-
1720.
- A verse translation from Latin of a rather broad jeu d'esprit entitled 'The Surprise, or the Gentleman turned Apothecary,' 1739, 12mo, originally written in French prose.
- A travesty of Maphæus, published in 1758 with the following title:
The Canto added by Maphæus
To Virgil's twelve books of Æneus,
From the original Bombastic,
Done into English Hudibrastic,
With notes beneath, and Latin text,
In every other page annext.'
He also contributed several small pieces to Dodsley's 'Collection of Poems by several hands,' 6 vols., 1763, which were printed with his name in the sixth volume of the work. One of these, 'The Cheat's Apology,' was set to music and song by Vernon at Vauxhall with much success. A short allegorical poem, 'Tartana, or the Plaidie,' was printed in 1782 in the 'European Magazine' (ii. 151, 234). A number of his versus, composed at various times for Boydell, Bowles, and other printsetters, were also printed. Besides many unpublished poems he left behind him versions of Æsop and Cato, and of portions of Ovid's 'Metamorphoses.' According to an unpublished poem addressed to Ellis by Moses Mendez, printed by 'W. C.' in 'Notes and Queries' (4th ser. vii. 5), he used to attend at the Cock tavern in Threadneedle Street every Friday evening at eight o'clock to enjoy the society of his literary friends; his cheerful and amiable disposition and large fund of anecdotes, which he told with great effect, making him a very agreeable companion.
Ellis took an active part in the affairs of the Scriveners' Company, of which he was four times master. His portrait was painted in 1781 by T. Frye, at the expense of the company, to be hung in their hall, and was also engraved for them by W. Pether, he being in his eighty-third year. Ellis was also for forty years an active member of the corporation of London, being elected a common councilman for Broad Street ward in 1750, and afterwards appointed alderman's deputy. The duties of the latter post he actively discharged until his resignation on St. Thomas's day 1790, not many days before his death.
In January 1765 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of chamberlain of London, Ellis was never married, and, being of temperate and cheerful habits, lived to an advanced age. Up to his eighty-fifth year he used frequently to walk thirty miles a day. Boswell, who visited him 4 Oct. 1790, in his ninety-third year, found his judgment distinct and clear and his memory 'able to serve him very well after a little recollection' (Life of Johnson, ed. Hill, iii. 21). In the last year of his life his circumstances were reduced by the bankruptcy of a person whom he had generously assisted, but his friends speedily relieved him. He died 31 Dec. 1790, and was buried 5 Jan. 1791 in the church of St. Bartholomew by the Exchange. He lived for many years in Black Swan Court, and afterwards in Capel Court, Bartholomew Lane. A letter from him to Dr. Johnson, printed in the 'European Magazine,' describes a remarkable alteration in his eyesight, which occurred in his eighty-sixth year, while on a short visit to Margate.
[An excellent account of Ellis is contributed by his friend, Isaac Reed, to the European Magazine for 1792, xxi. 3-5, 125-8, with portrait; Scriveners' Company's Records; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. 18th Cent., iii. 409.]
ELLIS, JOHN (1789–1862), member of parliament and railway chairman, was born in 1789 at Sharman's Lodge, near Leicester, where his father, Joseph Ellis, was a farmer. From 1807 to 1847 he was a very successful farmer at Beaumont Leys, also near Leicester. During the latter part of that time he had also a business in Leicester. In 1830 he made the acquaintance of George Stephenson, and afterwards took a prominent part in promoting the Leicester and Swannington railway. In 1836 he gave important evidence before a select committee of the House of Commons on agricultural distress. He was member of parliament for the borough of Leicester from 1848 until 1852, when he retired. From 1849 to 1858 he was chairman of the Midland railway. Throughout life he was a liberal in politics. He came of an old quaker family, still well known around Leicester, of which borough he was an alderman. He was also a justice of the peace for the county, and was prominently connected with many public matters, both of a local and general nature. He died at Balgrave, near Leicester, on 26 Oct. 1862.
[Private information; also Charlotte Ellis's Sketch of one Branch of the Ellis Family (Leicester, privately printed).]
ELLIS, PHILIP, in religion MICHAEL (1652–1726), catholic prelate, born in 1652, was the third son of the Rev. John Ellis], author of 'Vindiciæ Catholicæ' [q. v.], by Susannah, daughter of William Welbore, esq., of Cambridge. His eldest brother, John Ellis [q. v.], became under-secretary of state to William III; the second son. Sir William Ellis (d. 1734), was secretary of state to James II; and Welbore Ellis [q. v.], the fourth son and next brother to Philip, was appointed protestant bishop of Killala and afterwards
