LINGARD, JOICN, D.D., a member of a humble Roman Catholic family, was b. at Winchester, Feb. 1, 1771; and being destined for the priesthood of that church, was sent to the English college of Douai, in France, where he remained till that college, in common with most of the religious establishments of France, was broken up by the troubles of the revolution. The act called the Catholic relief act enabling Catholics to open schools in England, the Douai eoinmunity was transferred to Crookhall, aud ulti mately to Ushaw, in the county of Durham, Lingard continued attached to the college in its several migrations, although not alwaYs resident. Iu 1793 he accepted the office of'tutor in the family of lord Stourton; but in the following year he returned to com plete his theological studies at Crookhall, where he entered into priest's orders, and in which he continued as professor of philosophy, prefect, of studies, and vice-president, until 1810, when he was named president. In 1811, however, he accepted the humble cure of Hornby, near Lancaster, in which he continued to reside till his death, July 13, 1851. Lingard's first iinportant work was the Antiquity of the Anglo-Saxon Church (8vo, 1806), reprinted in 1810, and afterwards, in a much enlarged 'edition (2'vols. 1845). This
was but the pioneer of what became eventually the labor of his life—a History of Eng land (6 vols. 4to), published at intervals, 1819-25; and afterwards in 14 vols. 8vo, 1823– 31. This work, before the death of the author, had passed through six editions, the last of which (10 vols. 8vo) appeared in 1854-55. From its first appearance, it attracted much attention, as being founded ou original authorities and the result of much new research. It was criticised with considerable asperity in its polemical bearings; but the author, in his replies, displayed so much erudition, and so careful a, consideration of the original authorities, that the result was to add materially to his reputation as a scholar and a critic. It won for itself a place as a work of original research, and although it bears unmistakable evidence of the religious opinions of the author, yet there is also evidence of a sincere desire to investigate and to ascertain the truth of history. In recognition of his great services, many honors were offered to him; and he received a pension of R300 from the crown in reward of his literary services. His remains were interred in his old college of St. Cuthbert, at Ushaw.