Wikipedia:WikiProject Missing encyclopedic articles/DNB

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This page lists Dictionary of National Biography biographies apparently missing from Wikipedia, and provides links to PDF and TXT versions of as many of the 63 volumes as have to date been found on the internet. The purpose of the page is to encourage the addition and expansion of Wikipedia articles from the DNB.

The 1885-1900 DNB was a UK publication providing biographies of 50,000 or so people from the UK and its colonies. Some of the content of the 1885-1900 publication may be in the public domain, but it depends upon the date of death of the author of each article - which must be before 1938 - see [problems#Re-examining whether EB1911 really is PD]. (And yes, it's going to be difficult / time consuming to work out for each author which died before & which after that date. That said, I've tracked down the dates of death of a random 8 authors - all before 1938. So that's good (for us).) Articles should be checked for accuracy and currency, probably rephrased, and often trimmed.

The list of articles lacking in Wikipedia was prepared by Dsp13, on the basis set out below - it scratches the surface of the missing DNB biographies issue, but sensibly does not address it in full at this time. It is based on an analysis of the more recent Oxford DNB - see the DNB article for further information on ODNB.


Contents

[edit] User:Magnus Manske/Dictionary of National Biography

There's a listing of the index to the DNB at User:Magnus Manske/Dictionary of National Biography. Huge and needs a lot of work!

[edit] People prominent in ODNB lacking individual articles in Wikipedia

Although the online ODNB is subscription-only, the index is freely available online as the Oxford Biographical Index (OBI). Since OBI entries record the number of words written about each individual in the ODNB, the number of words in an individual's ODNB article can be used as a measure of their prominence in ODNB.

  • Of the over 50,000 individuals in the index, I've automatically matched over 11,000 with wikipedia using their name and birth/death dates. This is fairly conservative (high precision / low recall): because of name variants, uncertainties about dating etc., automatic matching needs to be supplemented by manual checking to find additional entries. If anyone would like to help with this, or has suggestions about how to best present or use the links I've found, then do contact me on my talk page.
  • The following people (as far as I can see) have no individual pages devoted to them in Wikipedia. If I'm wrong, please insert the correct link. Hopefully one way or another we can turn these red links blue.
  • Remove blue Wikipedia links when you've checked that our article provides the level of description seen in the DNB.


[edit] Amongst those ranked 1001-1500

  1. Lovell, Sir Salathiel (1631/2–1713), judge Salathiel Lovell
  2. Vane, Sir Henry (1589–1655), administrator and diplomat Henry Vane the Elder
  3. Wilson, Sir Charles Rivers (1831–1916), civil servant and financier Charles Rivers Wilson
  4. Penington, Sir John (bap. 1584?, d. 1646), naval officer John Penington
  5. Bilson, Thomas (1546/7–1616), bishop of Winchester Thomas Bilson
  6. Plowden, Edwin Noel Auguste, Baron Plowden (1907–2001), industrialist and public servant Edwin Plowden, Baron Plowden
  7. Grey, William, thirteenth Baron Grey of Wilton (1508/9–1562), soldier William Grey, 13th Baron Grey
  8. Killigrew, Sir Henry (1525x8–1603), diplomat Sir Henry Killigrew
  9. Tonson, Jacob, the elder (1655/6–1736), bookseller Jacob Tonson the Elder

