Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 62.djvu/378

 Page Wood, baron Hatherley [q. v.], and Western Wood (see below). The portrait of Sir Matthew in his robes as lord mayor, which was painted by Lady Bell and engraved by W. Dickinson (20 March 1817), is in the Guildhall, and an engraving of it is in Welch's ‘Modern History of London’ (p. 144). A second portrait of him in these robes was painted by A. W. Devis, engraved by Say, and published by Boydell (1 Jan. 1817) ‘for the benefit of the three Irishmen rescued from an ignominious death by the exertions of his Lordship.’ Richard Dighton's print of him is reproduced in Fagan's ‘Reform Club,’ p. 19. Another print by T. Blood, from a painting by S. Drummond, A.R.A., is in the ‘European Magazine’ for April 1816. Charles Lamb contributed a sonnet on Alderman Wood to Thelwall's newspaper, ‘The Champion.’

(1796–1866), eldest son and second baronet, was born at Woodbridge on 25 Aug. 1796. He was educated at Winchester College, and graduated LL.B. in 1821 at Trinity College, Cambridge. Ordained about 1819, he became chaplain and private secretary to Queen Caroline. He closed her eyes in death and accompanied the body to its burial at Brunswick in 1821. He was then made chaplain to the Duke of Sussex. Wood was appointed by the corporation of London in 1824 to the rectory of St. Peter's, Cornhill, and in 1832 he was instituted to the vicarage of Cressing in Essex, retaining both livings until his death. Wood was a strong liberal in politics and a leading man in all county matters in Essex, showing great courage in committing the ‘Coggeshall gang’ of burglars. He died at Belhus, near Romford, on 21 Feb. 1866, and was buried at Cressing. He married at Kenwyn, Cornwall, on 16 Feb. 1820, Emma Caroline, youngest daughter of Sampson Michell of Croft West in that parish, an admiral in the Portuguese service. She was born at Lisbon on 15 Jan. 1802, and died at Belhus on 15 Dec. 1879. Lady Wood was the author of many novels and an accomplished artist. Their issue was five sons and six daughters, the youngest son being General Sir Evelyn Wood, G.C.B.

(1804–1863), Sir Matthew Wood's third son, was born on 4 Jan. 1804. He was in partnership with his father, the firm being then Wood, Field, & Wood, of Mark Lane, London, and on his father's retirement in 1842 obtained his share. From 29 July 1861 until his death he was M.P. for the city of London. He died at North Cray Place, Kent, on 17 May 1863. He married, on 16 June 1829, Sarah Letitia, youngest daughter of John Morris of Baker Street, London; she died on 24 April 1870.

[Thornbury and Walford's Old and New London, i. 413, iii. 309, iv. 344; Gent. Mag. 1843 ii. 541–4, 1848 ii. 221, 1863 i. 810, 1866 i. 456, 585–7; Welch's Modern History of the City of London, pp. 138–87; Orridge's London Citizens, pp. 250–1; Nightingale's Queen Caroline, pp. 575–615; Memoir of Lord Hatherley, i. 1–73; Smith's Mezzotint Portraits, i. 201.]

 WOOD or WOODS, ROBERT (1622?–1685), mathematician, born at Pepperharrow, near Godalming in Surrey, in 1621 or 1622, was the son of Robert Wood (d. 1661), rector of Pepperharrow. He was educated at Eton College, and matriculated from New Inn Hall on 3 July 1640. Obtaining one of the Eton postmasterships at Herton in 1642, he graduated B, A, from that college on 18 March 1646-7, proceeded M.A. on 14 July 1649, and was elected a fellow of Lincoln College by order of the parliamentary commissioners, on 19 Sept. 1650, in the place of Thankfull Owen [q. v.], appointed president of St, John's College. After studying physic for six years he was licensed to practise by convocation on 10 April 1656. He went to Ireland and became a retainer of Henry Cromwell, who despatched him to Scotland to ascertain the state of affairs there. On his return to England he became one of the first fellows of the college founded by Oliver Cromwell at Durham on 15 May 1657. He was a prominent supporter of the Commonwealth, and a frequenter of the Rota Club formed by James Harrington (1611-1677) [q. v.] On the Restoration he was deprived of his fellowship at Lincoln College and returned to Ireland, where he made great professions of loyalty, graduated M.D., and became chancellor of the diocese of Meath. He purchased an estate in Ireland, which, he afterwards sold in order to buy one at Sherwill in Essex. On his return to England he became mathematical master at Christ's Hospital, but after some years he resigned the post and paid a third visit to Ireland, where he was made a commissioner of the revenue, and finally accountant-general. This office he retained until his death, at Dublin, on 9 April 1685. He was buried in St. Michael's Church. He married Miss Adams, by whom he had three daughters Catherine, Martha, and Frances.

Wood, who was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on 6 April 1681, was the author of 'A New Al-moon-ac for Ever; or a Rectified Account of Time,' London, 1680, 8vo; and of another tract, entitled 'The Times Mended; or a Rectified Account of Time by a New Luni-Solar Year; the true