Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical

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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
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EncyclnpeWa gf Massachusetts

Biographical — Genealogical

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Compiled with Assistance of the Following

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WILLIAM RICHARD CUTTER

Former Librarian of Woburn Public Library;
Historian of New England Historic-Genea-
logical Society; Author of "History of Arling-
ton," "Bibliography of Woburn," "History of
the Cutter Family," etc.

EUGENE C. GARDNER

Member of American Institute of Architecture,
etc.; Author of "Homes and How to Make
Them," and other popular works; Lecturer,
and frequent contributor to leading magazines
and newspapers.

HARLAN HOGE BALLARD, A. M.

Librarian of Berkshire Athenaeum and Mu-
seum; Secretary of Berkshire Hi.storical Soci-
ety; Author of "Three Kingdoms;" "World of
Matter;" "Translation into English, Hexameters
of Virgil's Aeneid;" Joint Author "American
Plant Book;" "Barnes' Readers;" "One Thou-
sand Blunders in English."

REV. JOHN H. LOCKWOOD, A. M.

Member of Connecticut Valley Historical Soci-
ety, and W^estern Hampden Historical Society;
Author of "History of the Town of Westfleld,
Mass."

HON. ELLERY BICKNELL CRANE

Charter Member, ex-President and for fifteen
years Librarian of Worcester Society of Antiq-
uity, and Editor of its Proceedings; Author of
"Ilawson Family Memorial," "The Crane Fam-
ily," in two volumes, "History of 15th Regi-
ment in the Revolution," and Compiler of a
Number of Genealogies of the Prominent Fam-
ilies of Massachusetts. Member of the New
England Historic-Genealogical and other His-
torical Societies.

CHARLES FRENCH READ

Clerk and Treasurer of Bostonian Society;
Director of Brookline Historical Society; Sec-
ond Vice-President of Mass. Soc. S. A. R.;
Chairman Membership Com. Mass. Soc. Colo-
nial Wars; Member Board of Managers, Mass.
Soc, War of 1812; Treasurer of Read Soc. for
Genealogical Research.

ROBERT SAMUEL RANTOUL

Ex-President of Essex Institute; Member of
Massachusetts Historical Society; ex-Repre-
sentative and ex-Mayor of Salem.

E. ALDEN DYER, M. D.

President of Old Bridgewater Historical Soci-
ety; President of Dyer Family Association.

LLUSTRATED

NEW YORK

1916

THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Inc.)

BOSTON

CHICAGO

If'-

\\y

Both justice and decency require that we should bestow on our forefathers
an honorable remembrance — Thucydides

FOREWORD

^ROM the earliest days, when the English first set sturdy foot upon its

soil in Plymouth and Provincetown, Massachusetts, at that time

embracing all New England, in the affairs of the whole Continent has

been a factor to be reckoned with. Problems facing the Pioneers,

equal in importance to any which have since presented themselves,

required and received the very highest order of intelligence in their

solution. From the day of Winthrop, Bradford, and Endicott, the

times have demanded Men; and the Men of Massachusetts, as well as its noble Women,

have been of the sterling sort who met any and all emergencies with courage, fortitude,

sagacity, and a conquering spirit.

As Edward Everett has truly said, "Massachusetts is but a speck, after all, upon the
map of the world ; but her influence has been felt from sea to sea and from pole to pole.'
In this historic treatment of the facts relating to the Men and Women of the State, it is
fitting that the "indomitable spirit" of the Forefathers should appear; and that the same
characteristics with which they fought and conquered the absorbing conditions around
them should prove that there is much in heredity. The same stout spirit which sent
Winthrop to Plymouth, sent Pynchon and Williams forth to find even greater liberty.
They desired most of all to carry out their own plans for self-government and to make
their own codes, independent of the Mother-land. Their earliest care was to encourage
the shipping interests, well realizing that the sea and rivers afforded the first highways
through which the commerce of the world and their communication with the rest of
mankind was to pass. The transportation agitations of to-day are a direct and logical
inheritance from the ancient seaboard. How to get somewhere, and move commodities
to and from elsewhere, are questions which have ever been paramount in the minds of
Massachusetts people. The solution of this one problem of transportation, in the
course of which seemingly unconquerable obstacles were surmounted, together with
their triumphs along all other lines, make the history of the Men and Women of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts as entertaining and as fascinating as any story.

Through the lives of the individuals selected for this work runs a golden thread, —
the unconquerable spirit, — showing without any further proof that theirs is an heredity
of which none need be ashamed. No part of the world has had more weighty problems,
and no other grouping of its inhabitants has met more wisely or manfully the exacting

conditions, or suited itself more sanely to its environments. It is well that Massachu-
setts Men and Women should be proud of their heritage, for no State in the Union has
more reason to feel a just pride in both its progress and achievement. As a great w^riter
and preacher has well said, "The importance of every event in History is to be judged
by its more or less close association with the voyage of the 'Mayflower/ and the immortal
'Compact' drawn up and signed in its cabin." From that distinctly Massachusetts
moment, the basis of the highest law and essential history has had its origin.

Every State in the Union points with pride to the Massachusetts men and women
within its borders, many of them occupying positions of trust and honor. The interest
in this book may well be limited only by the ocean's expanse.

The work has had editorial supervision by an antiquarian and genealogist of high
standing, Mr. William Richard Cutter, A. M., Historian of the New England Historic-
Genealogical Society, Librarian Emeritus of Woburn Public Library, author. Efficient
aid has also been given by the following named gentlemen : Eugene C. Gardner, mem-
ber of American Institute of Architecture, etc., author ; Harlan Hoge Ballard, A. M.,
Librarian of Berkshire Athenaeum and Museum, Secretary of Berkshire Historical
Society, author; Rev. John H. Lockwood, A. M., member of Connecticut Valley His-
torical Society and Western Hampden Historical Society, author; Hon. Ellery Bicknell
Crane, charter member, ex-President and many years Librarian of the Worcester Soci-
ety of Antiquity and Editor of its Proceedings, member of New England Historic-
Genealogical and other historical societies, author ; Charles French Read, Clerk and
Treasurer of Bostonian Society, director of Brookline Historical Society, and officer and
member of various other historical societies ; Robert Samuel Rantoul, ex-President of
Essex Institute, member of Massachusetts Historical Society; E. Alden Dyer, M. D.,
President of Old Bridgewater Historical Society, and of Dyer Family Association.

If in any case a narrative is incomplete or faulty, the shortcoming is usually ascrib-
able to the paucity of data obtainable, many families being without exact records in their
family line ; while, in some instances, representatives of a given family are at disagree-
ment as to the names of some of their forbears, important dates, etc.

It is confidently believed that the present work will prove a real addition to the
mass of annals concerning important people of Massachusetts, and that, without it, much
valuable information would be inaccessible to the general reader, or irretrievably lost,
owing to the passing away of custodians of family records and the consequent disap-
pearance of material in their possession.

AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

BIOGRAPHICAL

''CfyrnA'^^yi

r('a^rn d

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ADAMS, Samuel,

Leader in the Revolution.

Samuel Adams has been given the lofty-
title of "The very soul of the Patriot party
in the Revolution." He was a leading
spirit in the first Continental Congress,
and the first to publicly advocate inde-
pendence. His eloquence hastened the
famous Declaration. Great Britain felt his
great force as an opponent, and, realizing
that the colonies could never be brought
into subjection as long as such fearless
advocates of liberty were unrepressed,
exempted two men — Samuel Adams and
John Hancock — from its proffers of for-
giveness to those who might return to
their allegiance.

Samuel Adams was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, September i6, 1722, son
of Samuel and Mary (Fifield) Adams.
His grandfather, John Adams, was a sea
captain, brother of Joseph Adams, of
Braintree, who was grandfather of John
Adams, second President of the United
States, and grandson of Flenry Adams,
the first American ancestor, who came
from Devonshire, England, about 1636,
and built his home near Mount Wollas-
ton, Quincy, Massachusetts. The elder
Samuel Adams was a man of great wealth
for the time, a brewer and ship owner,
and the proprietor of a large estate front-
ing on Boston harbor, on which he built
a palatial mansion. He was a member of
the legislature of the colony, a justice of
the peace, selectman, deacon in the Old
South Church, and a man who com-
manded the respect of his neighbors. He
organized the "caulkers club" of Boston,
made up of influential business men en-
gaged in the shipping business, who met

to determine on the men best fitted for
the office, and from this club was derived
the word "caucus," as applied to political
gatherings.

The young Samuel Adams enjoyed the
companionship of the best people of Bos-
ton, and was influenced by a rigidly pious
mother. As a boy, he met all the strong
men of the colony who were accustomed
to gather at his father's house, and, as a
listener, early caught the spirit of liberty
that pervaded the atmosphere of the
period. When he entered Harvard Col-
lege he was far advanced in general in-
formation, and was diligent and studious.
He was graduated in 1740, when only
eighteen years old, and at the wish of his
father he entered upon a course in theol-
ogy, expecting to become a clergyman.
This, however, did not suit his views,
and he began to study law, which, at the
wish of his mother, he abandoned to
learn business in a counting room. Upon
arriving at his majority in 1743, he at-
tended the commencement exercises at
Harvard, and there received his degree
as Master of Arts, his thesis being on the
proposition that "it is lawful to resist the
supreme magistrate if the commonwealth
cannot be otherwise preserved." Seated
on the platform during its delivery was
Governor Shirley and the other crown
officials who represented the "supreme
magistrate." Young Adams was a strict
Calvinist, and a zealous member of the
Old South Church. His father gave him
one thousand pounds that he might begin
business for himself, but he lost the whole
amount, a half by a bad loan, and the
other half in his business. Next he joined
his father in carrying on a malt house on

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

his father's estate on Purchase street.
Plis father died in 1748 and left him one-
third of his estate, in 1749 he married
Elizabeth Checkley, daughter of the min-
ister of the New South religious society
in Summer street, which his father had
been instrumental in founding in 1718.
He continued the business of the malt
house, and this gave rise to the title
"Sammy the Alalster," bestowed upon
him by his political opponents. Massa-
chusetts having issued paper money and
coin having been driven out of circula-
tion, an inflation of prices resulted, at-
tended with disastrous fluctuations. Brit-
ish merchants trading with the colony
complained of the paper currency, and
the people, as represented in the legisla-
ture, opposed the board of trade, which
was sustained by the governor. This con-
dition led to the formation of two bank-
ing companies, the people subscribing for
the stock of the "land bank," or "manu-
factory scheme," which issued one hun-
dred and tifty thousand pounds, redeem-
able in produce after twenty years, and
^Jr. .\dams' father became a large share-
holder. The "silver scheme" was patron-
ized by the merchants, who issued one
hundred and ten thousand pounds in
notes, to be redeemed in silver in ten
years. The land bank stockholders, eight
hundred in number, were influential in
the legislature, and as a political power
caused the removal of Governor Belcher.
The plans of both of these banking com-
panies were frustrated by an act of parlia-
ment that was extended to the colonies,
an old law of England forbidding any
joint stock company having over six
shareholders, and the two banks were
therefore obliged to redeem their script
and suspend business. As the individual
shareholders were personally responsible,
this brought ruin to many of the larger
holders. In 1758 an attempt was made
to seize the Adams estate to satisfy a

claim against his father on account of his
personal liability in the "land bank."
Samuel Adams resisted the attempt, and
held off the levy until the colonial legis-
lature released the directors from per-
sonal liability. In 1756 he was made col-
lector of taxes, and as the payment of
taxes was slow, the delinquency was re-
corded in the Boston town records as
against the collectors, naming the sum to
be nine thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight pounds. The Tories charged
the deficiency against Adams; and Plutch-
inson, the last royal governor, in his his-
tory of the colony, called it a "defalcation."
In the transactions of the Massachusetts
Historical Society for 1883 a complete
disproval of the charge is recorded. In
1757 Mr. Adams' wife died and left two
children, a son and a daughter. His malt
house was a failure. He had lost his
other property, save only the ancestral
b.ome on Purchase street, and this was
much out of repair.

In this dark hour, he was one of five
men appointed by the town of Boston to
instruct the representatives just elected
to the General Court as to the wishes of
the people of the town of Boston, and
Samuel Adams wrote out America's first
protest against the plan of Lord Gren-
ville for taxing the colonies. Indeed, in
his capacity as clerk of the legislature,
he was the author of nearly all the papers
that were drawn up against impositions
of the British government. The patriot
party found in him its very soul. His
instructions were read before the General
Court on Ma}' 24, 1764, and the original
draft of the document is preserved, hav-
ing been the property of George Ban-
croft, the historian, at the time of his
death. On December 6, 1764, Mr. Adams
was married to Elizabeth Wells.

In Boston, the news of the passage of
the Stamp Act by the British Parliament
called out determined resistance. Hutch-

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

inson's house was destroyed, and his fam-
ily barely escaped the infuriated mob.
The General Assembly was to convene
in September, and Samuel Adams again
prepared the instructions for the Boston
members. John Adams had written the
instructions for the Quincy members, and
"The Gazette" printed both documents.
Samuel Adams was elected to a vacancy
in the Assembly on September 27. 1765,
and the da}^ he was sworn in. Bernard,
the royalist governor, prorogued the leg-
islature. In October, 1765. he began his
service in behalf of revolution as the only
remedy for oppression, and advocated it
in the Colonial Assembly continuously
until 1774, when he was sent as a repre-
sentative to the Colonial Congress at
Philadelphia, and there continued the
agitation. All the energies of the man
were poured out in the cause he loved ;
he gave little thought to the accumula-
tion of money, and his was the pure, in-
corruptible patriotism that scorns to ac-
quire it in public office. Most of his life
he was poor. His more frugal wife soon
attended to all money matters, and it was
not tmtil after the death of his only son,
who left him a small property, that he
was in comfortable circumstances. On
the same day of the occurrence of the
"Boston massacre," at the town meeting
held in the Old South meeting house,
March 5, 1770. Mr. Adams, as chairman
of the committee, communicated to Gov-
ernor Hutchinson the demand of the in-
habitants that the troops should be re-
moved from the city. Hutchinson offered
to remove one regiment, and Adams re-
turned through the crowded streets to
the meeting house, quickly passing the
watchword, "both regiments or none,"
and when the vote was demanded, the
five thousand voices shouted "both regi-
ments or none." Adams returned with
the ultimatum of the people, and warned
Hutchinson that if the two regiments

were not removed before nightfall they
remained at his peril, and before the sun
set they were removed to the castle in
the harbor. The people of Massachusetts
next demanded that judges holding office
at the pleasure of the king should be paid
by the crown, and not by the colonies,
and at the same time the judges were
threatened with impeachment if they ac-
cepted a penny from the crown. Adams,
when Hutchinson refused to convene the
legislature to decide the question of the
judges' salaries, proposed "committees of
correspondence" in each town to consult
as to the common welfare. This, legally
a proper act, was virtually an act of revo-
lution, as the governor had no power over
such an organization. Within a month
eighty towns had chosen committees, and
the system, that afterwards extended to
all the colonies, was in operation. It was
by such stages that the revolutionary
government was formed, with Samuel
Adams as the leading spirit.

When the legislature convened at Salem.
June 17, 1774, he locked the doors, put
the key in his pocket, and carried through
his plan for convening a congress of the
colonies at Philadelphia on the first of
."■September. A Tory member, feigning
sickness, was let out, and informed Gov-
ernor Hutchinson, who, however, could
not gain admission to serve a writ to dis-
solve the assembly, and when the busi-
ness at hand was finished, the last Massa-
chusetts legislature under sovereign au-
thority had adjourned sine die. James Bow-
doin, Thomas Gushing. Samuel Adams,
John Adams and Robert Treat Paine
were elected to meet the delegates from
other colonial assemblies in Philadelphia,
and five hundred povmds was appro-
priated to pay their expenses, each town
being assessed according to the tax list.
Gushing, the two Adams and Paine de-
parted from Boston on August 10. 1774.
in a stage coach, Bowdoin being detained

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

by the illness of his wife. In the first
meeting of the Continental Congress it
was proposed to open the session with
prayer, but this was opposed by John
Jay, an Episcopalian, on the ground that
the members belonging, as they did, to
various sects and denominations, could
not be expected to unite in formal wor-
ship. Samuel Adams replied that he was
no bigot, and could hear a prayer from a
gentleman of piety and virtue, who was
at the same time a friend of his coun-
try ; that he was a stranger in Phila-
delphia, but he had heard that Mr. Duche
deserved that character, and therefore he
moved that Mr. Duche, an Episcopal
clergyman, might be desired to read
prayers to Congress. New York, Vir-
ginia and South Carolina had been dis-
trustful of the extreme policy hereto-
fore pursued by Massachusetts, but this
evidence of friendship from her most
prominent representative disarmed oppo-
sition ; and the delegates from these colo-
nies, mostly Episcopalians, were greatly
pleased, as were those from Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. Duche being the most popular
preacher in Philadelphia. On November
9. 1774. Adams was back in Boston,
organizing and promoting rebellion.

On the fifth anniversary of the Boston
massacre, March 5, 1775, Samuel Adams
presided at a gathering in the Old South
meeting house, and Joseph Warren de-
livered the oration. The city was occu-
pied by eleven regiments of British
troops, and many of the officers were in
the meeting, but Adams' tact as presiding
of^cer prevented an outbreak. In A.pril
followed the expeditions of the British
troops to Concord and Lexington, and the
attempted seizure of the stores gathered
there, which aroused the people, who
successfully drove them back. Adams
and Hancock had departed from Boston
for Philadelphia secretly, as General Gage
had published his instructions from the

British government to arrest Samuel
Adams and "his willing and ready tool,"
John Hancock, and send them over to
London to be tried for high treason. A
plan was made to seize them at Lexing-
ton, April 19, but they were forewarned
by Paul Revere, while stopping at the
house of Rev. Jonas Clark. There was a
guard about the house, and when Revere
rode up to warn the patriot leaders he
was told not to make so much noise.
"Noise !" was his reply, "you'll have noise
enough before long; the Regulars are
coming on." After the warning by Re-
vere, Adams and Hancock went to a
hill, southeast of Mr. Clark's, then well
wooded, and remained until the British
troops had passed on to Concord. They
were afterwards taken to the home of
Madam Jones in Burlington, and from
thence, on a new alarm, they went to
Billerica. While walking in the field,
after hearing the firing at Lexington,
Adams said to one of his companions, "It
is a fine day." "Very pleasant," was the
reply, having reference to the brightness
of the dawning day. "I mean," was the
earnest and prophetic reply, "I mean this
is a glorious day for America." They
made their way to Philadelphia in time
for the second session of Congress, May
10, 1775. Here Adams stood almost alone
in proposing immediate separation from
the mother country. On June 12th Gen-
eral Gage proclaimed pardon "to all per-
sons who should lay down their arms and
return to the duties of peaceful subjects,
excepting only from the benefits of such
pardon, Samuel Adams and John Plan-
cock, whose ofifences are of too flagitious
a nature to admit any other consideration
than that of condign punishment." The
army, hastily gathered around Boston,
and which had done so good service at
Concord and Lexington, was adopted by
Congress through the efforts of Samuel
and John Adams, and on his return home

'tJt e/ia ncoc'h'

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

he found that the "Territory of Massa-
chusetts Bay" had been founded, and that
he had been made one of the first
eighteen councillors ; shortly after he was
made Secretary of State, and forthwith
he made his home in Cambridge.

On June 17, 1775, was fought the battle
of Bunker Hill, in which General War-
ren was killed; on July 4, 1776, the
Declaration of Independence was signed,
and Samuel Adams "reached the most
triumphant moment of his life." He
aided in framing the State constitution
of Massachusetts in 1780, but hesitated
in accepting the constitution of the United
States as framed in 1787; although he did
not actively oppose it; and in the Massa-
chusetts convention of 1788, having the
document under consideration, he for two
weeks sat silent listening to the argu-
ments of the other members. He then
decided to support it, reserving only the
condition that the new congress should
consider amendments in the nature of a
bill of rights. His decision to act secured
Massachusetts to the Union, and carried
the convention by a vote of one hundred
and eighty-seven yeas to one hundred
and sixty-eight nays. It was this pro-
posed amendment of Samuel Adams that
led to the attaching of the first ten amend-
ments to the constitution as declared in
force December 15, 1791. In 1789 Mr.
Adams was elected Lieutenant-Governor
of Massachusetts, and in 1794 was chosen
its Governor, serving three terms. On
retiring from the executive office of Mas-
sachusetts in 1797, Samuel Adams retired
to private life, taking up his residence on
Winter street, Boston, where he died Oc-
tober 2, 1803.

His only son, Samuel, was educated at
Harvard, graduating with the class of
1771. He then studied medicine with Dr.
Joseph Warren, and served as surgeon
in the Continental army, whereby he so
undermined his health that he died in
Boston in 1788.

HANCOCK, John,

r<eader in the Revolution.

To the name of John Hancock attaches
the high distinction of being a very prime
leader in the events leading up to the
American Revolution, and so obnoxious
to the British government that he, with
Samuel Adams, was specially exempted
from the immunity promised to rebels
who would anew testify to their loyalty
to the crown.

He was born at Quincy, Massachusetts,
January 12, 1737. His father, the Rev.
John Hancock, was ordained as a Congre-
gational minister at Braintree (now
Ouincy), Massachusetts, November 2,
1726, and continued there until his death
in 1744.

His uncle Thomas took charge of his
education, sending him to Harvard,
where he was graduated in 1754, at the
age of seventeen. When his collegiate
life was ended, his uncle entered him as a
clerk in his counting-house, and in 1760
sent him to England, and while he was
there, the death of George II. and the
accession of George III. occurring, he
was present both at the funeral of the
former and the coronation of the latter.
Returning to Boston, his uncle's death
left him, at the age of twenty-seven
years, in possession of one of the largest
estates within the province of Massachu-
setts. The first public office which he
held was that of selectman for the town
of Boston, and he performed his duties
for a number of years. When he was
twenty-nine he was chosen a representa-
tive of Boston in the General Assembly
of the province, having for his colleagues
James Otis, Samuel Adams, and Thomas
Gushing. Mr. Hancock's convictions, his
fortune, his business connections, and his
social and public positions naturally
made him a leader in observing and in
planning to thwart the movements of the
British ministry, which ultimately led to
the American Revolution. When the

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

"Boston Massacre," March 5, 1770, occur-
red, Hancock was a member of the com-
mittee appointed by the citizens which
waited on the governor to demand the
withdrawal of the troops and iinally
accomplished that purpose. Coming
continually into notice by his pronounced
opinions and their fearless advocacy, he
was approached by the magnates of the
royalist party, and an attempt was made
to secure his adhesion to the British
administration, alike by intimidation and
fiattery, but to no purpose. Having been
selected by his townsmen for the pur-
pose, he delivered a public oration on an
anniversary of the "Massacre," com-
memorating it. It was glowing and fear-
less in its denunciation, and naturally
offended the governor. His standing in
the Provincial Assembly, of which he had
been elected speaker (although the choice
had never been confirmed by the Gov-
ernor), and as an elected member of the
Executive Council with his outspoken
and active opposition to the encroach-
inents of the British ministry, marked
him as a man for condemnation ; and it
was in part to secure his person and that
of his compatriot, Samuel Adams, that
the military expedition was sent out from
Concord, from Boston, in April, 1775.
The night before the battle of Lexington
(April i8th) Adams and Hancock lodged
in that village, and, as the soldiers ^ent
to arrest them entered the house where
they were, by one door, they withdrew
by another. On June 12, 1775, was pub-
lished the proclamation by General Gage,
commander of the British troops at Bos-
ton, offering pardon to all rebels, except
Adams and Hancock, whose offenses, it
was declared, "are of too flagitious a
nature to admit of any other consider-
ation than that of condign punishment."
In October, 1774, the Massachusetts
Provincial Congress unanimously elected
Hancock its president. In 1775 he was a

delegate to the Continental Congress at
I'hiladelphia, and was its first president,
holding the office from May of that year
until C)ctober, t^yj", when he resigned
and retired to his native village. On
July 4. 1776, his bold signature, now so
familiar, was affixed to the Declaration of
Independence of the United States. The
fact that, as first published, it went
abroad to the world with only his official
signature appended to it, brought him
still more conspicuously before the public
eye than before. His congressional
duties were performed with wisdom and
dignity. In 1776 he had been commis-
sioned major-general of Massachusetts
militia, and in August, 1778, he com-
manded the Massachusetts troops in the
ineffective Rhode Island expedition. He
was also a member and president of the
Massachusetts Constitutional Convention
of 1780, and, when the State government
went into operation, was the first gov-
ernor of the commonwealth, being the
earliest candidate ever chosen for that
station by the voluntary suft'rages of a
free people. To that office he was chosen
for five successive years, and then, after
an interval of two years, was again
elected, and by annual reappointment
occupied the Governor's chair to the close
of his life. In the presidential election of
1789 he received four electoral votes.
After the general government was or-
ganized and had gone into operation, in
a suit against the State of Massachusetts
before a court of the United States, he
refused to respond to a summons to an-
swer the prosecution, on the ground that
an independent State could not be ar-
raigned for trial before a civil tribunal.
Flis contention was sustained, and the
recurrence of such an event was subse-
quently prevented by an amendment to
the Federal constitution.

Governor Flancock married Miss
Quincy, of Boston. His only son dying

8

OLD STATE HOUSE, BOSTON.

It was here that Otis, Adams, Quincy, Warren,
Hancock and numerous other leading patriots
met to oppose the authority of England.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

in his youth, he had no child to perpetuate
his name or inherit his fortune. The
latter was therefore employed by him for
useful and benevolent purposes, includnig
large gifts to Harvard College. His
patriotism cannot be questioned, in view
of the events of his life that have been
detailed — its strength is attested by the
fact that he said to a patriotic club
at one time: "Burn Boston, and make
John Hancock a beggar, if tiie public
good requires it"; and when, in 1776.
Washington had orders from the Conti-
nental Congress to destroy Boston if it
became necessary, in order to dislodge
the eneni)-, Hancock wroie to the com-
mander-in-chief that, although j^robably
the largest property owner in the city, he
was "anxious the thing should be done
if it would benefit the cause." Yale and
Princeton colleges conferred upon him
the degree of x\. M. in 1769; Brown Uni-
versity that of LL. D. in 1788; and Har-
\ard, his ahna riiatcr, the same degree in
1792. He died at Quincy, Massachusetts,
October 8, 1793.

OTIS, James,

Patriot of the Revolution.

This gifted man was a principal figure
in the events leading up to the Revolu-
tion, and until the achievement of inde-
pendence. John Adams, who had been
closely associated with him, and who be-
came the second President of the United
States, said of him. "I never knew a man
Vv'hose love for his country was so sin-
cere ; never one who suffered so much ;
never one whose services for any ten
years of his life were so important or so
essential to the cause of his country, as
those of jMr. Otis from 1760 to 1770." His
later years were marked by impairment
of his brilliant intellect, and his death
was tragic.

He was born at Great Marshes, now
West Barnstable, Massachusetts, Febru-

ary 5, 1725. He was the eldest son of
James Otis of Barnstable and Mary
Allyne of Connecticut, and was descended
in the fifth generation from John Otis,
one of the earliest Massachusetts set-
tlers. He was prepared for college by
Rev. Jonathan Russell, and, entering
Harvard in 1739, was graduated A. B. in
1743, and A. M. in 1746. For eighteen
months after his graduation he devoted
himself wholly to a study of literature,
and throughout his whole life was an as-
siduous reader of the ancient and modern
English classics. He studied law under
Jeremiah Gridley, and at the age of
twenty-one was admitted to the bar at
Plymouth, where he continued the prac-
tice of his profession until 1750, and then
settled in Boston. There the talents and
characteristics which gave force to his
subsequent public career soon placed
him at the head of his profession. By
industrious study he always made him-
self secure in his premises; as an orator
he was unusually gifted, bold, energetic,
decisive, and with a command of lan-
guage that carried conviction as surely
as did the incontrovertible positions he
maintained. Chief Justice Hutchinson,
who was one of his strongest opponents,
testifies that "he never knew fairer or
more noble conduct in a pleader than in
Otis ; he always disdained to take advan-
tage of any clerical error, or similar in-
advertence, but passed over minor points
and defended his causes solely on their
broad and substantial foundations."
Numerous instances have been recalled
by his biographers, proving that Otis was
in the habit of refusing to support a cause
imless he himself felt convinced of its
justice ; and his reputation for ability and
probity was so great that he was retained
to plead in difl'erent parts of the country,
once going as far as Halifax. In Boston
he received the appointment of Advocate
General.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

While thus busily engaged in his pro-
fession, and enjoying reputation as the
leading lawyer of the province, he con-
tinued to devote himself to the study of
literature as well, and during this period
composed two works, the "Rudiments of
Latin Prosody." published in 1760. and a
Greek prosody which remained in manu-
script. Mis public career was begun in
1760. In that year the first unpopular
acts of the arbitrary home administration
were beginning to excite discontent,
which was heightened when an order
was received in council to carry into
effect the acts of trade. Application was
then made in the Massachusetts Supreme
Court for writs of assistance, i. e., war-
rants to search in private houses for
smuggled goods ; and these processes
were so far-reaching and so liable to in-
tolerable abuse that Chief Justice Sewall
expressed doubts of their legality or of
the authority of the court to grant them.
Sewall died shortly afterwards, and Colo-
nel Otis, the father of James Otis, applied
for appointment as his successor, but was
set aside and the ofifice given to Hutchin-
son. In the following year Otis was
called upon in his official capacity to
maintain the case of the government, but
the proposed measures were so obnoxious
to him that he resigned his position of
Advocate General rather than support
them, and instead, with Thatcher as his
colleague, engaged as counsel in behalf of
the opposing merchants of Salem and
Boston. His former preceptor, Jeremiah
Gridley. argued the case for the crown,
but the afifectionate relations between the
two were not interrupted by this circum-
stance. Otis' speech, which unhappily
has not been preserved, was a masterly
one ; he pointed out the extreme license
which would be rendered possible by the
search warrants, and then, passing be-
yond the immediate question, showed
that the principles involved would en-

danger the freedom of the colonies. The
occasion has thus been described by John
Adams : "Otis was a flame of fire. With
a promptitude of classical allusions, a
depth of research, a rapid summary of
historical events and dates, a profusion
of legal authorities, a prophetic glance of
his eyes into futurity, and a rapid torrent
of impetuous eloquence, he hurried away
all before him * '■" * Then and there, the
child, Independence, was born." Enemies
of Otis ascribed the stand taken by him
to revenge for his father's non-appoint-
ment to the bench, but Adams and all who
were engaged with him in the political
struggle of the time indignantly denied
the imputation, and, indeed, the fact that
he resigned a more remunerative office
with a fair hope for favors from the
crown, makes it seem certain that his
motive was a higher one. However, that
may be, he carried triumphantly the cause
which he supported, and thereafter he was
accredited the most popular leader and
powerful orator in the opposition to arbi-
trary measures in the colonies.

Otis was now so popular that in May,
1761, he was sent to the legislature.
There he, more than any other individual,
became an object of great dislike to Gov-
ernor Bernard His reputation as a leader
of the popular party was extended to
England, where the statesman who fav-
ored the colonists maintained their posi-
tion by quotations from his writings and
speeches. He opposed every act of the
governor which seemed to him to sug-
gest the assumption of arbitrary power,
and severely criticised the unconciliatory
messages of that unpopular official. He
led in censuring a trifling grant made by
the governor without the consent of the
house, and being appointed on a commit-
tee of three to prepare an answer to the
governor's message in return, he pub-
lished, in 1762, a political pamphlet, en-
titled "A Vindication of the Conduct of

10

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the House." This is said by Adams to
contain the germ of all subsequent writ-
ings in France and America on the sub-
ject of the rights of free speech. At this
time Otis preserved the hope of uniting
the colonies more closely to the mother
country by concessions wrung from the
home government, and, while earnestly
supporting his principles, he was anxious
not to give offense to the authorities in
England. In 1764 he published a second
pamphlet on the "Rights of the Colonies,"
in which he preserved a moderate tone,
and endeavored to conciliate both parties.
The pamphlet attracted much attention
in England, and some approbation, but
was censured as lukewarm by the most
ardent of the Americans. His next work,
"Considerations on Behalf of the Colo-
nists," which appeared in 1765, was more
bitter in tone, for new aggressions had
excited his anger, and he felt himself
personally injured because of letters cen-
suring him sent by the governor and
others to the home authorities. The
Stamp Act Congress which met in New
York in October, 1765, was called on his
motion of four months previous, and he
was one of its most spirited members.
In June, 1766, Otis proposed and was
made chairman of a committee to open
a gallery in which, for the first time in
history, the public were officially invited
to listen to the debates of the legislative
body. He was elected speaker of the
house in May, 1767, but the election was
negatived by the governor. At the open-
ing of the session of 1768, the house ap-
pointed a committee to consider the situ-
ation of public affairs, and Mr. Otis drew
up most of the important documents pre-
pared by it. A petition was sent to the
king, asking redress of grievances, and
letters were despatched begging the as-
sistance of several leading English states-
m,en ; but, failing to receive a favorable
reply, they finally published on February

II, 1768, a circular letter drafted by Otis
and revised by Samuel Adams, in which
the Assembly called upon other colonies
to aid in resisting the encroachments of
the home government. When the legis-
lature was called upon by the governor
to rescind this document on the ground of
its being treasonable, Otis made a speech
in which he exhorted his colleagues to
lefuse compliance, and which his oppo-
nents pronounced "most violent, abusive
and traitorous." He had by this time
withdrawn from the practice of his pro-
fession and devoted himself entirely to
public affairs, not only leading the inde-
pendent party in the legislature, but writ-
ing frequently for the public press, and
haranguing, it is said, with more force
vhan elegance, the numerous political
meetings called by the citizens. His
talents, rather brilliant than well-
balanced, marked him as one better fitted
to arouse than to guide the people. His
public career was practically closed by a
quarrel with some customs officers ; a
stroke upon the head, inflicted in the
course of the melee, aggravated a tend-
ency already existing towards insanity,
and he was ever after subject to fits of
aberration. He won a verdict of £2,000
from Robinson, his chief assailant, but on
receiving an apology from him refused to
claim the money. After this, he was un-
equal to any continued effort. In a fit of
insanity he destroyed all his manu-
scripts— papers which would be of great:
value to the historian, and, while de-
mented, escaped from the house of his
sister. Mrs. Warren, and took part in the
battle of Bunker Hill. Later he was re-
moved to Andover, Massachusetts, where
on May 2t„ 1783, he came to his death by
a stroke of lightning, a fate for which he
had frequently expressed a preference.

He was married, in 1755, to Ruth Cun-
ningham, of Boston, who survived him,
remaining a loyalist until her death.

II

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

REVERE, Paul,

A Hero of tlie Revolution.

Paul Revere was born in Poston, Mas-
sachusetts, January i, 1735, of French
descent. I lis grandfather, a Huguenot,
lived on the island of Guernsey, from
which place his father emigrated to Bos-
ton, where he learned the trade of a gold-
smith, and was married.

Paul Revere was brought up to his
father's trade, in which he became very
skillful, being employed to execute fine
engraving on the silver plate which w^as
so much in use among the old colonial
families. The breaking out of the French
and Indian war stirring military ambition
in the soul of the young man. he volun-
teered his services, received a commis-
sion as lieutenant of artillery, and for a
time was stationed at Fort Edward, on
Lake George. After the war he married,
resuming his trade of goldsmith, and be-
coming also deeply interested in the me-
chanical and manufacturing arts in gen-
eral. He learned the art of engraving on
copper, and produced portraits of dis-
tinguished men of the time, as well as an
engraving which represented the repeal
of the stamp act in 1766. He did other
work with a patriotic tendency, publish-
ing, in 1770, an engraved print of the
"massacre" in King street, which took
place March 5th of that year. An act of
the British parliament having made the
judges in the colonies independent of the
people, he was one of the members of a
grand jury (the last such body under the
crown) wdiich refused to act in conse-
quence thereof. In 1775. on the issue
of paper money by the colony of Massa-
chusetts, he engraved the plates for it.
lie was afterward sent by the Provincial
Congress to Philadelphia, where the only
[)Owder-mill in the country was located,
and where he was directed to learn the art
(jf making powder, with the result that on

liis return he set up a small powder-mill,
which he managed successfully.

Paul Revere's great feat, however, was
his remarkable ride, so vigorously and
poetically described in the verse of Long-
fellow. The night before the battle of
Lexington, he had engaged to carry ex-
p^ress, from General Warren to Samuel
Adams and John Hancock, the news of
the actual movement of the British from
I'oston, whenever it should take place, in
[lursuance of their design to make a de-
scent upon Concord for the sake of the
stores and arms which were there. Warn-
ed by a signal given by a comrade from
a church tower in Boston, Paul Revere
rode at full speed from Charlestown to
liis destination, arousing as he passed, in
the still hours of the night, occupants of
the farm-houses, with the cry. "The Brit-
ish are coming!" Thus the minute-men
were ready the following day to meet the
British soldiery when they arrived to
carry out the object of their expedition.
Paul Revere succeeded in eluding the
pickets which had been placed by General
Gage on the roads between Boston and
Lexington, and reached the latter place
before the head of the British column,
which, on its arrival in the early morning,
was opposed by about seventy militiamen
who had formed on the town common
under command of Captain John Parker.
The British under Major Pitcairn attack-
ed this little body, which stubbornly held
its ground until a number of the men had
fallen dead or w^ounded, when they re-
tired, keeping up a scattering fire on the
British. The latter succeeded in their
object at Lexington and Concord, but the
fighting fired the souls of the patriots,
and aw^akened the spirit which eventually
freed the colonies. Paul Revere was one
of those who planned the destruction of
the tea in Boston harbor, and in the sum-
mer of 1779 he was a member of the un-
fortunate Penobscot expedition. After

12

ePaui 3i.

ei^e^^e

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGR.'\PHY

the war closed, he set up a furnace at
Canton, near Boston, where he employed
himself in casting church bells, prosper-
ing in his work, and educating a large
family of children. He died in Boston,
in Mav, 1818.

WARREN, Joseph,

A Hero of Bunker Hill.

Joseph \\'arren was born at Roxbury.
I\lassachusetts, June 11, 1741. His an-
cestry is traced back in the Boston town
records to the year 1659. His grand-
lather, Joseph Warren, was among the
first settlers of Roxbury, and his father
was a reputal)le farmer in that part of
Roxbury now called Warren street,
where he devoted himself principally to
fruit raising. He was in moderate cir-
cumstances, was much respected, and
several times elected to municipal ofHces.

Joseph \\'arren received his prelim-
inary education at the grammar school
of the town, which was noted for its ex-
cellence, and at the age of fourteen was
admitted to Harvard College. There he
sustained the character of a youth of
talent, agreeable manners, and generous,
independent disposition, united with
great personal courage and determina-
tion. An anecdote which still survives
him among the traditions of the college
illustrates these latter characteristics.
Some of his classmates had set on foot a
project to which he was opposed, and had
arranged a meeting to discuss it in one
of the upper rooms of an old dormitory.
With the purpose of excluding him, they
securely barred the door. Warren, aware
of their plans, quietly ascended to the
roof, slid down to the eaves, grasped the
water-spout, and sprang in at the open
window. The building was old, the water-
spout weakened by the rains of a century,
and it was no sooner relieved of his
weight than it fell to the ground, where,
had it fallen a moment before, he would

have been injured, if not killed. He gave
a moment's glance at the battered spout,
then turned around, and saying it had
served his purpose, without a trace of
emotion entered into the discussion with
his classmates. The courage and self-
possession thus displayed by a lad of
about sixteen years, disclosed the quali-
ties that were to make him a leader in the
turbulent times that were approaching.

He was graduated at Harvard College
in 1759. and then studied medicine under
an eminent Boston physician of the day,
and was admitted to practice, soon acquir-
ing a high position in his profession. In
1764 the smallpox, then the most dreaded
scourge of the human race, raged in Bos-
ton, carrying off people by hundreds.
\'accination was at that time unknown,
and in a large majority of cases the
disease was fatal ; but Warren braved the
contagion, went about freely among the
suft"erers, ministered to their needs, and
treated them with such skill as to save
many lives. His fame spread throughout
Boston and the neighboring towns; and
this, with his engaging appearance, cour-
teous address and recognized abilities,
won for him the esteem and confidence
of the community. He was undoubtedly,
then and afterwards so long as he lived,
the most popular young man in Massa-
chusetts. A high standing in his profes-
sion, and resulting wealth and influence,
were now distinctly before him. But in
the following year the passage of the
Stamp Act awoke his patriotic sym-
pathies, and a close friendship with
Samuel Adams doubtless imbued him
with ideas of resistance to the tyranny of
the British government. Resistance, at
this period, did not contemplate forcible
opposition, it was confined to written
remonstrance in the public journals, and
in this Warren bore a distinguished part,
rjne of his letters in 1768, addressed to
Sir Francis Bernard, the Colonial Gov-

13

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGR.'VPHY

ernor, not only greatly aroused the people
but so strongly excited the animosity of
Bernard that he proposed to the British
cabinet that its author should be pro-
ceeded against for treason. Warren was
also an effective speaker, and in 1772 was
invited to deliver the annual oration that
was then given on the anniversary of the
so-called "Boston Massacre." Ble was
appointed a second time to this duty on
March 6, 1775, but on that occasion it
was at his own solicitation. Some British
officers had said publicly that it should
cost any man his life who presumed to
speak at that anniversary. This threat
determined Warren to make an issue
with the authorities. At an early hour
the old South Meeting-house was crowd-
ed to overflowing, forty British of^cers
being present, some of whom occupied
the pulpit stairs, and even seats within
the pulpit itself. The church was so
thronged that Warren could not force
his way through the press at the public
entrance, and he could gain admittance
only by a ladder placed at a window in
the rear of the pulpit. Seeing his cool
determination, the officers in the pulpit
who had proposed to make trouble, made
way for him to pass, and permitted him
to begin his address, which had for its
sul)ject "The ])aleful influence of standing
armies in time of peace." A profound
stillness jiervaded the assemblage. It
wanted but a few weeks of the battles of
Lexington and Concord, and all felt that
a crisis was approaching. They looked at
one another with anxious but determined
faces, resolved to visit instant vengeance
upon any British officer who should at-
tempt to carry out the threat of assassina-
tion. It required less cool courage to
fight bravely than to think clearly and
connectedly in the presence of personal
danger: but there was in Warren now,
not only the calmest intrepidity, but an
intense and high-souled defiance which

gave to his words — even when read now
at the end of more than a century — an
eloquence that stirs the blood like the blast
of a bugle. Such another scene has seldom
occurred in the history of this country.

The crisis came soon afterward. On
April 18, 1775, Warren had learned that
the British commander was to march a
strong body on the following day to
seize the military stores that had been
gathered by the patriots at Concord. In-
stantly he arranged with Paul Revere to
ride to Concord at nightfall, to warn the
country that the British were coming,
and, before he set out, to light two lan-
terns in the steeple of Christ Church in
Salem streec, which should be the signal
that an attempt was about to be made to
capture the supplies. Revere's ride has
been sung by Longfellovv. It lighted the
fires at Lexington and Concord. Early on
the morning of the nineteenth, a mes-
senger rode in haste to the door of War-
ren's house, with tidings of the battles.
Warren summoned his pupil. Dr. Eustis.
and asking him to care for his patients
during the day, mounted his horse, and
proceeded to the Charlestown ferry.
There he met a friend, to whom he said :
'Keep up a brave heart. They have be-
gun it — that either party can do ; and
we'll end it that only we can do." He
was chairman of the Committee of Safe-
ty, and he probably rode on to a meet-
ing of the committee held at the "Black
Horse,' in Menotomy, now Arlington,
for he was there at noon when the militia,
under General Heath, inflicted a severe
I)unishment upon the retreating British.
He was by the side of Heath, and in the
hottest of the fire, when a musket ball
cut oft" his hair close by the ear. After
the fashion of the day, the lock was rolled
and pinned, and it must have required a
near shot to cut it away. He was with
the force that followed the British on
their retreat, and his cool, collected brav-

14

OLD SOUTH MEETING-HOUSE, BOSTON

It has been called a perfect model of a New Eng-
land meeting-house of the highest style of the
olden time, and its walls have echoed to the pa-
triotic words of Warren, Otis, Hancock and others

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ery won universal admiration. He was
at this time president of the Provincial
Congress, then holding its meetings at
Watertown, and when it was adjourned
on each day, he uniformly rode over to
the camp then forming at Cambridge.
There day by day he won "golden opin-
ion from all sorts of men," and when the
militia was ordered to occupy Breed's
Hill, he had been so often among them
that he was generally known. On June
14th he had been commissioned a major-
general, and it was perhaps on this ac-
count that Colonel Prescott and General
Putnam offered him command when the
British troops were seen to be approach-
ing for the battle which will be forever
memorable as that of Bunker Plill. He
declined the command, but, arming him-
self with a musket, took a position in
the ranks, and fought as a common sol-
dier. Now and then he would leave the
ranks to encourage the men, but he kept
on loading and firing until his ammuni-
tion was exhausted, when he set out to
leave the field with the retreating
patriots. He was among the last, and
was still facing the enemy, when a ball
struck him in the forehead, and he fell,
on the never-to-be-forgotten June 17,
1775. His remains now rest in Forest
Hill Cemetery. West Roxbury. The
death of Warren spread universal sorrow
among the people everywhere ; but it was
the signal for a general uprising through-
out the country. Foreigners have often
asked why Americans should have built
a monument to commemorate a defeat.
Technically it was a defeat, but in reality
it was a victory, for it led to the independ-
ence of a nation.

LINCOLN, Benjamin,

Revolutionary Soldier.

General Benjamin Lincoln was one of
the most active and at the same time one
of the most unsuccessful soldiers of the

Revolution. It is a historic fact that he
never conducted a campaign or made an
attack which did not prove disastrous to
his own forces. His conduct was long
the theme of acrimonious discussion, but
without reflection upon his loyalty or
personal courage. He was a man of fine
personal character, and unswerving in-
tegrity, and he left behind him a reputa-
tion strangely out of proportion to his
actual services.

He was born at Hingham, Massachu-
setts. January 24, 1733, his family being
among the first settlers in Hingham,
where his father was a farmer and malt-
ster. Being in only moderate circum-
stances, the latter was able to give his
son only a common-school education.
When twenty-two years of age, the
young man, who was robust and active,
was appointed adjutant of a regiment of
militia commanded by his father, in
which he afterward rose to the rank of
lieutenant-colonel. At the outbreak of
the Revolution he was forty-two years
old. He took sides with the colonies from
the outset, was made a member of the
Provincial Congress in 1775, was appoint-
ed brigadier-general of militia the next
year, and was soon after promoted to
major-general. In October, 1775, he
joined the army at New York, and after-
ward went with Washington into New
Jersey, being soon commissioned major-
general in the Continental army. At
Bound Brook, General Lincoln was at-
tacked by Cornwallis, at the head of a
large force, and, through the careless-
ness of the patrols, the enemy almost
succeeded in entering the camp without
an alarm being given. Lincoln, however,
rallied his troops with remarkable rapid-
ity, and succeeded in leading them off
into the mountains with comparatively
small loss. In July, 1777, he was ordered
by General Washington to join the Army
of the North, under the command of

15

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Gates, which was opposing the advance
of General Burgoyne. The expeditions
which his forces undertook were fairly
successful, and proved of the greatest
importance in the ensuing battle of Sara-
toga. Lincoln was in command within
the American lines, but was not person-
ally present at the battle of October 7th,
and on the next day he had the misfor-
tune, while reconnoitering, to come upon
a l)ody of the enemy, Avho fired a volley
of musketry, and he was badly wounded
in the leg. He was invalided for several
months at Albany, and was then con-
veyed to his home at Hingham, where he
was obliged to submit to several painful
operations. Though lamed for life, in
August. 1778, he had sufficiently recov-
ered to rejoin the army, and was desig-
nated by Congress to the chief command
of the Southern Department. In Decem-
ber, 1778, he reached Charleston, which
w^as threatened by General Prevost,
Savannah being already in the possession
of the British. Obliged to organize a new
army, he was not in sufficient strength to
begin offensive operations until the
spring, when for two or three months the
opposing armies were operating ineffec-
tually through northern Georgia and Car-
olina. During this period. General Lin-
coln made but one sharp attack, on June
19th, at Stone Ferry, and from which he
was obliged to retire with considerable
loss. An attack on the British in Savan-
nah, October, 1779, in which General Lin-
coln's forces were aided by Count d'
Estaing, also proved unsuccessful, and
the Americans were obliged to retire,
Count Pulaski being mortally wounded at
the head of a body of cavalry. It was
claimed for Lincoln, however, that if his
orders had been obeyed, he would have
won a signal victory. General Lincoln
repaired again to Charleston, which he
endeavored to put in a defensive con-
dition, at the same time asking Congress
for a reinforcement of regular troops.

Sir Henry Clinton arrived before the city
in February, 1780, and after formidable
preparations, made a successful attack,
and the city capitulated in May. General
Lincoln surrendered under the capitula-
tion, and was paroled, returning to Mas-
sachusetts, and in November, was ex-
changed. In the campaign of the follow-
ing year, he commanded a division under
Washington, and at the siege of York-
town he was appointed to conduct the
surrendering enemy to the spot where
their arms were deposited.

In October, 1781, General Lincoln was
appointed Secretary of War by Congress
and while still retaining his rank in the
army. lie held this position for two
years, when he resigned and returned
home. When Shay's rebellion broke out
in Massachusetts in 1786-87, General
Lincoln was appointed by the governor
and council to command the force sent
against the rebels. He came upon Shay
at Amherst, where he was preparing to
intrench himself, and, making a night at-
tack, captured a large number of Shay's
followers. In 1787 Lincoln was elected
Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts,
and he was also a member of the conven-
tion to ratify the new constitution. Later,
President Washington appointed him
Collector of the Port of Boston, a position
which he held for a number of years.

He possessed considerable literary
ability, and received from Harvard Col-
lege the degree of M. A. He was a mem-
ber of the American Academy of Arts and
vSciences, and of the Massachusetts His-
torical Society. Lie was deeply interested
in natural history, and wrote papers on
the migration of fishes and on the ravages
of worms in trees. He also published
essays entitled "Indian Tribes: the
Causes of their Decrease ; their Claims,
etc.," and "Observations on the Climate.
Soil and Value of the Eastern Counties
in the District of Maine." He died on
May 9, 1810.

16

jj^^cc^ (^^ i^i/n^u^^-^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

PUTNAM, Israel,

Distinguished Revolutionary Soldier.

Israel Putnam was born in Salem, Mas-
sachusetts, January 7, 1718, twelfth
child of Joseph (half-brother of Edward)
and Elizabeth (Porter) Putnam, grand-
son of Thomas and Mary (Verne) Put-
nam and of Israel and Elizabeth (Ha-
ihornej Porter, and great-grandson of
John Porter, of William Hathorne and
of Jolm and Priscilla (Gould) Putnam, all
immigrants from England about 1630-
1634, and settlers in Salem, Massachu-
setts Bay Colony.

Israel Putnam's father died when he
was quite young-, and his mother marry-
ing- Captain Thomas Perley, of Boxford,
he was brought up on the farm of his
stepfather, receiving a portion of his
father's farm near Salem, on reaching
his majority. In 1739 he married Han-
nah, daug-hter of Joseph and Mehitable
(Putnam) Pope, and with his brother-in-
law, John Pope, removed to Mortlake.
Connecticut, and settled on a farm pur-
chased from Governor Belcher. He
brought his wife and child to this place in
the autumn of 1740, and the next year
became sole owner of the estate. He
planted fruit and shade trees in orchards
and along the highways which he laid out
through the place. His success in farm-
ing, as an orchardist, and in sheep rais-
ing, made him the leading citizen of the
community, and he was an early pro-
moter of good neighborhood schools. He
was captain in the regiment of Colonel
Ephraim Williams, raised to protect the
northern frontier from the invasion of the
French in 1755, when he joined the army
of General Phineas Lyman in the expedi-
tion to Lake George and Crown Point,
and was present at the defeat of the colo-
nial army by Baron Dieskau. near Lake
George, September 8. 1755, followed by
the successful battle that resulted in the
annihilation of the army of Dieskau, and

MASS— 2

the baronetcy of William Johnson. Put-
nam displayed such unusual skill in In-
dian warfare that he was made an inde-
pendent scout, and operated with the
rangers under Major Robert Rogers.
After spending the winter of 1755-56 at
home, he joined General Abercrombie at
Fort Edward, and his exploits in saving
the powder magazine during a tire in the
fort, his rescue of a party of soldiers by
passing the rapids of Fort Miller in a
batteau, and his recapture of provisions
and military stores seized by the French,
his capture, torture, escape, and final ex-
change, form an important part of the
history of the French and Indian war. He
was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and
commanded his regiment in the success-
ful expeditions of General Amherst
against Ticonderoga and Crown Point in
1759, and against Montreal in 1760. He
accompanied General Lyman to the West
Indies in 1762, and took part in the cap-
ture of Havana, August 13, 1762, and in
1764 was promoted to colonel and joined
Bradstreet in his march to the relief of
Detroit, besieged by Pontiac. He had
spent his winters at home, and in 1765
resumed farming, also conducting an inn
in Mortlake Manor, which had been set
off from Pomfret in 1751. Colonel Put-
nam became a member of the church, a
selectman of the town, deputy to the Gen-
eral Assembly, and in the winter of 1772-
/T, accompanied General Lyman to in-
spect the lands on the Mississippi river
near Natchez, Mississippi, given to the
Connecticut soldiers for their services in
ihe French and Indian war.

He was a Son of Liberty, having joined
the order in 1765, and when General Gage
was in Boston he visited him, and de-
clared his allegiance to the cause of the
colonies, but soon changed his views.
Hearing of the battle of Lexington, while
ploughing in his field, he mounted his
horse, rode all night, and reached Cam-

17

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

bridge, Massachusetts, the next morning.
He proceeded the same day to Concord,
whence he sent a messenger back to
Pomfret to have the militia assemble.
The next week he returned home, and
was appointed brigadier-general by the
legislature, and was given command of
the militia of the colony. He joined the
patriot army at Cambridge, and com-
manded at the battle of Bunker Hill, June
^7' ^775- O" June 19 he was made
major-general in the Continental army,
and placed in command of the division
stationed at Cambridge. He was next
ordered to chief command of the army at
New York, and on his arrival, April 4,
1776, proceeded to place the city in a
condition of defense, to this end declar-
ing martial law. Washington arrived
April 13. and continued the work so effi-
ciently begun by Putnam, who remained
second in command. On August 17,
Putnam announced to Washington the
arrival of General Howe's fleet off Sandy
Hook, and on August 22, fifteen thousand
royal troops crossed from Staten Island
to Gravesend, Long Island. On August
24 he succeeded General Sullivan in
command of Brooklyn Heights, and his
army was defeated August 27, and forced
to cross the East river to New York, witli
his five thousand men. On the retreat to
Harlem, he commanded the rear-guard,
and after distinguishing himself in the
battle of Harlem Heights, he was sent
with a detachment to the support of Gen-
eral McDougall at White Plains, but ar-
riving too late, crossed the Hudson river
to Fort Lee, where after the capture of
Fort Washington, November 26, 1776,
and the discovery of the treachery of
General Charles Lee, he was placed in
command of the troops in Philadelphia,
where he constructed fortifications and
prepared the city against threatened Brit-
ish attack. In January, 1777, he went into
winter quarters at Princeton, New Jer-
sey, and in May, 1777, was transferred

to the command of the troops in the
Highlands of the Hudson river, with
headquarters at Peekskill, from which
post he was forced by the British to re-
treat to Fishkill in October, but re-
occupied Peekskill on the retirement of
Sir Henry Clinton to New York. His
delay in complying with Washington's
directions to reinforce the army at Phil-
adelphia, now threatened by Howe and
Clinton, brought a severe reprimand from
the commander-in-chief, and he was
ftlaced on recruiting duty in Connecticut.
He defended the State against the raids
of Governor Iryon, when Danbury was
burned, April 26, 1777, and during the
winter of 1778-79, made his escape from
Tryon's cavalry by dashing down the
precipice at Greenwood. He commanded
the right wing of the American army at
the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778,
and at West Point on the Hudson, July to
December, 1779, and while on his return
to Washington's headquarters at Morris-
town after a visit to Pomfret. he was
stricken with paralysis at Hartford, Con-
iiecticut, and this disease closed his mili-
tary career.

He married, as his second wife, in
1767, Deborah (Lathrop) Avery Gard-
ner, widow of John Gardner, and she ac-
companied him on most of his campaigns,
and died at his headquarters in the High-
lands in 1777. An equestrian statue by
J. O. A. Ward was unveiled in Brooklyn,
Connecticut. June 14, 1888. Lives of
General Israel Putnam have been writ-
ten by David Humphreys (1790) ; by O.
W. B. Peabody in Sparks' "American
Biography"; by William Cutler (1846);
by the Rev. Duncan N. Taylor, D. D.
(1876), and by William Farrand Living-
ston (1901). In the election of names for
a place in the Hall of Fame for Great
Americans, New York University, Octo-
ber, 1900, his name in "Class N, Soldiers
and Sailors," received ten votes. He died
in Brooklyn, Connecticut, May 29, 1790.

Bunker Hill Monument.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

PRESCOTT, William,

Revolutionary Soldier.

William Prescott was born at Groton,
Massachusetts, February 20, 1726, son of
Judge Benjamin Prescott. His family
were early English settlers in Massachu-
setts.

\\'illiam Prescott is first heard of in
the French and Indian war, as a lieuten-
ant of the provincial troops which cap-
tured Cape Breton in 1758. His conduct
during that campaign was so commend-
able that the British general offered to
procure for him a commission in the regu-
lar army, but he declined it in order to
return home to his family. From this
time until the approach of the Revolu-
tionary War, he remained on his farm at
Pepperell. filling certain town offices, and
enjoying the esteem and affection of his
fellow citizens. On the outbreak of the
trouble between the colonies and the
mother-country he took a deep interest
in afi'airs, and in 1774 was appointed to
the command of a regirhent of minute-
men organized under authority of the
Provincial Congress. On receiving no-
tice in April, 1775, of the intended oper-
ations of General Gage against Concord,
he marched his regiment to Lexington,
but the British troops had retreated be-
fore he arrived. Prescott then joined the
army at Cambridge, the greater number
of his officers and men volunteering to
serve with him for the first campaign. On
June i6th three regiments were given to
Colonel Prescott, who was ordered to
Charlestown to take possession of Bunker
Hill, and to throw up works for its de-
fence. At this time the British force in
Boston numbered about six thousand
effective men, including regiments and
parts of regiments of the very elite of the
British army, besides six companies of
royal artillery and two battalions of
marines. These troops were in barracks
or intrenched camps on Boston Common,

"the Neck," and "Fort Hill," on the east;
Copp's Hill on the north, and Beacon Hill
on the west and south. On Copp's Hill
was a battery commanding Charlestown,
and strong works had been carried
across "the Neck" toward Roxbury. In
the actual conflict at Bunker and Breed's
hills, the numbers on each side were
about equal, fluctuating during the day
between two thousand and three thous-
and men, though probably not more than
fifteen hundred Americans manned their
lines, at any one time during the engage-
ment. The headquarters of the Ameri-
cans were at Cambridge, where General
Artemas Ward, who was in nominal com-
mand, remained during the action. The
fighting was supposed to be conducted
under the directions of a Committee of
Safety, but Colonel Prescott was prac-
tically in command, with Warren, Stark,
Putnam and others under him or co-
operating with him. On the morning of
June 17, 1775, heavy cannonading
aroused the garrison, and the inhabitants
of Boston, from whose housetops large
bodies of provincial militia could be seen
busily at work, intrenching Breed's Hill,
in Charlestown. The British ships of war
in the river had opened fire upon the
workmen, who were also fired upon by
the battery of field guns on Copp's Hill.
General Gage sent a considerable force
under General Howe to attack and dis-
lodge the Americans — ten companies of
light infantry, ten of grenadiers, and some
companies of royal artillery, with twelve
guns. These troops embarked about
noon, in two divisions, and landed with-
out opposition at Morton's Point, near
the head of the present Chelsea bridge.
In one of the boats engaged in forward-
ing the troops, was Cuthbert Colling-
wood, afterward Admiral Lord Colling-
wood, of the British navy, who was Lord
Nelson's second in command at the great
naval battle of Trafalgar. On landing.

19

ENXYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

General Howe formed his troops in three
lines, and then sent back to Boston for
reinforcements. Since midnight of the
i6th the Americans had thrown up a re-
doubt with an embankment upon its left
flank, extending about one hundred yards
towards the Alystic river, the work hav-
ing been performed by one thousand Mas-
sachusetts and Connecticut men com-
manded by Colonel Prescott. This forti-
fied position was Breed's Hill, a neigh-
boring eminence to Bunker Hill, and was
selected as offering the best opportunity
for defence. The line to the Mystic river
was extended by a low stone wall topped
with wooden rails, near the base of
Bunker Hill, the entire line strengthened
with fence rails and whatever timbers
were convenient. Here Connecticut and
New Flampshire men, under Knowlton,
Stark and Reed, brought into action two
light six-pounders, supporting their bat-
tery with a sharp fire from the riflemen.
General Putnam, who had seen service in
the French and Indian war, is credited
with having done effective work in stimu-
lating the courage of his men, and in
taking advantage of positions which he
saw were important. In the meantime
some few reinforcements had reached the
Americans, while General Howe's force
had been strengthened by the Forty-
seventh Regiment, the First Marine Bat-
talion under Pitcairn, and some additional
companies of light infantry and grena-
diers. About three o'clock in the after-
noon the fighting was begun by the Brit-
ish artillery, while Howe formed his
troops in columns of attack. The grena-
diers marched directly for the rail fence,
while the light infantry moved by the
right to flank it, and take it in reverse,
General Howe personally superintending
the attack. On the left, under General
Pigott, all the other regiments advanced
in line against the breastwork and re-
doubt. Howe's plan was to break through

the American left, and attack the redoubt
and breastwork from the rear, thus cut-
ting off the Americans while retreating.
Unfortunately for the British, they failed
to capture the rail fence, and the plan
failed. The British troops began firing
as soon as they came within musketshot
of the American works ; but the provin-
cials, who had been ordered to reserve
their fire until they "could see the whites
of their enemies' eyes," remained silent
until the English battle-line crossed the
fatal boundary, and on the moment a
blaze ran along the whole line, when the
smoke lifted, it was seen that whole com-
panies had withered away, while the
bugles were sounding a recall, and the
British veterans were retreating to the
shore, followed by the exulting cheers of
the Americans. The same policy was
followed all along the American line,
with the same result. Howe, now per-
ceiving that Charlestown gave some cover
to the provincial marksmen, ordered the
village to be set on fire, which so exas-
perated the Americans that when the
British made their second attack the
American fire was even brisker, and
many valuable British officers fell. The
situation being perceived from Boston, a
second reinforcement of marines was sent
to Howe, while General Clinton himself
crossed in a boat wath Howe, and Pigott
led the light infantry and grenadiers for
their third attack on the breastwork and
rail fence. By this time powder was fail-
ing the provincials, and the British artil-
lery had driven the defenders of the
breastworks into the redoubt. A deadly
\olley staggered the British column, but
it pressed on, and this time, passing over
the works, a hand-to-hand encounter fol-
lowed. The battle was now practically
ended, and the day lost to the Americans,
though they kept up a desultory firing
while on retreat. The gallant Dr. War-
ren, who had come out and volunteered

20

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

as a private soldier, was left on the field.
Slowly the provincials gave ground be-
fore the pursuing enemy, but soon, in
spite of the efforts of Prescott, Putnam,
and other officers, the retreat became a
rout. Howe's troops bivouacked on the
ground, and passed the night lying on
their arms or throwing up intrenchments.
More than one thousand of the flower of
the British soldiery lay dead and wounded
in front of the American lines. The Ameri-
cans lost over four hundred in killed and
wounded, and five of the six small field
guns which they took into action. They
took a more advanced position than they
had occupied on the peninsula, and from
that day a British column was never seen
on the shore of the mainland, the contest
for the possession of Boston being reduced
to a question of artillery practice. From
a report of the share of the Fourth, or
"King's C^wn," Regiment in the battle of
]^)Unker Hill is extracted the following:

The King's troops had to advance on a hot
summer's day in the face of a sharp and well-
directed fire, and to ascend a steep hill covered
with grass, reaching to their knees, and inter-
sected with walls and the fences of various en-
closures. Twice they were stopped, and twice
they returned to the charge, and by their un-
daunted resolution and steady perseverance they
eventually triumphed over twice their own num-
bers, and carried the heights at the point of
the bayonet. This proved one of the most san-
guinary battles on record, and the superiority
of the British troops was preeminently displayed.
The two flank companies of the "King's Own"
had one sergeant and thirteen rank and file
killed, and two captains, two lieutenants, one
sergeant, one drummer, and twenty-nine rank
and file wounded.

General Burgoyne witnessed the battle
from Copp's Hill, while he and Lord
Percy remained on duty in Boston. The
former cannonaded the American force
at Roxbury, from the British lines on
Boston Neck, in order to prevent rein-
forcements being dispatched to the battle-

field. In a letter to Lord Stanley, Fiur-
goyne says :

Howe's disposition was extremely soldierlike;
in my opinion it was perfect. As his first arm
advanced up, they met with a thousand impedi-
ments and strong fences, and were much ex-
posed. They were also very much hurt by the
musketry from Charlestown, though Clinton and
I did not perceive it till Howe sent us word
by boat, and desired us to set fire to the town,
which was immediately done; we threw a parcel
of shells, and the whole was instantly in flames.
Our battery afterward kept up an incessant fire
on the heights. It was seconded by a number
of frigates, floating batteries and one ship of the
line.

This letter shows under what sharp
firing the Americans held their own, al-
though totally inexperienced in fighting,
and behind only the slightest of fortifica-
tions. The Americans being defeated,
and the king's troops in possession of the
intrenchments. General Howe sent to
General Gage for additional reinforce-
ments, and obtained four regiments of
foot, the Second Marine Battalion, and a
company of artillery with six guns. Their
victory had gained for them about one
hundred and forty acres of fine lands,
with all the gardens and orchards belong-
ing to Charlestown — a matter of con-
siderable importance to the British, who
were holding Boston, as insuring a suffi-
ciency of vegetables and fruit. The exact
number of officers and men killed and
wounded on the British side was one
thousand and forty-one. of whom ninety-
two were officers. Dr. Warren was
wounded and lying in the trenches, when
a British soldier perceiving him prepared
to run him through the body with his
bayonet. The doctor desired that he
would not kill him ; he was badly wound-
ed, he said, and could not live a great
while longer. The soldier thereupon
swore that he would kill him for doing
more mischief than anvone else, and im-

21

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

mediately ran him through the body. The
doctor had been conspicuous during- the
engagement, in a hght colored coat, with
a white satin waistcoat laced with silver,
and white breeches with silver loops,
which the soldier was seen to strip from
his body. He was supposed by the Brit-
ish to be the commander of the American
army on that day. Colonel Prescott lost
nearly one-quarter of his own regiment
in the action. When he was at length
forced to order a retreat, he was one of
the last who left the intrenchments. He
was so convinced that the enemy were
disheartened by the severe and unex-
pected loss which they had sustained,
that he requested the commander-in-chief
to give him two regiments, and he would
retake the position the same night. In
regard to the disputed command at
Bunker Hill, Bancroft says: "No one ap-
peared to have any command but Colonel
Prescott. and his bravery can never be
enough acknowledged and recorded."

Prescott continued in the service until
the beginning of 1777, when he resigned
and returned home ; but in the autumn of
the same year he went as a volunteer to
the northern army, under General Gates,
and assisted in the capture of General
Burgoyne, and this was his last military
service. Pie was subsequently for several
years a member of the Massachusetts
Legislature, and died on his estate at
Pepperell, October 13, 1795.

GERRY, Elbridge,

Signer of Declaration of Independence.

h21bridge Gerry was born in Marble-
head, Massachusetts, July 17, 1744, son
of Thomas and Elizabeth (Greenleaf)
Gerry. His father was a native of New-
ton-Abbot, England, and emigrated to
America in 1730, settling in the place
where the son was born, and where he
became a prosperous merchant.

He graduated from Harvard College in

1762, and in 1765 delivered a master's
oration in which he opposed the Stamp
Act and other revenue measures adopted
by the mother country, to the oppression
of the colonists. He engaged in mercan-
tile business, in which he amassed a for-
tune. Lie represented Marblehead in the
General Court almost continuously from
1773 to 1814. In 1773, with Hancock and
Orme, he was appointed on the Commit-
tee of Correspondence which was so
powerful an agency in forwarding the
Revolutionary cause. He was a w-arm ad-
herent of Samuel Adams, and was a dele-
gate to the Provincial Congress that met
annually at Cambridge and Watertown,
and served on a committee in the collec-
tion of ammunition and supplies for the
militia. He drew the bill adopted in 1775
for the establishment of an admiralty
court for the protection of privateers and
the distribution of prize money, a measure
that led up to the establishment of a
national navy. He was a delegate to the
Continental Congress in 1776-80 and 1783-
85, and was a member of the committee
to provide supplies for the army, and on
the standing committee on the treasury.
He was one of the first to advocate a
Declaration of Independence, seconded
the motion for its adoption, and affixed
his signature to the immortal paper. With
Morris and Jones he was sent by Con-
gress in 1778 to visit Washington at his
headquarters on the Schuylkill, to de-
termine the cause for the failure to prose-
cute a vigorous campaign, and upon their
report was based some question of the
military ability of the commander-in-
chief. This was no doubt encouraged
by the extensively circulated "Conway
Cabel" circulars, and brought upon the
New England delegates charges of com-
plicity in a determined effort to supplant
Washington by the promotion of General
Gates. In 1799, when peace negotiations
were opened, he insisted on the protec-

22

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

tion of the fishing- rights of the colonies.
As chairman of the treasury committee
he investigated the accounts of General
Benedict Arnold, and thus gained the dis-
pleasure of that officer. He vacated his
seat in Congress in February, 1780, upon
the ground that the sovereignty of Mas-
sachusetts had been violated by the re-
fusal of Congress to order the ayes and
nays on a question of order presented by
him ; and in this he was sustained by the
Massachusetts Legislature, which for-
mally protested against the action of Con-
gress in the matter. The General Court
returned him as a delegate in 1783. In
the meantime he had been elected to both
houses of the State legislature, but de-
clined a seat in the senate, preferring to
serve in the house. He was a member
of the committee to arrange a treaty of
peace with Great Britain. Fie opposed
the organization of the Society of the
Cincinnati as unrepublican. In 1783 he
was the chairman of two committees to
examine sites for a Federal capital.

He was a member of the Federal Con-
stitutional Convention in New York in
1789, and in that body exerted his influ-
ence to prevent the incorporation of any
monarchical features in the instrument;
and, when the constitution as adopted was
presented, he joined Randolph and Ala-
son in refusing assent, upon the ground
that that instrument gave too much power
to the President. Upon his return to
Massachusetts he was refused an election
to the State Constitutional Convention,
but was invited to attend its sessions for
the purpose of answering questions of
fact with reference to the constitution,
but, when reminded of the limitations of
his position, he withdrew. He was elected
as a Republican to the First and Second
Congresses, 1789-93. With Marshall and
Pinckney he vv^as appointed by President
Adams an envoy to France, to secure
indemnity for French depredations on

United States commerce. The conduct
of Talleyrand disgusted Marshall and
Pinckney and they returned home. Gerry
remained, hoping to avert a war with
France, but his efiforts were unsuccess-
ful and he was called home by his gov-
ernment. He was the Republican candi-
date for Governor, and was defeated by
Caleb Strong by a small majority, but
was elected to the office in 1810 and again
in 181 1. His dismissal of all civil office
incumbents and appointment of Repub-
licans, together with redistricting the
State in the interests of his party (the
origin of the word "gerrymander" as ap-
plied to certain political trickeries), lost
to him the control of the State govern-
ment, which, with the next national Con-
gress, passed into the control of the Fed-
eralist. In 1812 he was elected Vice-
President, on the same ticket with Presi-
dent Madison, and he presided over the
Senate during the first, second, and part
of the third, session of the Thirteenth
Congress, to the time of his death, in
Washington City, November 23, 1814.

He was a fellow of the American x\cad-
emy of Sciences, and received the honor-
ary degree of Doctor of Laws from Har-
vard College. He married Ann, daughter
of Charles Thompson, clerk of the Conti-
nental Congress and she survived him,
with six dauofhters and three sons.

ADAMS, John,

Distingaislied Statesman, President.

