he entered the Public Record Office in Chancery Lane, where he rose to the position of secretary. In 1846 he privately printed a useful collection of passages from public records relating to the departments of state under the title ‘Notes of Materials for the History of Public Departments,’ with an account of the contents of the state paper office (London, fol.) This was followed in 1848 by a more elaborate work on the exchequer, which comprised a sketch of the entire central financial machinery of England and Ireland. It was entitled ‘The Ancient Exchequer of England, the Treasury, and Origin of the Present Management of the Exchequer and Treasury of Ireland’ (London, 8vo). In the following year appeared ‘A History of the State Paper Office’ (London, 8vo), elaborated from the sketch of the department which he had already given in ‘Notes for the History of Public Departments.’ In 1852 he wrote an explanatory preface to ‘Liber Munerum Publicorum Hiberniæ,’ by Rowley Lascelles [q. v.], which was then first offered to the public. In 1853 appeared his ‘Handbook to Public Records,’ and in 1856 ‘Historical Notes’ (3 vols.), which was perhaps his most important work. It consists of a collection of short notes, chiefly biographical, compiled while he was arranging the papers in the state paper office, and afterwards supplemented by further research. Thomas died at Croydon on 27 Aug. 1857.

[Thomas's Works; Gent. Mag. 1857, ii. 469; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.]  THOMAS, FREDERICK JENNINGS (1786–1855), rear-admiral, younger son of Sir John Thomas (1749–1828) of Wenvoe Castle, Glamorganshire, fifth baronet, by his wife Mary, daughter of John Parker of Hasfield Court, Gloucestershire, was born on 19 April 1786. He entered the navy in March 1799 on board the Boston on the North American station, and afterwards in the West Indies. In the autumn of 1803 he joined the Prince of Wales, flagship of Sir Robert Calder [q. v.], and was present in the action of 22 July 1805. On 19 Sept. he was appointed acting lieutenant of the Spartiate, and in her was present in the battle of Trafalgar. His commission as lieutenant was confirmed on 14 Feb. 1806. He continued in the Spartiate off Rochefort, and afterwards in the Mediterranean till November 1809, when he was for a few months on board the Antelope, the flagship of Sir John Duckworth, and was then sent to Cadiz, where he was employed for the next three years in the defence of the town against the French flotilla; was promoted to be commander on 4 March 1811, and second in command of the English flotilla. Towards the end of 1813 he was acting captain of the San Juan, the flagship of Rear-admiral Samuel Hood Linzee at Gibraltar. He was posted on 8 Dec. 1813, and returned to Eng-