decoration, which led to Peter appointing him in 1719 his resident at Pekin. Here he remained till 1722, when disturbances arose which obliged him to depart; but he was again in the country in 1727-28, and in 1736-37. He was afterwards appointed vice-governor of Irkoutsk. Accounts of his travels have been published.—D. W. R.
LANGEBEK, Jacob, a Danish writer of some note, was one of the noble band of unweariedly industrious scholars, who during the eighteenth century contributed by their labours so greatly to revive the study of ancient northern literature. He was born in 1710. His attainments as a historian and philologist were of a high order, and made him a worthy successor to the learned Hans Gram, as keeper of the archives. In addition to his other works, he edited several volumes of the Scriptores rerum Danicarum medii ævi, which will ever remain an honourable monument of his ability and zeal. He also originated the Danish Magazine, to counteract the German tendencies that prevailed at court, and among the upper classes of his countrymen. Langebek died in 1775.—J. J.
LANGELAND. See Longland.
LANGER, Johann Peter von, a celebrated German painter, was born at Calcum in 1756, and studied under Krahn at Düsseldorf. He was appointed professor in 1784, and in 1789 director of the Düsseldorf Academy, and keeper of the picture gallery. In 1806 he was made director of the Munich Academy, an office he retained till his death in 1824. Peter von Langer painted a great number of religious pictures for the churches of Bavaria, one of the best being "Christ blessing little children," in the church of the Carmelites, Munich; many historical easel pictures, including "Lady Jane Grey in the Tower;" and several genre subjects. He had avowedly formed his style on that of Raphael, whom he always held up to his pupils as their great model; but his own pictures, though containing much that is admirable in character and expression, bear but a faint academic resemblance to those of the great Italian.—J. T—e.
LANGER, Robert von, son and scholar of the preceding, was born at Düsseldorf in 1783. When his father was appointed director of the Munich Academy, Robert von Langer was made professor; and in 1820 he was nominated its perpetual secretary. In 1827 he was appointed keeper of the royal cabinet of drawings, and in 1841 director of the royal collection of paintings; and it is to his zeal in this latter post that the Pinacothek is indebted for much of its present excellence. He painted many altar-pieces for the churches of Munich, several frescoes, and numerous easel pictures from ancient and modern history and the poets. He died, October 16, 1846.—J. T—e.
LANGHAM, Simon de, an English archbishop and cardinal, was born about 1310, it is supposed at Langham in Rutlandshire, whence he derived his name. Having chosen the monastic life, he entered the abbey of St. Peter at Westminster, and was made an abbot in 1349. In this capacity he distinguished himself by the spirit and tact with which he laboured to diminish the corruptions which at that period prevailed in the monasteries. So far as St. Peter's was concerned, he endeavoured to introduce the reforms which were needed, by means of a new code of regulations, which have been considered as in advance of his age. He was restless and enterprising, and fond of power, which he showed himself capable of using to some purpose. The consequence was, that he attracted the attention of Edward III., who selected him for the office of lord high-treasurer in 1360. The following year the see of London fell vacant by the decease of Nicholas Northbrook, and it was offered to Langham; but he preferred that of Ely, to which he was instituted as the successor of Thomas Lyde. In 1364 he was appointed chancellor, and two years later archbishop of Canterbury, on the death of Simon Islip. No sooner was he installed in his new dignity than he began his attack upon Wycliffe, whom Islip had appointed rector of Canterbury college, Oxford, which he had founded. Langham was anxious to introduce in Wycliffe's stead one Woodhall, a monk; but the change was deprecated by the fellows, who refused to give their consent. The affair was carried to Rome, and by the combined influence of the monks of Canterbury, a decision was obtained from the pope in accordance with their wishes, and Wycliffe was deprived of his rectorship. The archbishop had already sequestrated the revenues of the college, and Wycliffe had himself appealed to the pope against the archbishop's decree declaring Wycliffe's appointment void. The final decision from Rome does not appear to have been received till 1370, and it was not ratified by