Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Liddiard, William

by Gordon Goodwin ‎

LIDDIARD, WILLIAM (1773–1841), miscellaneous writer, born in July 1773, was the son of the Rev. William Stratton Liddiard of Rockley House, Ogbourn St. George, Wiltshire, by Jane, sister of Lord Craven. He matriculated at Oxford from University College on 27 Feb. 1792 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886, iii. 851), but quitted the university to become, on 31 May 1794, a lieutenant in the 111th regiment of foot, or loyal Birmingham volunteers (Army List, 1795, p. 216). He afterwards exchanged into the 54th, or West Norfolk regiment of foot, attained the rank of captain on 6 Sept. 1795, and left the army in 1796 (ib. 1796, pp. 208, 600). In 1803 he graduated B.A. at Trinity College, Dublin, and was ordained. On the recommendation of the Duke of Bedford he was appointed chaplain to Charles, fourth duke of Richmond, when lord-lieutenant of Ireland, who preferred him to the rectory of Knockmark, co. Meath. Liddiard, who was a good artist and musician, died at Clifton, Gloucestershire, on 11 Oct. 1841. By his first wife, I. S. Anna, daughter of Sir Henry Wilkinson, he had a son, to whom he was allowed to resign the rectory of Knockmark; by his second wife, Mary Ann, third daughter of John Tirel Morin of Weedon Lodge, Buckinghamshire, he had a daughter.

He wrote:

1. ‘The Life-boat, or Dillon O'Dwire, a Poem,’ 8vo, Dublin, 1815.
2. ‘Mont St. Jean, a Poem,’ with notes, 8vo, Dublin, 1816.
3. ‘The Legend of Einsidlin, a Tale of Switzerland,’ 8vo, London, 1829.
4. ‘A Three Months' Tour in Switzerland and France,’ &c., 8vo, London, 1832.
5. ‘Retrospection … the Lord of the Valley, and other Poems,’ 12mo, London, 1841.

Mrs. I. S. Anna Liddiard wrote:

1. ‘Poems,’ 8vo, Dublin, 1810.
2. ‘The Sgelaighe, or a Tale of old, with a second edition of Poems, published in Dublin, with additions,’ 8vo, Bath (printed), London, 1811.
3. ‘Kenilworth: a Mask,’ with other verses, 8vo, London, 1815.
4. ‘Theodore and Laura; or Evening after the Battle, a Tale (in verse).

With an Ode on the year 1815,’ in her husband's ‘Mont St. Jean,’ 1816.

[Gent. Mag. 1841, pt. ii. p. 659; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

G. G.