Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Woodward, Bernard Bolingbroke

by Bernard Barham Woodward

WOODWARD, BERNARD BOLINGBROKE (1816–1869), librarian to the queen at Windsor Castle, eldest son of Samuel Woodward [q. v.], the geologist, was born at Norwich on 2 May 1816. Samuel Pickworth Woodward [q. v.] was his younger brother. He was sent in March 1822 to the Grey Friars Priory, a private school kept by William Brooke, to whom on 29 Sept. 1828 he was apprenticed for four years. On the expiration of this apprenticeship he worked for a time under his father's supervision, copying armorial bearings and other heraldic devices for Hudson Gurney [q. v.] He also studied in his leisure moments botany and other natural sciences in a practical manner, and kept copious notes, some of which were utilised by Hewett Cottrell Watson [q. v.], the botanist.

In January 1834 he went as tutor in J. S. Buck's school at East Dereham, Norfolk, and late in the following year he obtained a post in the banking house of Messrs. Gurney at Great Yarmouth. Through the influence of friends at East Dereham he became strongly attracted to the congregational ministry, and on coming of age left Yarmouth and went to study under W. Legge at Fakenham, Norfolk, and the Rev. Mr. Drane at Guestwick, Norfolk. In 1838 he entered as a student at the newly established Highbury College, London, and graduated B.A. London, 17 June 1841.

On 27 April 1843 he was publicly recognised ‘pastor of the independent church of Wortwell-with-Harleston in Norfolk.’ He soon after began to apply himself to literary work, and in this connection enjoyed the friendship of John Childs [q. v.], head of the printing firm at Bungay, and acted for a time also as tutor to his grandsons. At the end of 1848 he resigned his pastorate, and, with the view of devoting himself solely to literature, removed to St. John's Wood, London, in March 1849. In November 1853 he moved to Bungay to be nearer to his friends the Childs, who were concerned in the production of his larger works, and whom he assisted in many of their undertakings; but in 1858 he returned to the neighbourhood of Hampstead. On 2 July 1860 he was appointed librarian in ordinary to the queen at Windsor Castle. Under the superintendence of the prince consort began the rearrangement of the fine collection of drawings by the old masters at Windsor. He died at his official residence, Royal Mews, Pimlico, on 12 Oct. 1869. In 1843 he married Fanny Emma, ninth daughter of Thomas Teulon of Berkeley Street, London, the descendant of a Huguenot family. By her he had three daughters. She died on 30 April 1850, and he married, on 19 Aug. 1851, Emma, seventh daughter of George Barham of Withersdale Hall, Suffolk.

Woodward was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1857. He was author of:

1. ‘The History of Wales,’ London [1850–3], 8vo.
2. ‘The Natural History of the Year’ (originally issued in the ‘Teacher's Offering,’ 1851), London, 1852, 12mo; 3rd ed. 1863; revised edit. (so called) 1872.
3. ‘The History of the United States of America’ (by W. H. Bartlett as far as vol. i. p. 536), New York [1855–6], 3 vols. 8vo.
4. ‘First Lessons on the English Reformation,’ London [1857], 12mo; 2nd edit. 1860.
5. ‘First Lessons in Astronomy’ (5th edit. rewritten by B. B. Woodward), London [1857], 12mo.
6. ‘First Lessons in the Evidences of Christianity’ (originally issued in the ‘Teacher's Offering,’ 1858–9), London [1860?], 12mo; 2nd edit. 1865.
7. ‘A General History of Hampshire’ (as far as p. 317, afterwards carried on by Theodor C. Wilks), London [1859–62], 4to.
8. ‘Encyclopædia of Chronology,’ in conjunction with W. L. R. Cates, who completed it, London, 1872, 8vo.

At the time of his death he was busy upon a ‘Life of Leonardo da Vinci,’ which was to have been illustrated from drawings in the royal collection.

He also wrote many articles and reviews for the ‘Eclectic Review,’ Sharpe's ‘London Magazine,’ the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ and other periodicals.

He edited:

1. ‘The History and Antiquities of Norwich Castle,’ by his father, 1847, 4to.
2. Barclay's ‘Complete Dictionary of the English Language,’ new edit. 1851, 4to, for which he wrote numerous articles, especially in biography and geography.
3. Maunder's ‘Treasury of Knowledge,’ new ed. 1859, for which he wrote a ‘compendious English grammar,’ besides rewriting much of the rest.

He also founded and edited ‘The Fine Arts Quarterly Review,’ which appeared from May 1863 to June 1867.

He began a translation of Réclus's ‘La Terre,’ which was completed by his brother, Henry Woodward.

[Obituary by W. L. R. Cates in the Norwich Penny Magazine, 1870, p. 24; Men of Eminence, No. xliii. with photo-portrait (the portrait prefixed to Ribban's ‘Brief Memoir’ is almost the only reliable item in that unauthorised production); private information; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

B. B. W.