Talk:Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/List of Contributors

Differentiation and Disambiguation
Robert Boyle listed on this page, is not the existing Author:Robert Boyle. No evidence for who is the listed Robert Boyle Tasks: We could call Robert Boyle (19th century)' Thoughts? --billinghurst (talk) 05:57, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Define the means of differentiation
 * Whether a page is required for disambiguation.


 * I had already noticed that famous name. I suspect that this may be Robert Elphinstone Boyle (1837-1924).  If so the middle name will do the trick.   He did (per Lib. of Congress listings) write some things consistent with what a biographer might do, and the time frame is correct.  He also comes up on several genealogical sites, but those say nothing about his writings.  Would your researches be able to confirm anything?


 * The author disambiguation problem will get bigger as Wikisource grows, and I don't think that anybody has given much forethought to this. A database that goes to a greater extent to identify more than just full book authors is bound to run into difficulties at some time. In many cases the only bit of information we have about him is that he wrote the article we are looking at. "19th century" would probably work for our Robert Boyle for now, but there are also other Robert Boyles.  We could at some point end up with "Author:Robert Boyle (generic)" when we have several that cannot be distinguished from each other.


 * Any idea who "Mrs. May" might be? Eclecticology (talk) 08:38, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
 * I will do some digging. We also have John Brown where we have work to do.  I will start a disambig section. -- billinghurst (talk) 10:35, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
 * SLM aka Mrs. May wrote the article for CORNWALLIS, Caroline Francis (1786-1858). Unmarried. No record in census (1841 or 1851)  No specific mention of whom, they they reference private information which would tend to indicate niece, or great niece.  CFC had older sister, who doesn't seem to have surviving issue, which rules out niece. Looking grim. -- billinghurst (talk) 04:30, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Author:Ernest Clarke (1856-1923)
research back transcluded from author's talk page

Alexander Gordon
back transcluded from author talk page

William Gee
William Gee shows as in consolidated list, though respective volumes are not mentioned. Mindfulness required.
 * William Winson Haldane Gee (1857-1928) Professor in Electrical Engineering, Manchester Uni.
 * aka W. W. Haldane Gee. Published physics books.  Noted in Who Was Who, vol 2
 * I'd guess Haldane Gee, as he writes the bio of William Sturgeon. Dsp13 (talk) 03:17, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Author resolved. -- billinghurst (talk) 04:03, 3 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Found this reference W. W. H. Gee, The Electrician (13 Sept 1895), 632–5 to work about Sturgeon

George Peel
Quick search shows no standout candidates for Author:George Peel G.P or G.V.P., so before I delve into different parts, throwing it out there for opinion. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 14:03, 18 July 2009 (UTC)
 * He contributed on Sirs Robert Peel, 1st & 2nd Baronet - so I reckon it's the Hon. (Arthur) George (Villier) Peel, 1868-1956 - a grandson of Peel the prime minister who contributed an epilogue to Charles Stuart Parker's edition of Peel's correspondence. There's an obit in the Times, 27 April 1956. Dsp13 (talk) 02:15, 2 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Definitely and I have even had recently thrown in a link from vol. 63 that says that! Resolved billinghurst (talk) 03:58, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

Catherine Rachel Jones
For Author:Catherine Rachel Jones there are no publications found. I believe this lady to be Catherine Rachel GURNEY (1830-1895), wife of Henry Walshingham JONES (1827-1889), Rector Of Sculthorpe, Canon Norwich, M.A. J.P. CR Gurney was the granddaughter of William Hay, 17th Earl of Erroll and descended from Boyd Earl of Kilmarnock. Nothing much else evident. Parked. -- billinghurst (talk) 12:19, 21 December 2008 (UTC)
 * according to the ODNB entry for Charlotte Jones (CRJ's one subject in DNB), Catherine Rachel Jones published The Princess Charlotte of Wales (1885), including an account of a series of portraits by Charlotte Jones, under the name Mrs Herbert Jones. Dsp13 (talk) 12:26, 21 December 2008 (UTC)
 * I think these are all the same person, & we're done. (Google books) Dsp13 (talk) 12:38, 21 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Agreed. Author resolved. -- billinghurst (talk) 14:48, 21 December 2008 (UTC)

Lucy Maude Manson Scott
research back transcluded from author's talk page

Robert Boyle
Pre-existing Boyle still linked from List of Contributors Robert E Boyle, b. 1838 Italy/Papal States, 1891 Colonel Bengal Staff Corps, 1881 Lieut Col family names Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, Boyle, Montgomerie of families of Earl of Glasgow + Baronet Horn and Westhall in Scotland 1841, 1851; in England 1881, 1891 bro the Earl, Gov of NZ Genealogical account of the Boyles of Kelburne, earls of Glasgow
 * Robert Boyle 1627-1691
 * Robert Elphinstone Boyle 1837-1924

This will be the scholar of Jacobethan drama, though. His sole article in the DNB is on Philip Massinger. So from this WorldCat page the date of birth is 1842. Charles Matthews (talk) 20:45, 15 November 2009 (UTC) Assigned

Robert Boyle
The Robert Boyle appearing on the list won't of course be the 17th-century chemist. Charles Matthews (talk) 08:49, 31 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Agreed, see Robert Boyle above at 2.3.1. We are presumably waiting until we get bios that allow us to pinpoint which Robert Boyle we have. -- billinghurst (talk) 11:24, 31 October 2009 (UTC)
 * CM has listed as Author:Robert Boyle (critic) with a DoB of 1842. I cannot see anything evident in 1881 census that says 'critic', though can find naval officer, and Lt Col from Bengal Army.
 * Eliminate Alumni Oxford ... Robert Frederick Boyle born Sep 1841, has MA, dead 1883. — billinghurst  sDrewth  12:01, 14 May 2010 (UTC)
 * The Robert Boyle in question was a quite well known authority on Philip Massinger, the unique DNB biography he wrote. He wrote Beaumont, Fletcher, and Massinger, which may have been a book (cf. Amazon), but certainly was in a German learned journal, Englische Studien. There are various references, of which the most interesting is the suggestion he was resident at some point in St. Petersburg. He also may have written some sort of handbook in German on the English language(s) with an Arthur Brehme. The person seems hard to place otherwise, but may have spent much time outside the UK. Charles Matthews (talk) 14:11, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

