Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/138

ALI object in his lectures and in his writings, and stamps him as one of the soundest and most original physiologists of his time.

Besides his professional labour, Dr. Alison devoted much of his time and talents to the alleviation of the sufferings of the poor. His heart, so full of the "milk of human kindness," bled at what he saw among his fellow creatures, and accordingly he published in 1840, and subsequently, several papers and pamphlets on the condition of the poor, the management of the poor laws, and on the relief to be given. In the Statistical Journal of Dublin many of these papers are to be found. Others were published separately; among the first being his reply to Dr. Chalmers, the other great philanthropist of those days, written in 1841. Great as Dr. Alison's abilities were known to be, his unwearied exertions in the cause of philanthropy, and his unbounded charity, will ever encircle the knowledge of his labours with the halo of admiration and unfading honour.—G. B.  ALIX. See.  ALIX,, a physician, born at Paris in 1738. The latter part of his life was spent in Germany, where he became professor of anatomy at the college of Fulda. He is distinguished as one of the earliest modern writers on the evils of intramural interment. He died at Brückenau in 1782.  ALIX, P. M., a French engraver, a native of Honfleur, born 1752. He died in 1809. He was a pupil of Le Bas.  ALIX or ALLIX,, a historian and topographer of Lorraine, was born in 1534, became president of finance under Charles III., and died in 1597, leaving several works on history and finance.  ALKADIR-BILLAH, the twenty-second Khaleefeh of the dynasty of the Abbassides, born at Bagdad 947, died in 1041.  ALKALKASHANDI, a native of Cairo, and author of several works in the Arabian language.  ALKEMADE,, a Dutch antiquary, born 1654; died 1737; author of numerous original works and editions of ancient chronicles, &c.; such as, "Hollandsche Jaarooeken of Rymkronyk," Leyden, 1699, which gives the earlier history of Holland; and "Jonker Fransen Oorlog," which gives an account of the struggle between the factions of the Hocksen and Kabbeljawsen at Rotterdam in 1488-89.—A. M. <section end="138H" /> <section begin="138I" />ALKHAZREJI, an Arabian historian of Cordova, where he flourished about the middle of the twelfth century. <section end="138I" /> <section begin="138J" />ALKHOWAREZMI or ALKHARIZMY, an Arabian philosopher, a native of Khorassan, born about the commencement of the ninth century. He was librarian to the Khaleefeh Almamoun at Bagdad, and wrote some mathematical treatises. <section end="138J" /> <section begin="138K" />ALKINDI, a famous Arabian physician of Bagdad, about 880. He wrote many works, and is sometimes called the "Mahometan Pythagoras."—(Bayle, D'Herbelot.) <section end="138K" /> <section begin="138L" />ALKMAAR,, a Dutch poet of the fifteenth century. In 1477 he became counsellor to David de Bourgogne, prince-bishop of Utrecht, and in 1485 entered the service of René II. of Lorraine. He was the author of several works. <section end="138L" /> <section begin="138M" />ALKODHAI,, an Arabian writer, a native of Campos, near Jaën, who flourished in the eleventh century. He was the author of a biographical dictionary. <section end="138M" /> <section begin="138N" />ALKODHAI,, an Arabian writer, a native of Estepona in Spain. He died about the commencement of the fourteenth century <section end="138N" /> <section begin="138O" />ALLAINVAL,, was a French writer of comedies in the earlier half of the seventeenth century. He led the life of a homeless and destitute wretch in Paris, and died at the Hotel Dieu in 1753. Some of his pieces were very successful, particularly "L'Ecole des Bourgeois." <section end="138O" /> <section begin="138P" />ALLAIRE,, a French agriculturalist who aided in organizing the management of the public forests. Born 1742; died 1816. <section end="138P" /> <section begin="138Q" />ALLAIS,, a French author who wrote a "Grammaire Française Méthodique," and a political romance, styled "L'Histoire des Sévarambes." Born in Languedoc, 1630. <section end="138Q" /> <section begin="138R" />ALLALEONA. See. <section end="138R" /> <section begin="138S" />ALLAM, Andrew, born 1655, vice-principal of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, and one of the assistants to Anthony Wood in compiling his "Athenæ Oxonienses." Died in 1685. <section end="138S" /> <section begin="138T" />ALLAMAND,, a natural philosopher, was born at Lausanne in 1713, and died at Leyden in 1787. He was member of the Royal Society of London, and professor in the university of Franeker, the museum and botanic garden of which were greatly enriched under his superintendence. He edited the works of Prosper, Marchand, Buffon, Boerhaave, and others, and is said to have been the first to explain the phenomena of the Leyden jar.