John Adams, second President of the
United States, and Father of the American
Navy, was born at Braintree (Ouincy),
Massachusetts, October 19 (o. s.), 1735,
son of John and Susanna Boyleston
Adams. His first American ancestor,
Henry Adams, Puritan, emigrated from
Devonshire, England, in 1636, he having
been granted a tract of land embracing
forty acres at Braintree, in the Province
of Alassachusetts. He broufrht over with

^Z

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

him eight sons, and was one of the origi-
nal proprietors of the town of Braintree.
It was the custom of the Adams family
to educate the eldest son of each genera-
tion for some profession, and John was
carefully prepared for Harvard College,
which he entered in 175 1, graduating
thence a Bachelor of Arts, in 1755. While
at college, a great future was predicted
for him, the acuteness and originality of
his mind and the frankness and inde-
pendence of his character being fully
recognized even at that early date. Im-
mediately after his graduation he accept-
ed an invitation to take charge of the
grammar school at Worcester, Massa-
chusetts. The occupation of teaching,
however, did not prove at all congenial
to the high spirited and ambitious youth,
and in a letter dated at Worcester, Sep-
tember 2, 1755, he thus facetiously de-
scribes, for the edification of his friend,
Robert Cranch, "the situation of my
mind :"

When the nimble hours have tackled Apollo's
courses, and the gay deity mounts the eastern
sky, the gloomy pedagogue arises, frowning and
lowering like a black cloud begrimed with un-
common wrath, to blast a devoted land. When
the destined time arrives he enters upon action,
and, as a haughty monarch ascends his throne,
the pedagogue mounts his awful great chair and
dispenses right and justice through his empire.
His obsequious subjects execute the imperial
mandates with cheerfulness, and think it their
high happiness to be employed in the service
of the emperor. Sometimes paper, sometimes
pen-knife, now birch, now arithmetic, now a
ferule, then A, B, C, then scolding, then flatter-
ing, then thwacking, calls for the pedagogue's
attention. At length, his spirits all exhausted,
down comes pedagogue from his throne and
walks out in awful solemnity through a cringing
multitude. In the afternoon he passes through
the same dreadful scenes, smokes his pipe, and
goes to bed. The situation of the town is quite
pleasant * * * but the school is indeed a
school of affliction. A large number of little
runtlings just capable of lisping A, B, C, and
trouljling the master. But Dr. Savil tells me for

my comfort, "by cultivating and pruning these
tender plants in the garden of Worcester, I shall
make some of them plants of renown and cedars
of Lebanon." However this be, I am certain
that keeping this school any length of time
would make a base weed and ignoble shrub
of me.

It was his father's wish that he should
enter the ministry, and in various letters
written to friends are found recorded his
strong predilection for preaching. But,
after long and careful deliberation, in
which he weighed the advantages and dis-
advantages of a career as lawyer, doctor,
clergyman, soldier, farmer and merchant,
he iinally decided to adopt the legal pro-
fession, llis great objection to entering
the ministry was the frigidity of Calvin-
ism, and his father, respecting his views.
though not coinciding with them, per-
mitted him to follow his inclination in
the matter, lie was peculiarly adapted
for the profession he had chosen ; for, in
addition to his superior mental endow-
ment, he was possessed of a sound con-
stitution, a clear, resonant voice, a lively
sensibility, high moral sense, great self-
confidence and oratorical gifts of a high
order. In September, 1756, he entered
the office of Colonel James Putnam, a
distinguished lawyer of W^orcester, and
arjplied himself with great diligence to
the study of the law, continuing his teach-
ing meantime as a means of livelihood.
He was admitted to the bar in 1758, being
presented by Mr. Jeremy Gridley, then
Attorney-General of the province, and
one of the most eminent lawyers and
scholars of the time. It was upon the
advice of Mr. Gridley, who entertained a
high opinion of his ability, that he made
an especial study of civil law, and in this
he acciuired that complete inastery of the
subject which was of such vital impor-
tance to him in after years. He com-
menced practice in the little village of
Braintree, and lived at the old homestead

24

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

until his marriage, on October 25, 1764,
to Abigail, daughter of Rev. William
Smith, pastor of the First Congregational
Church of Weymouth. Miss Abigail's
older sister, Mary, had married Richard
Cranch, a lawyer of some reputation and
considerable wealth. The suit of Mr.
Adams, who had neither fame nor for-
tune, was not looked upon with favor by
anyone at the parsonage save Miss Abi-
gail herself. It was the custom in those
days to have a marriage sermon, and Dr.
Smith permitted his daughters to choose
their own text. When Mary was mar-
ried, her text was, "Mary hath chosen
that good part which shall not be taken
away from her." Father Smith empha-
sized "that good part," which was obedi-
ence. John and Abigail heard the ser-
mon, and, when the time came for Abi-
gail to choose a text, she selected, "John
came neither eating nor drinking, and
they. said, 'he hath a devil'." Dr. Smith
objected, but Abigail insisted, and the
text was used to the great amusement of
the friends and parishioners. Mr. Adams
had great reason to delight himself in his
wife ; for, in addition to the fact that his
marriage with her brought him into alli-
ance with several families of note and in-
fluence, she was a woman of noble char-
acter, charming manner, calm judgment,
ready resource, and uncompromising pa-
triotism.

The first year of his marriage was spent
in P>raintree. and he began to take an
active part in the conduct of the affairs
of the village. He had before held the
office of surveyor of public highways, and
was now chosen selectman, overseer of
the poor, and assessor. But, though he
had not heretofore taken any prominent
stand before the public, many passages
from the early pages of his diary, and
from letters written in young manhood,
foreshadow the statesman and patriot he
was destined to become. As early as 1755,

during the dark days of the war with
France, he had written : "All that part of
creation which lies within our observa-
tion is liable to change. Even mighty
states and kingdoms are not exempted.
If we look into history we shall find some
nations rising from contemptible begin-
nings and spreading their influence till
the globe is subjected to their way. When
they have reached the summit of gran-
deur, some minute and unsuspected cause
commonly effects their ruin, and the em-
pire of the world is transferred to some
other place. Immortal Rome was first but
an insignificant village, * * * but by de-
grees it rose to a stupendous height * * ♦
But the demolition of Carthage by re-
moving all danger, suffered it (Rome) to
sink into debauchery, and made it, at
length, an easy prey to barbarians. Eng-
land, immediately upon this, began to in-
crease * * * in power and magnificence ;
and is now the greatest nation upon the
globe. Soon after the Reformation a few
people came over into this new world,
for conscience sake. Perhaps this appar-
ently trivial incident may transfer the
seat of empire into America. It looks
likely to me." Here is exhibited the stu-
dent looking into the past and seeing
clearly by the aid of its light the glory
of the future, unclouded by the gloom of
the present. He saw, even at that early
day, that it was only through union that
the colonies could ever hope to achieve
self-government. "The only way," wrote
he, "to keep us from setting up for our-
selves is to disunite us. Divide ct iuipera."
The passage of the obnoxious Stamp
Act in 1765 was the occasion which roused
into action all the dormant faculties of
Mr. Adams' mind, and from that time he
was prominent in all the measures taken
to protect the colony from the exactions
of the mother country. Fearless in the
expression of his honest convictions he
wrote at this time: "Be it remembered,

25

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

liberty at all hazards be defended ; * * *
we have an indisputable right to demand
our privileges against all the povv^er and
authority on earth." To Mr. Jonathan
Sewall, a friend of his youth w^ho had
espoused the Royalist cause, and who
urged upon Mr. Adams the hopelessness
of entering into a contest with so irre-
sistible a foe as England, he said: "I
know that Great Britain is determined on
her system ; and that every determination
determines me on mine. You know I
have been constant and uniform in oppo-
sition to all her measures. The die is now
cast, I have passed the Rubicon ; sink or
swim, live or die, survive or perish, with
my country, is my unalterable determina-
tion."

At a town meeting held immediately
after the announcement of the passage of
the Stamp Act, he presented a series of
resolutions in regard to the measure,
which was intended for the instruction
of the representatives to the assembly.
The resolutions were unanimously adopt-
ed, and, being published in Draper's
paper, were adopted by forty other towns
in the province, for the instruction of
their respective representatives. It was
at this time that he wrote a number of
articles for the "Boston Gazette" under
the title, "An Essay on Canon and Feudal
Laws." His aim in writing was not to
elucidate the principles of either canon or
feudal law, but to hold them up as objects
of abhorrence, that Americans might see
the conspiracy between Church and State
for the oppression of the people. He
wished to inculcate genuine principles
of freedom ; to call attention to the truth
that the only legitimate foundation for a
government is the will and happiness of
the people ; and to arouse Americans to
the assertion and defence of their rights.
These papers were reprinted in London
under the title, "A Dissertation on the
Canon and Feudal Law," and were gen-

erally attributed to Mr. Jeremy Gridley,
then Attorney-General of the province.
In December, 1765, Mr. Adams appeared
with Otis and Gridley before the Gov-
ernor and Council, to ask for the reopen-
ing of the courts, contending that the
Stamp Act was illegal, the colonies hav-
ing no representative in Parliament. "The
freeman," he said, "pays no tax, as the
freeman submits to no law but such as
emanates from the body in which he is
represented."

In 1768 he moved to Boston, occupying
v/hat was known as the "White House,"
in Brattle Square. Governor Bernard
offered him the office of Advocate-Gen-
eral, but although ambitious and needing
the emoluments of the offtce, he declined,
lest he should hamper his own freedom
of action. He would not even accept the
appointment of justice of the peace. At
the time of the "Boston Massacre" in 1770,
notwithstanding his sympathies with the
people, he defended Captain Preston and
the soldiers under his command, nor did
this straightforward manliness harm him,
for in the same year he was elected to the
(jeneral Court. His defence of Captain
Preston and all the attendant circum-
stances have been held to be the first
critical period of his life. His election
to the House of Representatives commit-
ted him to a more public adherence to
the cause of the people. From this time
he was active in all political measures,
though he recognized the precarious con-
dition of matters affecting private and
public life, and felt that he was surrender-
ing ease and safety. He said: "I con-
sider the step a devotion of my family to
ruin, and of myself to death. I have de-
voted myself to endless labor and anxiety,
if not to infamy and death, and that for
nothing except what indeed was and ought
to be in all, a sense of duty." When his
wife was told his decision and what peril
it might involve, the brave, true-hearted,

26

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

patriotic woman exclaimed, though with
eyes streaming with tears : "You have
done as you ought, and I am wiUing to
share in all that is to come, and to place
my trust in Providence."

In 1773 Mr. Adams came into direct
conflict with Governor Hutchinson. The
latter had been foiled in his attempts to
tax the colonies without their consent,
and this largely through the influence of
Mr. Adams, who had drafted a paper on
the whole matter and defended it. Hutch-
inson's letters to the British government
had been mysteriously obtained and sent
to Boston by Franklin. These letters im-
plicated Hutchinson and Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Oliver in a conspiracy against the
liberties of the colonies. John Adams,
who had been elected a member of the
General Court on IMay 25th of that year,
was present when the letters were read
and commented upon, and was influential
in carrying the vote to publish them, and
in inspiring the address to the king ask-
ing for the removal of Hutchinson and
Oliver.

Mr. Adams is known as the "Father of
the American Navy." His earliest efforts
in behalf of this important arm of the
public service were directed to fitting out
vessels of war to protect the seaport
towns of New England against English
depredations early in the war for inde-
pendence. Afterwards, when a delegate in
Congress, he secured appropriations for
the aid of the navy, and as President on
the outbreak of the trouble with France,
he organized the Navy Department to
take the place of the former Board of
Admiralty. Six frigates, eighteen sloops
of war and ten galleys were ordered to
be built or purchased and put in commis-
sion. Then followed actual hostilities at
sea, and several French vessels were cap-
tured. Other vessels of considerable arma-
ment were authorized. Three well-known
frigates, the "United States," the "Con-

stitution" and the "Constellation," were
by his recommendation manned and em-
plo}ed by Act of Congress, July i, 1797.
When the controversy with France was
settled, March 3, 1801, the President was
instructed to dispose of the ships be-
longing to the navy, excepting thirteen
frigates — seven to be laid up in ordinary,
and six held ready for service.

Mr. Adams largely influenced the action
of the General iVssembly in bringing
about the impeachment of Chief Justice
Oliver, and in consequence the court was
not reopened until aftei: April 19, 1775,
when the provincial government was in
authority. The time had now arrived
when more decisive measures were neces-
sary, and the era of physical force was
inaugurated. "Reason was exhausted, and
nothing was left but arms." The First
Continental Congress was called by the
Assembly convened June 17, 1774, at
Salem, and holding its sessions with
closed doors. ]\Ir. Adams was chosen one
of the five delegates from Massachusetts.
The matters to be considered were the
five Acts of Parliament, the Boston Port
Bill, and the Regulating Act, introductory
to the measures looking to final independ-
ence. Munitions of war were gathered
and stored away in readiness for any
emergency. The second Continental Con-
gress was brought face to face with the
necessity for an army well officered and
equipped. New England had inlisted six-
teen thousand men for the siege of Bos-
ton, and, in view of the existing state of
affairs and the need for the colonies to
present a united front, John Adams, on
June 15, 1775, nominated Washington as
commander of the colonial army. This
has been regarded as the second masterly
act in his life. In May, 1776, Mr. Adams
introduced in the Colonial Congress a
resolution giving the separate colonies
independent government, and at last was
able to carry it, despite the opposition of

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the delegates representing the Middle
States. This, Mr. Adams declared, cut
the "Gordian knot," and in the next
month Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia,
moved the resolution of independence,
which Mr. Adams seconded in a speech
so able, unanswerable, and convincing
that jelTcrson declared him to be the
"Colossus of that debate." This was the
third conspicuous event in his career.
The further consideration of Mr. Lee's
resolution was postponed to the ist of
Jul}', a committee being formed which
should put into fitting language a declara-
tion to accompany the resolution. The
committee was chosen by ballot, and con-
sisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and
Robert R. Livingston. Mr. Lee's resolu-
tion was debated July ist and 2d; on the
latter day it was adopted ; then the act of
Congress setting forth the Declaration of
Independence, after being debated on the
2d, 3d and 4th days of July, was passed
on the 4th. On the 19th the act was
ordered to be engrossed, and signed by
every member of the Congress. This was
done August 2d by those present ; after-
wards it was signed by those absent or
who were elected and took their seats in
that year. The day after the adoption of
Mr. Lee's resolution, Mr. Adams wrote
to his wife: "Yesterday the greatest ques-
tion was decided which ever was debated
in America, and a greater never was nor
will be decided among them. A resolu-
tion was passed without one dissenting
colony, 'that these united colonies are,
and of right ought to be, free and inde-
pendent States.' The day just passed, the
Fourth of July, 1776. will be a memorable
epoch in the history of America. 1 am
apt to believe it will be celebrated by suc-
ceeding generations as the great anni-
versary festival. Tt ought to l)e com-
memorated as the day of deliverance, by
solemn acts of devotion to God Almi,"-htv.

It ought to be solemnized with pomp and
parade, with shows, games, sports, guns,
bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one
end of the continent to the other — from
this time forward, forevermore."

In 1777 Adams was sent as commis-
sioner to France, and returned in 1779,
leaving Franklin as minister plenipoten-
tiary. Fle was chosen a delegate to the
convention charged with the duty of fram-
ing a new constitution for Massachusetts,
but was unable to serve, as he was sent
to Great Britain as commissioner to treat
for peace. Despite some trouble with
Minister Vergennes in Paris, he was able
to secure concessions which bore fruit in
the treaty of 1783. The fourth conspicu-
ous event in Mr. Adams' life was the
negotiation of the Dutch loan in October,
1782, Holland having formally recognized
the independence of the United States in
April preceding. Holland had good cause
for complaint against England. Her peo-
ple were stirred to indignation because
of the plunder of St. Eustatius. They
were predisposed, therefore, to extend
sympathy and help to any country con-
tending against England. Just at this
time, moreover, came the news of Lord
Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, Octo-
ber 19, 1781. Mr. Adams before this had
made use of every opportunity to intro-
duce, as it were, America to Holland. He
invited the liberty-loving people of the
Hague to clasp hands with the liberty-
loving people of America. It was done;
a treaty of commerce was concluded, a
loan of $2,000,000 effected, and Adams
held his success to be so considerable,
that he wrote with exultation : "One
thing, thank God! is certain, I have
planted the American standard at the
Plague. There let it wave and fly in
triumph over Sir Joseph Yorke and Brit-
ish pride. I shall look down upon the
flagstaff with pleasure from the other
world." L'ollowing this event came the

28

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

series of complications in Paris connected
with the treaty of peace with England in
1783. Matters were so dexterously man-
aged by Mr. Adams and Mr. Jay that
Vergennes was outgeneralled, and a bril-
liant success achieved. This triumph of
diplomacy may be called the fifth distin-
guished event in his public life. In May,
1785, while still engaged in negotiating
a treaty with Prussia, and in securing
recognition, commercial and otherwise,
by foreign powers, he was appointed min-
ister to the Court of St. James. His stay
in England was by no means agreeable to
him. His brusque manners, with his un-
doubted skill in diplomacy, appealed to
the bluff Englishman's respect for fear-
lessness in speech and conduct, but the
time had not come for cordial, pacific
measures — the result of the war was too
recent, and British pride too sensitive.
The king grew frigid, and the courtiers
froze. No satisfactory solution could be
agreed upon as to the surrender of west-
ern ports on or near the Great Lakes,
consequent largely upon the inability of
the United States to meet its pecuniary
obligations to the full. It was more than
hoped and was expected that the repub-
lican experiment would fail, that the
States would fall apart like a rope of
sand, and the disheartened people turn
back to the "leeks and garlic" of Great
Britain. I\Ir. Adams, finding his mission
abroad to some extent fruitless, and be-
lieving that some other person than him-
self would be more agreeable to the court,
and, under existing circumstances, more
efficient, asked to be recalled in 1788. His
request was granted, and he received the
thanks of Congress for his "patriotism,
perseverance, integrity and diligence."

By this time efforts were being made
to formally organize the government
under the constitution. Washington was
chosen president, and Adams vice-presi-
dent. The difference in the number of

votes cast respectively for these conspicu-
ous positions — sixty-nine for the Presi-
dency and thirty-four for the Vice-Presi-
dency— was a matter of chagrin to Mr.
Adams, who knew the value of his serv-
ices and his self-sacrificing devotion to
the country. He was staunch in support-
ing the policy of the President, and was
able to direct the action of the Senate on
many questions on which as presiding
officer, he held the balance of power in
cases of tie vote. A marked divergence
in men's views of various political ques-
tions now gave rise to two distinct
parties — the Federalist, known afterward
as Whig and then as Republican ; and the
ether, first known as Republican, and
then as Democratic. Mr. Adams was a
pronounced Federalist. At the second
presidential election the opposition to
^Ir. Adams, consequent upon his "Dis-
courses on Davila." concerning ques-
tions that rose out of the French revo-
lution, centred on George Clinton as can-
didate for the vice-presidency. Adams
was, however, reelected; and in 1796
Washington, refusing to entertain the
thought of a third term, Mr. Adams was
chosen president of the United States in
1796, after a prolonged and acrimonious
contest. When Mr. Adams came into the
presidency, he retained Secretary of State
Timothy Pickering, who had been ap-
pointed by Washington. On May 13,
1800, he removed him as not being in
sympathy with his administration, and
appointed John Marshall, of Virginia,
who retained the position until January
27, 1801. when Adams made him Chief
Justice of the United States Supreme
Court, to succeed Oliver Ellsworth. In
the War Department he retained James
McHenry, who had served as secretary
under Washington, until he resigned Alay
13. iSoo. when he appointed Samuel Dex-
ter, of Massachusetts, who retained the
portfolio until January i, 1801, w^hen he

29

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

resigned to take the treasury portfolio.
Adams then appointed Roger Griswold,
of Connecticut. In the treasury depart-
ment he found Oliver Wolcott, who had
succeeded Alexander Hamilton, and Pres-
ident Adams continued him as secretary
until November 8, 1800, w^hen he resigned,
and was at once appointed United States
Judge of the Supreme Court of the Sec-
ond District. Mr. Adams appointed Sam-
uel Dexter secretary, January i, 1801. In
the Navy Department, Mr. Adams re-
tained Washington's appointee, Benjamin
Stoddert, throughout his administration.
As Attorney-General, Mr. Adams re-
tained Charles Lee, and James Haber-
sham as Postmaster-General, both hav-
ing served in Washington's administra-
tion. Then followed a time of storm.
France discriminated against American
commerce, refused to treat with the com-
missioners who were appointed, and who
were so insulted by the envoys of Talley-
rand that Mr. Adams was compelled to
advise Congress of the failure of the mis-
sion and the necessity to prepare for war.
Papers were called for, and the famous
"X. Y. Z. correspondence" submitted.
The excitement in America spread to
England and Europe. "Millions for de-
fence, not one cent for tribute," was the
cry throughout the States. "Hail Colum-
bia" sung itself out of the hearts of the
people, l^alleyrand was burnt in effigy ;
letters of marque were issued ; and an
alliance with Great Britain against France
was projected. France weakened. Mr.
Adams decided to avoid war. Commis-
sioners appointed to treat with France
reached Paris to find the direction of
affairs in the hands of Napoleon. All
events conspired to disintegrate the Fed-
eralist party. In the election of 1800
Adams was refused a reelection. His last
official act notable for its influence upon
the dignity of the national judiciary, was
the appointment of John Marshall as

Chief Justice of the United States. Mr.
Adams refused to attend the inauguration
of his successor, and returned to his home
in Quincy. In his old age the political
(lififerences between himself and Jefferson
were adjusted, and they corresponded on
friendly terms. Mr. Adams freely ex-
I^ressed his opinions on public affairs in
letters and essays written mainly to meet
the exigencies of the time. His writings
had the merit of being earnest and force-
ful. His most important publications
are: "Canon and Federal Laws" (1765);
"Rights and Grievances of the American
Colonies" (1774) ; "Plans of Government
of the Independent States" (1776) ; "The
Constitution of Massachusetts" (1779) ;
"Defence of the American Constitutions"
(1786). Other papers given to the press
were published in the journals of the day.
He insisted that the main points in the
Declaration of Independence belonged to
him. Referring to a letter written when
he was a young man twenty years of
age, he says: "Jefferson has acquired
such glory by his Declaration of Inde-
pendence, in 1776, that, I think, I may
boast of my declaration of independence
in 1755, twenty-one years older than his
* * * The Declaration of Independence
of 4th of July, 1776, contained nothing
but the Boston Declaration of 1772, and
tlie Congressional Declaration of 1774.
Such are the caprices of fortune ! The
Declaration of Rights (of 1774) was
drawn by the little John Adams; the
mighty Jefferson, by the Declaration of
Independence of 4th of July, 1776, car-
ried away the glory of the great and the
little."

I\Ir. Adams lived to see his son Presi-
dent of the United States, and to enter
upon the fiftieth anniversary of American
independence. The day seemed to recall
the scenes of fifty years ago, and his last
audible words were : "Thomas Jefferson
still survives." It is a strange coinci-

30

Major General Artemas Ward.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

dence that the "Father of the Declara-
tion" had breathed his last that very day,
and a few hours before the death of the
great man who inspired the immortal
document. He died July 4, 1826.

WARD, Artemas,

Revolutionary Soldier, Jurist.

General Artemas Ward, revolutionary
soldier, jurist and legislator, was born
at Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Novem-
ber 27, 1727, the son of Colonel Nahum
Ward, and a descendant of William
W^ard, who settled at Sudbury. Massa-
chusetts, in 1639.

He was graduated from Harvard Col-
lege in the class of 1748. He soon stepped
into public life, shortly after his gradua-
tion from college becoming a member of
the Massachusetts General Assembly and
of the Executive Council for Worcester
county. In 1752 he was appointed a jus-
tice of the peace, and in 1755 a major of
militia. He took part in the expedition
under General James Abercrombie against
the French and Indians in Canada in
1758, and received promotion to the rank
of lieutenant-colonel of the Third Massa-
chusetts Regiment. He became active in
political matters in his native colony, and
when contentions arose between the colo-
nists and the representatives of the home
government, he was so pronounced in his
support of the American cause that the
governor withdrew his commission in
1766. In 1774 he was displaced from the
house of representatives by the "man-
damus councillors." The Provincial Con-
gress commissioned him brigadier-gen-
eral, October 27, 1774, and captain-general
of the Massachusetts troops on April 22,
1775. two days after the beginning of the
siege of Boston. As senior officer of the
Massachusetts troops, he was given a
position superior to the officers com-
manding troops from Connecticut. Rhode
Island and New Hampshire. On May 20th

of the same year he received a commis-
sion as general and commander-in-chief of
the Massachusetts troops, and was in
nominal command during the battle of
Bunker Hill. Like Warren, he opposed
the fortification of Bunker Hill, but was
overruled in council. He remained at
headquarters at Cambridge, and detailed
Colonel Prescott to command during the
engagement. He was severely criticized
at the time for not reinforcing the troops
actually engaged against the British, but
this course was necessary, partly because
lie felt obliged to guard other possible
points of attack, and partly owing to the
lack of ammunition. After Prescott's re-
treat, that officer begged for fifteen hun-
dred men to retake the works, but Gen-
eral Ward refused his request. General
Ward remained in command in Boston
until the arrival of General Washington,
under whom he was appointed first major-
general in the army on June 17. He had
command of the right wing of the army
at Roxbury until April, 1776, when he re-
signed his commission, but at the earnest
request of Washington and of Congress
he served somewhat longer.

In 1776 General Ward became Chief
Justice of the Worcester county court,
member and president of the Executive
Council in 1777, and in 1779 was elected
to the Continental Congress, but did not
take his seat. He was for sixteen years
in the Massachusetts Legislature, and in
1785 was speaker of that body. In 1791
he was reelected to Congress, and was
continued in his seat until March 3, 1795.
In December, 1786, while he was on the
bench, Daniel Shays, at the head of his
band of insurgents, attempted to prevent
the session of the court, and Judge Ward's
action throughout this affair was after-
wards commended as strong and judi-
cious. He was "highly esteemed for politi-
cal integrity, independence of spirit, and
attention to duty."

31

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

He died at Shrewsbury, Massachusetts,
October 28, 1800. Of his children, Cap-
tain Nahum Ward was a Revolutionary
soldier; Artcmas Ward Jr. became Chief
Justice of Massachusetts; and Thomas
W. \\ ard was a magistrate and sheriff
of Shrewsbury for eighteen years.

PUTNAM, Rufus,

Revolutionary Soldier, Founder of Ohio.

Rufus Putnam was born in Sutton,
Massachusetts, April 9, 1738, son of
Elisha and Susanna (Fuller) Putnam,
grandson of Edward (half-brother of
Joseph) and Mary (Hall) Putnam, and
of Jonathan and Susan (Trask) Fuller,
great-grandson of Thomas Putnam, and
great-great-grandson of John and Pris-
cilla (Gould) Putnam. His grandfather,
Edward Putnam, and General Israel Put-
nam's father, Joseph Putnam, were half-
brothers.

Rufus Putnam's father died in 1745,
and Rufus was taken into the family of
his grandfather, Jonathan Fuller, at Dan-
vers, Massachusetts, where he attended
school two years. His widowed mother
married Captain John Sadler, of Upton,
and young Putnam was taken to his step-
father's home. He had no school privi-
leges, and when sixteen years old was
apprenticed to a millwright in North
Brookfield, and devoted his leisure time
to study. At the age of nineteen he en-
listed in Captain Ebenezer Leonard's
company for service on the northern
frontier against the French and Indians,
and reaching Fort Edward in April, 1757.
was made a scout in the company of
Captain Israel Putnam. He declined a
lieutenant's commission in 1759 and re-
turned to Massachusetts, settling in New
Braintrce, where he followed the occu-
pations of millwright and farmer. With
Colonel Israel Putnam and other officers
of the colonial army, he explored lands in
East Florida granted by parliament to

provincial officers and soldiers, and in
January, 1773, surveyed the supposed
grant, which proved to be of no value.
He was made lieutenant-colonel of Colo-
nel David Brewer's Worcester county
regiment ni 1775, joined the American
army at Roxbury, and was appointed en-
gineer in charge of the works about Bos-
ton. On the night of March 4-5, 1775,
he constructed the fortifications on Pros-
j)ect Hill, Dorchester Heights, a master-
ly piece of engineering, which compelled
the evacuation of Boston, March 17, 1776,
saving Washington the necessity of at-
tacking with an inferior force the British
army entrenched in Boston. He also
constructed fortifications for the defence
of Providence and Newport, Rhode
Island, in December, 1775. He was trans-
ferred to New York when General Israel
Putnam commanded that city, and plan-
ned its defences. He was appointed chief
engineer of the Continental army with
the rank of colonel, August 11, 1776. and
took part in the battle of Long Island,
August 2-j, 1776, and in the retreats of
the army to Harlem and across into New-
Jersey. He directed the construction of
the temporary fortifications that protect-
ed the rear of Washington's army and
prevented the enemy capturing the bag-
gage trains and stores. Congress, dis-
appointed that New York had fallen into
the possession of the enemy, and fearing
for the safety of Philadelphia, questioned
the engineering skill of Colonel Putnam,
and he resigned, December 8, 1776.
Washington, however, stated that he was
the best engineer in the army, whether
American or French. Upon returning to
Massachusetts, Putnam became colonel
of the I'^ifth Massachusetts Regiment un-
flcr Cicneral Gates, and in the campaign
that culminated in the surrender of Gen-
eral Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, Octo-
ber 17, 1777, he l)ore a conspicuous [)art.
In March, 1778, he sui)crintended the con-

32

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

struction of the defences of the Pligh-
lanu'^ of the Hudson, in the neighbor-
hood of West Point, building Forts Wyl-
lis, Webb and Putnam, the last being
iiamed for him by General McDougall.
He also commanded a regiment in Gen-
eral Anthony Wayne's brigade, joining
the American forces at Peekskill in June,
1778, and was in active service from the
battles of Stony Point to the close of the
campaign. Transferred to Boston, he
obtained relief from the government for
the Massachusetts troops in 1780. and
was engaged some months in 1782 in ad-
justing the claims of citizens of New
York for damages caused to their prop-
erty by the war. He was commissioned
brigadier-general, January 8, 1783, and
by direction of Washington reported a
comprehensive plan for fortifying the
whole country, which was submitted to
Congress but not acted upon, owing to
the opposition in that body to preparing
for war in time of peace. He purchased
the confiscated property of Daniel Mur-
ray, an absentee, at Rutland, Massachu-
setts, in 1780, and made it his home. He
was aide to General Benjamin Lincoln in
quelling Shay's rebellion in 1787, and
represented his town in the General
Court of Massachusetts in 1787. He
planned the settlement of Ohio Territory
by a company of veteran soldiers from
New England in 1782, and in his plans
made the exclusion of slavery an inflex-
ible condition. He urged the matter up-
on General Washington, 1782-87, as
shown by his correspondence, and the
President in turn urged the scheme upon
Congress, but could get that body to take
no interest in it. Washington therefore
secured the appointment of Putnam by
Congress as surveyor of the Northwest
Territory, and Putnam sent General Tup-
per as his deputy to examine the country
in the winter of 1785-86. The two vet-
erans met at Putnam's home in Rutland,
MASS-3 33

Massachusetts, January 9, 1786, and
planned the meeting of the veteran sol-
diers of Massachusetts in Boston, March
I, 1786. When the Ohio Company was
organized in 1787, Putnam was made
director of all their affairs. He sent
Samuel H. Ir'arsons to Congress in 1787
to negotiate the purchase, but when he
retired unsuccessful, Putnam sent Man-
asseh Cutler, who secured the Territory,
including the provision to exclude slavery
by the passage of the ordinance of July
13, 1787, the sum to be paid as fixed by
the measures passed July 27, to be $1,-
500,000, the veteran soldiers settling in
the Territory to surrender their claims
for half pay. General Putnam then or-
ganized his band of forty-eight men, jour-
neyed to Ohio, reaching Marietta on
April 7, 1788, where they made the first
permanent settlement in the eastern part
of the Northwest Territory. The cen-
tennial of the settlement was celebrated
by the States carved out from it, April
7, 1888, when Senator Hoar, of Massachu-
setts, delivered the oration, in which he
took occasion to give General Putnam
his rightful place in the history of the
settlement of the Northwest. General
Putnam was appointed judge of the Su-
preme Court of the Territory in 1789, and
was commissioned brigadier-general,
United States Army, May 4, 1792, serving
with General Wayne in the operations to
quell the Indian trouble on the frontier.
He was United States commissioner to
treat with the Indians, 1792-93, which led
to a treaty with eight Indian tribes at
Point Vincent, September 27, 1792. He
resigned his commission in the army,
February 15, 1793, and was Surveyor-
General of the United States, 1793-1803;
a founder of Muskingum Academy, 1798;
cind a trustee of the Ohio University,
1804-24. He was a delegate to the Ohio
Constitutional Convention of 1802, where
his determined opposition prevented by

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

one vote the introduction of a clause pre-
serving the rights of slaveholders within
the State. He was one of the organizers
of the first Bible Society west of the Al-
leghanies in 1812.

He was the last living officer of the
Continental army. His manuscript diary
was placed in the library of Marietta
College, Ohio. A tablet placed on his
house at Rutland, Massachusetts, by the
Society of the Sons of the Revolution,
was unveiled, September 17, 1898, Sena-
tor George Frisbie Hoar delivering the
address, "Rufus Putnam. Founder and
Father of Ohio" (1898). Senator Hoar
also delivered the oration, "Founding of
the Northwest," at the Marietta Centen-
nial celebration, April 7, 1888 (published
1895), and the oration published in the
"Evacuation Day Memorial, City of Bos-
ton" (1901). He was married (first) in
April, 1761, to Elizabeth, daughter of
William Ayers, of Brookfield; she died
in 1762. He married (second) January
10, 1765, Persis, daughter of Zebulon
Rice, of Westboro. General Rufus Put-
nam died in Marietta, Ohio, May 4, 1824.

DANA, Francis,

Patriot of tlie Revolution.

Francis Dana, statesman and jurist, was
born at Charlestown, Massachusetts,
June 13, 1743, son of Richard Dana, who
was a leader of the Massachusetts bar
and a jurist.

Francis Dana was graduated from Har-
vard College in 1762, and studied law
with Edmund Trowbridge, of Boston,
Massachusetts. Admitted to the bar in
1767, he at once entered upon the prac-
tice of his profession in that city. He
soon became an ardent opposer of the
measures of the British parliament
against the American colonies, joining
the associated Sons of Liberty, and acting
with the foremost of the patriots. In
1774 he was a delegate from Cambridge,

Massachusetts, to the first Provincial
Congress of Massachusetts. He passed
the year 1775 ^^ England, in conference
with persons of political influence, and
when he had returned in 1776 he inform-
ed General Washington that there was
no reason to look for peaceful relations
with Great Britain. From May, 1776, to
1780, he was a member of the Massachu-
setts Executive Council, and in 1776-78, a
delegate to the Continental Congress. In
November, 1776, he was elected to the
Congress which framed the articles of
confederation, and was reelected in 1777.
He was a member of the congressional
Board of War, and chairman of the com-
mittee charged with the reorganization of
the United States army. He remained in
Washington's camp at Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania, with the other members of
the committee, from January to April,
1778, and, with Washington, drew up the
plan of annual drafts which was con-
firmed by Congress. With Gouverneur
Morris and William H. Drayton, he
served on the congressional committee
to which Lord North's conciliatory bills
were referred (1778), and on the report
of this committee the advances of the
British minister were unanimously re-
jected. Dana accompanied John Adams
to Paris as secretary of legation, in 1779,
and from December 19, 1781, until 1783,
he was United States ]\Iinister to Russia.
He was a member of the Continental
Congress in 1784, and took his seat, but
on January 18, 1785, Governor Hancock,
of Massachusetts, appointed him one of
the justices of the Supreme Court of that
State. He was elected a delegate from
Massachusetts to the convention that
framed the Federal constitution, but his
judicial duties and the state of his health,
which had been impaired in St. Peters-
burg, prevented his attendance. Dana,
however, strongly advocated its adoption
in the Massachusetts State Convention.

34

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

On November 29, 1791, he was appointed
Chief Justice of Massachusetts, and serv-
ed as such for fifteen years, retiring in
1806. In 1797 he declined a special mis-
sion to France.

Judge Dana was one of the founders
of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, and its vice-president. He mar-
ried a daughter of William Ellery. His
correspondence while in Europe will be
found in "Spark's Diplomatic Corre-
spondence," volume viii. Judge Dana
died at Cambridge, Massachusetts, April
2q. 1811.

POOR, Enoch,

Distinguished Revolutionary Officer.

General Enoch Poor was a Revolu-
tionary soldier, who after brilliant mili-
tary service died in his uniform, before
was ended the struggle which had en-
gaged his heroic effort.

He was born at Andover, Massachu-
setts, June 21, 1736, receiving his educa-
tion in the same town. He then settled
in Exeter, New Hampshire, where he was
engaged in shipbuilding and mercantile
business at the time of the battle of Lex-
ington. The New Hampshire Assembly
having resolved to raise troops, Enoch
Poor went to recruiting, and was given
command of one of the three regiments
which were formed. After Boston was
evacuated by the British he was sent with
his command to New York, and was
afterwards transferred to the Eighth Con-
tinental Regiment, and later joined Ar-
nold's expedition to Canada. On the re-
treat the Continentals were marched to
Crown Point, where they concentrated,
meanwhile strengthening, under Colonel
Poor's direction, the defences of that post,
which was soon after evacuated, against
the urgent advice of General John Stark.
Colonel Poor and others. On February
'^1, 1777, Colonel Poor received his com-
mission as brigadier-general, and in the

Saratoga campaign against Burgoyne he
held a prominent command. At the battle
of Stillwater his brigade is said to have
borne two-thirds of the entire American
loss in killed, wounded and missing, while
at the battle of Saratoga he led the ad-
vance. After Burgoyne's surrender Gen-
eral Poor went to Pennsylvania, where
he joined Washington, sharing with him
the Jersey campaign and the sufferings at
Valley Forge. In the summer of 1778,
in command of his brigade. General Poor
pursued the British across New Jersey,
distinguishing himself at the battle of
]\Ionmouth, where he fought under the
command of Lafayette. When General
Sullivan undertook his expedition against
the Six Nations in 1779, General Poor
commanded the Second, or New Hamp-
shire brigade. In August, 1780, he was
placed in command of a brigade of light
infantry, but he was attacked by a fever
which resulted in his death, September 8,
17S0. General W^ashington, who held
Poor in the highest esteem, declared him
to be "an officer of distinguished merit
v.'ho, as a citizen and a soldier, had every
claim to the esteem of his country." La-
fayette, who also greatly admired him, at
a banquet given in his own honor in New
Flampshire, in 1824, remembered General
Poor in a toast. A fine monument marks
his grave at Hackensack, New Jersey,
where his death occurred.

QUINCY, Josiah,

Patriot of tlie Revolution.

Josiah Ouincy was born in Boston,
January 23, 1744. He acquired the rudi-
ments of a classical education at Brain-
tree, and in 1759 entered Harvard Col-
lege, where he distinguished himself for
upright conduct and bright scholarship,
and whence he was graduated in 1763. It
is said that his compositions during his
college period showed that he was even
then conversant with the best writers of

OD

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the French and English schools. He read
law in the office of Oxenbridge Thatcher,
an eminent Boston lawyer, who was as-
sociated with James Otis in the cele-
brated argument against the "writs of
assistance." By the death of Mr. That-
cher before Quincy had completed his
legal studies, leaving the charge of the
business of the office in the latter's hands,
he succeeded to an extensive and lucra-
tive practice.

He early made himself conspicuous by
the ardor with which he wrote and spoke
against the encroachments of the mother
country, and only twenty days previous
to the "Boston Massacre," in 1770, in
answer to the question, "What end is the
non-importation agreement to answer?"
said :

From a conviction in my own mind that Amer-
ica is now the slave of Britain; from a sense
that we are every day more and more in danger
of an increase in our burdens and a fastening of
our shackles, I wish to see my countrymen break
oflf forever, all social intercourse with those
whose commerce contaminates, whose luxuries
poison, whose avarice is insatiable, and whose
unnatural oppressions are not to be borne. That
Americans well know their rights, that they will
resume, assert, and defend them, are matters of
which I harbor no doubt. Whether the arts of
policy or the arts of war will decide the con-
test, are problems that we will solve at a more
convenient season. He whose heart is enamored
with the refinements of political artifice and
finesse, will seek one mode of relief; he whose
heart is free, honest and intrepid, will pursue
another, a bolder and a more noble mode of
redress.

One of the most extraordinary episodes
in the history of the Revolution, and one
which brought the absolutely just char-
acter of Mr. Quincy to the notice of both
his own time and of posterity, was con-
nected with the "Boston Massacre," of
March 5, 1770. in which five citizens were
killed by the British soldiers. Captain
Preston and the eight British troopers

who were tried for this offense were de-
lended by Mr. Quincy and John Adams,
the former opening and the latter closing
the argument. The result was that Cap-
tain Preston and six soldiers were ac-
quitted, while two were convicted of
manslaughter only. Such an administra-
tion of justice in the midst of an excited
£:nd furious people was at once startling
and sublime. Through 1771 and 1772 Mr.
Quincy continued his professional and
political labors with industry and zeal,
but in February, 1773, he was obliged to
take a voyage to Carolina for the preser-
vation of his life, which was threatened
by a pulmonary complaint. In Charles-
ton, and on his return through New York
and Philadelphia, he made acquaintance
with the eminent lawyers and patriots of
the day. September 28. 1774, he sailed
from Salem, Massachusetts, on a special
mission to London in behalf of his coun-
try. In London he had a conference with
Lord North, v/ho seemed more anxious to
intimidate him by reference to the inex-
haustible resources of Great Britain than
to placate those in whose behalf he came.
Meanwhile, however, he found himself
sustained in his views and his efforts by
Lords Chatham and Camden, Selden and
others whose influence in the British
councils seemed to be strong. Mr.
Quincy returned to America in the spring
of 1775 in declining health. In an inter-
view with Dr. Franklin, just before he
left London, the latter said to him : "New
England alone could hold out for ages
against Great Britain, and if they were
firm and united in seven years would con-
quer." After being at sea a few weeks,
Mr. Quincy became convinced, as his
condition grew worse, that death was in-
evitable. April 2ist he dictated his last
letter, and his last recorded words. Re-
ferring to the sentiments of many learned
and eminent friends of America whom
he had met in England, he said: "To

36

p

Quincy Mansion, Quincy, Massachusetts.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

commit their sentiments to writing is
neither practicable nor prudent at this
time. To the bosom of a friend they
could entrust what might be of great
advantage to my country. To me that
trust was committed and I was, immedi-
ately on my arrival, to assemble certain
persons to whom I was to communicate
my trust and had God spared my life it
seems it would have been of great service
to my country ; had Providence been
pleased that I should have reached Amer-
ica six days ago I should have been able
to converse with my friends. 1 am per-
suaded that this voyage and passage are
the instruments to put an end to my be-
ing. His holy will be done." He died
v.hen the vessel was in sight of land, and
his remains were afterward removed to
Braintree.

His life by his son, Josiah Quincy,
president of Harvard College, was pub-
lished in 1855. He possessed the power
to seize boldly tipon the attention of an
audience, and in his popular harangues it
was his custom to produce the restilts of
his extensive reading in a simple and
forcible manner; he was familiar with
the best writers in poetry and prose, espe-
cially the English dramatists, and fre-
quently quoted from them. On the ar-
rival of the obnoxious tea in Boston har-
bor, in November, 1773, a town meeting
was held and resolutions were passed
calling on the consignees not to receive
it. Mr. Quincy spoke on this occasion
in the following language:

It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors
within these walls that must stand us in stead.
The exertions of this day will call forth events
that will make a very diflferent spirit necessary
for our own salvation. Whoever supposes shouts
and hosannahs will terminate the trials of to-day
entertains a childish fancy. We must be grossly
ignorant of the importance and value of the
prize for which we contend; we must be equally
ignorant of the power of those combined against
us: we must be blind to that malice, inveteracy

and insatiable revenge which actuate our ene-
mies, public and private, abroad and in our
bosom — to hope that we shall end this con-
troversy without the sharpest conflicts, to flat-
ter ourselves that popular resolves, popular
harangues, popular acclamations and popular
vapor will vanquish our foes. Let us consider
the issue, let us look to the end. Let us weigh
and consider before we advance in those meas-
ures which must bring on the most trying and
terrible struggle this country ever saw.

Mr. Quincy possessed those attributes
of voice, figure and action which are es-
sential to complete the charm of
eloquence. His face is said to have been
instinct with expression and his eye in
particular glowed with intellectual splen-
dor. He died April 26, 1775.

PICKERING, Timothy,

Soldier, Jurist. Cabinet Ofilcial.

Timothy Pickering was born at Salem,
Massachusetts, July 17. 1745. He was
the great-great-grandson of John Picker-
ing, a carpenter, who came to New Eng-
land in 1630, and died at Salem in 1657.

He graduated from Harvard College in
1763, and in 1768 was admitted to the
bar. He did not obtain much repute as
a law3'er, being more interested in mili-
tary affairs. He held for a time the ap-
[)ointment of register of deeds for Essex
county. In 1766, he entered the militia
service, was commissioned lieutenant,
and in 1775 was elected colonel. On the
day of the battle of Lexington he is said
to have marched with his men to Med-
ford in order to intercept the enemy, but
was not in time to participate in the
fight. In September, 1775, Colonel Pick-
ering was appointed judge of the Court
of Common Pleas for Essex county, and
of the INIaritime Court for the district in-
cluding Boston and Salem. In that year
he published a small work entitled "An
Easy Plan of Discipline for the Militia,"
which was adopted by Massachusetts
and was used for some time by the Con-

37

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

tineutal army. In May, 1776, Pickering
was a representative to the General
Court. In the following December he
commanded the Essex regiment of seven
hundred men, and joined Washington's
army at Morristown in February, 1777
The commander-in-chief, being favor-
ably impressed with him, offered him the
position of adjutant-general, which he ac-
cepted. He marched with the army
through Pennsylvania, was present at the
battles of the Brandywine and German-
town, and when the Board of War was
organized, was made one of its members.
In August. 1780, he succeeded General
Greene as quartermaster-general, and it
is related that he managed his department
so wisely that Washington was enabled
to make his extraordinary march from
the Hudson river to Chesapeake Bay
without being at any point detained for
lack of supplies. Colonel Pickering was
present at Yorktown on the occasion of
the surrender of Cornwallis. He left the
office of quartermaster-general in 1785,
when the position was abolished. In that
year he settled for a time in Philadelphia,
and conducted a commission business,
but two years later removed with his
family to the Wyoming Valley, Pennsyl-
vania. Here he became involved in a
local insurrection and with difficulty es-
caped with his life. In 1788 he was cap-
tured by masked men and kept prisoner
for three weeks, but was finally set free.
Disorder existed in Wyoming for a num-
ber of years, and it is claimed that Colo-
nel Pickering succeeded in remedying it.
In 1789 he was a member of the Pennsyl-
vania Constitutional Convention, and in
the latter part of 1790 Washington em-
ployed him in negotiations with the In-
dian tribes, in the course of which he
concluded a treaty between the United
States and the Six Nations in 1791. He
was a favorite of the Indians and was
invariably successful in quieting them

whenever they were aroused to overt
action.

From 1791 to 1795, Colonel Pickering
held the position of Postmaster-General.
On January 2, 1795, he succeeded Gen-
eral Knox as Secretary of War, in which
position he had charge of the Indian de-
partment and also of the navy. He was
prominent in organizing the Military
Academy at W^est Point, and personally
directed the building of the three famous
frigates "Constitution," "Constellation"
and "United States." In August, 1795,
on the resignation of John Randolph,
Colonel Pickering was placed temporarily
in charge of the Department of State, and
in the following December he was ap-
pointed to that office, which he continued
to hold until removed by President
Adams in May, 1800, an act which was
mainly occasioned by Mr. Pickering's
adhesion to the principles of Hamilton.
On being removed from office, Mr. Pick-
ering found himself heavily in debt, but
the owner of some land in the backwoods
of Pennsylvania, whither he went accom-
panied by his son and a few laborers and
there cleared several acres and built a
log hut for his family. His native State
liad always urged upon him a return to
his original allegiance, and when he left
the army had offered him the appoint-
ment of Associate Justice of the State
Supreme Court, which he declined, giv-
ing as a reason his incapacity to fitly
occupy the position. His Massachusetts
friends now purchased some of his lands,
and with the money thus obtained he paid
off his debts and found himself with
nearly $15,000 in hand. He settled in
Danvers, Massachusetts, where he rent-
ed a small farm, which he cultivated with
his own hands. In 1802 he was appointed
Chief Justice of the Court of Common
Pleas at Essex, and in 1803 was elected
United States Senator. He continued to
hold his seat in the upper house until

3S

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

1811, being prominent in the discussion
of all public affairs as an extreme Feder-
alist. He became so unpopular by his
opposition to certain public acts, that in
1809 a Philadelphia mob hanged him in
effigy, and various charges were made
against him with the design of ruining
him, but without success. He retired
from the Senate in 1812, and for a time
lived on a farm at Wrentham, Massachu-
setts. In 1814 he was a member of Con-
gress, and in 1817 of the Massachusetts
Executive Council. He was one of those
New England leaders who were conspicu-
ous in politics in the early part of the
century for their extremist views amount-
ing for some time to an intention to cause
the secession of New England from the
Union. These opinions brought about
the celebrated Hartford convention,
which Pickering favored, although he
was not present during its session. Colo-
nel Pickering's life was written by his son.
Octavius Pickering, completed after the
latter's death by Charles W. Upham, and
published in Boston, 1867-73. ^^ mar-
ried, April 8, 1776. Rebecca White, an
English lady, who died a year before him-
self. Colonel Pickering died in Salem,
January 29. 1829.

KNOX, Henry,

Distingnislied Revolutionary Officer.

General Henry Knox was one of the
most conspicuously useful men of the
Revolutionary period, and his career
abounded in unique incidents. He was
the master artillerist of the army, and an
engineer officer of unusual ability. He
was a member of the court martial which
sentenced the accomplished Major Andre
to death, and he was one of the founders
of the Society of the Cincinnati.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts,
July 25, 1750. His paternal ancestors
were from the Lowlands of Scotland, but
the tradition is that those of them who

first settled in America came from the
vicinity of Belfast, Ireland, to Boston,
Massachusetts, in 1729; although Wil-
liam Knox, his father, w^as a native of
St. Eustatia, one of the West Indian
islands. Knox's mother was Mary, daugh-
ter of Robert Campbell, of Boston. The
father was a shipmaster, and owned a
wharf and small estate on Sea street, near
Summer street, which he was compelled
by misfortune to relinquish, and in 1759
he went to St. Eustatia, where he died in
1762, at the age of fifty, his wife dying in
Boston in 1771, at the age of fifty-three.
Henry Knox was the seventh of ten sons.
The house in which he was born was
standing in 1873.

After the death of his father, Henry
Knox was employed by Wharton &
Barnes, booksellers, on Cornhill, in Bos-
ton. Of a robust and athletic frame and
of resolute character, he was foremost in
the contests between the north and sou+h
ends, the rival sections of the city, to the
latter of which he belonged, and it is
related that once during the celebration
of "Pope's Night," the wheel of the car-
riage which sustained the pageant giving
way, Knox, in order to prevent the dis-
grace sure to result from its non-appear-
ance, and the consequent triumph of the
adverse party, substituted his own shoul-
der, and bore the vehicle without inter-
ruption through the conflict. W'hen he
was eighteen years old he joined a mili-
tary company, and when the Boston gren-
adier corps was organized by Captain
Joseph Pierce, he was second in com •
mand. Conversing with British officers
who frequented a book-store in which he
was employed, and by study of military
works and careful obser\-ation of the
evolutions of the British troops in Bos-
ton, he soon attained proficiency in the
theory and practice of the militar}' art.
When he reached his majority, he en-
gaged in business on his own account as

39

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

a bookseller, opposite Williams Court, on
Cornhill, Boston, and his store became
a great resort for British officers, with
whom he maintained a pleasant acquaint-
ance althoug-h he himself was thoroughly
identified with the "Sons of Liberty."
His business throve until the gathering
storm of the American Revolution, and
in particular the Boston port bill dis-
turbed all business enterprises. Subse-
quently, while he was with the American
army which besieged Boston, his store
was robbed and pillaged. This, with in-
debtedness for his stock at the time of
the outbreak of hostilities, was the 'source
of pecuniary embarrassment of which
Knox was not fully relieved at lii? death,
although long after the war ho paid tho
house of Longmans. Green & Companv,
of London, more than £ 1,000 on the old
account. By the bursting of his fowling-
piece, July 24. 1773. while on a gunning
excursion, he lost the two smaller fingers
of his left hand, and about a montl'; after
this occurrence, in a military parade
where he appeared with the wound hand-
somely bandaged with a scarf, he attract-
ed the attention of his future wife. Miss
Flucker, whose father was an aristocratic
loyalist of great family pretensions, and
secretary of the province of Massachu-
setts Bay. She visited his book-store,
acquaintance ripened into intimacy in-
timacy into love, and although Lheir
union was opposed by her famil;/. they
were married, at Boston, June 16, 1774.

A year later, Knox left Boston in dis-
guise, his departure having been inter-
dicted by Gage, the British general, lie
was accompanied by his wife, who had
quilted into the lining of her cloak the
sword with which her husband was to
carve out a successful military career.
Flattering promises had been held out to
Knox to induce him to attach himself to
the royal cause, but he was not to be
withdrawn from that which he had es-

poused. From the headquarters of Gen-
eral Artemas Ward, he was actively en-
gaged in recruiting service ; he was
closely observant of the movements of
the British troops, and upon his reports
the American general's orders for the
battle of IJunker Hill were issued. His
wife was safely bestovv-ed at Worcester,
Massachusetts, and he then aided in the
construction of defensive works for the
various camps around the beleaguered
town of Boston. Their labors continued
some months, and in this work he acquir-
ed skill as an artillerist. Knox had pre-
viously attracted the attention of John
Adams, who now wrote to him requesting
his views as to plans for the reorganiza-
tion of the army, and other correspond-
ence with Adams ensued. Knox had also
Ijecome familiar with General Washing-
ton, and on November 17, 1775. he was
appointed by the Continental Congress
colonel of its single artillery regiment.
He received his commission when he re-
turned to the army at Boston irom his
successful journey to Fort Ticonderoga.
in New York, bringing to Boston heavy
cannon and stores to be used by the
Americans in their operations against
that city. A memorable incident of this
journey was Knox's encounter with the
brave but unfortunate Andre, of the Pirit-
i^h army, who had been taken prisoner
by General Montgomery at St. John, and
was then on his way southward to be
exchanged. Their short acquaintance
was mutually pleasant, but a few years
afterwards Knox was called to the pain-
ful duty of sitting in judgment vp^n
Andre, as one of the military tribun A
which condemned the latter to death.

When Boston was evacuated by the
British. Knox's engineering ability was
called into Connecticut and Rhode Island.
At New Y'ork City in the summer of 1776
his quarters were at the Battery, near
tho';e of Washington, with whom he

40

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

crossed to Long Island daily, prior to the
disastrous engagement on August 27th.
His regiment was engaged in the action,
but on that day he himself was "obliged
to wait on my Lord Howe and the navy
gentry who threatened to pay us a visit."
In the retreat of the Americans from
New York to New Jersey. Knox nar-
rowly escaped capture. At this time he
wrote to his brother that his constant
fatigue and application to business was
such that he had not had his clothes off
once for more than forty days. His let-
ters are fdled at this date with appre-
ciative praise of \\'ashington. with whom
his relations were more and more i.'-ti-
mate, and with pronounced criticism of
the little ability shown by most of the
officers with whom he was associated, on
account of their extreme lack of military
training and knowledge. In the critical
moments after the loss of Fort Washing-
ton (November 15. 1776) and the with-
drawal of the American forces into New
Jersey, Knox was one of those who
strengthened Washington s hands and
encouraged his heart. His friendship
with General Nathaniel Greene was now
most cordial. Knox superintended the
crossing of the Delaware river by the
Americans before the battle of Trenton.
New Jersey (December 26. 1776), his
stentorian voice making audible the or-
ders of his chief above the fury of the
stormy elements. He took part in the
battle of Princeton, New Jersey, in Janu-
ary, 1777, and after it was over urged
upon Washington that the army go into
winter quarters at Morristown. New Jer-
sey. This was done, and Knox was then
<ent eastward to superintend the casting
of cannon and the establishment of labor-
atories, and recommended Springfield,
Massachusetts, as the place where these
ought to be set up. In May. 1777, he was
associated with General Greene in plan-
ning the defenses of the Hudson river.

In the operations of the American army
by which General Washington sought to
prevent the British occupation of Phila-
delphia, Knox had his full share of ac-
tivity. In the battle of Brandywine his
regiment was noted for its coolness and
intrepidity. He was in camp at X'alley
Forge. Pennsylvania, during the winter
of 1777-7S, and also in the eastern States,
on the business of his department. At
the battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, he
reconnoitered in front, rallied the scat-
tered troops and protected the rear with
a brisk fire from a battery planted in the
night. Of the services of the artillery,
Washington said in general orders that
he could with pleasure inform General
Knox and the officers of the artillery,
that the enemy had done them the justice
to acknowledge that no artillery could
have been served better than the Ameri-
can. In January, 1781, Washington sent
him to the eastern States to represent
the suffering condition of the American
troops, and while there wrote to him to
■'procure the articles necessary to a cap-
ital operation against New York, or other
large cities which were then occupied by
the British.'' It having been decided to
operate against Lord Cornwallis in Vir-
ginia (fall of 1781), Knox's skill and en-
ergy in providing and forwarding heavy
cannon for the siege of Yorktown caused
Washington to report to the president of
Congress that "the resources of his genius
supplied the deficit of means." The
PVenchman. De Chastellax, in his "Travels
in North America," declared of him : "The
artillery was always very well served,
the general (Knox) incessantly directing
it, and often himself pointing the mor-
tars ; seldom did he leave the batteries *
* * * * The English marveled at the exact
fire and the terrible execution of the
French artillery, and we marveled no less
at the extraordinary progress of the
American artillery, and at the capacity

41

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and instruction of the officers. As to Gen- met to take a final leave of their beloved

cral Ivnox, but one-half has been said in
commending his military genius. He is
a man of talent, well instructed, of a
buoyant disposition, ingenuous and true;
it is impossible to know him without
esteeming and loving him." Washington
also praised Knox highly for his excellent
ability in arranging the cartel for a gen-
eral exchange of prisoners in connection
with Governor Morris at the close of the
war. He was made major-general, March
22, 1782, to date from November 15, 1781.
In December, 1782, he was chairman of
'c. committee of officers to draft a petition
to Congress, which stated the amounts of
pay then due them, made a proposal that
the half-pay for life should be commuted
for a specific sum, and requested that se-
curity be given them by the government
for the fulfillment of its engagements.
The failure of Congress to make satisfac-
tory reply to this commtmication pro-
duced the famous "Newburg Addresses,"
by which the officers' feelings were
wrought up to the highest pitch. At this
point, Knox joined with Washington in
composing the discontented and muti-
nous spirit which had appeared. The sub-
ject of the officers' complaints was again
considered in Congress, and the com-
mutation and other provisions asked for
in the memorial v/ere granted.

In order to perpetuate the friendships
formed with each other by the officers of
the army, General Knox founded the So-
ciety of the Cincinnati, which came into
being in May, 1783. He was its secre-
tary until 1800, in 1805 became its vice-
president, and in 1783 was also vice-
president of its Massachusetts branch.
He entered New York City on November
25> ^7^?!' ^i the head of the American
troops, upon its evacuation by the Brit-
ish. December 4 (1783) at Fraunce's
tavern in New York, the principal officers

general. Washington entered the room
and, taking a glass of wine in his hand,
with a few words of farewell, continued;
"I cannot come to each of you to take my
leave but shall be obliged to you if each
of you will come and take me by the
hand." Knox, who stood nearest to him,
turned and grasped his hand ; and, while
tears flowed down the cheeks of each,
the commander-in-chief kissed him. This
he did to each of his officers, while tears
and sobs stifled utterance. In January,
1794, Knox arrived at Boston, Massachu-
setts, and took up his residence at Dor-
chester. Pie discharged some civil duties
thereafter in his native State, but on
March 8, 1785, Congress elected him Sec-
retary of War, with a salary of $2,450.
In May, 1789, on the formation of the
United States government, he was con-
tinued in this office. In connection with
Thomas Jefi'erson, a fellow cabinet-offi-
cer, he brought about the establishment
of the United States navy, in 1794. De-
cember 2yth of the same year he resigned
his secretariat for private reasons, and
spent the closing years of his life in
Maine, in the cultivation and improve-
ment of an extensive tract of land, part of
which Mrs. Knox had inherited from her
grandfather, and the residue of which he
had bought from the other heirs. Here
he dispensed a charming hospitality, and
was measurably sticcessful in the pecun-
iary managemnt of his enterprise, includ-
ing the founding and building up of the
town of Thomaston. He had a fine pri-
vate library, part of it in the French lan-
guage. His "Life and Correspondence,"
by F. S. Drake (Boston, 1873), has been
freely used in the preparation of this
sketch. He died at home. October 21.
1806, in consequence of having swallowed
a chicken-bone.

42

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

GUSHING, Thomas,

Prominent in tlie Hevolation.

Thomas Cashing was born in Boston,.
Massachusetts, March 24, 1725, son of
Thomas and Mary (Broomneld) Cushmg,
grandson of Thomas and Deborah (Thax-
ter) Cushing, great-grandson of John and
Sarah (Hawke) Cushing, and great-great-
grandson of Matthew and Nazareth
(Pitcher) Cushing, who emigrated from
England in 1638 and settled in Hingham,
Massachusetts. His father was a promi-
nent Boston merchant, a representative in
the General Court in 173 1 and speaker,
1742-46. Samuel Adams was for a time
employed in his counting house, and be-
ing four years older than Thomas Cush-
ing Jr., had a powerful influence in shap-
ing the political sentiment of the future
statesman.

Thomas Cushing Jr. was graduated at
Harvard College in 1744. He was a rep-
resentative in the General Court of Mas-
sachusetts, 1761-69; and in 1767, when
Governor Bernard would not allow James
Otis to serve as speaker, he was elected
in Otis's stead. He was speaker from
1767 to 1774, but did not prove a strong
leader for the patriots. With John Plan-
cock he opposed the formation of com-
mittees of correspondence as suggested
by Samuel Adams, and when appointed
on one of the committees refused to
serve. Still, John Adams credits him
with obtaining secret intelligence useful
to the patriot leaders, and in June, 1774,
he was elected a delegate to the Conti-
nental Congress, and was re-elected in
February, 1775. In the king's instructions
to General Gage in 1775, Cushing was in-
cluded with John Hancock and Samuel
Adams as subjects not entitled to par-
don for their crime of treason. When
Massachusetts formed a new government
in 1775, Cushing was elected to the coun-
cil. In Congress he opposed the Declar-
ation of Independence, and in the elec-

tion of January 19, 1776, for delegates to
Congress, he did not receive a single vote.
He was Commissary-General of Massa-
chusetts in 1775 ; judge of the Court of
Common Pleas and of Probate, 1776-77;
declined a seat in the Continental Con-
gress in 1779; and was Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Massachusetts. 1780-88, and act-
ing governor in 1788. He was elected a
member of the convention to ratify the
Federal constitution, which met in Janu-
ary and February, 1788.

Harvard College gave him the degree
of Doctor of Laws in 1785, and Yale gave
him an honorary Master of Arts in 1750.
He was a fellow of Harvard College, 1786-
88 ; a founder of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences ; and an agent of the
British Society for Promoting the Gospel
in New England. He died in Boston,
Massachusetts, February 28, 1788.

PAINE, Robert Treat,

Patriot and Jurist.

Robert Treat Paine was born in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, March 11, 1731, the
son of Thomas Paine, grandson of James
Paine, great-grandson of Thomas Paine,
and great-great-grandson of Thomas
Paine, who came from England about
1633.

Pie entered Harvard University at four-
teen years of age, supporting himself by
teaching while engaged in the study of
law. In 1755 he was chaplain of provin-
cial troops in the north for a few months.
Afterward he occasionally preached in
the regular pulpits of Boston, although
living at Taunton, Bristol county, where
he practiced his profession as a lawyer,
and was a rival of Timothy Ruggles at
the bar. At this period he carried on an
interesting correspondence with Jonathan
Sewall, John Adams, and a merchant
(Elliott) of Boston, and in 1768 was a
member of the convention which met
upon the dissolution of the General Court

43

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

by the governor for refusing to rescind
the circular letter to the other colonies
calling for concerted action against in-
fringement of their chartered rights. In
1770 he was employed by the citizens of
Boston for the prosecution of the perpe-
trators of the "Boston Massacre," and in
1773 was chairman of a large committee
in Taunton for resistance to threatened
tyranny. The same year, as a member of
the General Assembly, he assisted in the
impeachment of the Chief Justice of the
province, Peter Oliver, on the charge
of receiving his stipend from the king,
instead of a grant from the Assembly, as
usual. In 1774 he was appointed a dele-
gate to the first Continental Congress, in
a convention called upon the adjourn-
ment of the General Court to Salem ; and
from this year until 1779 served with
energy and devotion in all the important
committees of Congress, spending part of
his time also in the legislature of his own
State. In 1775 he was active in pro-
moting the manufacture of saltpetre and
cannon, visited the northern army under
command of Schuyler, and declined the
office of Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court of Massachusetts. In 1776 he,
with Rutledge and JefTerson, reported
rules for the conduct of Congress in de-
bate, and on July 4 he voted for and
signed the Declaration of Independence.
In 1777-78 he was for a time speaker of
the Massachusetts House of Representa-
tives, was appointed Attorney-General of
the State, and in the last year served on
a committee to regulate the price of labor,
provisions and manufactures, on account
of the depreciation of the Continental
currency, and to relieve the suffering of
the soldiers. In 1779 he was a member
of the Executive Council of Massachu-
setts, and also of the convention which
framed the constitution of the State,
under which he held the office of Attor-
ney-General until 1790. when he became

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,
and retained the office until seventy-three
years of age.

Resigning in 1804, he became a coun-
sellor of the commonwealth. A friend to
the constitution, he supported Washing-
ton and Adams, tie was a founder of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1780, and received the honorary degree
of Doctor of Laws from the University
of Cambridge. At once a Puritan and a
patriot, he was devoted to the religious,
civil and literary institutions of his coun-
try, and in the language of his eulogizer.
"rejoiced in its good, lamented its delu-
sions, was impressed with its dangers,
and prayed for its peace," having labored
for its foundation.

He married Sally Cobb, daughter of
Thomas Cobb, and sister of General
David Cobb. He died May 11, 1814, re-
taining his faculties unimpaired to the
last.

EUSTIS, William,

Man of Many Abilitiea.

William Eustis, surgeon in the Revo-
lution, cabinet official, diplomat, and
tenth Governor of Massachusetts, was
born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, June
10, 1753, son of Benjamin Eustis, an emi-
nent physician.

William Eustis was a student at the
Boston Latin School, and afterwards at
Harvard College, from which he was
graduated in 1772. Having determined
upon the medical profession as his calling
in life he began his studies in the office
of the celebrated Dr. Joseph Warren, of
Boston, who fell at the battle of Bunker
Hill, and almost at his side. Dr. Eustis
was at this time an efficient practitioner,
and he was at once appointed surgeon of
a regiment, from which he was soon
transferred to the charge of a hospital.
In 1777, and during the greater part of
the war. he occupied for hospital purposes

44

\ J

foJ'

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the spacious family mansion of Colonel
Beverly Robinson, a royalist, on the east
bank of the Pludson river, opposite West
Point, the same which at another time
was the headquarters of General Bene-
dict Arnold. He was subsequently made
senior surgeon, and continued to serve as
such until the end of the war. He then
practiced his profession in Boston, but
temporarily left the city in 1786-87, to
serve as surgeon with the forces sent out
to suppress Shay's rebellion.

His public career began in 1788, when
he was elected to the Massachusetts
Legislature, in which he served until
1794. He represented his district in the
Seventh and Eighth Congresses, 1801-05.
In 1809 President Madison called him to
liis cabinet as Secretary of War. Before
leaving Boston to enter upon the duties
of that office, he was married to Caroline,
daughter of John Langdon. Governor of
New Hampshire, and they made their
bridal tour in a coach, the journey to
Washington City occupying two weeks.
At the close of the year 1813, President
Madison appointed him United States
Minister to the Netherlands, and he was
continued in his place throughout IVIadi-
son's second administration. He was a
Representative from Boston in the Six-
teenth and Seventeenth Congresses, 18 19-
2T,. He was elected Governor of Massa-
chusetts in 1824, was reelected in 1825,
and died in office, February 6th of the
same year.

During his first gubernatorial term.
Governor Eustis entertained the General
Marquis de Lafayette at his summer resi-
dence, Shirley Place. Roxbury, near Bos-
ton, the occasion being memorable among
the public functions accorded by the citi-
zens of the new republic to the distin-
guished visitor on his last visit to the
United States. Harvard College con-
ferred upon Governor Eustis the degree
of Master of Arts in 1784, and that of
Doctor of Laws in 1823.

WARREN, John,

Distinguished Early-Day Surgeon.

John Warren was born at Roxbury,
Massachusetts, July 2/, 1753, son of
Joseph and Mary (Stevens) Warren, and
brother of General Joseph Warren. His
earliest American ancestor was Peter
Warren, a mariner, whose name appears
on the town records of Boston in 1659.
He had a son Joseph, who lived in Rox-
bury, on what is now Warren street, and
died there in 1729. His son Joseph, a
farmer, who was well known for his en-
thusiasm in fruit raising, developed a cer-
tain variety of apple long known in that
part of the country as the W^arren russet.

John Warren was graduated at Har-
vard in 1771. having supported himself
through college, and studied medicine
under his brother. Dr. (General) Joseph
Warren. His interest in the cause of
freedom led him to abandon an intention
of emigrating to Surinam, and in 1773 he
began practice in Salem. He took part
at Lexington, both as combatant and as
physician, and was at Bunker Hill, where
he was wounded by a sentry. Deeply
moved by the death of his brother, he
wished to join the army as a soldier, but
his mother dissuaded him. He became
hospital surgeon at Cambridge, then ac-
companied the army to New York, Tren-
ton and Princeton, and returned in 1777
to establish a military hospital at Bos-
ton, of which he had charge until the end
of the war.

Dr. Warren was a man of great ability
in his profession. In 1780 he gave the
Boston Medical Association a course of
dissections, and another in 1781, which
was opened to the students of Harvard.
In 1 78 1 he performed the operation of re-
moving the arm at the shoulder joint. In
1783 he became Professor of Anatomy
and Surgery in the newly opened medical
department of Harvard College, and for
twenty-three years was the only instruc-
tor, often driving twenty miles to meet

45

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

his classes, when the ferry was blocked
by ice. The removal of the school from
Cambridge to Boston in 1810 marked "a
great advance in American medical
science." Dr. Warren was the first sur-
geon of his time in New England, if not
in the United States. In 1784 he bore a
leading part in establishing a smallpox
hospital, and in 1792 inoculated fifteen
hundred persons. In 1798 he made a
study of yellow fever, and determined its
non-contagious character by inhaling the
breath of patients. He was one of the
first to introduce the healing of wounds
by the first intention.

In Dr. Warren's later years he was
president of the State Medical Associa-
tion (1804-15). of the Humane Society,
and of the Agricultural Society ; and
grand master of the Massachusetts Lodge
of Free Masons. Besides a "View of the
Mercurial Practice in Febrile Diseases,"
he wrote much for the "Communications
of the Medical Society," for the "New
England Journal of Medicine and Sur-
gery," and for the "Memoirs of the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences." A
popular public speaker, he was chosen to
deliver the oration at the first Fourth of
July celebration in Boston. He was noted
for fast driving ; all vehicles turned aside
for his, and a military parade once
stopped to let him pass. Though he had
a lucrative practice, he lost much of his
property by endorsing for a colleague.
In 1777 he was married to Abby, daugh-
ter of Governor John Collins, of Newport,
Rhode Island. His eldest son, John C.
Warren, became a physician of note ; and
another son, Edward Warren, was also a
physician, who published a number of
medical writings and wrote a life of his
father. A daughter became the wife of
Dr. John Gorham, of Harvard University,
and another daughter was married to Dr.
John B. Brown, of Boston. Dr. Warren
died in Boston, Massachusetts, April 4.
1815.

LYNDE, Benjamin,

£arly-Day Jurist.

Benjamin Lynde was born at Salem,
Massachusetts, October 5, 1700, son of
Justice Benjamin and Mary (Browne)
Lynde, and grandson of Simon Lynde,
who emigrated from London to New
England in 1650, and two years later was
married to Hannah, daughter of John
Newdigate.

Benjamin Lynde Jr. entered Harvard
College in 1714, and after his graduation
in 1718, studied law and took his master's
degree at Cambridge in 1721. He was
then for several years naval officer for the
port of Salem, and in 1734 was appointed
a special judge of the Court of Pleas for
Suffolk. Five years later he was made
one of the standing judges of the Com-
mon Pleas for Essex county, and in 1745,
the year of his father's death, he was
raised to the superior bench of the prov-
ince. Appointed a member of the Coun-
cil in 1737, he served for many years, but
declined a reelection in 1766, in conse-
quence of the controversy that arose in
that year between the house and govern-
ment as to the right of judges to sit as
councillors. In 1770 he presided at the
trial of the British soldiers who under
Captain Preston fired on the mob in State
street, Boston. The following year he
was appointed Chief Justice of Massachu-
setts. Fle resigned this post in 1772, and
two years later he was one of the signers
of the Salem address to General Thomas
Gage. During the latter years of his life
he was judge of probate for Essex, hold-
ing this post until the breaking out of
the Revolution. Judge Lynde was noted
for his learning, liberality and public
spirit.

He was married, November i, 1731, to
Mary, daughter of Alajor John Bowles,
of Roxbury. He died at Salem, Massa-
chusetts, October 5, 1781.

46

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

OLIVER, Peter,

Jurist, Litteratenr.

