Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Michell, Henry
MICHELL, HENRY (1714–1789), scholar, born in 1714 at Lewes, was educated there and at Clare Hall, Cambridge; he graduated B.A. 1735, M.A. 1739, and became fellow of his college. In 1739 he was presented to the rectory of Maresfield in Sussex, and in 1744 to the vicarage of Brighton with the rectory of Bletchingdon united. Here he lived until his death, enjoying ample means, the friendship of many men of note, and the reputation of an accomplished Greek and Latin scholar. He had considerable share in the rapid development of Brighton, and for a short time the Duke of Wellington was among his pupils. Michell died at Brighton on 31 Oct. 1789, and was buried in the parish church, where there is an inscription to his memory. He married in 1747 the only daughter and heiress of the Rev. Francis Reade of Bedford, by whom he had sixteen children. There is a portrait in Nichols's 'Illustrations' (iv. 868), engraved by E. Scott from a miniature painted by Sherriff.
Michell published: 1. 'De Arte Medendi apud Priscos Musicos,' 1766, dedicated to the Earl of Shelburne; of a second edition only, published in 1767, is there a copy in the British Museum. 2. 'De Jure Colonias inter et Metropolin,' 1777. He left with other manuscripts a translation, with notes, of 'Le Dîner du Comte de Boulainvilliers, 1768, par Mons. St. Hiacinte' [i.e. Voltaire].
[Nichols's Lit. Anecd. iv. 447, Illustrations, iv. 866-70; Gent. Mag. 1789, ii. 1055; manuscript note prefixed to the De Arte in Brit. Mus. Libr.; Life of Sir John Eardley Wilraot, p. 187, &c.]