This Robert Boyle was born 25 May 1842 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, son of John Boyle, brickmaker, and Helen Neill. He became a high school English teacher in Dumfries and later in Durham. He graduated B.A. from the University of London in 1868, as an external student. In 1870 he moved to teach English at the German-speaking Riga University [now in Latvia] and from 1875 at Dorpat University, Tartu [now in Estonia]; both were then part of the Russian Empire. In 1879 he moved to St Petersburg, where he taught English at two prestigious German-speaking high schools. For a time he was a tutor to the young Tsarevich, later Nicholas II, and he also taught at the Russian Army General Staff Academy. He died at Petersburg in 1913. During his 34 years in the Russian capital, he published many scholarly articles and books - in both English and German, translated into Russian - on Shakespeare's later plays, deciphering possible collaborations with or borrowings from other English dramatists of that era. And also on the work of those late Elizabethan/ early Jacobean playwrights User: John Humphrey, 1 February 2019

John Brown
John Brown LLD, etc. Scotland 1882 reprints of 1866 ed. Horae subsecivae (Volume 1) - Brown, John, 1810-1882 1. ser. Locke and sydenham, and other papers. 5th ed. 1885.--2d ser. Rab and his friends, and other papers. 11th ed. 1882.--3d ser. John Leech, and other papers. 5th ed. 1884
 * John Brown 1800–1859
 * Brown, John, 1810-1882
 * Not likely, since he died 3 years before the first DNB volume. Eclecticology (talk) 19:05, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Brown, John, 1830-1922 <== chosen
 * Disambiguated as John Brown (Reverend)
 * Minister of the Bunyan Church, Bedford, 1902


 * http://www.authorandbookinfo.com/ngcoba/br3.htm shows no less than 30 John Browns. Some are easily eliminated, others may be helped by knowing the kinds of biographies that they wrote, but still others may not be clearly identifiable at all.  Eclecticology (talk) 19:05, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Bio of John Runyan, written by EV, refers to . Parking it.  Should we unlink the current J...B... and leave as no link or disambig.
 * It's clearly not the American abolitionist. Since we are only looking for a temporary solution it doesn't matter much for now. We'll know better when we find something by him. Eclecticology (talk) 06:53, 23 September 2008 (UTC)
 * He wrote the bio of David Everard Ford, author congregationalist minister & composer who died at Bedford. So looks like the John Brown 1830-1922 above.Dsp13 (talk) 02:15, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Andrew Clark
Choice of two living in the period As the second has works, he looks to be the more likely candidate. We will obviously need to do sanity checks. billinghurst (talk) 00:21, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Clark, Sir Andrew, first baronet (1826–1893), physician
 * Clark, Andrew (1856–1922), Church of England cleric <== chosen

Henry Davey
moved to Author talk:Henry Davey

James Dixon
Nothing obvious Leaving alone at this point in time. billinghurst (talk) 14:18, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Dixon, James, 1788-1871 son is already author
 * Dixon, James, 1814-1873
 * Dixon, James Main, 1856-1933 American
 * Dixon, James D. (James Dunbar), b. 1819
 * His contributions are on medics. I think it's

J. A. H. Murray, 'The Late James Dixon, F.R.C.S.', Notes and Queries 8th S, IX, 8 February 1896: "I am told that he supplied many biographical facts and particulars to writers in the 'Dictionary of National Biography,' although he himself wrote none of the biographies". Also a contributor to N & Q and the Murray's New English Dictionary (i.e. the OED). Dsp13 (talk) 02:45, 27 October 2008 (UTC)
 * James Dixon, F.R.C.S., opthalmic surgeon (1813?-3 Jan 1896). <== chosen

William George
moved to Author_talk:William_George (now moved to Author talk:William George (1830-1900)

Daniel Hipwell
Research moved to Author talk:Daniel Hipwell

Thomas Greer
Only one article believed to be written by this author Author:Thomas Greer, with it being Samuel Macurdy Greer (d.1880), son of a Thomas. Supposition that there was a son Thomas who has written the article. Time frame fits. Research being undertaken to explore family of SM Greer. Base page started, no dates added to page, no specifics. -- billinghurst (talk) 12:10, 16 November 2008 (UTC)
 * A son of Samuel Macurdy Greer was Thomas Magregor Greer (1853-1928): educ TCD; becomes solicitor 1875 & builds up practice in N. Ireland; Member of the Senate in N. Ireland Parliament. (Obituary, Times, 22 Feb 1928, excerpts here). Dsp13 (talk) 20:26, 12 December 2008 (UTC)

I agree with the comment made on the Author page: actually more likely to be Thomas Greer the physician. Internal evidence is the mention in the DNB of Home Rule as an issue, this Greer being a Home Rule Liberal. Charles Matthews (talk) 14:59, 4 January 2018 (UTC)
 * I built the page long before we had the biography prepared and never assigned. I would agree more for the statement in the footer of the article  though that could still be from nephew to son in preparation. I think we just assign, and comment, we can have pages for both Thomases, and interlink.  One of so many pages built so long ago. — billinghurst  sDrewth  01:08, 5 January 2018 (UTC)

Robert Holden
No evident publications for Author:Robert Holden; common name. Quick search finds three articles in vol. 58 and 59 for British army officers, V and W surnames. Didn't even try a census search without more specific information. Parked. -- billinghurst (talk) 01:06, 5 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Maybe http://worldcat.org/identities/np-holden,%20robert%20mackenzie$1859 -Arch dude (talk) 13:27, 12 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Correct person as respective volumes identify Lieut-Col R Holden, FSA and searches through the web identify election of R M H to FSA Scotland and other similar texts. Dates of death still not determined. Assigned -- billinghurst (talk) 12:50, 21 August 2009 (UTC)


