A biographical, historical and chronological dictionary: containing accurate accounts of the lives, characters, and actions, of the most eminent persons of all ages and all countries; : including the revolutions of states, and the succession of sovereign princes / By John Watkins.

  • John Watkins
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical, historical and chronological dictionary: containing accurate accounts of the lives, characters, and actions, of the most eminent persons of all ages and all countries; : including the revolutions of states, and the succession of sovereign princes / By John Watkins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    with the troops March 8th 1ROI, and de- feated the French at Aboukir, after a bloody action. On the 21st of the same month was fought near Alexandria a me- morable battle, in which the English were again the victors, but with the loss of their gallant general, who died the 28th, on board the ship which was conveying him to Malta, in the great church of which island he was buried with military honours. In 1774, sir Ralph represented the county of Kinross in parliament, and continued in that capacity till the general election in 1780.—Monthly Mag. Public Characters, Vol. Ill\ Abf.rcromby (Thomas), a physician, was born at Forfar, in the county of Angus, 165b', and educated at St. Andrews, from whence he went to Leyden, and took the degree of M. D.in 1685. On his retain to Scotland he professed the Romish religion, and was made physician to James II. He compiled “ The Martial Achievements of Scotland,” in 2 vols. folio; also a treatise on wit. He died at Edinburgh, in 1726.—Gen. B. D. Abernethy (John), a divine, was born in 1680, at Coleraine in Ireland. He was educated at Glasgow, where he took the degree ofM. A. ; and then went to Edin- burgh, and studied divinity. In 1708, he became pastor of a congregation at Antrim; not long after which a society of dissenting ministers was established at Belfast, whose object was to shake off subscription to the Westminster confession, in which Aber- netfcy concurred with great zeal. In 1726, the g-eneral synod passed a resolution that the nonsubscribing ministers should not be of their body, in consequence of which ma- ny congregations became dissatisfied with their pastors. That of Abernethy decreased so much, that he accepted an invitation - from the congregation of Wood-street, Dub- lin,wherehecontinued till his death,in 1740. Xvo volumes of his sermons were printed at Lcfpdon, in 1748, and are held in great estimation.—Biog. Br. AbgarO-s, king of Edessa, in Mesopota- mia, and contemporary with our Saviour, to whom, it is said, he Wrote a letter, and received an answer, both extant and well known. Many learned writers have vin- dicated their authority, while others reject them as forgeries.—Eusebius. Abgillus, surnamed Prester John, was ton to a king of the Frisi, and attended Charlemagne to the Holy Land, but did /tot return with him to Europe. He gained mighty conquests in Abyssinia, which coun- try was afterwards called from him the em- pire of Prester John. He is said to have written the history of Charlemagne's jour- ney, and of his own to the East.—Moreri. Abijah, king of Judah, was the son of Rehoboam, and began his reign 958 B. C. In the second year of his reign he defeated Jeroboam, king oHsrael.—SS. Abiathar,a Jewish high priest, was the son of Abimeiech, who was killed by Saul. He succeeded his father, and attached him- self to David, but on his death attempting to put Adonijah on the throne, he was de- posed and banished by Solomon, B. C. 1014. —SS. Able, or Abel (Thomas), was educated at Oxford, where he became M. A. in 1516, and, entering into orders, was made chap- lain to Catherine, wife of Henry VIII. whom he taught music and the languages. His attachment to his royal mistress brought him into great trouble. He wrote a trea- tise against the divorce; and in 1534 was attainted for being concerned in the affair of the holy maid of Kent. In 1540, he suf- fered death for denying the king’s supre- macy.— Wood. B og. Br. Abner, the uncle of Saul, whom he served with great loyalty against David. He was treacherously murdered by Joab, B. C. 1048.—SS. Aboughehel, an Arabian idolator, and a bitter enemy to Mohammed, who is said to : have passed upon him sentence of reproba- tion, but his son Acranias was converted to the Mussulman faith. The Mohammedans, by way of contempt, call coloquintida the melon or cucumber of Aboughehel.— D' Herbelot. Abou-hanifaii, was the son of Thabet, and born at Coufa A. D. 699. He is es- teemed among the Mussulmans for his ex-< positions of their law, but was persecuted for denying predestination, and died in pri- son at Bagdad. 685 years after his death the reigning caliph built a mausoleum to hi* memory, and founded a college for his fol*< lowers.—D' Herbelot. Abou-Joseph, a mussulman doctor, whe was the first that had the title of kadhi a] kodhat, or judge of the judges. He lived in the caliphate of Haroun-alraschid.—Ibid- Aboulaina, a Mohammedan doctor,fa mousfor his wit, of whom the following stor is told. Moses,son of the caliph AbdalmaleV having put to death secretly one of Aboil laina’s friends,gave it out that he had flee’ the doctor, on being asked what was b« come of his friend, replied in the words <j scripture, Moses smote him and he died. ’1 1 irince being told of this, sent for Aboi aina, and threatened him with severe p nishment; on which Aboulaina replied the words of scripture, Wilt thou HU me day as thou didst the other yesterday ? The prill! was so pleased with his wit, that he d missed him with presents.—Ibid. Aboulola, the surname of Ahmed bi Soliman, an Arabian poet, who lost 12 sight by the small-pox, when only th* year* old. At the age of 45 he embracr the notions of the Brahmins respecting ( metempsychosis,and lived the remainder' his life on vegetables. He died in 1057' Ibid. Abrabanel (Isaac), a learned rabbi, \
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