DANIELL, WILLIAM FREEMAN, M.D. (1818–1865), botanist, was born at Liverpool in 1818. In 1841 he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, and shortly after he entered the medical service of the army. He served the whole period of assistant-surgeon on the pestilential coast of West Africa, whence he sent home observations on many economic plants, accompanied by specimens; one communication being on the Katemfé, or miraculous fruit of the Soudan, which was afterwards named Phrynium Danielli, Benn. A more important memoir on the frankincense tree of West Africa led to the establishment of the genus Daniellia, Benn., in compliment to the botanist who first worked out the subject. On his return to England in 1853 he was promoted to staff-surgeon. He next spent some time in the West Indies, subsequently proceeding to China in 1860 with the expedition which took Pekin, of which operation he was a spectator. He again visited the West Indies, returning from Jamaica in September 1864 with health completely broken down, and after lingering nine months died at Southampton 26 June 1865. His octavo volume on ‘Medical Topography and Native Diseases of the Gulf of Guinea,’ 1849, is considered to show great observation and ability. His detached papers amount to twenty in various journals.
[Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. 1865–6, vii. 86; Proc. Linn. Soc. 1865–6, 69; Cat. Sci. Papers, ii. 146; B. D. Jackson's Veg. Tech. 46.]
DANNELEY, JOHN FELTHAM (1786–1834?), musician, the second son of G. Danneley, a lay clerk of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, was born at Oakingham, Berkshire, in 1786. His first musical instruction was obtained from his father, and at the age of fifteen he studied thorough bass with Webbe and the pianoforte under Charles Knyvett, and subsequently under Neate. He is also said to have had some lessons from Woelfl, but this was probably later, as Woelfl only settled in England in 1805. About 1803 Danneley abandoned music to live with a rich uncle, from whom he had expectations; but these being disappointed he resumed his musical studies. Until 1812 he lived with his mother at Odiham, where he became interested in foreign music and languages from intercourse with prisoners of war quartered there. In 1812 he settled at Ipswich as a teacher of music; a few years later he was appointed organist of the church of St. Mary of the Tower. In 1816 Danneley visited Paris, where he studied under Reicha, Pradher, and Mirecki, and had intercourse with Monsigny and Cherubini. He returned to Ipswich, where in 1820 he published an ‘Introduction to the Elementary Principles of Thorough Bass and Classical Music,’ a little work which is neither remarkable for erudition nor accuracy. Shortly afterwards he published ‘Palinodia a Nice,’ a set of thirteen vocal duets. He was married in 1822, and about 1824 seems to have settled in London. In 1825 he published his best known work, ‘An Encyclopædia or Dictionary of Music,’ which was followed in 1825 by a ‘Musical Grammar,’ the preface to which is dated from 92 Norton Street, Portland Place. In 1829 he contributed the article on ‘Music’ to the ‘London Encyclopædia.’ Details of the latter years of Danneley's career are very scanty. He published music at 22 Tavistock Place, and in the post-office directories from 1832 to 1834 his name occurs as a music seller and publisher of 13 Regent Street. At the latter address he brought out (in collaboration with F. W. N. Bayley) a work entitled ‘The Nosegay: a Gage d'Amour and Musical Cadeau for 1832.’ His death probably took place in 1834, as his name disappears from the directory in the following year. The date usually given, 1836, has no evidence in its favour, nor does his name appear in the obituaries of the ‘Times,’ ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ or ‘Musical Examiner’ of that year. Besides the works enumerated above, Danneley published some sonatinas for the pianoforte, and several songs; but his music is quite unimportant and forgotten.
[Dict. of Musicians, 1824; Grove's Dict. of Music, i. 430; Georgian Era, iv. 531; Danneley's works mentioned above; Post Office Directories; Times newspapers.]
DANSEY, WILLIAM (1792–1856), canon of Salisbury, son of John Dansey, was born at Blandford, Dorsetshire, in 1792, and matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford, 4 July 1810. He was elected a Stapledon scholar of his college 30 June 1811, but resigned the appointment in the following year. He proceeded B.A. 1814, M.A. 1817, and Med. Bac. 1818. He was ordained in 1819, nominated to the rectory of Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, in 1820, and to a prebendal stall at Salisbury 10 Aug. 1841, both of which he held until his death at Weymouth on 7 June 1856.
He married, 28 Aug. 1849, at Bathwick, Sarah, youngest daughter of the Rev. Richard White Blackmore, rector of Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He was the author of: 1. ‘Arrian on Coursing,’ a translation, 1831. 2. ‘A Brief Account of the Office of Dean Rural,’ by J. Priaulx, edited with notes, 1832.
