and what exhibits his merits as a professor to still greater advantage, he was successful in giving an impetus to the study of both throughout the northern part of the kingdom, where very little had been heard of either for several generations. In 1748 he was appointed principal of the college. This position, which had not been filled by a layman since the patronage of the college came to the crown by the forfeiture of the Marischal family in 1716, he occupied with great credit, and with no little advantage to the institution; many abuses, which had crept into it through laxity of discipline, having been reformed under his somewhat rigorous rule. In 1752 he took the degree of LL.D. His health having been seriously impaired by his multifarious labours, he resolved, about the beginning of 1757, to spend some time abroad; but had only reached Edinburgh when his disease assumed a fatal aspect. He died in that city in March, 1757. To his best-known work, "An Inquiry into the Life and Writings of Homer," is generally conceded the merit of considerable research, and, as generally excepted, the faults of affectation in style, and occasional irrelevance in matter, the learned author having chosen, unfortunately for his fame, to mimic the style of his idol, Lord Shaftesbury, and to display somewhat too prodigally his extensive acquaintance with polite as well as classical literature. His other works are—"Proofs of the Inquiry into Homer's Life and Writings," 1746; "Letters concerning Mythology," 1748; and "Memoirs of the Court of Augustus." The first volume of the last-mentioned work appeared in 1752, the second in 1755, and the third, which, having been left unfinished by the author, was prepared for the press by John Mill, Esq., in 1764.—J. S., G.
BLACKWOOD, Adam, a Scottish writer, born at Dunfermline in 1539. As his father was killed in battle before he had reached his tenth year, and his mother died soon after of grief, his granduncle Robert Reid, bishop of Orkney, and president of the court of session, sent him to the university of Paris, where he made considerable progress in classical studies. On the death of his uncle he revisited his native country, but speedily returned to France, where, by the liberality of his youthful sovereign, Queen Mary, he was enabled to complete his studies in philosophy and mathematics at the university of Toulouse. On the recommendation of Archbishop James Beaton, Queen Mary appointed Blackwood councillor or judge of the parliament of Poitiers. In 1572 he published a poem on the death of the infamous Charles IX., and in the following year the first two books of a work, "De Vinculo seu Conjunctione Religionis et Imperii," &c. A third was added in 1615; the object of this treatise is to show the duty of rulers to preserve the true religion from the innovations of heretics. In 1581 appeared his reply, entitled "Apologia pro Regibus," to Buchanan's dialogue De Jure Regni. This treatise, though slavishly advocating the divine right of kings, displays no inconsiderable amount of talent and learning. On the death of his benefactress. Queen Mary, Blackwood published in French in 1588, under the title of "Martyr de Maria Stuart Reyne d'Escosse," a long account of her death, and a zealous vindication of her character. It abounds in the most unblushing falsehoods, and heaps the most scurrilous charges upon Mary's enemies, especially upon Queen Elizabeth and John Knox. In spite of Blackwood's notorious mendacity, his statements are quoted by the authoress of the Queens of Scotland, as if they were entitled to implicit credit. Besides these his best-known works, Blackwood is the author of a small volume of Latin poems, and a collection of pious meditations in prose and verse, entitled "Sanctarum Precationum Proemia." A complete edition of his works in prose and verse was published in 1644, by the learned Naudeus, in one volume, 4to. Blackwood died in 1613, at the age of seventy-four.—J. T.
BLACKWOOD, Henry, elder brother of the preceding, was dean of the faculty of medicine in the university of Paris, and author of various treatises both on medicine and philosophy. He is believed to have been one of the earliest modern physicians who followed the practice of letting blood. His zealous and disinterested efforts for the welfare of his patients while the plague raged in Paris gained him great applause. His son Henry, a person of great talents, but of a fickle and intriguing character, was professor of medicine and surgery at Rouen, and published several works, among which was a Latin translation of the Prognostics of Hippocrates. Died in 1634.—J. T.