[edit] Amongst those ranked 1501-2000 in ODNB

  1. Lindsay, Colin, third earl of Balcarres (1652–1721), politician and Jacobite sympathizer Colin Lindsay, 3rd earl of Balcarres
  2. Boyer, Abel (1667?–1729), lexicographer and journalist Abel Boyer
  3. Palmer, John (1744–1798), actor John Palmer (actor)
  4. Maynard, Sir John (1604–1690), lawyer and politician Sir John Maynard
  5. Russell (née Wriothesley; other married name Vaughan), Rachel, Lady Russell (bap. 1637, d. 1723), noblewoman Rachel, Lady Russell
  6. Whitaker, William (1547/8–1595), theologian and college head William Whitaker (theologian)
  7. Gordon, Alexander (c.1692–1754?), antiquary and singer Alexander Gordon (antiquary)
  8. Jollie (Jolly), Timothy (1656x9–1714), Independent minister and nonconformist tutor Timothy Jollie
  9. Kiffin, William (1616–1701), Particular Baptist minister and author William Kiffin
  10. Stephen, Sir James (1789–1859), civil servant Sir James Stephen
  11. Kearton, (Christopher) Frank, Baron Kearton (1911–1992), scientist and industrialist Frank Kearton, Baron Kearton
  12. Calvert, Charles Alexander (1828–1879), actor and theatre manager Charles Alexander Calvert
  13. Edwards, Edward (1812–1886), librarian and writer Edward Edwards (librarian)
  14. Lucas, Charles (1713–1771), politician and physician Charles Lucas (politician)
  15. Wilson, Charles Henry (1914–1991), historian Charles Henry Wilson (historian)
  16. Howard (née Dacre), Anne, countess of Arundel (1557–1630), noblewoman and priest harbourer Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel
  17. Shebbeare, John (1709–1788), physician and political writer John Shebbeare
  18. Heywood, Oliver (bap. 1630, d. 1702), clergyman and ejected minister Oliver Heywood (clergyman)
  19. Martindale, Adam (1623–1686), nonconformist minister Adam Martindale
  20. Quillinan, Edward (1791–1851), poet Edward Quillinan
  21. Hunt, John (1775–1848), printer and publisher John Hunt (publisher)
  22. Wake, Sir Isaac (1580/81–1632), diplomat and political commentator Isaac Wake
  23. Drake, Francis (bap. 1696, d. 1771), antiquary and surgeon Francis Drake (1696-1771)
  24. Atkyns, Sir Robert (bap. 1621, d. 1710), judge and politician Robert Atkyns
  25. Darcy, Thomas, Baron Darcy of Darcy (b. in or before 1467, d. 1537), soldier and rebel Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy
  26. Harlow, George Henry (1787–1819), painter George Henry Harlow
  27. Turner, Francis (1637–1700), bishop of Ely, nonjuror, and Jacobite conspirator Francis Turner (bishop)
  28. Watson, Joshua (1771–1855), wine merchant and Anglican philanthropist Joshua Watson
  29. McCardie, Sir Henry Alfred (1869–1933), judge Henry Alfred McCardie
  30. Newcome, Henry (bap. 1627, d. 1695), clergyman and ejected minister Henry Newcome