—A. M. <section end="138T" /> <section begin="138U" />ALLAMAND, a protestant clergyman of the Canton de Vaud, who published in 1745, a "Lettre sur les assemblées des religionnaires en Languedoc, ecrite à un gentilhomme protestant de cette province par M.D.L., F.D.M." Other anonymous works are also attributed to the same individual.—A. M. <section end="138U" /> <section begin="138V" />ALLAN,, known as the Scottish Hogarth. This clever delineator of Scottish character, was born at Alloa near Stirling, February 13, 1744. In boyhood his artistic tendencies were first displayed when a burnt foot confined him to the house, and by caricaturing his schoolmaster; a proceeding which occasioned his dismissal. A friend advised the boy's attendance at the Glasgow academy of the brothers Foulis. His last work there, an oil painting, represented the studio. His talents and progress having been observed, he was sent to Rome in 1764 by Erskine of Mar. Gavin Hamilton assisted the young student, who was admitted to the Roman academy of St. Luke, and gained the silver and gold medals. His historical picture for competition was "The Origin of Portraiture"—the Corinthian maid drawing her lover's shadow. It was engraved by Cunego, and extended Allan's reputation, for the story was told effectively and with elegance. He does not seem to have equalled this academic work, or to have maintained interest in such subjects, though he painted "Hercules and Omphale" and "The Prodigal Son." Mirthful and observant, he delighted in the active world around him. His four pictures of the "Carnival at Rome" are filled with ludicrous groups, in the style of Hogarth's "Election." Leaving Italy in 1777, he remained two years in London painting portraits, and then returned to Edinburgh, where in 1786 he was appointed successor to Runciman as master of the Academy of Arts. Illustrations of Ramsay's "Gentle Shepherd," and other characteristic pictures of Scottish rustic life, occupied his pencil, and were engraved by himself in aquatint. On these his fame chiefly rests. They were almost totally devoid of idealism, but possessed genuine national humour, depending entirely on their artless truthfulness and drollery. The scenery of Newhall was literally copied to enhance their general fidelity. His "Highland Dance," "Penny Wedding," and "Repentance Stool," paved the way for the appreciation of Burnet and David Wilkie. "John Anderson," "Maggie Lander," "Turnimspike," and "Wooed an' Married," were attempts to illustrate Burns, but deficient in grace and poetic feeling. In his "Escape from Lochleven" and landscapes, Allan did not fulfil the early promise of his genius. Had he nerved himself for greater achievements, even in his own walk, he would have left a more distinguished name. Died August 6, 1796.—J. W. E. <section end="138V" /> <section begin="138W" />ALLAN,, a Scottish poet of merit, was born near Edinburgh in 1806. He published a respectable "Life of Sir Walter Scott," in octavo, and was a leading contributor to M'Leod's "Original National Melodies of Scotland." He died in 1835. Several of his songs enjoy popularity among his countrymen.—C. R. <section end="138W" /> <section begin="138X" />ALLAN,, a lyric poet of Scotland, was born at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, on the 4th November, 1774. He was a muslin weaver, and composed verses at the loom. He published a small volume of poems in 1836; emigrated to America, and died at New York in 1841. Many of his songs published in the "Modern Scottish Minstrel," evince fine thought, and are pervaded by remarkable pathos.—C. R. <section end="138X" /> <section begin="138Zcontin" />ALLAN,, a celebrated mineralogist, born at Edinburgh in 1777, was educated at the High School of his native city, and spent his earlier years in commercial life. He soon evinced great taste for the study and collection of minerals, and in search of different specimens visited Paris and the mining districts of Dauphine, as well as the more noted mineral and geological districts of his own country. In 1812 he spent some time in the Faro Islands, and published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh an account of their minerals. An accident put him in possession of a valuable addition to his cabinet, in the shape of a collection, bought by Mr. Allan from a Danish vessel which had been captured on her passage from Iceland, and which proved to have been one carefully made by M. Gieseke in Greenland. The cases contained some valuable specimens; among the rest, an entirely new species which was then named the Allanite. His cabinet, arranged with great taste, was visited and admired by persons from all parts of Europe, among <section end="138Zcontin" />