Peter Oliver was born in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, March 26, 1713, brother of
Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Oliver. He
was graduated at Harvard College in
1730, and then resided with his family on
his estate in Middleborough, holding at
the same time several offices in Plymouth
county. Although he was not educated
for the law, he was raised to the bench of
justice of the Supreme Court, September
14, 1756, and fifteen years later was ap-
pointed Chief Justice, and made one of
the mandamus councillors. In 1774 he
was impeached by the House of Repre-
sentatives and suspended for refusing to
receive a grant from the province in lieu
of a fixed salary from the crown. He
attempted to hold court under military
protection in spite of his legal suspension,
but the jurors refused to serve on the
ground of the unconstitutionality of such
action. Having openly supported the
royalists and incurred the enmity of the
colonists, when the British troops aban-
doned Boston with other loyalists, he ac-
companied them. He then went to Eng-
land and lived for several years on a pen-
sion from the crown. On leaving this
country he took with him a copy of the
manuscript history of William Hubbard,
also a collection of records and papers
pertaining to the history of the early
Plymouth settlements.

Judge Oliver was a talented writer in
prose and poetry, and fond of antiquarian
studies. Besides numerous contributions
to the Tory paper, "Censor," in which
he skillfully defended his loyalist views,
he published : "Speech on the Death of
Isaac Lothrop" (1750) ; "Poem on the
Death of Secretary Willard" (1757) ;
"The Scriptural Lexicon" (1784-85), and
a poem in English blank verse, which
forms the twentv-ninth in "Pietas et

Gratulatio" (1761). He received the de-
gree of Doctor of Laws from the Univer-
sity of Oxford. He died in Birmingham,
England, October 13, 1791.

WILLIAMS, Ephraim,

Founder of 'Williams College.

Ephraim Williams was born in New-
ton, Massachusetts, February 24, 1715,
son of Colonel Ephraim Williams (1691-
1754) ; grandson of Isaac Williams (1638-
1708), and great-grandson of Robert Wil-
liams.

He was a sailor in his youth, but in
1740, at the outbreak of the French and
Indian war, joined the American army
and served in Canada, attaining the rank
of captain. In 1750 he erected Fort Mas-
sachusetts, on a tract of land granted
him by the crown, and in 1751 he was
appointed commander of the forts in the
Hoosac Valley. In 1755 he commanded
a regiment of Massachusetts troops to
lake part in the expedition against Crown
Point under Sir William Johnson, and
while making a reconnoisance of Baron
Dieskaw's force he was surprised by the
enemy, and mortally wounded. His
brother Thomas (1718-1775) was a fur-
geon in the army in the invasion of Can-
ada ; was promoted to lieutenant-colonel,
and on the close of the campaign prac-
ticed medicine in Deerfield, IMassachu-
setts.

Ephraim Williams bequeathed his prop-
erty to found a free school at Williams-
town, Massachusetts, and in 1785 a school
building (now known as West College)
was erected. In 1793 the State of Massa-
chusetts granted the school a charter as
Williams College, and donated $4,000 for
the purchase of books and philosophical
apparatus. Ephraim Williams died near
Lake George, New York, September 8,
1755- . .'

47

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

BOWDOIN, James,

Scientist, Statesman, Governor.

James Bowdoin was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, August 7, 1726, grandson
of Pierre Baudouin, a French Huguenot
who immigrated to America in 1687, ^^^
settled in Boston in 1690. He was gradu-
ated from Harvard in 1745. Two years
later the death of his father put him in
possession of a large fortune which as-
sured his independence in following his
inclinations in regard to his life work.
Naturally of a studious bent, he became
interested in scientific subjects, and in
1750 visited Philadelphia, and made the
acquaintance of Benjamin Franklin, who
communicated his ideas on electricity to
the young man. The friendship thus
formed was cemented by a frequent cor-
respondence of a scientific as well as of
a friendly nature. In one of his letters to
Franklin, Mr. Bowdoin advanced the
theory that the luminosity of the sea is
caused by the presence in it of phos-
phorescent animalcula, a theory which
Franklin endorsed and which has since
been generally accepted. This corre-
spondence was later on read by Franklin
before the Royal Society, and afterwards
published by him.

In 1753 Mr. Bowdoin became a mem-
ber of the General Court of Massachu-
setts, a position which he held until 1756,
when he was made a member of the coun-
cil. As a councillor he was determined
and zealous in his opposition to the en-
croachments of the royal governors. This
roused the ire of Bernard, who in 1769
refused to confirm his election, but he
was immediately elected to the Assembly,
and in 1770, when Hutchinson became
governor, he resumed his seat in the coun-
cil and maintained it until 1774. The
answers of the council to the insolent as-
sumptions of Bernard and Hutchinson
Avere largely drafted by James Bowdoin,
as those of the assembly were bv James

Otis and Samuel Adams. Hutchinson
himself says: "Bowdoin was without a
rival in the council." and he was called
by Lord Loughnorough "the leader and
the manager of the council of Massachu-
setts." In 1774 his election as councillor
was again negatived, this time by Gov-
ernor Gage, and a few months later "His
Majesty's Council" ceased to exist. Bow-
doin was elected to the Continental Con-
gress, but ill health prevented his taking
his seat. In August, 1775, the Provincial
Congress assembled at Watertown, a
body of twenty-eight councillors was
elected, and he was chosen its president.
In 1779 he presided over the convention
which framed the constitution of Massa-
chusetts, a convention made notable by
the men of learning, talents and patriot-
ism who composed it. During 1785 and
1786 he was Governor of Massachusetts.
In his first address he made suggestions
which resulted in the legislature passing
resolutions in July, 1785, recommending
a convention of delegates from all the
States. During his governorship oc-
curred the famous Shay's rebellion, and
its speedy suppression was altogether due
to his vigorous and timely measures. The
public treasury lacking funds to supply
the expenses of the four thousand militia
put into active service, Governor Bow-
doin headed a subscription list, and the
amount necessary was furnished by the
people of Massachusetts. His energy on
this occasion was odious to certain par-
tisans, and no doubt caused his defeat in
the next gubernatorial election, when he
was a candidate against Hancock. He
was a member of the convention which
formulated the Federal Constitution in
1787. Mr. Bowdoin was a personal friend
of George Washington, and was held in
esteem by all who were foremost in the
public afifairs of that critical era.

His political activities did not prevent
his interest in the polite arts. He helped

48

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

to found and liberally endowed the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences, of
which he was the first president ; and the
Massachusetts Humane Society in part
owed its origin to him. He received the
degree of Doctor of Laws from Edin-
burgh University, and was made a fellow
of Harvard College and of the Royal Soci-
eties of London and Edinburgh. He was
the author of a poetical paraphrase of
Dodsley's "Economy of Human Life,"
and of some Latin and English epigrams
and poems which were incorporated in a
volume published by Harvard College,
entitled "Pietas et Gratulatio," as well as
of several papers on scientific subjects.
Bowdoin College, so liberally endowed by
his son James, was named in his honor.
He died in Boston, November 6, 1790.

SULLIVAN, James,

Governor, Man of Ability.

James Sullivan, fifth Governor of Mas-
sachusetts, and a man of commanding
ability in both public life and individual
concerns, was born at Berwick, Maine,
April 22, 1744, fourth son of John and
Margery (Brow^n) Sullivan His g'-and-
father, Major Philip Sullivan, of Ardea.
an officer in the Catholic army against
William of Orange, was of the fourth
generation in descent from Daniel O'Sul-
livan, chief of Beare and Bantry. After
the surrender of Limerick, preferring
exile to apostasy, he went to France, in
company with Sarsfield, and there, shortly
after the birth of his son John, was killed
in a duel. The family is an ancient one
in Ireland, and of so distinguished a
lineage that, in the words of Jeremy
Bentham, "in point of antiquity and early
preeminence, they can vie with the most
distinguished in Europe." The glorious
exploits of the Clan O'Sullivan in battle
are frequently set forth in the ancient
chronicles of the South of Ireland, and it
is well established that previous to the

MASS— 4

English conquest in 1170, they were the
free rulers of the kingdom of Munster.
After the death of William of Orange,
John Sullivan returned to Ireland, only
to face the distress and poverty which
had fallen to the lot of most of his Cath-
olic countrymen. He accordingly deter-
mined to seek his fortune in America, and
in 1723 set sail from Limerick. On this
voyage he made the acquaintance of his
future wife, then a child of nine years.
After several romantic episodes, he was
married to her about 1732, and settled
on a farm of some seventy-seven acres,
near Berwick, Maine. Although it is
stated that he never relinquished his an-
central faith, it seems that he had few
opportunities to live up to its require-
ments in his later years, and, as a conse-
quence, his children were reared under
Protestant influence. In his old age he
was singularly imposing and venerable in
appearance, and, although he lived to the
extraordinary age of one hundred and
five, retained his faculties to the last.

James Sullivan was educated as well
as the facilities of the time and conditions
would warrant, but his strong mental
abilities enabled him to make much of
small advantages and become cultured
almost before his store of knowledge had
passed much beyond the rudiments.
Throughout youth he worked at agricul-
ture, devoting all his spare moments to
reading ; but the severe fracture of one of
his limbs, sustained while felling a tree,
resulted in permanent lameness, and pre-
cluded entrance upon the life of a soldier,
as his parents had intended. He there-
fore commenced the study of law, under
his brother John, later distinguished as
General Sullivan, of the Revolutionary
army, and as judge of the United States
District Court of New Hampshire. Sulli-
van's prominence in after-life is all the
more creditable when we consider that
again, in the reading of law, he was faced

49

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

with limited facilities in inadequate text-
books and absence of all regular instruc-
tion. His natural talents were equal to
every difficulty, and before his thirty-
second year he was recognized as one of
the foremost men at the bar. After his
admission he settled at Georgetown,
Maine, but soon returned to Biddeford,
where he was for some time king's attor-
ney for York county.

Through his inherited love of liberty
and strong sympathy with the colonies
against England, he became a leader in
the events that led up to the revolution.
He was a member of the Provincial Con-
gress of Massachusetts in 1775, and was
by that body appointed one of a commit-
tee of three for a secret mission to Ticon-
deroga, which, largely through his tact
and diplomacy, was brought to a success-
ful issue. In January, 1776, he was made
one of the judges of the Superior Court,
then the highest judicial tribunal in the
colony, where he was a colleague of John
Adams and William Gushing, and served
until February, 1782. In that year the
legislature was obliged by the general
poverty to reduce his salary to three hun-
dred pounds, which necessitated his res-
ignation, since even when receiving a
higher rate of compensation, he had been
unable to more than meet his traveling
expenses while on circuit. Meanwhile,
in 1779, he was a delegate to the State
Constitutional Convention; in 1784 and
1785 a delegate to the Continental Con-
gress ; and was several times elected a
member of the State Legislature from
Boston. In 1784 he was appointed on a
committee, with John Lovell and The-
ophilus Parsons, to meet a similar com-
mission from New York regarding the
dispute that had arisen between the two
States over the boundary question.
Again, in 1796, by appointment of Presi-
dent Washington, he served as commis-
sioner, under the fifth article of the treaty

with Great Britain, to fix the boundary
line between the United States and Can-
ada, a delicate task, which he discharged
with his usual tact and ability. The lines
then determined on have since continued
practically the same. In 1787 Sullivan
was chosen a member of the Executive
Council of the State, and judge of probate
for Suffolk county, and in 1790 became
Attorney-General, an office held by him
until 1807. It was in this office that he
won particular distinction from the start.
He insisted, upon his appointment, that a
regular salary should be fixed for his
services, instead of the system of fees
hitherto in vogue, although this was
greatly to his pecuniary disadvantage.
His skill as a lawyer and pleader were
frequently brought to the test in this con-
nection, especially in the famous Fair-
banks and Selfridge murder trials, where
the best legal talent in the State was
arrayed against him. He secured a con-
viction in the former case on a chain of
circumstantial evidence, despite the stren-
uous efforts of the opposing counsel, who
was evidently convinced of his client's
complete innocence. In his practice, Sul-
livan was a great exemplar of precision
in the use of legal forms and a keen power
of logical analysis ; and yet, by his im-
passioned oratory and vigorous appeals
to their sympathies, he was one of the
most noted jury lawyers of the time. He
enjoyed almost universal popularity until
his strong opposition to certain points
of the Federal constitution and statutes,
notably the national bank system, and his
outspoken support of the French repub-
lic— matters on which feeling ran high in
those times — gradually alienated some of
his closest friends and associates. In
these matters, however, he sacrificed
much of his feeling for the sake of peace
and moderation.

Among his most notable public services
was the planning and successful carrying

50

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

out of the Middlesex canal, constructed
to connect the Merrimack with the
Charles river at Charlestown. He was
president of the company from its incor-
poration, in 1793, until his death. The
first surveys were made by an English
engineer named Weston, a pupil of James
Brindley, and it is stated that the first
leveling instrument ever used in the
United States was there employed by
him. The work of construction was su-
perintended by Colonel Loammi Bald-
win, of Woburn, Massachusetts, one of
the foremost contractors of the day. In
1807 and again in 1808 he was chosen
Governor of Massachusetts on the Re-
publican ticket, but died soon after his
election for a second term. His published
writings are numerous, and include: "Ob-
servations on the Government of the
United States" (1791) ; "Dissertation on
Banks" (1792) ; "History of Maine"
(1795) ; "The French Nation Defended"
(1795) ; "Causes of the French Revolu-
tion" (1798) ; "History of Land Titles in
Massachusetts" (1801) ; "Constitutional
Liberty of the Press" (1801) ; "Corre-
spondence with Col. Pickering" (1808),
and a "History of the Penobscot In-
dians," published in the Massachusetts
historical collections. He projected a his-
tory of criminal law in Massachusetts,
but the manuscript is said to have been
left in an unfinished condition, and no
part of it has been printed. Governor
Sullivan was one of the ten original mem-
bers, and long president, of the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society, and a mem-
ber of the American Society of Arts and
Sciences. In 1780 Harvard conferred
upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
He was an earnest Christian throughout
life, and a generous contributor to all re-
ligious and beneficient objects.

He was married, February 22, 1768, to
Hetty Odiorne, of Durham, Maine. His
son, John Langdon (1777-1865), was a

noted engineer and inventor, and another
son, William (1774-1839), gained emi-
nence at the bar. (See "Life of James
Sullivan," by Thomas C. Amory, pub-
lished in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1859).
Governor Sullivan died in Boston, Massa-
chusetts, December 10, 1808.

BALDWIN, Loammi,

Soldier, Scientist.

Loammi Baldwin was born at North
Woburn, Middlesex county, Massachu-
setts, January 21, 1745, third child of
James and Ruth (Richardson) Baldwin.
He was a descendant of Deacon Henry
Baldwin, who emigrated to Massachusetts
in 1630, probably with Winthrop's colony,
lived at Charlestown, which he repre-
sented in the General Court, was one of
the first settlers of Woburn, and was a
subscriber to the "town orders" drawn
up at Charlestown for the regulation of
the projected new settlement in Decem-
ber, 1641.

In early life he discovered a strong de-
sire for acquiring knowledge, and attend-
ed the grammar school in Woburn under
the instruction of Master John Fowle, a
noted teacher of that time ; the school
was a movable one, being- kept at suc-
cessive periods first in the centre of the
town and secondly at the precinct, or the
jDart of Woburn now incorporated in the
town of Burlington. At a more advanced
period of life, with the intention of ob-
taining a thorough acquaintance with
natural and experimental philosophy, he
would walk from North Woburn to Cam-
bridge, in company with his school mate,
Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford,
and attended the lectures of Professor
John Winthrop at Harvard College, for
which liberty had been given, and upon
their return home on foot they were in the
habit of illustrating the principles they
had heard enunciated in the lecture room

51

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

by making rude instruments for them-
selves to pursue their experiments.

He was present at the battle of Lexing-
ton. As early as 1768 he had enlisted in
a company of horse guards, and was not
wholly destitute of military experience
when summoned a little before the break
of day to the field at Lexington and Con-
cord on April 19, 1775. In his own state-
ment he says: "We mustered as fast as
possible. The town turned out extra-
ordinary, and proceeded toward Lexing-
ton." Holding the rank of a major in
the militia, he says : "1 rode along a little
before the main body, and when I was
nigh Jacob Reed's (at present Duren-
ville) I heard a great firing; proceeded
on, soon heard that the Regulars had fired
upon Lexington people and killed a large
number of them. We proceeded on as
fast as possible and came to Lexington
and saw about eight or ten dead and
numbers wounded." He then, with the
rest from Woburn, proceeded to Concord
by way of Lincoln meeting house, ascend-
ed a hill there, and rested and refreshed
themselves a little. Then follows a par-
ticular account of the action and of his
own experience. He had "several good
shots," and proceeded on till coming be-
tween the meeting house and Buckman's
tavern at Lexington, with a prisoner be-
fore him, the cannon of the British began
to play, the balls flying near him, and for
safety he retreated back behind the meet-
ing house, when a ball came through near
his head, and he further retreated to a
meadow north of the house and lay there
and heard the balls in the air and saw
them strike the ground. ^Vol)urn sent
to the field on that day one hundred and
eighty men.

At the beginning of the war he enlisted
in the regiment of foot commanded by
Colonel Samuel Gerrish. Here he was
rapidly advanced to be lieutenant-colonel,
and upon Colonel Gerrish's retirement in

August, 1775, he was placed at the head
of the regiment, and was soon commis-
sioned its colonel. His regiment was
first numbered the Thirty-eighth and was
afterwards numbered the Twenty-sixth,
its original eight companies being in-
creased to ten. Till the end of 1775,
Colonel Baldwin and his men remained
near Boston; but in April, 1776, he was
ordered with his command to New York
City. On April 19 of that year he was
at New York; on June 13, 1776, at the
Grand Battery there; on June 22, the
same ; and on December 26, 1776, his
regiment, commanded by himself, "went
on the expedition to Trentown" (Tren-
ton). In this regiment was one company
from Woburn, commanded by Captain
John Wood. On the memorable night of
December 25, 1776, in the face of a vio-
lent and extremely cold storm of snow
and hail. General Washington and his
army crossed the Delaware to the New
Jersey side, and took by surprise the
next morning at Trenton about one thou-
sand Hessian troops commanded by Colo-
nel Rahl, and Colonel Baldwin and his
men took part in this daring and success-
ful enterprise.

Colonel Baldwin's experience in the
campaigns in New York and New Jersey
is told in his letters to his family at
home, and many of these letters have
been sacredly preserved by his descend-
ants. During 1775-76 he was stationed
with about two hundred or more of his
men at Chelsea, while other companies
of his regiment were stationed about
Boston at Brookline and Medford. The
"History of Chelsea," published by the
Massachusetts Historical Society, con-
tains a great mass of material relating to
the stay of a portion of the regiment at
Chelsea, where their duties were those
mostly of guards.

Colonel Baldwin resigned from the
arm}- in 1777 on account of ill health. His

52

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

subsequent life was spent in his native
place, and was marked by an enterprising
spirit and the active habits of his youth.
He had a talent and capacity for busi-
ness. In his public career he was ap-
pointed on many committees on impor-
tant town business ; the records of the
town and many autographic town papers
are ample evidence of this. He was ap-
pointed high sheriff of Middlesex county
in 1780, and was the first to hold office
after the adoption of the State constitu-
tion. In 1778-79-80. and the four follow-
ing years, he represented Woburn in the
General Court. In 1794 he was a candi-
date for election to Congress, and had all
the votes cast in Woburn but one. In
1796, on three trials for the choice of the
same office, he had all the votes for the
first two in Woburn, and on the third
seventy-four votes out of the seventy-
six cast in Woburn. At other elections
he was a prominent candidate among
those held up in Woburn for the offices
of State Senator. Lieutenant-Governor
and Presidential Elector.

From his acquaintance with mathe-
matics and the arts and sciences of his
time, he was chosen a member of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
and to the publications of that body he
contributed two papers, entitled. "An ac-
count of a Curious Appearance of the
Electrical Fluid" (Memoirs Am. Acad.,
vol. i. 1785. pp. 257-259) ; and "Observa-
tions on Electricity and an Improved
Mode of Constructing Lightning Rods"
(Memoirs, vol. 2, pt. 2, 1804. pp. 96-104).
The first paper was written in 1783. and
the "curious appearance" described was
produced by raising an electrical kite at
the time of a thunder shower. The ex-
periments, however, were made in July,
1 77 1. At that time the author mentions
that there stood some lofty trees near his
house, and also a shop near by it. His
parents and neighbors witnessed the

"electrical eft"ect" he succeeding in pro-
ducing. The date of preparing the sec-
ond article was January 25, 1797. Colo-
nel Baldwin wrote a sketch of Count
Rumford which was printed in a local
publication in 1805. He w-as also the
author of a report on the survey of the
I'oston and Narragansett Bay Canal,
1S06. He was elected a fellow of the
Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1782,
and was a member of the council 1785 to
1796, and from 1798 to 1807. (Further,
see Cutter, "Local History of Woburn,"
p. 203). lie received from Harvard Col-
lege the degree of Master of Arts in 1785.

He was not one who for the sake of
popularity would sacrifice his principles
of duty to the public, though, as shown
by the votes above, he was deservedly a
favorite with his townsmen and fellow
citizens generally. Thus he protested
with others against the action of the
town in xj^y in the time of Shay's Re-
bellion, when the majority of the citizens
of Woburn voted not to give any encour-
agement to the men called out to go on
the present expedition, nor to aid or as-
sist it. Against this proceeding of the
town. Colonel Baldwin and thirty-six
others at once entered their protest, and
two days after, the town itself recon-
sidered the votes it had passed on this
subject. He took a prominent part in the
construction of the Middlesex canal, com-
pleted in 1803. one of the earliest enter-
prises of the sort in the United States.

To him the discovery and the introduc-
tion to public notice and the earliest cul-
tivation of the Baldwin apple, about
1784, has been justly ascribed. He was
one day surveying land at a place called
Butters' Row. in Wilmington, near the
bounds of that town. Woburn and Bur-
lington, when he observed one or more
birds of the woodpecker variety flying
repeatedly to a certain tree on land of a
Mr. James Butters. Prompted by curi-

53

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

csity to ascertain the cause of their at-
traction, he at leng-th went to it, and
found on the ground under it apples of
an excellent flavor and well worth culti-
vating; and returning to the tree the next
spring, he took from it scions to graft
into stocks of his own. Other persons
induced by his advice or example grafted
trees of theirs from the same stock ; and
subsequently when Colonel Baldwin at-
tended court or went into other parts of
the county as high sherift, he carried
scions of this apple and distributed them
among iiis acquaintance, so that this
species of fruit soon became extensively
known and cultivated. The original tree
remained, it is said, till 1815, when it was
blown down in the famous "September
gale." The apple thus became known as
the "Baldwin apple."

His name is also associated with that
of the celebrated Count Rumford. In
childhood they were opposite neighbors,
playmates and schoolmates. They at-
tended lectures at Harvard College to-
gether. Baldwin befriended him when
arrested by one of the local military com-
panies as a person inimical to the cause
of the colonies, and he was tried and ac-
quitted by a court of which Baldwin ap-
pears to be one of the members. To the
last, though separated by the ocean and
political preferences, they were enthusi-
astic friends and correspondents — the one
was an American officer, and the other
an officer in the opposing British forces.

The history of his house, which is still
standing at North Woburn, may be told
in the following words taken from the
recorded statements of different members
of his family at different periods. The
house was built in 1661. as appeared by
the date on a timber which was lying
about the house in 1835. It was owned
by Henry Baldwin from 1661 to his death
in 1697, '1"^ ^ic was succeeded by his son
Henry, who latterly went to New Hamp-

shire. The latter Henry was succeeded
in ownership by James, who died June
28, 1791, son of Henry; Loammi, son of
James, to 1807, who put on a third story
in 1802 or 1803. Benjamin F. Baldwin,
son of Loammi, was the owner from 1807
to 1822; Loammi (second) and Mary and
Clarissa Baldwin were joint owners from
1822 to 1836; and George R. Baldwin,
sole owner, from 1836 to his death, Octo-
ber ir, 1888. Mrs. Catharine R. Griffith,
daughter of George Rumford Baldwin,
was the last recorded owner (1907).
Colonel Loammi Baldwin's estate em-
braced from his inventory, which is very
lengthy, a very large amount of land in
1801, according to a town assessor's list,
two hundred and twelve acres. His son,
Benjamin F. Baldwin, occupied his estate
from 1807 to about 1822. as above men-
tioned.

The selectmen of Boston, at a meeting
on April 15, 1772, paid Loammi Baldwin,
of Woburn, forty dollars, the premium
they adjudged to him for raising the
greatest number of mulberry trees in re-
sponse to an advertisement published in
"Edes and Gill's Gazette," 1768. The se-
lectmen took a receipt of Baldwin, and
also an obligation to dispose of one-half
the trees under the conditions mentioned
in said advertisement. The first premium
was awarded to Loammi Baldwin. Under
this competition Mr. John Hay, of Wo-
burn, received twenty dollars as the
premium adjudged him for raising the
third greatest number of mulberry trees.
The statement in the advertisement was
that a gentleman of Boston had deposited
one hundred dollars with the selectmen
to be distributed as premiums to encour-
age the raising of mulberry trees in the
province. The conditions of the awards
were also given. The name of the donor
was William Whitwell.

Colonel Baldwin was twice married ;
first to Mary, daughter of James Fowle,

54

Xoamml ^ald^^in ^'ouss. Woburn, j^ass.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of Woburn ; she bore him four sons and
a daughter. He married (second) Mar-
garet, daughter of Josiah Fowle, of Wo-
burn ; she bore him a daughter, Clarissa,
who became the wife of Thomas B.
Coolidge ; and a son, George Rumford.

STRONG, Caleb,

Early Senator and Governor.

Caleb Strong was born in Northamp-
ton, Massachusetts, January 9, 1745, son
of Lieutenant Caleb and Phebe (Lyman)
Strong, grandson of Jonathan and Mehit-
able (Stebbins) Strong, and of Captain
Moses and Mindwell (Sheldon) Lyman,
and a descendant of Elder John and Abi-
gail (Ford) Strong. Elder Strong (1605-
99), who emigrated from Plymouth. Eng-
land, in 1630, was one of the founders of
Dorchester, IMassachusetts, and eventu-
ally located in Northampton, Massachu-
setts, in 1659.

Caleb Strong studied under the Rev.
Samuel Moody, of York, Maine, and at
Harvard College, from which he was
graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1764, re-
ceiving the ]\Iaster's degree in 1767. He
studied law under Major Joseph Hawley,
of Northampton, and was admitted to the
bar in 1772. Pie was a member of the
Committee of Correspondence and Safety,
1774-75 ; a representative in the General
Court, 1776-78, and county attorney.
1776-1800. He was State Senator, 1780-
88, and declined a seat on the supreme
bench in 1781. He was a member of the
convention that formed the State consti-
tution of Massachusetts, serving on the
committee that drew up that instrument ;
and a delegate to the United States Con-
stitutional Convention of 1787. but did
not sign the instrument. With Thomas
Dalton he was elected one of the first
United States Senators from Massachu-
setts, and drew the long term of four
years ; he was reelected for six years, his
second term to expire March 3. 1799, but

resigned in 1796, and Theodore Sedgwick
took his seat, December 6, 1796, and com-
pleted his term. He was Governor of
Massachusetts, 1800-07 ; presidential elec-
tor in 1809, and again Governor of Mas-
sachusetts, 1812-16. During his second
term as Governor he opposed the war
with England, and refused the request of
the President to furnish troops, claiming
that the decision rested with him as to
when the militia should be called out, in
which opinion he was upheld by the Su-
preme Court. After the withdrawal, how-
ever, of the national troops, he made
proper and sufficient provision for the de-
fence of the State. After 1816 he resumed
the practice of law in Northampton.

He received the honorary degree of
Doctor of Laws from Harvard College in
1801 ; was a fellow of the American Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences, and a mem-
ber of the Massachusetts Historical Soci-
ety. He was the author of: "Speeches,
and Other Papers. 1800-1807" (1808).
His biography was written by Alden
Bradford (1820). See also "The Strong
Family" by Benjamin W. Dwight (2 vols.,
1871).'

He was married. November 20, 1777,
to Sarah, daughter of the Rev. John and
Sarah (Worthington) Hooker, of North-
ampton, and they had nine children. Gov-
ernor Strong died in Northampton. Mas-
sachusetts. November 17, 1819.

SUMNER, Increase,

La^iryer, Jnrist, Governor.

Increase Sumner was born at Roxbury,
Massachusetts. November 27, 1746, the
son of Increase Sumner, a farmer, who
had succeeded in acquiring a considerable
property. The earliest American ances-
tors came from England, and settled in
Dorchester, near Boston. Increase Sum-
ner the elder, was noted for his colossal
size and great strength of muscle, as well
as for his frug'ality. his industry and his

55

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

success. He died in 1774. having had
eight children, only three of whom sur-
vived him — his son Increase, and two
daughters.

The subject of this narrative o])tained
the rudiments of learning in the public
grammar school of Roxbury, where he
made such progress that his father was
induced to send him to Harvard, which
he entered in 1763. There he entirely
justified the hopes and predictions of his
friends, being graduated with distinction
in 1767. On leaving college, he took
charge of the school where he had re-
ceived his preparatory education, and
after three years entered the office of
Samuel Quincy, an eminent barrister,
brother of Josiah Ouincy. In 1770 he-
was admitted to the bar, and began prac-
tice in Roxbury. He was found to be in-
telligent and worthy of confidence, and
his business soon became important and
lucrative. In 1776 he was chosen a mem-
ber of the Great Court, in which he con-
tinued to represent his native town until
1780, when he was elected State Senator
from the county of Norfolk. He was a
member of the two conventions of 1777
and 1779, on a form of government; and
of the Massachusetts convention of 1789,
on the adoption of the federal constitu-
tion. The convention of 1777 published
at the conclusion of its sitting, what was
styled the doings of "The General Con-
vention of the Commonwealth of the
State of Massachusetts," declaring the
same to be a free state, and ofifering a
preamble and rough draft of a constitu-
tion. The latter, however, was rejected.
The convention of 1779 met for the pur-
pose of making a constitution for the
commonwealth, and held sessions from
time to time between the first week in
September and the middle of June follow-
ing, during which time the debates are
said to have been spirited and dignified.

but no trace of any of them remains in
history.

In June, 1782, Sumner was chosen a
member of Congress, but never took a
>eat. in that bod}-, as, in August follow-
ing, he was made Associate Judge of the
Supreme Judicial Court. He was at that
time only thirty-six years of age, but the
public had confidence in his integrity and
ability, and the court considered him an
acquisition, lie continued on the bench
until 1797, when he was elected Gov-
ernor of the commonwealth. He was re^
elected the two following years, but on
the occasion of his last election was on
his deathbed, and there the oath of office
was administered to him. in order that
he might be legalh' qualified, and the
Lieutenant-Governor be thus empowered
to act in case of his demise. When this
occurred, it produced general sorrow in
Massachusetts — indeed it is said that no
death except Washington's had ever been
more deeply deplored in Massachusetts.
H^is funeral took place on June 12th, su-
perintended by a committee of the legis-
iature, and the ceremonies are said to
have been the most solemn and splendid
ever witnessed in the commonwealth.
All classer- of citizens mourned him, and
badges of respect to his memory were
Aery generally worn for forty days. At
the time when Mr. Sumner was made
Governor of Massachusetts, the country
was prosperous, but the people were ap-
prehensive for the future. The effect of
the French revolution was beginning to
be experienced in this country, and it
was felt in Massachusetts that it was
necessary to have at the head of the com-
monwealth a man whose virtues in pri-
vate life were unassailable, and whose
general reputation placed him out of the
reach of slander.

Governor Sumner was married, Sep-
tember 30, 1779, to a daughter of William
ITyslop, of Brooklyn, formerly a distin-

56

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

guished merchant of Boston. They had
a son and two daughters. Mrs. Sumner
survived her husband ten years. The
date of Governor Sumner's death was
June 7. 1799.

OSGOOD, Samuel,

Statesman, Cabinet Oificial.

Samuel Osgood was born at Andover,
Massachusetts. February 14. 1748. He
was fifth in descent from John Osgood,
of Andover, England, who came to Mas-
sachusetts about 1630, and gave its name
to the town of Andover.

After graduation at Harvard College
in T770, he studied theology, but, on ac-
count of ill health abandoned his studies,
and engaged in mercantile affairs. In
1774 he was a delegate to the Essex
county convention, and was repeatedly
a member of the Massachusetts Legisla-
ture, and subsequently of the Massachu-
setts Provincial Congress in which he
served on various important committees.
He was a captain of militia at Lexington
and Cambridge, Massachusetts, in April,
1775; and in 1775 and 1776 served as
aide-de-camp on the staff of General Ar-
temas Ward, of the American army, with
the rank of colonel. He was also a mem-
ber of the ^Massachusetts Board of War,
to serve as such leaving the army, in 1776
with the rank of colonel and assistant
commissary, and in prospect of further
military honors. He sat in the Massachu-
setts House of Representatives until 1780,
when he entered the State Senate. From
1780 to 1784 he was a Massachusetts dele-
gate to the Continental Congress. In
T782 he was chairman of a delegation
sent to Rhode Island to urge assent to
Alexander Hamilton's resolution concern-
ing the duty on imports. From 1785 to
1789 he was first Commissioner of the
United States Treasury, and from 1789
to 1791 the first Postmaster General.
When the seat of the United States gov-

ernment was removed to Philadelphia in
1791, he resigned the Postmaster-Gen-
eralship and continued his residence at
New York City, whence he was subse-
quently sent to the State Legislature, and
became its speaker. From 1801 to 1803
he was a supervisor of New York City,
and from that time until his death in New
York, was United States Naval Officer of
the port.

He published several volumes on re-
ligious subjects, and one on the subject
of chronolog}'. His correspondence with
eminent men was extensive ; he was well
versed in science and literature, and was
distinguished for integrity, public spirit
and piety. He was a charter member of
the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. He married (first) Martha
Brandon, of Cambridge, Massachusetts,
who died without issue. He married
(second) Maria (Bowne) Franklin,
widow of Walter Franklin, of New York
City, and daughter of Daniel Bowne of
Flushing, Long Island. Their daughter.
Martha Brandon, became the wife of Ed-
mond C. Genet, the French Minister to
the United States, who was recalled by
his government under complaint from the
American government that he was inter-
fering in its domestic politics. Mr. Os-
good's house in New York was in Frank-
lin Square, and was Washington's head-
quarters when he reached the city. He
died August 12, 1813.

LINCOLN, Levi,

La^vyer, Cabinet Officer, Governor.

Levi Lincoln, sixth Governor of Mas-
sachusetts, and United States Attorney-
General, was born at Hingham, Massa-
chusetts, May 15, 1749* son of Enoch and
Rachel ^Fearing) Lincoln. He was a de-
scendant of Samuel Lincoln, of Hingham,
who came to this country from Hingham.
England, in 1637.

Levi's father was a farmer, who gave

57

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

his son such education as he could, and
the son, in his leisure time, succeeded in
preparing himself for college, and entered
Harvard, where he was graduated in
1772. Although his education had been
shaped with a view to the study of the-
ology, he was influenced to adopt the
legal profession by the deep impression
made on his mind at hearing John Adams
argue a case in Boston, with his accus-
tomed vigor and eloquence. He began
forthwith to read law in the office of Jo-
seph Hawley, of Northampton, and sub-
sequently settled in Worcester, where
he began practice and continued his resi-
dence until his death. He played a promi-
nent part in the movement for the aboli-
tion of slavery in Massachusetts, and
continued active in political affairs until
the outbreak of the Revolution. After
the battle of Lexington, he accompanied
a detachment of minute-men to Cam-
bridge, and was for several weeks at-
tached to the besieging army before Bos-
ton. Returning to Worcester, he was
chosen upon the Committee of Corre-
spondence, and further displayed his zeal
for the cause of independence by numer-
ous patriotic appeals, and a series of com-
munications to the press, entitled "A
Farmer's Letters."' He rapidly achieved
distinction at the bar of Worcester
county, and was successively county
prosecutor, clerk of the court, and judge
of probate. In 1781 he was a delegate to
the State Constitutional Convention, and
in the same year refused an election to
Congress. He was a member of the Gen-
eral Court of the State in 1796, and dur-
ing 1797-1800 of the Senate. In 1800 he
was elected to Congress, where he served
for only a few weeks before his appoint-
ment as Attorney-General in the cabinet
of President Thomas Jefferson. He also
discharged the duties of Secretary of
State until Mr. Madison's arrival in
Washington. In 1805 'le resigned from

the cabinet, and, returning to Massachu-
setts, resumed his former prominence in
public affairs, serving in 1806, 1810 and
181 1 as member of the State Executive
Council. He was Lieutenant-Governor
of Massachusetts in 1807-09, and during
several months of the latter year, owing
to the death of Governor James Sullivan,
was Acting-Governor. In 181 1 Governor
Lincoln was appointed by President Mad-
ison to be Associate Justice of the United
States Supreme Court, but, threatened at
this time with total blindness, he declined
the position. He afterward recovered his
sight sufficiently to enable him to devote
necessary attention to his farm, and to
indulge himself somewhat in classical
studies. Governor Lincoln was an or-
iginal member of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences ; of the Massachu-
setts Historical Society, and other learned
bodies. He was author of the notable
"Farmer's Letters" which were a marked
feature of the political discussions inci-
dent to Adams' administration.

He died in Worcester, Massachusetts,
April 14, 1820. Llis widow, who was a
daughter of Daniel Waldo, died in the
same place, eight years later, and was
followed to the grave by two sons, both
governors — Levi, of Massachusetts, and
Enoch, of Maine.

THOMAS, Isaiah,

Pioneer Printer and Editor.

Isaiah Thomas was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, January 19, 1749, son of
Moses Thomas. He served as appren-
tice to Zachariah Fowles, printer, and
was in his employ from 1755 to 1766, and
whose partner he became in 1770, having
meanwhile visited the W^est Indies and
Nova Scotia.

In connection with Fowles he founded
"The Massachusetts Spy," a W^hig publi-
cation, after a few months becoming sole
editor, and for his opposition to British

SH

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

oppression was ordered to be prosecuted
by Governor Hutchinson in 1771, but was
not indicted. On account of its independ-
ent policy, w^hich was displeasing to many
in Boston, in April, 1775, he removed
"The Spy" to Worcester, which became
its permanent location with the exception
of its temporary publication in Boston,
in 1776-77. He was associated with Paul
Revere in giving the memorable warn-
ing of the advance of the British on
April 18, 1775, and took part in the battle
of Lexington. In 1775 he began the pub-
lication of the "New England Almanac,"
and which he maintained until 1817. He
was a pioneer in importing and using
music-type, in 1786. He published books,
and was joint printer of the "Farmer's
Museum," Walpole, New Hampshire, and
in 1788 founded the firm of Thomas &
Andrews, book-publishers, Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, with branches in various
other cities, publishing the "Massachu-
setts Magazine" eight volumes, 1789-96;
a folio Bible, 1791 ; Watts' "Psalms and
Hymns," and almost all the Bibles and
school books in common use in that day.
He founded the American Antiquarian
Society of Worcester, acting as its first
president. He received the honorary de-
gree of LL. D. from Allegheny College,
Pennsylvania, in 1818. He was the author
of a "History of Printing," in two vol-
umes. His extensive library, which con-
tained a valuable file of newspapers, he
bequeathed to the Antiquarian Society,
as well as land and a hall, with property
amounting to $24,000 for its maintenance.
See memoir by Benjamin L. Thomas
(1874). He died in Worcester, Massa-
chusetts, April 4, 1831.

CABOT, George,

Constructive Statesman.

George Cabot was born in Salem, Mas-
sachusetts, December 3, 175 1. He re-
ceived a careful preparatory education,

and studied for two years at Harvard
College. Then, moved probably by a
restless disposition and a desire for
knowledge and experience, he went to
sea. His abilities seem to have been of
the best, since before his majority he was
placed in command of a ship, with which
for several years he was engaged in for-
eign trade, and soon after his return home
in 1775 he was chosen a delegate to the
first Massachusetts Provincial Congress,
assembled at Concord. In this body he
at once rose to prominence through the
advocacy of political and economic prin-
ciples, characterized by sound judgment
and common sense, in vigorous opposition
to the proposed measure for establishing
a maximum of prices on all necessities
(this he correctly termed the worst pos-
sible course to pursue in raising funds
for public expenses, and at the same time
maintain the state), and defended the
right of free commerce. Thereafter he
was esteemed one of the foremost auth-
orities on economics in the country, and
enjoyed the high regard of such promi-
nent public characters as Washington,
Ames and Hamilton, greatly assisting the
last-named in formulating his financial
policy, with manifold observations de-
rived from his knowledge of commercial
matters. Later he became a member of
the convention that framed the constitu-
tion of Massachusetts, and also of that
v/hich m 1788 adopted the newly formu-
lated Federal Constitution, in behalf of
which he discovered great zeal and en-
ergy. From 1 79 1 until 1796 he served
with distinction in the United States
Senate from Massachusetts.

When the office of Secretary of the
Navy was created, he was the first choice
of President Adams for the position, to
which he was appointed May 3, 1789, but
which he resigned on the 21st of the
month, and retained his seat in the Sen-
ate. He served in the Council of Massa-

59

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

chusetts in 1808, and was made president
of the eastern convention at Hartford
in 1814, being chosen to the latter posi-
tion for his profound knowledge of politi-
cal economy. After this period he retired
from public life, and devoted himself to
business pursuits until his death.

Mr. Cabot possessed a singularly alert
and penetrating mind, and his ability to
grasp and define situations was remark-
able. From his well-stored memory he
was able to marshal an array of facts
bearing upon almost any situation, and
enforce his views with a fascinating elo-
quence. His daughter became the wife
of President Kirkland, of Harvard Col-
lege. The "History of the Hartford Con-
vention," published in 1833 by Theodore
Dwight, give his views on financial
policy. He died in Boston, April 18, 1823.

BROOKS, John,

Veteran of the Revolution, Governor.

John Brooks was born at Medford.
Massachusetts, May 31, 1752. He worked
on his father's farm, and attended the
village school at irregular intervals until
his fourteenth year, when he was taken
into the home of Dr. Simon Tufts, the
family physician, to be educated for the
medical profession. Having completed
his professional studies, he began the
practice of medicine at Reading, Massa-
chusetts, in 1773.

Upon hearing of the march of the Brit-
ish to Lexington and Concord, in 1775,
he ordered out a militia company which
he had been drilling for some time, and
proceeded to the scene of battle, where
he so distinguished himself by his brav-
ery and efficiency that he was given a
major's commission in the provincial
army. He was active during the night
preceding the battle having been sent
with a despatch from Colonel Prescott
to General Artenias Ward. In 1777 he
was made lieutenant-colonel of the

Eighth Massachusetts Regiment, and, as
commander of the regiment, took an active
and gallant part in all the battles and
manoeuvres of the northern army, which
terminated in Burgoyne's surrender. He
was with Washington in all the hard-
ships of Valley Forge. Early in 1778 he
was promoted to a colonelcy, and in June
of that year distinguished himself at the
battle of Monmouth As a tactician he
was acknowledged to be second only to
Baron Steuben, and after that officer be-
came inspector-general, Colonel Brooks
was associated with him in establishing
in the army a uniform system of drill and
exercise.

After the return of peace and the dis-
banding of the army, Colonel Brooks re-
rurned to the practice of his profession,
establishing himself at Medford. He was
active in militia alifairs, and served for
many years with the rank of major-gen-
eral. He was a member of the State Con-
vention which met in 1788 to ratify the
Federal Constitution, and in 1795, by ap-
pointment of General Washington, be-
came marshal of his district and inspec-
tor of revenues. From 1812 to 1815 he
served as Adjutant-General of the .State,
and in 1816 was elected Governor. He
was elected seven consecutive years, and
then declining to be again a candidate,
he retired to his Medford home and re-
sumed his practice.

Harvard College gave him the honor-
ary degree of A. M., and in 1816 those
of M. D. and LL. D. He was president
of the Massachusetts Medical Society
from 1817 until his death, and in his
will he bequeathed his library to the

society. A discourse delivered before
the Society of the Cincinnati (1787), one
before the Humane vSociety (1795), a
eulogy on Washington (1800), and a dis-
course on pneumonia, delivered before
the Massachusetts Medical Society
ri8o8), have been published. He died
March i, 1825.

60

Count Rum ford, original grantee of Concord

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

DANE, Nathan,

Benefactor of Harvard College.

Nathan Dane, a man of great abilit}-,
was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, De-
cember 27, 1752, son of Dr. John Dane,
who came from England in 1636 and set-
tled in Agawam, Massachusetts, with his
brother, the Rev. Francis Dane, who in
1648 was ordained second minister of the
church at Andover.

Nathan Dane was brought up on his
father's farm till he reached his majority,
was graduated at Harvard in 1778. and
became a school teacher, and in 17S2 a
lawyer in Beverly, Massachusetts. He
was a representative in the Massachusetts
Legislature, 1782-85 ; a delegate from
Massachusetts to the Continental Con-
gress, 1785-88, and when Massachusetts
and the other States ceded their territorial
rights to the general government, he was
a member of the committee on territory,
of which James Monroe was chairman.
He introduced in the report of 1786 the
right of liabcas corpus and of trial by
jury as conditions of admission of the
Northwest Territory. He submitted the
report of the committee to Congress.
amended by a provision for the abolition
of slavery, as suggested by Manasseh
Cutler, and on July 5, 1786, the ordinance
was unanimously adopted. In the same
ordinance he incorporated a prohibition
against laws impairing the obligation of
contracts, which was afterward made a
part of the constitution of the United
States. He was a member of the State
Senate, 1790-91 and 1794-97. In 1795 he
was a commissioner to revise the laws
of Massachusetts. He was a presidential
elector in 1812, a member of the Hart-
ford Convention of 1814, and was elected
a delegate to the State Constitutional
Convention of 1820, but did not serve on
account of deafness. He was a Bible
student, devoting his Sabbaths, when not
attending public worship, to studying

from the original languages. In 1829 he
gave $10,000, increased in 1831 to $15,000,
to found the Dane Professorship of Law
in Harvard Law School, conditioned on
the appointment to the chair of his friend,
Joseph Strong, who held it, 1829-45.
Dane Hall, erected in 1832, was named in
his honor.

He was a member of the Massachu-
setts Agricultural Society, and president
of the Society for the Suppression of In-
temperance. In 1816 Harvard conferred
on him the honorary degree of LL. D.
He revised and published: "Charters
Granted in Massachusetts" (1811) ; "The
Statutes of Massachusetts" (1812) ; "A
General Abridgement and Digest of
American Law" (nine volumes, and ap-
pendix. 1823-30). He died in Beverly,
Massachusetts, February 15, 1835.

THOMPSON, Benjamin,

Man of Many Abilities.

Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford)
was born in North Woburn, Massachu-
setts, March 26, 1753, son of Benjamin
and Ruth (Simonds) Thompson, and a
descendant in the fifth generation of
James Thompson, who immigrated to
New England with John \\'inthrop in
1630, and was one of the subscribers to
the original town orders of Woburn
(then Charlestown village) in 1640. Ben-
jamin Thompson Sr. died in 1754, and his
widow married Josiah Pierce, of Woburn,
about 1756.

Benjamin Thompson Jr. attended the
common schools of W^oburn, and private
schools at Byfield and Medford, Massa-
chusetts. He became an apprentice clerk
to John Appleton, an importer of Brit-
ish goods at Salem. Alassachusetts, 1766-
69, and subsequently to a dry-goods mer-
chant of Boston. He devoted his leisure
to the study of mathematics, French,
music, drawing, and to mechanical and
philosophical experiments. He studied

61

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

medicine with Dr. John Hay in Woburn ;
and attended, with his friend, Loammi
Baldwin (q. v.), a course of scientific
lectures at Harvard College, besides
teaching school in Wilmington and Brad-
ford, and in Rumford (Concord), New
Plampshire. He was married in Janu-
ary, 1773, to Sarah, daughter of the Rev.
Timothy Walker, and widow of Colonel
Benjamin Rolfe, of Rumford, New
Hampshire.

He was commissioned major of the
Second Provincial Regiment by Governor
U'entworth, an appointment which
caused him to be suspected of disloyalty
to the cause of liberty in 1775. His house
was mobbed, and he sought refuge in
flight to W^oburn, leaving his wife and
mfant daughter in Rumford. At Wo-
burn he was arrested, but after a trial
before his townsmen was acquitted of the
charge of disloyalty. Plis unsuccessful
application to General Washing-ton for a
commission in the Continental army, the
result probably of his connection with
the provincial militia in New Hampshire,
caused him to leave Woburn, October 7,
1775, and he proceeded overland to New-
port, Rhode Island, and went thence
on board the British frigate "Scarbor-
ough" to Boston. This flight was fol-
lowed in 1778 by his proscription, and in
1781 by the confiscation of his property.
On the evacuation of Boston in 1776, he
was sent with the news to England,
where he was received with favor and
taken into the office of Lord George Ger-
main, one of the Secretaries of State, by
whom he was appointed secretary for
Georgia. Having resumed his scientific
studies and experiments in gunpowder,
he published the results of some of his
investigations in the Transactions of the
Royal Society of London, of which he
was elected a fellow, April 22, 1779. He
served as under-secretary for the colonics
in 1780, and in 1781, in pursuance of his

commission as lieutenant-colonel com-
mandant of the King's American dra-
goons at New York, he returned to Amer-
ica, landing, in consequence of contrary
winds, at Charleston, South Carolina,
where he remained for a short time in
command of various companies of de-
tached cavalry, on one occasion routing
General Marion. Upon his arrival in
New York he raised his regiment of dra-
goons and encamped near Flushing,
Long Island. At the close of the war,
the regiment, having seen no active ser-
vice, was disbanded, and Colonel Thomp-
son returned to England.

On his way to Vienna to join in the
threatened war between Austria and the
Turks, he was the guest of Prince Maxi-
milian, at Strasburg, who gave him a
friendly letter to his uncle, the Elector
of Bavaria. The introduction resulted in
an invitation to enter the latter's service,
and having visited England to obtain per-
mission from the British government,
where he also received the honor of
knighthood from George HI., he returned
to Munich in October, 1785, was taktn
into the Elector's intimate service as aide-
de-camp and chamberlain, and furnished
with a magnificent equipment, including
a residence, a corps of servants, and mili-
tary stafif. Pie introduced a new system
of "order, discipline and economy among
the troops" ; organized a military acad-
emy ; founded workshops for the soldiers,
and also for the mendicants of the city
of Munich, thereby regulating the fearful
pauperism of the times ; and established a
hospital for those too infirm for active
labor. Pie was also interested in the im-
provement of public roads and highways,
and converted a waste region of some six
miles in circumference into a garden, in-
cluding a valuable stock-farm, and known
as the English Garden, wherein a monu-
ment to the founder was placed in 1795.
Sir Benjamin Thompson was made a

62

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

knight of the order of St. Stanislaus by
the King of Poland; commissioned elec-
tor pro tempore; subsequently made
commander of the general staft ; was
appointed privy councillor of state, and
head of the war department, and in 1791
was invested with the rank of a Count of
the Holy Roman Empire, choosing Rum-
ford as the title of his new dignity.

In addition to his experiments as a poli-
tical economist, Count Rumford. engaged
in meteorological research ; investigated
the properties of gunpowder, in which he
had always been actively interested ; and
the nutritive value of various articles of
food, with special reference to the prac-
tical relief of the poor, even publishing
rules for the construction of public kitch-
ens. He is also accredited the honor of
discovering the true doctrine of heat, and
consequently of the correlation and equiv-
alence of physical forces. In 1795-96 he
visited Italy and Great Britain for the
benefit of his health. He secured the suc-
cessful adoption of many of his charitable
measures, especially that of the public
kitchen, in Edinburgh, London and I^ub-
lin, and received in the last city the
thanks of the grand jury, a complimen-
tary letter from the viceroy of Ireland,
and election to the Irish Royal Academy
and Society of Arts.

While in England, Count Rumford was
joined by his daughter, Sarah Thomp-
son, who was then twenty-two years of
age, her mother having died January 19,
1792, at Rumford, New Hampshire. Slie
was received at the court of Munich as
a countess, and pensioned by the Elector.
Count Rumford was recalled to Munich
as head of the Council of Regency, with
absolute powers. This included the chief
command of the Bavarian army in the war
then waging between Austria and France.
and he accomplished the withdrawal of
both armies from the city without in-
volving the Bavarian government in the

war. His health again compelieu hi.n to
leave Bavaria in 1798, and he was ap-
pointed Bavarian minister to England,
but, as he was a British subject, he was
not accepted. The Countess Sarah went
back to America about this time, and
Count Rumford also thought seriouslv of
returning to his native country, and to
that end engaged in correspondence with
Rufus King, United States Minister to
England, as to the possibility of a re])eal
of legal disabilities in his favor, should
he present himself. This resulted ui a
cordial acknowledgement of his achieve-
ments from President Adams, and the
choice of the offices of lieutenant and in-
spector of artillery or engineer and su-
perintendent of the Military Academy,
an offer of which he did not aval; him-
self, becoming involved in the founding
of the Royal Institution at London m
1799. and serving as its secretary until
he resumed his residence on the conti-
nent in May, 1802. Meanwhile his patron,
Charles Theodore, had died, and his suc-
cessor being disinclined to reinstate
Count Rumford in his former place of
eminence, he made his home in Paris,
whc-e he was married, October 24. 1805.
to ]\[arie Anne Pierset Paulze. widow of
Lavoisier, the celebrated chemist. After
their separation in 1809, his wife retain-
ed possession of their city mansion, and
he retired to a villa in Auteuil, where his
daughter joined him. and where, occupied
with philosophical experiments and in the
composition of essays on scientific sub-
jects, he passed the remainder of his life,
Count Rumford was a member of the
academies of Munich and Manheim.

De Candolle, the Swiss botanist, said
of Rumford's personal appearance in later
life : "The sight of him very much re-
duced our enthusiasm. \\> found him a
dry, precise man, who spoke of benefi-
cence as a sort of discipline, and of the
poor as we had never dared to speak of

63

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

vagabonds." Speaking of Rumford's
second wife, he said: "I had relations
with each of them, and never saw a more
bizarre connection. Rumford was cold,
calm, obstinate, egotistic, prodigiously oc-
cupied with the material element of life,
and the very smallest inventions of de-
tail. He wanted his chimneys, lamps,
coffee pots, windows, made after a certain
pattern, and he contradicted his wife a
thousand times a day about the house-
hold management." Here we draw the
veil. Another has said : "We enter into
the labors of Count Rumford every day
of our lives, without knowing it or think-
ing of him." Professor John Tyndall
said: "Men find pleasure in exercising
the powers they possess, and Rumford
possessed, in its highest and strongest
form, the power of organization."

He gave $5,000 to the American Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences, and also to the
Royal Society of London, for the estab-
lishment of a Rumford medal to be
awarded for the most valuable practical
investigations in light and heat, and was
himself the first recipient of the medal
from the Royal Society. With his daugh-
ter, he founded the Rolfe and Rumford
asylums in Concord, New Hampshire,
Countess of Rumford, who died in Con-
cord in 1852, bequeathing $15,000 to the
New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane,
and other liberal sums to public chari-
ties. In his will, Count Rumford left to
Harvard College a sum for the founding
of the Rumford professorship and lecture-
ship on the application of science to the
useful arts, and his collection of appa-
ratus, specimens, and original models,
with ii.ooo, to the Royal Institution in
London. In addition to his monument
in the English Garden at Munich, he is
also commemorated by a bronze statue
in its principal street, and by a portrait
in the Royal Society's rooms in London,
and one at Harvard LTniversitv, Cam-

bridge, Alassachusetts. His name in
Class H, Scientists, received nineteen
votes for a place in the Hall of Fame for
Great Americans. New York University,
October, 1900, and was fifth in the class
of nineteen names suggested.

Pie was the author of: "Essays, Poli-
tical, Economical and Philosophical"
(three volumes, London, 1796; volume iv.,
1802; American edition, 1798-1804), many
of which were originally published as
pamphlets in French, English and Ger-
man, and "Rumford's Complete Works,"
published posthumously (Boston. 1870-
1875), with a memoir of the author by
George E. Ellis, and containing the cor-
respondence of his daughter, Sarah
Thompson. His life was also written by
James Renwick, in Sparks's "American
Biography" (1845). Count Rumford died
in Auteuil. France. August 25. 1814.

ADAMS, John Quincy,

President of tlie United States.

John Quincy Adams, sixth President
of the United States, was born in Brain-
tree (Ouincy), Massachusetts, July ii,
1767. son of John and Abigail Smith
Adams. Many unusual circumstances
and influences conspired to train his mind
and form his character on a broad and
heroic plafi. The air he breathed was
charged with patriotism. His father was
one of the foremost leaders in all the
stirring events of those most stirring
times, and "liberty," "freedom," and "in-
dependence" were household words in the
family. Pie was named for John Ouincy.
his maternal great-grandfather.

His early schooling was received from
a mother whose strength and poise of
mind and character were exceptional.
When he was ten years of age his father
was appointed by Congress joint com-
missioner with Benjamin Franklin to
negotiate an alliance with France. Pie
accompanied his father to Paris, where

64

Jj 2 , cA^loj^yJ)

E.\CYCLOPED]A OF BIOGRAPHY

lie not only attended school, but enjoyed
the benefit of daily instruction and con-
versation of Benjamin Franklin and
some of the most scholarly men of the
court. After a residence of eighteen
months in France, father and son return-
ed to America ; but their stay was
destined to be brief, for in three months
the father was again dispatched on a for-
eign mission, this time to negotiate a
treaty of peace with England and again
the son accompanied him. They arrived
in Paris in February. 1780, after a tem-
pestuous and most eventful voyage and
remained until the following summer,
when they proceeded to Holland, the
elder Adams having been commissioned
to arrange a treaty with that country.
John Quincy Adams was placed at school
in Amsterdam, and afterward entered the
academical department of the Leyden
University. In July, 1781, when but four-
teen years old. he became private secre-
tary and interpreter to Francis Qana.
Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of
St. Petersburg, retaining the position
until Mr. Dana's relinquishment of the
office in October. 1782 — the only case on
record where so young a man was en-
trusted with so responsible a government
position. Leaving St. Petersburg, he
made an extended tour through Norway.
Sweden, Northern Germany, and Hol-
land, to France, where he joined his
father, who had returned to Paris after
successfully accomplishing the business
which had taken him to Holland. Acting
as his father's secretary, he assisted in
preparing the document which later "dis-
persed all possible doubt of the independ-
ence of his country." During the next
two years he continued to act as his
father's secretary, accompanying him on
his various public missions. In 1785, upon
his father's acceptance of the appointm.ent
of Minister to England, John Quincy re-
turned to the United States, and after
MASS-5 65

some preparatory study entered the jun-
ior class of Harvard College in March,
1786, and was graduated from that in.sti-
tution in 1787. Entering the ofTice of
Theophilus Parsons, of Newburyport, he
applied himseli to the study of law, and
upon admission to the bar in 1790 com-
menced practice in Boston. He at this
tmie contributed articles on timely topics
to the newspapers under the pen names,
"Publicola," "'Marcellus," and "Colum-
l.nis." '"Union at home, and independence
of all foreign combinations abroad," the
two principles on which his future states-
manship was to rest, are clearly set forth
in these articles, and when their author-
ship (generally accredited to his father)
was discovered, he was hailed as a
worthy son of his illustrious sire. Wash-
ington appointed him Minister to the
Netherlands in 1 794, and to Portugal in
1796, though his father's election to the
presidency at this juncture interfered
with his acceptance of the latter office.
On July 26, 1797, he was married to
Louisa Catherine, daughter of Joshua
Johnson, of Maryland, consular agent of
the United States at London. In the same
year (1797) he was appointed minister to
the Court of Berlin, the appointment be-
ing made by his father, after consulta-
tion with Washington, who strongly ad-
vised the promotion. During his resi-
dence at Berlin he succeded in effecting
a treaty of amity and commerce with the
king of Sweden, and at this period he also
translated into English Wieland's "Ober-
on," and wrote a series of entertaining
letters describing a journey through Si-
lesia, which were afterwards published in
Philadelphia and London, and translated
into several European languages. On the
termination of his father's administration
he was recalled at his own request, and
returned to his native land, where he re-
sumed the practice of his profession.
In 1802 Mr. Adams was elected to the

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Massachusetts Senate, and later in the
same year to the United States Senate,
lie took his seat March 3, 1803, a most
unpropitious moment for the son of his
father, and his life as a Senator was not
agreeable. The party had fallen into fac-
tions during the administration of John
Adams, and his political enemies, not
satisfied with his dov/nfall, now seized
with avidity every opportunity of venting
their malice upon his son. He was sub-
jected to insults which for the most part
he bore with imperturbable equanimity.
"His very presence in Congress was ig-
nored, and his desires and acts were held
in utter contempt"; he was treated with
studied neglect and discourtesy. Nor
was this altogether on his father's ac-
count. He, himself, was wilfully mis-
judged ; his independent course of speech
and action was misconstrued. His pur-
pose, in every act, was for the interest
of the nation. As he wrote in his diary:
"I feel strong temptation and have great
provocation to plunge into political con-
troversy, but I hope to preserve myself
from it by the considerations which have
led me to the resolution of renouncing.
A politician in this country must be the
man of the party. I would fain be the
man of my whole country." While he
favored the acquisition of Louisiana
which Mr. JefTerson desired, he denied
the justice and the constitutionality of
the methods proposed. Ihe resolutions
he offered were rejected. In the trial of
Samuel Chase, of the United States Su-
preme Court, and of John Pickering, Dis-
trict Judge of New Hampshire, he was
staunchly for acquittal, and held that Mr.
Jefferson's course was subversive of the
honor and power of one of the three im-
portant branches of the government. In
1805 he made an effort to have a tax
levied on every slave brought into the
country. In 1806 he introduced a reso-
lution condemning the British practice

of searching ships, and demanded the res-
titution of American property seized by
Great Britain. In 1808 Timothy Picker-
ing, his associate in the Senate, wrote a
letter to the governor of Alassachusetts,
in which he vehemently opposed the em-
bargo act and all that accompanied it.
Mr. Adams replied defending President
Jefiferson and declaring the embargo dig-
nified, patriotic and necessary. This let-
ter excited great political opposition. The
Federalists declared he had betrayed their
cause without good reason, and to mark
their reprobation they caused an election
to be held, although Mr. Adams' term of
service would close on March 3rd the
next year. James Lloyd was chosen his
successor by a majority of thirty-five in
a vote of four hundred and sixty-one.
Mr. Adams immediately wrote a dignified
letter of resignation, which was accepted.
During his senatorial term, in the sum-
mer of 1805, he had been chosen Profes-
sor of Rhetoric and Oratory in Harvard
College. He accepted the position and
began his first course of lectures in July,
1806, and continued to fulfill the duties
of the professorship until his appointment
in the summer of 1809 as Minister to
Russia. President Madison had nomi-
nated him in March, but the Senate de-
cided it to be inexpedient at that time to
authorize the mission. Three months
later, however, the nomination was con-
firmed by a vote of nineteen to seven, and
for over four years he had his residence
in Russia. He was received with great
courtesy, and appears to have enjoyed
his mission exceedingly. During his resi-
dence abroad, Mr. Madison offered him a
seat on the bench of the Supreme Court
of the United States, which he declined.
Meanwhile the war of 1812 occurred, and
the Czar proffered his services as arbi-
trator between the United States and
Great Britain. This Great P.ritain de-
clined, but suggested a mutual confer-

66

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ence of commissioners at Ghent, which
was assented to, and in December, 1814,
terms of peace were agreed upon by
which, under Mr. Adams' wise diplomacy,
special fishery advantages were secured
to the United States. A new commercial
treaty was negotiated July 13, 181 5, about
six weeks after his appointment as min-
ister to England. He remained in Great
Britain till he received from President
Monroe an appointment as Secretary of
State. During his occupancy of this office
he secured the cession of Florida through
the Spanish Minister, Senor Onis, in con-
sideration of the payment of $5,000,000
to liquidate claims against Spain by
American merchants. He stood by Gen-
eral Jackson in upholding what he deem-
ed the righttul claim of the United States
to Spanish Florida, and favored the rec-
ognition of the independence of the re-
volted Spanish American colonies. By
cautious policy he avoided all complica-
tions with the South American colonies ;
and emphasized and secured the authori-
tative recognition of the so-called "Mon-
roe Doctrine," of which he was one of the
principal authors.

In 1824 Adams, Jackson, Crawford and
Clay were candidates for the presidency.
The vote being indeterminate the choice
was thrown into the House of Representa-
tives, resulting in the election of Adams as
president. John C. Calhoun was vice-presi-
dent. On assuming the functions of office.
President Adams appointed Henry Clay,
of Kentucky, to the portfolio of State ;
Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania, to the
Treasury ; James Barbour, of Virginia, to
the War Department ; and of Mr. Mon-
roe's cabinet retained Samuel L. Southard,
of New Jersey, as Secretary of the Navy ;
John McPherson Berrian, of Georgia, as
Attorney-General ; and John McLean, of
Ohio, as Postmaster-General. There was
but one change in his official family dur-
ing his administration, when, on the ap-

pointment of James Barbour as Minister
to England, he made Peter B. Porter, of
New York, Secretary of War. The ap-
pointment of Clay as Secretary of State
created much feeling, Mr. Adams being
vehemently accused by Jackson and his
partisans as having in this way consum-
mated a bargain by which the presidency
had been secured, and which was after-
ward proved to have no foundation what-
ever. During his administration, party
lines became more distinct between the
Whigs on one side, advocating high tariff,
internal improvements, and a national
bank ; and the Democrats on the other
opposed to such measures. It was also at
this time that the so-called '"spoils sys-
tem" was agitated, Mr. Adams taking a
position similar to the practice of civil
service afterward adopted, but Jackson
claiming that "to the victors belong the
spoils." During President Adams' ad-
ministration. General Lafayette was the
nation's guest. He reached New York
the middle dt .August, 1824. made a tour
of the States which was virtually a con-
tinuous triumphant ovation, and spent
the last weeks of his stay at the
White House in Washington, where he
celebrated his sixty-eighth birthday, Sep-
tember 6, 1825. He visited Jefferson,
Madison and Monroe at their homes in
Virginia, and took leave of President
Adams and the country on the 7th of
September. The parting between the
President and the guest was touching.
He embraced Mr. Adams twice and shed
tears. The eloquent address of Mr.
Adams and the admirable reply of Lafay-
ette on this occasion are preserved.

At the close of his administration, fail-
ing of reelection, Mr. Adams returned to
his home at Ouincy. His residence there
was not long, however, as he was elected
to Congress by the anti-Masonic party
in 1831, and served as a national repre-
sentative for about sixteen years. During

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

his long term of service he was never
deterred by threats or by the large ma-
jority against him. He stood on principle
and contended for the right, and nothing
could make him swerve from any course
whicii his conscience approved. On tak-
ing his seat in Congress, his first act was
to present a memorial of the "Friends" in
Philadelphia concerning the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia. In
1835 he upheld Jackson in demanding
from France the payment of $5,000,000
agreed upon for injury done our com-
merce in the Napoleonic war. This course
was not approved by Massachusetts, and
cost him a seat in the United States Sen-
ate ; however, this did not move his great
soul, but confirmed him in his independ-
ence in adhering to what he deemed to
be right. He was especially vigorous in
defence of the right of petition, and it
was with reference to it that the infamous
"gag law"' was y)assed in 1836, which
provided that "all petitions, memorials,
resolutions or papers relating in any way
or to any extent whatsoever to the sub-
ject of slavery, or the abolition of slav-
ery, .^liall. without being either printed or
referred, be laid upon the table, and that
no further action whatever shall be had
thereon." Mr. Adams not only voted
against this rule, but added a vehement
protest, saying: "1 hold the resolution
to be a direct violation of the Constitution
of the United States, the rules of this
house, and the rights of my constituents."
Not only at this time, but at every sub-
sequent session of the house, Mr. Adams
was outspoken against it, and at last had
the satisfaction of having it revoked in
1845. ^^6 fJi^ "ot hesitate to express his
detestation of slavery, and whenever any
opening offered he uttered no uncertain
words against it. With an anticipation
of the future which was well nigh pro-
phetic, he uttered words which became
very significant in view of the Emanci-

pation Act of 1863. Without any mental
reservation or secret evasion of mind, he
said in 1836, to the representatives of the
slaveholding States and their northern
pro-slavery friends: "From the instant
that your slaveholding States become the
theatre of war — civil, servile, or foreign —
from that instant the war powers of the
constitution extend to interference with
the institution of slavery in every way
in which it can be interfered with."

A conspicuous instance of his ability
to meet an unexpected crisis was given
at the opening of the Twenty-sixth Con-
gress in December, 1839. There was a
double delegation from New Jersey, and
this was made use of as a stumbling block
in the organization of the house. When
the house assembles for the first time in
new session, having no officer, the clerk of
the preceding Congress calls the members
to order, reads the roll, and serves imtil
a speaker is chosen. On calling the roll,
when the clerk came to New Jersey, he
refused to proceed. Motions were made,
debate followed, but no organization
could be efl'ected. "Towards the close of
the fourth day," says Edward Everett,
"Mr. Adams rose, and expectation wait-
ed on his words. Having by a powerful
appeal brought the yet unorganized as-
sembly to a perception of its hazardous
position, he submitted a motion requiring
the acting clerk to proceed in calling the
roll. This and similar motions had al-
ready been made by other members ; the
difficulty was that the acting clerk de-
clined to entertain them. Accordinglv,
Mr. Adams was immediately interrupted
by a btirst of voices demanding. "How
shall the question be put?" "Who will
put the qtiestion ?" The voice of Mr.
Adams was heard above the turmoil, "I
intend to put the question myself!" That
word brought order out of chaos. There
was the master mind. A distinguished
mcml)cr from South Carolina (Mr. Rhett")

68

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

moved that Mr. Adams himself should
act as chairman of the body till the house
was organized ; and, suiting the action to
the word, himself put the motion to the
house. It prevailed unanimously, and
^Ir. Adams was conducted to the chair
amidst the irrepressible acclamations of
the spectators. Well did Mr. Wise, of
Virginia, say: "Sir, 1 regard it as the
proudest hour of your life ; and if, when
you shall be gathered to your fathers,
I were to select the words which in my
judgment are best calculated to give at
once the character of the man, I would
inscribe upon your tomb this sentence —
'1 will put the question myself.'"

In 1 841, at the age of seventy-four, he
appeared at the bar of the Supreme Court
of the United States to plead the cause
of Cinque and thirty other Africans who
had been enslaved, sold in Cuba, and
who slew the master of the "Amistad,"
which was deporting them to their own-
ers' plantations, drifted into the United
States waters, and were claimed by the
.Spanish authorities. The "old man elo-
quent" made such a convincing plea for
them that the captives were set at liberty,
and were afterwards conveyed to their
native shores through the contributions
of generous philanthropists.

Mr. Adams was stricken with paralysis
in November. 1846. and was confined to
th" house foi four moTUhs. lie recog-
nized the fact that he Iiad been sealed
by the hand of death, and his letters and
]>apers after this time weie referred to by
him as "posthumous." Recovering slight-
ly, he resumed his attendance upon the
sessions of the house, and on February
21, 1848, while in his seat, experienced a
second and fatal attack. He was removed
from the representative hall to the speak-
er's room and lingered in an unconscous
condition until the 231 d, when, just be-
fore death, he revived and said. "This is

the last of earth" ; and after a pause added
'T am content."

Many of his letters, public papers, lec-
tures, speeches, and eulogies have been
published. Among them his "Letters on
Silesia" (1800-1804) ; "Letter to Harrison
Gray Otis on the Present State of our
National Afifairs" (1808) ; "Review of the
Works of Fisher Ames" (1809) ; "Lec-
tures on Rhetoric and Oratory" (1810) .
"Letters to his Son on the Bible" (1848-
.-;9) ; "Reports on Weights and Meas-
ures" (1821) ; "Letters to the Virginians
in Answer to Slanders of General Alex-
ander Smythe" (1823) ; "Eulogy on the
Life and Character of James Monroe"
(1831); "Dermott MacMorrogh, or the
Conquest of Ireland" (1832) ; "Letters to
Edward Livingston (against Free Mason-
ry)" (1833); "Letters to William L.
Stone and B. Cowell on Masonry and
Anti-Masonry"; "Oration on the Lite and
Character of Gilbert Motier de Lafayette"
(1835) ; "Eulogy on the Life and Char-
acter of James ]\Iadison" (1836) ; "Jub-
ilee of the Constitution" (1839) ; and
"Letters on the Masonic Institution"
(1847). S^^ ^Iso "Memoir of the Life of
John Ouincy Adams" (1858). by Josiah
Ouincy ; "John Quincy Adams: Memoirs
comprising portions of his Diary from
1795 to 1848." edited by his son Charles
I'^rancis Adams, twelve volumes, eight
volumes (1874-77); "John Ouincy
Adams" (Boston. 1882). by John T.
Morse Jr., and "History of the Life, Ad-
ministration and Times of John Quincy
Adams" (1888). by J. R. Ireland, in vol-
ume six of his "History of the United
States."

WHITNEY, Eli,

Inventor of the Cotton Gin.

Eli Whitney was born in Westborough.
Massachusetts. December 8, 1765. He
engaged in the business of making nails
bv hand, and bv his industrv saved suffi-

69

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

cient money to defray his college ex-
penses, and was graduated from Yale
College, A. B., 1792, A. M. 1795. He was
invited by the widow of General Nathan-
ael Greene to make his home at her plan-
tation, called Mulberry Grove, on the
Savannah River in Georgia. He studied
law, but abandoned it to follow his me-
chanical bent.