Edward III. till 1372. Urban V., who then occupied the papal chair, was so pleased with the zeal of Langham, that in 1368 he created him a cardinal. Wycliffe, however, had powerful supporters, and for some time even the king himself favoured his cause. This led to a rupture between the monarch and the archbishop, who fell into disfavour and went to Rome, where he was received with honour. During his absence he appears nevertheless to have been employed in political services, among which the chief were an unsuccessful attempt to restore friendly relations between England and France, and the conduct of negotiations for peace with the count of Flanders. Gregory XI., the successor of Urban V., appointed him bishop of Præneste, and sent him as apostolic nuncio into England with John Dorman. He was a great favourite with Gregory, who before his removal to Rome appointed him to manage the affairs of the papal see at Avignon, where he continued till his death, which is said to have been caused by apoplexy on the 22nd of July, 1376. According to the registers of Gregory XI., Langham was interred in the church of St. Mary de Bono Passu, or Bompas, belonging to the Carthusians, and either founded or rebuilt by himself, near Avignon. Others say that he was buried at Westminster, in the abbey to which he had been a munificent benefactor. The truth seems to be that he was first buried at Avignon, and three years later removed to Westminster, where he was again buried with great pomp. The character of Langham is written upon his conduct; he was devoted to the interests of the church and court of Rome, was a friend to the monks, and skilful in the conduct of affairs; but it does not appear that he was eminent for piety or enlightenment.—B. H. C.
LANGHORNE, Daniel, an English antiquary, was born at London about 1637, and became a member of Trinity college, Cambridge, where he took his master's degree in 1657. In 1661 or 1662 he was elected a fellow of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, having previously been licensed to officiate in Trinity church in that city; and in 1664 he was appointed one of the university preachers. In the same year he proceeded B.D. In 1670 he obtained the living of Layston-cum-Capellâ de Alsenzon, in Herts, which he held till his death in 1681. Mr. Langhorne has left two treatises on the antiquities of Britain, the titles of which will be found in the Bibliographer's Manual. Rawlinson states that the second part of his "Elenchus" is still preserved in MS.—W. C. H.
LANGHORNE, John, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, was born at Kirkby-Stephen in Westmoreland in 1735, and received his education at Winton and Appleby. In his eighteenth year he left the latter school, and, from want of the means to finish his studies at the university, procured employment as a tutor in a family residing near Ripon. He subsequently acted in a similar capacity elsewhere, and on one occasion fell in love with one of the daughters of the gentleman with whom he was living. The lady—Miss Cracroft, of Hackthorn, near Lincoln—declined his proposal, and the refusal appears to have inspired him with a resolution to devote himself with greater energy to the profession of letters, in which he had already earned some little repute by his poem called "Studley Park," written in 1753. In 1760, shortly after the rejection of his suit, Mr. Langhorne entered himself at Clare hall, Cambridge, as a ten-years man; and from that time a year seldom passed without witnessing some fresh production from his pen. His literary abilities attracted the attention, among others, of Dr. Robertson the historian, and principal of the university of Edinburgh, who obtained for him the degree of D.D.; and in 1767, fortune being more favourable, he renewed his proposal to Miss Cracroft, and was accepted. After his marriage a living in Somersetshire was purchased for him; but his wife unhappily died in the succeeding year, in giving birth to a son. In 1772 he married again, and his second wife also died in childbed. This disappointment preyed on his spirits, and led him into habits of intemperance, which shortened his life. He died in 1779. In 1802 his son republished his poems, in three volumes, with a Life. These effusions, which are included in Chalmers, are chiefly remarkable for elegance of thought and harmony of rhythm. Mr. Langhorne, however, is best known by his translation of Plutarch's Lives, executed in conjunction with his brother William, who had a living at Folkestone. This version, which was never accounted equal in spirit and pith to that of North, is not quite so highly esteemed as it formerly was.—W. C. H.
