DIXON, William Hepworth, British author, born in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 30 June 1821 ; died 27 December, 1879. Though he had few educational advantages, he early displayed his literary predilections by printing a five-act tragedy. He was an early contributor of verse to Douglas Jerrold's "Illuminated Magazine," and about 1844 became literary editor of a paper at Cheltenham. In 1846 he settled in London as a law student at the Inner Temple, and began contributing to the " Daily News." In 1853 he became chief editor of the "Athenmum," which post he held until 1869. His treatment of American subjects and American authors in this journal, as well as in his books on America, was considered in the United States unjust and incorrect, although he made many friends in his visits to this country. In 1864 he made a tour of the East, and in 1866 spent a few months in traveling and lecturing in the United States, paying especial attention to Mormonism and spiritualism. He revisited America in 187425, and wrote " White Conquest" (2 vols., 1876), which contained some useful information about the condition of the Negroes, the Indians, and the Chinese in America. He published "John Howard, a Memoir" (London, 1849); "Life of William Penn " (1851); " The Lives of the Archbishops of York " (1863); "The Holy Land" (2 vols., 1865);" New America" (1867); "Spiritual Wives" (1868); "Her Majesty's Tower" (4 vols., 1869'71); " Free Russia" (2 vols., 1870); " The Switzers " (1872); "The History of Two Queens Catherine of Aragon and Anne "Boleyn" (4 vols., 1873'4); " Diana, Lady Lyle" (3 vols., 1877); " Ruby Grey" (3 vols., 1878); "Royal Windsor" (1878); and a work on Cyprus, which he visited in 1878.