[edit] Among those ranked 2001-2500 in ODNB

  1. Rootes, (William) Geoffrey, second Baron Rootes (1917–1992), industrialist William Geoffrey Rootes, 2nd Baron Rootes
  2. Osborne, Sir Edward (c.1530–1592), merchant and local politician Edward Osborne
  3. Gallagher, John Andrew (1919–1980), historian Jack Gallagher (historian)
  4. Elliot, Sir Gilbert, of Minto, third baronet (1722–1777), politician and literary patron Gilbert Elliot (1722-1771)
  5. Tatham, Charles Heathcote (1772–1842), architect and designer Charles Heathcote Tatham
  6. Cole, William (1714–1782), antiquary William Cole (antiquary)
  7. Baring, Thomas (1799–1873), banker and politician Thomas Baring Not the right TB, and the links to the page mix up the two (who were uncle & nephew)
  8. Evans, Frederick Mullett (1803–1870), printer and publisher Frederick Mullett Evans
  9. Smythe (Smith), Sir John (1533/4–1607), soldier, diplomat, and writer
  10. Wotton, Edward, first Baron Wotton (1548–1628), diplomat and administrator Edward Wotton, 1st Baron Wotton
  11. Morison, Sir Richard (c.1510–1556), humanist and diplomat Richard Morrison (ambassador)
  12. Hallam, Lewis (1714?–1756?), actor and theatre manager Lewis Hallam (which at the moment redirects to William and Lewis Hallam)
  13. Peirce, James (1674–1726), Presbyterian minister and religious controversialist James Peirce
  14. Chaloner, William (d. 1699), coiner and sham plotter William Chaloner
  15. Muir (née Anderson), Wilhelmina Johnston (Willa; pseud. Agnes Neill Scott) (1890–1970), novelist and translator Willa Muir
  16. Spender, Sir Wilfrid Bliss (1876–1960), army officer and civil servant Wilfrid Bliss Spender
  17. Kett, Robert (c.1492–1549), rebel Robert Kett surrently redirects to Kett's Rebellion
  18. Samson (1135–1211), abbot of Bury St Edmunds Samson of Tottington
  19. Fuller, Nicholas (1543–1620), lawyer and politician Nicholas Fuller
  20. Lindsay, John, seventeenth earl of Crawford and first earl of Lindsay (known as earl of Crawford-Lindsay) (1596–1678), politician John Lindsay, 17th Earl of Crawford
  21. O'Leary, Arthur (1729–1802), Roman Catholic priest and religious controversialist Arthur O'Leary
  22. Williams, Griffith (1587/8–1672), bishop of Ossory and controversialist Griffith Williams
  23. Knollys, Hanserd (1598–1691), Particular Baptist minister and author Hanserd Knollys
  24. Mackellar, Patrick (c.1717–1778), military engineer Patrick Mackellar
  25. Willet, Andrew (1561/2–1621), Church of England clergyman and religious controversialist Andrew Willet
  26. Gilpin, Richard (1625–1700), nonconformist minister and physician Richard Gilpin
  27. Brereley, Roger (bap. 1586, d. 1637), Church of England clergyman and separatist leader Roger Brereley
  28. Ducarel, Andrew Coltée (1713–1785), librarian and antiquary Andrew Ducarel
  29. Rowan, Archibald Hamilton (1751–1834), Irish nationalist and landowner Archibald Rowan Hamilton
  30. Brooke (Cobham), Sir Henry (1537–1592), diplomat Sir Henry Brooke
  31. Durbin, Evan Frank Mottram (1906–1948), economist and politician Evan Frank Mottram Durbin
  32. Elphinstone, John, second Lord Balmerino (d. 1649), nobleman and politician John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino
  33. Essex, James (bap. 1722, d. 1784), architect and antiquary James Essex
  34. Guildford, Sir Henry (1489–1532), courtier Henry Guildford
  35. Maxwell, John, earl of Morton (1553–1593), magnate John Maxwell, earl of Morton
  36. Simon, Sir John (1816–1904), surgeon and public health officer Sir John Simon (surgeon)
  37. Southwell, Sir Robert (1635–1702), diplomat and government official Sir Robert Southwell
  38. Bancroft, Ian Powell, Baron Bancroft (1922–1996), civil servant Ian Bancroft, Baron Bancroft
  39. Bullard, Sir Reader William (1885–1976), diplomatist Reader Bullard
  40. Hooper, George (1640–1727), bishop of Bath and Wells and scholar George Hooper
  41. Hyman, Joe (formerly Joseph) (1921–1999), businessman Joe Hyman
  42. Jones, Sir John Thomas, first baronet (1783–1843), army officer Sir John Thomas Jones
  43. Jones, Thomas (1742–1803), landscape painter Thomas Jones (painter)
  44. Kenrick, William (1729/30–1779), writer and translator William Kenrick (writer)

