DEMAUS, ROBERT (1829?–1874), biographer of Latimer and Tyndale, born about 1829, was educated at Edinburgh University, where he was signet medallist and graduated M.A. on 13 Feb. 1850. He became master of the Breadalbane school at Aberfeldy in Perthshire, and in 1850 addressed a 'Letter to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, Lord President of the Council' (Edinburgh, 8vo), criticising the recent regulations enacted by the committee of council on education for improving the efficiency of the government school teachers. In the same year he was appointed principal of the grammar school at Alnwick; in 1857 he became a fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland, and in 1858 he was nominated master at the West End Academy, Aberdeen. In 1860 he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Down and Connor, and in 1862 priest by the same prelate. From 1860 to 1865 he was chaplain to Thomas George Suther, bishop of Aberdeen, and in 1865 he became senior curate of St. Luke's, Chelsea, where he remained until his death. In 1869 he was also appointed principal of Whitelands Training College, an institution founded by the National Society for training school-mistresses for the church schools.
Demaus is best remembered for his biographies of Latimer and Tyndale. His 'Hugh Latimer' (London, 8vo) appeared in 1869, a new and revised edition being published in 1881. In 1871 he issued 'William Tyndale: a Contribution to the early History of the English Bible,' a work of great biographical and bibliographical excellence. A new edition, slightly revised by Mr. Richard Lovett, appeared in 1886. In compiling these two works Demaus showed great thoroughness of research as well as critical ability and power of narrative. In the case of Tyndale his investigations were so complete that the subsequent publication of the 'Letters and Papers of Henry VIII has added nothing of importance in regard to the history of the reformer. Demaus died of apoplexy at 11 St. Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, on 15 March 1874.
Besides the works already mentioned Demaus was the author of:
- 'The Analysis of Sentences; with applications to parsing, punctuation, and composition,' Edinburgh, 1858, 12mo; 4th edit. 1871, 8vo.
- 'A Class-book of English Prose,' Edinburgh, 1859, 8vo.
- 'Introduction to the History of English Literature,' Edinburgh, 1860, 8vo.
- 'The Young Scholar's Guide,' Edinburgh, 1860, 16mo.
- 'A Class-book of Scripture History,' Edinburgh, 1863, 8vo.
- 'English Literature and Composition,' London, 1866, 8vo.
- 'The Jesuits. A Historical Sketch,' London, 1873, 8vo.
He also edited 'Selections from "Paradise Lost"' (Edinburgh, 1857, 8vo; 2nd edit, 1859, 12mo), and contributed several biographies to 'British Heroes and Worthies,' London, 1871, 4to.
[Demaus's Works; Crockford's Clerical Directory; Boase's Modern English Biography.]
DENISON, GEORGE ANTHONY (1805–1896), archdeacon of Taunton, born at Ossington, Nottinghamshire, on 11 Dec. 1805, was fourth son of John Denison, merchant, of Leeds, M.P. for Colchester, 1802–6, and for Minehead, 1807–12, by his second wife, Charlotte Estwicke [cf. Denison, Edward, the elder, 1801–1854; Denison, John Evelyn, Viscount Ossington, 1800–1873; and Denison, Sir William Thomas, 1804–1871].
He was educated at private schools, at Eton, and at Oxford, for which he was prepared by a private tutor, Charles Drury, whose severe discipline he was accustomed to describe as the most salutary experience of his life. He matriculated from Christ Church on 14 Nov. 1823, graduated B. A. (first class in literæ humaniores) in 1827, and proceeded M.A. in 1830. He twice gained the chancellor's prize by his Latin essay in 1828, in which year he was elected fellow of Oriel College, and by his English essay in 1829. In 1832 he took holy orders and the Cuddesdon cure of souls. A college tutorship, to which he was elected in 1830, he retained until 1836, when he exchanged it for the office of treasurer. Oriel society he found extremely uncongenial, and in 1838 accepted from his brother the vicarage of Broadwinsor, Dorset. He was collated on 10 Aug. 1841 to the ninth prebend of Wilsford and Woodford in the church of Sarum, and on 28 April 1849 to the ninth prebend of Combe in the church of Wells, which he exchanged for the two prebends of Milverton in the same church, on his appointment, 30 Sept. 1851, to the archdeaconry of Taunton. At the same time he exchanged the vicarage of Broadwinsor for that of East Brent, Somerset.
From the first a strong high churchman, Denison united with Manning in organising resistance to the regulation of parochial schools by the state [see Manning, Henry Edward]. He also joined in the protests against Hampden's preferment to the see of
