Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/402

BAN Generatione et Corruptione, sive in Aristotelis eosdem libros Commentaria et Quæstiones," 1583.  BANG,, a Danish physician, born in the island of Zeland, on the 4th January, 1747; died at Copenhagen on the 26th December, 1820. He visited France and Germany for the advantage of study, and became, in 1782, professor in the university of Copenhagen. Besides several ascetical writings and memoirs inserted in the Acts of the Society of Medicine of Copenhagen, he wrote several medical works.—E. L.  BANG, , a Danish physician, born in August 1737; died in 1808. He became doctor of medicine in 1774, and professor of anatomy at Copenhagen in 1805.  BANG or BANGIUS, , a Swedish theologian, professor at Abo, and afterwards bishop of Wyburg, was born at Helsinborg in 1633, and died in 1696. He wrote "Priscorum Sueo-Gothorum Ecclesia," &c.  BANG or BANGIUS,, a Danish philologist and theologian, born in the island of Fionia in 1600; died in 1661. He taught Hebrew, and afterwards theology, in the university of Copenhagen. His works are chiefly on philological subjects.  BANIM, , an Irish novelist of distinguished ability, and not inappropriately named the Scott of Ireland, was born in the city of Kilkenny, on the 3rd of April, 1798, being the second son of his father Michael; his eldest brother Michael being also a man of great genius. After passing through the hands of two schoolmistresses, John Banim was, in his fifth year, sent to the English academy in Kilkenny, presided over by an oddity of the name of George Charles Buchanan, whose portraiture John Banim has given in one of the characters in his tale of "Father Connell." After his tenth year, he was sent to the seminary of the Rev. Mr. Magrath, then reckoned the best Roman catholic school in Ireland. John Banim's literary propensities exhibited themselves at a very early period. It is related of him that he composed a fairy tale at the age of six years, and a romance, in two thick volumes, is still preserved, written by him in his tenth year; and about the same time he produced several poems. While still a boy, he introduced himself to the poet Moore, then a member of the Kilkenny theatricals, and was kindly received and encouraged by him. In his thirteenth year, John Banim was placed in Kilkenny college, a very ancient and distinguished preparatory school, and famous for having educated some of the most distinguished literary men of Ireland. Here he evinced a decided talent for drawing and painting, which he was determined to pursue as a profession, and accordingly, in 1813, he went to Dublin, and became a pupil in the celebrated schools of the Royal Dublin Society, where he continued for two years, a regular and industrious student, and obtained the highest prize the year after his entrance. At the expiration of the two years, and when only eighteen, he returned to his native city, where he commenced life as an artist, and formed a strong attachment for a young lady, one of his pupils, which was returned, but resulted unhappily in a separation that led to her death, and nearly reduced him to the grave. John Banim at length recovered, and with restored health, his old love of literature revived in all its strength, and he resolved to abandon the profession of an artist for that of an author, and, accordingly, early in the year 1820, he left Kilkenny and settled in Dublin. Here he had to struggle against poverty, obtaining but a precarious support from occasional literary employment. He now became acquainted with Shiel, and other literary men, and in 1821 published his first work, a poem called "The Celts' Paradise," which was not without merit. Shiel introduced him to the theatre, and he brought out under his auspices his first play, "The Jest," at Covent Garden, and shortly after, that of "Damon and Pythias." This last was very successful, and all the London journals gave it high praise. Shortly after this John Banim returned to his native town, and there, in conjunction with his brother Michael, designed the series of tales afterwards so well known as "Tales by the O'Hara family," some of which were composed by the elder brother, whose abilities, though less cultivated, were of no mean order. The following year John Banim married Ellen Ruth, the daughter of a gentleman-farmer of Kilkenny, and with his young wife, went to London to seek his fortune as a literary man. Here he encountered the usual trials of those who write for their subsistence, but he met them all manfully, writing for periodicals while preparing his tales. At length the first of the series of the "Tales by the O'Hara Family" appeared in the month of April, 1825, and were immediately successful; of these, John Banim wrote the whole of "The