 * Born 1859, initially Robert Holden, later Robert Holden Mackenzie. Died 19 January 1916. Author:Robert MacKenzie Holden needs updating in light of this. Charles Matthews (talk) 08:02, 10 January 2018 (UTC)

Frederick Vallance James

 * moved to Author talk:Frederick John Vallance James

James Taylor Kay

 * Moved to Author talk:James Taylor Kay

James Kennedy
Well, where does one start with Author:James Kennedy? Nothing evident at Cambridge or Oxford. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 04:37, 31 December 2008 (UTC)
 * In a pleasing irony, I'd say it's likely to be Dr James Kennedy, librarian of New College Edinburgh and editor of a later edition of that 'most exhaustive and exact guide to Unknown Authorship', Halkett & Laing's Dictionary of Pseudonymous and Anonymous English Literature. He wrote the DNB entry for John Laing, who was also himself librarian at New College, citing private information among his sources. I'm not sure of Kennedy's dates: the library of congress name authority file suggests he died 1925, but Hugh Watt & Adam Mitchell Hunter, New College, Edinburgh: A Centenary History, 1946, p. 180 suggests 1880-1922 as his dates. Dsp13 (talk) 15:35, 31 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Looking at the link, it says born 1842, so I will presume that the 1880-1922 dates are relating to his years at the library. I have sent an email to Edinburgh Uni library and see if they will provide the page to me, and maybe some more information.  I have checked the 1901 census and he is listed as librarian, and born c1842. Assigned  James Kennedy 1842-1925

-- billinghurst (talk) 23:13, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Albert Nicholson
Information at Author talk:Albert Nicholson

Alexander Charles O'Sullivan
I have taken a small leap of faith with Author:Alexander Charles O'Sullivan. I can find an eminent person of that name, looks to have written, and of that right age group. Obituary at Obituary: Alexander Charles O'Sullivan, Professor of Pathology, Dublin. Anyone aware of written bios in DNB? Parked, maybe semi-applied. -- billinghurst (talk) 04:08, 12 July 2009 (UTC)
 * O'Sullivan wrote one bio only, that of the Trinity College Dublin geologist and physiologist Samuel Houghton. So I'd say your leap looks very plausible.Dsp13 (talk) 02:27, 2 November 2009 (UTC) Assigned

Charles Parish
Charles Parish nothing evident.billinghurst (talk) 13:47, 12 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I would lay money I know who this is. C P-H wrote the DNB article on Woodbine Parish (this page and the next); Woodbine Parish had a son Charles Woodbine Parish who died in 1922.. Charles Matthews (talk) 14:16, 12 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Good enough for my grade of work. ;-) I will hunt around for specific data. Assigned -- billinghurst (talk) 15:02, 12 July 2009 (UTC)

William Reynell
Previous identified as Author:William Reynell as an English cleric, no dates. From Crockford's I can identify Parked billinghurst (talk) 21:18, 25 July 2009 (UTC)
 * William Alexander Reynell, of Eccles Street, Dublin, guess b. c1840, was an MRIA


 * Yes, it is Rev. William Reynell, B.D., M.R.I.A., as mentioned in The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (1849) (http://www.archive.org/details/journalofroyalso28royauoft). Charles Matthews (talk) 07:56, 26 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I've put more on the Author talk page - there is enough to be quite certain, I think, though no exact dates. Charles Matthews (talk) 08:52, 26 July 2009 (UTC) Assigned billinghurst (talk) 12:03, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Pierce Laurence Nolan

 * See Author talk:Pierce Laurence Nolan

Michael E. Sadler
Author:Michael Ernest Sadler One that is missing from the list, wrote two articles as M. E. S. in vol. 50. This is most likely Michael Ernest Sadler; long article on Michael Thomas Sadler starts on Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 50.djvu/117, and the one before is about MT Sadler's son Michael Ferrebee Sadler. MT Sadler was the great-great-uncle of ME Sadler per the ODNB. Looks OK to me. Charles Matthews (talk) 13:02, 7 February 2010 (UTC) Assigned
 * Convinced me. billinghurst  sDrewth  14:01, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

Francis Sanders

 * moved to Francis Sanders

William Fellows Sedgwick
moved to Author talk:William Fellows Sedgwick

Peter Aloysius Sillard
Peter Aloysius Sillard I wanted to create DNB PAS for him, but I'm coming up with too little firm information for an author page. Certainly he wrote Irish biographical works in the 1890s. He was a contributor to the Catholic Encyclopedia, though our resources for those authors seem scanty. He may have actually been a priest; can't be sure. There is little about his full name on Google, but quite a bit for P. A. Sillard. Charles Matthews (talk) 16:11, 15 September 2009 (UTC)


 * There is a Peter Sillard (b. c1866) arriving from Queenstown to New York in 1908.

Name: P A Sillard
Source Citation:
 * Who Was Who in Literature, 1906-1934. Based on entries that first appeared in Literary Yearbook (1906-1913), Literary Yearbook and Author's Who's Who (1914-1917), Literary Yearbook (1920-1922), and Who's Who in Literature (1924-1934). Two volumes. Detroit: Gale Research, 1979. (WhLit)

I don't have access to these sources, haven't checked what is available, so checking them may take a while.

There is this book The life of John Mitchel : with an historical sketch of the '48 Movement in Ireland (1908)


 * Literary Yearbook 1922: P. A. Sillard

There is also R. M. Sillard on the list, and with such an unusual name, one would think that there would be some relationship.

We can just do an author page with very little data & the Template:DNB contributor component till we get more specifics, and work from there. -- billinghurst (talk) 04:24, 16 September 2009 (UTC)


 * One would think that they are one and the same P A Sillard for Meehan and Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Charles Patrick Meehan.