[edit] Among those ranked 2501-3000 in ODNB

  1. Mansell, Sir Robert (1570/71–1652), naval officer and administrator Robert Mansell (naval officer)
  2. Mennes, Sir John (1599–1671), naval officer John Mennes
  3. Treby, Sir George (bap. 1644, d. 1700), judge and politician George Treby
  4. Cheyne, Sir Thomas (c.1485–1558), administrator and diplomat Thomas Cheyne
  5. Parker, Henry, tenth Baron Morley (1480/81–1556), nobleman and translator Henry Parker, 10th Baron Morley
  6. Rudyerd, Sir Benjamin (1572–1658), politician and poet Benjamin Rudyerd
  7. Rycaut, Sir Paul (1629–1700), diplomat and author Paul Rycaut
  8. Day, William (1529–1596), bishop of Winchester William Day (bishop)
  9. Spender, John Alfred (1862–1942), journal editor and writer John Alfred Spender
  10. Baring, John, second Baron Revelstoke (1863–1929), merchant banker John Baring, 2nd Baron Revelstoke
  11. Gouge, William (1575–1653), Church of England clergyman and author William Gouge
  12. King, Thomas (1730–1805), actor and theatre manager Thomas King (actor)
  13. Macleane, Lauchlin (formerly Laughlin McLean) (1728/9–1778), political agent and speculator Lauchlin Macleane
  14. Smith, Brian Abel- (1926–1996), economist and social policy analyst Brian Abel-Smith
  15. Thring, Henry, Baron Thring (1818–1907), parliamentary draftsman Henry Thring, Baron Thring
  16. Croke, Unton (1594/5–1670/71), lawyer and politician Unton Croke
  17. Gwinne, Matthew (1558–1627), physician and playwright Matthew Gwinne
  18. Hussey, John, Baron Hussey (1465/6–1537), nobleman and alleged rebel John Hussey, Baron Hussey
  19. Firmin, Thomas (1632–1697), philanthropist Thomas Firmin
  20. Dunbar, George, ninth earl of Dunbar or of March (c.1336–1416x23), magnate and soldier George Dunbar, 9th Earl of Dunbar
  21. Harrison, George Bagshawe (1894–1991), university teacher and literary scholar George Bagshawe Harrison
  22. Meadows, Sir Philip (bap. 1626, d. 1718), diplomat Sir Philip Meadows
  23. St Leger, Sir Warham (1525?–1597), colonist Warham St Leger
  24. Campbell, Sir George (1824–1892), administrator in India and author Sir George Campbell
  25. Holt, Alfred (1829–1911), engineer and shipowner Alfred Holt
  26. Jollie (Jolly), Thomas (1629–1703), clergyman and ejected minister Thomas Jolly
  27. Cameron, Sir James Clark (1905–1991), general practitioner and medical administrator James Clark Cameron
  28. Macdonald, Alexander, of Glencoe (Alasdair Maciain; called Alasdair Ruaidh) (d. 1692), clan chief and victim of massacre Alexander Macdonald of Glencoe
  29. Barton, Edward (1562/3–1598), diplomat Edward Barton (diplomat)
  30. Fitzmaurice, Gerald Henry (1865–1939), diplomatist Gerald Henry Fitzmaurice
  31. Paterson, Sir Alexander Henry (1884–1947), penal reformer and prison commissioner Alexander Henry Paterson
  32. Verney, Richard Greville, nineteenth Baron Willoughby de Broke (1869–1923), politician and fox-hunter Richard Greville Verney
  33. Wheelocke, Abraham (c.1593–1653), linguist and librarian Abraham Weelocke
  34. Dalgety, Frederick Gonnerman (1817–1894), wool merchant and sheep farmer Frederick Gonnerman Dalgety
  35. Lovelace, John, third Baron Lovelace (c.1640–1693), politician John Lovelace, 3rd Baron Lovelace
  36. Wing, Vincent (1619–1668), astronomer, astrologer, and land surveyor Vincent Wing
  37. Beeston, Sir William (1636–1702), merchant and colonial governor Sir William Beeston
  38. Livingston (Livingstone), James, first earl of Callendar (d. 1674), army officer James Livingston, 1st Earl of Callendar
  39. Pennyman, John (1628–1706), Quaker schismatic John Pennyman
  40. Lumley, John, first Baron Lumley (c.1533–1609), collector and conspirator John Lumley
  41. Pakington, Sir John, fourth baronet (1671–1727), politician Sir John Pakington, 4th Baronet
  42. Montgomery (Montgomerie; formerly Seton), Alexander, sixth earl of Eglinton (1588–1661), army officer Alexander Montgomery, 6th Earl of Eglington
  43. Barclay, Robert, of Ury (1648–1690), religious writer and colonial governor Robert Barclay of Ury
  44. Graham, Richard, first Viscount Preston (1648–1695), politician and Jacobite conspirator Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston
  45. Quare, Daniel (1648/9–1724), maker of clocks, watches, and barometers Daniel Quare
  46. Wilkes, Sir Thomas (c.1545–1598), diplomat Thomas Wilkes
  47. Du Moulin, Lewis (1605?–1680), physician and religious controversialist Lewis Du Moulin
  48. Skinner, Robert (1591–1670), bishop of Worcester Robert Skinner (bishop)
  49. Bradbury, William (1800–1869), printer William Bradbury (printer)
  50. Neurath, Walter (1903–1967), publisher Walter Neurath
  51. Nicholson, Peter (1765–1844), architectural writer and mathematician Peter Nicholson (architect)
  52. Sheppard, William (bap. 1595, d. 1674), barrister and legal writer William Sheppard (legal scholar)
  53. Williams, Daniel (c.1643–1716), Presbyterian minister and benefactor Daniel Williams (minister)
  54. McQuaid, John Charles Joseph (1895–1973), Roman Catholic archbishop of Dublin John Charles Joseph McQuaid