Fetches" and "John Doe," with the exception of one scene which Michael wrote, as also "Crohoore of the Bill Hook," but, in reality, the work of each was strictly criticised and revised by the other. Early in 1826 "The Boyne Water" was published, which, with a few topographical passages relating to Limerick, was the sole composition of John, who went to Derry for the purpose of collecting materials. During this period, Banim had formed an acquaintance with Gerald Griffin, who, like himself, had come to London as a litterateur, and the acquaintance ripened into a cordial and lasting friendship, notwithstanding some misunderstanding at its commencement, which was happily removed. In November, 1826, the second series of the tales appeared, comprising "The Nowlans" and "Peter of the Castle." The success of this series was fully equal to that of the first, and, indeed, the tale of "The Nowlans" has, with justice, been reckoned amongst the most powerful novels of the day. In the year 1827, he completed his tragedy of "Scylla," which was not, however, put on the stage until ten years afterwards. And it was at this period that he became intimately acquainted with John Stirling. The third series of "The Tales by the O'Hara Family," appeared shortly after. It consisted of a three-volumed novel, "The Croppy," and was written by Michael Banim, passing through the hands of John for revision. John Banim still continued to write for the periodicals, and also for the stage, and, amongst other dramatic pieces, produced "The Smuggler" and "The Death-Fetch;" but his health failing him, he was obliged to leave London and go to Boulogne. "The Ghost-Hunter and his Family," and the "Mayor of Windgate" next appeared, the former being principally the composition of Michael. John Banim's physical feebleness increased more and more, and the death of a child, and delicacy of his wife, added to his afflictions. His finances were reduced to the lowest ebb, so that with all his exertions he was unable to support his family. At this juncture, the English press, led by the Times, came to his aid, and subscriptions were raised, both in London and Dublin, to defray his expenses. From Boulogne he went to Paris. There he lost a son, which event affected him so deeply that he left that city early in 1835, and arrived at Dublin in the month of August in that year, with a frame utterly broken. Here he was received by hosts of sympathizing friends, and a performance of some of his own pieces was got up for his benefit at the Theatre Royal, Hawkins Street, on the 26th of July, the lord-lieutenant attending, while Banim reclined on a sofa in a private box. In September he returned to his native city of Kilkenny, where he was received with the greatest enthusiasm and respect, and he finally settled in a small cottage outside the town. Here he was consoled by the company of his old friend, Gerald Griffin, and by occasional visits from the most distinguished persons in rank and literature. The last joint work of the brothers was "Father Connell," and it is to be feared that his too ardent occupation at this composition, increased his maladies, and hastened his death. He died in July, 1842, and was buried in the graveyard of the Roman catholic chapel of St. John's, Kilkenny. As a man of genius, John Banim deservedly holds a high place in the literature of Great Britain. His novels will ever retain a hold upon the mind so long as mankind shall love truthful delineations of character, and strong dramatic power of narration. As a poet, he has no inconsiderable merit, and many of his compositions are full of pathos and vigour. Miss Mitford has written of him, with, however, but a partial appreciation of his powers. John Banim was the founder of that school of Irish novelists, which, always excepting its purity, so much resembles the modern romantic French school, that if it were possible to suspect Messieurs Victor Hugo, Eugene Sue, and Alexander Dumas, of reading the English, which they never approach without some ludicrous blunders, one might fancy that many-volumed tribe to have stolen their peculiar inspiration from "The O'Hara Family."—J. F. W.  * BANIM,, the elder brother of John Banim, was born in Kilkenny in August, 1796, being the eldest son of his father. He was educated at the same school in the country as John, but remained in his native city after John went to London, setting up for himself in trade in Kilkenny, where he became a respected and influential citizen, and filled the office of mayor of the city. In conjunction with his brother, he wrote the celebrated "Tales by the O'Hara Family," several of which are, so far as regards invention of plot and general structure, due to him. His literary life is so intimately connected with that of his brother, 