Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Marshall, Julian

by Charles Welch

MARSHALL, JULIAN (1836–1903), art collector and author, born at Headingley House, near Leeds, on 24 June 1836, was third son and youngest of the five children of John Marshall, jun. (1797–1836), of Headingley, Leeds, M.P. for Leeds (1832–5), by his wife Mary, eldest daughter of Joseph Ballantyne Dykes of Dovenby Hall, Cockermouth. His grandfather, John Marshall of Headingley (1765–1845), M.P. for Yorkshire (1826–30), greatly improved modes of flax-spinning and inaugurated successful factories at Leeds and Shrewsbury. Educated first at the private school of the Rev. John Gilderdale at Walthamstow, Julian was at Harrow from 1852 to 1854. From 1855 he was employed in the family flax-spinning business at Leeds, but, having no taste for a business life, he left in 1861.

Before he was twenty he began to form a collection of prints, and from 1861 to 1869 he devoted himself exclusively to perfecting it. He became a noted connoisseur of the art of engraving, and brought together choice examples of the leading works of the ancient and modern schools. His collection was dispersed at a twelve days' sale at Sotheby's on 30 June to 11 July 1864, and realised 8352l. 1s. 6d. Marshall was also a capable musical amateur, singing in the Leeds parish church choir under Samuel Sebastian Wesley [q. v.], and actively promoting the first Leeds Musical Festival in 1858. In later years he formed a valuable collection of musical autographs and portraits, wrote much on musical subjects, and contributed to Grove's 'Dictionary of Music and Musicians.' He was for many years honorary secretary to the Mendelssohn Scholarship Fund, founded by Madame Jenny Lind in memory of the composer.

As a boy Marshall won the champion racket at Harrow. He was through life keenly interested in the practice and literature of games, and above all of tennis. He is chiefly known by his 'Annals of Tennis' (1878), a work of minute and exhaustive research. Towards the end of his life he formed a notable collection of book plates.

Marshall died on 21 Nov. 1903 at his residence, 13 Belsize Avenue, N.W., and was buried in Hampstead churchyard. He married on 7 Oct. 1864 Florence Ashton, eldest daughter of Canon Thomas, vicar of Allhallows Barking, and granddaughter of Archbishop Sumner. Three daughters survived him. Mrs. Marshall, who is a composer and conductor, besides contributing to Grove's Dictionary, published in 1883 a 'Life of Handel' in Hueffer's 'Great Musicians' series, and in 1889 the 'Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.'

Besides the works above mentioned Marshall published:

1. 'Lawn - tennis, with the Laws adopted by the M.C.C. and A.A.C. and L.T.C. and Badminton,' 1878.
2. 'Tennis Cuts and Quips, in prose and verse, with rules and wrinkles,' 1884.
3. 'Tennis, Rackets, Fives' (with Major James Spens and Rev. J. A. Arnan Tait), in the 'All-England' series, 1890.
4. 'A Catalogue of Engraved National Portraits in the National Art Library, with a Prefatory Note,' South Kensington Museum, 1895.

[M. G. Dauglish, Harrow School Register, 1801-1900, p. 217; Rev. R. V. Taylor, Biographia Leodiensis, 1865, pp. 364-6, 411-415; Ann. Register, 1903, p. 165; Athenæum, 26 Dec. 1903; G. W. Raid, Cat. of the Coll. of Engravings, the property of J. Marshall, 1864; information kindly supplied by Mrs. Julian Marshall.]

C. W.