So I think that we can make it a tentative assignment, and I can do some more biographical work looking for dates of life, especially with the other Sillard. -- billinghurst (talk) 04:39, 16 September 2009 (UTC)


 * OK, thanks. I'm currently aiming to add text a volume at a time, while fixing up the author templates as I go through. Then, in theory, listings of article by author can be generated by taking backlinks from the template page. I think this will open up things somewhat, since a given author tends to have a specialist profile. So as I plough on I'm trying to add all missing author pages and templates - this one was the first real stumbling block. Charles Matthews (talk) 13:46, 16 September 2009 (UTC)

Created: the Catholic Encyclopedia handbook has enough. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:42, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

Assigned

Robert Steele
Just one article, on George Ripley (alchemist). I think that makes Steele, very likely, the Robert Steele who spent 1905 to 1940 as co-editor of the works of Roger Bacon. And this Steele is very likely the Robert Steele (1860-1944) of Wandsworth Common who was a non-academic jobbing editor connected with the Eragny Press and William Morris. An interesting type - something more solid would be welcome. Charles Matthews (talk) 16:57, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Robert Steele (Authinfo)

Obit The Times, Monday, Apr 10, 1944; pg. 6; Issue 49826; col E Dr. Robert Reynolds Steele — Medieval studies & Death notice, The Times, Thursday, Mar 30, 1944; pg. 1; Issue 49818; col A STEELE.—On March, 27, 1944, peacefully, D.Litt. Cremation, Golders Green Crematorium, to-morrow (Friday), 11.45 a.m.
 * So that doesn't sound like the jobbing editor, though the dates are correct. Assigned
 * Not Oxford or Cambridge.

Alfred Stowe
Just wrote one, Stowe, William Henry (DNB00), about a journalist killed in the Crimean War. Quite likely a son, therefore. Charles Matthews (talk) 16:04, 6 December 2009 (UTC)


 * It will be the brother of William Henry, both sons of William (surgeon) of Buckingham. Alive 1901 with occupation listed as solicitor.  I believe that his death in 1915, and comfortable say most likely.  I have found some further info and will transcribe. Assigned
 * therefore life dates 1833-1915 billinghurst (talk) 21:02, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Death confirmed, I have a death notice The Times, Saturday, Jan 16, 1915; pg. 1; Issue 40753; col A billinghurst (talk) 21:23, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

Ethelred Luke Taunton
Author:Ethelred Luke Taunton created for our purposes is the same person as Author:Ethelred Leonard Taunton created for the EB1911 contributor. Any theories as exactly how to merge? Charles Matthews (talk) 13:26, 25 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Merged into the "Luke" page: this name is far more common on Google. Charles Matthews (talk) 10:59, 28 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Births Dec 1857 TAUNTON	 Ethelred Luke	 	 Lichfield	 6b	301
 * Deaths Jun 1907 TAUNTON	 Ethelred Luke	 49	 Marylebone	 1a	324
 * Obit The Times, Monday, May 20, 1907; pg. 5; Issue 38337; col B (says L= Leonard)
 * Not listed in Crockford's 1898.

Coutts Trotter
Biographical detail for Coutts Trotter is a bit lacking, and there are some red herrings. There are two Coutts Trotters dying in England, 1837 (which is Lindsay Baronets) and 1887 (Cambridge administrator, b.c1837) which doesn't fit within vol. 63 constraint. Found that also attributed as author in vol. 55, our 1922 compiled list in error. Corrected.


 * Interesting - this is a mistake also in Gillian Fenwick's book, where she attributes three articles in vol.55 to a Charles Trotter, despite what it clearly says in the author list. Charles Matthews (talk) 07:30, 11 June 2010 (UTC)

There is a Coutts Trotter in 1891 England Census, born Edinburgh, c.1832, recorded as Bengal Civil Servant, though no match showing in Indian Bio (1915), though there is a Trotter, Hon'ble Justice Victor Hurray Cutts, K.C though no father's details. Shows in 1901 Scottish census. (Suspect a a connection to William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle). Can find refs, and there is a Jstor: The RGS and the Foundations of Geography at Cambridge, that seems to have detail, will need to dig up the article.

In vol. 63, wrote Yule, Sir Henry, p.405, (Scottish born, Indian based)

So I am pumping for Scottish-based and related to the family somehow, and born 1831 birth, and died 1906. I would guess that only wrote the one article.

If someone has access to Obits in Scottish newspapers for 1906, a search would be useful. — billinghurst  sDrewth  04:05, 9 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Found a death notice in The Times Thursday, Feb 08, 1906; Issue 37938; pg. 1; col A Deaths

TROTTER.—On Monday, the 5th Feb., at 10, Randolph-crescent, Edinburgh, suddenly,, born 1831. ''(added to The Times)..


 * Sourced obituary from the The Royal Geographical Society, and while it doesn't have specific reference to DNB contribution, the actions and circles in which participating, in conjunction with the surfeit of other CTs make is highly probable. 'Assigned — billinghurst  sDrewth  00:42, 11 June 2010 (UTC)

Robert Williams
I've created the exiguous page Author:Robert Williams since I need it for an article. "Professor" is what it says in the front of a volume. This is not the Robert Williams who wrote Eminent Welshman (cited in the article) since that one died 1881. Charles Matthews (talk) 19:19, 3 November 2009 (UTC) Parked
 * I woud guess it's the Robert Williams (born 1863) who was Professor (of Welsh, & later of Welsh & History) at St David's University College Lampeter from 1889-1903. (Search 'WILLIAMS, Ven. Robert' in The Celtic Who's Who). This gives his dates as 1863-1938.Dsp13 (talk) 01:50, 11 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Looks pretty good on the aspects. Assigned -- billinghurst (talk) 12:30, 11 November 2009 (UTC)

William Francis Wallis
For William Francis Wallis the most likely candidate that I can find is a painter b.Penzance, 1843 - d. Croydon, 1919. Parked billinghurst (talk) 14:36, 30 October 2009 (UTC)
 * WFW only has one contribution, a bio of Francis Pet(t)it Smith, inventor of the screw propeller. Smith's second marriage (1866) was to Susannah, daughter of John Wallis of Boxley in Kent. A relation? There's a W. F. Wallis of Maidstone active in the Federation of Building Trade Contractors in the e.C20th. Dsp13 (talk) 03:14, 2 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Have found a William Francis Wallis, b.1856, Maidstone, son of George Ephraim (Builder Master) (b. c1824, Boxley) (1871 census); Married Sarah ? in 1886. Building contractor (1901 census); William F Wallis, died 1930, aged 73 Hollingbourne RD (Kent).   That would make him a nephew(ish). Things seem to correspond. Assigned billinghurst (talk) 11:29, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

If you want to know anymore about William Francis Wallis, I can possibly help, he was my great grandfather. I am currently working on my family history and could provide a brief biography shortly.


