in conjunction with Charles Butler (1750–1832) [q. v.], he edited ‘A New Translation of the Book of Psalms,’ &c. 1807, 8vo, from the manuscript of Alexander Geddes, LL.D. [q. v.]
[Memoir (dated 1 Jan. 1817) in Monthly Repository, 1817, p. 55 sq., by G. W. M. (George Wilson Meadley of Sunderland); Funeral Sermon, by T. Jervis, 1817; the biographical part with catalogue of his works is reprinted in Monthly Rep. 1817, p. 257 sq.; see also p. 54 for Elegy by Jervis; Turner's Lives of Eminent Unitarians, 1843, ii. 178 sq. (based on the foregoing, with additional particulars from Mrs. Jervis and Mr. Disney); Univ. Theol. Mag. December 1804, p. 342; Belsham's Memoirs of Lindsey, 1812, pp. 47, 53, 92, &c. (an interleaved copy, in the possession of L. M. Aspland, LL.D., has manuscript notes by Disney, throwing light on his own biography, and showing strong animus against Mrs. Lindsey, his wife's half-sister, and Belsham, his successor at Essex Street); T. M. Harris's Sermon on Christian Sensibility, 1811, preface, gives a pleasing view of Disney's life at the Hyde; Rutt's Memoirs of Priestley, 1831, i. 84, 365, 394; Nichols's Illustrations, 1831, vi. 478 sq.; Williams's Memoirs of Belsham, 1833, p. 541 sq.; Murch's Hist. Presb. and Gen. Bapt. Churches in West of Eng., 1835, p. 362; Catalogue of Graduates of Edinb. University, 1858; Jeremy's Presbyterian Fund, 1885, pp. 129, 177.]
DISNEY, JOHN (1779–1857), collector of classical antiquities, born at Flintham Hall, Nottinghamshire, on 29 May 1779, was the eldest son of the Rev. John Disney, D.D. (1746–1816) [q. v.], by Jane, daughter of Archdeacon Blackburne. On 26 Dec. 1816 he came into possession of his father's estate, the Hyde, Ingatestone, Essex, inheriting with it the collection of antiquities formed in Italy by Hollis and Brand, chiefly from 1748 to 1753. Disney made additions to this collection, acquiring many of the smaller antiquities from Pompeii through a relative. In 1818 he began a catalogue of it, which he completed after his return from Rome in 1827, and afterwards published with corrections as ‘Museum Disneianum,’ London, 4to, pt. i. 1846 (sculptures); pt. ii. 1848; pt. iii. 1849. The book contains numerous engravings, but the text is not very critical: thus, Pl. lxvii., a mirror with handle, is described as ‘A stew-pan’ (cp. Gerhard, Arch. Zeitung, 1849, pp. 157–60; Wieseler, Göttingische gel. Anzeig. 1849, 441–62; Classical Museum, v. 262–72, vi. 71–91). Nearly all the marbles were bequeathed by Disney to the university of Cambridge, and they now form one of the principal sections of the Fitzwilliam Museum. The bronzes, terra-cottas, glass objects, vases, &c., remained at the Hyde. Professor Michaelis, who has redescribed (Anc. Marbles) the sculptures, considers that Disney showed more zeal than discernment as a collector, for, though a friend of Flaxman, Combe, and Christie, he acquired many poor or spurious marbles. Michaelis thinks the ‘Statuette of a Youthful Satyr’ the most graceful piece of statuary in the collection. In 1851 Disney founded the Cambridge University chair of archæology, called by his name. The professor is required to deliver at least six lectures annually on some subject connected with classical and other antiquities and the fine arts. The original endowment, amounting to 1000l., was increased in 1857 by Disney's bequest to 3250l. Disney held the honorary degree of LL.D. (Cambridge), and was a fellow of the Royal Society. He was barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple, and published: 1. ‘A Collection of Acts of Parliament relative to County and Borough Elections,’ &c., London, 1811, 8vo. 2. ‘Outlines of a Penal Code,’ London, 1826, 8vo. He unsuccessfully contested (as a liberal) Harwich in 1832 and North Essex in 1835. He died at the Hyde on 6 May 1857. Disney married on 22 Sept. 1802 his cousin-german Sophia, youngest daughter of Lewis Disney-Ffytche, of Swinderby, Lincolnshire, and had issue: John (d. 1819), Edgar (his successor, d. 1881), Sophia.
[Burke's Hist. of the Landed Gentry (1837), ii. 151; Walford's County Families (1886); Gent. Mag. 1857, 3rd ser. ii. 741; Annual Reg. xcix. 307; Michaelis's Ancient Marbles in Great Britain, §§ 41, 87, 91, pp. 241, 255–67, 333; Cambridge Univ. Calendar (1885), pp. 328–9; Mus. Disneianum; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
DISNEY, Sir MOORE (1766?–1846), general, eldest son of Moore Disney, esq., of Churchtown, co. Waterford, one of the Irish descendants of the family of Disney of Norton Disney in Northamptonshire, entered the army as an ensign in the 1st Grenadier guards on 17 April 1783. He served in America for the last few months of the American war of independence, and was promoted lieutenant and captain on 3 June 1791. He served with the guards throughout the campaign in the Netherlands under the Duke of York from 1793 to May 1795, and was promoted captain and lieutenant-colonel on 12 June 1795. He was promoted colonel on 29 April 1802, and served for a short time as a brigadier-general in the home district in 1805, but threw up that appointment in July 1806, in order to proceed to Sicily in command of the 3rd battalion of the 1st guards. He was made a brigadier-general in Sicily in August 1807, and was commandant of Messina from January to July 1808, when he started home to take command of a