[edit] Location of DNB Text & PDFs on the Web

There are (at least) two main sources of DNB on the web:

  • The Oxford DNB website provides the DNB entry for all ONDB entries which originally were in the DNB. The link to the DNB entry is found to the left of the ONDB entry, under the link " DNB archive". (You must be logged into the ODNB to see the full content. Members of UK libraries almost invariably can log in using their library membership.)
  • The Internet Archive holds copies of most volumes of the DNB, and provides OCR'd text to accompany their PDFs. The table below provides links to each volume found.

In addition, Google Book Search provides volumes, but seems to limit the availability of the full view book to US web users.

Volume
 Names
1
 Abbadaire - Anne Not Available
2
 Annesley - Baid Not Available
3
 Baker - Beudon
4
 Beale - Biber
5
 Bicheno - Bottasham
6
 Bottomley - Browell
7
 Brown - Burthogge
8
 Burton - Cantwell
9
 Canute - Challoner Not Available
10
 Chamber - Clarkson Not Available
11
 Clater - Condell
12
 Condor - Craige
13
 Craike - Damer
14
 Damon - D'Eyncourt
15
 Diamond - Drake
16
 Drant - Eldridge
17
 Edward - Erskine
18
 Esdale - Finan Not Available
19
 Finch - Forman
20
 Forrest - Garner
21
 Garnet - Gloucester
22
 Glover - Grovet
23
 Gray - Haighton
24
 Hales - Harriott
25
 Harris - Henry I
26
 Henry II - Hindley Not Available
27
 Hindmarsh - Hovenden Not Available
28
 Howard - Inglethorpe
29
 Inglish - John
30
 Johnes - Kenneth Not Available
31
 Kennett - Lambert Not Available
32
 Lambe - Leigh
33
 Leichton - Lluelyn Not Available
34
 Llywd - MacCartney Not Available
35
 MacCarwell - Maltby Not Available
36
 Malthus - Mason
37
 Masquerier - Millyng
38
 Milman - More
39
 Morehead - Myles
40
 Mylar - Nicholls
41
 Nichols - O'Dugan
42
 O'Duinn - Owen Not Available
43
 Owens - Passelene
44
 Paston - Percy
45
 Pereira - Pockrich
46
 Pocock - Puckering
47
 Puckle - Reidford
48
 Reilly - Robins
49
 Robinson - Russell
50
 Russen - Scobell
51
 Scoffin - Sheares Not Available
52
 Sherman - Smirke Not Available
53
 Smith - Stanger Not Available
54
 Stanhope - Stovin
55
 Stow - Taylor
56
 Teach - Tollet
57
 Tom - Tytler
58
 Ubaldini - Wakefield
59
 Wakeman - Watkins
60
 Watson - Whewell
61
 Whichcord - Williams
62
 Williamson - Worden
63
 Wordsworth - Zuylestein


Dictionary of national biography. Errata (1904)