Laud
WILLIAM, an English prelate; Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of Charles I.; born in Reading, Berkshire, England, Oct. 7, 1573. He was educated at the free school of his native place and at Oxford; was ordained in 1601; became president of his college in 1611; accompanied James I. to Scotland, as one of his chaplains, in 1617; was installed prebendary of Westminster in 1620; and obtained the see of St. David's in the following year. On the accession of Charles I. he was translated to the see of Bath and Wells, and in 1628 to that of London. In 1630 he was elected chancellor of the University of Oxford; which he enriched with an invaluable collection of manuscripts in a great number of languages, ancient, modern, and Oriental. He was promoted to the see of Canterbury, and chosen chancellor of the University of Dublin. His endeavors to introduce the liturgy into Scotland created him numerous enemies.
At the commencement of the Long Parliament, therefore, he was impeached by the Commons and sent to the Tower.
After lying there three years he was brought to his trial before the Lords, by whom he was acquitted, but the Lower House passed a bill of attainder, declaring him guilty of treason, which they compelled the peers to pass; and the archbishop was accordingly beheaded on Tower Hill, Jan. 10, 1645.
Scotch concert hall singer and comedian, born in Portobello, Scotland, in 1870. When he was still a boy he was discovered to have an unusual voice and was induced to follow the stage as a profession. His first notable success was made in Belfast.
Appearing in London, he at once became a favorite and this was followed by success in America, which he visited for the first time in 1907. This was followed by frequent tours in the United States, where his popularity continued. During the war he did important work in the entertainment of the soldiers in the field, and in recruiting. He was knighted as a result of this work. In 1918 he wrote an autobiography.