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Havergal
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Havergal

Spanish force was held in check by a formidable abattis defended by two French regiments. Havelock, who had been sent to ascertain their progress, ‘called on the Spaniards to follow him, and, putting spurs to his horse, cleared the abattis at a bound, and went headlong among the enemy. Then the Spaniards, cheering for “el chico blanco” (the fair boy), for he was very young, and had very light hair, with one shock broke through the French, and this just as their centre was flying under the fire of Kempt's skirmishers’ (Hist. Peninsular War, bk. xxii. chap. iv.) Havelock was Alten's aide-de-camp at Waterloo and at the occupation of Paris. In 1818 he obtained his company in the 32nd foot, and served with that corps in Corfu, afterwards exchanging to the 4th dragoons, then lately made light, with which he went to India. He was some time aide-de-camp to Sir Charles Colville [q. v.] when commander-in-chief at Bombay, and was military secretary to Lord Elphinstone while governor of Madras. He became major 4th light dragoons in 1830, and exchanging into the 14th light dragoons, became lieutenant-colonel of that regiment in 1841. He commanded it in the field under Sir Charles Napier, and with the Bombay troops sent to reinforce Lord Gough's army during the second Sikh war. He fell mortally wounded at the head of his regiment in a desperate but successful charge on the Sikhs at Ramnuggur, on the banks of the river Chenab, on 22 Nov. 1848. His sword arm disabled, his left arm and leg nearly cut off, after eleven of his troopers had been killed beside him, he was left for dead on the field. Havelock married in 1824 Caroline E., daughter of Acton Chaplin of Aylesbury, by whom he left a family.

[Foster's Baronetage, under ‘Havelock-Allan;’ Napier's Hist. Peninsular War; Narratives of the Second Sikh War; Gent. Mag. new ser. 1849, xxxi. 318. This notice has been revised by Colonel A. C. Havelock, Madras Staff Corps, son of the above.]

H. M. C.


HAVERGAL, FRANCES RIDLEY (1836–1879), poet and hymn-writer, the youngest child of William Henry Havergal [q. v.], by his first wife Jane, was born 14 Dec. 1836 at her father's rectory at Astley, Worcestershire. From early years she showed exceptional intellectual power, but owing to her delicate health systematic study was discouraged. In 1852 she accompanied her father and his second wife to Germany; studied for more than a year in the Louisenschule at Düsseldorf and in the family of a German pastor at Obercassel; and returned to England in December 1853. She wrote verses from the age of seven with remarkable fluency, and her poems were soon admitted into ‘Good Words’ and the best religious periodicals. In 1865–6 she revisited Germany, and took the opinion of the musician Hiller on her musical talents. Hiller saw talent in her melodies, and highly praised her harmonies. Her father died suddenly in 1870, and she prepared for the press a new edition of his ‘Psalmody.’ On her mother's death in 1878, she removed from Leamington to South Wales, near the Mumbles, where she died 3 June 1879. Throughout her life she energetically engaged in religious and philanthropic work. Miss Havergal published collections of her poems and hymns in many separate volumes; the earliest is dated 1870. Among them were ‘The Ministry of Song,’ published probably in 1870, 5th edition, 1874; ‘Under the Surface,’ 1874; ‘Loyal Responses,’ 1878; ‘Life Chords,’ 1880; ‘Life Echoes,’ 1883; ‘Coming to the King,’ 1886. These were finally reissued by her sister, M. V. G. Havergal, in two volumes of ‘Poetical Works,’ 1884. Miss Havergal also wrote many small devotional tracts and narratives in prose, all marked by the same earnest and practical piety. Her religious poetry became exceedingly popular in evangelical circles, and her hymns are to be found in all collections. In her poetical work there is a lack of concentration, and a tendency to meaningless repetition of phrase, but some of her hymns are excellent, and will permanently preserve her name. Her autobiography was published in ‘Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal, by her Sister, M. V. G. Havergal,’ 2nd edition, 1880. The influence of this book has been as remarkable as that of Miss Havergal's poems. It presents a striking picture of an unusually eager, if somewhat narrow, spiritual life.

[Letters of Frances Ridley Havergal, edited by Maria Vernon Graham Havergal; Frances Ridley Havergal's Last Week, by Maria Vernon Graham Havergal.]

R. B.


HAVERGAL, HENRY EAST (1820–1875), musician, eldest son of William Henry Havergal (1793–1870) [q. v.], was born at Coaley, Gloucestershire, 22 July 1820. From 1828 to 1834 he served as a chorister in New College, Oxford, and was bible-clerk there from 1839. He matriculated from Magdalen Hall on 18 May 1839, graduating B.A. 1843 and M.A. 1846. In 1843 he became chaplain of Christ Church, and served in a like capacity at New College from 1844 to 1847. From 1847 till his death he was vicar of Cople, Bedfordshire. For his