GREAT MEN OF GREAT BRITAIN. AAR AARON, ST., a British martyr, 303. AARON, a Scotchman by birth, made abbot of St. Martin of Cologne, 1042, died 1052. Left a work on the advantage of chanting the psalms and other vocal music in churches. ABBOT, CHARLES. See TENTERDEN. ABBOT, CHARLES, created Baron Colchester 1817, on retiring from the speakership of the H. of Commons, was distinguished as a practical statesman, 1757-1829. ABBOT, CHARLES, author of a work on the flora of Bedfordshire, was vicar of Oakley and Goldington in that county; died 1817. ABBOT, GEORGE, archbishop of Canterbury in the reigns of James I. and Charles I., was the son of a clothworker, and early remarkable for his polemical skill. He was an influential man at court until Laud came into favour: he lost ground from his attachment to Calvinism, 1562-1633. ABBOT, ROBERT, bp. of Salisbury, and eldest brother of the foregoing, is esteemed for his profound and extensive learning, 1560-1617. ABBOT, MAURICE, youngest brother of the foregoing, was an eminent merchant, and one of the first directors of the East India Company. Served in the office of sheriff and lord mayor, and was knighted by Charles I.; died 1640. ABBOT, GEORGE, son of Sir Maurice, took up arms in favour of Parliament, was author of several religious works, 1600-1648. ABBOT, SAMUEL, an English painter, born 1762, became insane and died 1803. ABEL, DR. CLARKE, an English physician and naturalist, the historian of Lord Amherst's embassy to China, died 1826. ABEL, THOMAS, a distinguished divine, teacher of grammar and music to queen Catherine; executed by order of Henry VIII. 1540. ABELL, JNO., a musician, celebrated at the court of Charles II. ABERCROMBIE, JOHN, author of several works on horticulture, published originally under his own name and that of Mawe, 1726-1806. ABERCROMBIE, JOHN, M.D., the eminent author of Enquiries concerning the Intellectual Powers,' published 1830, and the Philosophy of the Moral Feelings,' published 1833, was born at Aberdeen, Nov. 11, 1781, and attained the highest rank as a practical and consulting physician at Edinburgh; died Nov. 14, 1844. ABE ABERCROMBY, ALEX., Lord, youngest brother of Sir Ralph, a judge of Scotland, and occasional essayist in connection with Mackenzie, 1745-1795. ABERCROMBY, DAV., a Scotch physician and author, 17th century. ABERCROMBY, SIR JOHN ROBT., lieut.-gen., second son of Sir Ralph, took the Isle of France while governor of Madras in 1810; died 1817. ABERCROMBY, PATRICK, a Scotch historian, physician to James II., died 1726. ABERCROMBY, SIR RALPH. This gallant and skilful soldier, and upright and humane man, was born at Menstrie, in the county of Clackmannan in Scotland, in October, 1734. He entered the army at the age of eighteen, and saw some service during the last part of the seven years' war in Germany. He was not employed in the American war; and it was not until the war against revolutionary France broke out, that the important part of Abercromby's career commenced.-He acted as lieutenant-general to the Duke of York in the campaigns in Holland, from 1793-5. Abercromby's promptitude and courage, and also his good sense and humanity, were greatly signalized during these unfortunate operations of our troops; and both foreigners and fellow-countrymen noted the contrast which his skill presented to the incompetency of the other leaders of our army at that period. At the end of 1795 Sir Ralph was appointed commander-in-chief in the West Indies, and conquered several islands from the French. He was sent to Ireland as commander of the forces, during one part of the Irish rebellion, but his disgust at the system sanctioned there by the government, caused him to make indignant remonstrances, which were answered by his recall. He served again in Holland as second in command to the Duke of York, in the disastrous expedition to the Helder in 1799; and he again acquired the respect both of friends and foes, by his good conduct amid the imbecile blunders of those who were associated with him in command. But it is from the expedition to reconquer Egypt in 1801, when he was placed in unfettered authority at the head of a British army destined for a worthy object, that the lustre of his fame is dated. Sir Ralpli reached the Egyptian coast in March, with a force of about 12,000 effective men. The French army that occupied Egypt, under General Menou, was much stronger; but Menou, though aware of the which to practise the profession, and in carrying out the principles of his great master, John Hunter, with amazing energy and determination. [R.D.T.] ABERNETHY, THOS., a Jesuit missionary in Scotland, 1636. approach of the English expedition, detached only ABERNETHY, JOHN, (1763-1831,) a celepart of his force, under General Friant, to oppose the brated surgeon. A native of the north of Ireland, landing of Abercromby's army. Abercromby placed he was educated in London, where his parents his men in boats on the 8th of March, and made good are said to have resided. He became a pupil his landing, though he was met by Friant's troops of John Hunter, by whom he was thoroughly emwith a heavy cannonade; and the English, as they bued with a determination to devote his remarkreached the beach, were fiercely and repeatedly able energies to the reform of the mode of practischarged both by the cavalry