 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Hereditary Genius
205
Boyle, Hon. Robert, continued—
4 B. All did well, all prosperously married. One inherited the title, and the others
were created peers. The most eminent of these is Roger, 1st Earl of Orrery,
Military Commander under Cromwell in Ireland, afterwards engaged in the
restoration of Charles II., who ennobled him. Was offered, but refused, the
Chancellorship.
[? b.] Also seven sisters married peers, and from the general accounts of the family
I conclude, in the absence of knowledge of details, that some at least of them
must have had considerable merits.
NS. Chas. Boyle, 4th E. Orrery; scholar (“Epistles of Phalaris” controversy);
diplomatist. The astronomical instrument the “Orrery” was named after him
by its grateful inventor.
NS. Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon; Speaker of House of Commons in Ireland,
and Chanc. of the Exchequer there.
NP. Richard Boyle, 4th Earl of Cork, encourager of the fine arts, the friend of
Pope.
NP. (But descended from another brother of the philosopher.) John Boyle, 5th
Earl of Cork, the friend of Swift.
Brodie, Sir Benjamin, Bart.; eminent surgeon; President of the Royal Society. The
following relationships are taken from his Autobiography:—
[G.]
“Had the reputation of being a person of very considerable abilities; and I
have formerly seen some of her MSS., which seemed to prove that this really
was the case.”
[F.] “Was altogether remarkable for his talents and acquirements. He was well
acquainted with general literature, and was an excellent Greek and Latin
scholar. ... He was endowed with a large share of energy and activity, but .... I
cannot doubt he was a disappointed person” (owing to politics). He attended
to local business, and acquired a considerable local influence.
[B.] “My elder brother became a lawyer, and has since obtained the highest place
in his profession as a conveyancing barrister.”
uS. Lord Denman, the Lord Chief Justice (see in “JUDGES”). (His father was an
eminent London physician.)
uP. George Denman, Q.C., M.P.; the senior classic of his year (1842) in
Cambridge.
 |
|
 |
|