Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 62.djvu/35

 smaller scale for the ‘Art Journal.’ The ‘Mercury and Argus’ was a joint speculation on the part of Turner and Willmore. His other large works include ‘Ruins of Carthage,’ after W. Linton (for Finden's ‘Gallery of British Art’); ‘Crossing the Bridge,’ after E. Landseer, 1847; ‘Highland Ferry,’ after J. Thompson, 1848; ‘Villa of Lucullus,’ after Leitch (Art Union, 1851); ‘Wind against Tide,’ after C. Stanfield; ‘Harvest in the Highlands,’ after Landseer and Callcott (Art Union, 1856); and ‘Nearest Way in Summer Time,’ after Creswick and Ansdell, 1860. Willmore's small book illustrations are also very numerous and beautiful. In 1843 he exhibited at the Royal Academy a proof of his ‘Ancient Italy,’ and was then elected an associate engraver. Throughout his life he was one of the most active members of the Artists’ Annuity and Benevolent funds. Willmore died on 12 March 1863, and was buried in the Highgate cemetery.

(1814–1888), born at Birmingham on 6 June 1814, was a brother of James Tibbitts Willmore, by whom he was trained. He became an able line engraver, excelling chiefly in landscape work. He was extensively employed on book illustrations, and also executed many plates for the ‘Art Journal’ from pictures by Collins, Cooke, Creswick, Rubens, Stanfield, Turner, Van Dyck, and others. His most important work was ‘The Return of the Lifeboat,’ after E. Duncan, engraved for the Art Union, 1878. Willmore frequently exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1858 and 1885. He died on 3 Nov. 1888.

[Art Journal, 1863; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1893; Bryan's Dict. of Painters and Engravers, ed. Armstrong.] 

WILLMOTT, ROBERT ARIS (1809–1863), author—he invariably dropped his second Christian name of Eldridge—was son of a solicitor who married about 1803 Mary Ann (d. 1861), the only child of the Rev. John Cleeve of Ringwood, Hampshire, and a few years later moved to Bradford in Wiltshire, where Robert was born on 30 Jan. 1809. The father, of a somewhat impracticable disposition, went to London, and afterwards became involved in pecuniary trouble. In October 1819 the boy was admitted at Merchant Taylors' school. He was entered at Harrow school in January or February 1825. There in March 1828 he brought out the first number of the ‘Harrovian,’ which ran to six numbers. At the close of 1828 he became tutor to Thomas Green, and remained so for about two years. Already in 1829–30 he was contributing to the ‘Church of England Quarterly Review,’ ‘Fraser's Magazine,’ the ‘London Magazine,’ and the ‘Asiatic Journal.’ He was entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1832, but his matriculation was deferred until 17 Feb. 1834. While at Cambridge he earned his living by his pen. He graduated B.A. on 26 May 1841.

Willmott, on Trinity Sunday 1842, was ordained deacon by Bishop Blomfield to the curacy of St. James, Ratcliffe, and he was ordained priest on 11 June 1843. After serious illness he took leave of St. James's on 2 June 1844, his farewell sermon being printed. For three months he was stationed at Chelsea Hospital, and in June 1845 became curate to the Rev. T. W. Allies at Launton, Oxfordshire. The church of St. Catherine, Bearwood, which had been erected through the munificence of John Walter (1776–1847) [q. v.], was consecrated on 23 April 1846, and Willmott was appointed by him as its first incumbent. For many years he received much practical kindness from Walter and his successor in the property; but about 1861 differences arose with the patron, and Willmott resigned the benefice in May 1862 on a pension of 160l. per annum. His publications included funeral sermons for John Walter (d. 1847) and for Mrs. Emily Frances Walter (d. 1858).

Willmott retired to Nettlebed in Oxfordshire, and began writing for the ‘Churchman's Family Magazine.’ He was engaged in the preparation of three new books, including an edition of the works of Cowley, when he was incapacitated by an attack of paralysis. He died at Nettlebed on 27 May 1863. He was buried, with his mother and sister (Mary Cleeve Willmott, who died at Richmond on 9 May 1854, aged 47), in the churchyard of Bearwood.

Willmott's literary work showed wide reading and a pleasing imagination, and he was an admirable preacher. His most popular productions were: 1. ‘A Journal of Summer-time in the Country,’ 1849; illustrated ed. 1858; 4th ed., with memoir by his sister, 1864. 2. ‘Pleasures, Objects, and Advantages of Literature,’ 1851; 5th ed. 1860; by 1858 five editions of it had appeared in German. His other works included: 3. ‘Lives of Sacred Poets,’ 1834; 2nd ser. 1838. 4. ‘Conversations at Cambridge’ (anon.), 1836. 5. ‘Letters of Eminent Persons, selected and illustrated,’ 1839. 6. ‘Parlour Table Book: Extracts from various Authors,’ 1840, dedicated to his old friend, James Montgomery. 7. ‘Pictures of Christian Life,’ 1841. 8. ‘Poems,’ 1841; 2nd ed.,