he thought him on the whole an efficient law officer. In capital cases Sawyer, according to North, ‘was very careful, and used to consult at his chambers with the king's counsel,’ and in case they thought the evidence inadequate, ‘he never push'd any trial against any man.’ The whig Burnet characterises Sawyer as ‘a dull, hot man, and forward to serve all the designs of the court.’ Sir John Hawles's legal criticisms, although entitled to consideration, are those of a political opponent.
[Besides authorities cited, see Le Neve's Pedigrees of Knights (Harl. Soc.); Berry's Berkshire Genealogies; Admission List of Magdalene Coll. Cambridge, per the Rev. J. B. Pearson; Addit. MS. 5880, f. 157 (Cole); Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Luttrell's Brief Relation of State Affairs, i. 67, 368, 424, 444–6, ii. 247, 374–6; Roger North's Autobiography, ed. Jessopp, pp. 126–7, and Life of Lord-Keeper Guilford, 1742, pp. 287–8; Burnet's Hist. of his own Time (Oxford), ii. 332–3, 337–8, iii. 223; Returns Memb. Parl.; Brayley and Britten's Beauties of England, vi. 239; Granger's Biogr. Hist. of England, iv. 312; State Trials, vols. vii.–xii. passim, and Parl. Hist. vols. iv. v. passim. A good summary of Sawyer's character and career is in Macaulay's History, 1858, iii. 524–8.]
SAXBY, HENRY LINKMYER (1836–1873), ornithologist, second son of Stephen Martin Saxby (sometime of the royal navy) and his wife Mary Ann (born Lindeman), was born in London on 19 April 1836. His boyhood and early youth were passed in the Undercliff, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, and in North Wales. After being educated at home he went to Edinburgh University in 1857, and, passing through the medical course, took Professor Sir James Y. Simpson's diploma in 1860. During part of 1860 and 1861 he was assistant to Dr. Edmondston of Unst, Shetland Isles. In 1862 he graduated M.D. from St. Andrews. Returning to Unst, he entered into practice with Dr. Edmondston in 1863, and continued there after the latter's retirement till 1871, when broken health compelled his return to Edinburgh. In 1872 he removed to Inverary, where he died on 4 Aug. 1873. He married, 16 Dec. 1859, Jessie Margaret, a daughter of Dr. Edmondston, who survived him.
Saxby, who was a good draughtsman, was a born naturalist. He contributed seven papers on ornithological subjects to the ‘Zoologist’ between 1861 and 1871, and was author of ‘The Birds of Shetland’ (8vo, Edinburgh, 1874), which was edited by his brother, the Rev. S. H. Saxby (1831–1886).
[Information kindly supplied by his brother, the Rev. G. F. Saxby; Roy. Soc. Cat.; Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Cat.]
SAXON, JAMES (d. 1817?), portrait-painter, born at Manchester, was son of John Saxon of that town. He entered the Manchester grammar school in January 1783. In 1797 he was in practice in as a portrait-painter at 4 York Street, Manchester, but shortly afterwards migrated to London, exhibiting portraits at the Royal Academy in 1795 and 1796. He visited Scotland in 1805, and painted the portrait of John Clerk of Eldin [q. v.], the background of which, exhibiting a system of naval evolution conceived by Clerk, was by William Anderson (1757–1837) [q. v.] This now hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. In the same year he painted a portrait of Sir Walter Scott—an excellent likeness—which was engraved in stipple by James Heath, as an illustration to the ‘Lady of the Lake,’ 1810. A companion portrait, of Lady Scott, now at Abbotsford, Saxon painted in 1810; it was engraved by G. B. Shaw for Lockhart's ‘Life of Scott.’ Saxon afterwards went to St. Petersburg, where he practised successfully for several years. On his return he spent a short time in Glasgow, when he painted the portrait of David Hamilton, architect. He finally settled again in London. At the Royal Academy he exhibited seventeen portraits between 1795 and 1817. He died in London about 1817. Saxon's portrait of Sir Richard Phillips [q. v.] is in the National Portrait Gallery, London. His portraits are happy in characterisation, and show the influence of Opie.
[Smith's Manchester School Register, ii. 121; Manchester Directories; information kindly supplied by James L. Caw, esq., Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and James D. Milner, esq., National Portrait Gallery, London; Graves's Dict. of Artists; Redgrave's Dict.]
SAXTON, Sir CHARLES (1732–1808) commissioner of the navy, born in 1732, was youngest son of Edward Saxton, a merchant in London. He entered the navy in January 1744–5 on board the Gloucester as ‘captain's servant’ with Captain (afterwards Sir) Charles Saunders [q. v.], and remained in her for three years. He was then in the Eagle with Captain Collins, in the St. Albans on the coast of Guinea with Captain John Byron, and passed his examination on 3 Jan. 1753. He afterwards served in the East Indies under Vice-admiral Charles Watson [q. v.], by whom he was made lieutenant, and Vice-admiral (Sir) George Pocock [q. v.] He returned to England in 1760; on 11 Oct. 1760 was promoted to be commander, and on 28 Jan.