 * Great news. This could be done by

The best place for specifics about what we can do would be the Talk page for the author. billinghurst (talk)
 * Brief biographical details can be added to the Description section of the author page
 * Adding or linking to further Works by the author
 * Adding or linking to primary documents available
 * Adding or linking to referenced or secondary documents about the author

Sarah Wilson
For Author:Sarah Wilson it quotes Mrs. Sarah Wilson and I have found bios in v.50 and v.55. I would hazard a guess that it is Lady Sarah Wilson though I have no evidence to that point. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 16:18, 20 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Sarah Wilson contributed 3 bios - of the architect Anthony Salvin (who amongst other things worked on Alnwick Castle) and the brothers George and Thomas Tate (from Alnwick, and one of whom wrote a history of Alnwick). Wilson claims private information for Thomas Tate. The Alnwick architect Frederick Richard Wilson (1827-1894) helped Anthony Salvin. A Sarah Wilson wrote on Alnwick & other matters for Chambers Journal, The Antiquary etc. at the start of the century. Dsp13 (talk) 03:57, 2 November 2009 (UTC)


 * You're good! Frederick Richard Wilson m. Sarah Humphreys, London, 1849 (sighted certificate); FRW (architect) son of Robert Wilson, Solicitor. Sarah Humphreys, daughter of Griffith Humphreys, Haberdasher.
 * Living Alnwick, Northumberland, Frederick R (b.c1827) and Sarah (b.c1828, Marylebone) (1891 census). Sarah Wilson, d.1915, aged 87, Alnwick.   billinghurst (talk) 12:22, 2 November 2009 (UTC) Assigned

George William Campbell
George William Campbell has done biographies on a couple of Somerville's and similarly there is a small pamphlet on same people. Family connection or Fetish. Parked


 * There is a reasonable fit with George William Campbell (1826-1896), who is quite well documented (London address 22 Queen's Gate Gardens, sons at Cambridge including a future baron). The Somerville biographies were published in 1898, which is OK with the death date if the system operated in advance. No positive connection yet found. The title Lord Somerville had been in abeyance since 1870, making it of interest to genealogists. Charles Matthews (talk) 12:41, 27 December 2017 (UTC)

George Stockley Cunyer - a pseudonym?
George Hughes: Is the name in brackets meant to signify the real author? With regards to the authors, all I can find


 * Rev. George Hughes
 * The sweet singer, Nettie Van Name : and her seven years' work for Jesus (1892?)
 * Note that checks if 1885 and 1898 Crockford's do not show a George Hughes. Looks to be an American author. So can probably scratch this lead. — billinghurst  sDrewth  12:50, 22 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Cunyer - zilch, though, I do find this definition for
 * CUNYER ... A coiner; fais cunyer, a false coiner, a maker of base money.

George Stockley Cunyer Not much evident, and will leave this hunt for the moment. -- billinghurst (talk) 02:56, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

John Findlay
Author:John Findlay Several choices through England, though plenty of scope for family. If looking in Scotland, there are quite a few. First or second my preference. Leaving alone at this point in time -- billinghurst (talk) 07:58, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Findlay, John Ritchie (1824–1898), newspaper proprietor
 * Findlay, John Ritchie (1866-1930), son of above, Newspaper Proprietor (1901), looks to have been knighted in 1917
 * Findlay, John George, (1862–1929) New Zealander, so less likely.

Also can see Joseph John Findlay (1860-1940) who is noted in The New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature, and other works. Schoolmaster at a number of schools Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire. Son of James Findlay, Scottish Wesleyan Master in Barton (Lincs) 1861. — billinghurst  sDrewth  12:56, 22 May 2011 (UTC)


 * I think Findlay, John Ritchie (1824–1898) is plausible: he had literary interests (De Quincey) and was a friend of John Hill Burton, of the right Edinburgh milieu. Charles Matthews (talk) 10:43, 31 December 2017 (UTC)

William Haines
Author talk:William Haines

Arthur Hall
transcluded from Author's talk page

Charles Ernest Hughes
Research moved to Author talk:Charles Ernest Hughes

Elizabeth Ingall
For Author:Elizabeth Ingall no real information to impart. Not uncommon name. No evidence of published books. Nothing jumping out. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 12:08, 17 December 2008 (UTC)

John Austin Jenkins
Identification confirmed, detail moved to John Austin Jenkins

Henry William Lumsden

 * research moved to Author talk:Henry William Lumsden

Margaret MacArthur
research moved to Author talk:Margaret MacArthur

Arthur Miller
Looks like Author:Arthur Miller did some early Welsh bios. Not a lot to go on. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 13:34, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Seems to be Welsh and Welsh particularly. Didn't seen to expend a lot of words on the bios, most are rather concise   Not through Cambridge, nor through Oxford that I can see.  — billinghurst  sDrewth  11:27, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Robert Macpherson

 * moved to Author talk:Robert Macpherson

Philip le Maistre
Quick check of my resources throws a blank for the obvious Author:Philip le Maistre. I can see
 * 1) Philip le Maistre - Oxford University attendee (b.c1819)
 * 2) Philip le Maistre - called to the Bar 1891
 * 3) Rev. Alexander Philip le Maistre - b. 1861.
 * Dies 8 September 1933, aged 74. 3rd son of Rev. George le Maistre, of St Aubins, Jersey. (The Times, 11 Sep 1933) Dsp13 (talk) 02:02, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

