John Allen (historian)
Encyclopedia
John Allen M.D. was a prominent eighteenth and nineteenth century political and historical writer, and Master of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich (then colloquially called Dulwich College
).
near Edinburgh
. His father, James Allen, was the owner of the small estate of Redfoord and was a writer to the Signet. When his father became bankrupt his mother's family and his stepfather ensured that he had a good education. In time he was apprenticed to an Edinburgh surgeon by the name of Arnot. Whilst there his companion in instruction was Professor Thomson who would be a lifelong friend.
. After achieving his M.D. he waited for a practice in Edinburgh
and whilst doing so lectured on medical topics with students including Francis Horner
being attracted. He also translated Cuvier
's "Introduction to the Study of the Animal Economy".
He was also known for his promotion of the cause of political reform in Scotland
and had a deep knowledge of constitutional history. This led to him being one of the few to whom a plan of the Edinburgh Review
was communicated.
required the services of a clever young Scotch medical man to accompany him to Spain
. Allen was recommended John Allen took up the position and accompanied Holland's family remaining abroad until 1805. When he returned he spent much of his time at Holland House. For a brief time in 1806 he held an official position as undersecretary to the commissioners for treating with America
. In 1808 he again accompanied Lord Holland to Spain and made a study of the history and social characteristics of the Spanish people. His work towards a volume illustrating the different causes that had checked Spain's progress was never finished. However, in April 1810 two articles were published in the Edinburgh Review
on Spanish America.
and supplying criticism of those speeches. He sat at the dinner table and carved. He was known to join the family at dinner parties. So associated was he with the house that he had his own room which still bears his name.
In his time there he came into contact with many of the most prominent citizens of London
at the time. Byron referred to him as "the best informed and one of the ablest men" the he knew. Others, such as Macaulay
, Lord Brougham and Charles Greville
are laudatory of him.
and from 1820 was the Master of that establishment until his death in 1843. He is not considered one of the great Masters of the College because he spent little time there and did little to further the aims of its founder Edward Alleyn
. However, he did leave his Spanish and Italian books to the school.
, he was also auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster
from 1841 until his death. He died on 10 April 1843 at 33 South Street (the residence of Lady Holland
) and was buried at Millbrook, Bedfordshire
close to the third Lord Holland. His great friend Professor Thomson received his medical books and manuscripts, and Major-General Charles Richard Fox
was left his other manuscripts and diaries.
The Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox had large portions written by Allen, although Lord John Russell is considered the editor.
The life of Fox in the 7th and 8th editions of Encyclopædia Britannica
were written by Allen who was steeped in the history of the Whigs.
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
).
Early life
John Allen was born at Redfoord in the parish of ColintonColinton
Colinton is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 6 kilometres south west of the city centre. It is bordered by Dreghorn to the south and Craiglockhart to the north-east. To the north-west it extends to Lanark Road and to the south-west to the City Bypass...
near Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. His father, James Allen, was the owner of the small estate of Redfoord and was a writer to the Signet. When his father became bankrupt his mother's family and his stepfather ensured that he had a good education. In time he was apprenticed to an Edinburgh surgeon by the name of Arnot. Whilst there his companion in instruction was Professor Thomson who would be a lifelong friend.
Early career
In 1791 he became M.D. of the University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. After achieving his M.D. he waited for a practice in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and whilst doing so lectured on medical topics with students including Francis Horner
Francis Horner
Francis Horner was a Scottish Whig MP for St. Ives in 1806, Wendover in 1807, and St. Mawes in 1812 ....
being attracted. He also translated Cuvier
Georges Cuvier
Georges Chrétien Léopold Dagobert Cuvier or Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Cuvier , known as Georges Cuvier, was a French naturalist and zoologist...
's "Introduction to the Study of the Animal Economy".
He was also known for his promotion of the cause of political reform in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and had a deep knowledge of constitutional history. This led to him being one of the few to whom a plan of the Edinburgh Review
Edinburgh Review
The Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
was communicated.
Trips Abroad
In 1801 it became known that Lord HollandHenry Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland
Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland PC was an English politician and a major figure in Whig politics in the early 19th century...
required the services of a clever young Scotch medical man to accompany him to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Allen was recommended John Allen took up the position and accompanied Holland's family remaining abroad until 1805. When he returned he spent much of his time at Holland House. For a brief time in 1806 he held an official position as undersecretary to the commissioners for treating with America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1808 he again accompanied Lord Holland to Spain and made a study of the history and social characteristics of the Spanish people. His work towards a volume illustrating the different causes that had checked Spain's progress was never finished. However, in April 1810 two articles were published in the Edinburgh Review
Edinburgh Review
The Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
on Spanish America.
Holland House
John Allen's association with Holland House is perhaps what he is best known for, hence he is often referred to as Holland House Allen. He spent much time helping Lord Holland find materials for his speeches to the House of LordsHouse of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and supplying criticism of those speeches. He sat at the dinner table and carved. He was known to join the family at dinner parties. So associated was he with the house that he had his own room which still bears his name.
In his time there he came into contact with many of the most prominent citizens of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the time. Byron referred to him as "the best informed and one of the ablest men" the he knew. Others, such as Macaulay
Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay
Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay PC was a British poet, historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist and reviewer, and on British history...
, Lord Brougham and Charles Greville
Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville
Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville was an English diarist and an amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1819 to 1827...
are laudatory of him.
Dulwich College
In 1811 he was elected to be the Warden of Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and from 1820 was the Master of that establishment until his death in 1843. He is not considered one of the great Masters of the College because he spent little time there and did little to further the aims of its founder Edward Alleyn
Edward Alleyn
Edward Alleyn was an English actor who was a major figure of the Elizabethan theatre and founder of Dulwich College and Alleyn's School.-Early life:...
. However, he did leave his Spanish and Italian books to the school.
Later life
Apart from the Mastership of Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
, he was also auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
from 1841 until his death. He died on 10 April 1843 at 33 South Street (the residence of Lady Holland
Elizabeth Fox, Baroness Holland
Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Baroness Holland was an English political hostess and the wife of Whig politician Henry Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland...
) and was buried at Millbrook, Bedfordshire
Millbrook, Bedfordshire
Millbrook is a small village and civil parish near Bedford. It has a population of 130. Millbrook railway station, on the Marston Vale Line is about two miles from the village....
close to the third Lord Holland. His great friend Professor Thomson received his medical books and manuscripts, and Major-General Charles Richard Fox
Charles Richard Fox
General Charles Richard Fox was a British army general, and later a politician.Fox was born at Brompton, the illegitimate son of Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland, through a liaison with Lady Webster, whom Lord Holland would later marry.After some service in the Royal Navy, Fox entered...
was left his other manuscripts and diaries.
Publications
It is believed that, had he not spent so much time at Holland House, his contributions to literature would have been more prolific.- Articles for the Edinburgh ReviewEdinburgh ReviewThe Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
including:- Constitution of Parliament (June 1816)
- Review of Warden's letters from St. Helena (December 1816) - Napoleon was said to have been surprised by its intitmate knowledge of his early life
- Criticisms of Dr Lingard's History of England (April 1825 and June 1826)
- Dissertation on creating peers for life (October 1834)
- Enquiry into the Rise and Growth of the Royal Prerogative in England (1830)
- Vindication of the Ancient Independence of Scotland
The Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox had large portions written by Allen, although Lord John Russell is considered the editor.
The life of Fox in the 7th and 8th editions of Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
were written by Allen who was steeped in the history of the Whigs.