Giving himself to the problem of in-
venting a machine for separating the lint
of cotton from the seed, in 1793 he suc-
ceeded in producing the saw cotton gin,
consisting of two cylinders — one, revolv-
ing with great velocity, to detach the
lint from the seed by means of from fifty
to eighty steel disks with sei rated edj,t,s ;
and the other to rcmo\e the hnt from the
saw teeth by means of stiff brushes. This
machine, which, with a few improvements
remains practically as it first came from
Whitney's hands, has a capacity equal to
that of three thousand pairs of hands in
separating the lint from the seed, which
process, up to the time of this invention,
was the only means used in the separa-
tion. Mr. Whitney was unable to preserve
the secret of his invention, and, before he
could obtain a patent, several gins, mod-
eled after his own, had been put in oper-
ation on various neighboring plantations.
He formed a partnership with Phineas
Miller, and removed to Connecticut to
manufacture the machines, but, owing to
frequent vexatious litigations caused by
the infringement of his patent, he was
obliged in 1796 to devote himself to the
manufacture of firearms in order to ob-
tain a livelihood.

Removing to New Haven, Connecticut,
he there originated the system of making
the manufacture of different parts of a
gun interchangeable He built an armory
at Whitneyville, near New Haven, and
filled a government contract for ten thou-
sand stand of muskets. He subsequently
received $50,000 from the legislature of

South Carolina for the general use of
the cotton gin, and was allowed a further
royalty on every gin used in the State,
but, considering the universal benefit de-
rived from the invention, this was but
small recompense. He established a fund
of $500 at Yale College, the interest to
be devoted to the purchase of books on
mechanical and physical science.

He was married, in 1817, to a daughter
of Judge Pierpont Edwards. His
"Memoir" was published by Denison
Olmsted in 1846. He died in New Haven,
Connecticut, January 8, 1825.

PARKER, Isaac,

Congressman, Jurist.

Isaac Parker was born in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, June 17, 1768. He was gradu-
ated from Harvard in 1786, prepared him-
self for the bar, and settled in Castine,
Maine, where he became eminent in his
profession. In 1796 he was elected to
Congress, in which he served until 1799,
and was then appointed by President
Adams United States marshal of the Dis-
trict of Maine, holding office until 1801.
In 1806 he settled in Massachusetts, when
he was appointed a judge of the Supreme
Court in that State, and presided as Chief
Justice of that body from 1814 until his
death. From 1816 until 1827 he was Pro-
fessor of Law at Harvard College, and in
1820 president of the Massachusetts Con-
stitutional Convention. For eleven years
he was a trustee of Bowdoin College, and
for twenty years an overseer of Harvard,
which gave him the degree of LL. D. in
1814. He was distinguished for his scho-
lastic acquirements, and the printed re-
ports of his own decisions will remain
unquestioned for ages. He published an
"Oration on Washington" in 1800, and a
"Sketch of the Character of Chief Justice
Parsons" in 1813.

His death occurred in Boston, May 26,
1830.

70

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

LOWELL, John,

Publicist, Litterateur.

John Lowell was born in Newburyporti
Massachusetts, October 6, 1769, son of
Judge John and Sarah (Higginson)
Lowell, and grandson of the Rev. John
and Sarah (Champney) Lowell, and of
Stephen JEL and Elizabeth (Cabot) Hig-
ginson.

He was graduated from Harvard, A.
B., 1786, A. M., 1789. He studied law
with his father, and was admitted to the
bar in 17S9. His health began to fail,
and in 1803 he retired from practice. He
travelled in Europe from 1803 to 1806,
and on his return devoted himself to liter-
ature, writing on politics, agriculture and
theology, under the signature, "Citizen of
Massachusetts," "Massachusetts Law-
yer," "Layman," and "Norfolk Farmer."
During the war of 1812 he wrote con-
stantly in support of the Federal policy,
and when the Unitarian controversy
broke out he published "An inquiry into
the right to change the Ecclesiastical
Constitution of the Congregational
Churches of Massachusetts," which in all
probability stopped the proposed plan for
an arbitrary consociation of churches. He
was the first man in the United States to
establish a greenhouse on an ample scale
and on scientific principles. His private
charities were so extended that for many
years he employed an almoner, with whom
he placed a sum annually to be expended
in fuel for the poor. He was a prominent
promoter of the establishment of the
Massachusetts General Hospital and of
the Provident Institution for Savings ;
president of the board of trustees and a
member of the Massachusetts Agricul-
tural Society, and a patron of the Boston
Athenaeum. He was a fellow of Har-
vard, 1810-22, and an overseer, 1823-27.
He received the degree of LL. D. from
Harvard in 18 14. He was a fellow of the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
and a member of the Massachusetts His-
torical Society. His political pamphlets
were published in two volumes, and in
1901 were still extant. Among the pam-
phlets are: "Peace without Dishonor,"
"War without Hope," "Inquiry into the
Subject of the Chesapeake" (1807), "Can-
did Comparison of the Washington and
Jefferson Administrations" (1810) ; "Dip-
lomatic Policy of Mr. Madison Unveiled"
(1810) ; and "Mr. Madison's War; a dis-
passionate inquiry into the reasons al-
leged by Madison for declaring an offen-
sive and ruinous war against Great
Britain" (1812). His theological writ-
ings include "Are you a Christian or a
Calvinist?" (1815). He married, June 8,
1783, Rebecca, daughter of John and
Katharine (Greene) Amory, of Boston.
He died in Roxbury, Massachusetts,
]\Iarch 12, 1840.

KIRKLAND, John Thornton,

Clergyman, Educator.

John Thornton Kirkland was born in
Herkimer, New York, August 17, 1770.
son of the Rev. Samuel and Jerusha (Bing-
ham) Kirkland, grandson of the Rev.
Daniel Kirkland, a native of Saybrook,
Connecticut, and of Jabez and Mary
(Wheelock) Bingham, of Salisbury, Con-
necticut, and a descendant of Myles
Standish on his mother's side.

He was a student at Phillips Andover
Academy, 1784-86, and was graduated
from Harvard College with distinguished
honors in 1789. He was an assistant in-
structor at Phillips Andover Academy,
1789-90. He studied theology' with the
Rev. Dr. Stephen West, at Stockbridge,
Alassachusetts, 1790-92. Fie was tutor in
logic and metaphysics at Harvard Col-
lege, 1792-94, and at the same time pur-
sued his theological studies. He was
ordained and installed pastor of the New

71

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

South Church, Boston, February 5, 1794,
and served until 1810, when he was
chosen to succeed Samuel Webber as
president of Harvard College. Under his
administration the institution prospered
to a degree almost if not altogether unex-
ampled. The course of studies was re-
modelled and enlarged ; the Law School
was established ; the Medical School was
resuscitated and reorganized ; the Theo-
logical School was erected into a separate
department, with able and learned profes-
sors and lecturers ; four permanent pro-
fessorships were added, endowed and
filled in the Academical Department, the
salaries of all the instructors were in-
creased ; liolworth. University and Divin-
ity halls were erected at Caml)ridge. and
the Medical College in Boston ; the gen-
eral library was doubled by the gifts of
the collections of Palmer, Ebeling and
Warden, by the Boylston donation, and
from various other sources, and the law,
medical and theological libraries were in-
stituted. A grant of $100,000 was obtain-
ed from the Legislature, a sum still
greater was bestowed in endowments by
individuals, and $50,000 was collected by
private subscription for theological edu-
cational purposes.

Dr. Kirkland retired from the presi-
dency of Harvard University on account
of ill health, March 28, 1828. He was
married, Sei)tember i, 1827, to Elizabeth,
daughter of the Hon. George Cabot. In
1828 he traveled with his wife through
the United States, and through Europe
and the East in 1829-32. He was vice-
president of the .\merican Academy of
Arts and Sciences, and a member of the
Massachusetts Historical Society. He
received the honorary degree of A. M.
from Dartmouth College in 1792. and
from Brown University in 1794; that of
D. D. from the College of New Jersey in
i8o2, and that of LL. D. from Brown
Univcrsitv in 1810. He was the author of:

"Eulogy on Washington" (1799) ; "Bio-
graphy of Fisher Ames" (1809) ; "Dis-
course on the Death of Hon. George
Cabot" (1823). He died in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, April 26, 1840.

MOORE, Zephaniah S.,

Prominent Educator.

Zephaniah Swift Moore was born at
I'almer, Massachusetts, November 20,
1770, son of Judah and Mary Moore. His
father removed to Wilmington, Vermont,
in 1778, and he worked on the farm until
1788. He attended a preparatory school
at Bennington, Vermont, 1788-89, and
was graduated from Dartmouth College,
A. B. in 1793, and A. M. in 1796.

He was in charge of an academy at
Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1793-
94, removing in the latter year to Somers,
Connecticut, where he studied theology
under the Rev. Dr. Backus. He was
licensed to preach by the Tolland County
Association on February 3, 1796, and was
pastor at Leicester, Massachusetts, in
that and the following years. Shortly
after his removal to Leicester, he was
married to a daughter of Thomas Drury,
of Ward, Massachusetts. He was a trus-
tee and the principal of Leicester Acad-
emy, 1807-11; Professor of Latin and
Greek at Dartmouth College, 1811-15;
and president and Professor of Theology
at Williams College, 1815-21. On May
8, 182 1, he was made a trustee and elected
the first president of Amherst College,
then in process of organization, and on
September 18, 1821, he was made pastor
of the parish church. The college was
opened on Sej)tember 19, 1821, and Dr.
Moore began the matriculation of stu-
dents. In addition to his duties as presi-
dent, he was Professor of Divinity,
taught the Oriental languages, and was
the sole teacher of the senior class. The
honorarv degree of D. D. was conferred

72

^^.

^:xly 4>'i;-^^'^^^sJ— ^::,-t_. -

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

on him by Dartmouth College in i8i6.
He bequeathed several scholarships to
Amherst College, three oi which were
worth about $140 a year. He died at Am-
herst, Massachusetts. June 29, 1823.

BALLOU, Rosea,

Clergyman, Autlior.

The Rev. Hosea Ballon was born in
Richmond, New Hampshire. April 30,
1771, son of Maturin and Lydia (Harris)
Ballou, and the youngest of eleven chil-
dren. His father, a Baptist preacher, had
moved to New Hampshire from Rhode
Island, where his ancestors had dwelt
since the days of Roger Williams. In
making the move into the almost unbrok-
en wilderness of New Hampshire, the
father was actuated by a desire to im-
prove the worldly prospects of his large
family by becoming ;i landholder. He
received no salary for his pastoral ser-
vices, depending for support on what his
farm would yield, in return for his own
hard labor in ploughing, sowing and
reaping. So poor was he that he could
not provide sufificient clothing or food for
his children, nor could he offer them any
further educational advantages than such
desultory instruction as he (himself but
slightly educated), could give them in the
few leisure moments which his toil filled
days afforded. Pen, ink and paper were
unknown luxuries in the household, and
the only books in the family library were
a Bible, a small English dictionary, an
old almanac, and a worn pamphlet con-
taining the story of the tower of Babel.

Hosea's passion for knowledge was all-
commanding. The Bible was his only
text-book and his only guide to the fields
of history, philosophy, poetry and litera-
ture ; over its pages he pored whenever
released from his work on the farm, and
he thus acquired a verbal familiarity with
its contents which was invaluable to him
in after years. During a revival in 1789

he joined the Baptist church, but was
soon afterwards led by his study of "pre-
destination," "election," "eternal repro-
bation," and "total depravity," to doubt
the tenets of the Baptist belief. He now
came out boldly and put to the church
authorities the questions that had so long
been revolving in his mind. No answers
were forthcoming, and he was excom-
numicated as a dangerous heretic. At the
age of nineteen he attended school for the
first time. With the earnings he had
accumulated in two or three summers of
toil in neighboring villages, he paid his
tuition at a private school for a few
weeks, and at Chesterfield (New Hamp-
shire ) Academy for one term. He then
began to preach Cniversalist doctrines,
supporting himself by teaching school
during the week, or by performing farm
labor. At first he believed and taugtit. as
all so-called Universalists of the time be-
lieved and taught, that salvation was for
all. but only on the Calvinistic basis of
atonement and imputed righteousness.
By degrees, however, and after much
careful study of the Scriptures, he formu-
lated the belief, now accepted by ntne-
tenths of the Universalist denomination,
that "The Bible affords no evidence of
punishment after death." He preached
with rare power and eloquence, and had
a marvelous gift not only for impressing
the hearts of his hearers with the truths
he uttered, but of stamping upon their
memories the very words he used. He
labored in various parts of New England
during the first twenty years of his minis-
try, and in 1817 accepted a call to the
School Street Church of Boston, where
he remained until his death. He ranked
among the most gifted and able preach-
ers of his time, being regarded in his own
denomination as an oracle. To meet the
growing demands of the infant denomi-
nation, he wrote and published number-
less hymns, essays, tracts, j^amphlets and

7Z

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

controversial papers, which he scattered
liberally. In 1819 he founded the "Uni-
versalist Magazine," acting as editor for
several years. In connection with his
grand-nephew, Hosea Ballon (2d), he
established in 1831 the "Universalist Ex-
positor," which afterwards became the
"Universalist Quarterly." After resign-
ing the editorship of "The Expositor," in
1833, he continued writing articles for it,
and also for the "Universalist Magazine."
The amount of labor he accomplished
was phenomenal. His published works,
it is estimated, would fill one hundred
duodecimo volumes, and he preached
more than ten thousand sermons. His
most noteworthy publications are : "Notes
on the Parables" (1804) ; "A Treatise on
the Atonement" (1806) ; and an "Exami-
nation of the Doctrine of a Future Re-
tribution" (1846). See "Biography of
Hosea Ballou" by his son Maturin M.
Ballon (1852); and "Hosea Ballou; a
Marvellous Life Story," by Oscar F. Saf-
ford, D. D. (1889). He died in Boston.
June 7, 1852.

BOWDITCH, Nathaniel,

Famous Mathematician.

Nathaniel Bowditch was born at Salem,
Massachusetts, March 26, 1773, son of
Habakkuk and Mary (Ingersoll) Bow-
ditch. His first American ancestor, Wil-
liam Bowditch, emigrated from Exeter,
England, and settled in Salem in 1639,
where his only son, William, was col-
lector of the port, who also left a son,
William, a shipmaster, whose son Eben-
ezer followed the same occupation. Eben-
ezer was the father of Habakkuk, who
became a shipmaster and cooper.

Nathaniel Bowditch at the age of ten
was taken into his father's cooper shop,
and two years later was apprenticed to a
ship chandler. Without an instructor, he
became proficient in mathematics, ac-
quired some knowledge of navigation

and surveying, and studied Latin in order
to read Newton's "Principia." In 1795
he went to sea as a clerk, in 1796-98-99
sailed as a supercargo, and in 1802-03 he
made his fifth and last voyage, as master
and supercargo. Every spare moment was
devoted to study, and, beside perfecting
himself in the French, Italian, Portuguese
and Spanish languages, he advanced in
mathematics. On May 28, 1799, he was
chosen a member of the American Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences, and in May,
1829, he was elected president of the
academy, as successor to John Ouincy
Adams. In 1804 he was made president
of the Essex Fire and Marine Company,
which position he held until he removed
to Boston in 1823. During 1805-06-07
he was engaged in making a survey of
Salem, Marblehead, Beverly and Man-
chester. In 1806 he was elected Hollis
Professor of Mathematics in Harvard
College, which he declined. In 1818 he
declined the chair of mathematics in the
University of Virginia, and in 1820 the
chair of mathematics at West Point. In
1823 he removed to Boston, where he be-
came actuary of the Massachusetts Hos-
pital Life Insurance Company, with a
salary of five thousand dollars per annum.
Mr. Bowditch was a member of the
Edinburgh Royal Society, the Royal So-
ciety of London, the Royal Irish Society,
the Royal Astronomical Society of Lon-
don, the Royal Society of Palermo, the
British Association, and the Royal Acad-
emy of Berlin, as well as of the chief scien-
tific societies of America. In July, 1802,
he received the honorary degree of Master
of Arts, and in 1816 that of Doctor of
Laws, from Harvard College. From 1826
to 1833 ^^ ^^^ ^ trustee of the Boston
Athenseum. Between 1814 and 1817 he
translated four volumes of La Place's
"Celestial Mechanics," the original manu-
script copies of which were placed in the
Boston Public Library, together with a

74

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

bust of the translator, and the desk at
which he did his work. He also pub-
lished the "New American Practical
Navigator"' (1802), which was the result
of an attempt to correct the previous
standard manual, in which he discovered
over eight thousand errors. A "Memoir
of Nathaniel Bowditch," by Nathaniel I.
Bowditch (1839) ; "Discourse on the Life
and Character of Nathaniel Bowditch,"
by Alexander Young (1838), and a
eulogy, with an analysis of his scientific
writings, by Professor Pickering (1838),
make record of his life work.

He was twice married; his first wife
died seven months after their marriage,
and in October, 1800, he was married to
his cousin Mary, daughter of Jonathan
Ingersoll. He died in Boston, Massachu-
setts, March 16, 1838.

WOODS, Leonard,

Theologian, Author.

Leonard Woods was born in Princeton,
Massachusetts, June 19, 1774, son of Sam-
uel Woods. He was graduated from
Harvard, Bachelor of Arts, 1796; Master
of Arts, 1799, and subsequently taught
school. He studied theology, and became
pastor of the Congregational Church in
West Newbury, Massachusetts, 1798-
1808. He was Abbot Professor of Chris-
tian Theology, and the leading spirit in
directing the policy of the Andover Theo-
logical Seminary, from 1808 to 1846, and
was professor emeritus after the latter
year. The honorary degree of Doctor of
Divinity was conferred upon Professor
Woods by the College of New Jersey
(Princeton), and by Dartmouth in 1810.
He was a founder of the American Tract,
Temperance and Education Societies, and
also of the A. B. C. F. M., serving as a
member of its prudential committee
twenty-five years, and was a fellow of
the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. He was the author of: "Let-

ters to Unitarians" (1820) ; "Lectures on
the Inspiration of the Scriptures" (1829) ;
"Memoirs of American Missionaries"
(1833) ; "Examination of the Doctrine of
Perfection" (1841) ; "Lectures on Church
Government" (1843) J "Lectures on Swe-
denborgianism" (1846) ; also of contribu-
tions to the Panoplist (1805), and of a
History of Andover Seminary, left in MS.
His collected works were published in
five volumes, 1849-50.

He was married to Abigail Wheeler.
Of their children, Harriet Newell
(Woods) Baker was a well-known writer
of juvenile books, and Margarette mar-
ried the Rev. Edward A. Lawrence, D.
D., of Marblehead, Massachusetts, whose
■'Modern Missions in the East" she edited
(1895). She also wrote "Light on the
Dark River" (1854) ; "The Tobacco Prob-
lem" (1885), and many articles on re-
ligious subjects. Dr. Woods died in An-
dover, Massachusetts, August 24, 1854.

HUMPHREY, Reman,

Educator, Clergyman.

Heman Humphrey, second president of
Amherst College (1823-44), was born at
West Simsbury, now Canton, Hartford
county, Connecticut, March 26, 1779. His
father, a farmer in humble circumstances,
was a man of good sense, unblemished
morals, and possessed of a more than
ordinary taste for reading. His mother,
Hannah Brown Humphrey, had uncom-
mon mental and moral capacity, and con-
tributed much to the education of her
fourteen children.

Heman Humphrey attended such
schools as there were in the neighbor-
hood, working meanwhile on his father's
farm. The best part of his education,
however, he worked out for himself from
a small parish library, many of whose
volumes, chiefly of history, he read in
the long winter evenings by the light of
pine torches or the kitchen fire. From

/D

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

his seventeenth year until he was twenty-
tive, he '"worked out" on the farms of
wealthier neighbors every summer, and
taught school every winter. Meanwhile,
however, he became "converted" and was
encouraged by his pastor to study for
the ministry. i\fter only six months of
uninterrupted study, during which he
made all his preparation in Greek and
much of his preparation in Latin and
mathematics, he entered the junior class
of Yale College, where he was graduated
in 1805, receiving an oration for his ap-
pointment, and having paid all the ex-
penses of his own education, except some
clothes furnished by his mother. He was
thus well fitted to preside over a college
whose students were to undergo a like
experience. Having studied divinity six
months with Rev. Air. Hooker, of Goshen,
Connecticut, and having been licensed in
October, 1806, by the Litchfield North
Association, he accepted a call from the
church at Fairfield. He was ordained
March i6, 1807, and continued his pas-
torate for about ten years. He w^as the
leader of a great religious revival that
took place during his ministry and a stir-
ring temperance reformation. In Sep-
tember, 1817, he received a call from the
Congregational church, at Pittsficld, Mas-
sachusetts, where his ministry was again
remarkable for an unusual revival in re-
ligion, lasting from 1820 to 1821. Ur.
Humphrey's presidency of Amherst Col-
lege began in the autumn oi 1823. and
ended in the spring of 1845. ^i^ found it
the charitable institution of Amherst ; he
made it Amherst College. He found it
the youngest and smallest of the New
England colleges ; he made it second only
to Yale in numbers, and foremost of all
in the work for which it was founded,
that of educating young men to be minis-
ters and missionaries. Of those who were
graduated under his administration, he
lived to see four hundred and thirtv min-

isters of the gospel, more than one hun-
dred pastors in Massachusetts and thirty-
nine missionaries in foreign lands. It
was under his presidency that the church
was organized, separate worship insti-
tuted, the chapel built, and the pulpit
made a power in the work of education,
temperance, revivals and missions. Dr.
Humphrey also left the stamp of his
character upon the intellectual training
of blie college, not so much in the curricu-
lum, college laws and methods of study
and teaching, as in the manner of think-
ing and reasoning, the style of writing
and speaking and the general tone of
manners and morals. The first year after
his resignation of the presidency he lived
with his son-in-law, the Rev. l^Ienry Neil,
at Hatboro, subsequently removing to
Pittsfield, where he remained until his
death. To the last he maintained a lively
interest in Amherst College, attended its
commencements and reunions, and again
and again delivered memorable addresses
before its alumni and students. Dr.
Humphrey wrote much, especially for the
religious press. His published works
comprise eleven volumes. His most cele-
brated address was "A Parallel between
Intemperance and the Slave Trade," and
his best known book is "Tour in France,
(ireat Britain and Belgium." He died
April 3, 1 861.

STORY, Joseph,

Distinguished Jurist.

Joseph Story was born at Marblehead,
Massachusetts, September 18, 1779, son
of Elisha and Mehitable (Pedrick) Story.
His father was a staunch patriot, active
in all the revolutionary movements, and
one of the "Indians" who helped to de-
stroy the tea in the harbor of Boston,
Massachusetts, in 1776.

Joseph Story was graduated from Har-
vard College, Bachelor of Arts, in 1798,
and received the Master of Arts degree

76

JOSEPH STORY

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

in 1801. He studied law in the office of
Samuel Sewall, and later with Judge Put-
nam, of Salem. Admitted to the bar in
July, 1801. he established himself in prac-
tice in Salem. He declined the appoint-
ment of naval officer of the port of Salem
in 1803. He was a Democratic repre-
sentative in the State Legislature, 1805-
07, and was elected a representative to
the Tenth Congress, to fill a vacancy-
caused by the death of Jacob Crownin-
shield, serving in 1808-09. He was again
chosen a representative in the State Leg-
islature in 1810, and became speaker of
the house. He argued before the United
States Supreme Court the great Georgia
claim case in 1810. On November 18,
181 1, he was appointed Associate Justice
of the United States Supreme Court to
fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Justice Gushing, and held the office until
his death. His circuit comprised the
States of Maine. New Hampshire, Mas-
sachusetts and Rhode Island, and, owing
to the extreme old age of his predecessor
his labors upon the circuit were multi-
plied by the immense accumulation of
business. He denounced the slave trade,
and it was owing to his charges to the
grand juries in 1819 that the traffic was
brought to a close. He opposed the Mis-
souri Compromise, and spoke in a public
meeting held in Salem against the meas-
ure. He was a member of the committee
appointed to revise the constitution of
Massachusetts in 1820, and opposed the
motion that the legislature should have
the power to diminish the salaries of the
judges of the Supreme Court. He was
Dane Professor of Law at Harvard Col-
lege, 1829-45, and removed to Cambridge.
Massachusetts. In 1831 he declined the
office of Chief Justice of Massachusetts.
After the death of Chief Justice John
Marshall, he acted as Chief Justice in the
United States Supreme Court until the
confirmation of Roger B. Tanev. and

again in 1844, during the illness of Taney.
He was an overseer of Harvard College,
1818-25 ; a fellow, 1825-45 ; a member of
the Massachusetts Historical Society ; a
fellow of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, and a member of the Amer-
ican Philosophical Society. The honor-
ary degree of Doctor of Laws was con-
ferred on him by Brown in 1815, by Har-
vard in 1821, and by Dartmouth in 1824.
His name in "Class J, Judges and Law-
yers," received sixty-four votes in the
consideration of names for a place in the
Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New
York University, October, 1900, and was
accorded a place with those of James
Kent and John Marshall. He was the
author of : "The Power of Solitude, with
Fugitive Poems" (1804) ; "Selection of
Pleadings in Civil Actions" (1805), and
numerous text books on jurisprudence,
including: "Commentaries on the Law
of Bailments" (1832) ; "Commentaries
on the Constitution of the United States"
(3 vols.. 1833) ; "Commentaries on the
Conflict of Laws" (1834) ; "Commentaries
on Equity Jurisprudence" (2 vols.. 1835-
36); "Equity Pleadings" (1838); "Law
of Agency" (1839); "Law of Partner-
ship" (1841) ; "Law of Bills of Exchange"
(1843). ^n<^ "Law of Promissory Notes"
( 1845). He edited "Chitty on Bills of Ex-
change and Promissory Notes" (1809) ;
"Abbot on Shipping" (1810). and "Laws
on Assumpsit" (181 1), and contributed to
the "North American Review," the
"American Jurist." and the "Encyclo-
paedia Americana." He left unfinished a
"Digest of Law," which is in the Harvard
Law Library ; and a collection of "Mis-
cellaneous Writings" was published in
1835. and an enlarged edition edited by
his son. William Wetmore Story, ap-
peared after his death (2 vols., 1851). He
died in Cambridge. Massachusetts, Sep-
tember 10, 1845.

//

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

CHANNING, William Ellery,

Clergyman, Reformer.

William Ellery Channing was born in
Newport, Rhode Island, April 7, 1780, son
of William and Lucy (Ellery) Channing,
and grandson of William Ellery, a signer
of the Declaration of Independence.

He attended school in Newport until
his twelfth year, when he was placed
under the care of his uncle. Rev. Henry
Chambers, of New London, Connecticut,
who prepared him to enter Harvard. He
was graduated in 1798 with the highest
honors, having attracted the attention of
both faculty and students by the bril-
liancy of his scholarship, the originality
of his thought, and the remarkable charm
of his personality. After his graduation
he became tutor in the family of David
Meade Randolph, of Richmond, Virginia.
Though he there viewed slavery from its
most attractive side, his innate hatred of
the system was confirmed during his
eighteen months in Richmond, and he de-
clared "the influence of slavery on the
whites to be almost as fatal as on the
blacks themselves." His interest in poli-
tics, both American and European, was
positive, and his private letters written
at that time disclose great breadth of
mind and lucidity of expression. The love
of luxury which characterized the Vir-
ginians, he regarded as effeminate, and
with unwise zeal he proceeded to curb
his animal nature by the most rigid as-
ceticism. He slept on the bare floor ex-
posed to the cold, abstained from eating
anything but the most necessary food,
wore insufficient clothing, and made a
practice of remaining at his study table
until two or three o'clock in the morning.
As a result, his once fine health was
permanently destroyed.

In July, 1800. he returned to Newport,
where he remained a year and a half, de-
voting his time to the study of theology,
and to preparing the son of Mr. Randolph

and his own younger brother for college.
In December, 1801, he was elected regent
of Harvard, and while performing the
merely nominal duties of the office he
pursued his theological studies. He be-
gan to preach in the autumn of 1802, and
in December received an invitation from
the Federal Street Society, Boston, to be-
come their pastor. At the same time he
was urged to accept the pastorship of the
Brattle Street Church, but, believing that
he could accomplish more good in the
weaker society, he accepted the first call,
and was ordained June i, 1803. His
earnestness and eloquence strengthened
the little society, and in 1809 the number
of listeners had so increased as to neces-
sitate the building of a larger church edi-
fice. In 1812 he was elected to succeed
Dr. Buckminster as Dexter lecturer in
the divinity school at Harvard College,
but was obliged to resign in 1813. His
fame and influence as a preacher were
steadily increasing, while his physical
strength was becoming enfeebled. In

1822 his parishioners deemed it necessary
to send him abroad to recuperate, and
from May of that year until August of

1823 he traveled over the whole world.
In the spring of 1824 the Rev. Ezra Stiles
Gannett was ordained the associate pas-
tor of the Federal Street Society, and
Mr. Channing was relieved of part of the
care of the church. At the organization
of the "Anthology Club" Mr. Channing
contributed several essays to its journal ;
and he wrote frequently for the "Chris-
tian Disciple," which, in 1824, was en-
larged and its name changed to the
"Christian Examiner." In "The Exam-
iner" there appeared the series of what
he called "hasty effusions," which caused
him to be recognized and admired by the
world of letters. His subjects were:
"Milton" (1826) ; "Bonaparte" (1827-28),
and "Fenelon" (1829). Soon after this
he was induced to collect and revise his

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

writings, which resulted in "Miscel-
lanies" the first volume of which was pub-
lished in 1830. His theology broadened
in advance of his time, and though his
sympathies were with the Unitarian
movement, his mind was too large and
free to be bound by any sect. He was
"a. member of the church universal, of the
lovers of God and the lovers of man ; his
religion was a life, not a creed or a form."
In 1830 the state of his health again de-
manded rest, and he made a voyage to
the West Indies. Dr. Channing gradu-
ally withdrew from church work to give
his energies more to the outside world,
the aim of his life being to promote free-
dom of thought, and to bring about the
abolition of slavery. In 1835, after years
of preparation, he published his book on
slavery, which was received with uni-
versal commendation. He delivered lec-
tures and addresses in the cause of eman-
cipation whenever opportunity was ofifer-
ed. His writings were collected and pub-
lished in seven volumes, the last of which
appeared in 1872. In 1820 Harvard con-
ferred upon him the degree of Doctor of
Divinity. See "The Life of William El-
lery Channing, D. D." (the centenary
memorial edition in one volume, 1882),
by his nephew, William Henry Chan-
ning. The Channing Memorial Church
and Noble's heroic-size bronze statue of
the great preacher stand in the Touro
Park, Newport, Rhode Island. He died
in Bennington, Vermont, October 2, 1842.

SHAW, Lemuel,

Jurist, Litterateur.

Lemuel Shaw was born in Barnstable,
Massachusetts, January 9, 1781, son of
the Rev. Oakes and Susannah (Hay-
wood) Shaw ; grandson of the Rev. John
Shaw, who graduated from Harvard Col-
lege in 1729. His father was pastor of
the West Parish, Barnstable, from 1760
to 1807.

He received his early education from
his father, and later attended a prepara-
tory school at Braintree, Massachusetts,
then entering Harvard College, from
which he graduated with the Bachelor of
Arts degree in 1800, receiving the Master
of Arts degree in 1803. After his gradu-
ation he served as usher of the South
Reading (Franklin) school, and also as
assistant editor of the "Boston Gazette."
He studied law in Boston and Amherst,
and was admitted to the bar of Hills-
borough county. New Hampshire, in 1804,
and that of Plymouth county, Massachu-
setts, in October of the same year. He
engaged in practice in Boston, where he
made his residence during the remainder
of his life. He was a member of the State
Legislature from 181 1 to 181 5, and in
1819; a delegate to the State Constitu-
tional Convention in 1820; and a State
Senator in 1821-22 and 1828-29. In Sep-
tember, 1830, he succeeded Isaac Parker
as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts, and held that position for
a period of thirty years, and until within
less than a year of his death. He was a
most accomplished and industrious jurist,
and his published decisions comprise
nearly fifty volumes.

He was a man of literary ability and
cultured tastes. He translated from the
French the "Civil and Military Transac-
tions of Bonaparte," and which he left un-
published. His addresses include, a "Dis-
course before the Humane Society of
Massachusetts," in 181 1, and a Fourth of
July oration in 1815. He received the
honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in
183 1 from Harvard, of which college he
was an overseer from 1831 to 1853 and a
fellow from 1834 until his death ; and the
same degree from Brown University in
1850. He was a fellow of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, a mem-
ber of the Massachusetts and New Eng-
land Historical societies and of various

79

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

local clubs, and a trustee of the Boston
Library Society and the Boston Humane
Society. He was twice married ; first to
Elizabeth, daughter of Josiah Knapp, of
Boston ; and (second) to Hope, daughter
of Dr. Samuel Savage, of Barnstable,
Massachusetts. Of his children, a son
and namesake was a graduate of Harvard
College, a practicing lawyer and a trustee
of the Boston Public Library and the
Boston AtheUcTum. Judge .Shaw died in
Boston, March 30, 1861.

EDWARDS, Justin,

Clergyman, Edncator.

The Rev. Justin Edwards was born in
Westhampton, Massachusetts, April 25,
1787. He was descended from Alexan-
der (1655-1690), through Samuel, who
died in 1749.

He was graduated from Williams Col-
lege in 1810; studied at Andover Theo-
logical Seminary, 1811-12; was ordained
December 2, 1812, and had charge of the
South Parish, Andover, 1812-27. He then
preached at the Salem Street Church,
Boston, 1828-29. He was a member of
the executive committee of the American
Tract Society, 181 7-21 ; corresponding
secretary and business manager, 1821-
29 ; helped to organize the American So-
ciety for the Promotion of Temperance
in 1825, and was its first agent, 1825-27.
He resigned the pastorate of the Salem
Street Church in 1829, and engaged as
secretary of the American Temperance
Society, 1829-36, in travelling and lec-
turing in various parts of the country.
He then served as president of Andover
Theological Seminary, 1836-42. He was
secretary of the American and Foreign
Sabl)ath School Union, Boston, 1842-49,
and organized the first temperance soci-
ety in Washington. D. C. He received
the degree of Doctor of Divinity from
Yale College in 1827. His published
works include numerous sermons, tracts

and addresses, of which millions of copies
were distributed. He also edited the
"Journal of the Temperance Society," and
published the "Sabbath Manual and Tem-
perance Manual.'' A memoir of his life
by the Rev. William Hallock was pub-
lished by the American Tract Society in

1855-

He was married to L}dia Bigelow, of
Andover. He died at Bath Alum Springs,
Virginia. July 24, 1853.

DAVIS, John,

Congressman, Governor.

John Davis, twelfth Governor of Mas-
sachusetts, was born at Northboro, Mas-
sachusetts. January 13, 1787. He was
graduated at Yale College in 1812, stud-
ied law, was admitted to practice, and
Avas for many years the leader of the
Worcester bar.

In 1824 he was chosen on the Whig
ticket to represent his district in Con-
gress, and, being four times reelected,
served until January. 1834. As a repre-
sentative he favored a high protective
tariff, and strenuously opposed the Clay
compromise tariff bill of 1833. He was
frequently heard in debate, and took high
rank as a legislator. In January, 1834,
he became Governor of Massachusetts,
and served one term. Soon after retiring
from the governorship he was elected
United States Senator, and sat in the
Senate until January, 1841, when he re-
signed to again become Governor of his
State. In the Senate he confirmed and
supplemented the reputation he had made
while in the house, and as the recognized
champion of protection was opposed to
the policies of both Presidents Jackson
and Van Buren, and distinguished him-
self by able confutations of the free trade
sentiments of southern statesmen. Many
of his speeches were reprinted in pam-
phlet form and widely circulated as cam-
paign documents, especially his speech

8c

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

delivered in 1840, in opposition to the
sub-treasury, of which a million copies
were printed. After the expiration of his
second term as Governor of Massachu-
setts, he was again elected to the United
States Senate, where he vigorously op-
posed the war with Mexico, and the en-
croachments of the slave power. He sup-
ported the Wilmot Proviso, but was
strenuously opposed to the Missouri
Compromise of 1850. He declined a re-
election. He was a man of great ability,
aggressive in the support of his convic-
tions, and of blameless private life.

His wife, a sister of George Bancroft,
survived him, eighteen years. His eldest
son, John Chandler Bancroft Davis, after
a notable career as diplomatic agent of
the United States on various important
commissions. Assistant Secretary of State
under President Grant, and United States
States Minister to Germany, became in
1877 reporter of the United States Court
of Claims, and in 1882 of the United
States Supreme Court. He has written
many valuable pamphlets on diplomatic
subjects. His grandson, John Davis, was
appointed judge of the United States
Court of Claims in 1885. Governor Davis
died at Worcester, April 19, 1854.

MANN, Horace,

Distingrnislied Educator.

Horace Mann was born in Franklin,
Massachusetts, May 4, 1796, son of
Thomas and Rebecca (Stanley) Mann ;
grandson of Nathan and Esther Mann ;
and a descendant of William Mann, who
immigrated to America from England
and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He received but a limited education, as
his father, who was a small farmer in
Franklin, died while he was a lad, and he
was obliged to help support the family.
He studied English, Greek and Latin
under Samuel Barrett, an itinerant school-
master, and entered Brown University in
MASS-6 81

1816, and although absent from his class
throughout one winter, he was graduated
with honor in 1819. He studied law with
J. J. Fiske, of Wrentham, Massachusetts,
but in a few months was invited to Brown
University as a tutor in Latin and Greek,
and librarian. He resigned in 1821, and
entered the law school at Litchfield, Con-
necticut, under Judge Gould, and in 1822
entered the law office of James Richard-
son, of Dedham. He was admitted to the
bar in December, 1823, and opened an
office at Dedham, where he practiced in
1823-33. He was a representative in the
State Legislature, 1827-33, his first speech
was made in defence of religious liberty.
He was married, September 29, 1830, to
Charlotte, daughter of President Asa
Messer, of Brown University, and in
1833 he removed to West Newton and
was a partner with Edward G. Loring,
Boston.

He was State Senator from 1833 ^o
1837, and presiding officer of the Senate
during a portion of that period. During
his legislative service he advocated laws
for improving the common school sys-
tem, and also was the means of procuring
the enactment of the "fifteen-gallon law,"
in the interest of temperance, and the law
for the suppression of the traffic in lot-
tery tickets. He also proposed the es-
tablishment of the State Lunatic Hos-
pital at Worcester, Massachusetts, in
1833, and was appointed chairman of the
board of commissioners to contract for
and superintend the erection of the hos-
pital, and he was chairman of the board
of trustees when the buildings were com-
pleted in 1833. In 1835 he was a mem-
ber of a legislative committee to codify
the statute laws of Massachusetts, and
after their adoption he was associated
with Judge Metcalf in editing the work.
He was elected the first secretary of the
Massachusetts Board of Education. June
19' ^^37' arid addressed lectures to con-

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ventions of teachers and friends of edu-
cation, in which he explained to the pub-
lic the leading motives of the legislature
in creating the board. He also for twelve
years published annual reports setting
forth the advancement of education in the
State, and superintended and contributed
largely to the pages of the "Common
School Journal," a monthly publication.
During his term of office as secretary, he
introduced a thorough reform in the
school system, established normal schools,
and visited at his own expense various
educational establishments of Europe,
especially in Germany, which investiga-
tion he embodied in his seventh annual
report. He retired from the secretary-
ship in 1848, having served for twelve
years with wonderful efficiency and large
results. He was a representative in the
Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second
Congresses, succeeding John Quincy
Adams, deceased, and serving from 1847
to 1853. ^^^ declined the nomination for
Governor of Massachusetts, September
15, 1852, and on the same day was chosen
president of Antioch College, at Yellow
Springs, Ohio, which offer he accepted.
The college affairs were in a state of
chaos, and, in spite of his labors the col-
lege property was advertised for sale at
public auction in the spring of 1859. As
a result of his effort, reorganization was
affected, and the college, freed from debt,
was soon successfully established. The
third class was graduated the same year,
and he served as president until his death.
He was a fellow of the American Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences, and received
the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws
from Harvard in 1849. In the selection
of names for a place in the Hall of Fame
for Great Americans, New York Univer-
sity, in October, 1900, his was one of fif-
teen in "Class C, Educators," submitted
as eligible for a place, and the only one
in the class to secure a place, receiving

sixty-seven votes. He was the author of:
"Reply to Thirty-One Boston School-
masters" (1844) ; "Report of Educational
Tour" (1846); "A Few Thoughts for a
Young Man" (1850); "Slavery, Letters
and Speeches" (1852) ; "Lectures on In-
temperance" (1852) ; "Powers and Duties
of Woman" (1853) ; "Sermons" (1861).
His lectures on education (1845) were
translated into French by Eugene De
Guer in 1873. Besides his annual reports
he published the "Common School Jour-
nal." 1839-47; "Abstract of Massachu-
setts School Returns" (1839-47) ; "Sup-
plementary Report on School Houses"
(1838) ; "Massachusetts System of Com-
mon Schools" (1849) ; and a large num-
ber of pamphlets which have been bound
together and lettered Mann's Educational
Controversies. See "Life of Horace
Mann," by his widow (1865). He died
at Yellow Springs, Ohio, August 2, 1859.

GUSHING, William,

Distinguished Jurist.

William Gushing was born at Scituate,
Massachusetts, March i, 1732, a descend-
ant of Matthew Gushing, who came to
Boston from Gravesend, England, in 1638.
His grandfather and father, both named
John, were judges of the Supreme Court
of Massachusetts, the latter for a period
of twenty-five years, during which he sat
at the hearing of the great question of
writs of assistance in 1760, and at the
trial of Captain Preston and the British
soldiers for the "Boston Massacre."

At fifteen years of age W^illiam Gush-
ing entered Harvard College, where he
was graduated in 1751. After teaching a
public school at Roxbury for one year,
he studied law under Jeremiah Gridley,
"the father of the bar in Boston," and
soon after his admission to practice in
1755 removed to Pownalborough, now
Dresden, Maine, where he was made
judge of probate for Lincoln county,

82

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

upon its organization in 1760. This office
he held until 1771, when he succeeded
his father, who resigned from the Su-
preme Court bench of the State. Until
1775 he abstained so carefully from any
expression of his opinions in the excited
condition of the times, that his senti-
ments were not known until he was
forced to say whether he would receive
his salary from the province or from the
crown. He decided in favor of the prov-
ince, being the only one of all the royal
judges to take the side of his country-
men, in the rapid progress of events. On
the reorganization of the judiciary, he
was made one of the judges of the Su-
preme Court, and on the resignation of
John Adams he became Chief Justice, an
office he held for twelve yeari>. Among
his important decisions was one to the
effect that by the constitution of the
State — the tirst article of the bill of
rights, declaring all men born free and
equal — slavery was abolished in Massa-
chusetts. During the insurrectionary
period which followed the conclusion of
the war for independence, the opposition
to courts and judges was extreme. Mr.
Cushing, however, opened court on one
occasion in the face of an armed mob
through which he passed firmly to the
court house, and by the respect and affec-
tion in which he was held retained au-
thority. In 1785 he declined the nomi-
nation of both parties in his State for
Governor, an office he refused a second
time in 1794; but in 1788 he was a mem-
ber of the convention which ratified the
Federal constitution, presiding over the
debates in the absence of John Hancock,
the greater part of the session. He was
one of the electors of Massachusetts for
the first President and Vice-President,
and on the organization of the Federal
government was made third in order of
the Associate Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States. During- the

absence of Jay in England, he presided
over that body, and on the rejection of
Rutledge by the Senate, was appointed
by Washington Chief Justice, and was
unanimously confirmed, though he re-
signed at the end of a week. He re-
mained on the bench, however, until Sep-
tember 13, 1810, when, in his seventy-
eighth year, having prepared a letter of
resignation, "he was called to resign life."
In politics he was a Federalist, and en-
joyed the confidence and friendship of
Washington and John Adams. The dis-
tinguished trait of his character was mod-
eration. He could be at once open and
decisive without arousing opposition.

He was married, in 1774, to Hannah
Phillips, of Middletown, Connecticut, but
had no children.

83

APPLETON, Daniel,

Founder of Famous Publishing House.

Daniel Appleton was born in Haver-
hill, Massachusetts, December 10, 1785,
son of Daniel and Lydia (Ela) Appleton.
He began his commercial career as clerk
in a dry goods store and early established
himself in a dry goods business of his
own in Haverhill, and later in Boston.
In 1825 he removed to Xew York City,
locating in Exchange Place, where he
opened an establishment for the sale of
dry goods and books, in partnership with
his brother-in-law, Jonathan Leavitt. In
1830 Mr. Leavitt withdrew from the con-
cern, and William Henry, ]\Ir. Appleton's
eldest son, took his place as head of the
book department. Later the dry goods
business was abandoned, and Mr. Apple-
ton removed to larger premises in Clin-
ton Hall, corner of Beekman and Nassau
streets, where he devoted his capital and
energy to importing and selling books.

In 1830 Mr. Appleton made his first
venture as a publisher, issuing a volume
three inches square and a half inch thick,
of one hundred and ninety-two pages, en-

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

titled "Crumbs from the Master's Table,"
consisting of Bible texts compiled by W.
Mason. A copy of this book is preserved
in the Appleton family. A still smaller
volume, "Gospel Seeds," appeared in the
following year, and was followed in 1832,
the year of the cholera epidemic, by "A
Refuge in Time of Plague and Pestilence."
In 1838 Mr. Appleton visited Europe and
established the London agency of the
house at 16 Little Britain ; he also pur-
chased in Paris a number of rare illumi-
nated missals and manuscript specimens
of the work of the early monks, which
were eagerly bought in America and
afforded the firm a large profit. In 1838
William Henry Appleton was admitted
to a partnership, and the firm became D.
Appleton & Company, and removed to
200 Broadway. In 1840 they issued Tract
No. 90, by Rev. Dr. Pusey, which was
followed by the writings of Drs. New-
man, Manning, Palmer, Maurice, and
others of the Oxford School of Theolog-
ical Ideas. In 1848 Mr. Appleton retired,
making the proviso that the ofBcial sig-
nature of the firm should remain Daniel
Appleton & Company. A printing house
and bindery were established by the firm
in Franklin street. New York, in 1853.
In 1857 the "New American Cyclopaedia"
was begun, the last volume being issued
in 1863. The work proved a success, up-
wards of thirty thousand sets being sold.
In 1868, owing to the increase of busi-
ness, the mechanical departments were
transferred to Brooklyn, where an im-
mense block of buildings had been erected
to accommodate them. In 1861 the first
copy of "The Annual Cyclopaedia" was
issued, a volume appearing every year
thereafter, uniform in style and size with
the "American Cyclopaedia," of which
during the years 1873-76 a revised edi-
tion was prepared, with engravings and
maps. "Appleton's Cyclopaedia of Amer-
ican Biography," a valuable work of ref-

erence in six volumes, was commenced
in 1886, and "Johnson's Universal Cyclo-
paedia, Revised," in 1893, in eight vol-
umes. The wide range of books pub-
lished by the Appletons comprises school
text-books, medical and scientific works,
Spanish books for the Central and South-
ern American trade, literature concern-
ing the Civil War, poems, novels, etc.,
covering, in fact, the whole range of lit-
erature. The works of Darwin, Huxley,
Spencer and Tyndall were first printed
in America by this firm, under royalty
agreement with the authors. Owing to
the theological prejudices of the time, the
publication of these books brought some
odium upon the Appletons. They were
also the first to produce in New York the
works of Mme. Muhlbach, one of the
most popular novels published by the
house being her "Joseph II. and His
Court," the sale of which was rivalled by
Disraeli's "Lothair," of which eighty
thousand copies were sold. Among the
firm's illustrated publications are: "Pic-
turesque America," "Picturesque Europe,*
"Picturesque Palestine," and "The Art
of the World."

Daniel Appleton died in New York
City, March 27, 1849.

HUTCHINSON, Thomas,

liate Colonial Governor.

This distinguished man occupies a
unique position in the history of Massa-
chusetts and of the United States. He was
a conspicuous actor in the scenes imme-
diately preceding the Revolution. A man
of good character, of unwearying industry
and high intellectual attainments, he has
been given, by common consent, a loftier
place than any other of the colonial gov-
ernors. It was his lot to live in a period
when the loyalty to royal authority,
which had been a main part of his edu-
cation and his life thought, was suddenly
brought into conflict with revolutionary

84

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ideas and aspirations. He held to his
views with courage, ability and excellent
temper; and, indirectly and unintention-
ally, his conservatism really aided the
Revolutionary cause in some degree.

Governor Hutchinson was born in Eos-
ton, September 9, 171 1, son of Thomas
and Sarah (Foster) Hutchinson. He was
a descendant of the celebrated religious
teacher, Anne Hutchinson, being the
great-grandson of her eldest son, Edward
Hutchinson. His grandfather. Elisha
Hutchinson, was the first Chief Justice
of the Court of Common Pleas under the
old charter, and also a councillor under
the new ; and his father, a merchant of
Boston, at one time very wealthy, was
for more than a quarter of a century a
member of the Council of Assistance, and
colonel of the First Suffolk Regiment.

When only five years old. Thomas
Hutchinson began attending the old
North Grammar School, and having com-
pleted the course there in his twelfth
year, was sent to Harvard College,
where he was graduated in 1727. From
early youth he showed a decided tend-
ency towards mercantile pursuits, which
led him to begin trading through his
father's vessels while yet a college stu-
dent. After graduation he entered his
father's counting house, where during
four years he proved himself to have a
talent for business. In 1737, he was
made a selectman for the town of Boston,
and in the same year was elected repre-
sentative to the General Court. He now
devoted much time to study of English
common law and the principles of the
British constitution, having an idea that
he w^ould follow a public career. At the
time when he was in the General Court,
Massachusetts was stirred to its depth
over the depreciation of the paper cur-
rency of the period, and a great many
wild schemes for improving the financial
situation were devised. Hutchinson

proved to have a remarkably clear and
just idea of financial questions in the
abstract, and practically he fought the
paper money theories of his contempo-
raries with great zeal and determination.
Notwithstanding the prevalence of these
ideas, he was re-elected in 1738, but as
a result of continued opposition to the
notions which were now becoming gen-
erally adopted, he was not elected again
at the expiration of his second term. In
1740 Parliament applied to the colonies
a law with regard to joint-stock compan-
ies, intended for Great Britain, after the
explosion of a South Sea bubble, with the
result that such companies in Massachu-
setts were closed out and many of the
persons connected w^ith them, including
Samuel Adams Sr., were ruined. Hut-
chinson, in this time of misfortune, show-
ed himself both wise and patriotic, but
advice which he gave to the Governor
and which would have saved much dis-
aster was not followed. In the same year
he was sent to England as commissioner
to adjust the boundary line between Mas-
sachusetts and New Hampshire, and, de-
spite his failure, was on his return in
1741, again chosen a representative, con-
tinuing thereafter until 1749 and from
1746 to 1748, being speaker of the house.
The infatuation for paper money con-
tinued, and there was about £140.000 of
it afloat in the colony in 1750. At this
time Parliament voted the sum of £138,-
649 to the colony of Massachusetts as
compensation for the cost of the capture
of Louisburg, that stronghold being now
restored to France in exchange for Mad-
ras, in Flindustan. Flutchinson made the
suggestion that Parliament should send
this money in Spanish silver dollars, and
that these should be employed for the
purpose of buying up and cancelling the
depreciated paper currency, whose actual
value, as stated above, was about one-
eleventh of its face value, and that the

85

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

redemption should be on this basis. He
succeeded in getting a bill passed to this
effect, but its passage incurred for him
the enmity of the entire business com-
munity of Boston, who had an idea that
the result would be such a contraction
of the circulating medium as would ruin
them all. They were greatly surprised
when the money arrived, to find that a
metallic currency had so much greater
purchasing power than the depreciated
paper, and that on the latter being put
out of circulation, the coin would remain
in it. Trade improved steadily, and the
result was that Hutchinson, who had lost
his election in 1749, although he was at
once chosen a member of the Council,
now became one of the most popular men
in the colony. The practical result of his
financiering was that, in 1774, Massachu-
setts was entirely out of debt, and was
able to enter upon the Revolutionary
War. while Rhode Island, which had held
to the paper currency, was hopelessly
poverty stricken.

In 1749 Mr. Hutchinson was appointed
head of a commission which effected a
treaty of peace with the Indians of Casco
Bay. He had now determined to retire
from public life, and with that view had
built himself a beautiful residence at Mil-
ton, Massachusetts (which was still
standing in 1887), but in 1753, the death
of his wife, whom he dearly loved, chang-
ed all his plans, and having succeeded
his uncle as judge of probate, he began
to devote himself again to public affairs.
In 1754, with Benjamin Franklin, he was
in the celebrated Albany Congress,
which was appointed to draw up a plan
of union for the thirteen colonies. In
1756 he was appointed Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor, in 1760 was made Chief Justice,
ccud at one time held, besides this oftice,
that of Lieutenant-Governor, and those
of councillor and judge of probate. In
1761 he presided at the trial of the cele-

brated case of the Writs of Assistance,
during which James Otis made his im-
jjortant speech, which was the forerunner
of the Revolution. In 1765, considerable
feeling had been aroused against Hut-
chinson, who was charged with having
accused certain merchants of Boston
with smuggling. Another point which
was used against him was the fact that on
Ihe passage of the Stamp Act, Andrew
Oliver, his brother-in-law, was appointed
distributor of stamps. The latter was
hanged in effigy on the great tree at
South Boston ; the building which he had
erected, and which was supposed to be
designed for a stamp office, was destroyed
by a mob, and the furniture of his house
was broken to pieces. Mr. Oliver im-
mediately resigned his office, whereupon
he was thanked by the mob, who built a
large bonfire on Fort Hill, near his house,
to express their commendation of his
action. The next evening, however, the
house of Air. Hutchinson was attacked,
rumors against him having been increas-
ed by a report that he had written letters
in favor of the Stamp Act. On this
occasion, however, no serious damage
was done beyond the breaking of the
windows, but a few evenings later, on
August 26, the mob collected in King
street, and havmg hrst plundered the

cellars of the comptroller of the customs
of the wine and spirits in his charge,
they proceeded with intoxicated rage to
the house of Mr. Hutchinson, on the
North Side. This they sacked, splitting
the doors to pieces with broad-axes, steal-
ing the money, plate and wearing apparel,
and destroying the handsome furniture,
and, what was still worse, Hutchinson's
library, with its contents of valuable
manuscripts and documents, which it had
taken him thirty years to collect. On the
following day there was a meeting of
citizens at Faneuil Hall, who voted their
abhorrence of the riot, but no one was

86

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGR.\PHY

punished for the act. This outrage was
committed in the face of the fact that
Hutchinson had made every effort to in-
duce the British minister to refrain from
passing and enforcing the Stamp Act. He
later received indemnification to the
amount of ^3.194 17s. 6d. In 1768 the
arrival of British troops at Boston again
brought Hutchinson into trouble, as it
fell to him, through his position of Lieu-
tenant-Governor, to appoint a house for
the accommodation of the troops. In the
following year Governor Bernard went to
England, when Hutchinson was left as
Acting-Governor. On March 5, 1770, oc-
curred the ''Boston Massacre," when by
his promptitude in arresting Captain
Preston and his men, Hutchinson doubt-
less prevented the affair from being much
more serious and sanguinary than it was.
In 1771 Hutchinson was commissioned
(Tovernor, and within two years he was
again in conflict with the people, and in
dispute with the assembly and council.
The royal order that the salaries of the
judges should be paid by the crown
aroused the already excited people to
violent anger, and Samuel Adams took
the revolutionary step of organizing the
Committee of Correspondence, which
iifterward became so important factor in
the affairs of the Revolution. In 1773
Hutchinson sent a message to the As-
sembly in which he asserted the supreme
authority of Parliament, and provoked
still more acrimonious discussion. In the
meantime, certain confidential letters of
Governor Hutchinson had been obtained
in England by Benjamin Franklin and
sent over to Massachusetts. In the spring
of 1773, Hutchinson succeeded in adjust-
ing with the Governor of New York the
long disputed boundary line between that
colony and ^Massachusetts, and, although
this was a matter of great satisfaction to
Massachusetts, on his return to Boston it
was to meet the excitement caused by the

publication of his confidential letters ob-
tained by Franklin. The result of this
publication was to create the impression
that Hutchinson was responsible for the
most severe measures of the British min-
ister. The General Court petitioned that
Hutchinson and the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor, Oliver, should be removed. The
petition was refused, but in June, 1774,
Hutchinson was superseded by General
Gage, and sailed for England, where he
was graciously received by the king and
offered a baronetcy, which he refused.
In the meantime, his exit was amidst the
execration of the people of Massachu-
setts. His fine residence at Milton, with
all his other property, was confiscated,
and it is alleged that the best coach in his
stable in the following year was taken
over to Cambridge, where it was put to
the use of General Washington. After
his arrival in England, Hutchinson re-
ceived a pension, and during the re-
mainder of his life resided at Brompton,
near London. The death of his young-
est son, \\'illiam, in February of that year,
greatly affected him. Of his two other
sons, Thomas died in England, in 181 1,
aged seventy-one, and Elisha, in 1824,
aged eighty.

Governor Hutchinson, with all his loy-
alty, had a profound affection for New
England, and until after the surrender of
Hurgoyne at Saratoga, he hoped to re-
turn and pass the remainder of his days
there. Hutchinson's own story of his life
was published in Boston in 1884-86, in
two volumes, under the title, ''Diary and
Letters of Thomas Hutchinson." He
wrote "History of Massachusetts Bay,"
the first two volumes of which were pub-
lished in 1764-67, but the third not until
after his death, in 1828. This work
covers the history of the colony of Mas-
sachusetts Bay from its first settlement in
1628 until the year 1750. He also pub-
lished a collection of original papers rela-

87

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

tive to the same subject, in 1769. The
third volume of his history was published
by his grandson, Rev. John Hutchinson,
and comprises the period between 1749
and 1774 and a continuation brought to
1803 was subsequently prepared by Judge
George R. Minot.

Governor Hutchinson married. May 16,
1734. Margaret Sanford, a very beautiful
woman, a granddaughter of Governor
Peleg Sanford, of Rhode Island; she died
in 1753, and her husband, who never re-
married, died in Brompton, England,
June 3, 1780.

HARVARD, John,

Founder of Harvard University,

The unmeasurable influence growing
out of the work of this estimable man,
would suggest that no work dealing with
the history of the people of Massachu-
setts could properly omit mention of him.
The life oftort of the greater number of
his compeers are lost sight of, and the
objects for which they strove have been
accomplished, but the influences grow-
ing out of the work of John Harvard are
continually expanding, and will undoubt-
edly endure as long as does the nation.

He was born in Southwalk, London,
England, in November, 1607, son of Rob-
ert and Katherine (Rogers) Harvard; his
father was a well-to-do butcher. At the
age of twenty he entered Emmanuel Col-
lege, University of Cambridge, received
the A. B. degree four years later, and
subsequently that of A. M.. and was or-
dained as a dissenting minister. In 1637
he married a daughter of Rev. John Sad-
ler, a minister of Sussex, and the same
year emigrated to the colony of Massa-
chusetts, and settled at Charlestown,
where he was made a freeman, was
awarded a grant of land, and performed
the duties of minister to what was after-
ward known as the First Parish Church,
being its third pastor. In 1638 he was

made one of a committee to ''consider
of some things tending toward a body of
laws." At his death he left a bequest of
"the one moiety or halfe parte of my
estate, the said moiety amounting to
the sum of seven hundred seventy-nine
pounds seventeene shillings and two
pence," for the erection of a proposed
school at Cambridge. He also left his
library of two hundred and sixty volumes
to the proposed institution. . His bequest
was a large sum of money at that time,
and his library was regarded as of great
magnitude. x\t the General Court held
at Boston, March 13, i()39, it was ordered
'that the colledge agreed upon formerly
to ])e built at Cambridg shall bee called
Marvard Colledge," in honor of its first
donor.

He died in Charlestown, September 24,
1638. His widow married Rev. Thomas
Allen, pastor of the Second Parish,
Charlestown. A statue to the memory of
John Harvard was erected in the burial
ground at Charlestown. and was dedicated
with an address by Edward Everett. Sep-
tember 26, 1828, and an ideal statue of
him by Daniel C. French, the gift of
Samuel James Bridge, was unveiled on
the delta of Harvard University, October
15. 1884.

BRADSTREET, Anne,

First Female Poet of America.

Anne Bradstreet. distinguished as the
earliest poet of her sex in America,
though a native of England, was a person
who by reputation and residence con-
ferred honor upon her Massachusetts
home, and left a deep impress upon New
England, not only in her own day but in
several following decades.

She was the daughter of Governor
Thomas Dudley, and the wife of Gov-
ernor Simon Bradstreet. She was born
in 1612-13. probably at Northampton,
England. Of her youth, but little is

88

^'o/m Jtccynard

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

l:nown, and from what is left in her own
writing leads to the belief that she was
religiously brought up according to the
Puritan standards of that time. When
she was about sixteen she had the small-
pox. She was married at about that age,
and came to this country. Her husband
was the son of a minister of the non-con-
formist order in the old country. In 1635
she became a resident of Ipswich, Massa-
chusetts, but there are no particulars of
importance regarding her stay in tliat
town, and the exact year when she re-
moved to Andover is not known, but it
is presumable that the latter removal was
before the year 1644. The portion of the
town where she settled was that now
called by the name of North Andover.
Her husband's house there was burned to
the ground in July, 1666, and it is sup-
posed to have been replaced with an-
other, m which she died in September,
1672. This house, which was the resi-
dence of her son, Dudley Bradstreet, was
standing a very few years ago, and is
probably yet in existence.

Her poems were first published in
London, in 1650, under the title of "The
Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in Amer-
ica." She appears to have had from her
birth a very delicate constitution, and
was troubled at one time with lameness,
and subject to frequent attacks of sick-
ness, to fevers, and fits of fainting. She
was the mother of eight children, four
sons and four daughters, all but one of
whom survived her. Of her opinions, she
regarded health as the reward of virtue,
and her various maladies as tokens of the
divine displeasure. She says her relig-
ious belief was at times shaken; but she
believed that her doubts and fears were
exaggerated by her tender conscience.
Her children were constantly in her
mind ; and for them she committed to
writing many of her thoughts and experi-
ences, especially religious. Her poetic

similes refer much to domestic life and
the bringing up of children, and among
her own offspring she notes the most
diverse traits of character; some of them
were obedient and easily governed, while
others were unruly and headstrong. She
derived satisfaction from the virtues of
some, and deplored the failings of others.
Her married life was happy, but she con-
tinuously dwelt in her thoughts on the
great ills to which humanity is subject.
By the burning of her house at Andover,
in July, 1666, her papers, books and other
things of great value were destroyed.
Her son wrote that his father's loss by
this fire was over eight hundred books.
Thus, from what is derived from Mrs.
Bradstreet's works, one may realize that
the world of her day was not much difl^er-
ent from the present in the experiences of
domestic trials. The fact of her being
able to compose anything of a literary
order, was in her time a wonder com-
pared with such things now. She was
however, living in a new country, scarce-
ly yet settled, and that she even was
exposed to criticism by her neighbors for
studying and writing so much, is evident
from her lines :

I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits.

She died of consumption, and a state-
ment of her sad condition in the last
•Stages of the disease, is preserved in the
handwriting of her son. It is supposed,
as her burial place is not known at An-
dover that she may have been interred
in her father's tomb in Roxbury.

In 1678, after her death, a second edi-
tion of her poems was brought out in
Boston. Her descendants have been very
numerous, and many of them have more
than made up, by the excellence of their
writings, for whatever beauty or spirit
hers may have lacked. Among these were

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Dr. William E. Channing. Rev. Joseph
Buckminster, of Portsmouth, and his son,
Rev. Joseph S. Buckminster, and his
daughter, Mrs. Eliza B. Lee; Richard H.
Dana, the poet, and his son, Richard H.
Dana Jr. ; Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes ;
Wendell Phillips, and Mrs. Eliza G.
Thornton, of Saco, Maine, whose poetry
w^as once much esteemed.

WILLARD, Samuel,

Distinguished Educator.

Sanmel Willard, seventh president of
Harvard College (1701-07), was born at
Concord, Massachusetts, January 31,
1640, son of Major Simon Willard,
founder of Concord.

He was graduated at Harvard College
in the class of 1659. He then studied
theology, and in 1663 was ordained as
minister at Groton, Massachusetts, where
he succeeded Rev. John Miller. Here he
was deeded a house and land, with the
understanding that he should remain
pastor for life, and faithfully served the
society until the village was burned by
the Indians during King Philip's war,
early in 1676. He then removed to Bos-
ton, where in 1678 he became colleague
of the famous Thomas Thatcher, rector
of old South Church, and upon the latter's
death in the following October succeeded
to the pastorate, holding it until his death.
His ministrations were so acceptable that
it was remarked that "his removal to Bos-
ton was a compensation for the dis-
asters of King Philip's war." Edward
Randolph wrote of him in 1682 : "We
have in Boston one Mr. W^illard, a min-
ister, brother to Major Dudley ; he is a
moderate man, and baptizeth those who
are refused by the other churches, for
which he is hated." His "moderation"
was further shown by his conduct during
the persecution of the alleged witciips.
In company with the Rev. Joshua
Moodey he visited Philip English and his

wife, who were in prison awaiting trial
at Salem, consoled them, and doubtless
sympathized with Moodey's successful
zeal in as.sisting them to "escape from the
forms of justice, when justice was vio-
lated in them." A story illustrating his
humor relates that his son-in-law. Rev.
Samuel Treat, of Eastham, having
preached in his pulpit a sermon distaste-
ful to the congregation, from its faulty
delivery, he was requested not to permit
any more from that source. Willard,
however, borrowed the sermon, and some
weeks later delivered it himself, and by
his capital delivery so delighted his
people that they requested its publication,
remarking how superior was his treat-
ment of the text to that of his son-in-law.
When Governor Andros assumed control
of the colony in 1686, he demanded that
the Church of England services be held
in South Church, and, being refused, com-
manded the sexton to ring the bell, which
he was frightened into doing. For three
years, thereafter. Episcopal services were
held in the building every Sunday morn-
ing, Mr. Willard's congregation being
obliged to wait until their completion.
On the first Sunday, Andros promised to
allow them possession of the building at
I :30 p. m. but kept them waiting until
long after two o'clock, while he and his
staff prolonged their devotions. After-
ward he was accustomed to suit his own
convenience about the hour of service,
much to the annoyance of the people of
Mr. Willard's society. It is surprising
that in this age of inflammable religious
prejudice, no violence resulted from this
high-handed measure, but Willard's wise
counsels doubtless guided his people, and
both parties came to evince a desire to
accommodate one another. He was early
made a fellow of Harvard College, and in
1700 became vice-president. On the
resignation of President Mather in 1701
he succeeded to the control of the institu-

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

lion, but continuing his residence in Bos-
ton and the active pastorate of South
Church, he was, according to the resolu-
tion of the General Court, debarred from
the title of president and was never in-
augurated. After resuming the respon-
sibilities in the college he associated with
himself, as the assistant rector of South
Church, the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton.

Early in the presidency of Mr. Willard,
the printing establishment in Cambridge
was discontinued by the death of Samuel
Green, who had conducted it for fifty
years. In most respects j\Ir. Willard's
administration was able, and character-
ized by his usual scholarship and moder-
ation. He had the confidence of the auth-
orities of the colony, and the support of
its best representatives. He wrote and
preached ably against the witchcraft de-
lusion, and, besides numerous sermons,
published an "Answer to the Anabap-
tists" (1681); "Mourner's Cordial"
(1691) ; "Peril of the Times," "Love's
Pedigree," and the "Fountain Opened"
(1700). His masterpiece was the ' Com-
pleat Body of Divinity, and 250 Lectures
on the Shorter Catechism," edited by his
successors. J. Sewell and T. Prince, which
appeared in a folio of 914 pages in 1726.
Professor C. F. Richardson, of Dart-
mouth, prefers his English to that of the
Mathers, and credits him with "an even-
ly-balanced mind, a logical plan, a clear
style, and some imagination." Pember-
ton speaks of him as "a sage patriot in
Israel."

He was twice married; (first) August
8, 1664, to Abigail, daughter of John Sher-
man, of Watertown. and (second) to
Eunice, daughter of Edward Tyng, about
1679. He had twenty children, eight by
the first wife and twelve by the second.
Of his descendants, none bear the name
of Willard. save only the descendants of
his grandson Samuel (H. l"^., 1723). who

was father of Joseph Willard (H. U.,
1765), later president of the college. He
died in Boston, Massachusetts, Septem-
ber 12, 1707.

WADSWORTH, Benjamin,

Clergyman, College President.

Benjamm Wadsworth, ninth president
of Harvard College (1725-37), was born
in Milton, Massachusetts, in 1669, sev-
enth son of Captain Samuel Wadsworth,
an early martyr to the cause of civiliza-
tion, he having been killed by the In-
dians in a battle fought at Sudbury, Mas-
sachusetts. April 18, 1676, and his
memory perpetuated by a monument
erected on the spot by his son.

After a thorough preparatory training,
young Wadsworth was admitted to Har-
vard in the class of 1690, and was gradu-
ated with that class, the largest that had
ever left the college. He then took a
course in theology, was licensed to preach,
made assistant teacher in the First Church,
Boston, November, 1693. ^"^ became col-
league pastor September 8, 1696. He was
made a fellow of Harvard College, serv-
ing until July 7, 1725, when he was in-
augurated president to succeed John
Leverett, and held the position until his
death. During his administration dona-
tions from home and abroad in money,
books, silver-plates, apparatus, and the
like were being constantly received. To
these gifts the General Court added ii.700.
and in 1725 voted the sum of f 1,000 to
build a new house for the president, and
also increased his salary ; but through
depreciation in the value of currency, the
salary paid rarely exceeded in value ii50
English money. The benefactions of
Thomas Hollis also continued unabated ;
ni 1726 he founded the professorship of
mathematics and natural and experimen-
tal philosophy which bears his name, and
Isaac Greenwood Avas chosen its first in-

91

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

cumbent with his approval. In his death, alties, the dispensing of roast meats, pre-
which occurred in 1731, Harvard lost one pared dishes, plum-cake or distilled
of its most generous and devoted bene- liquors, or "unseemly dancing" by the
factors. As a theologian, President Wads- students on commencement day ; espe-
worth held some theological opinions not cially mentioning that any attempt to
current in his day. He was an industrious evade the statute by "plain cake, would
student of the Bible, and a celebrated cause the offender to forfeit the honors of
textuary, able to adorn any point with the college." During President Wads-
numerous quotations from Holy Writ, worth's administration the board of
He always preached plain, practical ser- overseers was faced by a perplexing
mons, avoiding points in debate, and was dilemma : The Rev. Timothy Cutler, for-
seldom drawn into controversy. Presi- merly of Yale College, having become an
dent Eliot, in an address delivered on the Episcopalian, was appointed rector of
250th anniversary of the First Church, Christ Church, Boston, and at once made
Boston, quotes President Wadsworth as strenuous efforts to obtain a place on the
saying in a sermon preached in 171 1: board. His success would certainly have
■"Tis of the mere undeserving mercy of ended the sectarian control in the col-
God that we have not all of us been roar- lege, and great excitement prevailed
ing in the unquenchable flames of hell among the authorities. He was finally
long ago, for 'tis no more than our sins thwarted in his efforts, and a law was
have justly deserved." Again he says, passed that none but Congregational
that "nothing is more grating, cutting, ministers were entitled to become over-
and enraging to the devil than to have the seers. Cutler had previously been ejected
gospel faithfully preached to men." from his tutorship in Yale for preaching
"But," says Eliot, "when Dr. Wadsworth a sermon denying the validity of Presby-
in a sermon entitled 'The Saint's Prayer terian ordination. He was a person of
to Escape Temptation,' told parents how overbearing pride and haughtiness. Al-
to bring up their children, he gave advice though in failing health at the time of his
good for all times, which the latest as appointment. President W^adsworth
well as the earliest president of Harvard faithfully stood by his post, preferring,
College might gladly adopt as his own." as Tutor Henry Flynt expressed it in his
There is no doubt that President Wads- eloquent mortuary oration, to "wear out
worth was mere of a preacher than an rather than rust out." He died at the

president's house in Cambridge, March
i6, 1737.

educator, and made a better pastor of a
church than a master of a school. In his

administration of the affairs of the col-

lege, however, was witnessed the gather- LOVELL, John,

ing of the rich fruitage of the toils, Sacri- Prominent Educator.
fices, and faithful devotion of the early John Lovell was born in Boston, Mas-
presidents of Harvard College, and his sachusetts, June 16, 1710. He was gradu-
term closed with the first century of the ated at Flarvard in 1728, and the follow-
history of the college. The growing ing year became usher in the Public
"worldliness" among the students prompt- Latin School of Boston, where he suc-
ed the authorities to take measures for ceeded Jeremy Gridley as assistant head-
its suppression, and a new code of laws master in 1734. In 1738, upon the death
for the college was formulated, forbid- of Dr. Nathaniel Williams, he became
ding, among other things, on pain of pen- headmaster of the school, and remained

92

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

in this position until the outbreak of the
Revolution. In 1742 he delivered the
dedication address in Faneuil Hall, at the
meeting called on the decease of its
founder, Peter Faneuil.