All related to Jersey as birthplace. I favour the latter, though no evidence. Of course, 2 and 3 could be the same person. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 14:07, 1 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Got some access to The Star (Saint Peter Port, England) and there seems a more likely candidate in Jersey. — billinghurst  sDrewth  05:39, 7 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I believe that it is Philip le Maistre, b.1867, St Heliers, Jersey, son of Philip Le Maistre (draper, b. 1828) and Mary Ann Lempriere. The jnr was an advocate (barrister, as above) of the Royal Court of Jersey, and for a time (at least in 1890s) one of the Hon. Sec. of Société Jersaise. No other PLMs look suitable to be selected as the authors of the articles. — billinghurst  sDrewth  06:49, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

So, Alexander Philip was an Oxford graduate. But I agree that the barrister is the probable author. Charles Matthews (talk) 19:04, 23 January 2018 (UTC)
 * Looking at the major aspects. The biography of Jean Poingdestre (1896), the publication by Société Jersaise in 1889 of Poingdestre's work, and le Maistre's association with SJ (1880s-90s) does give a strong case. Do you think it is strong enough to assign the personal detail? — billinghurst  sDrewth  07:45, 24 January 2018 (UTC)
 * Noting that born 1866, St. Helier, Jersey, died 1942.

Walter Evelyn Manners
Find at Author talk:Walter Evelyn Manners

Alexander James Mitchell Morison
Moved to Author talk:Alexander James Mitchell Morison

Hugh Miller
Where to start? Hugh Miller. It will not be the 19thC geologist, as deceased in 1856. List as Parked — 02:27, 17 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, his one contribution is the DNB life of the geologist, so might it be HM's son Hugh Miller (1850-1896), also a geologist with the Geological Survey? Dsp13 (talk) 23:49, 25 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Especially as the piece cites "personal knowledge". Charles Matthews (talk) 13:09, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

Edward O'Callaghan
Nothing immediately evident for Edward O'Callaghan. No books published. Can only find a reference to bio for military officer in DNB. Parked billinghurst (talk) 13:08, 30 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Two military biographies. Quite likely an artillery officer in the Indian Army, judging by a remark in the one on Richard Maitland. Charles Matthews (talk) 13:15, 16 November 2009 (UTC)


 * I've just noticed that "Lieutenant Edward O'Callaghan" has some Google hits for an officer of the 51st Foot. Which is interesting because Mitchell, Hugh Henry (DNB00) was an officer in the 51st Light Infantry (same thing). Charles Matthews (talk) 14:02, 14 January 2013 (UTC)

William Perkins
Quick search shows no standout candidates for Author:William Perkins, so without a deep delve, throwing it out there for opinion. Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 06:13, 19 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I think Perkins wrote only one DNB contribution, on the Particularist Baptist minister John Webster Morris. One possibility might be the Wesleyan Methodist Rev. William Perkins (born 1843, New Zealand), who as Secretary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society travelled to Honduras in 1899, & was elected President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference in 1909. But I really have no idea. Dsp13 (talk) 02:51, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

Thomas Sinclair
Can find two candidates for Author:Thomas Sinclair in vol. 3 Walter Baltroddi, Bishop of Caithness
 * Thomas Sinclair (b.1843) preferred candidate
 * claims descent from Earl of Caithness and author


 * Thomas Sinclair (1838-1914) Northern Ireland politician
 * details of obit at author talk page and

Parked -- billinghurst (talk) 16:58, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Emma Catharine Sutton
back transclude from author talk page

William Connor Sydney
back transclude from author talk page


 * Note that this author was not recorded in the list of contributors for volume 25, though was listed in volume 26. There were multiple biographical pieces attributed to Sydeny in vol. 25, so it is likely that the works are his pieces. A work in volume 6 is attributed to him, and again he is not listed as a contributor, there must be some doubt that he was the author. — billinghurst  sDrewth  14:41, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

William Rees Williams
See Author talk:William Rees Williams

JWE ... John Woodfall Ebsworth is incorrect
In this existing contributor list (1920s), it refers to John Woodfall Ebsworth who doesn't exist, though there is a Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth. Articles by JWE are Joseph and Mary Ebsworth. In looking at the original list, it refers to Rev. J.W. Ebsworth who are the parents of above. Changes being made to entry and annotations to be made. -- billinghurst (talk) 08:08, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

JWC would be John William Clerke
For the initials JWC and its reference to volume i ... in the obituary for Author:Agnes Mary Clerke there is mention that her father is John William Clerke, who died in 1890. Given the ages of the Clerke sisters, it would seem less likely that he wrote the article and it has been an editorial error. -- billinghurst (talk) 11:56, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

HAH ... Herbert Ashton Holden is incorrect
In this existing contributor list, it refers to Herbert Ashton Holden who doesn't seem to exist, though there is Hubert Ashton Holden. It would seem to be a mistake in reading text, especially from handwritten notes. Article found is for Lofft, Capell, the younger who is classical scholar, vol. 34. Vol 34. refers to Rev. H. A. Holden, LL.D. which is Hubert. -- billinghurst (talk) 10:57, 10 December 2008 (UTC)

JTK ... John Taylor Kay is incorrect
In the existing contributor list (1920s), it refers to John Taylor Kay. In vol. 43, the List of Contributors cites J. Taylor Kay. Research (above) shows that this will be James Taylor Kay. Presuming mistake made by later editorial team. -- billinghurst (talk) 23:34, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

FN ... Frederick Norgate is mispelt
The death registration and the obituary both state this as Frederic Norgate, while contributor list unchanged, the underlying link is to the corrected name billinghurst (talk)

FCP ... Francis Cranmer Penrose
In source we used as Cramer though all references definitely spell it as Cranmer. Underlying link has been updated, original text unchanged. Will hunt out the template. -- billinghurst (talk) 15:57, 18 July 2009 (UTC) and the template doesn't exist.

