Thomas Henry Dyer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Dyeran English
historical and antiquarian writer, was born in London
on the 4th of May 1804. He was originally intended for a business career, and for some time acted as clerk in a West India house; but finding his services no longer required after the passing of the Negro Emancipation Act, he decided to devote himself to literature.
In 1850 he published the Life of Calvin, an extremely detailed and on the whole impartial work and his influence in the religious world generally is insufficiently appreciated. Dyer's first historical work was the History of Modern Europe (1861–1864; 3rd ed. revised and continued to the end of the 19th century, by A. Hassall, 1901), a meritorious compilation and storehouse of facts, but not very readable. The History of the City of Rome (1865) down to the end of the Middle Ages was followed by the History of the Kings of Rome (1868), which, upholding against the German school the general credibility of the account of early Roman
history, given in Livy
and other classical authors, was violently attacked by J. R. Seeley
and the Saturday Review
, as showing ignorance of the comparative method. More favorable opinions of the work were expressed by others, but it is generally agreed that the author's scholarship is defective and that his views are far too conservative. Rema Regalis (1872) and A Plea for Livy (1873) were written in reply to his critics. Dyer frequently visited Greece
and Italy
, and his topographical works are probably his best; among these mention may be made of Pompeii, its History, Buildings and Antiquities (1867, new ed. in Bohn's Illustrated Library), and Ancient Athens, its History, Topography and Remains (1873). His last publication was On Imitative Art (1882). He died at Bath on 30 January 1888.
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England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
historical and antiquarian writer, was born in 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...
on the 4th of May 1804. He was originally intended for a business career, and for some time acted as clerk in a West India house; but finding his services no longer required after the passing of the Negro Emancipation Act, he decided to devote himself to literature.
In 1850 he published the Life of Calvin, an extremely detailed and on the whole impartial work and his influence in the religious world generally is insufficiently appreciated. Dyer's first historical work was the History of Modern Europe (1861–1864; 3rd ed. revised and continued to the end of the 19th century, by A. Hassall, 1901), a meritorious compilation and storehouse of facts, but not very readable. The History of the City of Rome (1865) down to the end of the Middle Ages was followed by the History of the Kings of Rome (1868), which, upholding against the German school the general credibility of the account of early Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
history, given in Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
and other classical authors, was violently attacked by J. R. Seeley
John Robert Seeley
Sir John Robert Seeley, KCMG was an English essayist and historian.-Life:He was born in London, the son of R.B. Seeley, a publisher. Seeley developed a taste for religious and historical subjects...
and the Saturday Review
Saturday Review (London)
The Saturday Review of politics, literature, science, and art was a London weekly newspaper established by A. J. B. Beresford Hope in 1855....
, as showing ignorance of the comparative method. More favorable opinions of the work were expressed by others, but it is generally agreed that the author's scholarship is defective and that his views are far too conservative. Rema Regalis (1872) and A Plea for Livy (1873) were written in reply to his critics. Dyer frequently visited Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and his topographical works are probably his best; among these mention may be made of Pompeii, its History, Buildings and Antiquities (1867, new ed. in Bohn's Illustrated Library), and Ancient Athens, its History, Topography and Remains (1873). His last publication was On Imitative Art (1882). He died at Bath on 30 January 1888.
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