MITCHELL, JOHN (1815-1875).—­Journalist and political writer, s. of a Presbyterian minister, was b. in Ulster.  For some time he practised as a solicitor, but becoming acquainted with Thomas Davis (q.v.), he associated himself with the Young Ireland party, and was a leading contributor to the Nation newspaper.  His political sympathies and acts were carried so far as to bring about in 1848 his trial for treason-felony, and his transportation for 14 years.  After his release he resided chiefly at New York, and ed. various papers, and opposed the abolition of slavery; but in 1874 he was elected M.P. for Tipperary, for which, however, he was declared incapable of sitting.  On a new election he was again returned, but d. before the resulting petition could be heard.  He wrote a Jail Journal, a work of great power, The Last Conquest of Ireland (perhaps) (1860), and a History of Ireland of little value.

MITFORD, MARY RUSSELL (1787-1855).—­Poetess and novelist, b. at Alresford, Hants, dau. of a physician, without practice, selfish and extravagant, who ran through three fortunes, his own, his wife’s, and his daughter’s, and then lived on the industry of the last.  After a vol. of poems which attracted little notice, she produced her powerful tragedy, Julian.  In 1812, what ultimately became the first vol. of Our Village appeared in the Lady’s Magazine.  To this four additional vols. were added, the last in 1832.  In this work Miss M. may be said to have created a new branch of literature.  Her novel, Belford Regis (1835), is somewhat on the same lines.  She added two dramas, Rienzi (1828), and Foscari, Atherton and other Tales (1852), and Recollections of a Literary Life, and d. at her cottage at Swallowfield, much beloved for her benevolent and simple character, as well as valued for her intellectual powers.

MITFORD, WILLIAM (1744-1827).—­Historian, e.s. of John M. of Exbury, Hants, descended from an old Northumbrian family, was b. in London, and ed. at Cheam School and Oxf.  He studied law, but on succeeding to the family estates devoted himself to study and literature, and to his duties as an officer of the militia.  His first pub. was an Essay on the Harmony of Language (1774).  His great work, The History of Greece, is said to have been undertaken at the suggestion of Gibbon, who was a fellow-officer in the South Hants Militia.  This work, the successive vols. of which appeared at considerable intervals between 1784 and 1810, was long a standard one, though it is now largely superseded by the histories of Thirwall and Grote.  M. wrote with strong prejudices against democracy, and in defence of tyrants, but his style is forcible and agreeable, and he brought learning and research to bear on his subject.  He sat for many years in Parliament.