ELR ... Emma Louisa Radford
In the source we used Louise though birth and other records of the period indicate Louisa. Documented on author's talk page. Underlying link and template have been updated, original text unchanged. -- billinghurst (talk) 17:01, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

HBW ... Horace Bolingbroke Woodward
The source document used shows Bolinbroke, reference to documents of the period clearly identify the second name as Bolingbroke. Correct spelling and link in the LoC. -- billinghurst (talk) 11:58, 18 August 2009 (UTC)

Well done Ec
though I am thoroughly depressed on the red wall of death. :-) -- billinghurst (talk) 14:57, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

DNB contrib template
Hi AD, When there is an image included, the line wraps, currently doing so on Author:William Henry Flower. Thx. -- billinghurst (talk) 15:43, 1 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Is there any ready means for you to make the initials component be non-breaking spaces? If you could force it rather than us having to code it ... sweet.
 * Could you also make the initials permanently be ?

AD, this template has your fingerprints. -- billinghurst (talk) 12:46, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Also, if you type the initials with period marks, we end the sentence → .". which behaves badly as in Author:Ernest Clarke (1856-1923), so please can we remove the ending (.) period.
 * I did go in and put a "br /" in between the two sentences in the template to allow better presentation of the text.
 * The text could be reduced to one line by rewording it to:
 * This author, designated by the initials "," wrote articles for the Dictionary of National Biography.
 * Eclecticology (talk) 22:07, 5 October 2008 (UTC)
 * It is useful to have some of the sentence structure with the initials at the end. Where an author appears twice, like Friedlander, it enables one to run on the sentence. So.
 * in vol. xii and "" in vols. xiii and xiv.
 * becomes ... in vol. xii and  in vols. xiii and xiv.
 * -- billinghurst (talk) 10:56, 6 October 2008 (UTC)
 * This is true enough, though the same solution is available either way. It's not that big a deal for me, so I'll let it be. Eclecticology (talk) 18:12, 6 October 2008 (UTC)


 * DNB MB currently only refers to Montagu Burrows, but elsewhere it is also used for Mary Bateson. Any thoughts for these ambiguous templates? Eclecticology (talk) 22:14, 5 October 2008 (UTC)
 * I haven't seen the proposed solution for this issue. I was wondering whether it might just be the addition of the volume number or first identified volume.  With a little coding, we could have the relevant volume number choose the right author or ignore, whichever is the case. -- billinghurst (talk) 10:23, 1 November 2008 (UTC)
 * These templates do not take parameters. I decided to do it this way to make it as simple possible in the normal case for our editors. I recommend that when the "obvious" initials are ambiguous, we create a template that inserts instructions as ot how to pick the correct template. The editor will presumably see this and then choose the "correct" template instead. I'll try an example. -Arch dude (talk) 17:12, 1 November 2008 (UTC)
 * OK, I just implemented a proposed fix. We can change it as needed. Basically, if you use DNB MB, you get instructions on what to do next. appended to the bottom of the page. That template will also transclude a link to Author: ambiguous DNB author" go to that page and look at "what links here" to find articles that article that are using an ambiguous footer. Since these are reaonable rare, I have elected to use ralatively long template names fo rthe disambiguated authores. Is this a suitable solution? -Arch dude (talk) 17:38, 1 November 2008 (UTC)
 * There are 22 ambiguous pairs and one ambiguous triplet.I'll add all 23 "ambiguous footer" templates. Whenever you add a footer for one of these 23 ihnitials, you will be instructed to replace it with the long form, so we are stuck with the long form for 47 authors. -Arch dude (talk) 18:47, 1 November 2008 (UTC)
 * Done -Arch dude (talk) 16:28, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

Use of umlauts
I have found that Michael Friedlander is recorded as Michael Friedländer in the written books. Amending the link to reflect it. WP has listed as the latter. -- billinghurst (talk) 16:31, 5 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Author page already exists, will add to it. -- billinghurst (talk) 16:45, 5 October 2008 (UTC)

Needed navigation
From the contributor page there is no link to get back to the main page. Is there a standard wrap for project pages? -- billinghurst (talk) 06:47, 6 October 2008 (UTC)
 * An ordinary header should handle that. Eclecticology (talk) 07:27, 6 October 2008 (UTC)
 * D'oh. Blond moment.

Exact sources of this list unclear
What are the various sources referred to here?
 * "The format of these pages has been modified from the original"
 * "Except for the entry in the List of Contributors there is no trace of J. W. Clerke. The life of George Barrett in vol.i, which is signed J. W. C., appears from the records to have been written by Miss Ellen Mary Clarke."
 * (and should 'Ellen Mary Clarke' be 'Ellen Mary Clerke'?)


 * "Contributor list in use stated John Woodfall Ebsworth, however, reference to original contributor list states Rev. J.W. Ebsworth, who is Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth." Dsp13 (talk) 01:15, 1 November 2008 (UTC)
 * For the consolidated lists of contributors we found and utilised a 1932 printing of the 1922 revised edition. So the Ebsworth reference in the consolidated list has the full name, and in the original volume has the abbreviated name with title. -- billinghurst (talk) 10:09, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

Confusing "volume" nomenclature
The volume numbers refered to in this list appear to be from vol i-xxii in in some edition after 1900. However, everywhere else in the project we use the origonal 63-volume convention. It is especially confusing here, where we want to use the volume numbers to aid in disambiguation. thoughts? -Arch dude (talk) 13:35, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

I think that we simply update the vol. refs to reflect the original vol numbers. There were a guidance for where we were at that time and they have served their purpose. We can modify; and when someone has the time and ability, then we should. -- billinghurst (talk) 11:59, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Adding Publication years to Volumes
As people are adding names to the main namespace Volumes, example would they be able to add publication years in the headers. Just needs the extra header line. Thanks billinghurst (talk) 20:45, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Samuel Smith
Wrote only the article on Samuel Roberts (1763–1848), a Sheffield philanthropist. He would be a good fit with Samuel Smith (1836–1906), Scottish politician and philanthropist, who has his own DNB article. Charles Matthews (talk) 20:11, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Obit for politician — The Times, Monday, Dec 31, 1906; pg. 3; Issue 38217; col F, though does NOT discuss any writings; though they are there Claims of Rome (1897), Fallacies of the Socialism Exposed (1885), Destitute Children (1885). Note that died while in Calcutta. No evidence to the contrary, so am not about to disagree with your conclusion.billinghurst (talk) 06:32, 7 December 2009 (UTC)

