Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography

The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography was a biographical dictionary of the nineteenth century, published by William Mackenzie in Glasgow.

The second edition, which was published in 1876, was released in two sets. One was a set of 28 volumes (parts), priced at 4 shillings each. The other set was in 14 volumes (divisions), in elegant cloth, bevel boards, cut edges, and priced at 10 shillings each.

Publication

The Dictionary was issued by part publication,[1] and its first edition appeared from 1857 to 1863. In collected form (1863) there were three volumes, originally issued in 16 parts.[2] A later edition appeared from 1876.[3]

Staff and writers

The Imperial Dictionary was edited by John Francis Waller from 1857 to 1866;[2] Patrick Edward Dove was general editor for the first 20 numbers,[4] John Service was on the editorial staff 1858 to 1862, acting as sub-editor under Dove.[5] Also involved editorially were William John Macquorn Rankine, Francis Bowen, John Eadie, and John Pringle Nichol.[6][7][8]

A list of contributors appeared in the first volume,[9] and a further list in volume II.[10]

William Lindsay Alexander[11] Archibald Allison Joseph Angus John Anster Thomas Arnold William Baird John Hutton Balfour Hugh Barclay Thomas Spencer Baynes John Relly Beard,[12] Edwin Beedell Henry Glassford Bell Hugh Blackburn John Stuart Blackie Francis Bowen W. B. Boyce David Brewster J. H. Browne Baroness Blaze de Bury John Hill Burton William Hookham Carpenter J. F. Corkran George Lillie Craik J. P. Darney Samuel Davidson Joshua Frederick Denham M. Desmarest Benjamin Disraeli James Donaldson J. W. Doran Patrick Edward Dove John Eadie John Edmond Karl Elze Francis Espinasse,[13][14]

Patrick Fairbairn James Frederick Ferrier[15] William Fleming Alexander Campbell Fraser Samuel H. Gael William Gammell Robert Grant William Alexander Greenhill Felix John Hamel James Hamilton Robert Harrison Eben Norton Horsford Mary Howitt William Howitt William Hughes Thomas Jackson Robert Kane Edwin Lankester[16] William Leitch Peter Lorimer Edmund Law Lushington William Maccall James M'Cosh George Alexander Macfarren.[17] John Maclean Norman Mcleod James Ormiston McWilliam Augustus Caesar Marani William Allen Miller George Moore John Daniel Morell Thomas Boyles Murray John Pringle Nichol John Nichol

C. G. Nicholay James O'Dowd R. S. Oldham John G. Palfrey Frederick Penny Francis Pulszky William John Macquorn Rankine Edward Francis Rimbault Henry Darwin Rogers William Howard Russell Aurelio Saffi R. Siegfried Alexander Smith Robert Angus Smith J. Storer Smith Hugh Stowell James Summers William Symington Isaac Taylor,[18] James Taylor.[19] James Emerson Tennent Robert Dundas Thomson Walter Thornbury James Thorne John Tulloch Robert Vaughan John Veitch John Francis Waller John Washington Francis Cornelius Webb W. Webster Charles Richard Weld Robert Willis Horace Hayman Wilson Ralph N. Wornum

Other contributors included:

• John Merry Ross,[20]
• Christina Rossetti on Petrarch, and numerous other Italians[21][22]
• William Michael Rossetti,[21]
• Algernon Charles Swinburne,[23]

There were engravings included by William Thomas Fry,[24] James Thomson,[25] and Richard Woodman.[26]

Notes

1. Eadie, John (3 February 2019). The imperial dictionary of universal biography: a series of original memoirs of distinguished men, of all ages and all nations. W. Mackenzie. OL 24598525M.
2. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1899). "Waller, John Francis" . Dictionary of National Biography. 59. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
3. The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography: A Series of Original Memoirs of Distinguished Men, of All Ages and All Nations. William Mackenzie. 1876.
4. Cunliffe, John. "Dove, Patrick Edward". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/7951. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
5. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1897). "Service, John" . Dictionary of National Biography. 50. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
6. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). "Rankine, William John Macquorn" . Dictionary of National Biography. 47. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
7. Alexander Macdonald (1868). Handbook of the Law relative to Masters, Workmen, Servants & Apprentices, in all Trades & Occupations: With Notes of decided Cases in England, Scotland & Ireland. Will. Mackenzie. p. 431.
8. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1894). "Nichol, John Pringle" . Dictionary of National Biography. 40. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
9. John Francis Waller; John Eadie; William John Macquorn Rankine; Edwin Lankester (1857). The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography: A Series of Original Memoirs of Distinguished Men, of All Ages and All Nations. William Mackenzie, 22 Paternoster Row; Howard Street, Glasgow; South Bridge, Edinburgh. pp. 521–2.
10. Eadie, John; Waller, John Francis (3 February 1863). "The Imperial dictionary of universal biography: a series of original memoirs of distinguished men, of all ages and all nations". London, W. Mackenzie – via Internet Archive.
11. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1901). "Alexander, William Lindsay" . Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). 1. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
12. Records of a Family. Manchester University Press. p. 11. GGKEY:JQW794YFY97.
13. Laurel Brake; Marysa Demoor (2009). Dictionary of Nineteenth-century Journalism in Great Britain and Ireland. Academia Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-90-382-1340-8.
14. Benjamin Disraeli (2009). Benjamin Disraeli Letters: 1860-1864. University of Toronto Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-8020-9949-5.
15. Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1889). "Ferrier, James Frederick" . Dictionary of National Biography. 18. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
16. Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1885). "Bell, John (1763-1820)" . Dictionary of National Biography. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
17. Brown, Clive. "Macfarren, Sir George Macfarren". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/17498. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
18. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). "Taylor, Isaac (1787-1865)" . Dictionary of National Biography. 55. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
19. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). "Taylor, James (1813-1892)" . Dictionary of National Biography. 55. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
20. Ovenden, Richard. "Ross, John Merry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24128. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
21. Frederick Wilse Bateson (1966). The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. CUP Archive. p. 274. GGKEY:SQT257C7TNL.
22. Alison Chapman (2003). Victorian Women Poets. DS Brewer. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-85991-787-2.
23. Rooksby, Rikky. "Swinburne, Algernon Charles". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/36389. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
24. Oliver, Lois. "Fry, William Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10213. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
25. Smith, Greg. "Thomson, James". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27308. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
26. Smith, Greg. "Woodman, Richard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29931. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

External links

• Waller, John Francis; Eadie, John; editors (1863). The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography, 3 volumes. Glasgow: William MacKenzie. Vols. 1 (AA–CZU), 2 (DAA–IWA), and 3 (JAA–ZWI) at HathiTrust.