Sir Henry Pottinger

Sir Henry Pottinger, an English statesman, born in Ireland in 1789, died in Malta, March 18, 1856. He went to India as a cadet in 1804, occupied high offices there, and in 1839 was created a baronet for his long services as political resident and for some time regent in Cutch and Sinde. Being sent as envoy to China, he concerted measures with Admiral Parker for the taking of Amoy (Aug. 26, 27, 1841) and other important places, and concluded the treaty of peace (Aug. 29, 1842) which opened the great ports of China to all nations. He was appointed governor of Hong Kong, and in 1844 privy councillor, and received a pension of £1,500. In 1846-'7 he was governor of Cape Colony, and subsequently of Madras till 1854, when he went home.

Sir Henry Raeburn

Sir Henry Raeburn, a Scottish painter, born in that part of Edinburgh formerly called Stockbridge, March 4, 1756, died July 8, 1823. He was apprenticed to a goldsmith, but obtained his release, and began portrait painting in Edinburgh, where he soon became a rival of David Martin, who then stood at the head of this branch of the art. After visiting Rome he returned to Edinburgh in 1787, and at once became the leading portrait painter there, a supremacy which he maintained until his death. Among his sitters were Sir Walter Scott, Henry Mackenzie, Dugald Stewart, Lord Eldon, George IV., Prof. Playfair, Dr. Hugh Blair, Jeffrey, and Alison. In 1814 he was elected an associate and in 1815 a member of the royal academy; and in 1822 he was knighted.

Sir Henry Spelman

Sir Henry Spelman, an English antiquary, born at Congham, near Lynn, Norfolkshire, in 1562, died in London in 1641. He was educated at Cambridge, and devoted himself to historical and antiquarian studies. He served as sheriff of his county, and was knighted by James I. and appointed commissioner to determine disputed claims to lands and manors in Ireland. In 1612 he settled in London. He wrote Glossarium Areliaiologicum (A to L, 1626; completed from his manuscripts, 1664; best ed., 1687); Concilia, Decreta, Leges, Con-stitutiones, in Ee Ecclesiastica Orbis Britan-nici (2 vols., 1639-'64); and Villare Anglica-num(1656). The Reliquioe Spelmannianoe (fol., Oxford, 1698) is a collection of his papers relating to the laws and antiquities of England.

Sir Henry Taylor

Sir Henry Taylor, an English poet, born in 1800. In 1824 he entered the colonial office, where he has long been one of the five senior clerks. His earliest publication was " Isaac Comnenus, a Play" (1827), and he is best known by two dramas in blank verse, " Philip van Artevelde" (1834) and "Edwin the Fair" (1842). His other works include "The Eve of the Conquest, and other Poems" (1847); "Notes from Life, in Six Essays" (1847); "Notes from Books, in Four Essays" (1849); "The Virgin Widow, a Play " (1850); and "St. Clement's Eve, a Play" (1862). A collective edition of his plays and poems was published in 1863 (3 vols. 8vo).