J. H. Thorpe
see author talk:J. H. Thorpe

H. W. Monckton
One that is missing - unique article is Monckton, Robert (DNB00) in vol. 38. I think this will be Horace Woollaston Monckton (1857-1930), a barrister. There is a family connection: Robert Monckton was a son of the first Viscount Galway, and Horace Woollaston Monckton a grandson of the fifth Viscount Galway. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:15, 7 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Sounds eminently reasonable, and born Ireland and present in England 1871, 1881, 1891 census. Nothing relevant shows up for Oxford or Cambridge in that period. More than likely than the family that descended down through the Brenchley Moncktons that spawned Viscount Monckton of Brenchley in more recent times; and on that family I have quite amount of research, and fortunately my lineage is well distinct from the climate change-denier. — billinghurst  sDrewth  12:12, 11 May 2010 (UTC)

Capturing original research
Colleagues, It appears to me that this page is capturing a lot of important scholarly research. However, a talk page on Wikisource is not really a suitable venue for this. May I recommend that you publish this research elsewhere? You can then refer to your published work here. I am a systems architect, not a historian, so I am not attuned to this sort of thing. If you do not care about finding an "appropriate" scholarly venue, perhaps you can "publish" at Wikibooks. I envision a book with an entry for each DNB contributor. Each entry has two parts. The first part is a trivial biography of the contributor (basically the wikisource author page.) The second part is the research that shows why this particular author is in fact the person who wrote the DNB articles: this is the original research that you are documenting here.

There is absolutely no harm in using this page as you are currently doing. However, I think that this work should be captured in a less ephemeral form. -Arch dude (talk) 01:39, 12 May 2010 (UTC)


 * It's an interesting idea. I would actually like to conceive of two kinds of effort. Dividing up the authors according to those who have or should have a Wikipedia biography, on one side, and those who don't and shouldn't on the other (from the perspective of "notability"), there is the option for the first group to use "create a book" on Wikipedia to gather up biographies. Then (and I hadn't quite got to this point myself) I think a book at Wikibooks for the other authors would be a good idea. You correctly say that the work done on identification is of some scholarly value; and it would be better to collate it in one place, rather than here and spread over Talk pages. Charles Matthews (talk) 07:36, 12 May 2010 (UTC)


 * This is mostly identifying information only, and helping to sort out which is the author of interest among a morass of people. Once we have confirmed absolutely, then it can go to be on the talk page of the relevant authors, personally I just haven't got it there yet.  If you look at many of the author pages that exist, you will see that much of the data is already there, and that there is biographical details for many, either through an obit, data from alumnis, etc, and you may note that there is the hidden Category:Obituaries available with the specific information commented in the description field of the author pages.  So, in answer, yes, known, though often the interest is in the separation of the people, not so much the people's individuals history. — billinghurst  sDrewth  07:50, 12 May 2010 (UTC)


 * What I sketched out immediately was a list of a dozen or so "fields" that could be filled in, for each author. So, for a "book" treatment that went further than our immediate purposes here, I think the first step might be to agree on a standard form of entry. I bumped into Dsp13 in the street, and he was talking about getting a DNB specialist involved on our tough nuts to crack. There are plenty of Victorian specialists in academia. I think getting a wikibook (I'd thought maybe a whole wiki!) as a collaborative place to research might work out. There are indeed bits of info around here, for example hidden comments on the author pages. Using the Author talk: pages is actually not incompatible, and if we can bring the research information into a standard form we can have the makings of book entries. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:49, 12 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Meaning something like the table now on Author talk:Thomas Wilson Bayne. That is simply a rationalised version of what is on the author page, including hidden comments. Charles Matthews (talk) 16:27, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Troublesome hyphen
Author:Ernest Gambier-Parry: singleton author, and when it comes down to it, he is hyphenated on Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 55.djvu/464. He is also hyphenated in the obituary we have. Not hyphenated in the author list of vol. 55; not hyphenated in various other places. I have imposed the hyphen as the relevant form for the only work that concerns us right now. Charles Matthews (talk) 10:35, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

SPARQL query
Here, by way of a progress check, is a SPARQL query that arranges the DNB contributors by the number of statements on their Wikidata item.

Ramsay MacDonald, not surprisingly for someone who went on to become Prime Minister, has the most: over 100. The minimum number is 4, which is not much at all.

You suggested above that our research on these authors should be given more permanent form. To some extent, Wikidata can do that. Certainly, with a bit of effort, career, educational and family details can be put there. NB that the data models for careers of different kinds may only be partially developed. Also half, in rough terms, of Wikidata statements are identifiers. That is no bad thing here, where the first business is to clarify whom we are dealing with.

As you may have guessed, I'm working down the contributors category, trying to resolve the remaining cases where we couldn't decide on an identification. These issues do now seem mostly to yield, given the passage of time, more online resources, and in particular the mix'n'match and VIAF search engines that cover so much more ground than was possible at the beginning of the decade. I'm simply putting all the names into mix'n'match, to see what comes up and can be added to the Wikidata items. When I have done all that, I think we could take stock of the unfinished identifications.

The query, anyway, graphically picks out the extent of the "tail" where we just know little. It can doubtless be tweaked to give a total number of statements, for a crude metric, and other matters such as authors' occupations looked at. Charles Matthews (talk) 11:44, 5 January 2018 (UTC)

Footnote: the median number of statements is 23. This would be a handy metric to track. Charles Matthews (talk) 12:42, 6 January 2018 (UTC)