and the infantry of the ing the profession to which he was devoted. By French. Abercromby then moved upon Alex- his master he was admirably instructed in the andria, where the chief force of the French was organization of the human body, and his career is posted. A slight action took place on the 13th, a brilliant example of the successful application of in which the English had the advantage; but it his early knowledge to the legitimate treatment of was on the 21st that the decisive battle was disease. It was in combating the empirical tenfought which liberated Egypt. On that day dencies of his predecessors that he perhaps became General Menou attacked the British with the rather dogmatical in his manner, which, although whole disposable force that he could concentrate it rendered him a favourite with his pupils from upon their position. He had from 12 to 14,000 its eccentricity, produced enmity by its brusquetroops in the field, a large proportion of whom were ness. To a celebrated friend of the writer of this, cavalry; and his artillery was also numerous. who was familiar with him, he said, upon taking Abercromby had about 10,000 foot, and only 300 a patient to him, and commencing to explain the horse. He was also far inferior in guns. The symptoms of the complaint, Hold your tongue, battle, (which the English call the battle of Alex- sir, what have you to do with it?" He became, at andria, and which is termed by French historians an early age, surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospithe battle of Canopus,) began about an hour be- tal, and lecturer in its medical school. His most fore daybreak, and raged with unusual obstinacy important works were on Physiology, on Surgery, till a little before 10 A.M. The French troops were and on the treatment of local diseases. His great all veterans of Napoleon's army of Italy; they at-merit was in pointing out the legitimate road on tacked with impetuosity; and the English, who had the fullest confidence in their chief, resisted with their national stubbornness. Our right wing rested on the ruins of some old Roman buildings; and this point was the key of our position, and the especial object of the French assaults. Abercromby rode to this spot, and encouraged his men by voice, gesture, and example. On the other side, Lanusse, the best of the French generals, led on the assailing columns. Lanusse was shot dead, and his columns driven back, but they soon rallied and returned to the charge; and a splendid division of French cavalry, under General Roize, galloped forward upon the English infantry that was posted near the Roman walls. Sir Ralph was attacked in person by some of these daring cavaliers, and the brave old general, though he disarmed his first antagonist, received a sabre wound in the chest from another French trooper, who was instantly shot down by a Highlander of the 42d. Soon after this Sir Ralph received a musket shot in the thigh; but he refused to quit the field until the enemy were thoroughly repulsed, and he saw them flying from the field, which was strewed with 1,700 of their killed and wounded, and also with nearly 1,400 of the victorious English. When the excitement of the battle was over, Sir Ralph fainted and was carried off the field in a hammock, amid the blessings and tears of the soldiery, who loved him as a father. He was immediately carried on board Lord Keith's flag ship, where he died of the gunshot wound in his thigh, on the evening of 28th March, 1801, in the 63d year of his pure and honourable life. [E.S.C.] ABERCROMBY, SIR ROBT., General, a younger brother of Sir Ralph. For thirty years governor of the castle of Edinburgh, died 1827. ABERNETHY, REV. J., an Irish dis.,1680-1740. ABINGER, JAMES SCARLETT, Lord, an eminent English practising barrister and judge, was born in Jamaica about the year 1769. His family was eminent and influential in the West Indies, and his younger brother, Sir William Anglin Scarlett, became chief justice of Jamaica. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, entered at the Middle Temple, and was called to the bar on the 8th July, 1791, taking his degree of A.M. three years later. His practical sagacity, aided by a full, handsome person, which gave him, even in youth, an appearance of sedate importance, procured for him a rapid and lucrative business. His temper, discretion, and industry, were always to be relied on; and few English barristers, while yet junior counsel, have been intrusted with the sole management of so many important cases. There was nothing striking or inspiring in his eloquence, nor was he remarkable for original or profound legal views; but he had the most lucrative of all characters attached to his professional fame, that of getting many verdicts. A writer in the public press, signing himself 'Lorgnette,' who seems to have intimately studied his career, summed up characteristics as a practical lawyer by saying:'Watchfulness, prudence in the management of a case, great moral courage in the choice or rejection of the means to be used on behalf of a client, experience of human nature, and great self-denial in the exhibition of that experience; these were the chief agencies by which he acquired his ascendancy over juries; while it is not surprising that he should have also acquired great influence over the his |