BLACKWOOD, Sir Henry, Bart., a distinguished British admiral, seventh son of Sir John Blackwood of Ballyleidy, in the county of Down. His mother, Dorcas, eldest daughter of James Stevenson, Esq., was created in 1800 Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye. Henry entered the navy in 1781, and was present with Admiral Parker in the engagement off Doggerbank. He was senior-lieutenant of the Invincible in the memorable battle in which Lord Howe defeated the French fleet. In 1797 he was made captain of the Brilliant of 28 guns; and next year maintained for several hours a running fight with two powerful French frigates mounting 44 guns, and after inflicting great damage on his opponents, made his escape. He was next removed into the Penelope (36), a frigate celebrated alike for fighting and for speed. It was owing to his combined vigilance and valour while in this ship, that the Guillaume Tell, the flagship of Admiral Decrès, which after the battle of the Nile had found refuge in the port of Valetta at Malta, was pursued and captured in an attempt to escape In 1803 Blackwood obtained from Lord St. Vincent the command of the Euryalus, a frigate of 36 guns. In this vessel he rendered signal service to Nelson at the crowning victory of Trafalgar, by his vigilance, and by conducting the British fleet to the locality where the enemy's ships were to be found. The great admiral, who highly appreciated the services of this meritorious officer, took leave of him as he was going into battle with these prophetic words, "God bless you, Blackwood, I shall never speak to you again;" and towards the close of the fight he reached the cockpit of the Victory just as Nelson was breathing his last. Blackwood was next year promoted to the command of the Ajax of 80 guns, and accompanied Admiral Duckworth in the expedition against Constantinople. But on the night of the 14th July, 1807, his fine vessel unfortunately caught fire at the entry of the Dardanelles, and was completely destroyed, with the loss of many of the crew. The captain, who throughout was remarkably cool and collected, was picked up by one of the boats of the Canopus after struggling in the water for half an hour. After serving successively and with great distinction in the Baltic and the Mediterranean, and at the blockades of Toulon, of Brest, and of Rochefort, Blackwood was in 1814 appointed captain of the fleet assembled at Spithead under the duke of Clarence, on the occasion of the visit of the allied sovereigns to England. He was shortly after advanced to the rank of rear-admiral, and created a baronet. In 1819 he was nominated a K.C.B., and appointed commander-in-chief on the East India station. He died at Ballyleidy, December 17, 1832.—J. T.
BLACKWOOD, William, the well-known publisher of Blackwood's Magazine, was born at Edinburgh, 20th November, 1776. He early showed a love of literature, and to gratify his taste for books he was, when only fourteen years of age, apprenticed to Bell and Bradfute; booksellers in his native city. He found leisure to make himself acquainted with the contents of many of the works which passed through his hands, acquiring a special knowledge of Scottish history and antiquities. After remaining six years in the employment of this house, he removed to Glasgow, where he was intrusted with the whole management of the bookselling department of the business of Mr. Mundell, bookseller and university printer. He next returned to Edinburgh, to his former employers, and in 1799 began business in partnership with a Mr. Ross. He did not long continue in this connection, but went to London, where, in the shop of Mr. Cuthell, he acquired an extensive knowledge of old and rare books. On his return to Edinburgh in 1804 he opened a shop on the South Bridge, where he devoted his attention principally to the antiquarian branch of his business; indeed his knowledge of old books has rarely been equalled. In 1812 he published his famous catalogue of above 15,000 books, in various languages, carefully and judiciously classified. When in 1816 he removed to the new town of Edinburgh, Mr. Blackwood disposed of his old stock, and devoted himself to the business of a general publisher. By his liberality and enterprise he did much to advance the interests of literature, and won for himself the friendship of very many distinguished men, with whom he had business relations. In 1817 appeared the first number of the famous Blackwood's Magazine, which, in the hands of Christopher North and other able editors, has for forty years maintained the position of (me of our leading literary journals. The magazine was started on tory principles, to oppose the whig party who conducted the Edinburgh Review, and it has ever since remained true to the original intention of the founder. Mr. Blackwood was known as a singularly upright, kind-hearted man, and received many civic honours in his native city. He died 16th September, 1834.—J. B.
