Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/1189

COP year 1858, had the satisfaction of seeing the completion of his great and important task. As a practitioner Dr. Copland is firm and decided, without haste and rashness. He has been a member of the Royal Medico-Chirurgical Society since 1822, and was sometime president; in 1833 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1837 a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.—E. L.  COPLEY. See.  COPLEY,, an eminent historical painter of the school of Benjamin West, was born at Boston in the United States on the 3rd July, 1737. His father, who was of English extraction, had lived chiefly in Ireland, and the honour of the painter's nativity has therefore been not unfrequently claimed for Ireland. He was almost a self-taught artist, for Boston possessed no academy, and few instructors. He became first known in England as the exhibitor of a "Boy and Squirrel" at the Royal Academy in the year 1760. This work excited no inconsiderable attention. For some years he continued to follow portrait painting with great success; receiving a large income, and acquiring a fair repute on both sides of the Atlantic. In 1774 he came to London and passed on to Italy; he stayed at Rome some months, and returning to England, settled in the metropolis. In 1777, in great part owing to the influence of West, he was elected an associate of the Royal Academy, and in 1783 received his diploma as an academician. For many years he continued industriously to follow his profession. He died on the 9th September, 1815. Probably the best specimen of his art is his "Death of Chatham," now in the English school department of the national gallery. It was engraved by Bartolozzi on a plate of an unusual size, and was extensively subscribed for and sold. Another successful work was his "Defence of St. Heliers, Jersey, against the French, and Death of Major Pierson at the moment of victory." Copley was the father of Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst.—W. T.  COQUES,, a celebrated artist, was born at Antwerp in 1618; he was a pupil of David Ryckaert. His first subjects were conversation-pieces after the manner of Teniers and Ostade. He afterwards devoted himself to portraits on a small scale; and in this branch of art emulated many of the characteristic excellences of Vandyck. He died in 1684. His works are few in number, and of great value.—W. T.  COQUILLE (in Latin ),, a French lawyer, born in 1533, and died in 1603. He was procureur-general of Nivernais at the time of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and by his enlightened vigour saved his province from the horrors of that bloody day. Coquille was a sworn enemy to the leaguers. His principal works are a dialogue, "Sur les Causes des miséres de la France," written in the style of Montaigne; and a treatise entitled "Des Libertés de l'Eglise Gallicane."—R. M., A.  CORAM,, an eminent philanthropist whose memory has been perpetuated by his establishment of the Foundling Hospital in London. He was born about 1680, and bred to the sea. He became early in life captain of a merchant ship, and his business, while in London, having often led him into the heart of the city, his compassion was so strongly excited by the sight of "young children exposed sometimes alive, sometimes dead, sometimes dying," that he resolved to make a strenuous effort to rescue them from destruction. The first hospital established by him for deserted children was in Hatton Garden, and was opened in 1740. It was afterwards removed to its present site, and a charter obtained for it. Captain Coram also originated a scheme for the education of Indian girls in America. Having spent the greater part of his slender fortune in works of benevolence, a subscription was entered into in 1749 for the purpose of purchasing tor him an annuity, but the good old man did not live long to enjoy it. He died 29th March 1751.—J. T.  * CORBAUX,, a writer and artist, was born in 1812. Her father being reduced from affluence to poverty, she began as early as her fifteenth year to turn her talents for painting to account. She gained two silver medals in 1827, and a gold one in 1830. The circumstances of her family obliged her to restrict herself, in a great measure, to portrait painting, as being more remunerative. In later life she has devoted much of her attention to biblical history and criticism—as her "Letters on the Physical Geography of the Exodus," and on the remarkable nation called "The Rephaim" in the bible, testify. These were published in the Athenæum. She wrote also for the Journal of Sacred Literature.—R. M., A.  CORBET,, an English divine and poet, was born at Ewell in Surrey in 1582, and died in 1635. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford, of which college he was made dean in 1620. In 1629 he was raised to the bishopric of Oxford. His poems were published after his death under the title of "Poetica Stromata."—R. M., A. <section end="1189H" /> <section begin="1189I" />CORDAY D'ARMANS,, one of the most extraordinary women of modern times, was born in 1768 at St. Saturnin, near Séez in Normandy. While yet a girl she displayed singular strength of character. Her favourite author was Plutarch. On the breaking out of the French revolution, she was attracted by the boldness and novelty of its pretensions; but her whole soul was outraged by the terrible crimes which were soon deemed necessary to its success. It is said that she loved one of the proscribed Girondists; but of this there is no satisfactory evidence. She did not deem assassination a crime when directed against assassins; and secretly determined to go alone to Paris, and there to stab the foremost democrat she could find. For a time she doubted whether Robespierre or Marat was the greater monster; but eventually her patriotic rage was concentrated on the latter. At the moment of her arrival Marat was sick. She wrote him a letter and asked for an interview. She received no answer to this application. Having bought a large knife at the Palais Royal, she presented herself at the house of the monster on the following day at one o'clock. The woman who lived with him was alarmed at her appearance, and perhaps touched by the instinct of danger, refused her admission. She immediately wrote a note, in which she stated that she had an important state secret to reveal. Marat, who was reclining in a warm bath, determined to see at once the visitor, in spite of the entreaties of his mistress. While conversing on the movements of the Girondists, Marat announced his intention of guillotining them all. At this moment Charlotte Corday, with masculine force, drew her knife and stabbed him deep in the throat. He uttered one short cry, summoning the women who lived with him, and expired. They rushed into the apartment, and saw the executioner standing unmoved by her victim. The guard soon arrived and took her to the prison of the abbaye. "Sirs," said she, "you long for my death; you ought rather to build an altar in honour of me, for having delivered you from a monster." On being searched in the prison, an appeal for liberty was found in her bosom, addressed to the French people. Our limits do not permit us to detail the circumstances of her trial, or the memorable calmness with which she met her death. She was guillotined, July, 1793, at the age of twenty-five years.—T. J. <section end="1189I" /> <section begin="1189J" />CORDOVA. See. <section end="1189J" /> <section begin="1189K" />CORDUS,, a German poet and physician, was born at Simtshausen in Hessia in 1486, and died on 24th December, 1535. He was the son of a farmer, and devoted himself to literary pursuits at Leipzig and at Erfurt. He espoused the cause of the Reformation, and was a supporter of Luther. He entered upon the study of medicine afterwards, and graduated at Ferrara in 1522. He was the author of many literary productions, and published various poetical works. In 1534 he published a work entitled "Botanologicon, or a Conversation regarding Herbs."—J. H. B. <section end="1189K" /> <section begin="1189L" />CORDUS,, son of the preceding, a celebrated botanist, was born at Simtshausen in Hessia, on 18th February, 1515, and died at Rome on 25th September, 1544. He received the elements of his education at Erfurt, and he subsequently studied at the university of Marburg, where he took the degree of bachelor of medicine. In 1531 he went to Wittemberg, and studied under Melancthon. He visited Leipzig, and afterwards travelled over Prussia and Saxony, exploring the mines of Freyberg, and the flora of Switzerland. In 1540 he lectured at Wittemberg on the Materia Medica of Dioscorides. He afterwards paid a second visit to Switzerland, and travelled in Italy. At Venice he studied the ichthyology of the Adriatic. He was seized with fever while journeying to Rome, where he died at the age of twenty-nine. His death was looked upon as a great loss to science. Among his numerous works may be noted the following—"A Pharmaceutical Dispensatory;" "Annotations on Dioscorides;" and a "History of Plants."—J. H. B. <section end="1189L" /> <section begin="1189Zcontin" />CORELLI,, the famous violinist and composer, was born at Fusignano, near Imola, in the territory of Bologna, in February, 1653, and died at Rome on the 8th (not 18th) of January, 1713. Simonelli, a member of the papal chapel, and <section end="1189Zcontin" />