Born 1708.—Died 1778.—Anne.—George I.—George II.—George III.
Lord Chatham. This great statesman, the son of Mr. Robert Pitt of Boconnoc, in Cornwall, during a most successful administration, raised the dignity of England to a high standard. His eloquence as a debater was extraordinary, and when he burst forth in indignant invective, scarcely any adversary could stand against him. He was seized with his last illness (apoplexy) in the House of Lords, and died soon afterwards.
Born 1728.—Died 1779.—George II.—George III.
This great navigator, born at Marton, in Yorkshire, made many useful geographical discoveries. He sailed three times round the world, and was at last killed in one of the Sandwich Islands.
Born 1716.—Died 1779.—George I.—George II.—George III.
Was born at Hereford. He is generally considered to have been altogether the most famous actor ever known on the English stage. He was also a good writer of light literature: he died in London.
Born 1723.—Died 1780.—George I.—George II.—George III.
This eminent lawyer is best known by his _Commentaries_ and _Analysis of the Laws of England_, in which the information is conveyed in very clear and beautiful English: he was born in London.
Born 1709.—Died 1784.—Anne.—George I.—George II.—George III.
The son of a bookseller at Lichfield, was a man of immense learning and capacity. His _English Dictionary_, _Essays_, _Rambler_, _Idler_, _Rasselas_, and _Tour to the Hebrides_, show his great range of knowledge and powers of mind. His life has been admirably written by his friend James Boswell.
Born 1720.—Died 1788.—George I.—George II.—George III.
This Second Pretender to the British crown was the grandson of James II. of England. He embarked in the _Dentelle_ from the Loire month, and landed in Invernesshire, near Moidart, and soon raised 1,600 men. He entered Perth, Linlithgo, and took up his abode in Holyrood Palace. The Highlanders’ charge at Prestonpans chiefly won the engagement there, and a second at Falkirk; but at Culloden the unfortunate Pretender was obliged to see that any attempt to disturb the English throne was a vain bubble. The Duke of Cumberland, known as the Butcher, committed atrocious cruelties after the battle. Charles Edward was once saved by Flora Macdonald, and again by hiding in a cave on Mount Benalder. At length a French privateer came off the Scottish coast, and after many hairbreadth escapes, he reached France in safety. Lords Kilmarnock, Balmerino, and Lovat were executed for their share in this rebellion of ’45. He died at Rome in 1788.