He was a genial and witty companion,
an excellent teacher, and a good scholar,
but a stern disciplinarian, and feared by
his pupils, who were obliged to go to
another school to learn to write and
cipher, as he regarded it beneath his dig-
nity to teach these branches. As a reward
for good progress and behavior he allow-
ed the boys to work for him in his garden.
He was a stauncn loyalist, although many
of his former pupils were leaders in the
struggle for independence, and, accom-
panied by his youngest son Benjamin, he
went with the British troops to Halifax,
March 14, 1776, having previously dis-
missed his school with the words :
"War's begun — school's done." Another
son was in the ordnance department
under General Howe during the British
occupation of Boston. He published sev-
eral pamphlets of a political and theo-
logical nature, and contributed English
and Latin essays to the "Pietas et Gratu-
latio" (1761), also to the "Weekly Re-
hearsal" of Boston. He was an elegant
and pleasing writer. He died at Halifax,
Nova Scotia, in 1778.

DALTON, Tristram,

statesman of tlie Revolution.

Tristram Dalton was born at Newbury.
Massachusetts, May 28, 1738, son of
Michael and Mary (Little) Dalton. His
earliest American ancestor was Philemon
Dalton, who came to New England in
1635 and settled at Dedham, Massachu-
setts.

Tristram Dalton's elementary educa-
tion was received in Dummer Academy,
Byfield, under Samuel Moody, after

which he entered Harvard College and
was graduated in 1755, in the class with
John Adams. He then studied law in
Salem, but on the completion of his stud-
ies returned to Newbury and joined his
father in business. He became actively
interested in public affairs previous to the
Revolution, his name frequently appear-
ing on the records of the town. He
served on various committees, and gave
considerable time and attention to the
revision of the public school system of
Newbury. In 1774 he was one of the
delegates to the Provincial Congress, and
in 1776 he was elected representative to
the General Court. During the Revolu-
tionary War he ardently supported the
Continental government. From 1782 to
1785 he was an influential member of the
State Legislature, and in 1783 was chosen
speaker of the house. From 1786 to 1788
Mr. Dalton was a member of the State
Senate, and also a delegate from New-
bury to the Constitutional Convention of
1788. He zealously advocated the adop-
tion of the Constitution of the United
States, and after a long and protracted
contest he and Caleb Strong were elected
Senators to the first National Congress.

He was distinguished for his scholarly
accomplishments, and at his residence.
Spring Hill, he entertained Washington,
Adams, Talleyrand, and other famous
persons. Following the advice of his
friend. President Washington, he sold his
property in Massachusetts to invest the
proceeds in real estate in Washington,
D. C. but through the mismanagement of
his agent was reduced to poverty. In
1815 he obtained the post of Surveyor of
the Port of Boston, which he held until
his death. He was married, October 4,
1758, to Ruth, daughter of Robert
Hooper, a rich merchant of Marblehead,
and had five children. He died in Boston,
Massachusetts, May 30, 1817.

93

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

LOWELL, John,

statesman, Jurist.

John Lowell was born in Newburyport,
Massachusetts, June 17, 1744, the son of
John Lowell, minister of the first church
in Newburyport (1726-67), who was dis-
tinguished among his brethren as a
scholar.

He was graduated at Harvard College
in 1760, and applied himself to the study
of law, and soon rose to great eminence in
his profession. He represented New-
buryport in the Provincial Assembly in
1776. In 1771 he removed from New-
buryport to Boston, and was chosen rep-
resentative for the town at the General
Court, and one of their twelve delegates
to the convention which formed the con-
stitution. In that assembly he was very
much distinguished by his eloquence and
knowledge. He was one of the framers
of the Massachusetts State Constitution
in 1780, and procured the insertion in the
bill of rights the declaration that "all men
are born free and equal," for the purpose,
as he said, of abolishing slavery in Mas-
sachusetts, and offered his services to any
slave who desired to establish his right
to freedom under that clause. The Su-
preme Court of the State upheld this en-
actment as constitutional in 1783, since
which time slavery has had no legal ex-
istence in Massachusetts. In 1781 he was
chosen a member of the Continental Con-
gress, and in December of the following
year was appointed by that body one of
the three judges of the Court of Appeals.
When the Federal government was estab-
lished, he was appointed by President
Washington judge of the District Court
of Massachusetts, and remained in that
office until the new organization of the
Federal judiciary in 1801, when he was
appointed by President Adams to be Chief
Justice of the Circuit Court for the first
circuit comprehending the district of

Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
and Rhode Island.

Judge Lowell took an active interest in
the welfare of Harvard College, and,
when there was a vacancy in the corpo-
ration in 1784, he was elected a member
of that board, on which he served for
eighteen years. He was brilliant in con-
versation, an able scholar, and an honest
and patriotic leader, and was one of the
founders of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences. He died May 6, 1802.

WEBBER, Samuel,

Educator, Litterateur.

Samuel Webber, fourteenth president
of Harvard College (1806-10), was born
in Byfield, Massachusetts, in 1759. His
early life was spent upon a farm, and by
hard labor, many privations, and much
earnest effort, he prepared himself for
college, and was graduated at Harvard
with the class of 1784, with special honors
m mathematics. He then took a course
in theology and was ordained a minister
in the Congregational church. In 1787
he was made a tutor at Harvard College,
and two years after was promoted to the
Hollis chair of mathematics and natural
philosophy, which he held for fifteen
years. Upon the death of President Wil-
lard, September 25, 1804, Fisher Ames
was elected to the presidency of Harvard,
but declined in 1805, when the choice fell
to Professor Webber, who was inaugu-
rated in 1806. He was not gifted with
the brilliant powers which fascinated the
contemporaries of Fisher Ames, but he
was learned, faithful, industrious, and
devout. His early life on the farm had
deprived him of a training calculated to
give him the ease of manner and courtly
dignity that characterized his predeces-
sor, but he was urbane and gentle, and
his administration was popular and suc-
cessful. Through grants from the legis-

94

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

lature and numerous private contributors,
the treasury of the college during his ten-
ure was an index of the high degree oi
public favor the institution enjoyed. Dr.
Webber served as one of the commis-
sioners, appointed to settle the boundary
line between the United States and the
British provinces. He was vice-president
of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences of Boston, and a member of the
American Philosophical Society. In 1806
Harvard conferred upon him the degree
of S. T. D. He was author of a "System
of Mathematics," intended for use in Har-
vard, which was for a long time the only
text-book on mathematics used in New
England colleges. He also published a
"Eulogy on President Willard" (1804).
He died at Cambridge, Massachusetts,
July 17, i8to.

WINTHROP, Thomas Lindall,

Publicist.

Thomas Lindall Winthrop was born at
New London, Connecticut, March 6, 1760,
son of John Still and Jane (Borland)
Winthrop, and a descendant in the fifth
generation of Governor John Winthrop.

He prepared for college at Lebanon.
Connecticut, and at the age of sixteen
entered Yale College, but at the end of
two years was honorably dismissed, and
completed his education at Harvard Col-
lege, where he was graduated in 1780.
He then made a journey to the south for
the improvement of his health, and after-
ward spent some time traveling through
England, France and Holland. Return-
ing to America, he engaged in commercial
pursuits at Charleston, South Carolina,
where he resided for a few years and then
settled in Boston. On July 25, 1786, he
was married to Elizabeth Bowdoin
Temple, a granddaughter of Governor
Bowdoin, of Massachusetts, and a daugh-
ter of Sir John Temple. Consul-General
of Great Britain in the United States.

In his early life Winthrop was an active
Federalist, but after the beginning of the
war of 1812 he joined the Republicans,
and having retired from business became
conspicuous in public life. He was a
Presidential Elector, served in the State
Senate, and in 1826 became Lieutenant-
Governor of Massachusetts, to which
ofiice he was annually re-elected until his
retirement in 1832. He served for many
years on the board of overseers of the
University of Cambridge ; was senior
member of the board of visitors of that
institution ; acted as chairman of the com-
mittee for establishing primary schools,
and devoted special attention to the pro-
motion of agriculture, acting for thirty-
eix years as trustee of the Massachusetts
Agricultural Society, and as its president
for the last ten years of his life. He was
a member of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences ; of the y\merican Phil-
osophical Society ; president of the His-
torical Society of Massachusetts from
1835, and was connected with a large
number of other American and foreign
learned bodies. In 1813 he became a
member of the American Antiquarian So-
ciety, in 1821 was chosen to its council,
in 1828 served as vice-president, and three
years later became its second president,
and held this position until his death.
He had a daughter who became the wife
of Rev. Benjamin Tappan, of Augusta,
Maine, and five sons, one of whom, James,
took the name of Bowdoin. Another son,
Robert Charles, became a United States
Senator. He died in Boston, February
22, 1 841. His body was placed in the
family tomb in Kings Chapel burying
srround.

ASHMUN, Eli Porter,

Distinguished Lawyer.

Eli Porter Ashmun was born at Bland-
ford, Massachusetts, in 1771. He studied
law with Judge Sedgwick, of Stockbridge*

95

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Massachusetts, was admitted to the bar,
and practiced in his native town until
1807, when he settled in Northampton,
becoming a distinguished lawyer. He
served for several years as a member of
the Massachusetts House of Representa-
tives and Senate. In 1816 he was elected
to the United States Senate from his
native State, succeeding Christopher
Gore, who had resigned. As senator he
served in only two congresses, however,
resigning in 1818. As a lawyer he was
exceedingly conscientious, having been
known to send away with scorching sar-
casm a client who wished to take a dis-
honest advantage of an opponent. The
honorary degree of A. M. was conferred
upon him by Middlebury College in 1807,
and by Harvard in 1809.

He was married to Lucy, youngest
daughter of Rev. John and Sarah (Worth-
ington) Hooker, and granddaughter of
Colonel John Worthington, of Spring-
field, Massachusetts. Two sons were
born to him. John Hooker and George.
The former, who was born at Blandford,
July 3, 1800, studied for three years at
Williams College, was graduated at Har-
\ard in 1818, and became a lawyer. Upon
the death of Judge Howe in 1828 he be-
came the head of the Northampton Law
School, and in 1828 received an appoint-
ment as Professor of Law at Harvard
University, being the first to occupy the
chair founded by Isaac Royall. He died
April I, 1833, having acquired a high rep-
utation as a jurist. Eli P. Ashmun died
at Northampton, Massachusetts, May 10,
1819.

LAWRENCE, Abbott,

Man of Affairs, Diplomat.

Abbott Lawrence was born at Groton.
Massachusetts, December 16, 1792, fifth
son of Deacon Samuel Lawrence, a
farmer, who was a major in the Revolu-
tionary War. a descendant of John Law-

lence, one of the first Puritan emigrants
who settled at Watertown about 1635 and
in 1660 removed to Groton. The family
traces its descent to the twelfth genera-
tion, their ancestor. Sir Robert Lawrence,
liaving been knighted by Richard Coeur
de Lion in 1191, for bravery in scaling
rhe walls of Acre.

Abbott Lawrence attended the district
school during the winter, and worked on
the farm in summer, and after attending
ihe Groton Academy for a few months
went to Boston, where he apprenticed
himself to his brother Amos, who was
well established in business. He devoted
himself assiduously to his business, and
spent his evenings in repairing the defi-
ciencies of his education. Wlien he came
of age in 1814, the two brothers formed
a co-partnership which was only severed
by death. The firm engaged in the im-
portation and sale of foreign manufac-
tures, and stood at the head of its depart-
ment of trade. They engaged largely in
the sale of cottons and woolens on com-
mission, and in 1830 became actively in-
terested in the cotton mills at Lowell.
W'hen the Suft'olk, Tremont and Law-
rence companies were established, they
became large owners, and were afterward
interested in other corporations, and from
that time forward their business was con-
ducted on a gigantic scale, and the in-
come derived therefrom was proportion-
ately large. Mr. Abbott Lawrence was
for a number of years successfully en-
gaged in the Chinese trade.

He took an active interest in politics
and all public matters, and in 1834 was
elected to the Twenty-fourth Congress
from the Sufifolk district, by the Whig
party : he served on the committee of
ways and means, and at the end of his
term declined re-election, but was again
elected to the Twenty-sixth Congress in
1839-40, and resigned after filling the
ofifice but a short term. In 1842 he was

96

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

appointed a commissioner by the State of
Massachusetts to settle the question of
the northeastern boundary of the State.
Mr. Lawrence settled this difficult ques-
tion with Lord Ashburton, the represen-
tative of Great Britain, on a basis that
was satisfactory to both governments.
In 1844 he was delegated to the Whig
convention, and one of the electors-at-
large for the State, and his name was
prominently put forward for vice-presi-
dent on the ticket with General Taylor,
and he only lacked six votes of being
nominated for the office. He declined a
portfolio in President Taylor's cabinet,
but accepted the position of Un'ted
States Minister to Great Britain, and in
1849 sailed for England. He resumed the
negotiations regarding the Nicaragua
canal that had been brought forward by
his predecessor, Mr. Bancroft, and found
documents in the archives that illegalized
England's territorial claims in Central
America. He was arranging this paper
into a legal argument and historical docu-
ment, when, much to his regret, he re-
ceived word in 1850 from the Secretary
of State, Mr. Clayton, that "these nego-
tiations were entirely transferred to
Washington, and that he was to cease
altogether to press them in London." Mr.
Lawrence personally held "that whenever
the history ot the conduct of Great
Britain shall be published to the world,
it will not stand one hour before the bar
of public opinion without universal con-
demnation,'' Mr. Lawrence devoted con-
siderable attention to another matter left
unsettled by Mr. Bancroft, relative to the
postal rates on the transit of letters
across England. He also performed im-
portant service in the adjustment of the
fisheries question, which threatened to
assume an attitude of importance. In
1852 Mr. Lawrence requested to be re-
leased and returned to America, and
henceforth devoted himself to his private
MASS— 7

affairs. It is probable that with the ex-
ception of Dr. Franklin, no minister from
the United States ever attained the same
diplomatic success that Mr. Lawrence
did, which was due to his peculiar talents
and adaptability of fathoming the foun-
dation of facts, quick comprehension,
combined with wisdom, a ready tact, and
perfect truthfulness. He always took a
warm interest in all matters pertaining to
the progress of America, was a liberal
subscriber to the various railroads, and
munificent in his public charities. In
1847 he gave $50,000 for the establish-
ment of the Scientific School at Harvard
which bears his name, and left an addi-
tional donation to the institution at his
death, and a further sum of $50,000 for
the building of model lodging houses, the
income derived therefrom to be devoted
to certain public charities. He was
awarded the degree of LL. D. by Har-
vard in 1854.

Mr. Lawrence was married early in
life to Katherine Bigelow, daughter of
Timothy Bigelow, the distinguished
speaker of the Massachusetts House of
Representatives. His eldest son married
a daughter of William H. Prescott, the
historian. Mr. Lawrence was stricken
with his fatal illness in June, and lingered
until August. It is not often that a man
filling no public position is so universally
lamented. A meeting was held in Fanueil
Hall, to pass resolutions upon his death ;
the government of Harvard and a number
of societies held special meetings, and
adopted resolutions to attend the funeral.
He died at Boston, Massachusetts, Au-
gust 18, 1855.

GREENE, Benjamin Daniel,

Scientist.

Benjamin Daniel Greene was born in
Demerara, British Guiana, in 1793, while
his parents were temporarily absent from
Boston, their place of sojourn. He was

97

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

graduated at Harvard College in 1812,
imd after studying law was admitted to
the bar of Suffolk county in September,
1815. but finding natural history more
congenial to his taste, he studied medi-
cine in the schools of Paris and Scotland,
and in 1821 obtained the degree of M. D.
at Edinburgh. Not depending upon his
profession for support, he gave most of
his time to the study of the natural
sciences, especially botany, and collected
an extensive herbarium and a valuable
botanical library. These he always placed
at the disposal of investigators, and in
1857 presented them to the Boston So-
ciety of Natural History. He was one
of the founders of the latter body in April
28, 1830, and Thomas Nuttall having de-
clined the presidency, he became its first
president and served until 1837. He died
in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1862, be-
queathing the sum of $9,000 to the so-
ciety.

LOWELL, John,

Philanthropist.

John Lowell was born in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, May II, 1799, son of Francis
Cabot and Hannah (Jackson) Lowell.
His father was a distinguished cotton
merchant, after whom the city of Lowell,
Massachusetts, was named. His earliest
American ancestor was Percival Lowell,
who emigrated from Bristol, England, in
1639, and settled in Newbury, Massachu-
setts, and from this Percival the line of
descent is traced through his son John
and his wife Mary ; through their son
John, and his wife, Naomi Sylvester;
through their son Ebenezer, and his wife,
Esther Shailer ; through their son John,
and his wife, Sarah Champney ; and
through their son John, and his wife,
Susanna Cabot, who were the grandpar-
ents of the philanthropist.

In 1810, owing to the ill health of his
father, the Lowell family visited England,

and the son John was placed in the high
school at Edinburgh, Scotland. Upon his
return to America in 1813 he matricu-
lated at Harvard College, but was obliged
to forego the course on account of ill
health. He possessed a desire for knowl-
edge, was a great reader, especially along
the line of foreign travel, and had a bet-
ter knowledge of geography than most
men. At the age of seventeen he made
two voyages to India, and became a mer-
chant, doing business principally with the
East Indies. On April 6, 1825, he was
married in Boston to Georgina Margaret,
daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Fel-
lows) Amory. In 1830-31, in the midst
of a happy and useful life, his wife and
two daughters died, his home was broken
up and he sought relief in travel.

In the summer of 1832 he made a tour
of the Western States, and in the follow-
ing November he sailed for Europe. As
his intention was to be absent for a long
period, he made a will, bequeathing about
$250,000, a half of his property, "to found
and sustain free lectures for the promo-
tion of the moral and intellectual and
physical instruction or education of the
citizens of Boston." He spent some
months in England, Scotland and Ire-
land, and the following winter in France
and Italy, meantime preparing for his
eastern journey. He continued his trav-
els in Sicily, Turkey, Greece and Egypt,
and in the latter country was taken seri-
ously ill. Fearing he would not recover,
he made another will, giving more de-
tails about his noble gift to the people of
Boston. "These few sentences," said Ed-
ward Everett, "penned with a tired hand
on the top of a palace of the Pharaohs,
will do more for human improvement
then, for aught that appears, was done
by all of that gloomy dynasty that ever
reigned." He journeyed up the Nile and
then across the Red Sea, where he was
nearly shipwrecked on the island of

98

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Dassa, and finally arrived in Bombay,
India, much exhausted from exposure and
his recent illness. This last trip proved
too much for, him. and after three weeks
of suffering he died. In fulfilment of his
wishes, the Lowell Institute was estab-
lished, one of the most unique educa-
tional institutions of Boston. His will
provided for courses in physics, chem-
istry, botany, zoology, mineralogy, litera-
ture, and historical and internal evidences
of Christianity. The management of the
fund was left to one trustee, who should
be, "in preference to all others, some
male descendant of my grandfather, John
Lowell, provided there shall be one who
is competent to hold the office of trustee,
and of the name of Lowell." Mr. Everett
said further: "The idea of a foundation
of this kind, on which, unconnected with
any place of education, provision is made,
in the midst of a large commercial popu-
lation, for annual courses of instruction
by public lectures to be delivered gra-
tuitously to all who choose to attend
them, as far as it is practicable within our
largest halls, is, I believe, original with
Mr. Lowell. I am not aware that, among
all the munificent establishments of
Europe, there is an}'thing of this descrip-
tion upon a large scale." The free lec-
tures were begun December 31, 1839,
with a memorial address on ]\Ir. Lowell
by Edward Everett. The first course of
lectures was on the subject of geology,
delivered by Professor Benjamin Silli-
man, and now over five hundred are
annually given free to the public by some
of the most eminent and learned men of
both hemispheres. Mr. Lowell died in
Bombay, India. Alarch 4, 1836.

REED, William,

Philantliropist.

William Reed was born at Marblehead.
Massachusetts, June 6, 1776. He was an
eminent merchant, was highly esteemed

for his benevolent and religious character,
and was a member of Congress from Mas-
sachusetts in 1811-15. He was president
of the Sabbath-school Union of Massa-
chusetts and of the American Tract So-
ciety, and vice-president of the American
Education Society. He was also a mem-
ber of the board of visitors of the Theo-
logical Seminary at Andover, and of the
board of trustees of Dartmouth College.
Besides liberal bequests to heirs and rela-
tives, he left $68,000 to benevolent ob-
jects, of which $17,000 were to Dart-
mouth College, Sio.ooo to x\mherst Col-
lege, $10,000 to the Board of Commis-
sioners for Foreign Missions, $9,000 to
the First Church and Society in Alarble-
head, $7,000 to the Second Congrega-
tional Church in Marblehead. and $5,000
to the Library of the Theological Semi-
nary at Andover. He married Hannah
Hooper, a native of ]Marblehead. He died
at Marblehead, Massachusetts, February
22, 1837.

SHATTUCK, George Cheyne,

Friend of Education.

George Cheyne Shattuck was born at
Templeton, ^Massachusetts, July 17, 1783,
son of Dr. Benjamin and Lucy (Barron)
Shattuck, and a descendant of William
Shattuck, who emigrated from England
in 1642 and settled in Watertown, Mas-
sachusetts. From him the line runs
through his son William, who married
Susanna Randall ; their son Benjamin,
who married Martha Sherman, and their
son Stephen, who married Elizabeth Rob-
bins, and was Mr. Shattuck's grandfather.

He was graduated at Dartmouth Col-
lege in 1803, and then studied medicine
at the Dartmouth Medical College, where
he was graduated in 1806. and received
the degree of M. D. in 1812. He settled
in practice in Boston, Massachusetts,
which was his permanent abode. He was
president of the American Statistical As-

99

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

sociation during- 1846-52, president of the
Massachusetts Medical Society, an honor-
ary member of the New Hampshire Medi-
cal Society, and a member of the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences. He
received the degree of LL. D. from Dart-
mouth College in 1853. He was the
founder of the Shattuck School at Fair-
bault, Minnesota, and gave liberally to his
chna v.iatcr, building its observatory,
which he furnished with valuable instru-
ments, and contributing largely to the
library. He was married (first) October
3 181 1, to Eliza C, daughter of Caleb
Davis, of Boston; (second) to Amelia H.,
daughter of Abraham Bigelow, of Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts. He died in Bos-
ton, March 18, 1854.

PRESCOTT, William Hickling,

Famous Historian.

William Hickling Prescott was born at
Salem, Massachusetts, May 4, 1796. He
was the grandson of William Prescott,
the distinguished soldier of the Revolu-
tion, to whose memory a statue was
erected on Bunker Hill. His father was
a lawyer of means and culture, and gave
careful attention to his son's education.

Upon the removal of the family to Bos-
ton in 1808, he was placed under the
tuition of Dr. Gardner, a pupil of Dr.
Parr. In his school days he had a pas-
sion for mimic warfare and for the nar-
ration of original stories, which might be
indicative of his historical bias. He had
a healthy aversion to persistent work,
though he made good use of his permis-
sion to read at the Boston Athenaeum, an
exceptional advantage at a time when the
best books were not easily accessible. In
181 1 he entered Harvard College with a
fairly thorough mental equipment, but
almost at the outset of his career, met
with an accident which affected his whole
subsequent course of life. A hard piece
of bread, thrown at random in the Com-

mons Hall, struck his left eye with such
force as to fell him to the floor, destroy-
ing the sight of the eye. Notwithstand-
ing this hardship, he resumed his college
work with success in classics and litera-
ture, but abandoned mathematics, in
which he could not obtain even average
proficiency. After graduating honorably
in 1814 he entered his father's office as
a student of law, but in January the in-
jured eye showed dangerous symptoms,
and it was determined that he should
pass the winter at St. Michael's ana in
the spring seek medical advice in Europe.
During his visit to the Azores, which was
constantly broken by confinement in a
darkened room, he began the mental dis-
cipline which enabled him to compose
and retain in memory large passages for
subsequent dictation ; and. apart from his
gain in culture, his journey to England,
France, and Italy during the following
year was scarcely beneficial. The injured
eye was found to be hopelessly paralyzed,
and the sight of the other depended upon
the maintenance of his general health.
His further study of law seemed out of
the question, and upon his return to Bos-
ton he remained at home, listening to a
great deal of reading. On May 4, 1820,
he married Susan Amory, and resolved to
devote his life to literature.

Thus far he had not displayed any re-
markable aptitude, but, having once de-
termined his future occupation, he set
himself strenuously to the task of self-
preparation. With almost amusing thor-
oughness he commenced the study of
"Murray's Grammar," the prefatory mat-
ter of "Blair's Rhetoric," and "John-
son's Dictionary," reading at the same
lime, for purpose of style, a series of
standard English writers. A review of
Byron's "Letters on Pope," in 1821, con-
stitutes his first contribution to the
"North American Review," to which he
continued for many years to send the re-

100

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

suits of his slighter researches. He next
turned to French literature, mitigating its
irksomeness by incursions into the early-
English drama and ballad literature. Of
the quality and direction of this thought
he has left indications in his papers on
"Essay Writing," and "French and Eng-
lish Tragedy." In 1823 he began the
study of Italian literature, passing over
German as demanding more labor than
he could afford, and so strongly did he
feel the fascination of the language that
for some time he thought of selecting it
as the chief sphere of his work. In the
following year, however, he made his first
acquaintance with the literature of Spain,
under the influence of his friend and bi-
ographer, Ticknor, who was then lectur-
ing upon it, and while its attractiveness
proved greater than he had anticipated,
the comparative novelty as a field of re-
search served as an additional stimulus.
History had always been a favorite study
with him, and Mably's "Observations sur
I'Histoire" appears to have had consider-
able influence in determining him in the
choice of some special period for historic
research. The selection was not made,
however, without prolonged hesitation.
The project of a history of Italian litera-
ture held a prominent place in his
thought, and found some tentative ex-
pression in his article on "Italian Narra-
tive Poetry," published in 1824, and in
reply to Da Ponte's criticism ; but he had
also in contemplation a history of the
revolution which converted republican
Rome into a monarchy, a series of bio-
graphical and critical sketches of eminent
men, and a Spanish history from the in-
vasion of the Arabs to the consolidation
of the monarchy under Charles V. It was
not until 1826 that he recorded in his pri-
vate memorandum, begun in 1820, his
decision "to embrace the gift of the Span-
ish subject." It was a bold choice, for he
not onlv had an absolute dislike of investi-

gation of latent and barren antiquities,
Init his eyesight was fast failing, which,
by others than Milton, has been deemed
indispensable to an historian. He could
only use the eye which remained to him
for brief and intermittent periods, and, as
traveling aggravated his affliction, he
could not expect to make personal re-
search amongst unpublished records. He
was. however, in possession of ample
means and admirable friends to supply
necessary materials, and began his great
work, "The History of the Reign of
Ferdinand and Isabella." Mr. English,
one of his secretaries, has furnished a pic-
ture of him at this period, seated in his
study lined on two sides with books, and
darkened by green screens and curtains
of blue muslin, which required readjust-
ment with almost every passing cloud. In
a letter to the Rev. George E. Ellis, he
describes the difficulties under which he
worked :

I obtained the services of a reader who knew
no language but his own. I taught him to pro-
nounce the Castilian in a manner suited, I sus-
pect, much more to my ear than to that of a
Spaniard, and we began our wearisome journey
through Mariani's noble history. I cannot even
now call to mind, without a smile, the tedious
hours in which, seated under some old trees at
my country residence, we pursued our slow and
melancholy way over pages which afforded no
glimmering light to him, and from which the
light came dimly struggling to me through a half
intelligible vocabulary. Though in this way I
could examine various authorities, it was not
easy to arrange in my mind the results of my
reading, drawn from different and often contra-
dictory accounts. To do this I dictated copious
notes as I went along, and when I had read
enough for a chapter (from thirty to forty and
sometimes fifty pages) I had a mass of memo-
randa in my own language which would easily
bring before me at one view the fruit of my
researches. These notes were carefully read to
me, and while my recent studies were fresh in
my recollection, I ran over the whole of my
intended chapter in my mind. This process I
repeated at least half a dozen times, so that

lOI

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

when I finally put my pen to paper it ran off
pretty glibly, for it was an effort of memory
rather than of composition. Writing presented
to me a difficulty even greater than reading.
Thierry, the famous blind historian of the Nor-
man conquest, advised me to cultivate dictation;
but I have usually preferred to substitute that I
found in a writing case made for the blind, which
I procured in London forty years ago. It is a
simple apparatus, often described by me for the
benefit of persons whose sight is imperfect. It
consists of a frame of the size of a sheet of
paper, traversed by brass wires as many as lines
are wanted on the page, and with a sheet of
carbonized paper, such as is used in getting
suplicates, pasted on the reverse side. With an
ivory or agate stylus the writer traces his char-
acters between the wires on the carbonated
sheet, making indelible marks which he cannot
see on the white page below. This treadmill
operation has its defects; and I have repeatedly
supposed I had completed a good page and was
proceeding in all the glory of composition to go
ahead, when I found I had forgotten to insert
my sheet of writing paper below, that my labor
had all been thrown away, and that the leaf
looked as black as myself. Notwithstanding
these and other whimsical distresses of the kind,
I have found my writing-case my best friend in
my lonely hours, and with it have written nearly
all that I have sent into the world the last forty
years.

His progress was necessarily slow. He
still continued his yearly experimental
contributions to the "North American
Review," elaborating them with a view
as much to ultimate historical proficiency
as to immediate literary effect. The es-
says on "Scottish Song," "Novel Writ-
ing." "Moliere," and Irving's "Granada"
belo!ig to this preparatory period. The
death of his daughter in 1828 led him
aside to the study of Christian evidences,
Avith the result that he convinced himself
of the fundamental truth of Christianity,
though he did not accept all the tenets
of orthodoxy. On October 6, 1829, he
began his actual work of composition,
which was continued until June 25, 1836.
During this period he interrupted his
work to write the essays on "Asylums

for the Blind." "Poetry and Romance of
the Italians," and "English Literature of
the Nineteenth Century." Another year,
during which time his essay on "Cer-
vantes" appeared, was spent in the final
revision for the press, in which labor he
was assisted by Gardiner, the son of his
old schoolmaster, who criticised the style,
and P'olsom, who verified the facts. Upon
its publication in Boston its success was
immediate and marked, and it was speed-
ily reptiblished in England, where its
success was equally great. From the posi-
tion of an obscure reviewer, Prescott
found himself elevated to the first rank
of contemporary historians. Daniel Web-
ster spoke of him as a comet which had
suddenly blazed out upon the world in
full splendor, and American, British and
Continental reviews were no less lauda-
tory. Its reception determined the na-
ture of his future work. Hitherto he
had inclined to the history of literature
rather than to polity and action, on the
ground that it was more in consonance
with his previous studies and more
stiitable for his special powers. A close
examination of his work in the de-
partment of literary criticism does not
bear out this estimate of his own genius,
and the popular voice in approving his
narrative factilty, gave the required im-
pettis in the right direction. After co-
quetting awhile with the project of a life
of Moliere he decided upon a "History of
the Conquest of Mexico." Washington
Irving, who had already made prepara-
tion to occupy the same field, withdrew
in his favor, and in May, 1838, Prescott
began reading upon the subject, and
completed the work in 1843. During these
five years he reviewed Lockhart's "Life
of Scott." "Kenyon's Poems," "Chateau-
briand," "Bancroft's United States,"
"Mariotti's Italy," and Madame Calder-
on's "Life in IMexico." He also made
an abridgfement of "Ferdinand and Isa-

102

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

bella" in anticipation of its threatened
abridgement by another hand. In 1843
his "Conquest of Mexico" was published,
the whole edition was sold in four
months, the London and Paris edition
having a similar reception. The careful
methods of work which he had adopted
from the outset had borne admirable
fruit. While the study of authorities had
been no less thorough, his style had be-
come more free and less self-conscious,
and the epic qualities of the theme were
such as to call forth in the highest degree
his picturesque narration. It was only a
step to the "Conquest of Peru," and
scarcely three months elapsed before he
began to break ground on the latter sub-
ject, though actual composition was not
commenced until the autumn of 1844.
While the work was in progress and be-
fore the close of the year, his father died,
a heavy blow to him, inasmuch as the
elder and younger members of the family
had continued to share the same home
upon almost patriarchal terms, and the
breach was therefore in an association
extending over forty-eight years. In 1848
he was elected a corresponding member
of the French Institute in place of the
Spanish historian, Xa\arette, and also to
the Royal Society of Berlin. The next
winter he arranged his articles and re-
views for publication, and issued them
almost contemporaneously in London
and New York. After his removal from
Bedford street to Beacon street, visits to
friends, and a renewed failure of sight,
he completed the "Conquest of Peru" in
November, 1846, and it was issued in the
following March, and soon translated Into
French, Spanish, German and Dutch, in
addition to the English issue, in New
York, London, and Paris. He was now
over fifty, and his sight showed serious
symptoms of enfeeblement. Although it
had been of very intermittent service to
him, it had by his careful regimen so far

improved that he could read with some
regularity during the writing of the "Con-
quest of ]\Iexico," though in a less degree
during the years devoted to the "Con-
quest of Peru." Now, however, the use
of his remaining eye had been reduced to
an hour a day, and he was forced to con-
clude that future plans must be formed
upon the expectation of blindness. He
had for many years been collecting mater-
ial for a history of Philip II., but he hesi-
tated for some time to attempt a work of
such magnitude, occupying himself mean-
while with a memoir of John Pickering
for the Massachusetts Historical Society
and the revision of Ticknor's "History of
Spanish Literature." But in March, 1848,
he set himself with characteristic cour-
age to the accomplishment of the larger
project, though with the intention of
v/riting memoirs rather than a history,
as admitting of less elaborate research.
He was fortunate in obtaining the aid of
Don Pascual de Gayangos, then Profes-
sor of Arabic Literature in Madrid, who
enabled him to obtain material not only
from the public archives of Spain, but
from the muniment rooms of the great
Spanish families. With this extended
range of information he began his history
in 1849. but finding himself still unsettled
in his work, he decided in the spring of
the following year to carry out his long
projected visit to England. His recep-
tion was most cordial and gratifying, and,
returning reinvigorated for his work, he
dismissed his idea of memoirs in favor of
the more elaborate form, and in Novem-
ber, 1855, issued the first two volumes of
his uncompleted "History of Philip II."
Its success eclipsed that of any of his
former works, and his fame was greatly
increased and extended. This was his
last great undertaking, but as the light
of new sources of information made Rob-
ertson's "Charles V." inadequate to take
its place as a link in the series, he repub-

103

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

lished it in an extended and improved
form in 1856. A slight attack of apoplexy
on I'^ebruary 4. 1858, foretold the end.
though he persevered with the prepara-
tion of the third volume ot "Philip II."
tor the press. He never entirely recov-
ered from this attack, and in January,
1859, as he stepped into an adjoining
loom, he was seized with another stroke,
and expired at two o'clock on the same
clay.

In personal character, Prescott pos-
sessed admirable and amiable qualities.
As an historian he stands in the direct
Ime of descent from Robertson, whose in-
fluence is clearly discernible, both in style
and method. His power lies in the clear
grasp of fact in selection and synthesis,
and in the vivid narration of incident.
For critical analysis he had small liking
and faculty ; his critical insight is limited
in range, and he confines himself to the
concrete elements of history. Few his-
torians have had in a higher degree that
artistic feeling in the broad arrangement
of materials which insures interest. The
romance of history has seldom had an
abler exponent. Humboldt said of "Ferdi-
nand and Isabella," that it was an endur-
ing history and could never be surpassed.
The portion of history selected by Pres-
cott had not been covered by previous
writers, and had only been touched upon
by Italian writers and not until the treas-
ures concealed in the tragic "Annals of
Llorente" and the political disquisitions
of Mariana. Sempere, and Capmany were
unlocked, could any faithful narrative of
this particular era be given to the world.
Prescott had unusual facilities for re-
search in the many and rare works pur-
chased in Spain by his friend, George
Ticknor, in connection with his own work
in Spanish literature, lie also collected
an enormous number of unpublished
documents through the agency of A. H.
Everett, Arthur Middlcton and Obadiah

Rich. Prescott spent his fortune liberally
in the collection of every item which
could throw light upon his subject, and
gained access to secret depositories which
never before had been opened to the eye
of the exploring historian. Prosper Meri-
mee says of Prescott : "Of a just and up-
right spirit, he had a horror of parade.
He never allowed himself to be drawn
away by it, and often condemned himself
to long investigation to refute even the
most audacious assertions. His criticism,
full at once of good sense and acuteness,
was never deceived in the choice of docu-
ments, and his discernment was as re-
markable as his good faith. If he may be
reproached with often hesitating, even
after i long investigation, to pronounce
a definite judgment, we must at least ac-
knowledge that he omitted nothing to
prepare the way for it, and that the
Duthor, perhaps too timid to decide al-
ways, leaves his reader sufficiently in-
structed to need no other guide." Pro-
fessor C. C. Felton wrote: "It is a say-
ing that the style is the man ; and of no
great author in the literature of the world
is that saying more true than of him
whose loss we mourn. For in the trans-
parent simplicity and undimmed beauty
and candor of his style were read the en-
dearing qualities of his soul, so that his
personal friends are found wherever lit-
erature is found, and love of him is co-
extensive with the world of letters, not
limited to those who speak the Anglo-
Saxon mother language to the literature
of which he has contributed such splen-
did works, but co-extensive with the
civilized lansfuasfe of the human race."

HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel,

Famous Author.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in
Salem, Massachusetts, July 4, 1804, only
son of Captain Nathaniel and Elizabeth
Clark (Manning) Hathorne ; grandson of

104

cc4€

6c- 1^

^7^<^

The Wayside. Hawthorne's Home, Concord

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Captain Daniel and Rachel (Phelps) Ila-
thorne, Captain Hathorne being com-
mander of the privateer "The Fair Amer-
ican ;" great-grandson of Joseph Ha-
thorne, a farmer; great-grandson of John
Hathorne, Chief Justice in the witch
trials at Salem ; and great-grandson of
William Hawthorne (born 1607, died
1681). who came from Wiltshire, Eng-
land, with John Winthrop, in the "Ara-
bella" in 1630, settled in Dorchester, Mas
sachusetts, and in 1636 removed to Salem
in consideration of a gift of large tracts
of land, the settlers at Salem holding such
a citizen to be "'a public benefit.'"

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a pupil in
the school of Dr. Joseph E. Worcester,
the lexicographer, from 181 1 to 1818. His
mother removed to Raymond, Maine, and
after living there in the woods one year,
Nathaniel returned to Salem and pre-
pared for college. He matriculated at
Bowdoin College in 1821, at which time
he restored the original English spelling
of the family name. He was graduated
at Bowdoin, Bachelor of Arts, 1825, and
Master of Arts, 1828. Among his class-
mates were John S. C. Abbott, James
Ware Bradbury, Horatio Bridge, George
Barrell Cheever, Jonathan Cilley, Henry
Wads worth Longfellow, Hezekiah Pack-
ard, David Shepley, William Stone, and
other men of mark. President Franklin
Pierce and Professor Calvin Ellis Stone
were of the class of 1824. For twelve
years after he left college Hawthorne
lived a recluse, reading and writing by
night or day, as suited his fancy. He
published his first novel, "Fanshawe," at
his own expense, in 1826, and sold a few
hundred copies. He then completed
"Seven Tales of ]\Iy Native Land," stories
of witchcraft, piracy and the sea, but
finally decided to destroy the manuscript.
In 1830 he wandered as far as the Con-
necticut valley in company with an uncle,
and in 183 1 he went through New Hamp-

shire, Vermont and New York State to
Ticonderoga and as far west as Niagara
Falls. He contributed short storie.'^,
sketches and essays to the "Salem Ga-
zette" and the "New England Maga-
zine," and in May, 1831, Samuel G. Good-
rich published four of his tales in the
"Token" and "Atlantic Souvenir," but
they received little notice except from the
Peabody sisters, who learned that the
anonymous author was the son of their
neighbor, Widow Hawthorne, and this
led to the acquaintance that made Sophia
Peabody his wife.

In 1836 Hawthorne was made editor of
the "American Magazine of Useful and
Entertaining Knowledge" at a salary of
$500 per annum, by Mr. Goodrich. He
also compiled a "Universal History," for
which he received Sioo, and which gave
rise to the "Peter Parley" works of Mr.
Goodrich. When his tales in "The
Token" reached London, "The Athe-
naeum" gave favorable notices, and this
encouraged him to follow the advice of
his classmate, Horatio Bridge, and pub-
lish them in a volume. Bridge agreeing
to take the pecuniary risk. In this way
"Twice Told Tales" was printed by the
American Statesmen Company in Bos-
ton. Longfellow's review of the book
in the "North American Review" started
the sale, which reached about seven hun-
dred copies. In 1837 he visited Horatio
Bridge, at his home in Augusta, Maine.
In 1838 he became a contributor to the
"Democratic Review." In 1839 George
Bancroft, then collector of the port of
Boston, appointed him weigher and
ganger, his salary being $1,200 per
annum, and he held the office until the
advent of the Whig administration of
1841. He then published in Boston and
New York the first part of "Grand-
father's Chair." He joined the Brook
Farm Community the same year, invest-
ed $1,000, his savings from his custom

105

ENXYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

house position, in the enterprise, and was
one of the most diligent and painstaking
of the laborers. He was married in June,
1842, to Sophia Peabody, but instead of
going back to Brook Farm he took up
his abode in the Old Manse in Concord,
where he wrote tales for the "Democratic
Review," which were preserved in
"Mosses from an Old Manse." He again
became a recluse, and except when on a
daily walk, an occasional boat ride on the
river by moonlight, or an infrequent chat
with Channing. Emerson, Henry Thoreau,
or Margaret Fuller, he lived by himself.
His contril:)Utions to the "Democratic
Review" kept the wolf from the door, but
gave no feasts. In 1845 the "Twice Told
'I'ales," second series, appeared in book
form. In 1846 he was appointed b}'
President Polk, United States surveyor
in the custom house, Salem, Massachu-
setts, and held the office until the incom-
ing of a Whig administration in 1849.
While occupying the position he made
the first draft of "The Scarlet Letter,"
which was })ublished by James T. Field
in 1850, and within two weeks the edition
of five thousand copies was exhausted
and the book was reset and stereotyped
and rei)ublished in England. In 1850
Hawthorne removed to Lenox. Massa-
chusetts, where in an old red farm house
he wrote "The House of the Seven
Gables," published in 1851, which proved
almost as great a success as the "Scarlet
Letter." In the autumn of 185 1 he re-
moved to West Newton, where he wrote
"The Blithedale Romance," using the life
at Brook Farm as side scenes. In 1852
he published "The Wonder Book." In
the same year he purchased Bronson Al-
cott's house and twenty acres of land ar
Concord, Massachusetts, and called it
"The Wayside." In 1852 he prepared
and published a campaign life of his
friend, Franklin Pierce and in the winter

of 1852-53 he wrote "Tanglewood Tales."
In March, 1853, President Pierce appoint-
ed him United States Consul at Liver-
pool, England, where he lived with his
family four years, and his experiences
there suggested "English Note Books"
and "Our Old Home." He visited
France, Switzerland and Italy in 1857-
59, and gained the material for his
"French and Italian Note Books," and
while in Italy he began "The Marble
Faun," which was published in i860, the
English edition bearing the title, "Trans-
formation." He returned to the United
States in i860. "Our Old Home," which
he dedicated to Franklin Pierce, against
the protest of his publishers, was issued
in 1863, '^^^ sultered but little from its
dedication.

In the spring of 1864 his health began
to fail rapidly, while he was publishing
"The Dolliver Romance" in "The Atlan-
tic Monthly." He went to Philadelphia
in April, 1864, with his publisher, W. D.
Ticknor, and while in that city Mr. Tick-
nor died. This incident was a great shock
to Hawthorne in his weak condition. The
next month he went with ex-President
Pierce to the White Mountains, and
when they reached Plymouth, New
Hampshire, May 18, Hawthorne died in
his sleep. He was buried in Sleepy Hol-
low cemetery. Concord, Massachusetts,
May 24, 1864, and Emerson and Thoreau,
his lifelong friends, rest nearby. His
widow, Sophia Peabody Hawthorne, who
edited his "Note Books" and published
"Notes in England and Italy" (1868).
died in London. England. February 26,
1871. Their eldest daughter. Una. died
in England in 1887, unmarried. Their
daughter Rose was married to George
Parsons Lathrop, and after her husband's
death in 1898 devoted herself to charit-
able work under the directions of the
Roman Catholic church, whose faith she

106

ENXYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and her husband embraced in 1892. Haw
thorne's only son Julian became a well-
known author and journalist. Nathaniel
Hawthorne died at Plymouth, New
Hampshire, May 18, 1864.

STOUGHTON, William,

Clergyman, Jurist.

William Stoughton, Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Massachusetts, and Acting Gov-
ernor (1699), was born in England, May
30, 1632. He was the son of Colonel
Israel Stoughton, who commanded the
Massachusetts troops in the Pequod War.
He settled in Dorchester, and in 1633 was
admitted as a freeman, and was a mem-
ber of the first General Court, which con-
vened in May, 1634. Having opposed
the Governor in regard to certain of his
alleged powers, he was for three years
debarred from holding ofiice, but jn 1635
his privileges were restored to him. He
was a commissioner to administer the
government of New Hampshire in 1641,
and from 1637 to 1642 was assistant to
the Governor of Massachusetts. He was
a large landowner in Dorchester, and
gave three hundred acres to Harvard Col-
lege. He died in Lincoln. England, in

1645-

William Stoughton attended Harvard
College, where he was graduated in 1650.
He studied theology, and, returning to
England, became a fellow of New Col-
lege, Oxford, but at the time of the resto-
ration was ejected from that position. In
1662 he settled as a preacher in New
England, gaining such high reputation
that he was chosen to deliver the elec-
tion sermon in 1668, which has been
ranked among the best delivered on an
occasion of that character. Although fre-
quently invited to establish himself in
charge of a church, he always declined,
but preached as assistant or otherwise, as
occasion ofifered, between 1671 and 1676.
In 1677 he went to England, where he

acted as agent for the colony, remaining
there for two years. He had been chosen
a magistrate in 1671, and was afterward
a member of the Council and Chief Jus-
tice of the Superior Court, and occupied
the latter position from July to Decem-
ber, 1686. He was made a member of
the Council of Governor Edmund Andros,
in which place he remained until 1689.
when the Council of Safety was ap-
pointed, of which he was a member, and
which ousted the Governor. In May, 1692,
Stoughton was appointed Lieutenant-
Governor, and he held that position as
long as he lived, while after the death of
Sir William Phips he was Acting Gov-
ernor. He was Chief Justice of the Su-
perior Court during the witchcraft trials,
and persisted ever after that he had acted
in those cases up to his best judgment,
although others admitted that they had
been victims of a delusion.

Lieutenant-Governor Stoughton is de-
scribed as a man of great learning, integ-
rity, prudence and piety. He was a gen-
erous benefactor of Harvard College, to
which institution he gave about ii,ooo,
besides bequeathing to it a considerable
tract of land for the support of students,
natives of Dorchester. He died in Dorches-
ter, Massachusetts, July 7, 1701.

HOLYOKE, Edward Augustus,

Distinguislied Surgeon.

Edward Augustus Holyoke was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, August i, 1728,
son of Rev. Edward Holyoke, who for
many years was president of Harvard
College, and Margaret Appleton.

He was graduated at Harvard at the
age of eighteen, and three years later
received the degree of ]\Iaster of Arts.
He studied medicine with Dr. Berry, of
Ipswich, and in 1749 settled in Salem,
Massachusetts, where he resided until his
death, practicing his profession for eighty
years. He won great distinction as a

107

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

surgeon, and at the age of ninety-two
successfully performed a difficult opera-
tion. He also took deep interest in class-
ical and scientific studies, and made some
researches in astronomy. He was a
founder and the first president of the
Massachusetts Medical Society, to which
he subsequently bequeathed his volumi-
nous diaries and books, and was a mem-
ber, and in 1814-20 president of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
His one hundredth birthday was cele-
brated in Boston by a public dinner given
him by fifty physicians, on which occa-
sion he smoked his pipe and gave an
appropriate toast. Soon afterward he be-
gan a work entitled "Some Changes in
the Manners, Dress, Dwellings and Em-
ployments of the Inhabitants of Salem."
He was twice married, and by his second
wife had twelve children. His son Sam-
uel was a musician and composer. Dr.
Holyoke died at Salem, Massachusetts,
March 21, 1829.

PORTER, Ebenezer,

Clergyman, Educator.

Ebenezer Porter, first president of An-
dover Theological Seminary (1827-34),
was born at Cornwall, Litchfield county,
Connecticut, October 5, 1772, son of
Thomas Porter, a Revolutionary soldier,
and Abigail Howe ; and a descendant of
Thomas Porter, one of the founders of
Hartford and Farmington. His father,
who had been a member of the Connecti-
cut Legislature for many years, removed
to Tinmouth, Vermont, served in the As-
sembly of that State, and in 1782-85 was a
councillor, and was judge of the Supreme
Court in 1783-86.

Ebenezer Porter was graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1792. He studied
theology under Dr. Smalley, of New
Britain, Connecticut, and was ordained
pastor of the Congregational Church at
Washington (Judea Society), Connecti-

cut, September 6, 1796. In 181 1 he was
invited to become Professor of Sacred
Rhetoric at Andover Seminary, and on
April I, 1812, was inducted into office. In
1827 he accepted the principalship of the
seminary, having previously declined sev-
eral proffers to become Professor of
Divinity at Yale, and president of the
University of Vermont ; Middlebury Col-
lege, Vermont; Hamilton College, New
York, South Carolina College, and Dart-
mouth College. A few years after he be-
gan his duties as professor, he suggested
the formation of a society for the educa-
tion of young men for the ministry, mod-
eled after one in operation in Vermont,
but national in its character, and the
Education (now the Congregational Edu-
cation) Society was the result. He was
active in promoting temperance reform,
Sabbath observance, and the improve-
ment of prison discipline, and at meetings
held in his study Monday evenings origi-
nated, it is believed, the "monthly concert
of prayer for missions," and the American
Tract Society. "He was necessary to the
institution, not only as an instructor, but
in winning friends, holding them bound
to it, and in supplying through long years
those pecuniary means needed to its suc-
cess." To his pupils he was a "judicious,
prompt, yet considerate and gentle critic
* * * His pulpit discourses, if not pro-
found in thought, nor boasting the at-
tributes of striking originality, were
sound in doctrine, perspicuous alike in
method and expression, pure in idiom,
simple, finished and classical in style,
and sometimes wrought up in the per-
oration with tender pathos." Said the
writer just quoted, a graduate of the
seminary : "He was a man to whom you
would go in difficulty for counsel, and in
seasons of despondency, to be animated
by his cheerful piety, and inspired with
courage and hope by his tranquil and
steady resolve. He did not dazzle us

108

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

with the splendor of his genius ; he did
not overwhelm us by the resistless power
of his argument; he did not sway us by
the strong current of his unrestrained
emotions ; he did not amaze us by the
vastness and multifariousness of his
learning; but he satisfied our judgment,
and when he came to know us well, he
won our hearts and held them ever in
filial reverence."

Yale College gave him the degree of
A. M. in 1795, and Dartmouth that of D.
D. in 1814. In addition to occasional ser-
mons and abridgements of Owen on
"Spiritual Mindedness," and on the "130th
Psalm" (1833), hs wrote "Young Preach-
er's Manual" (1819) ; "Lecture on the
Analysis of Vocal Inflections" (1824) ;
"Analysis of the Principles of Rhetorical
Delivery" (1827) ; "Syllabus of Lectures"
(1829); "Rhetorical Reader" (1831) :
"Lectures on Revivals of Religion"
(1832) ; "Lectures on the Cultivation of
Spiritual Habits and Progress in Study"
(1834) ; "Lectures on Homiletics, Preach-
ing and Public Prayer" (1834) ; second
edition London (1835) ; "Lectures on
Eloquence and Style" (1836). Dr. Por-
ter was married at Washington, Connec-
ticut, in May, 1797, to Lucy Pierce,
daughter of Rev. Noah Merwin, his pre-
decessor. He died at Andover, Massa-
chusetts, April 8. 1834.

LLOYD, James,

Xational Legislator.

James Lloyd was born in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, in 1769, son of Dr. James
Lloyd. His great-grandfather, James
Lloyd, emigrated to America from Som-
ersetshire. England, about 1670. His
father (1728-1810) was a talented physi-
cian, having studied medicine in London,
England, two years. During the Revolu-
tion he was a loyalist, but refused to de-
clare himself a British subject, even in

order to secure compensation for his
losses.

James Lloyd was graduated at Har-
vard College in 1787, and subsequently
for some time was engaged in mercantile
pursuits. About 1792 he visited Europe,
and for a year made his home in St. Pe-
tersburg, Russia. Returning to Boston,
he was elected to the Massachusetts Leg-
islature in 1800, and after re-election to
the lower house became a member of the
State Senate. Later he was elected to
supersede John Quincy Adams in the
United States Senate, serving from June
9. 1808, until his resignation in 1813, and
in 1822 he was again elected as a Feder-
alist, filling the place of Harrison Gray
Otis from June 5, 1822, until May 23,
1826, when he resigned and retired to
private life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
During his second term in the Senate he
was chairman of the committees on com-
merce and naval affairs. Senator Lloyd
was a member of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences, and received the de-
gree of LL. D. from Harvard in 1826. He
died in New York City, April 5. 1831.

FENWICK, Benedict Joseph,

Roman Catholic Divine.

Benedict Joseph Fenwick was born at
Leonardtown, St. Mary's county, Mary-
land, September 3. 1782. He was descended
from the Fenwicks of Fenwick Tower,
Northumberland, England. His first an-
cestor in America, Cuthbert Fenwick,
was a prominent jurist in Maryland. His
cousin, Edward Dominic Fenwick (1768-
1832), was a pioneer Dominican mission-
ary.

Benedict Joseph Fenwick was educated
at Georgetown College, 1793-1805, and at
the College of St. Sulpice, 1805-08. He
was ordained to the priesthood at George-
town, District of Columbia, March 12,
1808, and was stationed at St. Peter's

109

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Church, New York City, 1808-17. He
visited Thomas Paine during his last ill-
ness at the urgent request of the dying
man. He founded the New York Liter-
ary Institute, and made the plans and
designs for St. Patrick's Cathedral, of
which he began the erection in Mulberry
street. In 1816 he was made vicar-gen-
eral, and in 1817 was president of George-
town College and rector of Trinity
Church, Georgetown. District of Colum-
bia. He was sent to Charleston. South
Carolina, in 1818, to reconcile dififerences
between the French and English Catho-
lics in the diocese, and on his return to
Georgetown in 1822 he was appointed
procurator-general of the Society of
Jesus in the United States. On November
I, 1825, he was consecrated at Baltimore,
Maryland, by Archbishop Marechal,
bishop of the diocese of Boston, which at
that time embraced the whole of the ter-
ritory of New England, but had only four
churches. He opened parochial schools
in Boston, built the convent and acad-
emy of St. Benedict in Charlestown, and
made a visitation of his diocese in 1827,
organizing congregations and marking
out sites for churches. He provided mis-
sionaries and churches for the Indians
and witnessed rapid progress in their civi-
lization. By 1831 he had erected seven-
teen new churches, but under consider-
able opposition and persecution. In 1834
the convent at Charlestown was burned
by a mob during the night, but the nuns
escaped without injury. He founded the
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester,
Massachusetts, in 1843, and at his death
his diocese contained fifty prosperous
churches, an orphan asylum and numer-
ous parochial schools, academies and col-
leges. In 1835-36 he was administrator
scde vacant c of the diocese of New York.
His brother Enoch was also a Roman
Catholic priest. He died in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, August II, 1846.

WEBSTER, Daniel,

statesman and Orator.

Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury,
New Hampshire, January 18, 1782, son
of Captain Ebenezer and Abigail (East-
man) Webster. The Websters were of
Scotch extraction, immigrants to America
about 1638. His father, the owner of a
heavily mortgaged mountain farm which
he had rescued from the wilderness and
on which he had erected a mill, was a
man of influence, had served in the
French and Indian wars, and, when the
Revolution was ushered in by the battle
of Lexington, raised a company of his
neighbors and commanded them through-
out the war for independence. After 1791
he served as associate judge of the Hills-
borough County Court of Common Pleas.
He was a firm Federalist, and opposed
the French revolution and the Democracy
of Jefferson. Daniel Webster's mother,
Abigail (Eastman) Webster, was a
strong woman mentally and physically, of
Welch extraction.

Daniel Webster, with his brother
Ezekiel. two years his senior, attended
the district school, and worked upon the
farm and at the saw-mill. In 1794 he
entered Exeter Academy, having at the
time already read "Hudibras," the "Spec-
tator" and Pope's "Homer," and com-
mitted the "Essay on Man" and much of
the Bible to memory. He was prepared
for college by the Rev. Samuel Wood and
nine months at Phillips Andover Acad-
emy, and in August. 1797. matriculated
at Dartmouth. While in college he de-
livered two or three occasional addresses
which were published, and on the Fourth
of July, 1800, he delivered before the citi-
zens of Hanover his first public oration, in
which occurred the passages: "Colum-
bia stoops not to tyrants. Her spirit will
never cringe to France. Neither a super-
cilious five-headed directory nor a gascon-
ading pilgrim of Egypt will ever dictate

no

^c^^,^<iS^ /^^^k^^i^t^^^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

terms of sovereignty to America." Be-
fore leaving" Dartmouth he induced his
father to send Ezekiel to college, and
trust to the advantages gained there for
future financial help from his two boys.
Daniel Webster was graduated from
Dartmouth College in August, 1801, and
that winter engaged in teaching school
at Fryeburg, Maine, and with the money
thus earned paid his brother's tuition at
Dartmouth, enabling him to graduate in
1804. The same year Daniel received the
master's degree in course, and an honor-
ary A. M. degree from Harvard. He be-
came a law student in the office of Chris-
topher Gore, of Boston, and while so en-
gaged was offered the clerkship of the
Hillsborough county court, in which his
father was an associate judge, with a
salary which would place his father's
family beyond the financial straits then
experienced. With filial duty foremost
in his mind, Daniel went to his law pre-
ceptor for advice. Mr. Gore told him not
to accept it. as "he was not made to be
a clerk," and after conveying to his father
the disappointing news of his determina-
tion to continue his law studies, he re-
turned to Boston. He was admitted to
the bar in March, 1805, and began prac-
tice at Boscawen, near Salisbury, New
Hampshire. In April, 1806, occurred the
death of his father, whose debts Daniel
announced his determination to assume.
In 1807 he left his law practice at Bos-
cawen to his brother and "hung out his
shingle" in Portsmouth, the principal
town of the State and the center of its
law practice. In 1812 he delivered a
Fourth of July oration before the Wash-
ington Benevolent Society, in which he
advocated a larger navy.

In August he was sent as a delegate to
the Rockingham county assembly, and he
was the author of the "Rockingham
Memorial" opposing the war. The favor
with which the memorial was received in

New Hampshire secured his election as
representative in the Thirteenth Con-
gress, in 1812, where he took his seat May
24, 1813, and was given a place in the
committee on foreign affairs, of which
John C. Calhoun was chairman. He was
re-elected to the Fourteenth Congress in
1814, and was admitted to the bar of the
United States Supreme Court. He op-
posed the war with Great Britain, but ad-
vocated the strengthening of the defences ;
opposed a tariff for protection, on the
ground that he did not wish to see the
young men of the country shut out from
external nature, and confined in factories
with the whirl of spools and spindles, and
the grating of rasps and saws constantly
sounding in their ears. He favored specie
payment, and opposed the enlistment bill.
When challenged by John Randolph to
the "field of honor," he refused to meet
him, but declared himself "prepared at all
times to repel in a suitable manner the
aggression of any man who may presume
upon such a refusal."

His growing law practice induced him
to remove to Boston in June, 1816, and
after the close of his second term he re-
tired from public life to take up the prac-
tice of law for the purpose of accumulat-
ing money then much needed to pay his
debts and support his family. In Sep-
tember, 1817, he made his first great argu-
ment, in the celebrated Dartmouth Col-
lege case, and on March 10, 1818, made
his final argument in that case before the
United States Supreme Court in Wash-
ington. He spoke in Doric Hall, State
House, Boston, December 3, 1819, on the
danger of the extension of slavery, and
he was made chairman of a committee
to present a memorial to Congress. He
was made a member of the State Con-
stitutional Convention of Massachusetts
in 1820, and the same year he pronounced
his great oration at Plymouth, to com-
memorate the landing of the Pilgrims,
11

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

December 22. He was a representativt
from Boston, by an almost unanimous
election in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth
Congresses, 1823-27, taking his seat De-
cember I, 1823, and was made chairman
of the judiciary committee by Speaker
Clay. On January 19, 1824, he delivered
his speech in the house in favor of ap-
pointing a commissioner to Greece, and
in March he spoke against the tariff of
1824. On June 17, 1825, he delivered his
first Bunker Hill oration, and the next
year, August 2, he delivered his eulogy
on Adams and Jefferson, in Faneuil Hall.
He wore small clothes and an orator's
gown, and was in the perfection of his
manly beauty and strength, his unused
manuscript lying on a table by his side.
He was elected United States Senator
from Massachusetts in June, 1827, took
his seat December 3, and was reelected
in 1833. He delivered an address in April,
1828, for the benefit of the surviving offi-
cers of the American Revolution, and in
May made his famous speech in the Sen-
ate in favor of the tariff of 1828, and fol-
lowed it by voting for "the tariff of
abominations," making the grounds for
his change of policy that his constituents
in Massachusetts had invested their
money in manufacturing on the faith that
the government would protect those in-
dustries. On January 20, 1830, he made
his first answer to Senator Hayne, of
South Carolina, and on January 26, 1830,
made his great reply and argument
against nullification, which became his-
torical. He supported the bill introduced
to enforce the act of 1828, in a great
speech on February 8, 1833, ^^^ ^^^ bill
called the "force bill" or '"bloody bill,"
was passed and became a law March 2.
On February 16 he replied to Calhoun's
nullification arguments, his reply being
that the constitution was not a compact
between sovereign States. He made a
tour of the western States in the summer

of 1833, looking to his candidacy for the
presidency in 1836. The Massachusetts
Legislature nominated him for the presi-
dency in 1836, there being no national
convention that year, the Democratic
National Convention at Baltimore, May
20, 1835, having named the Van Buren
and Johnson ticket. The other candidates
indicated by State choice were William
Henry Harrison and John McLean, of
Ohio ; Hugh L. White, of Tennessee ;
Willis P. Mangum, of South Carolina,
which nominations, with that of Mr.
\\'ebster, gave to the country five Whig
candidates in 1836. McLean withdrew
before the election, and the Whig elec-
toral votes were divided, seventy-three
going to Harrison, twenty-six to White,
fourteen to Webster, and eleven to Man-
gum.

Mr. Webster delivered a powerful or-
ation at Niblo's Garden. New York City,
March 15, 1837, on the general question
of slavery, and in it he warned the South
against seeking to extend the institution,
or to endeavor to arrest the strong feeling
that existed and had taken hold of the
consciences of men, saying that "should
it be attempted, he knew of nothing, even
in the constitution or in the Union itself,
which would not be endangered by the
explosion that might follow." He was
reelected to the Senate in January, 1839,
and spent that summer in Europe. His
political friends, when they saw the over-
whelming popularity enjoyed by General
liarrison, and that he was sure of the
presidential nomination, advised Webster
to allow the use of his name for vice-
presidential candidate, but he preemp-
torily declined. Harrison was made the
Whig candidate by the national conven-
tion that assembled at Harrisburg, Penn-
sylvania, December 4, 1839, and Senator
Webster, although personally disappoint-
ed, made a vigorous campaign for Har-
rison and Tyler. He resigned his seat
12

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

in the Senate, February 22, 1841, and
when Harrison was inaugurated he ac-
cepted the cabinet position of Secretary
of State, and as such concluded a treaty
with Portugal ; negotiated the Ashburton
treaty, which settled the northwestern
boundary question between Great Britain
and the United States ; provided for the
mutual extradition of criminals ; and
arranged for the suppression of the slave
trade. He defended the Ashburton treaty
against his own party, standing by Presi-
dent Tyler when deserted by the other
members of his cabinet. He resigned,
however, in May, 1843, ^^^ returned to
the practice of law in Boston, and the
enjoyment of his farm at Alarshfield,
Massachusetts.

On June 17, 1843, he made his second
Bunker Hill oration. He was not a can-
didate before the Whig National Con-
vention at Baltimore, May i, 1844, but
supported Henry Clay. Rufus Choate,
who had been elected his successor in the
United States Senate, closed his term on
March 3, 1845, ^"d Mr. Webster was
elected his successor, taking his seat four
days after the passage of the resolution
annexing Texas, and on April 6-7, 1S46,
he made his speech on the justice of the
expenditures made in negotiating the
"Ashburton Treaty." He helped to the
peaceable settlement of the Oregon
boundary, and in 1847 voted for the Wil-
mot Proviso, and opposed territorial
agrandizement in view of its disturbing
the peace of the country on the slavery
issue. He visited the Southern States in
1847, and his views on the rights of slave •
holders appear to have modified, for,
while presenting the resolutions of the
Legislature of Massachusetts against its
extension, he cautioned against the in-
terference with the constitutional rights
of the owners of slaves.

Senator Webster was again a candidate
for the presidential nomination in 1848,

MASS— 8 I

but when the Whig National Convention
met at Philadelphia, June 7, and nomi-
nated General Zachary Taylor, he refused
the second place on the ticket, against the
advice of his political friends, and Fill-
more was named ; and in a speech at
Marshfield, September i, he expressed his
disappointment emphatically by saying
that the nomination of Taylor was "not
lit to be made, but was dictated by the
sagacious, wise and far-seeing doctrine
of availability." On March 7, 1850, he
made the most famous of his later
speeches on the Public Square in front of
the Revere House, Boston, Faneuil Hall
having been refused his use. In this
speech he favored the compromise offered
by Henry Clay ; dwelt upon the constitu-
tional rights of the people of the slave
States ; and made a legal defence of the
fugitive slave law as proposed in the com-
promise. Senator Hoar (in 1899) attri-
buted Webster's course at this time "not
to a weaker moral sense," but "to a larger
and profounder prophetic vision," and in
his resistance to the requisition of Cali-
fornia, Senator Hoar says : "He saw
what no other man saw, the certainty of
civil war." In 1850, when President
Taylor died and Millard Fillmore suc-
ceeded to the presidency, Webster was
made Fillmore's Secretary of State,
which portfolio he accepted, July 23,
1850, resigning his seat in the Senate on
July 22, Robert C. Winthrop filling it by
appointment from July 30, 1850, to Feb-
ruary 7, 1851, and Robert Rantoul Jr.,
who was elected his successor, taking
the seat, February 22, 185 1, and complet-
ing the term, March 3, 1851. On De-
cember 21, 1850, Webster wrote the
Hulseman letter, in which he gave notice
to European powers that the United
States was a great nation, and as such
had a right to express sympathy with any
struggle for Republican government.
When the Whig National Convention

13

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

met at Baltimore, June i6, 1852, he was
a candidate for the presidential nomina-
tion, and on the first ballot he received
twenty-nine votes, but on the fifty-second
ballot General Winfield Scott was nomi-
nated. Webster refused to support the
Whig candidate, and requested his
friends to vote for Franklin Pierce, the
Democratic nominee. In May, 1852, he
was thrown from his carriage and ser-
iously hurt. He was able to travel to
Boston in July, and to W^ashington for
the last time in August, but on September
8 he returned to Marshfield and died
there, October 24, 1852.

He received the honorary degree of LL.
D. from the College of New Jersey in
1818, Dartmouth in 1823, Harvard in
1824, Columbia in 1824, and Allegheny
College in 1840. Dartmouth College
celebrated the centennial of his gradu-
ation, September 24-25, 1901, when the
cornerstone of a new building known as
Webster Hall was laid. His name in
Class M, Rulers and Statesmen, received
ninety-six votes and a place in the Hall
of Fame for Great Americans, October,
1900, standing second only to that of
George Washington, and equal to that of
Abraham Lincoln. Twenty biographical
sketches of Daniel Webster appeared in
book form between 183 1 and 1900, of
more or less value to the student of his-
tory, but no really great "Life of Web-
ster" had appeared. His works under the
title "Daniel Webster's Works," appear-
ed in six octavo volumes in 185 1, and
his correspondence as "Daniel Webster:
Private Correspondence," edited by
Fletcher Webster, appeared in 1857. A
statue by Powell was placed in front of
the Massachusetts State House ; one by
Ball in Central Park, New York ; and a
simple stone stands in the burial ground
at Marshfield.

He married, in 1808, Grace Fletcher

of Salisbury, who died January 21, 1828.
He married (second) December 12, 1829,
Caroline LeRoy, of New York City, who
brought him a considerable fortune. In
1848 he suffered a double bereavement in
the death of a daughter, Mrs. Appleton,
in Boston, and of a son, Major Edward
Webster, who fell in battle in Mexico,
and whose body reached Boston for burial
on May 23rd.

BUSSEY, Benjamin,

Philanthropist.

Benjamin Bussey was born at Canton,
Massachusetts, March i, 1757. At the
age of eighteen he enlisted in the army
of the Revolution, participated in several
important engagements, and was present
at the capture of Burgoyne. When
twenty-two years of age he was married,
and with only ten dollars in money began
business as a silversmith at Dedham,
Massachusetts, whence he removed in
1782 to Boston, where he engaged in for-
eign trade. His industry and integrity
soon gave him the means and credit
wherewith he acquired a fortune, and in
1806 he retired from business and devoted
his life to agricultural pursuits on his
estate at Jamaica Plain, near Boston. By
his will he provided that upon the death
of his last survivor, his estate should
go to Harvard College, one-half to en-
dow a farm school, which should provide
the means of acquiring instruction in
agriculture ; while he made other bequests
for promoting a knowledge of scientific
agriculture. He endowed the law and
divinity school of the university with the
remainder of his fortune. At the time of
his death it was estimated that his be-
quests amounted to $350,000. In 1870
the university established the Bussey
Institution at Jamaica Plain. He died at
Roxbury, Massachusetts, January 13,
1842.

114

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

BOND, William Cranch,

Accomplislied Astronomer.

William Cranch Bond was born in
Portland, Maine, September 9, 1789,
youngest son of William and Hannah
(Cranch) Bond. His family traced its
ancestry back to the time of the Con-
quest. Both of his parents were natives
of England. His father, who was born
in Plymouth, Devonshire, was a clock-
maker and silversmith by trade, but on
emigrating to the United States he en-
gaged in cutting ship timber for exporta-
tion to England, but removed to Boston
in 1793 and resumed his old trade.

William C. Bond became an apprentice
to his father when very young, and from
the outset showed unusual mechanical
ability. Before he was fifteen years of
age he constructed a ship chronometer
after a description of an instrument used
by La Perouse, the navigator. When he
came of age he was taken into partner-
ship by his father, and the making and
repairing of chronometers became an im-
portant branch of their business, and the
first sea-going chronometer constructed
in America was the work of the son. In
1806 a total eclipse of the sun occurred,
and young Bond took the liveliest inter-
est in watching the phenomenon, begin-
ning at that time his career as an astro-
nomer, although his interest in the
science had been awakened at a still
earlier date. He now pursued his stud-
ies systematically, using some rude in-
struments of his own devising, and was
greatly encouraged by the Hon. Josiah
Quincy, who had seen the boy in his
father's shop and was struck with his in-
telligence and scientific bent. In 1810 the
family removed to Dorchester, where he
had better opportunities to carry on his
obser-vatlons, in which he was aided by an
elder brother. In April, 181 1, he sighted
a comet, and watched its progress most
carefully, anticipating the professors at

Harvard, one of whom, John Farrar, not
observing it until four months later. In
a paper contributed to the memoirs of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
giving an account of his own observa-
tions. Professor Farrar included the notes
made by Mr. Bond, and this brought the
rising ast.onomer to the knowledge of a
larger circle of scientists, some of whom,
especially Dr. Nathaniel Bowditch, be-
came personal friends, anl did all in their
power to facilitate his course as an in-
vestigator. About 1818 Mr. Bond made a
trip to England, and while there, at the
request of the authorities of Harvard,
studied the construction and mechanical
equipment of the observatory at Green-
wich, and made drawings which were to
be utilized in the erection of an observa-
tory at Cambridge ; but the resources of
the college were so limited that neither
building nor satisfactory apparatus could
be secured.

