Fowke, Francis, Captain, R.E., was born at Belfast in 1823. After studying in the Military College, Woolwich, he in 1842 obtained a commission in the Engineers, and was ordered to Bermuda. He soon distinguished himself, and on his return home, superintended the erection of several government buildings, the Industrial Museum, Edinburgh, the National Gallery, Dublin, the London Exhibition buildings of 1862, and others. He had just commenced the South Kensington Museum, when he died from the bursting of a blood-vessel, 3rd December 1865, aged about 42. The plan of the Albert Hall, London, was based upon his suggested designs. Besides his architectural labours, he made important improvements in fire-engines, travelling scaffolds, and collapsing pontoons. 40
Francis, Philip, D.D., a well-known author, was born in Dublin early in the 18th century, [His father had been ejected from the rectory of St. Mary's and other clerical preferments, for political reasons.] He was educated at Trinity College, entered the church, and obtained the degree of D.D. Occasionally he wrote for the Castle. He edited several of the classics, and in 1743 published his well-known translation of Horace. About 1746, soon after the death of his wife, he removed to England, and in 1751 or 1752 established a school at Esher, in Surrey. One of his pupils was Gibbon the historian, whose recollections of his master were by no means pleasing. In 1756 he was almost domiciled in Holland House, and he was afterwards private chaplain to Lady Holland. He taught Stephen and Charles Fox to read, and Lady Sarah Lennox and Lady Susan to declaim. He wrote and published anonymous political pamphlets in the interest of Henry Fox and his ministerial colleagues, and for some years was one of the editors of the Gazette daily paper, in the pay of the court and Government. In 1757-'8 Dr. Francis dedicated to Mr. Fox his translations of Demosthenes and Æschines. His dramatic
productions were not successful — neither the acting of Garrick nor the charms ofFrancis, Sir Philip, K.C.B., statesman and author, son of preceding, was born in Dublin, 22nd October 1740. He was educated at his father's school in Surrey, and afterwards at St. Paul's School, London, and was appointed to a clerkship in the office of the Secretary of State, continuing to occupy his leisure with classical and literary studies. In 1760 he went as Secretary of Lord Kinnoul's special embassy to the court of Portugal, and between January 1761 and May 1762 he acted as occasional amanuensis to the elder Pitt. On 27th February 1762 he married Elizabeth Macrabie, a lady without fortune, thereby incurring his father's displeasure. In the same year he became first clerk in the War Office under the Deputy-Secretary at War, Christopher D'Oyly. A warm friendship soon sprang up between them, and the Secretary entrusted nearly all the official correspondence of the office to Francis. This position he resigned in March 1772, probably on account of a quarrel with Lord Barrington, perhaps from chagrin at the failure of his hopes of promotion. He was now left without employment or resources, with a wife and several young children to provide for, and his fortunes seemed at a low ebb. In 1773, however, he was appointed one of the members of the new India Council, with a salary of £10,000 a year. With the other members of the Council, he sailed for India, 31st March 1774, and reached Calcutta on the 19th of October. That day seven years (19th October 1781), he landed at Dover on his return. While in India his conduct at the Council board was characterized by bitter hostility to Warren Hastings, and intrigues against him, with a view of obtaining the governor-generalship. His contention with Hastings culminated in a duel, in which Francis was shot through the body. His private life while in India was marked by grave irregularities; but it is to his credit that at a time when men in his position were returning to England with large fortunes
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