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.

  • Watkins, John, active 1792-1831.
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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    \ P R EFAC E. The autlior has endeavoured to render his work complete, by inserting every interesting name and event likely to be sought for in a collection of this kind ; and although he can- not presume that there are not many defects and omissions, vet it will be obvious on comparison, that this work now contains from two to three thousand articles more than are to be found in any similar work in the English, or perhaps in any other language. Observing, with regret, the great number of distinguish- ed names which have been passed over by preceding Biogra- phers, he has diligently employed himself in rescuing a con- siderable number of those names from neglect and oblivion. He has not contented himself with barely gleaning from all other Dictionaries, but has sought in every respectable quarter for memoirs of departed excellence. Many single memoirs and fugitive pieces, and many scarce tracts and vo- luminous periodical publications, have in the preparation of the new edition been sedulously examined. The additional articles will he found to be very numerous and important, especially of modern characters; and it is hoped that, in the accuracy of narrative and impartiality of delineation, the most essential duties of a biogapher have been faithfully discharged. For the numerous valuable communications which the Author has received from various correspondents, and lite- rary friends, and by which he has been enabled consider- ably to enrich the present edition, he begs leave to return his most grateful acknowledgments. London, December, 1806.