Mr. Bond continued to carry on his
regular business in Boston, devoting his
spare time to astronomy, and building at
Dorchester a small observatory, and im-
porting from Europe the most improved
appliances. In 1839 the Wilkes expedi-
tion to the South Pacific was undertaken,
and the United States navy appointed Mr.
Bond as an assistant. All the magnetic
instruments used were tested by him ;
he made investigations for the purpose of
fixing a zero of longitude, whence final
reference to Greenwich might be had ;
and made a continuous record of mag-
netic observations for comparison with
like records obtained at distant points by
the scientists of the expedition. His old
friend, Josiah Quincy, who for some
years had been president of Harvard,
now urged Mr. Bond to remove to Cam-
bridge and to give his services to the col-
lege, and to this he finally consented,
although no return could be made except-
ing the use of a house as a residence. His

115

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

connection with the college began in the
winter of 1839, and what was known as
the Dana house was fitted up for his use
as an observatory. In 1844 a new obser-
vatcr) was completed, and the instru-
ments were removed to it from his resi-
dence. The dome, constructed after a
model made by Mr. Bond soon after his
return from Europe was supported at
equidistant points by smoothly turned
spheres of iron, after his own original
idea. For six years he served as direc-
tor without compensation, besides paying
many items of expense out of his own
private funds. In 1845 ^''^ declined the
charge of the observatory at Washington,
D. C. In 1847 the university observa-
tory was provided with a fifteen-inch
equatorial telescope, and the scope of Pro-
fessor Bond's investigations was greatly
enlarged. On September 19, 1848, he
discovered the eighth satellite of Saturn
with this instrument. In co-operation
with the United States Coast Survey and
scientific bodies, he conducted a large
number of chronometer expeditions, mak-
ing more than seven hundred independent
records. As early as 1848 he made at-
tempts to picture the sun by means of
the daguerreotype and talbotype pro-
cesses, and in 1850, aided by G. J. A.
Whipple, a daguerreotyper, he obtained
several impressions of the star Vega.
Among the many mechanical appliances
constructed by him was a chair for use
in connection with the great telescope of
the observatory, and which is still in use.
In 1848, in collaboration with the Coast
Survey, he made experiments for deter-
mining the diiTerences of longitude by
aid of the telegraph, and devised an auto-
matic circuit interrupter to form a con-
necting line between the astronomical
clock and the electric wire, and a clock
to be used for this especial line of work.
Finding difficulty in obtaining an accur-
ate registry of the beats of the clock after

being transmitted by the galvanic circuit,
he began experiments with his son,
George Phillips Bond, which resulted in
1850 in the perfecting of an apparatus
which performed the registry without
fault. This instrument, originally called
the spring governor and later the chrono-
graph, was adopted by the coast survey,
and soon after throughout Europe. About
1848 the observatory began using the
chronograph to transmit the true local
time from Cambridge to Boston and other
parts of New England, but it was not
until 1872 that the regular time-service
department was organized. Among ex-
periments made by Professor Bond and
his assistants were some undertaken in
1852, in co-operation with Captain
Charles Wilkes, to determine the velocity
of the sound caused by the discharge of a
cannon under different atmospheric con-
ditions.

Professor Bond was a member of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
the American Philosophical Society, and
the Ro3^al Astronomical Society of Eng-
land. The degree of A. M. was conferred
upon him by Harvard in 1842. He mar-
ried, at Kingsbridge, Devonshire, Eng-
land, July 18, 1819, his cousin, Selina
Cranch. His two sons were of great as-
sistance to him in his researches. One
died in 1842 ; the other, George Phillips
Bond, succeeded his father as director of
the observatory. Professor Bond died in
Cambridge, January 29, 1859.

PARKER, Theodore,

Clergyman, Author.

Theodore Parker was born in Lexing-
ton, Massachusetts, August 24, 1810, son
of John and Hannah (Stearns) Parker,
grandson of Captain John Parker, an
officer at the battle of Lexington, and a
descendant of Thomas Parker, the immi-
grant, Lynn, 1635.

Theodore Parker worked on his

116

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

father's farm and in his shop, and was a
student at the public school, afterward at-
tending a day school in Lexington one
term in 1826, where he took up algebra,
Latin and Greek. From his seventeenth
year he was self-instructed, making rapid
progress, and in 1830 was examined and
admitted to Harvard College, where he
passed his successive examinations in
each class, but under the rules of the col-
lege was not allowed to receive a degree.
He taught in a private school in Boston
in 183 1, in a private school in Watertown,
Massachusetts, 1832-42, and prosecuted
his post-graduate studies, including the-
ology, in 1834. The honorary degree of
A. M. was conferred upon him by Har-
vard College in 1840. He was ordained
pastor of the Unitarian Society at West
Roxbury, Massachusetts. June 21, 1837,
remaining minister of that society until
February, 1845, when he was excommuni-
cated by the Unitarian Association on
account of alleged heretical teachings,
and resigned his pastorate. He formed
and was installed as pastor of a new so-
ciety, January 4. 1846, and preached in
Boston at the Melodeon. 1846-52, and at
Music Hall, 1852-59. The new society
grew rapidly, aided by the reform move-
ment in Massachusetts, which had
reached its height. Mr. Parker was a
leader in effecting the escape of runaway
slaves in Boston, and defended and help-
ed the revolutionary movement of John
Brown in the west. He accepted the
editorship of the "Massachusetts Quar-
terly" and conducted it, 1847-50. During
the winter of 1857, while on a lecturing
tour in central New York, he contracted
a severe cold which settled on his lungs,
and in January, 1859. he made a voyage
to Santa Cruz for the benefit of his health-
In May, 1859, he went to Southampton
and thence to Switzerland and Rome,
where he suffered a relapse during the
wet season, and was taken to Florence,

where he died. May 10, i860, and was
buried in the cemetery outside the walls,
the Rev. Mr. Cunningham, an old friend,
conducting the funeral service. Busts
were made by William W. Story and
Robert Hart, and in January, 1902, a
bronze statue by Robert Kraus was
erected on the lawn of the First Parish
(Unitarian) Church at West Roxbury by
the society. Mr. Parker was the author
of: "A Discourse of Matters Pertaining
to Religion" (1849) • "Occasional Ser-
mons and Speeches" (two volumes,
1852) ; "Ten Sermons on Religion"
(1853) ; "Sermons on Theism, Atheism
and the Popular Theology" (1853) 5 "Ad-
ditional Speeches and Addresses" (two
volumes, 1855) ; "Trial of Theodore
Parker for the Misdemeanor of a Speech
in Faneuil Hall Against Kidnapping"
(1855) ; "Two Christmas Celebrations
and Experience as a Minister" (1859) ;
"A Volume of Prayers" (1862), and "His-
toric Americans" (1870). His complete
works were edited by Frances P. Cobbe
(fourteen volumes, 1863-71), and also
"Lessons from the World of Matter and
the World of Man," selections from his
unpublished sermons by Rufus Leighton
(1865). His biography was written by
John Weiss (1864), and O. B. Frothing-
ham (1874). In October. 1900, his name
received twenty-one votes for a place in
the Hall of Fame for Great Americans,
New York University, being fifth in
"Class G, Preachers and Theologians,"
numbering twenty-six names, of which
but three, Beecher, Channing and Ed-
wards, received a place.

WHITE, Daniel Appleton,

Ijavryer, Jurist, Author.

Daniel Appleton White was born in
Methuen (now Lawrence). Massachu-
setts, June 7, 1776, son of John and Eliza-
beth (Haynes) White; grandson of Wil-
liam and Sarah (Phillips) \\'hite, and of

17

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Joseph and Elizabeth (Clement) Haynes,
and a descendant of William White, who
came from Norfolk county, England, in
1635, settling first in Ipswich, afterward
in Newbury, and finally in Haverill,
Massachusetts. John White removed
from Haverill to Methuen about 1772.

Daniel A. White attended Atkinson
Academy in 1792-93, then entering Har-
vard College, from which he graduated
A. B. 1797, A. AI. 1800. He taught school
in Aledford, Massachusetts, 1797-99, and
was tutor at Harvard College, 1799-1803.
He studied law in Salem, Massachusetts.
1S03-04, was admitted to the bar June 26,
of the latter year, and began practice in
Newburyport, Massachusetts. Mr. White
served as State Senator, 1810-15, and was
elected an Essex North representative to
the Fourteenth Congress in 1814, out re-
signed before taking his seat to become
Judge of Probate for Essex county, Mas-
sachusetts, retaining that office until 1853.
He removed to Salem, Massachusetts, in
1S17. The honorary degree of A. M. was
conferred upon him by Yale, 1804, and
that of LL. D. by Harvard, 1837, of which
latter organization he was overseer,
1842-53. He was a member of the Mas-
sachusetts Historical Society, a fellow of
the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences; trustee of Dummer Academy;
chairman of the committee appointed by
the New Hampshire Legislature in 1815
to investigate the difficulties existing be-
tween President Wheelock and the trus-
tees of Dartmouth College ; a director of
the Society for the Promotion of Theo-
logical Education in Harvard College ;
and first president of the Salem Lyceum
and of the Essex Institute. Fie was the
author of: "A View of the Jurisdiction
and Proceedings of the Court of Probate
in Massachusetts" (1822) ; "New Eng-
land Congregationalism" (1861) ; also
eulogies on George Washington (1800),

Nathaniel Bowditch (1838), and John
Pickering (1847), and addresses.

Fie was married in Concord, Massachu-
setts, May 24, 1807, to Mary, daughter of
Dr. Josiah and Mary (Flagg) W^ilder,
of Lancaster, Massachusetts, and widow
of Antoine Van Schalwyck ; she died.
June 29, 181 1. He married (second) Au-
gust I, 1819, Eliza, daughter of William
and Abigail (Ropes) Orne and widow of
William Wetmore ; she died March 2"],
1821. Judge W^hite was married (third)
January 22, 1824, to Ruth, daughter of
Joseph and Hannah (Kettell) Flurd, of
Charlestown, Massachusetts, and widow
of Abner Rogers. He died in Salem, Mas-
sachusetts, March 30, 1861.

THOREAU, Flenry David,

Favorite Author.

Henry David Thoreau was born in
Concord, Massachusetts, July 12, 1817,
son of John and Cynthia (Dunbar)
Thoreau, grandson of John and Jane
(Burns) Thoreau, and of Asa and Mary
(Jones) Dunbar, and great-grandson of
Philip and Marie (le Calais) Thoreau.
John Thoreau, the grandfather of Henry
David Thoreau, emigrated from Jersey to
Boston, and removed thence to Concord,
settling in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, in
1818, returning in 1821 to Boston, and in
1823 to Concord, where he died in 1859.
He was a pencil maker, and taught his
trade to all his children, both sons and
daughters.

Henry David Thoreau first attended
school in Boston, concluding his prepara-
tion for college in Concord, and matricu-
lating at Harvard in 1833. During his
college course he won no distinction,
puzzling and vexing the faculty by his
utter indifference to the prizes and other
artificial incentives to study. At thif
time began his friendship with Emerson,
the attention of the latter having been

118

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

attracted to him by the discovery of a
common friend that a note in Thoreau's
diary contained the same kernel of
thought as one of Emerson's early lec-
tures. Thoreau was graduated from
Harvard College, A. B., in 1837, but de-
clined a diploma to save the five dollar
fee that was exacted. In 1838, bearing-
recommendations from Ezra Ripley,
Emerson, and President Josiah Ouincy,
of Harvard, he went to Maine with the
intention of teaching school, but was un-
successful in his quest for a position. For
a short time he taught in Concord, but
later engaged in pencil making, survey-
ing, and other occupations. He became
deeply interested in transcendentalism, in
the movement for the abolition of slavery,
and in other social and political reforms.
Later his home became a station on the
"Underground Railway," and his un-
compromising attitude toward slavery
was further evidenced by his memorable
address to the citizens of Concord on be-
half of John Brown, at the time of the
latter's arrest in 1859. Thoreau succeeded
in earning a fair living by making pencils,
but when he had attained such skill in
this work that financial success seemed
assured, he announced that he should
never make another pencil, for he could
never make a better, and the only times
he did resort to this means of making
money was when some dependent relative
stood in need of aid. He was a true
student of nature, being ever more at
hom.e in the open than under cover. His
woodcraft was marvelous, enabling him
to follow a trail by the tread, after dark.
He was strong, long-limbed, and of a
nervous, untiring nature ; apt at all kinds
of manual labor, often surveying for his
neighbors, farming for himself, and build-
ing for any one wishing a new house.
He said, "I found that the occupation of
a day laborer was the most independent
of any, especially as it requires only

thirty or forty days in a year to support
one." Love of liberty and love of truth
were Thoreau's most conspicuous traits
of character. In 1836 his theories led him
to renounce the church and decline to
pay its tax; and in 1846 he renounced the
State and refused to pay his taxes, pre-
ferring to go to jail rather than con-
tribute to the support of what seemed to
him an evil. When Emerson visited him
in his cell and asked him why he was
there, Thoreau replied, "And why are
you not here?" In March, 1845, ^^^ built
with his own hands a little cabin, in
which he lived and wrote for two years.
The cabin was situated on a piece of land
owned by Bronson Alcott, on the shore
of Lake Walden. Thoreau did not live
there as a hermit, as is sometimes sup-
posed ; on the contrary, he mingled with
his fellow-men as usual, and frequently
spent a day or a night at their home.

While at Walden, he edited his "Week
on the Concord and Alerrimac Rivers,"
chapters of which had begun to appear in
the "Dial" in 1840. In 1846 he sent bis
essay on Carlyle to Horace Greeley, who
had it published in "Graham's Magazine."
In the same year he visited a relative in
Bangor, Maine, and traveled with hira to
the headwaters of the Penobscot river
and to the summit of Mount Katahdin,
a region at that time unexplored. He re-
turned to Concord in 1847, having sold
his hut on the lake. In the same year
he sent to Agassiz specimens which he
had gathered in the woods, some of which
Avere entirely new to the scientist, who
unsuccessfully endeavored to cultivate
the acquaintance of the careful observer.
Greeley purchased his "Katahdin and
Maine Woods" in 1848, and in 1849 the
"Week on the Concord and Merrimack
Rivers" was published and favorably re-
ceived by such critics as George Ripley
and James Russell Lowell, but the sale
did not pay the expense of printing, and
19

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

to free himself from debt Thoreau took
up surveying once more. Greeley was al-
most insistent in his requests that Tho-
reau should write frequent short articles,
such as essays on Emerson and other
Concord contemporaries, but Thoreau
knew no way but his own. "A Yankee
in Canada," a journal of his journey with
Ellery Channing- in French Canada in
1850, was accepted by "Putnam's Alaga-
zine" in 1852, but was not published
there because of a disagreement between
Putnam and Thoreau. "Walden, or Life
in the Woods" (1854), and the "Week,"
were the only volumes published during
the life of the author. Thoreau was
stricken with pulmonary consumption, an
inherited disease, and died after a long
illness. Unlike his friend Emerson, he
did not grasp the Divine as a personality,
but, like the Indians he so closely re-
sembled, he saw Him in the clouds and
beheld Him in the winds. When, on his
deathbed, he was questioned by Parker
Pillsbury regarding his belief in the
future, he replied, "One world at a time."
A cairn marks the spot on the shores of
Walden where his hut stood.

His writing frequently appeared in
such periodicals as the "Dial," "Atlantic,"
"Putnam's" and "Graham's." His poems
are of uneven merit, some of them reach-
ing a high plane. Following is a list of
his published books: "A Week on the
Concord and Merrimack Rivers'' (1849) :
"Walden, or. Life in the Woods" (1854) ;
"Excursions" (1863 and 1866); "The
Maine Woods" (1864); "Cape Cod"
(1864) ; "Early Spring in Massachusetts"
(1881); "Summer" (1884); "Winter"
(1887); and "Autumn" (1892), all from
the journal of Henry David Thoreau,
edited by H. G. O. Blake. For biog-
raphies of Thoreau, see life by F. B. San-
born, in "American Men of Letters"
series (1882) ; sketch by R. W. Emerson
in the Riverside edition of Thoreau's

works (1893) ; life, by W. E. Channing,
under the title "The Poet-Naturalist"
(1873) ; life by li. A. Page (1877) ; and
sketch by R. L. Stevenson in "Familiar
Studies of Men and Books." His name
in Class A, Authors and Editors, received
three votes for a place in the Hall of
Fame for Great x'Vmericans, New York
University, in October, 1900. Mr. Tho-
reau died in Concord. Massachusetts,
May 6, 1862.

FELTON. Cornelius Conway,

Xotaltle Scholar and Educator.

Cornelius Conway Felton, twentieth
president of Harvard College (1860-62),
was born in West Newbury, Massachu-
setts. November 6, 1807. He was de-
scended in direct line from ancestors who
originally settled in Danvers in 1636.

He was prepared for college at the
Franklin Academy, Andover, and entered
Harvard when only sixteen years of age.
To meet his college expenses he was
obliged to teach winter schools in his
sophomore and junior years, at one time
teaching at Round Hill School, North-
ampton, Massachusetts, under George
Bancroft. He early gave himself to liter-
ary composition, and was one of the con-
ductors of the "Harvard Register" during
his senior year. He was graduated from
College in 1827. and during the next two
years taught the high school at Genesee,
New York, then being appointed Latin
tutor in Harvard, and the next year Greek
tutor. Two years later he was given the
Greek professorship, and in 1834 he re-
ceived the appointment of Eliot Profes-
sor of Greek Literature, succeeding Mr.
Everett and Mr. Popkin. In April, 1853,
he made a year's tour in Europe, visit-
ing the art centres and making a stud>
of their antiquities. He went to Greece,
where he spent five months, visiting the
most celebrated places for the purpose

120

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of illustrating ancient Greek history and
poetry and in studying at Athens the re-
mains of ancient art, the present language
and literature of Greece, the constitution
and laws of the Hellenic kingdom, and in
attending courses of lectures at the uni-
versity. He was an ardent admirer of
the modern Greeks, by whom he was
known as the "American Professor."

Dr. Felton's scholarship was of the
broadest, embracing the principal lan-
guages and literature of Europe, ancient
as well as modern, besides quite a knowl-
edge of Oriental literature. Few men
have attained so high a position in one
department, with so generous a culture
in all. Besides numerous contributions to
periodical literature, he published a large
number of works upon general literary
topics. He edited the "Iliad," with Flax-
man's illustrations, and translated Men-
zel's "German Literature." In 1840 he
published a Greek reader, and during the
next few years a number of classical
textbooks, besides various poetical trans-
lations for Longfellow's "Poets and
Poetry of Europe." In 1849 ^^ trans-
lated Professor Arnold Guyot's "Earth
and Man," which went through numerous
editions in this country, and was reprint-
ed in four distinct editions in England.
He also published a revised edition of
Smith's "History of Greece." with a con-
tinuation from the Roman conquest to
the present time. One of his latest labors
was the preparation of an edition of Car-
lisle's "Diary in Turkish and Greek
Waters." He also published selections
from modern Greek authors in prose and
poetry. Besides teaching classes, he de-
livered many courses of lectures on com-
parative biology, and the history of the
Greek language and literature through
the classical periods, the middle ages, and
to his own time. Outside of the univer-
sity, besides numerous lectures delivered
before lyceums, teachers' institutes, etc..

Dr. Felton delivered three courses before
the Lowell Institute, which were after-
ward published in 1867 under the title
"Greece, Ancient and Modern." Of these
the "Nation" said, "it cannot fail to give
many a new sense of the value of the
classics." In 1865 he published "Familiar
Letters, from Europe," which gave a de-
lightful view of classical places and
topics. He revisited Europe in 1858, and
greatly extended his researches into
Greek antiquities. In i860, by the con-
current voices of all friends of the univer-
sity, he was chosen its president, to suc-
ceed President Walker. He not only
maintained the institution in the high
standard it had attained, but in every-
thing that was good and noble he added
to the reputation it had already won.
President Felton's supervision of the
university was of but short duration, but
he brought to his work a scholar's en-
thusiasm. He did not confine himself to
professional technicalities, but illustrated
its learned topics in a liberal as well as an
acute literal manner. At the same time
he found time to write critical expositions
upon the current scientific and popular
literature of the day. As an orator he
was skillful and eloquent. In 1856 he was
elected regent of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, and was also a member of the
Massachusetts Board of Education. He
v/as a fellow of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences of Boston, a member
of the Massachusetts Historical Society,
and corresponding member of the x\rchae-
ological Society of Athens. The degree
of LL. D. was conferred upon him by
Amherst College in 1848, and by Yale
College in i860. On his way to Washing-
ton to attend a meeting of the regents of
the Smithsonian Institution, in the early
part of 1862, he was stricken with heart
disease, and died at the house of his
brother, Samuel Morse Felton, at Ches-
ter, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1862.

121

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

SPARKS, Jared,

Educator and Historian.

Jared Sparks was born in Willington,
Tolland county, Connecticut, May lo,
1789, son of Joseph and Eleanor (Orcutt)
Sparks. He worked on a farm and in a
carpenter's shop, and attended the district
schools. He was then a teacher until
1809, when he took up private studies
under the Rev. Hubbell Loomis. He at-
tended Phillips Exeter Academy, 1809-11,
then entering Harvard College, from
which he was graduated A. B. 1815, A.
M. 1818. He taught school in Bolton,
Massachusetts, in 1811-12-13, and at
Havre-de-Grace, Maryland, to help defray
his college expenses. While teaching at
the last named place in 1813, he joined the
Maryland militia and served against the
British at Havre-de-Grace. He attended
the Harvard Divinity School, 1817-19;
was tutor of mathematics and natural
philosophy at Harvard, and acting editor
of the "North American Review" 1817-19.
He was ordained to the Unitarian min-
istry May 5, 1819, the Rev. Channing
jjreaching the ordination sermon. Pie
was pastor of a church at Baltimore,
Maryland, 1819-23; and chaplain of the
House of Representatives, Washington,
D. C, 1821-23. He edited the "Unitarian
Miscellany and Christian Monitor," a
monthly periodical, 1821-23, ^nd on his
removal to Boston he edited the "North
American Review," 1824-31. In 1825, he
collected and edited the writmgs ot
George Washington, and was the origi-
nator and first editor of the "American
Almanac and Repository of Useful
Knowledge," 1830-61. He was McLean
Professor of Ancient and Modern History
at Harvard, 1838-49; succeeded Edward
Everett as president of the college, Feb-
ruary I, 1849, and resigned on account of
failing health, February 10. 1853.

Pie was a member of the American

Philosophical Society ; the Maryland His-
torical Society ; the Pennsylvania His-
torical Society, and the Vermont Histori-
cal Society ; a fellow of the American
Academy; vice-president of the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society; correspond-
ing secretary of the American Antiqua-
rian Society ; and a corresponding mem-
ber of many foreign societies. The hon-
orary degree of LL. D. was conferred on
him by Dartmouth College in 1841, and
by Harvard in 1843. ^^'s published works
include: "Letters on the Ministry, Ritual
and Doctrines of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church" (1829) ; "Collection of Es-
says and Tracts in Theology from Var-
ious Authors" (six volumes, 1823-26) ;
"Life of John Ledyard" (1828); "The
Diplomatic Correspondence of the Amer-
ican Revolution" (twelve volumes, 1829-
30) ; "Life of Gouverneur Morris" (three
volumes 1832) ; "The Writings of George
Washington" (twelve volumes, 1834-38) ;
and "Life of George Washington" (1839).
The writings of George Washington were
collected from the archives of the capi-
tols of the thirteen original States and
from the papers of General Washington,
preserved at Mt. Vernon. The books were
reissued in French and German. He
edited "The Librar}^ of American Bi-
ography" (ten volumes, 1834-38; second
series, fifteen volumes, 1844-47) 5 "Works
of Benjamin Franklin" (ten volumes,
1836-40) ; "Remarks on American His-
tory" (1837); "Additions to William
Smyth's Lectures on Modern History"
(1841), and "Correspondence of the
American Revolution, being Letters of
Eminent men to George Washington"
(four volumes, 1853). His collection of
original manuscripts was presented to
Plarvard College. His name in Class A,
Authors and Editors, received three
votes for a place in the Hall of Fame for
Great Americans, in 1900. He married
(first) October 16, 1832, Frances Anne,

122

S[Sa(£a(BXKo [L£R[E)r£^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

daug-hter of William Allen, of Hyde
Park, New York, and (second) May 21,
1839, Mary Crowninshield, daughter of
Nathaniel Silsbee. He died in Cambridge.
Massachusetts, March 14, 1866.

LANDER, Frederick West,

Soldier, Civil Engineer.

General Frederick West Lander, sol-
dier, was born in Salem, Massachusetts,
December 17, 1821, son of Edward and
Eliza (West) Lander He was educated
as a civil engineer at Drummer Acad-
emy, Byfield, Massachusetts, and enter-
ed the service of the United States gov-
ernment as surveyor, making two trips
across the continent to determine a rail-
road route to the Pacific. The second
expedition was undertaken at his own
expense, and he was the only member of
the party who survived the hardships.
His knowledge of the country enabled
him to survey and construct the great
overland wagon route in 1858, and for
five fruitful expeditions across the con-
tinent, he received official recognition
from the Secretary of the Interior.

In i85i he was employed by the United
States government to visit secretly the
Southern States in order to determine the
strength of the insurgents, and v.^hen
General McClellan assumed command of
the army in Western Virginia, he became
volunteer aide on his staff. He was com-
missioned brigadier-general of volunteers
May 17, 1861, participated in the capture
of Philippi, June 3, and the battle of Rich
Mountain, July 11, 1861. He was given
command of one of the three brigades
making- up General Charles P. Stone's
division on the Upper Potomac in July,
i86i, and upon the defeat of the Federal
forces at Ball's Blufif, October 21, 1861,
he hastened to Edward's Ferry, which
place he held with a single company of
sharpshooters. In this engagement he
was severely wounded. He reorganized

his brigade into a division, and on Janu-
ary 5, 1862, at Hancock, Maryland, he
defended the town against a greatly su-
perior Confederate force. On February
14, 1862, although still suffering from his
wound, he led a brilliant charge at Bloom-
ing Gap into a pass held by the Confed-
erates, thereby securing a victory, for
which he received a special letter of
thanks from the Secretary of War. On
March i, 1862, he received orders to move
his division into the Shenandoah Valley
to co-operate with General Banks. While
preparing the plan of attack on the Con-
federates, he died of a congestive chill
caused by exposure and hardships, and
his command was assumed by General
Shields. His death was announced in a
special order issued by General McClel-
lan, March 3, 1862. He was the author
of numerous patriotic poems inspired by
incidents of the campaign. He died in
camp on the Cacapon river, Morgan
county, Virginia, March 2, 1862.

LINCOLN, Levi,

Laxryer, Jurist, Governor.

Levi Lincoln (second), eleventh Gov-
ernor of Alassachusetts, was born in
Worcester, Massachusetts, October 25,
1782. He was a son of Levi Lincoln,
sixth Governor of Massachusetts, and
brother to Enoch Lincoln, fourth Gov-
ernor of Maine. His mother was a daugh-
ter of Daniel W'aldo, a lawyer of W^or-
cester.

Entering Harvard College at the age
of sixteen, he was duly graduated in 1802,
and then commenced the study of law in
his father's office. In 1805 he was ad-
mitted to the bar, and immediately en-
tered upon a successful practice in Wor-
cester, where he speedily attained front
rank as a forcible pleader and jur\^ law-
yer. He was elected to the State Legis-
lature in 1812, and served continuously
until 1822, except for three years when

123

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

he refused nomination ; he was speaker of
the house during 1820-22. Like his
father, he was a zealous adherent of the
Republican (Jefifersonian Democratic)
party, which although at the time of his
election in a decided minority, was gradu-
ally gaining in strength and importance.
In office, however, he was noted for his
dignified impartiality to all, friends and
opponents alike. During the legislative
session of 1814, party feeling ran particu-
larly high, and there was much criticism
by the Federalists of the war policy of the
national government. As a result, the
famous resolution was passed favoring a
joint meeting of all the State Legislatures
of New England to consider the question
of revising the United States Constitution,
particularly on points touching equal
State representation. Lincoln was im-
movably opposed to this measure from
the outset, and drew up the minority
protest, which was signed by seventy-
five members besides himself. In 1820.
upon the separation of Maine, a conven-
tion was called to revise the constitution
of Massachusetts so as to provide for the
new conditions. Lincoln was elected a
delegate, and served on the committee
on division of public lands. In 1823 he
was presidential elector, casting his vote
for John Ouincy Adams, and during the
same year served as Lieutenant-Governor
under Governor William Eustis. In Feb-
ruary, 1824, he was appointed to the bench
of the Supreme Judicial Court as suc-
cessor to Judge George Thacher. re-
signed. Although he held office little over
one year, he achieved honorable distinc-
tion for strong judicial qualities and for
decisions and opinions evincing the
broadest legal acumen.

His election to the governorship in
1825 was under peculiar although most
gratifying conditions. The popular elec-
tion had resulted in the choice of William
Eustis, but his death in February, 1825,

necessitated another vote. Samuel
Lathrop, the Federalist candidate, having
refused to stand again, both parties
agreed upon Judge Lincoln, who was
elected by 35,000 out of a total of 37,000
votes, and assumed office in May. His
occupancy of oftice is notable not only
for length (1825-34), but also for the
rrany and valuable advances in all direc-
tions. In his inaugural address he advo-
cated the construction of a canal from
lioston to the Connecticut river, as well
as others throughout the .State ; but,
when popular sentiment turned to favor
lailroads, he willingly acceded to the de-
mand for their trial. In 1828 the State
Board of Internal Improvements was
appointed, with the Governor as ex officio
head, and under their advice a system
of railroads was inaugurated, the Boston
?nd Lowell being the first constructed
(1829). By his recommendation, notable
reforms were achieved in prison manage-
ment ; in the care of the insane ; and in
the inauguration of the splendid normal
school system of the State. As a result,
ihe act establishing the State Lunatic
Asylum was passed in 1829, and the one
establishing normal schools in each
county in 1828. But his policy was also
to curb what he considered unjust and
harmful measures ; he was the first Mas-
sachusetts Governor to use the veto
power granted by the constitution.
He was specially applauded for vetoing
the bill to construct a second bridge over
the Charles river, to be run in opposition
to the corporation that had already con-
trolled the highway for many years. This,
he claimed, would be a violation of the
State's guarantee to the company. In
1836 he declined further nomination for
Governor, but allowed himself to be
elected Congressman from the Worcester
district, to succeed John Davis. In this
new capacity he fully maintained his for-
mer honorable record — faithfulness to

124

Governor Levi Lincoln.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

principles without faction ; and progress-
iveness, wisely tempered with conserva-
tism. Thoroughly characteristic was his
protest against the bitter charges of ex-
travagance urged by certain congressmen
against President Van Buren, when with
his usual energy of oratory he declared
himself utterly "unwilling that even a
good cause should borrow aid from so
questionable a means of attack." After
three terms in Congress, he declined re-
election, and in 1841 was appointed Col-
lector of the Port of Boston by President
W. H. Harrison. After occupying this
position with acceptance until 1843, he
removed to Worcester, intending to re-
tire from public life. This, however, a
grateful public would not allow, and al-
most by compulsion he was honored with
elections to the State Senate (1844-45),
being president in the latter year; as
first mayor of Lowell (1848), and as
presidential elector in 1848, when he pre-
sided over the electoral college ; and in
1864, when he cast the State vote for
Abraham Lincoln. In 1847 he was ap-
pointed on a committee to revise the State
militia laws, and his able report proved
the basis of the excellent system still in
use. Again, in 1854, he was commissioner
appointed to inquire and report on the
number and condition of insane persons
in Massachusetts. Governor Lincoln was
an earnest Christian and a lifelong advo-
cate of temperance. He served for many
years as president of the Worcester
County Bible Society, and presided over
the first temperance convention (Wor-
cester, 1833). In his later years he de-
voted his attention principally to agricul-
ture. He owned an extensive stock farm
near Worcester, in which he took great
pleasure, and was president of the county
agricultural society (1824-52). He was
also a member of the Massachusetts His-
torical Society, and an overseer of Har-
vard College.

His wife, a daughter of William Sever,
of Kingston, survived him, with three
sons and one daughter. He died in Wor-
cester, May 29, It

PEABODY, George,

Philanthropist.

George Peabody was born in Danvers,
■Massachusetts, February 18, 1795, a de-
scendant of Lieutenant Francis Peabody,
the immigrant (1614-97).

He served as apprentice to a country
grocer in Danvers, 1806-10. He resided
in Thetford, Vermont, in 1810-11, and
engaged in the dry goods business in
Newburyport, Massachusetts, with his
elder brother, David, in 181 1, removing
after the destruction of the store by fire
to Georgetown, D. C, to become finan-
cial assistant to his uncle, John Peabody.
Upon the outbreak of the war of 1812, he
joined a company of volunteer infantry,
and was stationed at Fort Warburton,
commanding the river approach to Wash-
ington. In 1814 he formed a partnership
in the wholesale dry goods business with
Elisha Riggs, and in 1815 the house re-
moved to Baltimore. He traveled on
horseback through western New York,
Pennsylvania, Marj-land and Virginia,
and in 1 82 1 had so increased the business
that branch offices were opened at Phil-
adelphia and in New York City. In 1829
Mr. Riggs retired from business, and in
1837 Mr. Peabody established the firm of
George Peabody & Company, merchants
and money brokers, Wamford Court,
London, England. The business grew
to be among the foremost in London,
and the firm negotiated large government
loans, including the sale of $8,000,000
Maryland State bonds in 1835. The
$200,000 commission thereon Mr. Pea-
body remitted to the State, for which he
received a special vote of thanks from
the Legislature. In 185 1 he advanced
$15,000 to enable the products of Ameri-

125

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

can industry to be properly displayed at
the exhibition of that year, and in 1852
he donated $10,000 to be used for equip-
ping the "Advance," which had been pre-
sented by Henry Grinnell, of New York
City, for a second Arctic expedition to
search for Sir John Franklin. The
searchers named part of the newly-dis-
covered territory "Peabody Land." In
June, 1852, he donated the means for the
establishment of the Peabody Institute in
his native town; in 1866 established the
Peabody Library at Thetford, Vermont,
and founded the Peabody Institute at
Baltimore, Maryland, in 1866. In 1859
he began a plan for promoting the com-
fort and happiness of the poor of London,
advancing $750,000 for the foundation of
a tenement-house fund. The work of
erection was at once begun, and in 1864
a block was opened to its tenants, the
fund being increased by Mr. Peabody in
1873 to $2,500,000. He also gave $3,-
000,000 for the education of the poor
children of the south, part of which fund
was in Mississippi State bonds, which
remained inactive, but the interest from
the earning part of the gift was used to
assist normal schools for teachers in the
southern States. In 1866 he declined
the choice of a baronetcy or the grand
cross of the Order of the Bath. On July
23. 1869, the Prince of Wales unveiled
in a public square in London a bronze
statue of Mr. Peabody, the donation of
the people of the city. Among his other
notable gifts were the following: $150,-
000 to Harvard University; $150,000 to
Yale; $140,000 to the Peabody Academy
of Science, Salem, Massachusetts ; $25,-
000 to Kenyon College, Ohio ; $25,000 to
Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachu-
setts ; $20,000 for the Massachusetts His-
torical Society, and $100,000 for the
building of a church in memory of his
mother at Georgetown, Massachusetts.
He visited America for the last time

in 1869, and on his return to England
was in such poor health that he decided
to remove to France. He died, however,
in London, and the funeral services were
held at Westminster Abbey, and nis re-
mains were brought to the United States
in H. M. S. "Monarch," convoyed by an
American and a French vessel. When
the body reached Portland, Maine, it was
received by an American naval squadron
and transferred to Peabody, Massachu-
setts, where, after appropriate services
were held, it was placed in the family
vault at Harmony Grove Cemetery,
Salem, Massachusetts. His name was
given 11 place in the Llall of Fame for
Great Americans, New York University,
October, 1900, in "Class F, Philanthro-
pists" receiving seventy-two votes, the
highest in the class. He died November
4, 1869.

TICKNOR, George,

Man of IdCtters.

George Ticknor was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, August i, 1791, son of
Elisha and Elizabeth (Billings) Ticknor,
grandson of Colonel Elisha Ticknor, and
his first wife, Ruth (Knowles) Ticknor,
and a descendant of William Ticknor,
who came from Kent, England, to Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, about 1640, was ser-
geant in King Philip's war, and was
married to Llannah Stockbridge. His
father was a public-spirited man, to
whose efforts was largely due the estab-
lishment jf the public primary schools in
Boston. He was also one of the found-
ers of the first savings bank.

George Ticknor was a natural student,
and at the age of nine had an entrance
certificate to Dartmouth College. He en-
tered as a junior in 1805 ; was graduated
A. B. in 1807; studied Greek and Latin.
1807-10, and received the Master of Arts
degree in the latter year. He read law
in 1810-13, and after practicing the pro-

126

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

fession for one year, decided to give his
attention to letters. He traveled in this
country during 1814-15, and visited Eng-
land and Holland in 1815, studying at
Gottingen University. In 181 7, while
still abroad, he accepted the chair of
French and Spanish Languages and Lit-
erature and Belles Lettres at Harv^ard
College, and shortly after visited France,
Italy, Spain and Portugal. He went to
Paris in 1818 and thence to London and
Edinburgh, returning to Boston in 1819
to accept the chair at Harvard, which he
held until 1835. He was appointed an
examiner at the United States Military
Academy in 1826. He visited England,
Ireland and Germany in 1835-36; Austria,
Bavaria, Switzerland and Italy, 1836-37,
and then the Tyrol, Paris, London and
Scotland, returning to Boston in 1838,
where he spent his time in literary work.
Realizing the need of a public library
in Boston, he began to interest the citi-
zens in the matter, and in 185 1 Edward
Everett donated one thousand volumes
as the nucleus of a library. In 1852 Mr.
Ticknor was appointed a member of the
board of trustees to form the library, and
in its interest and at his own expense he
went to London, where he procured a
gift of $50,000 from Joshua Bates. In
1856 he made a second visit to Europe
in the interest of the library. Mr. Tick-
nor maintained that a public library
should not be for scholars exclusively,
but should contain books suited to the
average reader, and he also arranged to
have it used by the pupils of the public
schools. He was a fellow of the Ameri-
can Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a
member of the American Philosophical
and the Massachusetts Historical socie-
ties. He received from Harvard the
honorary degrees of A. M., in 1814, and
LL. D. in 1850; from Brown and Dart-
mouth, that of LL. D. in 1850 and 1858.
respectively, and from the University of

the State of New York, that of L. H. D.
in 1864. His name was presented for con-
sideration for a place in the Hall of Fame
for Great Americans, New York Univer-
sity, in October, 1900, with twenty-two
others comprising Class A, Authors and
Editors. He is the author of : "Outlines
of the Principal Events in Life of La-
fayette" (1825) ; "The History of Span-
ish Literature" (1849-63. and an enlarged
edition, 1871) ; and "Life of William
Hickling Prescott" (1864). He was mar-
ried, September 18, 1821, to Anna, daugh-
ter of Samuel Eliot, of Boston. Lie died
in Boston, Massachusetts, January 26,
1871.

D ALT ON, Edward Barry,

Surgeon, Civil 'War Veteran.

Edward Barry Dalton was born at
Lowell, Massachusetts, September 21,
1834, brother of Dr. John C. Dalton.

Prepared for college by private tutors,
he entered Harvard College, and was
graduated in 1855. A few months later
he went to New York City and entered
the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
where he was graduated in regular
course in 1858. He is said to have been
particularly interesting to his preceptors
on account not only of his aptitude, but
for the rapidity with which he grasped
the essential points of a surgical opera-
tion, even of the most difficult nature.
Beginning with the avowed intention of
being a medical practitioner, this natural
skill carried him almost involuntarily
into surgery, in which he made his name
famous. Immediately after graduation
he served as interne at Bellevue Hospital
for eighteen months, and resident phy-
sician of St. Luke's Hospital for the same
period. The Civil War breaking out at
this time, he at once volunteered, and
was appointed assistant surgeon in the
United States Navy. Five months later
he was commissioned surgeon to the
27

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Thirty-sixth Regiment, United States
V^olunteers, and in 1863 he was made
surgeon of volunteers, United States
army, and promoted to be medical in-
spector of the Sixth Army Corps, assign-
ed to the stafif of Major-General Sedg-
wick. Shortly after, he was made surgeon
in charge of the general hospital at Ports-
mouth, Virginia, and in succession be-
came medical director of the Ninth Army
Corps ; medical inspector of the Army of
the Potomac ; lieutenant-colonel ; chief
medical director of depot field hospitals,
Army of the Potomac, and for general
brilliant efficiency was brevetted colonel.
The depot of field hospitals of the Army
of the Potomac, as finally established at
City Point, Virginia, was capable of ac-
commodating ten thousand patients, and
nearly that number was often under
treatment at the same time. It covered
an area of two hundred acres, with twelve
hundred hospital fly-tents arranged in
rows, with streets sixty feet wide, abut-
ting on a main avenue one hundred and
eighty feet wide, with an underground
water pipe system having frequent hy-
drants, supplied from a pumping station
at the river, furnishing an abundance of
water for laundry, bathing and other
coarse purposes, while for drinking and
cooking wells were sunk in the vicinity
at numerous springs. The streets were
sprinkled by watering carts, and bowers
were planted continuously for moderating
the heat. Surface drainage was secured
by an eight-inch trench around each
group of two tents, leading to wide
ditches on each side of the streets, which
connected with larger ones leading to
the adjacent ravines. From May 16, to
October 31, 1864, 68,540 men and officers
were under treatment in the depots, for
at least forty-eight hours, of which 10,-
706 returned to duty. A large number
received treatment for less than forty-

eight hours, and were sent north on trans-
ports. This vast field hospital system
was unique in military experience, in
its extent, in its thorough sanitary equip-
ment, and splendid curative results. It
attracted the attention of many foreign
governments, who detailed officers to in-
spect and report upon it. On March 25,
1865, Dr. Dalton was relieved from duty
at the hospital and assigned as medical
director of the Ninth Army Corps ; was
with it in the main assault of April 2d,
and in entering Petersburg on the 3rd.
For the successful management of his de-
partment at the field hospitals, at the
assault, and subsequently, he received
special commendation in the reports of
both the medical director and medical
inspector of the army. On the return of
the army to Washington, after Lee's sur-
render, he was assigned as chief medical
officer at the depot hospital at Alex-
andria. Virginia. These duties injured
his constitution and in May, 1865, he re-
signed his commission and returned to
New York City to begin the practice of
surgery.

In spite of his distaste for public life,
it seemed impossible for him to avoid it,
and in 1868 he was appointed sanitary
superintendent of the Board of Health
of New York. His remarkable executive
ability greatly improved the service, but
he resigned his post in January, 1869,
and thereafter devoted himself to his pri-
vate practice. In 1869 he originated the
present system of ambulance service for
the transportation of the sick and in-
jured. His health failing, he sought re-
lief in a journey abroad, but without
avail, and after trying various health re-
sorts he went to California, where he
died in the prime of manhood. The Bos-
ton "Advertiser" wrote of him : "He was
one of those rare characters of whom it
is difficult to say enough. * * *His mod-

128

<y^^^^/^/<^x/V'./ 9'/'/^r,^^\f^^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

esty was only exceeded by his innate
self-respect, remarkable decision of char-
acter, gentleness and courage." He died
at Santa Barbara, California,
1872.

May

EASTBURN, Manton,

Clergyman, Author.

Manton Eastburn, third Protestant
Episcopal bishop of Massachusetts, was
born in Leeds, England, February 9,
1801. His parents removed to the United
States when he was a child. His brother
was James Wallis Eastburn, who wrote
the hymn, "O, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord."

In his youth, Manton Eastburn was of
a religious turn of mind, and even then
had a decided taste for theological stud-
ies. In 1817 he was graduated at Co-
lumbia College, and afterward entered
the General Episcopal Theological Semi-
nary in New York. He was ordained in
1822. and officiated as assistant minister
in Christ Church, New York City, for
several years thereafter. In 1827 he be-
came rector of the Church of the Ascen-
sion, and on December 29, 1842, was made
assistant bishop of the diocese of Massa-
chusetts. Upon the death of Bishop
Grisw'old, of the Eastern Diocese, he be-
came bishop of Massachusetts. He took
a deep interest in missionary work, and
upon his death bequeathed his property
to the domestic missions in Massachu-
setts, to the endowment of a Protestant
Episcopal theological school at Cam-
bridge, and to the American Bible So-
ciety. Among his publications were,
"Four Lectures on Hebrew, Latin and
English Poetry," delivered before the
New York Athenaeum (1825) ; and a por-
tion of a volume of "Essays and Disserta-
tions on Biblical Literature" (1829) ; also
"Lectures on the Epistles to the Phil-
lipians" (1833"). ^^ delivered the oration
at the centennial anniversarv of Colum-

bia College in 1837. He edited Thorn-
ton's "Family Prayer" (1836). He died
in Boston, Massachusetts, September 11,
1872.

MORSE, Samuel Finley Breese,
Distinguished Scientist.

Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born
in Charlestown, Massachusetts, April 27,
1791, son of the Rev. Jedediah and Eliza-
beth Ann (Breese) Morse; grandson of
Deacon Jedediah and Sarah (Child)
Morse, of Woodstock, Connecticut, and
of Samuel and Rebecca (Finley) Breese;
great-grandson of John and Sarah
Morse, of Benjamin and Patience
(Thayer) Child, and of the Rev. Samuel
and Sarah (Hill) Finley; great-grandson
of Benjamin and Grace (Morris) Child,
and a descendant of John Morse, who
came from Marlborough, England, in
1635. ^nd settled in Newbury, Massachu-
setts.

He attended the public schools of
Charlestown, and was graduated from
Yale, A. B. 1810, A. M. 1816. While in
college he attended Professor Silliman's
lectures on electricity, and became espe-
cially interested in natural philosophy,
chemistry and galvanism. He decided to
become an artist, and in 181 1 accompan-
ied Washington Allston to London,
where he studied painting under Allston,
West and Copely. In 1813 he exhibited
a colossal painting of the "Dying Her-
cules" at the Royal Academy, w^here it
received honorable mention, and the same
year presented a model in clay of the
same subject to the Society of Arts in
competition, and received the prize medal
for the best original cast of a single
figure. In July, 1814, he completed a
painting of "The Judgment of Jupiter in
the Case of Apollo, Marpesa and Idas,"
and sent it to the Royal Academy for
exhibition. He returned to America in

MASS— 9

129

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

1815, and his picture was rejected on ac-
count of his absence. He then engaged
in portrait painting in Boston, Massachu-
setts, and in Charleston, South CaroHna.
In 1819 he painted a portrait of James
Monroe at Washington, D. C, which was
placed in the City Hall at Charleston.
He then removed to New York City,
and established a studio on Broadway,
opposite Trinity Church, where he
painted portraits of Chancellor Kent,
Fitz Greene Halleck, and a full length
portrait of General Lafayette, for the
city of New York. He founded the New
York Drawing Association and was
elected its first president; was the first
president of the newly established Na-
tional Academy of Design, 1826-42; pres-
ident of the Sketch Club ; and delivered
a course of lectures on "The Fine Arts"
before the New York Athenaeum. In
1829 he traveled and studied in London,
Paris and Italy. While in Paris he pro-
duced a canvas on which he depicted in
miniature fifty of the finest pictures in
the Louvre.

He returned to the United States in
1832, on the packet-ship "Sully," and on
the voyage the subject of electro-magnet-
ism and the affinity of magnetism to elec-
tricity became a frequent topic of dis-
cussion, several of the passengers being
well versed in science. Mr. Morse be-
came impressed with the idea that signs
representing figures and letters might be
transmitted to any distance by means of
an electric spark over an insulated wire,
and on his arrival in New York City,
making use of the electro-magnet invent-
ed by Professor Joseph Henry, of Prince-
ton, New Jersey, he began to develop the
use of his proposed alphabet. He devised
a system of dots and spaces to represent
letters and words, to be interpreted by
a telegraphic dictionary. He was pro-
fessor of the literature of the arts of de-
sign in the University of the City of New

York, 1832-72, and it was in the univer-
sity building on Washington square that
he completed his experiments, with the
help and advice of Professor Henry, with
whom he was in correspondence. The
models were made of a picture frame
fastened to a table; the wheels of a wood-
en clock, moved by a weight, carried the
paper forward ; three wooden drums
guided and held the paper in place ; a
wooden pendulum containing a pencil at
its power end was suspended from the top
of the frame and vibrated across the
paper as it passed over the center wooden
drum. An electro-magnet was fastened
to a shelf across the frame, opposite an
armature made fast to the pendulum ; a
type rule and type for breaking the cir-
cuit rested on an endless bank which
passed over two wooden rollers moved
by a crank, this rule being carried for-
ward by teeth projecting from its lower
edge into the band ; a lever with a small
weight attached and a tooth projecting
downward at one end, was operated on
by the type, and a metallic form pro-
jected downward over two mercury cups.
A short circuit of wire embraced the
helices of the electro-magnet and con-
nected with the poles of the battery, and
terminated in the mercury cups. By
turning the wooden crank, the type in
the rule raised one end of the lever and
by bringing the fork into the mercury it
closed the circuit, causing the pendulum
to move and the pencil to leave its mark
upon the paper. The circuit was broken
when the tooth in the lever fell into the
first two cogs of the types, and the pen-
dulum swinging back made another
mark. As the spaces between the types
caused the pencil to make horizontal
lines long or short, Mr. Morse was able,
with the aid of his telegraphic dictionary,
to spell out words and to produce sounds
that could be read. The perfected idea
was heartily endorsed by those to whom

130

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

he had exhibited it, and after many im-
provements in the details he published
the results of his experiments in the "New
York Observer," April 15, 1837.

In the summer of 1837, Alfred Vail
became interested in Mr. Morse's instru-
ment, and advanced the means to enable
him to make a more perfectly construct-
ed apparatus. In September, 1837, Morse
filed an application for a patent, and en-
deavored to obtain from Congress the
right to experiment between Washington
and Baltimore, but without avail. He
then went to Europe to obtain aid but
did not meet with success. He returned
to the United States in May, 1839, and it
was not until March 3, 1843, just before
the close of the session, that he obtained
from the Forty-seventh Congress an ap-
propriation of $30,000 for experimental
purposes, the first vote standing ninety
ayes to eighty-two nays. He at once
began work on his line from Washington
to Baltimore, which was partially com-
pleted ]\Iay I, 1844, and the first message
transmitted a part of the way by wire
was the announcement of the nomination
of Henry Clay for president by the Whig
Convention at Baltimore. IMaryland. By
May 24th the line was practically com-
pleted, and the first public exhibition was
given in the chamber of the United States
Supreme Court in the capitol at Wash-
ington, his associate, Mr. Vail, being at
Mount Claire depot, Baltimore, Mary-
land. Anna G. Ellsworth, daughter of
the United States Commissioner of
Patents, selected the words, "What hath
God wTought." and the message was
transmitted to Mr. Vail and returned
over the same wire. The news of the
nomination of James K. Polk for presi-
dent was sent to Washington wholly by
wire, and the news was discredited in
Washington until the nomination of Silas
Wright for vice-president was received
and communicated by Mr. Morse to Sen-

ator Wright, who directed Mr. Morse to
wire his positive declination of the nomi-
nation, the receipt of which so surprised
the convention that it adjourned to await
a messenger from Washington. A com-
pany was formed soon after, and the tele-
graph grew with great rapidity. In 1846
the patent was extended, and was adopt-
ed in France, Germany, Denmark, Rus-
sia, Sweden and Australia. The defense
of his patent-rights involved Professor
Morse in a series of costly suits, and his
profits were consumed by prosecuting
lival companies, but his rights were final-
ly affirmed by the United States Supreme
Court.

Morse now turned his attention to sub-
marine telegraphy, and in 1842 laid a
cable between Castle Garden and Gov-
ernor's Island. New York Harbor. He
gave valuable assistance to Peter Cooper
and Cyrus W. Field in their efforts to
lay a cable across the Atlantic ocean,
being electrician to the New York. New-
foundland & London Telegraph Com-
pany. He was an intimate friend of Jac-
ques Haude Daguerre, the inventor of
the daguerreotype, whom he had met in
Paris in 1839, and on his return to the
United States constructed an apparatus
and succeeded, in connection with Dr.
John W. Draper, in producing the first
sun pictures ever made in the United
States. Morse also patented a marble-
cutting machine in 1823, which he claim-
ed would produce perfect copies of any
model. Professor Morse made his home
at "Locust Grove," on the Hudson river,
below Poughkeepsie, New York, retain-
ing his winter residence on Twenty-sec-
ond street. New York City, and on the
street front of this house a marble tablet
has been inserted, inscribed: "In this
house S. F. B. Morse lived for many
years, and died." The honorary degree
of LL D. was conferred on him by Yale
College in 1846, and he received a great

13T

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

silver medal from the Academic In-
dustrie, Paris, in 1839, and decorations
from Turkey, France, Denmark, Prussia,
Wurtemberg, Spain, Portugal, Austria,
Sweden, Italy and Switzerland. He was
elected a member of the Royal Academy
of Fine Arts of Belgium in 1837; corre-
sponding member of the National Insti-
tute for the Promotion of Science in 1841 ;
a member of the Archaeological Associ-
ation of Belgium in 1845, ^^d the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences in
1849. I^ ^^5^ ^ banquet was given him
by the telegraph companies of Great
Britain, and in 1858 representatives of
France, Austria, Sweden, Russia, Sar-
dinia, Turkey, Holland, Italy, Tuscany,
and the Netherlands met at Paris and
voted an appropriation of 400,000 francs
to be used for a collective testimonial to
Mr. Morse. A banquet was held in his
honor in New York City on December
30, 1868, Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase
presiding. A bronze statue of heroic size,
representing him holding the first mes-
sage sent over the wires, was modelled
by E3'ron M. Pickett and was erected in
Central Park, New York City, by volun-
tary subscriptions June 10, 1871. The
evening of the same day a reception was
held at the Academy of Music, a tele-
graph instrument was connected with all
the wires in the United States, and the
following message was sent: "Greeting
and thanks of the telegraph fraternity
throughout the land. Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace, good
will to men." To this message Morse
transmitted his name, with his own hand
on the instrument. On January 17, 1872,
Professor Morse unveiled the statue of
Benjamin I'Vanklin in Printing House
Square, New York City.

In the selection of names for places in
the FTall of Fame for Great Americans,
New York University, in October, 1900,
his was one of the sixteen names sub-

mitted in "Class D, Inventors," and was
one of three in the class to secure a place,
receiving eighty votes, while eighty-five
votes were given to Robert Fulton, ana
sixty-seven to Eli Whitney. Mr. Morse
published several poems and various
scientific and economic articles in the
"North American Review" ; edited the
"Remains of Lucretia Maria Davidson,"
(1829), and is the author of: "Foreign
Conspiracy against the Liberties of the
United States" (1835), "Imminent Dan-
gers to the Free Institutions of the
United States through Foreign Immigra-
tion and the Present State of the Natural-
ization Laws, by an American" (1835),
"Confessions of a French Catholic Priest"
(1837), and "Our Liberties Defended, the
Question Discussed ; Is the Protestant or
Papal System most favorable to Civil
and Religious Liberty?" (1841).

He was married, October 6, 1818, to
Lucretia, daughter of Charles Walker, of
Concord, New Hampshire, by whom he
had children, Charles Walker, Susan,
and James Edward Finley. He was mar-
ried (second) August 10, 1848, to Sarah
Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Arthur
Griswold, United States Army, and by
her had children : Samuel Arthur Breese,
Cornelia Livingston, William Goodrich
and Edward Lind. Mrs. Morse died at
the home of her daughter in Berlin, Ger-
many, November 14, 1901. His death
was observed by Congress, and in several
State legislatures memorial sessions were
held in his honor. He died in New York
City, April 2, 1872.

MASON, Lowell,

Distingnislied Musician and Composer.

Lowell Mason was born at Medfield,
Massachusetts, January 8, 1792. He was
a descendant of Robert Mason, probably
one of John Winthrop's company which
settled the town of Roxbury, Massachu-
setts, in the year 1630.

32

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

His advantages were slight, and in his
earlier years he was not regarded as hav-
ing any useful talent, though he showed
an ardent love for music, and a wonderful
facility in mastering every musical in-
strument that came to hand. By Dr.
Mason's own account of his early life he
was. in the opinion of the community, "a
wayward, unpromising boy, although in-
dulging in no vices." He gave little
promise save for music, and his great
passion for musical instruments led him
to save carefully his small means that he
might buy them. He spent twenty years
of his life doing nothing but playing upon
all manner of musical instruments that
came within his reach. But, as the sequel
showed, these twenty years of "doing
nothing" were a valuable preparation for
the useful life that follow^ed. W^hile still
a boy he took charge of the choir of the
church in his native village, and until he
was twenty conducted singing classes in
neighborhood communities. In 1812 he
went to Savannah. Georgia, where he
divided his attention between the banking
business and his musical studies. In
order to understand the lifework upon
which Lowell Mason now entered, it is
necessary to have a clear knowledge of
the state of things which he had to face.
The Puritan fathers, in the zeal of their
asceticism, not only broke ofif from the
abuses but from many of the advan-
tages, aesthetic and social, which they
had known in Europe. The plastic arts
seemed to them insidious devices of the
devil, and of music they only preserved
the simple and embryonic variety which
they had been accustomed to hear in the
dissenting churches of the mother-coun-
try. The tunes soon became almost un-
recognizable, and were sung by the con-
gregation with no attempt at musical
training or culture. At this juncture i
style of music was introduced from
England which made a great stir, the so-

called "fugue tunes." They were lively
melodies in the imitative form, the parts
responding to each other like a "catch"
or madrigal, and in contrast with the
former heavy, lifeless style, proved very
attractive. Persons with no knowledge
of harmony and little musical genius,
took up the new fashion and flooded the
country with their elastic compositions,
and the last state of the churches was
little better than the first. It was in this
discouraging condition that Lowell Ma-
son found music in the Protestant
churches, and it was as a pioneer in the
work of replacing it by tunes at once
simple and noble, tunes founded on the
fundamental principles of musical art,
symmetrical in form and infused with
essential dignity, that he became entitled
to gratitude and respect. Not only did
he interest himself in the ecclesiastical
side of art, but also saw clearly that in
order to bring about a real revolution in
musical conceptions and ideals he must
go further back — he must begin at the
beginning. This was the motive that led
him to introduce the teaching of vocal
music as a regular branch of common
school education, and the children of our
country are indebted to him that they are
taught to sing as they are taught to read.
He was not a great composer. His tunes
lay no claim to originality, many of them
being frankly adaptations and versions of
the classical melodies of Handel. Haydn,
Mozart, and Beethoven, of the magnifi-
cent old Gregorian tones, or plain chants
of the ancient Roman church, and even of
popular street melodies, but his strength
lay in the clearness of vision by which
he saw the lack of nobility in the tunes
current in the churches of his youth, and
in the freedom from narrow sectarian
prejudice in which he gratefully accepted
the gifts of a parent civilization and their
appropriateness as the musical media of
religious expression, and the zeal which

T3.3

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

enabled him to bring about the great re-
form he undoubtedly accomplished. At
Savannah he was so fortunate as to find
a truly cultivated musician by the name
of F. L. Abell, with whom he studied
harmony and musical composition. In

182 1 he returned to Boston with a bundle
of manuscript for w^hich he found a pub-
lisher, and which was brought out in

1822 in a book entitled "Boston Handel-
Haydn Society's Collection of Church
Music." Its success was immediate and
unprecedented, and led to his removal to
Boston in 1827, where his work was di-
vided between the choirs of three
churches that had arranged with him to
take charge of the music of each church
for six months alternately, but becoming
dissatisfied with this plan, he made a per-
manent arrangement with the Bowdoin
Street Church, of which Dr. Lyman
Beecher was pastor, and the choir was
not long in gaining a national reputation.
Pilgrimages were made from all parts of
the land to hear the wonderful singing,
and the descriptions they gave of the
beautiful vocal music they had heard
stimulated their choir leaders to more
faithful efforts in their own church work.
Clergymen, attending ministerial gather-
ings in Boston, carried home oftentimes
quite as much musical as spiritual in-
spiration.

Dr. Mason was led to his first efforts
in the systematic instruction of children
ni music, l)y the necessities of his choir.
AVishing to strengthen the alto part, and
recognizing the peculiar fitness of certain
boys' voices for that part, he selected six
boys and trained them regularly at his
home. This was a great marvel at that
day, and the skepticism of the public
mind to the training of children in music
cannot well be realized at the present
time. Through Dr. William C. Wood-
bridge, who had spent several years in
studying the educational systems of the

Old World, he was led to test the induc-
tive method of Pestalozzi, and accepted
it so fully and pressed it so vigorously
that he may be truly said to have done
more than any other person to make that
name a household word in America. In
1832 he founded the Boston Academy of
Music, and in 1837 went abroad to ex-
amine the latest methods of musical in-
struction on the continent of Europe and
m England. Dr. Mason was the creator
of the musical convention which has be-
come an American institution. Pie put
forth a series of tune books extending
over a period of half a century, number-
ing more than fifty volumes, and having
an aggregate circulation of 2,000,000
copies. He was associated with Profes-
sors Park and Phelps, of Andover, as
musical editor of the important "Sabbath
Hymn Book" (1858). In 1830 he pro-
duced "The juvenile Lyrics," said to be
the earliest collection of songs for secu-
lar schools, and several others of later
date, besides "Musical Letters from
Abroad" (1853). Among his most famil-
iar and renowned tunes are the follow-
ing: "Corinth" (I love to steal awhile
away") ; "Cowper" (There is a fountain
filled with blood) ; "Bethany" (Nearer,
my God, to Thee) ; "Missionary Hymn"
(From Greenland's Icy Mountains) ; and
"Mount Vernon" (Sister, thou wast mild
and lovely).

The degree of Music Doctor, conferred
on him by the University of the City of
New York, was the first ever given in
America. In 1817 Dr. Mason married
Abigail Gregory, by whom he had four
sons, of whom the third son, Dr. William
Alason, is recognized as one of the most
distinguished musicians America has yet
produced. In the last years of his life he
lived at his home in Orange, New Jer-
sey. He was a man of strong and im-
pressive individuality, a virile nature in
which an iron will was coupled with a

= 34

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

gentle and tender heart. He was chival-
rously honorable and held an uncompro-
mising regard for truth, which, while
sometimes seeming to be too obstinately
literal, was yet in essence a noble care for
uprightness and integrity. He died at
Orange, New Jersey, August ii, 1872.
His large musical library was given to
Yale College.

AGASSIZ, Jean Louis Rudolphe,

Distinguished Naturalist.

Jean Louis Rudolphe Agassiz was born
in the village of Motier-en-Vuly, in the
Canton Fribourg, Switzerland, May 2S.
1807, son of Louis Rudolphe and Rose
(Mayor) Agassiz. His father was a
Protestant clergyman, as had been his
progenitors for six generations. His
mother, the daughter of a physician, a
woman of intellect and refinement, assist-
ed her husband in the education of her
sons.

Louis Agassiz early developed a pas-
sionate fondness for birds and animals of
all sorts, and he observed their habits and
characteristics with great accuracy and
intelligence. In the parsonage garden
stood a large stone basin full of spring
water, and in this the embryo ichthyolo-
gist had quite a collection of fishes before
he was five years of age. In 1817 he was
sent to a gymnasium at Bienne, where
he became proficient in ancient and mod-
ern languages. In 1822 he entered the
college at Lausanne, where he had access
to a fine biological collection owned by
Professor Chavannes, the director of the
cantonal museum. It had been intended
by his parents that Louis should follow
commercial pursuits, but his singular
aptitude for scientific study led them to
change their plans and allow him to fit
himself for the study of medicine; he,
therefore, in 1824 began his medical stud-
ies at Zurich, where he benefited greatly
by the kindness of Professor Schinz, who

held the chair of natural history and phy-
siology, and who allowed the youthful
scientist free access to his private library
and to his valuable collection of birds. In

1826 he passed to the University of Heid-
elberg, where he made the acquaintance
of Alexander Braun, like himself an en-
thusiastic naturalist. Their friendship
was of mutual benefit. An interesting
item in connection with his studies at
Heidelberg is the fact that the magnifi-
cent collection of fossils owned by Pro-
fessor Bronn, the paleontologist, and
used by him in giving Agassiz his first
paleontological instruction, was bought
in 1859 by the Museum of Comparative
Zoology in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
and was there used by Agassiz in instruct-
ing his American pupils. Agassiz in

1827 entered the University of Munich,
and the lodging rooms of himself and
Braun, who was again his fellow student,
were the headquarters for the "Little
Academy," an organization started by
Agassiz, and over which he presided.
There the most earnest and energetic
young spirits of the university met to dis-
cuss scientific problems and to disclose
to each other the results of their investi-
gations in the various fields in which they
were interested. Many of the professors
attended these student lectures, and some
of Professor Bollinger's most important
physiological discoveries were there made
known for the first time. In the summer
of 1S28, Von Martins proposed to Agassi."^
that he should write a description of a
collection of some one hundred and six-
teen specimens of fishes brought from
Brazil by his lately deceased friend and
colleague, J. B. De Spix. To this highly
flattering proposition Agassiz assented
with reluctance, fearing the work might
too greatly interrupt his studies. He ar-
ranged and classified the collection in a
most original manner, and the work,
written in Latin and illustrated by

T35

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

twenty-nine handsome plates, made its
appearance in 1829. Agassiz was bareiy
twenty-two years of age, and had just
received the degree of Ph. D. from the
University of Eriangen, when this his
first published work brought him into
prominence and won for him the recogni-
tion and commendation of the chief nat-
uraHsts of the world. He received his
degree of M. D. from the University of
Munich, April, 1830, the dean in confer-
ring it remarking: "The faculty have
been very much pleased with your an-
swers ; they congratulate themselves on
being able to give the diploma to a young
man who has already acquired so honor-
able a reputation." The subject of his
graduation thesis was, "The Superiority
of Woman over Man." He had already
begun his "Fresh Water Fishes," and in
December, 1829. he commenced collecting
material for a work on fossil fishes, for
which purpose he visited the collections
in the Imperial Museum in Vienna, reach-
ing his father's house at Concise on the
thirtieth of December, 1830. Here he
passed nearly a year, with his artist, M.
Dinkel, preparing plates and letterpress
for "Fossil Fishes." At the close of the
year 1831, he was enabled through the
generosity of friends and relatives to go
to Paris. Here he met Cuvier, to whom
he dedicated his "Brazilian Fishes." The
great naturalist, after questioning him as
to the scope of his projected work on fossil
fishes, and seeing the collection of accurate
and artistic drawings which Agassiz had
prepared, not only permitted him to see
his private laboratory, but relinquished
his own intention of publishing a volume
on the same subject, and placed at Agas-
siz's disposal his collected material, notes
and drawings. Agassiz held this as the
happiest moment of his life, and he set to
work with renewed vigor to show the
master, who had thus honored him, that
his confidence had not been misplaced.

Two or three weeks later, Cuvier's sud-
den death added to the sacredness of this
trust which had been committed to the
youthful scientist. In March, 1832, his
funds being exhausted, he was urged by
his parents to leave Paris, and all his
bright prospects might have suffered a
total eclipse; had not Von Humboldt,
hearing accidentally of his predicament,
insisted in the most delicate manner on
loaning him a thousand francs to tide
him over the crisis.

In November, 1832, Agassiz accepted
an appointment as Professor of Natural
History in the college at Neuchatel, at a
salar}^ of about $400, declining brilliant
offers in Paris because of the leisure for
private study that this position afforded
him. His reputation attracted to the col-
lege a large number of students, and
Neuchatel became the cynosure of all
scientific eyes. The presence of Agassiz
was at once stimulating to the intellectual
life of the little town. With the two
Louis de Coulon, father and son, he
founded the Societe des Sciences Natur-
clles, of which he was the first secretary,
2nd in conjunction with the Coulons also
arranged a provisional museum of natural
history in the Orphans' Home. He was
hardly established in his chair at Neuch-
atel, when he was offered that of zoology
at Heidelberg, as successor to Leuckart;
this appointment, although the emolu-
ments were more than double the amount
accruing from the Neuchatel position, he
declined. A serious calamity at this time
threatened Agassiz ; his eyesight became
seriously impaired, and he was obliged
to live in a darkened room, and to desist
from writing for several months, which
precautions effected a cure. In 1833 he
married Cecile Braun, sister of his friend
Alexander Braun. and established his
household at Neuchatel. Trained to
scientific drawing by her brothers, his
wife was of the greatest assistance to

1 36

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Agassiz, some of the most beautiful
plates in "Fossil and Fresh Water Fishes"
being drawn by her. In 1833 appeared
the first number of his "Recherches sur
les Poissons Fossiles." a work comprising
five quarto volumes, which took ten
years for its completion. The first num-
ber was received with enthusiasm by the
scientists, whose regard had long been
attracted to Agassiz. He received Feb-
ruary 4, 1834, at the hands of Mr. Charles
Lyell. the Wollaston prize of the Geo-
logical Society of London, a sum of £31
los., which was awarded as a recognition
of the value of his lately issued volume.
Buckland, ]\Iurchison, Lyell, and other
English scientists were pressing in their
invitations to Agassiz to visit England,
which he did in August, 1834, was re-
ceived with cordial enthusiasm, and made
some fruitful paleontological investiga-
tions during his short stay. He was
awarded the sum of one hundred guineas,
voted by the British Association for the
Advancement of Science for the "facilitat-
ing of the researches upon the fossil fishes
of England," a gift, which at the instance
of Lockhart, Sedgwick and Muchison,
was repeated the following year, when he
attended the meeting of the association
in Dublin. Guided by Professor Buck-
land, he visited every public and private
collection in the country, being treated
with the greatest generosity by the Eng-
lish naturalists, who loaned him two
thousand specimens of fossil fishes se-
lected from sixty collections, which he
was allowed to take to London and class-
ify and arrange in a room at Somerset
House placed at his disposal by the Geo-
logical Society. Two friends he made at
this time, whose valuable assistance and
cooperation were at his command during
the rest of his life — Sir Philip Egerton
and the Earl of Enniskillen, who placed
at his disposal the most precious speci-
mens of their noted collection of fossil

fishes (now owned by the British Mu-
seum). He made a second visit to Eng-
land in 1835, and in 1836 was awarded the
Wollaston medal of the Geological So-
ciety.

The vacation of 1836 was spent by
Agassiz and his wife in the little village
of Bex, where he met De Charpentier
and Venetz, whose recently announced
glacial theories had startled the scientific
world, and Agassiz returned to Neu-
chatel an enthusiastic convert. His con-
clusion that the earth had passed through
an ice age he announced at a meeting of
the Helvetic Society of Natural Sciences
in 1837, and despite the incredulity and
derision with which it was at first re-
ceived, the address was afterwards pub-
lished, and led to profitable investigation
on the part of geologists. In 1836 were
published his "Prodromus of the Class
of Echinodermata," a paper on the Echini
of the Nescomien group of the Neuchatel
Jura ; a description of fossil echini pecu-
liar to Switzerland ; and the first number
of "Monographied Echinodermes." His
work on fossil fishes steadily progressed,
and he was greatly helped at this time by
the sale of his original drawings, which
were purchased by Lord Francis Eger-
ton, and presented by him to the British
Museum. In 1837 he was offered a pro-
fessorship at Geneva, and a few months
later one at Lausanne, both of which he
declined, preferring to remain at Neu-
chatel. The Neuchatelois presented him
with the sum of six thousand francs and
a letter of thanks on his decision being
made known. In 1838 he opened a litho-
graphic establishment at Neuchatel,
where his delicate plates were printed
under his own supervision. It has been
said of this period of the life of Agassiz
that "he displayed during these years
an incredible energy, of which the his-
tory of science ofifers. perhaps, no other
example." In addition to his duties as

Lj/

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

professor, he was issuing his "Fossil
Fishes" and "Fresh Water Fishes" and
pursuing his investigations on fossil echi-
noderms and mollusks, the latter study
leading to important results embodied in
his volume, "Etude Critique sur les Mol-
luscs Fossiles," which contained one
hundred plates. In 1838 he made excur-
sions to the valley of Hassli and to the
glaciers of Mont Blanc, and later attend-
ed a session of the Geological Society of
France at Porrentruy, where he reported
his discoveries and conclusions, as he did
later at the meeting of the Association of
German Naturalists at Freiburg-im-Breis-
gau, in the Grand Duchy of Baden. In
this year Agassiz was elected "Bour-
geois de Neuchatel," a position which was
remunerative as well as honorable. March
17, 1838, the King of Prussia gave 10,000
louis for the founding of an academy at
Neuchatel, and Agassiz was confirmed as
Professor of Natural History. In 1839
he visited the Matterhorn and the chain
of Monte Rosa, on both occasions being
accompanied by artists and fellow scien-
tists. During the winter of 1840 he re-
corded the results of his explorations in
"Etudes sur les Glaciers." In this work
he says: "The surface of Europe, adorn-
ed by a tropical vegetation and inhabited
by troops of large elephants, enormous
hippopotami, and gigantic carnivora, was
suddenly buried under a vast mantle of
ice, covering alike plains, lakes, seas and
plateaus. Upon the life and movement
of a powerful creation fell the silence of
death. Springs paused, rivers ceased to
flow, the rays of the sun, rising upon this
frozen shore (if indeed it was reached by
them), were met only by the breath of
the winter from the north, and the thund-
ers of the crevasses as they opened across
the surface of this icy sea." In the sum-
mer of 1840, he established a station on
the Aar Glacier, 8,000 feet above the sea,
which became noted as the "Hotel du

Neuchatelois." Here the summer was
spent in confirming previous observa-
tions and in studying the phenomena of
glaciers. Immediately on his return from
the Alps, Agassiz visited England, and
with Buckland, the only English natur-
alist who shared his ideas, made a tour
of the British Isles in search of glacial
phenomena, and became satisfied that his
theory of the ice age was correct. He
gave a summary of his discoveries before
the British Association in 1840. In 1843
the "Recherches sur les Poissons Fos-
siles" was completed, and in 1844 the
"Devonian system of Great Britain and
Russia" appeared. In 1845 he received
the Monthyon Prize of Physiology from
the Academy at Paris for his "Poissons
Fossiles." During the years 1841-45
Agassiz made constantly recurring visits
of observation to the Alps, and in 1846
published "Systeme Glaciaire."

In 1846 he received a commission from
the King of Prussia to visit the United
States to continue his explorations. His
fame had preceded him, and before he left
Switzerland he was invited to deliver a
course of lectures at the Lowell Insti-
tute, Boston. His subject was "The Plan
of the Creation, especially in the Animal
Kingdom," and his lectures met with en-
thusiastic applause, notwithstanding his
broken English. He delivered in French,
by special request, a second course on
"Les Glaciers et I'Epoque Glaciaire." The
Lowell course was repeated in Albany,
New York, Charleston, South Carolina,
and New York City, and other lectures
were delivered in different parts of the
country, where he journeyed seeking
m^aterial for his Prussian report. In 1847,
through the courtesy of Superintendent
A. D. Bache. of the United States Coast
Survey, the steamer "Bibb" was placed
at his disposal, and greatly facilitated his
researches. This generosity was one of
the incidents which determined Agassiz

138

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

to remain in x\merica. In 1848 the Law-
rence Scientific School was established
at Cambridge by Mr. Abbott Lawrence,
and Agassiz, having honorably cancelled
his engagement with the King of Prussia,
accepted the chair of natural history prof-
fered him by the founder. Agassiz burst
like a full-orbed sun upon the little co-
terie of American scientists, who at the
time needed a leader, not only dazzling
Them, but holding their attention and
winning their hearts. His example of
originating and putting into execution
new projects, soon revolutionized not
only the college with which he was con-
nected, but other institutions of learning
in America, and his vivifying influence
awakened a universal interest in science.
Harvard College was without either lab-
oratory or collection to assist him in his
classroom work, and an old bath house
was the very humble beginning whence
sprang the Cambridge Museum of Com-
parative Zoology, an enduring monument
to the memory of him who was the mov-
ing spirit in its establishment. During
1848 he prepared, in conjunction with
Dr. A. A. Gould. '"Principles of Zoology."
for the use of schools and colleges ; in
1850 he published "Lake Superior; its
Physical Characteristics"; from 185 1 to
1854 he held the chair of comparative
anatomy and zoology in the Medical Col-
lege at Charleston, South Carolina; and
in 1851, at the request of Superintendent
Bache, made a survey of the Florida reefs
and keys. In the spring of 1852 the Prix
Cuvier was awarded to him for "Poissons
Fossiles." The year 1854 saw the com-
pletion of a work begun in conjunction
with H. E. Strickland, the "Bibliographia
Zoologiae et Geologiae." In 1857 the first
volume of "Contributions to the Natural
History of the United States" was pub-
lished. The fifth and last volume being
left by him incomplete, was edited by
his son.

In August, 1857, Agassiz was offered
the chair of paleontology in the Museum
of Natural History in Paris, which he re-
fused. Later he was decorated with the
cross of the Legion of Honor. In 1859
the ^Museum of Comparative Zoology at
Cambridge was founded, and he was
given the post of permanent curator. He
urged the foundation of a National Acad-
emy of Science, and was actively instru-
mental in 1863 in its organization and in-
corporation. His sympathies during the
Civil War were with his adopted country,
which he attested by being naturalized
when the disruption of the Union seemed
imminent. In 1861 he was awarded the
Copley medal, the highest honor at the
disposal of the Royal Society. In 1863
he made his most extensive lecturing
tour, fearing that the growth of the mu-
seum might be stunted by lack of funds.
In 1865 he visited Brazil, primarily for
the benefit of his health, but the gener-
osity of Nathaniel Thayer made it pos-
sible for him to take a staff of assistants
to pursue his scientific researches. His
return enriched the museum with large
collections, and literature with "A Jour-
ney in Brazil." In 1868 he was appointed
non-resident Professor of Natural His-
tory at Cornell University. In 1871 he
participated in a trip of observation in
the coast survey ship ''Hassler" around
Cape Horn, and then along the Pacific
coast, and returned with valuable col-
lections of mollusks, reptiles and fishes,
and new evidence of the truth of the
glacial theory. In 1873 he spoke elo-
quently to the Legislature, on its annual
visit to the Museum of Comparative Zo-
ology, of the needs of a summer school,
and within a week John Anderson, of
New York, who had read the speech in
a newspaper, presented to him, as the site
for a school, the Island of Penikese, in
Buzzard's Bay, with the buildings there-
on, and an endowment of $50,000 for the

■39

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

equipment of the school, which was
iiamed by Ag^assiz "The Anderson School
of Natural History." Professor Agassiz,
who was growing enfeebled, remained
che whole of the last summer of his life
at Penikese. He had been elected a mem-
ber of nearly all the scientific societies
of the world, was given the degree of
LL. D. by Edinburgh and Dublin Univer-
sities, before he had attained his thirtieth
year, and in 1836 was made a fellow of
the Royal Society of London, and a mem-
ber of the French Academy of Science.
Though he himself materially aided Dar-
win in arriving at evolutionism, he obsti-
nately refused to accept the admirably
marshalled facts on which the "Origin of
Species" was based. To Agassiz the or-
ganic world presented stages of domi-
nant types created according to a definite,
preconceived plan, and so distinct from
each other that, however close the grada-
tions of forms constituting the types
might be. no evolutionary progress from
one to the other could ever be possible.
Of this series of types he regarded man,
by reason of his cosmopolitanism, as the
final term. Among his publications are:
"Natural History of the Fresh Water
Fishes of Europe" (1839-40) ; "Etudes sur
les Glaciers" (1840) ; "Fossil Fishes of the
Devonian System" (1844) ; "Fishes of the
London Clay" (1845) 5 "Nomenclator Zo-
ologicus" (1842-46) ; "Principals of Zo-
ology-" (with Dr. A. A. Gould, 1848) ;
"Lake Superior; Its Physical Character-
istics" (1850) ; "Bibliographia Zoologicae
et Geologiae" (with H. E. Strickland,
four volumes. 1848-54) ; "Contributions to
the Natural History of the United States"
(five volumes) ; "The Structure of Ani-
mal Life" (1852) ; "Methods of Study in
Natural History" (1863) ; and "Geological
Studies" (second series, 1866-76).

His second wife, Elizabeth Cary Agas-
siz, daughter of Thomas G. Cary. of Bos-
ton, caught the infection that made all

who knew Agassiz desire to share his
studies, and aided her distinguished hus-
band in preparing his "A Journey in
Brazil," and in coimection with his son,
Alexander Agassiz, wrote "Seaside Stud-
ies in Natural History," and "Marine Ani-
mals of Massachusetts." She also edited
"Louis Agassiz; Flis Life and Corre-
spondence" (1886). He was buried in
Mount Auburn, Cambridge, Massachu-
setts, where Swiss pines shade his grave,
and a boulder from the glacier of Aar
marks its locality. He died December
14. 1873.

SAVAGE, James,

Legislator, Antiqnarian.

James Savage was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, July 13, 1784. son of Habi-
jah and Elizabeth (Tudor) Savage,
grandson of Thomas and Deborah
( Briggs) Savage, and of John and Jane
(Varney) Tudor, and a descendant of
Major Thomas Savage, who came from
St. Albans, England, to Boston, Massa-
chusetts, in 1635.

He was graduated at Harvard College,
A. B. 1803, A. M. 1806. He studied law
under Isaac Parker in Portland, and un-
der Samuel Dexter and William Sullivan
in Boston, was admitted to the bar in
1807, and practiced in Boston. He was
a representative in the State Legisla-
ture in 1812, 1813, and 1821 ; a member of
the State Constitutional Convention,
1820; State Senator, 1826; and a member
of the Executive Council, of the Boston
Common Council, and of the Board of
Aldermen. He founded the Provident
Institution for Savings in Boston in 1817,
and served successively as its secretary,
treasurer, vice-president and president,
through a period of forty-five years. He
was an overseer of Harvard College,
1838-53 ; librarian of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, 1814-18, its treasurer,
1820-39. and its president. 1841-55 ; a fel-

140

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

low of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences ; and a member of the Bos-
ton Anthology Society. He received the
degree LL. D. from Harvard in 1841. He
devoted many years to antiquarian re-
search and was for five years an asso-
ciate editor of the "Monthly Anthology,"
which led to the "North American Re-
view." He revised the volume of char-
ters and general laws of the Massachu-
setts Colony and the Province of Massa-
chusetts Bay, and edited William Pay-
ley's works (five volumes, 1823, nevv' edi-
tion, 1830). He also published John
Winthrop's "History of New England,
i!,30-46" (two volumes. 1825-26; second
i-dition revised. 1853). His most notab.e
work was his "Genealogical Dictionary
cf the First Settlers of New England,
showing Three Generations of those who
came before May, 1692" (four volumes,
1860-64), the result of twenty years of
painstaking research.

He was married, April 25, 1823, to Eliz-
abeth Otis, daughter of George Stillman,
of Machias, Maine, and widow of James
Otis Lincoln, of Hingham, JMassachu-
setts. He died in Boston, Massachusetts,
March 8, 1873.

MEREDITH, William Morris,

TiaxirjeT, Statesman.

William Morris Meredith was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1799.
His father was W'illiam Meredith, a dis-
tinguished lawyer of Philadelphia, who
married Gertrude Gouverneur Ogden, a
niece of Lewis Morris, one of the signers
of the Declaration of Independence, and
of Gouverneur Morris. This lady was a
woman of great accomplishments and of
remarkable intellectual powers, and both
she and her husband were contributors to
the "Portfolio," a notable periodical of
the time. Mr. William Meredith was
president of the Schuylkill Bank, and for
some time filled the ofiice of city solicitor.

He brought up his son carefully, while
the latter was remarkable for his preco-
ciousness, as he is said to have been only
thirteen years of age when he was gradu-
ated B. A. from the University of Penn-
sylvania, receiving the second honor in
his class which made him valedictorian.

Following the example of his father,
the young man chose the vocation of law,
and at once gave himself up to study with
such success that four years later he was
admitted to practice. His youth was
against him, however, and for several
years it appears that he never had a case.
When he was twenty-five years old he
was elected a member of the State Legis-
lature, and continued there until 1828,
and was practically the leader of the
Whigs in the lower house. Mr. ^Meredith
was not successful at the bar until he had
been a member of that fraternity for thir-
teen years ; he then chanced to be thrown
into connection with the celebrated Gir-
ard will case, which brought him into
public notice, and business began to come
to him soon after. Indeed, it is stated
that in all the important cases in Phila-
delphia between 1840 and 1873, ^^^- -^lere-
dith was concerned. In 1843 ^e became
president of the Select Council of Phil-
adelphia, and continued to hold that posi-
tion until 1839. In 1837 he was one of
the members of the State Constitutional
Convention, and he was a prominent can-
didate for the United States Senate in
1845. ^^ 1849, when General Zachary
Taylor became president, he appointed
Mr. Meredith to be Secretary of the
Treasury, and he continued in the office
until the death of General Taylor, when
he returned to Philadelphia and resumed
the practice of law. In 1861 Mr. Mere-
dith was appointed by Governor Curtin
a member of the celebrated Peace Con-
gress, which disbanded after much earn-
est effort, but without accomplishing
an3-thing. In the same year Mr. Mere-

141

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

dith was appointed Attorney-General of
the State of Pennsylvania, and continued
to hold that position until 1867, when he
resigned. His service in this important
office is credited with having been mark-
ed by the exhibition of rare ability. In
1870 he was appointed by President Grant
senior counsel, on the part of the United
States, of the Geneva Arbitration Tribu-
nal, and he assisted in preparing the
American case, but resigned soon after.
In 1872 he was again a delegate to the
State Constitutional Convention, of
which he was made presiding officer.

As a lawyer. Mr. Meredith was highly
esteemed, and in his cases before the
United States Supreme Court, was list-
ened to earnestly and with respect. He
died in Philadelphia, August 17, 1873.

TODD, John,

Clergyman, Anthor.

The Rev. John Todd was born at Rut-
land, Rutland county, Vermont, October
9. 1800. a direct descendant of Christo-
pher Todd, a native of Pontefract, York-
shire, England, who with his wife and
child settled in New Haven, Connecticut,
between 1641 and 1647. The family is a
large one. and is distinguished for the
number of clergymen, doctors and sol-
diers it has produced, but probably none
has exerted a wider influence than John
Todd, whose words, to use the language
of the Psalmist, have gone "unto the end
of the world," and none has gained a
greater victory over oppressing circum-
stances.

Six years after John Todd was born,
his father, who had been crippled for
some time, died ; his mother was an in-
curable invalid, and the children, who
were many, were scattered among vari-
ous relatives, John going to live with an
aunt at North Killingworth, Connecticut.
At the age of ten he was placed with an-
other relative at New Haven, Connecti-

cut, and there attended school for a time
and formed the determination to go to
college. In 1818 he presented himself for
admission to Yale, having walked to New
Haven on foot from Charlestown, Massa-
chusetts, and was allowed to enter, al-
though he was insufficiently prepared.
This want of adequate preparatory train-
ing and the necessity of supporting him-
self by teaching, made his progress
through college difficult, and twice his
health broke down under the strain. His
will power carried him through, however,
and he was graduated with his class. He
then entered Andover Theological Semi-
nary, where he paid his expenses largely
by his pen, and became so favorably
known as a preacher and orator that he
was offered a pastorate before he had
finished his studies. He was graduated
at the seminary in 1825, and in 1826 be-
came pastor of a new Congregational
church at Groton, Massachusetts, formed
by seceding "Orthodox" members of the
old First Church, and here he remained,
prospering in his work, until 1833, de-
clining calls to Portland, Maine, and
Salem, Massachusetts, and an invitation
to become the editor of the "New York
Observer." From 1833 until 1836 he
served as pastor of a new Congregational
church at Northampton. Massachusetts,
and from 1836 until 1842 of the First
Congregational Church of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. In 1842 he was called to
the First Congregational Church of Pitts-
field, Massachusetts, and he remained its
pastor until failure of health forced him
to resign in 1872. His parish was a large
one. and in addition to the regular duties
of preaching, visiting, marrying and
burying, he performed those of chairman
of the school committee and president of
the board of trustees of a girls' school.

By this time his works were well
known in England, as well as at home,
and his pen was kept busy in producing
42

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

new books, or in writing for religious
newspapers. He produced about thirty
volumes in all, some of which sold to the
extent of several hundred thousand
copies, several of them being translated
into various European and Asiatic lan-
guages. Those for children and youth
were especially popular. His "Student's
Manual" and "Index Rerum" (1835),
have passed through a number of edi-
tions. His "Lectures to Children" (1834)
was used as a text-book at Sierre Leone
mission, and was printed in raised letters
for the blind. "Simple Sketches" (1843)
embodied several essays written during
his college course. "Woman's Rights"
(1867) was wittily answered by Gail
Hamilton in "Woman's Wrongs" (1888).
His last book, "Old Fashioned Lives,"
was published in 1870. Dr. Todd visited
the Adirondacks every summer for more
than twenty years, and subsequently
"roughed it" in the woods of Maine and
Canada. He was an expert fisherman
and a good shot, though he never took
the life of any creature for mere sport.
His reputed prowess in that direction
and his staunch Calvinism are supposed
to have suggested to Longfellow the
character of the parson in his "Birds of
Killingworth" (1863):

The wrath of God he preached from year to

year,
And read with fervor Edwards "On the Will."
His favorite pastime was to slay the deer,
In summer, on some Adirondack hill.

Recreation at home was found in keep-
ing bees and in forming and carving
articles of wood and ivory in a well
equipped workshop adjoining his study.
Dr. Todd greatly encouraged and helped
Mary Lyon in her efforts to found Mt.
Holyoke Seminary, and his labors in be-
half of education in general were almost
as important as those performed as a
religious teacher. The degree of Doctor

of Divinity was conferred upon him by
Williams College in 1845. He was mar-
ried, in 1830, to Mary Skinner, daughter
of Rev. Joab Brace, for fifty years pastor
of the Congregational church at New-
ington, Connecticut. He died at Pitts-
field, August 24, 1873. See "John Todd,
the Story of his Life," edited by his son,
Rev. John E. Todd (1876).

WYMAN, Jeffries,

Scientist, Author.

Jeffries Wyman was born in Chelms-
ford, Massachusetts, August 11, 1814,
son of Dr. Rufus Wyman, the first phy-
sician of the McLean Insane Asylum.

He was graduated from Harvard,
Bachelor of Arts, 1833, Master of Arts
and Doctor of Medicine, 1837, and began
practice in Boston, Massachusetts. He
was Demonstrator in Anatomy at Har-
vard College, 1836-37. In 1839 he be-
came curator of the Lowell Institute,
giving a course of lectures there on com-
parative anatomy and physiology, 1840-
41, and a second course in 1849. He con-
tinued his medical studies in Paris and
London in 1841-43. He was Professor
of Anatomy and Physiology in Hanip-
den-Sidney College, Virginia, 1843-47,
and Plersey Professor of Anatomy at
Harvard College, 1847-74. He was also
a member of the faculty of the Museum
of Comparative Zoology, which he had
himself founded, and an instructor in
comparative anatomy in the Lawrence
Scientific School. Harvard. He was a
member of the Boston Society of Natural
History, its recording secretary, 1839-41,
curator of various departments, and
president of the society, 1856-70, leaving
to this organization his rare collection in
comparative anatomy ; a fellow, council-
lor, and president (1856) of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences ; was
named by Congress a corporate member
of the National Academy of Sciences in

143

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

1863 ; was chosen one of the original
seven trustees of the Peabody Museum,
and also its curator, contributing to the
reports of the trustees (seven volumes,
1867-74) ; was a member of the Linnasan
Society of London, of the Anthropolog-
ical Institute of Great Britain, and of
various other scientific organizations.
His researches resulted in important dis-
coveries in comparative anatomy, physi-
ology, palaeontology, ethnology and ar-
chaeology.

His bibliography, embracing one hun-
dred and seventy-five titles, includes :
"On the External Characters, Habits and
Osteolog)' of the Gorilla" (1847); "O"
the Nervous System of the Bull-Frog"
(1853) ; "Observations on the Develop-
ment of the Skate" (1865); "Observa-
tions and Experiments on Living Organ-
isms in Heated Water" (1867), ^"<^
"Fresh-water Shellmounds of the St.
John's River, Florida" (posthumously,
1875). See "Biographical Memoirs of
the National Academy of Sciences" (vol-
umes ii, 1886) ; also biographical sketches
by Asa Gray, O. W. Holmes, S. Weir
Mitchell, F. W. Putnam, B. G. Wilder,
and a memorial sonnet by Lowell. He
died in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, Sep-
tember 4. 1874.

WINLOCK, Joseph,

Famous Astronomer.

Joseph Winlock was born in Shelby
county, Kentucky, February 6, 1826, son
of Fielding and Nancy (Peyton) Win-
lock. His grandfather, Joseph Winlock.
enlisted in the Continental army as a
private, rose to the rank of captain, was
in the battles of Germantown and Mon-
mouth, and endured the privations of
Valley Forge. In 1787 he was married
to a ^liss Stephenson, of Virginia, and
settled in Kentucky, on lands granted
him for military service. ?Ie aided in
framing the State Constitution, and was

for some years in the State Senate. In
the war of 1812 he held the rank of
brigadier-general, and went with three
regiments to Vincennes. Fielding Win-
lock, a lawyer by profession, was clerk
of the State Senate committee on mili-
tary affairs during the preparations for
the war of 181 2, and performed many of
the duties of adjutant-general. He served
in the army as aide to his father, and
later on General Shelby's staff, and after
the war held various honorable positions.
Joseph Winlock Avas graduated at
Shelby College, Kentucky, in 1845, and
was appointed Professor of Mathematics
and Astronomy in that institution. An
excellent Merz equatorial telescope was
the property of the college, and he made
himself familiar with its construction and
manipulation. In 1851 he attended the
fifth meeting of the x\merican Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science in
Cincinnati, and the result was an invita-
tion in 1852 to become a computer in the
office of the "American Ephemeris and
Nautical Almanac" at Cambridge, Mas-
sachusetts. In 1857 he became Professor
of Mathematics in the United States
Naval Observatory at Washington, but
soon returned to Cambridge as superin-
tendent of the "American Ephemeris and
Nautical Almanac." In 1859 he removed
to Annapolis, Maryland, to take charge
of the mathematical department in the
United States Naval Academy, but on
the removal of the academy to Newport,
Rhode Island, in consequence of the out-
break of the Civil War. he returned to
his old position at Cambridge. In 1866
he became Phillips Professor of Astron-
omy at Harvard College and director of
the observatory, and later was given the
additional position of Professor of Geod-
esy in the Lawrence Scientific School of
the university. He at once began to pro-
vide for the redaction and publication of
the unfinished work of his predecessors.

144

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the Bonds, father and son, issuing a vol- photograph of the corona during any

ume on sun-spots, and also projecting a solar eclipse, and was the first to adapt

catalogue of zone-stars. A catalogue of to photographic purposes a telescope of

polar and clock-stars appeared after his ^^ng focus, fixed horizontally, and used

death. He added to the appliances of the without an eye-piece or a heliostat. He

obser^-atory in every direction, among the o^-ganized and directed a party under the

, • J u • r *. auspices of the Coast Survey, which went

instruments acquired being a seven-toot ^ . -^ '

^ • , , r-1 1 T-. J .L J J to Spain to observe the total eclipse of

equatorial by Clark, a Bond standard- , r t^ , r. tx ,

,,.,,,.. , , the sun of December 22, 1870. He greatly

clock with break-circuit attachment for . , , „ . i- , ,

. . . . T- 1 1 increased the eiticiency of the observa-

transmittmg time-signals, a rrodsham ^ . . ... ^jj^- ^ r,

^ ° torv in turnishmg standard time to Bos-

break-circuit disereal chronometer (the ^^^;^ ^^^ .^ ^g^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^

original device of Mr. Wmlock), a transit ^p^^j^j ^^-^^ between Cambridge and that

made in the workshop of the Pulkowa ^-^^.^ ...j^ich should not be diverted to any

observatory, and a Zollner astrophotom- other business. In 1874 he was appointed

eter. Through his influence $12,000 were chairman of a commission appointed by

contributed for the purchase of a new Act of Congress to make inquiries into

meridian circle, and in 1867 he went to the causes of steam-boiler explosions,

Europe to visit the principal observa- and devised some ingenious experiments

tories and to acquaint himself with im- calculated either to confirm or refute in

provements in astronomical instruments. detail the various theories which had

The circle ordered for the Cambridge been suggested to explain this class of

Observatory embodied some improve- accidents.

ments of his own suggestion, and these Professor Winlock received the honor-
were endorsed by the most skilled astron- ary degree of Master of Arts from Har-
omers. The new instrument was first vard in 1868. He was one of the cor-
put to use in 1870 and was turned upon porate members of the National Academy
the zone of stars between 50° and 55° of of Sciences, and was a member of the
north declination, that being the field of American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
observation assigned to the observatory not to mention other scientific associa-
at Cambridge by the Astronomische tions. In 1872 Professor Winlock began
Gesellschaft. By 1877 ^s many as 30,000 preparing a series of astronomical en-
observations had been made with this in- gjavings, and at the time of his death
strument. He greatly lengthened a cata- thirty-five large plates, beautifully exe-
logue of time stars, begun in 1867, added cuted, were ready for publication. He
a catalogue of new double stars, and pro- was one of the most modest and un-
duced a work upon stellar photometry, assuming of men and his thought found
posthumously published. expression in actions rather than words.
In 1869 Professor Winlock headed a To discover, was to impart unselfishly
party that cooperated with officers of the for the benefit of others, and he took no
coast survey in observing in Kentucky security frr his own inventions and dis-
the total eclipse of the sun. August 7. coveries. Of him James Russell Lowell
and took eighty photographs, seven dur- wrote :
ing totality. Subsequently he superin-
tended the construction of a micrometer S^>' s'^"' ^"^ stalwart, man of patient will

-.^^^4.^^ t-^ 4-u ■ ^ r J- Through years one hair's breadth on our Dark

adapted to the nice measurement of dis- ^ .

to gam,

tances and positions on the photographic ^ho, from the stars he studied not in vain,

plates. He was the first to obtain a Had learned their secret to be strong and still.
MASS— 10 145

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Professor Winlock was married at
Shelbyville, Kentucky, December lo,
1856, to Isabella, daughter of George
Washington and Frances (Adams) Lane.
She survived him with two sons and four
daughters. Professor Winlock died at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 11. 1875.

GUSH MAN, Charlotte Saunders,

Famous Actress.

Charlotte Saunders Cushman was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, July 23. 1816,
daughter of Elkanah and Mary Eliza
(Babbit) Cushman, and eighth in descent
from Robert Cushman, the pilgrim. In
1829 her father's death made it necessary
for her to leave school to eke out the
family income by singing in church and
on public occasions. Her mother at great
self-sacrifice procured lessons for her,
and later a friend of the family furnished
her with means for obtaining the best
instruction Boston afforded. By chance
she was brought to the notice of Mrs.
Joseph Wood, an English singer, who
arranged with James G. Maeder to fit her
for an opera singer.

She made her debut at the Tremont
Theatre. Boston, April 8, 1835, as the
Countess in the "Marriage of Figaro,"
and during this engagement also sang in
"Guy Mannering." Later she appeared
in New Orleans, Louisiana, where her
voice was impaired from overstraining,
and by advice of James Caldwell, man-
ager of the Camp Street Theatre, New
Orleans, she decided to try the dramatic
stage. After careful study she played
Lady Macbeth to the Macbeth of Wil-
liam Barton. This led to a three years'
engagement to play leading roles at the
Bowery Theatre in New York City,
where she opened September 12, 1836.
Shortly afterward, this theatre was de-
stroyed by fire, and her contract was
cancelled. She then secured an engage-
ment at Albany, New York, where she

was retained for five months. At the
close of the Albany season in 1837 she
returned to New York City, and for two
years played utility parts at the Park
Theatre. In 1839 she appeared in sup-
port of Macready, the English actor, and
later toured the northern States in his
company. During the season of 1842-43
she successfully managed the Walnut
Street Theatre, Philadelphia, and won
special notice as Romeo to the Juliet of
her sister Susan.

In 1844, accompanied by her sister, she
sailed for London, England, where she
appeared, February 14, 1845, as Bianca
in "Fazio." She subsequently appeared
in Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin, and
other cities of the British Isles, and re-
turned to the United States in 1849.
Tours of the United States alternated
with tours of England from that time till
1858, when she retired and took up her
residence in Rome, Italy, making but
occasional tours in America and Europe.
In 1870 she returned to the stage, and
remained before the public as an actress
and reader for about four years. Her
last tour came to an end on November 7,

1874, at Booth's Theatre, New York City,
with a testimonial performance of "Mac-
beth," at the close of which she was pre-
sented with a laurel wreath by the Ar-
cadian Club. William Cullen Bryant de-
livered the presentation address, and
Charles Roberts read an ode, "Salve Re-
gina," composed for the occasion by
Richard Henry Stoddard. She was ten-
dered a similar ovation in her native city
on May 15, 1875, when she played "Lady
Macbeth," at the Globe Theatre. Her
final appearance on any stage was as a
reader at Easton, Pennsylvania, June 2,

1875. ^"fl t^^ remainder of her life was
spent in Newport, Rhode Island, Ash-
land, and Boston, Massachusetts. Her
greatest characters were Lady Macbeth,
Queen Katherine, Nancy Sykes, and

146

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Meg Merrilies in "Guy Mannering,"
which last she created. She frequently
assumed male characters such as Hamlet,
Romeo, Claude Melnotte, and Cardinal
Wolsey, in which she was eminently suc-
cessful. See "Charlotte Cushman : Her
Letters and Memoirs of Her Life" (1878),
by Emma Stebbins, the sculptor, a friend
of Miss Cushman during her residence in
Rome.

She died in Boston, Massachusetts,
February 18, 1876.

BIGELOW, Jacob,

Physician, Scientist.

Jacob Bigelow was born at Sudbury,
Massachusetts, February 27, 1787, son of
Jacob Bigelow. His father, a graduate
of Harvard University in 1776, was the
minister of the town of Sudbury for many
years.

Jacob Bigelow Jr. was graduated at
Harvard University in 1806, and received
the degree of Doctor of Medicine from
the University of Pennsylvania in 1810.
From 1815 and for fifty years thereafter
he was Professor of Alateria Medica in
the Medical Department of Harvard LTni-
versity, and during 1816-27 was Rumford
Professor of the Application of Science
to the Useful Arts in the Academic De-
partment of the same institution. He
was a member of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences for sixty-seven
years, and president from 1846 to 1863,
when he declined a reelection. He was
a member of the American Philosophical
Society, the Massachusetts Historical So-
ciety, the Medico-Chirurgical Society of
Edinburgh, the Linnean Society of Lon-
don, and other scientific associations. He
was recognized as a wise and judicious
teacher and as the promoter of beneficent
public institutions and improvements. He
conceived the plan of an extensive forest
garden cemetery, and Mount Auburn was
laid out in 1831 according to his plans.
He originated his own experiments, and

solved his own problems. He was a
born artificer, mechanician and inventor,
familiar with the work and methods of
every sort of handicraft. He constructed
the models and drawings for his lectures,
and when illustrations were needed for
his great work on botany he brought into
use an original method of printing in
color directly from copper plates, long
before the time of photography and chro-
molithography.

Dr. Bigelow published: "Florula Bos-
toniensis" (181 4), which was for nearly
two centuries the manual for New Eng-
land amateur botanists ; an American edi-
tion of "Sir James Edward Smith's In-
troduction to Botany" (1814) ; "Ameri-
can Medical Botany," with color plates
(1817-21) ; "Nature in Disease," a volume
of essays (1854) ; "A Brief Exposition of
Rational Medicine" (1858) ; "History of
Mount Auburn" (i860), and "Modern In-
quiries" (1867). His botanical knowl-
edge, with that of the materia medica and
his classical scholarship, placed him at
the head of the committee which in 1820
formed the "American Pharmacopoeia."
Several genera of plants were named
Biglovia in his honor, notably some
golden flowered composite of the South-
ern and Western United States, of Mexico
and the Andes of South America. In
1816 he published the substance of his
Harvard lectures in a volume entitled
"Elements of Technology." Of his medi-
cal writings, his discourse on "Self-Lim-
ited Diseases" is the most famous, and
an address delivered before the IMassa-
chusetts Institute of Technology on "The
Limits of Education" is scarcely less so.
He received the degree of Doctor of Laws
from Harvard University in 1857.

He married Mary Scollay, of Boston,
by whom he had several children, the
eldest of whom was the distinguished
surgeon and educator. Dr. Henry Jacob
Bigelow. Dr. Bigelow died in Boston,
January 10, 1879.

^47

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

GUSHING, Caleb,

statesman.

Caleb Cushing was born in Salisbury,
Massachusetts, January 17, 1800, son of
John Newmarch Cushing; grandson of
Benjamin and Hannah (Hazeltine) Cush-
ing; great-grandson of Caleb and Alary
(Newmarch) Cushing; great-great-grand-
son of the Rev. Caleb and Elizabeth (Cot-
ton) Cushing; great-great-great-grandson
of John and Sarah (Hawke) Cushing; and
great-great-great-great-grandson of Mat-
thew and Nazareth (Pitcher) Cushing,
who emigrated from England in 1638 and
settled in Hingham, Massachusetts.

He was graduated at Harvard in 1817,
pursued a post-graduate course in mathe-
matics, moral philosophy and law, 1817-
19, and was tutor in mathematics and
natural philosophy, 1820-21. He then
engaged as law clerk in the office of
Ebenezer Mosley, of Newburyport, and
was admitted to the bar in 1822. In 1825,
1833, 1834, 1846 and 1850 he was a repre-
sentative in the State Legislature from
Newburyport, and in 1826 a State Sena-
tor from Essex county. He was a Whig
representative in the Twenty-fourth,
Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-
seventh Congresses, 1835-43. In the dis-
ruption of the party incident to the acces-
sion of President Tyler, Mr. Cushing
supported the administration, and came
to be classed as a Democrat. President
Tyler sent his name to the Senate as Sec-
retary of the Treasury, but he was re-
fused confirmation on political grounds.
The President in 1843 appointed him
commissioner to China to negotiate a
treaty with the empire, enlarging his
powers to envoy extraordinary and min-
ister plenipotentiary, and in 1844 author-
izing him to treat also with Japan. He
was successful in negotiating a treaty
and establishing regular diplomatic rela-
tions with the celestial empire, and in
1844 he returned to America by way of

Mexico, thus completing the circumnavi-
gation of the globe. In 1846 he was
elected by both parties a State Repre-
sentative from Newburyport. He ap-
pealed to the Massachusetts Legislature
to appropriate $20,000 to equip a regi-
ment of volunteers for the Mexican war,
and, failing to obtain the appropriation,
he, with the aid of friends, contributed
the sum needed, and he went to Mexico
as colonel of the regiment, being pro-
moted to the rank of brigadier-general
soon after his arrival at the seat of war.
While in Mexico he was nominated by
the Democrats of Massachusetts for Gov-
ernor of the State, and was again nomi-
nated in 1848, but in both elections was
defeated by George N. Briggs, the Whig
candidate. In 1850 he was again a mem-
ber of the State Legislature, and was
mayor of Newburyport, 1851-52. He was
appointed an additional justice of the
Supreme Court of the State in 1852, and
en March 4, 1S53, '^^^ was appointed by
President Pierce Attorney-General in his
cabinet. At the close of the Pierce ad-
ministration he was a representative in
the Legislature from Newburyport three
successive terms. At the meeting of
the Democratic National Convention in
Charleston, South Carolina, in April,
i860, Mr. Cushing was made permanent
chairman, and left the convention with
the other Northern Democrats who sub-
sequently met in Baltimore, Maryland,
and nominated Stephen A. Douglas as
their candidate for the Presidency. In
December, i860. President Buchanan ap-
pointed him a confidential commissioner
to South Carolina to determine the dis-
position of the people toward reconcilia-
tion. He supported the administration
of Mr. Lincoln, offering his services to
Governor Andrew "in any capacity, how-
ever humble, in which it may be possible
for me to contribute to the public weal in
the present critical emergency," and was

148

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

entrusted with various confidential mis-
sions both by the President and by the
cabinet officials at Washington. In 1866
he was a member of the commission ap-
pointed to revise and codify the laws of
Congress. He was sent to Bogota, South
America, in 1868, by Secretary Seward,
to negotiate with the United States of
Colombia, and successfully accomplished
the mission. With Morrison Waite and
William M. Evarts, he was counsel for
the United States at Geneva in 1871 in
settling the Alabama claims. In 1873,
upon the death of Chief Justice Chase,
President Grant appointed Mr. Gushing
Chief Justice of the United States, but
his name was not favorably received by
the Senate, and before a vote was taken,
Mr. Gushing declined the appointment.
He was United States Minister to Spain.
1874-77.

He received from Harvard the degree
of Alaster of Arts in 1820, and that of
Doctor of Laws in 1852. He was an
overseer of Harvard, 1852-56, and was a
member of the Massachusetts Historical
Society, and a fellow of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences. Among
his works are: "History of the Town of
Newburyport" (1826) ; "The Practical
Principles of Political Economy" (1826) ;
"Historical and Political Review of the
Late Revolution in France"' Ttwo vol-
umes, 1833) ; "Reminiscences of Spain"
(two volumes. 1833) ; "Growth and Terri-
torial Progress of the United States"
(1839); "Life of William H. Harrison"
(1840) ; "The Treaty of Washington"
(1873) ; ^^cl frequent contributions to
magazines and reviews. He died in New-
buryport, Massachusetts. January 2, 1879.

He was married, in 1823. to Caroline,
daughter of Judge Wilde, of the ^Slassa-
chusetts Supreme Court.

CLIFFORD, John Henry,

La'wyer, Governor.

John Henry Clififord, governor of Mas-
sachusetts, was born in Providence,
Rhode Island, January 16, 1809. son of
Benjamin and Achsah (W^ade) Clifford.

He was graduated at Brown Univer-
sity in 1827, admitted to the bar in 1830,
and practised law in New Bedford, Mas-
sachusetts. He was elected a State
Representative in 1S35, was an aide-de-
camp to Governor Everett, 1836-40, and
in 1845 ^^'^s elected to the State Senate.
He was District Attorney. 1839-49. At-
torney-General, 1849-53, ^"tl prosecuted
Professor John W. Webster, of Harvard,
for the murder of Dr. Parkman in 1850.

In 1853 he was elected Governor of the
State by the Legislature, having failed
to secure a plurality in the regular elec-
tion, although he had 25,000 more votes
than either of his opponents. He was
again Attorney-General, 1854-58. In
1862 he was again elected to the State
Senate and served as president of that
body. In 1867 he was elected president
of the Boston & Providence railroad. He
was overseer of Harvard College, 1854-
59 and 1865-68. and president of the
board of overseers, 1868-74; trustee of
the Peabody Education Fund from its
foundation, and a member of the United
States Commission on the Fisheries,
under the arbitration treaty with Great
Britain. He was a member of the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences and
of the ^ilassachusetts Historical Society.
He officiated at Harvard College on the
occasion of the induction of President
Walker. May 24, 1853, and of President
Eliot. October 19. 1869. on each occasion
delivering an impressive address. In
1877 he declined appointments as L'nited
States Minister to Turkey and to Russia,
severally tendered him by President
Grant. Brown University conferred upon

149

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

him the degree of Master of Arts in 1S30,
and that of Doctor of Laws in 1849, ^^^
Harvard and Amherst gave him the de-
gree of Doctor of Laws in 1853. He died
in New Bedford, Massachusetts, January
2, 1876.

He was married, in 1832, to Sarah
Parker, daughter of WilHam Howland
Allen, granddaughter of the Hon. John
Avery Parker, of New Bedford, and a
lineal descendant of Captain Myles Stand-
ish, the Puritan.

GARRISON, William Lloyd,

Leader in Abolition of Slavery.

William Lloyd Garrison was born in
Newburyport, Massachusetts, December
10, 1805, son of Abijah and Frances Maria
(Lloyd) Garrison, who emigrated from
Nova Scotia to Newburyport in 1805.
The father, a seafaring man, left his home
in his son's infancy and never returned.

William Lloyd Garrison was an ap-
prentice, compositor and foreman in the
printing office of the "Newburyport
Herald" from 1818 to 1825. In 1826 he
became editor of the "Newburyport Free
Press," to which John G. Whittier sent
anonymous contributions, and, on his
identity being discovered by Garrison,
became his firm friend. This enterprise
not succeeding, he next went to Boston,
where he edited the "National Philan-
thropist," a temperance journal. In 1828
he removed to Bennington, Vermont, and
became editor of the "Journal of the
Times," an organ established to support
the candidacy of John Quincy Adams for
the Presidency for the second term. In
September, 1829, he joined Benjamin
Lundy at Baltimore in the publication of
an anti-slavery paper called the "Genius
of Universal Emancipation," with the
understanding that he might advocate
the doctrine of immediate emancipation.
His denunciation of a citizen of New-
buryport for employing his ships in the

domestic slave trade caused his prose-
cution and imprisonment for libel. Arthur
Tappan, of New York, shortly afterward
paid the fine, and he was released and
went North to procure support for a
journal of his own at Boston. Christian
churches refused him the use of their
audience rooms, and Julian Hall, the
headquarters of an infidel society, was
used by him for the delivery of three
lectures. On January i, 1831, he founded
in Boston "The Liberator," which he con-
tinued to edit until slavery was abolished
and the war ended in 1865. In "The Lib-
erator" he announced a purely moral and
pacific warfare against slavery, but he
was charged with inciting slave insurrec-
tions, and the State of Georgia offered a
reward of $5,000 for his apprehension.
In January, 1832, with eleven others, he
organized the New England Anti-Slavery
Society, and in December, 1833, the Amer-
ican Anti-Slavery Society was founded in
Philadelphia, and Mr. Garrison drew up
its "Declaration of Sentiments." He op-
posed the scheme of African colonization,
and recommended the formation of anti-
slavery societies in every Free State. On
October 21, 1835, ^^ was mobbed in Bos-
ton after an effort made by the mob to
find George Thompson, the English aboli-
tionist, who was advertised to speak be-
fore the Boston Female Anti-Slavery So-
ciety. After being hustled through the
streets with a rope around his body, he
was finally saved by being put into jail.
He opposed the formation of an anti-
slavery political party, and advocated
the admission of women to participation
in the anti-slavery societies as speakers,
voters and officers. As a non-resistant
he refused to vote, but he also refrained
because of the pro-slavery compromises
of the Constitution of the United States,
which in this aspect he pronounced (in
Scriptural language) "a covenant with
death and an agreement with hell." In

150

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

1844 he succeeded in bringing all the
anti-slavery societies to this position. He
parted company with the anti-slavery
party on its formation, and continued his
moral agitation, supported by a power-
ful band of followers. He advised the
placing of the war on an anti-slavery
basis, and the establishing of a new union
with a constitution forever prohibiting
slavery.

At the close of the war the sum of
$30,000 was raised by public subscription
and presented to Mr. Garrison as a token
of grateful appreciation of his life serv-
ices, and citizens of Boston erected on
the city's most beautiful thoroughfare a
bronze statue to his memory. He was a
guest of the government at the raising
of the national flag over Fort Sumter,
April 14, 1865, on the fourth anniversary
of the surrender of the fort and of the
inauguration of the war.

He was married, in Brooklyn, Connec-
ticut, September 4, 1834, to Helen Eliza,
daughter of George and Sally (Thurber)
Benson. They were the parents of seven
children, of whom four sons and one
daughter survived infancy. His last rest-
ing place is on Smilax path, in Forest
Hills Cemetery, Boston, near the Sol-
diers' monument and French's bronze
tablet for the sculptor Millmore. The
Public Library and the State House in
Boston also perpetuate his name on their
walls. He died in New York City, May
24, 1879.

CLARKE, Edward H.,

Physician, Author.

Edward H. Clarke was born at Nor-
ton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, Feb-
ruary 2, 1820. son of Rev. Pitt and Mary
Y. (Stimpson) Clarke. His mother was
a native of Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

Fie was graduated at Harvard College
in 1841, at the head of his class, and in-
tended to take up the study of medicine,

but owing to ill health he could not carry
out his wishes for several years, and did
not receive the degree of Doctor of Medi-
cine until 1846. On account of the mild
climate of Philadelphia, he made that
city his home while he was studying. On
returning to Boston to practice he met
with unexpected opposition on account
of the fact that he had received his
diploma outside the State of Massachu-
setts. He joined with Dr. Henry I. Bow-
ditch in establishing his Society for Med-
ical Observ^ation, and in or about 1850,
with some other practitioners, he at-
tempted to found the Boylston Medical
School in opposition to the Harvard in-
terest, but the effort failed, the legisla-
ture refusing them the right of confer-
ring degrees. Dr. Clarke's ability, how-
ever, could no longer be suppressed, and
in 1855 he was appointed Professor of
Materia Medica at Harvard, a position he
retained until 1872. He was renowned
for his skillful use of drugs, and after the
death of his friend. Dr. Pury, he had the
largest general practice of any physician
in the city. In addition to this he made
a specialty of diseases of the eyes and
nerves, and cured some of the most dif-
ficult cases of nervous diseases on record.
His principle was not to strengthen nerv-
ous patients by stimulants further than
was necessary to produce a healthful cir-
culation. It was his custom to exact a
small fee from a patient who made a
short story of his condition, but when
people worried him by their loquacity, to
charge them accordingly. He believed
that the woman's rights movement was
responsible for many nervous troubles,
and in 1874 he published a work entitled
"Sex in Education" to prove that women,
by the nature of their constitution, were
unable to bear the same mental and phy-
sical strain as men. This excited a lively
controversy in America and Europe. In
a book on "Visions," written during his

151

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

last illness and edited by Dr. Oliver
Wendell Holmes, he advanced some rare
instances of mental illusion, and ex-
plained them by scientific analysis, with
illustrations of the visions represented in
Shakespeare's plays. Other publications
were: "Observations on the Treatment
of Polypus of the Ear" (1869) ; "The
Building of a Brain" (1874) ; and, with
R. Amory. "Physiological and Thera-
peutical Action of Bromide of Potassium
and Bromide of Ammonium" (1871). He
delivered an address on "Education of
Girls" before the National Educational
Association at Detroit, August 5, 1874.

Dr. Clarke was married, October 14,
1852, to Sarah Loring Loud, of Plym-
outh, Massachusetts. He died in Boston,
November 30. 1877.

BOYDEN, Uriah Atherton,

Engineer and Inventor.

L^riah Atherton lioyden was born at
Foxboro, Norfolk county, Massachusetts,
February 17. 1804, son of Seth and Susan
(Atherton) Boyden. After receiving his
early education in the country schools
he assisted his father in farming and
blacksmithing until he joined his eldest
brother .Seth at Newark, New Jersey, in
1825. Returning to Massachusetts he
was engaged under James Hayward on
the first survey for the Boston &' Provi-
dence railroad, which was his first work
in an engineering capacit}-. Later he
was employed at the dry dock in the
Charlestown navy yard, under Colonel L.
Baldwin, and subsequently at Lowell, in
the construction of the Sufi'olk, Tremont
and Lawrence mills and the Boston &
Lowell railroad. In 1833 he opened an
office in Boston, where he continued in
the engineering profession and in scien-
tific investigations until his death. Dur-
ing 1836-38 the Nashua i^- Lowell railroad
was built under his direction.

His attention was directed toward the

study of hydraulics, which he thoroughly
mastered, and as the engineer of the
Amoskeag Company he established ex-
tensive hydraulic works at Manchester.
New Hampshire, an undertaking which
occupied several years. In 1844 he de-
signed an improved Fourneyron turbin
water wheel for the mills of the Apple-
ton Company at Lowell, Massachusetts,
which utilized ninety-fi\e per cent, of the
power expended, and gained fully twenty
per cent, over the style then existing.
The original turljine was invented by
Fourneyron, of France, in 1833 ; but the
impro\ed form, known as the Boyden tur-
l)ine. is much used in the United States.
Many years previous to his death. Mr.
Boyden had retired from the active prac-
tice of his profession, and devoted him-
self entirely to scientific investigations
and experiments in light, electricity, mag-
netism, meteorology, chemistry and met-
allurgy. With apparatus of his own de-
sign, giving very exact results, he made
3n elaborate series of tests to determine
the velocity of sounds traveling through
the conduit pipes of the Charlestown and
Chelsea water works. He was a man of
hard, common sense, discriminating judg-
ment, sagacity and foresight, possessing
the peculiar practical wisdom that molds
the means into results. Mr. Boyden gave
considerable sums of money for the en-
couragement of study in the direction of
mathematics and physics. In 1874 he de-
])Osited $1,000 with the Franklin Insti-
tute, to be awarded to any resident of
North America who should determine by
experiment whether light and other phys-
ical rays are transmitted with the same
velocity. He established the Soldiers'
Memorial Building at Foxboro, and to
the Boyden Library of that town (which
was so named in his honor) he donated
$1,000 as a productive fund for the annual
])urchase of books. He died in Boston,
Massachusetts, October 16, 1879.

/T/^^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

WILSON, Henry,

Statesman, Vice-President.

Henry Wilson was born in Farming-
ton, New Hampshire, February 12, 1812,
son of Winthrop and Abigail (W'itham)
Colbath. His father was a farm laborer,
and was not only a poor man himself but
was the descendant of poor men, with all
his ideas of life associated with condi-
tions of extreme poverty. Henry Wil-
son's father, grandfather and great-
grandfather had been men without edu-
cation and without experience more than
that which was obtained by mere living
in a new country. Even so late as 1812,
Farmington was still a new country, hav-
ing been incorporated into a town only
fourteen years before the birth of Henry
Wilson It was composed of only about
a dozen houses, and the nearest approach
to a town in the vicinity was Rochester,
eight miles distant, while the nearest
market was Dover, eighteen miles away,
to which point everything raised in the
way of products and for sale had to be
hauled over rough roads. On his father's
side, Wilson's ancestors were Scotch-
Irish who came to America from the
North of Ireland early in the eighteenth
century, and settled in Portsmouth,
New Hampshire. His great-grandfather,
James Colbath, was the grandson of the
first settler of that name, and died at an
advanced age in the year 1800, leaving
eight children. On the mother's side,
there was the same show of constant poA'-
erty ; but with both families there was
never any taint of crime or wrong-doing,
while his mother seems to have been a
woman of great sense and discretion, and
with more ambition than was exhibited
by any other member of the family.

Henry Wilson was christened Jere-
miah Jones Colbath, a name which was
afterward changed by act of legislature
to that by which he obtained fame, Henry
W^ilson. Fie was the eldest of a family

of eight boys, and during his earliest boy-
hood succeeded in obtaining a knowledge
of reading, but little else. It is related
of him that when he was only seven or
eight years old a sister of Governor Levi
Woodbury of New Hampshire (after-
ward Secretary of the Treasury) gave
him permission to make use of her
library, or rather that of her husband,
who was a lawyer of the neighborhood.
At the age of ten the boy was bound out
to service with a farmer, and from that
time forward he was self-supporting. His
apprenticeship lasted eleven years, dur-
ing which period he received no school-
ing, or, at least, only that which his
farmer-employer was bound to allow him,
one month in each year, amounting to
eleven months in the entire apprentice-
ship. However, his devotion to books
and to work was so determined that he is
remarkable in biography for the amount
of information he acquired under these
discouraging conditions. In the mean-
time he was active, industrious, and full
of energy and determination. As he grew
to young manhood he read newspapers,
and even "Niles's Register." He also
found in the library to which he had
access, Plutarch's ""Lives" and a memoir
of Napoleon, and, at last, the biography
of one Henry Wilson. This latter volume
seems to have made a deep impression
upon his youthful mind, for he resolved
to be called by the same name, and car-
ried out this resolution legally on obtain-
ing his majority. At the age of fifteen
he heard of Marshall's '"Life of W^ash-
ington," and became so much interested
in what he learned of the book that
discovering the existence of a copy at
Rochester, seven miles from the farm
where he worked, he traveled that dis-
tance until he had borrowed the book,
which after a thorough reading he re-
turned. At the age of twenty he could
name the location of every battle in the

53

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Revolution and the War of 1812, with
date, numbers engaged, and the killed,
wounded and prisoners on both sides.
After completing his apprenticeship he
engaged work on another farm and earned
nine dollars per month, while receiving
for his eleven years' service a yoke of
oxen, six sheep, and the knowledge of
farming which he had gained by experi-
ence. But during this period he had read
nearly a thousand books, and, gifted with
a remarkable memory, had in mind a
great store of useful information which
he felt assured would be of great use
some day. In 1833 young Wilson heard
that the trade of shoemaking could be
learned at Natick, Massachusetts, with
the prospect of self-establishment in that
business after learning it. He traveled
to that town on foot, and made a con-
tract to serve a shoemaker for five months,
or until he had learned the trade. He
did learn it most thoroughly, and then
worked for himself, earning his board
and twenty dollars per month ; and, when
he had saved up sufficient means, he went
to Stratford Academy, New Hampshire,
and studied there and at Wolfsborough
and Concord academies for several terms,
teaching district schools during the win-
ter. Unfortunately he loaned his earn-
ings to a friend who failed to reimburse
him, and he was obliged not only to
abandon his intention of continuing his
studies, but was compelled to return to
Natick and to work again at the shoe
business, for the following five years
continuing to make shoes on his own
account.

Meantime he began to interest himself
in politics, and by 1840 began to be known
as a public speaker and debater; as a
matter of fact, through his eflforts, many
in his neighborhood were induced to
abandon Democracy and vote for General
Harrison for President, and, in the same
election, in November, 1840, Henry Wil-

son was elected a member of the House
of Representatives of Massachusetts from
the town of Natick. While discharging
his public duties with energy and ability,
his shoe manufacturing prospered, his
output in 1840 amounting to from one
thousand to twenty-five hundred pairs
per week. Curiously enough his goods
were chiefly adapted to the Southern
trade, and this although A-Ir. Wilson was
an avowed Abolitionist; in fact, one of
Mr. Wilson's Southern customers, who
failed, ofi^ered to compromise his debt by
the payment of money which would be
the result of the sale of some of his
slaves, whereupon Wilson gave him full
discharge of the debt, declaring that he
would receive no money obtained by
traffic in human beings.

In the Massachusetts Legislature, dur-
ing the first session of which he was a
member, Mr. Wilson devoted himself to
making entire acquaintance with routine
business, and made little mark, but he
was reelected for the session of 1842, and
then took a firm stand as a protectionist,
the tarifif question then being prominent.
In 1843 '^"cl 1844 he was elected to the
Massachusetts Senate, and declined re-
election in 1845. It was in 1845 that Mr.
Wilson first began to appear publicly in
opposition to the slave trade and slavery,
especially on the question of the admis-
sion of Texas to the Union. In 1848 he
bought a newspaper in Boston, the "Re-
publican," which he edited for two years,
making it the leading paper of the Free
Soil party. In 1850 Mr. Wilson was
again elected to the State Senate, and
made president of that body. In 1852 he
was chairman of the Free Soil National
Convention, held at Pittsburgh, and after-
ward of the national committee of that
party. He was also nominated for Con-
gress in that year, but was defeated, and
in the following year was the unsuccess-
ful Free Soil candidate for Governor.

154

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Finally, in 1855, the Free Soil party com-
bined with the American party in Massa-
chusetts, and was successful in having
him chosen to succeed Edward Everett
in the United States Senate, and he took
his seat in that body in February, 1855.
It should be said of Mr. Wilson that if
he had chosen to desert his principles
and at the same time take part against a
friend whom he respected he could have
been elected United States Senator at the
time when Charles Sumner was chosen
on the twenty-sixth ballot in the Legis-
lature, and by a change of a single vote.
Wilson elected Sumner, and the latter
acknowledged it by writing him a letter
of thanks.

Mr. Wilson's first important speech in
the United States Senate was made on
February 23, 1855, ^^^ "^^^s in response to
an attack by Senator Stephen A. Doug-
las, no mean antagonist, referring sharply
to the way in which the North had been
misrepresented in Congress by its own
representatives. During the celebrated
Kansas-Nebraska times, Mr. Wilson was
consistent in the tenacity with which he
held to his position as a Free Soil Repub-
lican. When Charles Sumner was brutally
assaulted in the Senate chamber by Pres-
ton S. Brooks, of South Carolina. Mr.
Wilson assisted in gonveying his col-
league to his lodgings, and on the follow-
ing day brought the matter before the
Senate, denouncing the act as "a brutal,
murderous and cowardly assault." Brooks
sent a challenge to Wilson, which he de-
clined, in his answer repeating his senti-
ments concerning Brooks' attack, and
expressing his firm belief in the right of
self-defence. Later, in the Senate cham-
ber, in reply to Mason, of Virginia, Wil-
son said: "This is not a place for assumed
social superiority, as though certain sena-
tors held the keys of cultivated society.
Sir, they do not hold the keys, and they

shall not hold over me the plantation
whip."

Not only with reference to the slavery
question and its allied issues, but in con-
nection with every important matter be-
fore the Senate, Mr. Wilson was fre-
quently heard, and always listened to
with respect, both for his opinions and
for his acknowledged acquaintance with
facts. On the outbreak of the war of
the rebellion, Senator Wilson was made
chairman of the committee on military
affairs, and remained at the head of that
committee during the entire war. In
1861 he recruited a regiment in Massa-
chusetts and accompanied it to the front
as its colonel, and for a time served on
the staff of General George B. McClellan.
Mr. W^ilson's oratory was powerful and
effective, if not polished, and he was one
of the most industrious and useful mem-
bers of the Senate. After the war he was
very active in legislation on the recon-
struction of the State governments in the
South, being liberal to the Southern
whites, while demanding for the blacks
the full rights to which they were en-
titled. At the close of the term ending
in March, 1871, he was reelected to the
Senate for another six-year term, but in
June, 1872, was nominated for Vice-
President of the United States on the
ticket with General Grant, and was elected
in the following November, receiving two
hundred and eighty-six out of three hun-
dred and fifty-four electoral votes. He
resigned his seat in the Senate on March
3. 1873. and took his place as Vice-Presi-
dent, but during that year his health
failed, and he suffered from a stroke of
paralysis from which he never recovered.
Many of Mr. Wilson's speeches and pub-
lic addresses were published, and he had
nearly completed his "History of the Rise
and Fall of the Slave Power in America,"

15.S

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

which was published in Boston in three
volumes (1872-75).

Mr. Wilson married, in 1840, Harriet
M. Howe, of Natick, who died in 1870.
Their only child. Lieutenant Hamilton
Wilson, died in 1876, in Texas. Mr. Wil-
son died November 22, 1875.

SUMNER, Hon. Charles,

Distinguished Statesman.

Hon. Charles Sumner, one of America's
most distinguished statesmen, was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, January 6,
181 1, son of Charles Pinckney and Relief
(Jacob) Sumner, and grandson of Job
Sumner, an officer in the Revolutionary
army, who served at Bunker Hill, in the
siege of Boston, and was second in com-
mand of the forces in New York at the
time of its evacuation by the British.

Charles Sumner attended the Boston
public schools, and, failing to obtain an
appointment to the United States Mili-
tary Academy at West Point, in his fif-
teenth year entered Harvard College,
from which he was graduated in 1830; as
a student he excelled in history, litera-
ture and the classics, and won a second
Bowdoin prize for an essay on "The
Present Character of the Inhabitants of
New England." He taught school, mean-
time studying at the Harvard Law School,
from which he was graduated in 1834.
Lie attracted the attention of Judge Story
and Simon Greenleaf, and in 1834 entered
the law office of Benjamin Rand, of Bos-
ton. While serving as editor of "The
Jurist," he visited Washington, Philadel-
phia and New York, and met many of
the distinguished men of the day. Re-
turning to Boston, he engaged in prac-
tice, in partnership with George S. Hil-
liard. In 1835-36-37, during the absence
of Judge Story, he served as an instructor
in the Law School. He was selected to
report "Story's Decisions," which he pub-
lished in three volumes, also assisting

Greenleaf in his "Maine Digest," and pre-
paring the index to Story's "Equity Juris-
prudence." In December, 1837, he visited
Europe, and was cordially received by
leading barristers, literary celebrities and
political and social leaders in London,
Paris, Vienna and Berlin.

Returning home, in 1840 he resumed
his law practice, and was retained by the
British consul in actions brought against
British officers who had searched Amer-
ican ships suspected of being slavers. On
July 4, 1845, in an oration at Boston, he
made an argument against war, his effort
marked by courage and sparkling elo-
quence. In 1845, ^^ ^ member of the
Whig State Committee appointed to or-
ganize the opposition to the admission of
Texas as a Slave State, he formulated the
resolutions presented at a meeting in
Faneuil Hall, November 4 that year, de-
claring that "The government and inde-
pendence of the United States are founded
on the adamantine truths of equal rights
and the brotherhood of all men." From
this time Mr. Sumner was a recognized
leader of the anti-slavery movement. On
February 4, 1846, in Faneuil Hall, he
urged the withdrawal of the United States
troops from Mexico, and in the same
month delivered a lecture on "White
Slavery in the Barbary States." In 1848
he opposed the presidential nomination
of Taylor, in the Whig Convention in
Worcester, and later supported Martin
Van Buren in the Free Soil National
Convention at Buffalo.

He was now fairly launched upon a
political career. He was the Free Soil
nominee for Congress, against Robert
C. Winthrop, and. although defeated,
gained a national reputation by his con-
duct in the campaign. He was defeated
for a seat in the Thirty-first Congress.
He was a member of the Massachusetts
Free Soil Convention in 1850. In the fol-
lowing year he was nominated for United
156

i

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

States Senator, receiving the unanimous
vote of the Free Soil members of the
Legislature, and two-thirds of the vote
of the Democratic members, and, being
elected, took his seat December i, 1851.
His first important speech in the Senate,
August 26, 1852, on "Freedom national.
Slavery sectional," created a profound
impression throughout the country, and
attracted much attention abroad. In
February, 1854, he opposed the Kansas-
Nebraska bill in a masterly efifort in
which he epitomized the history of slav-
ery, and foretold the breaking of the
slave power. A debate followed between
himself and Senator Butler, of South
Carolina, which intensified the pro-slavery
feeling against Mr. Sumner, and a pro-
posal to expel him was seriously con-
sidered. On May 29-30, 1856, he deliv-
ered his speech on "The Crime against
Kansas," and which was pronounced by
Longfellow to be "the greatest voice, on
the greatest subject, that has been uttered
since we became a nation." On May 22,
in the Senate chamber, the body not
being in session, Senator Sumner was
violently assaulted over the head with a
cane by Preston S. Brooks, sustaining
injuries from which he never entirely re-
covered. Mr. Sumner was unable to re-
sume his seat in the Senate in the ensu-
ing session, and for a time meditated
resignation. He was reelected in 1857.
and attended the Senate for a single day,
in order to cast his vote on the tariff bill,
soon afterward sailing for Paris for medi-
cal treatment. He returned in Novem-
ber, and in December resumed his seat
in the Senate, but was soon obliged to
return to Paris on account of his ill
health. He did not return to the Senate
until December, 1859, and took no part
in debate until June 4, i860, when he de-
livered a strong speech on "The Bar-
barism of Slavery." When South Caro-
lina seceded, he opposed any form of

compromise between North and South.
As chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, he urged the surrender of Mason
and Slidell, the Confederate envoys who
had been taken from the British steamer
"Trent" by Captain Wilkes, of the United
States ship "San Jacinto." On Septem-
ber 10, 1863, in New York City, he de-
livered a speech on "Our Foreign Rela-
tions," which did much toward keeping
the good will of England and France.
He was reelected to the Senate for a third
term in 1863. He was a firm supporter
of President Lincoln ; he urged slave
emancipation, introduced a bill to repeal
all fugitive slave laws, and was the lead-
ing advocate of the Freedmen's Bureau
bill. In 1864 he introduced the first bill
to reform the civil service and advocated
numerous salutary educational and other
measures. In the Presidential campaign
of that year he spoke in several large
cities in support of Lincoln. In the Su-
preme Court he moved the admission of
a colored man to the bar, and which was
granted by Chief Justice Chase. In Bos-
ton, on July I, 1865, he delivered a mas-
terly eulogy upon Lincoln. He urged
negro suffrage as essential to hastening
reconstruction ; opposed President John-
son, and voted for his impeachment. In
February, 1867, he bore a leading part in
effecting the legislation providing for
negro suffrage. He opposed the proposed
acquisition of Santo Domingo, which led
to a personal rupture between President
Grant and Secretary Fish, and the re-
moval of Mr. Sumner from the chairman-
ship of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In March, 1871, he delivered a speech
censuring President Grant for his course
on the Santo Domingo affair, and that
project was consequently abandoned. As
an anti-administration Republican he op-
posed the reelection of Grant, and sup-
ported Greeley, declaring that "principles
must be preferred to party." His health

57

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

breaking down, in 1872 he sailed for Eng-
land, where he learned of his nomination
by the Democrats for the Governorship
of Massachusetts, and at once cabled his
declination. On his return to the Senate
in November, he was so ill that he asked
to be relieved from service on commit-
tees, but on the opening day of the ses-
sion he introduced a bill providing that
"the names of battles with fellow citizens
be not contained in the Army Register
or placed on the regimental colors of the
United States." He delivered his last
public address in December, 1873, at the
New England Society dinner in New
York City; and on January 27, 1874,
made his last appeal in the Senate for
civil rights for colored citizens. He died
in Washington City, March 11, 1874,
being the senior Senator in consecutive
service, having been elected four times ;
he was buried in Mount Auburn Ceme-
tery, Massachusetts.

Mr. Sumner received the honorary de-
gree of Doctor of Laws from Yale, Har-
vard and Amherst colleges ; he was a
fellow of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, and a member of the Amer-
ican Philosophical Society and the Mas-
sachusetts Historical Society. A bust of
Sumner by Crawford is in the Boston
Art Museum, and another by Milmore is
in the State House, Boston ; a bronze
statue by Ball is in the Public Gardens,
Boston ; and one by Anne Whitney stands
opposite the Harvard Law School in
Cambridge. In selecting names for the
place in the Hall of Fame in New York,
he was classed among "Rulers and States-
men."

Mr. Sumner married, in Boston, in Oc-
tober, t866, Alice Mason Hooper.

BARTLETT, William Francis,

Soldier of the Civil War.

William Francis Bartlett was born in
Haverhill, Massachusetts, January 6, 1840.

A junior student at Harvard in 1861,
when President Lincoln issued his first
call for troops, he left college and joined
the Fourth Battalion of Massachusetts
Volunteers. Showing great aptitude for
military duties and drill, he was appointed
captain in the Twentieth Massachusetts
Volunteers. On October 21, 1861, he was
for the first time under fire at Ball's Bluff.
He was severely wounded at Yorktown
in the spring of 1862, and obliged to have
his leg amputated. Returning to college
for a brief period, he was enabled to
graduate with his class and receive a de-
gree. In September of the same year he
organized the Forty-ninth Massachusetts
Volunteer Regiment at Pittsfield, and
was chosen colonel. Shortly afterward
the regiment accompanied General Banks'
expedition to Louisiana. Notwithstand-
ing his physical disability. Colonel Bart-
lett led his men on all occasions with the
most reckless daring, so that even the
Confederate officers, struck with admira-
tion at his bravery, on one occasion
ordered their soldiers to desist from firing
at him. He was twice wounded at Port
Hudson, May 27, 1863. Returning North,
he organized the Fifty-seventh Massa-
chusetts Regiment, in time to participate
in the Wilderness campaign the next
spring. He was again severely wounded,
and was promoted to brigadier-general
for gallant and meritorious conduct. Re-
suming active service in the field when he
was scarcely able to maintain his seat in
the saddle, and reckless of danger as ever,
he was taken prisoner before Petersburg,
July 30, 1864. After a sufficient taste of
the horrors of Libby Prison, he was ex-
changed in September, and assumed com-
mand of the First Division of the Ninth
Corps, and in 1865 was brevetted briga-
dier-general.

Peace being declared, General Bartlett

engaged in business for a time at the

Tredegar iron works, Richmond, Vir-

^58

'^M^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ginia, but eventually returned to New-
England, and married a lady of Pitts-
field, Massachusetts, where he made his
residence and established himself in busi-
ness. General Bartlett's military career
is one of the most brilliant on record, and
yet he suffered much from severe wounds
and trying imprisonment, and his consti-
tution never recovered from these terri-
ble war experiences. Financial troubles
harassed his latter years until he finally
succumbed and died in Pittsfield. Decem-
ber 17, 1S76, at the untimely age of thirty-
six. See "Memoir of William Francis
Bartlett." F. W. Palfrey (Boston. 1878).

HOOKER, Joseph,

Soldier of Two Wars.

Joseph Hooker was born in Hadley,
Massachusetts, November 13. 1814. He
received a thorough preliminary educa-
tion, and when fourteen years of age en-
tered the West Point Military Academy,
from which he was graduated in 1837, at
the age of twenty-three, in the same class
with Generals Jubal Early and Braxton
Bragg, both of whom came to distinction
as Confederate leaders. At the begin-
ning of the Mexican War he was ap-
pointed to the staff of Brigadier-General
Hamar, being a second lieutenant in the
First Artillery. He was present at the
battle of Monterey, and so distinguished
himself that he was brevetted captain,
and in March, 1847, obtained the full
rank of captain and assistant adjutant-
general. He was with Scott at Vera
Cruz, and was made major and lieutenant-
colonel for gallant conduct at the Na-
tional Bridge and Chapultepec. He re-
mained in the army until 1853, but the
conditions of a time of peace were ob-
jectionable to him, and in that year he
resigned his commission and went to
California, settled in Sonora county, and
for several years worked his own farm.
In 1858 he was appointed superintendent

of military roads in Oregon, and obtained
some other military surveying, and for
three years was colonel of California
militia.

At the outbreak of the Civil War he
offered his services to the government,
and in May, 1861, was commissioned
brigadier-general and assigned to duty
with the Army of the Potomac. The
actual time of issuing General Hooker's
commission was in August, but it was
dated back to May 17. General Hooker
was present at the battle of Bull Run,
but took no part in it. From July to the
following February he was stationed on
the north bank of the Potomac, in South-
ern Maryland, to watch the enemy and
to defeat any effort on their part to cross
the river for the purpose of moving on
Washington from that direction. He
commanded the Second Division in the
Third Corps of the Army of the Potomac,
under General Heintzelman. This divi-
sion afterward formed part of McClel-
lan's army in the peninsular campaign,
and at the siege of Yorktown, lasting
from April 5 to May 4, 1862, Hooker so
distinguished himself that on the day
after the evacuation he was appointed a
major-general of volunteers. As soon as
it was learned that the enemy had evacu-
ated Yorktown, Stoneman was sent for-
ward to harass the Confederate rear with
his cavalry, while Hooker wdth his divi-
sion Avas ordered to support him. This
movement brought about the battle of
Williamsburg, in which Hooker's divi-
sion held the entire Confederate army in
check, though he had to contend with
overwhelming numbers. Seeing that the
retreating army had halted and that rein-
forcements were being sent back. Hooker
sent to Heintzelman for assistance. He
stubbornly held the road, which was the
centre of his operations, while waiting
for the requested aid, and three times the
hostile columns pushed up to this key to

159

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

his position, and were driven back. He
fought all the forenoon, and soon after
midday Longstreet came up with a fresh
division in support of the Confederates,
and attacked so sharply that, though
Hooker repulsed him, it was with the
loss of four of his guns. At this junc-
ture Kearny came up with his division,
and relieved him. Hooker's loss in this
engagement was 2.228 men killed and
wounded.

General Hooker further distinguished
himself on the Peninsula at the battles
of Fair Oaks, Frazier's Farm, Glendale
and Alalvern Hill, during McClellan's
change of base. On account of the part
which he took in these battles, his divi-
sion became known as "Fighting Joe
Hooker's Division," thus giving him the
sobriquet by which he was afterward
always known. When the Army of the
Potomac was called from the Peninsula
to assist Pope in front of Washington,
Heintzelman's corps with Hooker's divi-
sion was one of the first to reach him at
Warren Junction, where, on August 27,
he was attacked by General Ewell, whom
he repulsed and attacked in turn, driving
him along the railroad, and compelling
him to leave his dea'd, many of his
wounded, and much of his baggage in
Federal hands, this defeat of Ewell sav-
ing the army from a very critical situa-
tion. When the army was reorganized
in September, preparatory to the Mary-
land campaign, he was assigned to the
command of the First Army Corps. On
the 14th of September occurred the battle
of South Mountain, when Hooker, as a
corps commander, added still more to his
laurels. The attack was made by Gen-
eral Reno early in the morning, and was
kept up for seven hours under a heavy
fire, when Hooker came up with his
corps, and at three o'clock in the after-
noon formed his line of battle at the base
of the mountain. The passes through

South Mountain had been carried, and
Hooker attacked the mountain side on
the right of the gap, while General Reno
attacked on the left ; the enemy retreat-
ing precipitately before this terrible on-
slaught. Three days later occurred the
battle of Antietam, in which Flooker bore
a most important part. Lee's army lay
behind the heights which line the west-
ern bank of Antietam creek, extending
from near its mouth, where it enters the
Potomac, for several miles up. McClel-
lan's plan was to send across Hooker's
corps above, supported by Mansfield,
Sumner and Franklin, and to have them
come down on the Confederate left. When
he had turned it, Burnside was to cross
a stone bridge on the Federal left and
force back Lee's right, pushing on to
Sharpsburg, thus reaching the enemy's
rear and preventing his passage across
the Potomac. Hooker made his first
movement on September 16, and there
was some artillery firing that night. Early
in the morning the battle of Antietam
began. A fierce attack was made by the
enemy, and the right wing of the Federal
army, under General Sumner, was badly
shattered. General Hancock, who com-
manded a brigade in Smith's division,
pushed forward in support of the Fed-
erals, driving back the force which had
attacked Sumner. After this engage-
ment the Federal army was so firmly
established that the enemy did not again
assail it with infantry, although it suf-
fered considerably from artillery fire at
short range. In this battle General Hooker
was wounded in the foot, but remained
on the field until the close of the engage-
ment. The battle of Antietam was im-
portant, since it arrested General Lee's
march of invasion, and obliged his re-
treat across the Potomac into "Virginia.
Hooker was unable to take the field again
until November, when he superseded
General Fitz John Porter in the com-

60

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

mand of the Fifth Corps ; on Burnside's
assuming the chief command, Hooker
was assigned to the centre grand division
of the Army of the Potomac, comprising
the Third and Fifth Corps. When Burn-
side commenced his movement on Fred-
ericksburg, Hooker brought up the rear
of the grand army. He had no faith in
the promise of Burnside's anticipated sur-
prise of Lee, and he took no part in the
great battle of Fredericksburg, which
proved a frightful mistake, in which the
loss of the Federal army was over 12,000
killed, wounded and missing.

Early in January, 1863, the divisions
of Franklin and Hooker were put in mo-
tion in parallel columns, with the pur-
pose of moving across the Rappahannock
and along its banks six miles above Fred-
ericksburg. A heavy rainstorm came up
in the night, lasting two days, and con-
verting the country roads into almost
fathomless mud, through which the col-
umns struggled on in what is known in
army history as the "mud march."' Find-
ing that Lee was fully informed of his
movement, General Burnside recalled the
army to its quarters.

On January 26 General Burnside was
relieved of his command, at his own re-
quest, and General Joseph Hooker suc-
ceeded him under appointment by the
President. The result of this change of
commanders was to revive in the army
that zeal and confidence which had cer-
tainly been considerably weakened by
the recent disaster. After his appoint-
ment to the command, General Hooker
determined not to attempt any large
operations on the impassable roads dur-
ing the winter season, and he spent three
months in efiforts to bring the army into
a condition of greater efficiency. He
effected a number of improvements, such
as abolishing the "grand divisions ;" per-
fecting the several departments ; consoli-
dating the cavalry under able leaders,
MASS— 11 161

and improving its efficiency; and intro-
ducing corps badges, for the double pur-
pose of distinguishing to what corps a
soldier belonged and forming I'esprit du
corps.

Before the spring campaign opened.
Hooker found himself at the head of
120,000 infantry, and 12,000 well ap-
pointed cavalry. The Confederate army
numbered scarcely half that force, two
divisions under Longstreet having been
detached, and which did not rejoin it
until after the battle of Chancellorsville.
General Hooker now formed the bold
plan of marching up the Rappahannock,
crossing it and its tributary, the Rapidan,
turning Lee's flank near Chancellorsville,
and attacking him 01 reirrsc. His turn-
ing column was put in motion April 27,
1863, including the Second, Fifth, Elev-
enth and Twelfth Corps. The movement
resulted in the battle of Chancellorsville,
which was attended by great loss of men,
and resulted disastrously. Hooker was
badly defeated, a fact which enabled Lee
to concentrate a heavy force against him,
and he was compelled to recross the
river, narrowly escaping total destruc-
tion. It was a terrible disaster, and what
made it worse was that on April 30
Hooker had issued an address in which
he said, "It is with heartfelt satisfaction
that the general commanding announces
to the army, that the operations of the
last three days have determined that our
enemy must ingloriously fly, or come out
from behind their defences, and give us
battle on our own ground, where certain
destruction awaits them." The result
that actually occurred angered the whole
country. Hooker had declared that the
Army of the Potomac had failed to take
Richmond on account of the incompe-
tency of its leaders, and there was little
sympathy felt for him in his defeat. Lee
was so elated with his success in defeat-
ing the Armv of the Potomac that he

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

formed a bold plan to invade Maryland
and Pennsylvania, moved his army nearly
one hundred and fifty miles around by
the Shenandoah valley to the Potomac,
and crossed the latter near Plagerstown.
The failure of Hooker to arrest this
invasion caused great dissatisfaction, and
at Fredericksburg he resigned his com-
mand. General Meade being appointed in
his place. Plooker's failure had been
complete, but it did not blind the admin-
istration to his great merit as a soldier.
He was placed in command of the com-
bined Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, and
was sent to reinforce Rosecrans at Chat-
tanooga. It was understood that as a
division or corps leader Hooker had no
superior. Soon after Grant assumed com-
mand at Chattanooga, his line being com-
plete from the northern end of Lookout
Mountain to the northern end of Mis-
sionary Ridge, Hooker made his splendid
attack on the former position, which has
passed into history as the "Battle above
the Clouds," on November 24, 1863. All
up the mountain side the battle raged
furiously, the scene being hidden from
Grant and Thomas down below in Chat-
tanooga by the low-hanging clouds, which
wrapped the contending armies from
sight. Suddenly the fog lifted, and all
in Chattanooga were witnesses of this
strange conflict among the clouds, and
saw the enemy driven from his works
upon the summit, and that the mountain
stronghold was Hooker's. Later Plooker
joined in the pursuit of Bragg from Mis-
sionary Ridge, and pushed on until the
Confederates took refuge in Dalton. When
General Sherman organized his famous
"March to the Sea" by the invasion of
Georgia, Hooker remained in command
of the Twentieth Corps, which was the
consolidation of the Eleventh and Twelfth
Corps, and added to the laurels gained at
Lookout Mountain by his splendid fight-

ing at Resaca, Dallas, and in the opera-
tions in front of Atlanta. After the death
of General McPherson, commanding the
Army of the Tennessee, Hooker expected
to succeed him, but was disappointed.
Sherman did not altogether like Hooker,
and advised the President to appoint
General Oliver O. Howard to the vacant
post. This was done, and Hooker asked
to be relieved July 30, and was placed
upon waiting orders until September 28.
He was remembered, however, and his
services respected, and he was brevetted
a major-general in the regular army
under date of March 13, 1865. After the
close of the war he was placed in com-
mand of the Department of the East,
with headquarters in New York City. In
August, 1866, he was sent to Detroit, and
put in command of the Department of
the Lakes. September i, 1866, he was
mustered out of the volunteer service,
and for some time was a member of a
board for the retirement of officers. He
was stricken with paralysis, however, and
being incapacitated for further active
service, he was retired at his own re-
quest, on October 15, 1868, retaining the
full rank of major-general.

For the remainder of his life General
Hooker resided in New York, and at last
in Garden City (Long Island), New
York, where his remains lie buried. He
was a gallant and able soldier and gen-
eral. As has been already said, in com-
mand of a division or corps he had no
superior, but, precisely, as Ney and
Murat, could not be turned into Napo-
leons by placing them in chief command
of an army, so Hooker was out of place
and unsuccessful when given the supreme
charge, in the conduct of which so many
other experienced officers had failed. He
died in Garden City, Long Island, New
York, October 31, 1879.

162

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

PEARSON, Eliphalet,

Clergyman, Educator.

The Rev. Eliphalet Pearson was born
at Byfield, Massachusetts, June ii, 1725,
son of David and Sarah (Danforth) Pear-
son, and a descendant of John Pearson,
who emigrated from Yorkshire, England,
in 1643, ^"d settled at Rowley, Massachu-
setts, where he built the first clothing mill
in New England.

Eliphalet Pearson first attended Dum-
mer Academy, Byfield, Massachusetts,
then entering Harvard College, from
which he was graduated A. B., 1773, and
received the A. M. degree in 1776. He
taught school at Andover, Massachusetts,
for a time. He was engaged with Samuel
Phillips in the manufacture of gunpowder
for the American army in 1775. Upon the
opening of the Phillips school in April,
1778, he became its first preceptor, which
office he held until 1786. He was Han-
cock Professor of Hebrew at Harvard
College, 1 786- 1 806, a period of twenty
years. Upon the death of Lieutenant-
Governor Phillips in 1802, Mr. Pearson
succeeded him as president of the board
of trustees of Phillips Academy, and con-
tinued in that office until 1820. He was
acting president of Harvard College, 1804-
06. He was connected with Colonel
John Phillips in the establishment of the
Andover Theological Seminary, and suc-
ceeded in combining the Hopkinson and
Andover seminaries in 1808. He was or-
dained to the ministry, September 22,
1808, and served as Associate Professor
of Sacred Literature at the Andover The-
ological Seminary, 1808-09. He was sec-
retary of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences ; a member of the Society
for Promoting the Gospel among the In-
dians and Others in North America ; a
founder of the American Education So-
ciety ; president of the Society for Pro-
moting Christian Knowledge ; a member

of the Massachusetts Historical Society,
and fellow of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences. The honorary degree
of LL. D. was conferred on him by Yale
College and by the College of New Jer-
sey in 1802. He edited Bishop Wilson's
"Sacra Privata," and was the author of
a Hebrew grammar, and lectures. He
died at Greenland, New Hampshire, Sep-
tember 12, 1826.

He was married (first) to Priscilla,
daughter of President Edward Holyoke,
of Harvard College, and (second) in 1785,
to Sarah, daughter of Henry Bromfield,
of Harvard, Massachusetts.

RUSSELL, Benjamin,

Early Printer and Publisher.

Benjamin Russell was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, September 13, 1761, son
of John Russell. In August, 1775, he was
apprenticed to Isaiah Thomas, of Worces-
ter, publisher of the "Massachusetts Spy,"
and in 1780 substituted in the Continental
army for his employer, who had been
drafted. He joined the army at West
Point, and was one of the guard at the
execution of Major Andre. At the ex-
piration of his military service he return-
ed to Worcester, was released from his
indenture, and on March 24, 1784, with
William Warden, began publishing the
"Massachusetts Centinel." In 1785 he be-
came sole owner and editor, changed the
name of the paper to the "Columbian
Centinel," and continued to edit and pub-
lish it for forty-four years. During the
crisis that followed the treaty of Ver-
sailles, and through the trying times of
Shay's Rebellion, when other papers were
fomenting up sedition, Mr. Russell stood
for nationalism, and gave the administra-
tion of Washington his unwavering sup-
port. In the conduct of his paper he
made a specialty of local news, which he
gathered on street corners and in public

[63

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

meetings. He also procured foreign news,
personally boarding every vessel that
came into Boston harbor. During the
stay of the French exiles, Louis Philippe
and other noblemen, in this country, Mr.
Russell made lifelong friendships with
them. He received from Louis Philippe
an atlas which proved a great aid when
he was editing the war news from Eu-
rope. In 1795 he began the publication
of the "Boston Gazette." He retired
from the "Centinel" in 1828 and from the
"Gazette" in 1830. The "Centinel" has
always been considered the best type of
the early political newspaper of the
United States ; the most eminent Feder-
alist statesmen and writers contributed
to its columns, and it wielded no little
influence in the early history of New Eng-
land. It was united with the "New Eng-
land Paladium" in 1830, and with the Bos-
ton "Gazette" in 1836. In 1840 it became
merged in the "Daily Advertiser."

Mr. Russell was a member of the State
Senate, of the Governor's Council, and of
the Constitutional Convention of 1820.
He published all the laws and official
documents of the First Congress, 1789-
91, intending that the work should be
gratuitous, but a few years later, when
the treasury could afford to pay, he was
presented with $7,000. He died in Boston,
Massachusetts. January 4, 1845.

PERKINS, Thomas Handasyd,

Man of Affairs, Philanthropist.

Thomas Handasyd Perkins was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, December 15,

1764, son of and Elizabeth (Peck)

Perkins, and grandson of Edmund and
Edna (Frothingham) Perkins, and of
Thomas Peck, whose wife was a Hand-
asyd. His father was a merchant, and
his mother a founder of the Boston Fe-
male Asylum.

He was prepared for Harvard College

by the Rev. Mr. Shute, of Hingham, but
did not matriculate, having determined
upon engaging in commercial pursuits.
He was trained in a Boston counting
room in 1785, visited and engaged in busi-
ness with his brother James in Santo
Domingo, and returned soon after as the
Boston agent of his brother's house. He
formed a partnership with his brother
James in Boston in 1792, and which con-
tinued until the latter's death in 1822, and
in the meantime established a house in
Canton, China, under the firm name of
Perkins & Company. He traveled in Eu-
rope in 1794-95. He was made president
of the Boston Branch of the Bank of the
United States in 1796, but resigned the
next year and was succeeded by George
Cabot. He was elected to the Massachu-
setts Senate in 1805, and for nearly twen-
ty years thereafter served either in that
or the other house of the Legislature.
He was a projector of the Quincy rail-
road, the first in the United States, in
1827, and retired from business with a
large fortune in 1838. He was prominent
in establishing the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Hospital, with an asylum for the in-
sane, and about 1812 donated his mansion
house on Pearl street, Boston, worth
$50,000, for a blind asylum, which was
the foundation of the Perkins Institution
for the Blind in 1853. The condition of
the gift was that $50,000 should be raised
as a fund for its support. With other
members of his family he gave more than
$60,000 to the Boston Athenaeum, and
was the largest contributor to the Mer-
cantile Library Association. He also
contributed liberally to the erection of the
Bunker Hill Monument and toward the
completion of the Washington Monu-
ment. In 1827 he pul)lished a small book
intended to teach the art of reading to the
blind, in 1834 the "Gospel of St. John, for
the Blind," and afterward several other
books for the blind. liis diaries of
[64

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

travel and autobiographical sketches were
partly preserved in Thomas G. Gary's
"Memoir of Thomas H. Perkins" (1856).
He married, in 1788, Sarah, daughter
of Simon Elliott. He died in Brookline,
Massachusetts, January 11, 1854.

JACKSON, James,

Physician, Litterateur.

James Jackson was born at Xewbury-
port, Massachusetts, October 3, 1777, son
of the Hon. Jonathan and Hannah
(Tracy) Jackson, and grandson of Ed-
ward and Dorothy (Quincy) Jackson, and
of Captain Patrick Tracy.

He was graduated at Harvard College,

A. B., 1796, and received the A. M. degree
in 1799. He taught a year at Leicester
Academy, and next became for a short
time clerk for his father, who was a gov-
ernment official. He then studied medi-
cine in Salem for two years and after-
ward in London, England, being at the
time a "dresser" at St. Thomas's Hos-
pital. He returned to Boston in 1800, and
entered the Harvard Medical School,
from which he received the degree of M.

B. in 1802, and that of M. D. in 1809. He
practiced medicine in Boston for a period
of sixty-six years, beginning in the year
1800. He became a member of the Mas-
sachusetts Medical Society in 1803, and
was for a number of years its president.
With Dr. John C. Watson he founded the
Asylum for the Insane at Somerville in
1810, and proposed the establishment of
what was afterward the Massachusetts
General Hospital, of which latter he was
the first physician from 1812 to 1835. He
was also one of the founders of the Bos-
ton Athenaeum and of the "Boston Medi-
cal and Surgical Journal." He was Her-
sey Professor of the Theory and Practice
of Physics in Harvard Medical School
from 1812 to 1836, and Professor Emer-
itus, 1836-67. He was an overseer of Har-

vard College, 1844-46; was president of
the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, a member of the American Phil-
osophical Society, and honorary member
of the Royal Chirurgical Society of Lon-
don, England. Pie was the author of:
"On the Brunonian System" (1809) ; "Re-
marks on the Medical Effects of Denti-
tion" (1812) ; "Eulogy on Dr. John War-
ren" (1815) ; "Syllabus of Lectures"
(1816); "Text-Book of Lectures" (1825-
27) ; "Memoir of James Jackson" (1834) ;
"Letters to a Young Physician" (1855),
and numerous papers in the "Boston
Medical and Surgical Journal" and in the
"Transactions of the State Medical So-
ciety." He died in Boston, Massachu-
setts, August 27, 1867.

PICKERING, John,

Philologist, Author.

John Pickering was born in Salem.
Massachusetts, February 7, 1777, Sun of
Timothy and Rebecca (White) Picker-
ing.

He was graduated from Harvard Col-
lege, A. B., 1796, and rec<iived the A. M.
degree in 1799. Pie studied law in Phil-
adelphia, meantime serving as secretary
to William Smith, United States Minis-
ter to Portugal, 1797-99, and to Rufus
King, United States Minister to Great
Britain, 1799-1801. He practiced law in
Salem, Massachusetts, from 1801 to 1827;
removed in the latter year to Boston,
where he was city solicitor until his resig-
nation in 1846. He was a representative
in the State Legislature, State Senator,
and member of the Senate committee that
revised and arranged the statutes of Mas-
sachusetts. He spoke fluently the Eng-
lish. French, Portugese, Italian, Spanish,
German, Romaic, and Greek and Latin
languages, and studied the Eastern lan-
guages and the Indian languages of
America. Fle declined the professorship

165

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of English and Oriental Languages, also
that of Greek Literature, at Plarvard, and
the office of provost of the University of
Pennsylvania. He was a member of the
board of overseers of Harvard College,
1818-24, and received the honorary degree
of LL. D. from Bowdoin College in 1822,
and from Plarvard College in 1835. He
was president of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences, and of the American
Oriental Society ; a member of the Lin-
naean Society of New England, the Amer-
ican Philosophical Society, the American
Antiquarian Society, the Society of the
Cincinnati, the Boston Society for the
Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, the Mas-
sachusetts Historical Society, the Royal
Society of Northern Antiquarians, the
French Society of Universal Statistics,
the Berlin Academy of Sciences, and the
Oriental Society of Paris ; an honorary
member of the Philadelphia Society for
the Promotion of Legal Knowledge ; and
a member of the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania, the Archaeological Society
of Greece, the New Hampshire Historical
Society, the Society for the Diffusion of
Useful Knowledge in China, the Michi-
gan Historical Society, and the Egyptian
Literary Association.

Mr. Pickering was the author of "A
Vocabulary or Collection of Words and
Phrases which have been supposed to be
peculiar to the United States of America"
(1814) ; "Memoir on the Adoption of a
Uniform Orthography for the Indian
Languages of North America" (1820) ;
"Review of the International McLeod
Question" (1825) ; "Comprehensive Dic-
tionary of the Greek Language" (1826) ;
"Lecture on the Alleged Uncertainty of
Law" (1830) ; "The Agrarian Laws"
(1833) ; "Memoir on the Inhabitants of
Lord North's Island" (1835) ; "Remarks
on the Indian Languages of North Amer-
ica" (1836). He died in Boston, Massa-
chusetts, May 5, 1846.

THAYER, Sylvanus,

Army 0£B.cer, Pliilantliropist.

General Sylvanus Thayer was born in
Braintree, Massachusetts, June 9, 1785.
He was graduated from Dartmouth Col-
lege in 1807, then entering the United
States Military Academy, from which he
graduated in 1808. He served on survey-
ing and engineering duty, 1808-09 ^^'^
1811-12, and was instructor in mathe-
matics at the Military Academy, 1809-11.
He was promoted to first lieutenant, July
I, 1812. and served in the War of 1812 as
chief engineer of the Northern Army
under General Henry Dearborn, and of
the right division under General Wade
Hampton. He was promoted to captain
in the corps of engineers, October 13,
1813; was chief engineer of the forces
under General Moses Porter in the de-
fences of Norfolk, Virginia, 1814-15, and
was brevetted major February 20, 1815,
for distinguished and meritorious ser-
vices. He was sent to Europe on profes-
sional duty, and examined fortifications,
schools and military establishments, and
studied the operations of the allied armies
before Paris, on the fall of Napoleon,
1815-17. He served as superintendent of
the United States Military Academy,
1817-33, ^"d raised the echool from its
elementary condition to one of the finest
military schools in the world. He was
brevetted lieutenant-colonel, March 3,
1823 ; promoted to major. May 24, 1828,
and brevetted colonel March 3, 1833, for
faithful service ten years in one grade.
He was superintending engineer of the
construction of Forts Warren and Inde-
pendence, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts,
1833-46; general superintendent of harbor
improvements and coast defences in
Maine and Massachusetts, 1836-43 ; was
promoted to lieutenant-colonel, July 7,
1838; was superintending engineer in
Massachusetts, 1846-57, and president of

166

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the board of engineers for coast defences,
1837-57. He was promoted to colonel,
March 3, 1863 ; brevetted brigadier-gen-
eral, United States army, May 31, 1863,
and retired June i, 1863.

General Thayer was elected a member
of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences in 1834, of the American Philo-
sophical Society in 1838, and of various
other scientific societies. The honorary
degree of A. M. was conferred on him by
Harvard College in 1825 ; that of LL. D.
by St. John's College, Alaryland, in 1830;
by Kenyon College, Ohio, in 1846; by
Dartmouth College in 1846; and by Har-
vard University in 1857. He gave $30,-
000 for the endowment of an academy at
Braintree, ^Massachusetts, and $32,000 for
a free library there ; and $40,000 for a
school of architecture and civil engineer-
ing at Dartmouth. He was the author of :
"Papers on Practical Engineering"
(1844). His statue at West Point, in-
scribed "Father of the Military Acad-
emy," was unveiled June 11, 1883. He
died in South Braintree, Massachusetts,
September 7, 1872.

PEIRCE, Benjamin,

liitteratenr, Legislator.

Benjamin Peirce was born in Salem,
Massachusetts, September 30, 1778, son
of Jerahmael (or Jerathmiel) and Sarah
(Ropes) Peirce, grandson of Jerahmael,
of Charlestown, and Rebecca (Hurd)
Peirce, great-grandson of Benjamin, of
Charlestown, and Hannah (Bowers)
Peirce, great-great-grandson of Robert,
of Woburn, and Mary (Knight) Peirce,
and great-great-great-grandson of John
Pers, weaver, and Elizabeth Pers, who
emigrated with four children in 1637 from
Norwich, England, to Watertown, Massa-
chusetts.

Benjamin Peirce was graduated from
Harvard College with the highest honors

of his class, A. B., 1801, A. M., 1804. He
entered business with his father in Salem,
as a member of the firm of Peirce &
Waite, having trade with China. He was
a representative from Salem in the Gen-
eral Court for several years, and State
Senator in 181 1. He was librarian of
Harvard College, 1826-31, and prepared
a "Catalogue of the Library of Harvard
University" (four volumes, 1830-31), and
"A History of Harvard University from
its foundation in the year 1636 to the
period of the American Revolution"

(1833).

He was married, December 11, 1803,
to Lydia Ropes, daughter of Ichabod
and Lydia (Ropes) Nichols, of Salem.
He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
July 26, 183 1.

BROWN, John,

Soldier of tlie Revolution, Explorer.

Colonel John Brown was born in San-
disfield. Massachusetts, October 19, 1744,
his parents having removed from Con-
necticut. After preparing for college, he
entered Yale College, where he graduated
in 1771, and then studied law, subse-
quently practicing his profession at Provi-
dence. Rhode Island, and Johnstown,
New York. In 1773 he removed to Pitts-
field, Massachusetts. He took an early
stand against the oppressive acts of the
British government, and expressed his
sentiments without reserve. He ,was a
m^an of original views and determined
character, and these traits, taken together
with his commanding presence, gave him
great prominence. In 1774 he was chosen
by the State Committee of Massachusetts
to go to Canada and endeavor to incite a
revolt there. Lender the pretense of being
a buyer of horse, he made two journeys
to Canada, and after several times escap-
ing capture, returned home. In 1775 he
was made a delecrate to the Provincial

167

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Congress. The battle of Lexington hav-
ing brought matters to a crisis, an attempt
was made to surprise and capture Fort
Ticonderoga, which was effected May
loth, under the leadership of Benedict
z^rnold, and John Brown was a member
of this expedition. Later he was a mem-
ber of the General Congress at Philadel-
phia. Later he went with Ethan Allen
and Montgomery on the Canada expedi-
tion. Brown, who had been commission-
ed major, joined Arnold in front of Que-
bec. On August 6, 1776, he was promot-
ed to lieutenant-colonel, by act of Con-
gress, and in December he commanded
a regiment of militia to Fort Independ-
ence. After the defeat of the Americans
at Bennington, Vermont, in the follow-
ing year, he was sent against one of the
outposts of Fort Ticonderoga, which he
captured, releasing one hundred Ameri-
can prisoners, capturing two hundred and
ninety-three British soldiers, and also
seizing the landing at Mount Hope, with
its blockhouse, several bateaux, an armed
sloop, some cannon and a quantity of
stores. Not long afterward, he resigned,
largely on account of his strong feeling
against Benedict Arnold, whom he ac-
cused of making forced exactions from
the Canadians for his own personal bene-
fit, and asserting that he would yet prove
a traitor. In 1778 Colonel Brown was a
member of the General Court. Two years
later he conducted an expedition up the
Mohawk river, for the relief of General
Schuyler, but fell into an ambuscade, and
was killed, with forty-five of his men, on
his birthday, October 19, 1780.

GARDNER, John Lane,

Distinguislied Soldier.

General John Lane Gardner was born
in Boston, Massachusetts. August i,
1793. He served in Canada under Gen-

eral James Wilkinson in the War of 1812,
as lieutenant in an infantry regiment, and
was wounded at La Cole's Mill, March
30, 1814. He served as assistant quarter-
master-general with the rank of captain
from 1820 to 1830, and was brevetted ma-
jor of the Fourth Artillery in 1833, for
faithful services. In the campaign against
the Seminoles he was commended for
"activity, skill and intrepidity" at the
battle of Wahoo Swamp, November 21,
1832. He was promoted to major in
1845. ^^ the Mexican War he commanded
his regiment, and was brevetted lieu-
tenant-colonel for gallantry in action at
Cerro Gordo, April 18, 1847, ^^''^ colo-
nel for like service at Contreras, Au-
gust 20. He was in command of the Dis-
trict of Florida, 1849-50 ; was promoted
to lieutenant-colonel in 1859; and in i860
was in command of the forts in Charles-
ton harbor. South Carolina.

When the State of South Carolina was
making preparations for seceding from
the Union, he was quartered in Fort
Moultrie, with less than fifty men. He
obtained provisions for six months with-
out the knowledge of the War Depart-
ment, and announced to the authorities
of the State of South Carolina who de-
manded the possession of the fort, that
he would defend it to the last extremity.
Secretary of War Floyd then ordered him
to report to General David E. Twiggs in
Texas, and the command of the fort de-
volved on Major Robert Anderson, who
was in command until the reduction of
Fort Sumter. Lieutenant-Colonel Gard-
ner was promoted to colonel of the Sec-
ond Artillery. July 23, 1861, and in 1862
was retired at his own request, having
been disabled for active service. He then
served on recruiting service, and in 1865
was brevetted brigadier-general in the
United States army for "long and faith-
ful services."

[68

I

Guil.Pyno'honiAimg Effigies
Dolin. Anno Dom 1657

^^7/

tr^77?, -^yncO?

Ty

n C/7C7

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

He was married, October 6, 1825, to
Caroline, daughter of Charles Washing-
ton and Catharine (Roberts) Goldsbor-
ough. He died at Wilmington, Delaware,
February 19, 1869.

PYNCHON, Vs^illiam,

Lieader Among Colonists.

William Pinchon, or Pynchon. as the
name is generally indexed and according
to his autograph, bvit spelled "Pinchon'' in
all the colonial records of Massachusetts,
was born at Springfield, Essex. England,
about 1590, son of John and (Or-
chard) Pynchon. the father, a native of
Wales, and sherifif of London, 1532.

He was a man of wealth, had been edu-
cated at Cambridge, and became inter-
ested in the American colonies, being one
of the original patentees of the colony of
Massachusetts Bay in New England. In
1629 a charter was granted to the pat-
entees and their associates in England,
establishing a corporation and making
the associates a body politic, with power
to establish a government over a pro-
posed colony to be formed in the new
world, the laws so created to be "not
repugnant to the laws of England," and
giving the colonists the privilege to "re-
pulse and exclude" all persons whom they
should believe to be undesirable as set-
tlers. The patentees met and elected
Matthew Craddock governor, having
previously planned a form of government,
and in 1628 they sent John Endicott, one
of the patentees, to Salem, with a party
of Puritans, with power to govern the
colony in subordination to the governor
and company in London. Craddock de-
clining to serve on October 30. 1629, they
elected John W^inthrop governor, and
from this time W^illiam Pynchon was a
regular attendant and adviser at the
meetings in London, and was one of the
eighteen assistants to the governor. He

is named in the charter of the colony both
as a patentee and assistant, the charter
having been granted to the council estab-
lished at Plymouth, in the county of
Devon, on November 3rd, in the eight-
eenth year of the reign of James, and the
instrument was signed by Walseley,
March 4, 1628-29, and he is recorded as
being present at the meeting held May
II. 1629. and also at the meeting of assist-
ants held at Southampton, March 18,
1629-30, but, his name not appearing at
the meeting on the "Arabella," he evi-
dently came to New England by another
ship. He was chosen assistant at the
first General Court held at Charles
Towne, August 25, 1630, and he was
treasurer, 1632-34; assisted in founding
Roxborough; and was prominent in or-
ganizing the First Church in that town.
He was fined for non-attendance at the
meeting of the General Court, Septem-
ber, 1630. He engaged in the fur trade
with the Indians, and had a great control
over the savages, who during his stay in
Roxborough treated him with great re-
spect. He was a large owner of the stock
of the colony, and was granted valuable
patents for extensive tracts of land in the
Connecticut Valley by Charles I. The
General Court, at a meeting held March
3, 1635-36, granted a commission to Wil-
liam Pynchon "to govern the people of
Connecticut for the space of one year, in
view of the great removal of our long
friends, neighbors, freemen and members
of the town of Newtowne, Dorchester.
Watertown and other places, who are re-
solved to transplant themselves and their
estates unto the River of Connecticut,
there to reside and inhabit." The com-
missioners appointed by the General
Court, besides William Pynchon, gov-
ernor, were Robert Ludlowe, Esq., John
Steele, William Swaine. Henry Smith,
William Phelps, William Andrew War-
ner, and three commissioners, or the

169

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

"greater part of them," were given defi-
nite powers. His last appearance at the
General Court as a citizen of Roxborough
was September 8, 1636. He led his small
company, through the wilderness to Aga-
wam river, opposite where it unites with
the Connecticut, and there founded the
town of Agawam, and proceeded to make
the colonists comfortable and happy in
their new surroundings. His first care
was for the church. He understood in
1638 that his settlement was under the
jurisdiction and within the territory of
Connecticut Colony, and he was a dele-
gate to the legislature of that colony, but
his views did not agree with the major-
ity of the governing body, and he rebelled
and withdrew from that government and
asked the General Court of Massachu-
setts Bay to reassume jurisdiction. To
this end the General Court of June 2,
1641, gave him the following commis-
sion:

Its now hereby ordered that WilH. Pinchon
Gent, for this yeare shall hereby have full power
& authority to govern the inhabitants at Spring-
field & to heare & determine all causes and
ofTences both civil & criminall that reach not to
life, limb and banishment, according to the laws
established, provided that in matters of weight
or difficulty, it shall bee lawfull for any party to
appeal to the Court of Assistants at Boston, so
as they psecute the same according to the order
of the court; provided also that these tryalls bee
by the oathes of 6 men untill they shall have a
greater number of inhabitants for that service.

The same court appointed him, with
his son-in-law, Mr. Smith, to set out five
hundred acres of land, granted to Sir
Rich. Saltonstall, Knight, below Spring-
field, if it fell within his patent. He was
the principal owner of the patent, and his
estates embraced thousands of acres, and
he erected saw and grist mills and en-
couraged agriculture and the building of
houses and barns and clearing the rich
lands. He was elected assistant by the

General Court, and took the oath of office
May 14, 1644, and again in 1646-47-48-49,
and in May, 1649, ^^^ excused from fur-
ther attendance at the General Court in
Boston for that session, in order to carry
out duties devolving on him in Spring-
field. Pie was again chosen assistant May
22, 1650, when Thomas Dudley, Esq., was
elected governor, and John Endicott,
Esq., deputy governor, and he is recorded
as William Pinchon, Esq., Gent., the first
assistant named. The same year he vis-
ited England, and while there passed
through the press his much discussed
book, "The Meritorious Price of Man's
Redemption," in which he controverted
the Calvinistic view of the atonement.
He brought copies of this book to Bos-
ton and it was regularly published in Lon-
don. The ministers in Boston and Salem,
on reading the book, were shocked at its
contents, and loudly condemned it and
laid its contents, as interpreted by them,
before the General Court, and it was pro-
nounced heretical and dangerous, and the
author was summoned to appear forth-
with and either own or disclaim the
authorship. The most intelligent and im-
partial account of the proceedings of the
General Court in the matter will be gained
through a transcript of the proceedings
which will immediately follow, the writer
of this article inserting here the fact that
the orders of the court were fully carried
out, and a copy of the book was publicly
burned in the Market Place, Boston, and
that the book has disappeared from cir-
culation in its original form, only three
copies being known to exist, one being in
the British Museum, one copy was owned
by Mr. H. S. Sheldon (deceased), of Suf-
field, Connecticut, and one by a private
book collector in New York City ; the
identity of this owner we have been un-
able to discover. At a meeting of the
General Court of May 26, 1652, following
this incident, was passed an act making

170

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the denial of the Holy Scriptures, as
being the word of God, a crime punish-
able by death or banishment :

General Court of the Colonj' of the Massa-
chusetts Bay in New England, October 15, 1650.

The Court having had the sight of a book
lately printed under the name of William Pin-
chon of New England, Gentlemen, do judge meet
first that a protest be drawn fully and duly, to
satisfy all men that this court is so far from
approving the same as that they do utterly dis-
like it and detest it as eronius and dangerous;
secondly that it be sufficiently answered by one
of the reverend elders; thirdly that the said
William Pinchon, gent., be summoned to appear
before the next general court to answer for the
same; fourthly, that the said book now brought
over, be burned by the executioner, or such
other as the magistrate shall appoint (the forty
being willing to do it) in the Market Place in
Boston, on the morrow, immediately after the
lecture.

October 16, 1650. The General Court now
sitting at Boston in New England this i6th of
October, 1650: There was brought to our hands
a book written (as was herein subscribed) by
W'illiam Pinchon, in New England, Gent, enti-
tled "The Meritorious Price of Man's Redemp-
tion, Justification, Etc." Clearing it from some
common errors, etc., which book was brought
over either by a ship a few days ago since, and
containing many errors and herecies, generally
condemned by all orthodox writers that we have
met v.'ith. We have judged it meet and neces-
sary (for vindication of the truth so far as in us
lyeth) as also to keep and preserve these people
here committed to our trust and care, in the true
knowledge and faith of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and of our redemtion by him, as likewise for the
clearing of ourselves to our Christian brethren,
and others in England where this book was
printed and is dispersed, hereby to protest our
innocency, as being neither parties nor privy to
the writing, composing, printing or divulging
thereof, but that on the contrary, we detest and
abhor many of the opinions and assertions
therein as false, erroneous and heretical, yea,
and whatsoever is contained in the said book
which are contrary to the Scripture of the Old
and New Testament, and the general received
doctrines of the Orthodox churches, extant since
the time of the last and best reformation, and for
proof of our sincere and plain meaning therein,
we do hereby condemn the said book to be

burned in Market Place in Boston by the Mar-
shall, which was done accordingly, and do pro-
pose with all convenient speed to convent the
same Mr. William Pinchon, before authority to
find out whether the said William Pinchon will
own the said book as his or not, which, if he
doeth. we propose, God assisting, to proceed
with him according to his demerits, unless he
retract the same and give full satisfaction, both
here and by some second v^riting to be printed
and dispersed in England. All which we thought
needful for the reasons above alleged, to make
known by this short protestation and declara-
tion. Also we further propose, with what con-
venient speed we may, to appoint some fit person
to make particular answer to all material and
controversal passages in the same book, and to
publish the same in prints, that so the errors and
falsities therein may be fully discovered, the
truths cleared, and the minds of those who live
and seek after the truth confirmed therein.

It is ordered that the declaration published
yesterda}', concerning the book subscribed by
the name of William Pinchon of New England,
Gent, shall be agreed by the secretary and sent
to England, to be printed there.

It is ordered that Mr. John Newton of Ips-
wich be entrusted to answer Mr. Pinchon's book.

It is ordered that Mr. William Pinchon shall
be summoned to appear before the next General
Court of Elections, on the first day of their sit-
ting, to give his answer to the book printed and
published under the name of William Pinchon
in New England, Gent, entitled, "The Merito-
rious Price of Redemption, Justification, etc.,
and not to depart w'ithout leave from the Court."
The contradictory members of the General
Court who voted against the declaration made
October 15, 1650, were: William Hawthorne,
Speaker of the Deputies; Jos. Hills, Henry Bar-
tholomew, Richard Walker, Edward Holyoke,
Stephen Kingsley, and in the session of the
Court, October 16, 1650, after passing the decla-
ration and protest of the General Court of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England, resolved
by the unanimous vote by the Court that the
reasons mentioned by the contradiscenting
brethren of the Deputies should not be recorded
or kept in filem, thus disrespecting the law as it
stood in regard to records of this Court.

On May 8, 1651: Mr. William Pinchon, being
summoned to appear before the General Court
according to their order, the last session, made
his appearance before the Court, and being
demanded whether that book which goes under
his name, and there presented to him, was his

171

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

or not; he answered for the sul)stance of the
book, he owned it to be his.

Wherefore the Court, out of their tender
respect for him offered him Hberty to confer with
all the reverend elders now present, or such of
them as he should desire and choose. At last he
took it into consideration, an.d returned his mind
at the present in writing under his hand, viz.:
According to the Court's advice, I have con-
ferred with the Reverend Mr. Cotton, Mr. Nor-
rice and Mr. Norton, about some prints of the
greatest consequence in my book, and I hoped
have so explained my meaning to them as to
take ofif the worst construction, and it hath
pleased God to let me see that I have not spoken
in my book so fully of the prize and merit of
Christ's sufferings as I should have done; for in
my book, I call them but trials of his obedience,
yet intended thereby to amplify and exalt the
mediatorial obedience of Christ as the only meri-
torious price of man's redemption. But now at
present I am much inclined to think that his
sufferings were appointed by God for a further
end, namely, as the due punishment of our sins
by way of satisfaction to divine justice for man's
redemption.

Subscribed your servant in all dutiful respects,
Boston, May 9. 1651. William Pinchon.

The Court finding by Mr. Pinchon's writings
given to the Court that through the blessing of
God on the pains of the reverend elders to con-
vince him of the errors in his book that he is in
a hopeful way to give satisfaction, and therefore
at his request, judge it meet to give him liberty,
respecting the present troubles of his family, to
return home some day, the next week, if he
pleases, and that he shall have Mr. Norton's
answer to his book with him, to consider thereof,
that so at the next session of the court, being
the 14th of October next, he may give all due
satisfaction as it is hoped for and desired, to
which session he is hereby enjoyned to make his
personal appearance for that end.

For as much as there is a present necessity
that some care be taken respecting the care of
Springfield, they being at present destitute of
any magistrates or others to put issue to such
causes and differences as shall or may arise
among them, upon their request it is ordered by
this Court and the authority thereof, th.at Mr.
nenry Smith of Springfield aforesaid for this
year ensuing, or till the Court shall take furtlicr
order, shall hereby have full power and author-
ity to govern the inhabitants of Springfield, and
to hear and determine all cases and offences,
both civil and criminal, that read not life, liml)

or banishment, according to the laws here
established; provided that in all matters of
weight and difficulty it shall be lawful for any
party to appeal to the Court of Assistants at
Boston, so that they prosecute the same accord-
ing to the order of the Court; provided also that
their trials by the oaths of six men if twelve
cannot be had for that service; and the said Mr.
Smith hath power to give oaths, and send con-
stables as shall be legally chosen, and to examine
witnesses, as any magistrate may do. This was
delivered to him, and he took his oath accord-
ingly.

Mr. Henry Smith, of Springfield, being
a member of this cotirt, upon his request,
"having urgent occasion to return home is
dismissed froin further attendance or the
service of this court for this session.

On October 24, 1651, the judgment of
the court in Mr. Pinchon's case was sus-
pended to May next, and it was also
ordered that the answer to Mr. Pinchon's
book, written by Mr. John Newton,
should be sent to England to be printed.

The church in Springfield was greatly
disturbed by the action of the General
Court and the ministers of Boston, and
Colonel Pinchon, feeling himself unjustly
prosecuted, and evidently disgusted by
the action of his longtime colleagues in
the boards of assistants, he decided not to
appear before the body again, after hav-
ing been unsuccessfully called in Octo-
ber, 1 65 1, and again in May, 1652, and
with his wife, his minister, the Rev. John
Moxon, his son-in-law, Henry Smith, and
jjrobably his daughter Anne, he arranged
his affairs in Springfield, turning the man-
agement of his large estate over to his
son John, and, bidding farewell to his
people, who truly loved him for his kind
consideration for him in the past, and
especially for preserving the peace with
the Indians that they had thus far en-
joyed, he departed from Springfield and
the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in
v^epteiTiber, 1652, and took ship for Eng-
land.

172

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

On October 19, 1652, his son, John
Pinchon, together with Elizur Holyoke
and John Parker, were sworn in as a
board of commissioners to administer the
government of the town of Springfield,
and these commissioners were empower-
ed by the General Court on May 18, 1653,
to administer the freeman's oath, and at
the same time they confirmed John Pin-
chon as lieutenant and Elizur Holyoke as
ensign in the local militia, and deferred
the confirmation of Henry Smith as cap-
tain until his return from Europe.

On reaching London, Colonel Pinchon
made his home in Wraisbury, near Wind-
sor, where he passed his closing years in
the employment of a handsome income
from his American estate. He devoted
his time after his return to England to
theological writing, and he lived in en-
tire conformity with the Church of Eng-
land. His second book, "The Jewish
Synagogue," was published in England
in 1652, followed by "How the Eirst Sab-
bath was Ordained," 1654; "The Meri-
torious Price of Man's Redemption, or
Christ's Satisfaction Discussed and Ex-
plained" (1655), which was a rejoinder to
the book of the Rev. John Norton on the
same subject, published in London by
order of the General Court of the Colony
of Massachusets Bay, and a copy of w4iich
rejoinder is preserved in Harvard Univer-
sity library. His last book, "The Cove-
nant of Nature Made with Adam," was
published in London in 1662.

William Pynchon married Anna, daugh-
ter of William Andrews, of Twiwell,
Northamptonshire. She died in Rox-
borough in 1630. Other members of his
family were : John, born in Springfield,
England, in 1621 ; Anne, who became the
wife of Henry Smith, who became a
prominent figure in the enterprises car-
ried on in the Connecticut river valley ;
Margaret, who after her arrival married
William Davis, a druggist in the town of

Boston ; Mary, who married Captain
Elizur Holyoke. Before leaving Rox-
borough he married, as his second wife,
Frances Sanford, of that town. She died
on his English estate at Wraisbury, Eng-
land, October 10, 1657, and he survived
her five years, the date of his death being
October 29, 1662.

SHERMAN, Roger,

Signer of Declaration of Independence.

Roger Sherman was born in Newton.
Massachusetts, April 19, 1721, son of
William and Mehetabel (Wellington)
Sherman, grandson of Joseph and Eliza-
beth (Winship) Sherman and of Benja-
min and Elizabeth Wellington, and great-
grandson of Captain John and Martha
(Palmer) Sherman (or Shearman), who
emigrated from Dedham, Essex county,
England, and settled in Watertown, Mas-
sachusetts, about 1634.

The parents of Roger Sherman re-
moved to Stoughton (now Canton), Mas-
sachusetts, in 1723, and he worked on the
farm and learned the shoemaker's trade
under his father. He gained a fair knowl-
edge in various branches of science by
studying while at work, doubtless being
assisted by the Rev. Samuel Dunbar, pas-
tor of the church at Stoug-hton. His
father died in 1741, leaving him the sole
support of his mother and the younger
children, and in 1743 they removed to
New ]\Iilford, Connecticut, where he fol-
lowed his trade and conducted a store
with his brothers. The General Assem-
bly appointed him surveyor of lands for
the county of New Haven in 1745, and
of Litchfield county in 1752, and was also
employed in surveying land for private
individuals in New Milford. In 1752,
when the New England colonies were
flooded with irredeemable currency, he
wrote and issued a pamphlet in which he
pointed out the dangers attending this

^73

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

issue of paper money, and subsequently,
when a member of the Constitutional
Convention, he introduced and moved the
adoption of the clause that "no State can
make anything but gold and silver a legal
tender." He became one of the largest
investors in real estate in his town, tilled
various town offices, and was admitted
to the Litchfield county bar in February,
1754. He represented New Milford in
the General Assembly in 1755 and 1758-
61, was justice of the peace, 1755-59, and
a justice of the quorum and of the Court
of Common Pleas, 1759-61.

Roger Sherman removed to New
Haven, Connecticut, in June, 1761, from
whence he was a representative in the
Legislature, 1764-66, a member of the
Senate, 1766-85, justice of the peace and
of the quorum, and judge of the Superior
Court, 1766-89. His activity as a patriot
began with the efforts of the crown to
enforce the Stamp Act. He was a mem-
ber of the committee to consider the
claims of the settlers near the Susque-
hanna river in 1774. He was a delegate
from Connecticut to the Continental Con-
gress, 1774-81, and 1783-84, serving on
the most important committees, including
that of June 11, 1776, to draft the Declara-
tion of Independence, of which he was a
signer; that of June 12, 1776, to prepare
the Articles of Confederation ; that of the
Connecticut Council of Safety, 1777-79
and T782, and that of the convention of
17S7 that reported the Connecticut Com-
promise. In the controversy that arose
in the Continental Congress regarding
the rights of States to vote irrespective
of population, Mr. Sherman proposed that
the vote should be taken once in propor-
tion to population, and once by States,
and that every measure should have a ma-
jority. This principle, eleven years after-
ward. Mr. Sherman, then a member of
the Constitutional Convention, presented
to that body, and it was framed into the

Federal Constitution, and was known as
the Connecticut Compromise. It was not
until he had made several speeches in its
favor that he gained any attention, when
a long and bitter debate followed, and it
was finally referred to a committee of
which he was made a member. After the
adoption of the compromise, he moved
the provision that no amendment be made
that would deprive any State of its equal
vote without its consent. It is agreed by
all historians that this compromise, for
which Mr. Sherman is solely responsible,
saved the Constitutional Convention from
breaking up without accomplishing any-
thing, and made possible a union of the
States and a national government. Roger
Sherman was the only delegate in the
Continental Congress who signed all four
of the great State papers which were
signed by all the delegates of all the colo-
nies, namely : the Declaration of 1774, the
Articles of Confederation, the Declara-
tion of Independence, and the Federal
Constitution. He revised the statute laws
of Connecticut with Judge Richard Law
in 1783. He was chosen the first mayor
of New Haven in 1784, to prevent a Tory
from being chosen, and the Legislature
then provided that the mayor should hold
his office during the pleasure of the Gen-
eral Assembly, and under this act Mr.
Sherman remained mayor until his death.
He was a delegate from Connecticut to
the Constitutional Convention at Phila-
delphia in May, 1787. He was also active
in the State Convention in procuring the
ratification of the constitution, and wrote
a series of papers on that subject which
materially influenced the public mind in
its favor, signed "A Citizen of New
Haven." Fie was a representative in the
First Congress, 1789-91, where he favored
an address introduced by the Quakers
against the slave trade. Fie was elected
to the United States Senate to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Wil-

74

wm'SHMiJi. Ig-:^i^s^lJ'ISlIao

Ttom the original piclare "b'g Snutiert. in po-i session
of tfic MA';=iflct'in''ieU'i TrTiTnnral fiotietij

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Ham S. Johnson and served from October
24, 1791, until his death. He was treas-
urer of Yale College, 1765-76, and re-
ceived the honorary degree of Master of
Arts from that college in 1768. He fur-
nished the astronomical calculations for
a series of almanacs, published in New
York and New England, which bore his
name.

He was married, November 17, 1749,
to Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon Joseph
Hartwell, of Stoughton, and (second)
May 12, 1763, at Danvers, to Rebecca,
daughter of Benjamin Prescott, of Salem,
Massachusetts. He died in New Haven,
Connecticut, July 23, 1793.

BASS, Edward,

Divine of Revolutionary Period.

Edward Bass, first bishop of Massa-
chusetts, and seventh in succession in the
American episcopate, was born at Dor-
chester, Massachusetts, November 23,
1726. Pie was graduated from Harvard
College in 1744, and for several years
occupied himself as a teacher. He was
licensed as a Congregationalist preacher,
but in 1752 he accepted the tenets of the
Established Church, and in May of that
year was ordained deacon at the chapel
of Fulham Palace, by the bishop of Lon-
don, and received his ordination as a
priest at the hands of the same prelate,
May 24, 1752.

He was sent as a missionary to New-
buryport, Massachusetts, by the Vener-
able Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in Foreign Parts, and became in-
cumbent of St. Paul's Church. At the
opening of the Revolutionary War, in
deference to the public sentiment, he
omitted the prayer for the King, but when
the Continental Congress requested that
clergymen no longer use the royal col-
lects, he closed his church for twelve
months, and did not open it even then

until he was disturbed by the sight of his
congregation gradually going over to the
dissenters. He refused to read the Dec-
laration of Independence in church, called
himself a Tory, and declared himself to
be inimical to the liberties of America,
but notwithstanding his efforts to make
his action clear with the society, his past
due stipend was refused and his name
dropped from the roll. Finding him
driven from the support of the society,
his friends in America nominated him for
bishop. The first election was not recog-
nized, but after another attempt he was
consecrated on May 7, 1797, first bishop
of Massachusetts, by Bishops White,
Provoost and Claggett. His jurisdiction
was later extended to New Hampshire,
Rhode Island and Vermont. Fie was
awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity
by the Pennsylvania University in 1789.
He published several sermons and ad-
dresses, and a pamphlet on his connec-
tion with the Venerable Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts. He died at Newburyport, Massa-
chusetts, September 10. 1803.

FANEUIL, Peter,

Founder of Faneuil Hall, Boston.

Faneuil Hall, probably the best known
building in the United States, is known
as the "Cradle of American Liberty." Its
historic walls have frequently resounded
with the eloquent utterances of patriots
and statesmen whose lives have obtained
for them deathless fame. Its name has
come to be synonymous with freedom
and the advancement of humanity, and it
has proved itself peculiarly worthy of its
dedication "to the interests of truth, of
justice, of honor, and of liberty."

Peter Faneuil, founder of Faneuil Hall,
was born at New Rochelle, New York, in
1700, and died in Boston, March 3, 1743.
He was of Huguenot descent. On the

175

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1690,
his father and uncle, Benjamin and An-
drew Faneuil, came to New York, and
founded the settlement of New Rochelle,
thus perpetuating the name of their na-
tive place in France. A year after their
coming-, they removed to Boston, where
they established a mercantile business
which proved to be lucrative. Peter
Faneuil also became a merchant, and one
of the most influential citizens of Boston.
As early as 171 7 the people of Boston
mooted the establishment of a market,
with regular sale days and established
prices. This plan was defeated year after
year by the country people, who pre-
ferred the old method of selling their
products from door to door, and to the
highest bidder. As a consequence, in
stormy weather the people of the town
frequently suffered for want of food,
while the poorer folk were utterly desti-
tute. Finally, in 1734, the town meeting
made an appropriation of £700, and a
market was opened, but within four
years, owing to the hostility of the
country people the buildings were either
torn down or diverted to other uses, and
the town meeting could never be per-
suaded to make another appropriation for
a new building. In order to end the dis-
sension and provide a market, in 1740
Peter Faneuil offered to build a market
house and give it to the town, but so
strong was the country opposition that
his off'er was accepted by a majority of
only seven votes, and with the provision
that hucksters should continue their old
house to house marketing should they so
choose.

Mr. Faneuil spent two years in build-
ing what was considered the most
spacious and elegant edifice in P)Oston.
The first floor was given to market stalls,
while the upper floor was used for a town
hall and public offices. The hall was
opened to the public in 1742; the next

year its donor died, and the first use to
which it was put was for the delivery of
a funeral oration in honor of Mr. Faneuil,
by the famous schoolmaster, John Lovell,
who pronounced the building "incompar-
ably the greatest benefaction ever yet
known to our western shores." As a
market, the building was a failure, the
hucksters persisting in their old methods.
Late in 1760, two months after the event,
word came of the death of King George
II., and on December 30th the accession
of his grandson was celebrated by the
blare of trumpets from the balcony of
Faneuil Flail, and in the evening a state
dinner in the town hall in the building,
this being the last time that there was in
the colony a public recognition of the ac-
cession of a king of England. In 1761 the
building was burned, only the walls being
left standing. It was at once rebuilt, and
was the scene of many famous meetings
before and during the Revolutionary War.
In 1768 the citizens held a meeting there
to consider means of protecting them-
selves against the British troops then re-
cently landed. While they were in ses-
sion, the governor declared their meeting
a "very high offense," and ordered them
to disperse, but met with a refusal. Later,
a British regiment was quartered in the
building several weeks, the people having
refused to have the soldiers billetted upon
them. From that time forward the hall
was used for patriotic meetings, and with
peculiar advantages in the time of the
Civil War.

HUTCHINSON, Israel,

Soldier of the devolution.

Israel Hutchinson was born in Dan-
\ers. Massachusetts, in November, 1727,
son of Elisha and Ginger (Porter) Hutch-
inson, and a descendant in the fifth gen-
eration from Richard Hutchinson, who
came to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1634.

176

FANEUIL HALL

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

His father was a member of the first
board of the Governor's Council of Mas-
sachusetts Bay.

Israel Hutchinson saw military service
as sergeant in a company of rangers in
1757 in the colonial wars against the
allied forces of the French and Indians,
and was one of the non-commissioned
officers who led the Massachusetts militia
to the defence of Ticonderoga and Lake
George in 1758. For his gallantry in
these sanguinary engagements he was
promoted to the captaincy of his com-
pany, and with it joined the forces of
General Wolfe in the assault on the
Heights of Abraham, at Quebec, Septem-
ber 13, 1759, which saved to England the
colonies of America.

When the British soldiers fired upon
the people of Lexington, April 19. 1775.
the news reached Danvers at nine o'clock
in the morning, and by eleven o'clock
Captain Hutchinson had sixty minute-
men gathered ready to intercept the Brit-
ish troops on their return to Boston.
This they did at West Cambridge, where
from behind breastworks improvised from
bundles of shingles, Captain Hutchin-
son's company were attacked by a flank-
ing party of the main British column, and
eight of their number fell, martyrs to the
cause of American liberty, and on the
morning of April 20, 1775, the bodies of
the slain were taken back to Danvers.
For his conduct at West Cambridge he
was on May 3, 1775, made lieutenant-
colonel of the Nineteenth Massachusetts
Regiment, Colonel John Mansfield, and
with the regiment joined the American
militia assembled at Cambridge. At sun-
set, June 16, 1775, Lieutenant-Colonel
Hutchinson marched from Cambridge
Green with one thousand men, under
Colonel Prescott. and fought in the battle
of Bunker Hill. He was engaged in the
siege of Boston under Washington, as
colonel of the Twenty-seventh Regiment,

MASS— 12 I

and accompanied the commander-in-chief
to Long Island, where his men manned
the boats in the retreat across the East
river to New York, and the regiment was
a part of the retreating army through
New Jersey and across the Delaware. He
returned to Danvers in 1777, where he
was a miller up to the time of his death.
He represented his town in the General
Court of the commonwealth for nineteen
years, and was a member of the Gov-
ernor's Council two years, besides serv-
ing in other public capacities.

He was married, in 1747, to Anna Cue,
by whom he had four children ; he was
married (second) in 1759, to Mehitable
Putnam. He died at Danversport, Mas-
sachusetts, March 16, 181 1. A granite
monument was erected to his memory,
on the site of his home at Danversport,
in 1896, and inscribed with a record of his
militarv and civil life.

NIXON, John,

Revolutionary Soldier.

John Nixon was born in Framingham,
Massachusetts, March i, 1727, son of
Christopher and Mary (Sever) Nixon,
and grandson of Joseph Sever. Chris-
topher Nixon came to Framingham early
in 1724.

John Nixon joined the troops under
Sir William Pepperell in 1745 in the ex-
pedition against Cape Breton and in the
capture of Louisburg. He served in the
colonial army, 1745-75, except 1752-55,
when he was at his home in Framingham.
He was a lieutenant in Captain E. New-
ell's company in the expedition to Crown
Point, 1755-56. Commissioned captain in
1756, he took part in the defence of Fort
William Henry, Lake George, 1756; com-
m.anded a company in Colonel T. Rug-
gles' regiment, at Half Moon, 1758, and
was captain in command of one hundred
and eight men, 1761-62. He led a com-

77

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

pany of minute-men at the battle of Lex-
ington, and commanded a regiment at the
battle of Bunker Hill, where he was seri-
ously wounded. He was promoted to
brigadier-general in the Continental army,
August 9, 1776, and commanded the
forces stationed at Governor's Island in
New York Harbor. In the battle of Still-
water he commanded the First Massa-
chusetts Regiment, in the army of Gen-
eral Horatio Gates. He resigned his com-
mission in the Continental army, Septem-
ber 12, 1780, owing to ill health occa-
sioned by his wounds.

He was married (first) February 7,
1754, to Thankful, daughter of Joseph
Berry, and (second) February 5, 1778, to
Hannah (Drury) Gleason, widow of Cap-
tain Micajah Gleason and daughter of
Josiah Drury. She died September 26,
1831. General Nixon died in Middlebury,
Vermont, March 24, 181 5.

HEATH, William,

Revolutionary Soldier and Statesman.

William Heath was born in Roxbury,
Massachusetts, March 7, 1737. He lived
on the farm originally settled upon by his
first ancestor in America in 1636. He
was early in life a student of military
science, and joined the militia, in which
he rose to the rank of captain, and then
colonel of the Suffolk regiment. In 1770
he commanded the Ancient and Honor-
able Artillery Company of Boston, and
prided himself as being "fully acquainted
with the theory of war in all its branches
and duties, from the private soldier to the
commander-in-chief."

He was a member of the General As-
sembly in 1 76 1, and again in 1771-74; was
a member of the Committee of Corre-
spondence and Safety, and a member of
the Provincial Congress of Massachu-
setts, 1774-75. On December 8, 1774, he
was commissioned provincial brigadier-

general, and was the only general ofiicer
on the field at the battle of Lexington,
April 19, 1775, and as such directed the
pursuit of Percy from Concord. He then
engaged in drilling and disciplining the
provincial army at Cambridge, and on
June 20, 1775, was promoted to major-
general of the provincial troops. On the
organization of the Continental army he
was on June 22, 1775, commissioned brig-
adier-general, and on August 9, 1776, was
made major-general. Pie was ordered to
New York and opposed the evacuation of
that city, and aftel" the disaster at White
Plains commanded the defences of the
Highlands. In 1777 he succeeded Gen-
eral Ward in command of the eastern de-
partment, with headquarters in the house
of Thomas Russell, on Summer street,
Boston. He had charge of Burgoyne and
his army at Cambridge, Massachusetts,
where they were held as prisoners of war
from November 6, 1777, to October 15,
1778, when they were removed to the
center of the State, and in November
were marched to Virginia. On Novem-
ber 6, 1778, General Gates succeeded to
the command in Boston, and General
Heath, with four regiments commanded
the posts of the Hudson river at West
Point in 1779, after Arnold's treason, and
several times was in temporary command
of the entire American army.

He returned to his farm after the war,
and was a member of the convention of
Massachusetts that ratified the Federal
Constitution; was a State Senator, 1791-
92; probate judge of Norfolk county,
1793 ; and declined to serve as Lieutenant-
Governor of the commonwealth in 1806.
He outlived all the other major-generals
of the war. He was the author of:
"Memoirs of Major-General William
Heath, containing Anecdotes, Details of
Skirmishes, Battles, etc., during the
American War" (1798). He died in Rox-
bury, Massachusetts, January 24, 1814.

178

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

BIGELOW, Timothy,

Officer in tb.e Revolution.

Timothy Bigelow was born at Worces-
ter, Massachusetts, August 2, 1739. He
learned the trade of a blacksmith, and
afterwards carried on the business. Being
a strong champion of the rights of the
colonists, he became associated with the
leading patriots of the day, in March,
1773, was a member of the local Commit-
tee of Correspondence, and in December
of the same year organized the "Political
Society." It is said that in these bodies
measures were secretly made which broke
the control of the Tories in Worcester.
He was a prominent member of the Sons
of Liberty and of the Whig Club in Bos-
ton, becoming intimately associated with
Warren, Otis, and other leading patriots.
During the first two sessions of the Pro-
vincial Congress he served as a delegate,
and when the minute-men of Worcester
were organized he was elected their
leader.

On April 19, 1775, Captain Timothy
Bigelow marched his company to Cam-
bridge. Soon afterwards he was com-
missioned major. So well did he drill his
men that General Washington is reported
to have remarked, on reviewing the com-
pany at Cambridge, "This is discipline,
indeed." In September he volunteered in
the expedition to Quebec under Benedict
Arnold, and during which he was ordered
to ascend a mountain to make observa-
tions, and the mountain has since borne
the name of Mount Bigelow. On Decem-
ber 31, while attacking Quebec, he was
captured, with others, and after eight
months' imprisonment was exchanged.
He was afterwards promoted to the rank
of lieutenant-colonel, and on February 8,
1777, became colonel of the Fifteenth
Massachusetts Regiment. He was with
General Gates at the surrender of Bur-
goyne at Saratoga, in the Rhode Island

Expedition, at Verplanck's Point, Peeks-
kill, Valley Forge, and West Point. He
was on duty for some time at West Point
after the close of the war, and then com-
manded the United States Arsenal at
Springfield. On returning to his home
he found his property gone, and his fam-
ily involved in debt. lie obtained a grant
of land in Vermont, where the town of
Montpelier was afterwards built, but his
creditors became impatient, demanding
the money, which necessity had forced
him to owe them, and which his patriotic
services to them and to their country
made it impossible for him to pay, and he
was thrown into jail, where he died March
31, 1790.

ADAMS, Abigail,

Wife of President John Adams.

This notable woman was born in Wey-
mouth, Massachusetts, November 22,
1744, daughter of William and Elizabeth
Ouincy Smith. Her father was for nearly
half a century pastor of the Congrega-
tional church of Weymouth, and her
mother was a direct descendant of
Thomas Shepard, the eminent Puritan
divine of Cambridge, and a great-grand-
niece of the Puritan preacher, John Nor-
ton, of the Hingham meeting house, Bos-
ton.

She had few educational advantages in
the Vv'ay of access to books, as they were
kept from her owing to her delicate con-
stitution. To compensate in a measure for
this, she was instructed in the duties of
the household and took great interest in
home afifairs, becoming an adept in domes-
tic economy, at the same time acquiring
the rudiments of penmanship and arith-
metic. As she reached womanhood her
strength increased, and she took up
French. Latin and a well directed course
of reading, although this was only cur-
sorv before she became a wife.

179

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

She was married to John Adams, Oc-
tober 25, 1764, and passed the next ten
years as the frugal wife of a rising Brain-
tree lawyer. To them were born during
this time, one daughter and three sons.
The political events of the period marked
the next decade of her married life as one
of great anxiety. Her husband was ab-
sent the greater part of the time, first as
a delegate to Congress and afterwards on
a diplomatic mission across the seas. The
patriots, led by her husband, were urging
the termination of the unhappy relations
existing between the colonies and the
mother country, by a declaration of inde-
jjcndence, his earnest advocacy of heroic
measures gaining for him the sobriquet
of "The Colossus of Independence." John
Adams had no more positive and unyield-
ing advocate of the measures sustained
by him than his patriotic wife; and,
while she had in full view the dire con-
sequence of failure, yet her courage never
faltered, and her voice never uttered an
uncertain sound. Alone with her chil-
dren, she passed the period of war, doing
what she could for the patriot cause. In
17P4 she undertook the long and danger-
ous voyage to Europe to join her husband
in France, and then accompanied him to
London, as the wife of the first American
minister at the court of St. James, and
where as such she was not accorded de-
cent courtesy. This rudeness greatly
wounded her, and increased her devotion
to the new republic.

Upon the accession of Mr. Adams to
the Presidency, his wife became the first
mistress of the White Plouse, and there
the charm of housekeeping was not dis-
pelled by the pride of position ; in the
domestic arrangement of the establish-
ment she was the head, and her own
hands even skimmed the milk and worked
the butter that supplied the table. It is
also recorded that on the occasion of the
inauguration of Washington, Mrs. Adams

made the ice cream for the inaugural din-
ner, the first time that foreign luxury was
used in this country. After leaving Wash-
ington she lived at Braintree, Massachu-
setts, but continued to follow the course
of public affairs during her entire life.
She was the only woman in our history
who has been the wife of one President
and the mother of another. Her grand-
son, Charles Francis Adams, has written
her memoir, which he has published, to-
gether with her correspondence with her
husband. The language used in her let-
ters is admirable, and the book gives an
interesting insight into the inner life of
the people during the revolution. She
died at Ouincy. Massachusetts, October
2S, 1818.

PARKER, Samuel,

Distinguislied Divine.

Samuel Parker, second bishop of Mas-
sachusetts and tenth in succession in the
American episcopate, was born in Ports-
mouth, New Hampshire, August 17, 1744,
son of Judge William and Elizabeth
(Grafton) Parker, and grandson of Wil-
liam and Zerviah (Stanley) Parker, of
England, who fled to America and settled
in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1703.
Zerviah Stanley, a daughter of the Earl
of Derby, married without her father's
consent, and abandoned her claims to
nobility.

Samuel Parker was graduated at Har-
vard College, Bachelor of Arts, 1764;
Master of Arts, 1767. He prepared for
holy orders while teaching school, and
was elected assistant at Trinity Church in
Boston, Massachusetts, in October, 1773.
He was ordained deacon in the chapel of
Fulham Palace, London, England, Feb-
ruary 2|, 1774, and ordained priest three
days later by Dr. Terrich, Lord Bishop of
London. He assumed the duties of as-
sistant in November, 1774, and during the

180

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Revolution was the only Anglican clergy-
man to remain at his post and support the
cause of the colonists. He was elected
rector of Trinity Church, Boston, June
27, 1779, and after the war went about
endeavoring to reorganize and establish
the scattered churches and to reinstate
the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel. He was elected bishop of the
eastern diocese to succeed Bishop Bass,
deceased, in 1803, and was consecrated
at Trinity Church, New York City, Sep-
tember 14, 1804, by Bishop White, as-
sisted by Bishops Claggett, Jarvis and
Moore, but never discharged the duties
of the office, being prostrated with gout
on his return from New York, and from
which he did not recover. He received
the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the
University of Pennsylvania in 1789. He
published an "Annual Election Sermon
before the Legislature of Massachusetts"
(1793) ; "A Sermon for the Benefit of the
Boston Female Asylum" (1803), and sev-
eral occasional discourses. He was mar-
ried, in November, 1766, to Annie, daugh-
ter of John Cutler, of Boston, Massachu-
setts. He died in Boston, Massachusetts.
December 6, 1804.

SHAYS, Daniel,

licader of First American Rebellion.

Daniel Shays was born in Hopkinton,
Massachusetts, in 1747, the son of poor
parents of Irish descent. His early life
was spent on a farm in Framingham,
Massachusetts, and he subsequently re-
moved to Great Barrington and to Pel-
ham, Massachusetts. He was appointed
ensign in the Massachusetts militia in
1775, and served in the battle of Bunker
Hill. In 1776 he was appointed lieuten-
ant in Colonel Varnum's regiment, served
as a recruiting officer, and marched a
company to West Point, where he ob-
tained a captaincy in the Continental

army in 1779, and participated in the
storming of Stony Point and the capture
of Burgoyne. In 1780 General Lafayette
presented him with a sword, at the same
time conferring a like honor on other
ofticers. Shays was suspected of having
sold his sword, and was discharged from
the army at Newark, New Jersey, in Oc-
tober, 1780, while serving in Colonel Put-
nam's regiment, and retired to Pelham.
Massachusetts.

About 1782 he became a leader in the
movement of the inhabitants of the Pel-
ham (Massachusetts) section against
what they designated as oppressive fees
and taxation inaugurated by the new
State government. Shays adopting the
same methods which had been success-
ful in overthrowing like grievances when
the colonists opposed British rule. He
led a band of one thousand insurgents
which met at Springfield, and, in spite of
the presence of the State militia, pre-
vented a session of the Supreme Court in
September, 1786, and also of the courts
at Worcester in November and Decem-
ber following. He retired with his men
to Rutland, Vermont. December 9, 1786,
and oflfered to desert them if he was
granted a pardon for himself, but failing
in this, in January, 1787, with Luke Day
in command of a body of insurgents, he
planned the capture of the Springfield
Arsenal. Shays attacked it alone with
his command of eleven hundred men on
January 25. 1787, the instructions he had
sent to Day having been intercepted by
General Shepard, commander of the State
militia. The insurgents were driven back
to Ludlow, ten miles distant, where Shays
joined forces with Day and Eli Parsons,
the Berkshire leader, and the entire in-
surgent army retreated through South
Hadley and Amherst to Pelham, where
they entrenched. On January 30, 1787.
General Benjamin Lincoln with a force
of over four thousand State troops sum-

I8I

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

moned Shays to surrender. He asked for
time to petition the General Court, which
Lincoln refused, and Shays marched his
army to Petersham, where on February
3, 1787, one hundred and fifty insurgents
were captured, and Shays escaped into
New Hampshire with three hundred men.
This ended the rebellion. He was granted
a pardon and in 1820 a pension for his
services in the Revolutionary War. He
made his home at Sparta. New York,
where he died, September 29, 1825

PARSONS, Theophilus,

Distinguislied Jurist.

Theophilus Parsons, was born in By-
field, Massachusetts, February 24, 1750.
son of the Rev. Moses and Susan (Davis)
Parsons, grandson of Ebenezer and Lydia
(Haskell) Parsons, and of Abraham and
Ann (Robinson) Davis, and a great-
grandson of Jeffrey and Sarah (Vinson)
Parsons. Jeffrey Parsons immigrated to
the West Indies from England about the
year 1645, and settled at Gloucester, Mas-
sachusetts, in 1654.

Theophilus Parsons was prepared for
college at Dummer Academy, and gradu-
ated at Harvard College, from which in-
stitution he received the degree of Bach-
elor of Arts in 1769, and that of Master of
Arts in 1772. He studied law under the
supervision of Theophilus Bradbury, at
Falmouth, was admitted to the bar in

1774, and practiced his profession there
until the British destroyed Falmouth in

1775. He then placed himself under the
preceptorship of Judge Edmund Trow-
bridge, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, an
eminent lawyer, with whom he pursued
the study of law from 1775 to 1777. He
opened a law office in Newburyport, Mas-
sachusetts, and in due course of time
gained an extensive clientele. In 1778 he
was a delegate to the convention at Ips-
wich, Massachusetts, that opposed the

adoption of the State Constitution, and
was the author of the pamphlet known as
the "Essex Result," which contributed so
largely to the rejection of that instru-
ment. He was a delegate in 1779 to the
convention that framed the State Con-
stitution, which was finally adopted ; was
a delegate in 1788 to the convention to
ratify the Federal Constitution, and was
the author of the proposition offered by
John Hancock, ratifying the instrument,
and recommending certain amendments
known as the "Conciliatory Resolutions."
He devoted himself to his law practice in
Newburyport from 1788 to 1800, a period
of twelve years. He served as a repre-
sentative in the State Legislature several
times. He removed to Boston, Massachu-
setts, in 1800; was appointed Attorney-
General in the cabinet of President Adams
as successor to Charles Lee in 1801, but
declined to serve, and was Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts,
1806-13, succeeding Francis Dana. He
received the degree of Doctor of Laws
from Harvard College in 1804, from Dart-
mouth in 1807, and from Brown College
in 1809; was a fellow of Harvard, 1806-
12, and a member of the American Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences. A collection
of his opinions were published under the
title of "Commentaries on the Laws of
the United States" (1836).

He was married, January 13, 1780, to
Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Benjamin
Greenleaf, of Newbury, Massachusetts.
He died in Boston, Massachusetts, Octo-
ber 30, 1813.

AMES, Fisher,

statesman of Great Ability.

Fisher Ames was born at Dedham,
Massachusetts, April 9, 1758, son of Na-
thaniel and Mary (Fisher) Ames. He
belonged to one of the oldest families in
Massachusetts, and in the line of his

182

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

foreign ancestry was the Rev. William
Ames, a famous English divine who, in
search of greater religious liberty, emi-
grated to the Netherlands in the early
part of the seventeenth century. Both
the father and grandfather of Fisher
Ames were physicians, and the father
supplemented his moderate practice by
keeping a tavern and publishing an alma-
nac.

When Fisher Ames was six years of age
his father died, leaving him and an older
brother to the care of their mother.
Fisher early manifested intellectual su-
periority, and the mother, despite her
straitened circumstances, determined that
he should have a good education, and
soon after the completion of his twelfth
year he was entered at Harvard College,
and from which he was graduated in 1774.
For some years young Ames taught
school. Later he read law for a time in
the office of William Tudor, an eminent
lawyer of Boston, was admitted to the
bar in 1781, and at once commenced prac-
tice at Dedham. He soon became promi-
nently knov>/n by writing a series of bril-
liant political papers, which under the
nojHs dcs plume of "Lucius Junius Bru-
tus" and "Camillus" appeared in Boston
journals. In 1781 he was sent as one of
the Dedham delegates to the convention
which met to devise measures for the re-
lief of the widespread discontent which a
depreciated paper currency had created.
Young Ames made so able and convinc-
ing a speech that the sentiments of the
assembly were changed ; his words elec-
trified the convention, and it adjourned
without committing itself to the disas-
trous policy which had been contem-
plated. This speech made the reputation
of the young advocate, and when it be-
came known that he was the author of the
pseudonymous articles in the Boston
journals, he was immediately sought out
by the eminent Federalists of the day,

and became prominently identified with
them and the principles they represented.
In the spring of 1788 he was elected a
member of the General Court of Massa-
chusetts, and by his valuable services cre-
ated such universal confidence in his abil-
ity and integrity that he was chosen a
member of the Massachusetts Conven-
tion for ratifying the Federal Constitu-
tion. When the Federal government was
established, he was sent to Congress as
the first representative of the Boston dis-
trict, being elected over Samuel Adams,
the most popular man in New England,
and the one who, more than any other
individual, was instrumental in bringing
about the Declaration of Independence.
No better evidence could be given of the
high regard which the contemporaries of
Fisher Ames had for his transcendent
abilities. He remained in Congress dur-
ing the eight years of W^ashington's ad-
ministration, and took active and promi-
nent part in the discussion of all the
momentous questions which came before
that body. His eloquence and statesman-
ship were unequaled, and his power of
moving men was remarkable. In the de-
bates regarding the appropriation for the
Jay Treaty in 1796, the Republicans who
opposed the appropriation were counting
on a clear majority of six. Ames was
confined to his lodgings by a severe ill-
ness, but when the time approached for
the vote to be taken on this question,
which, in his opinion, involved the valid-
ity of the constitution and the future wel-
fare of the United States, he was driven
to the house and, seeing the almost in-
evitable probability of defeat, he arose
and, by the force and eloquence of his
speech, so electrified and entranced the
assembly that when he had finished the
Republicans at once moved an adjourn-
ment, fearing to put the question to a
decision, lest the strong feelings aroused

183

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

should render the members incapable of
exercising- their calm judgment.

The state of Fisher Ames's health
obliged him to retire to private life at
the close of his fourth term in Congress.
For a time he practiced law, and then
devoted his time to the management of
his farm and fruitery, also continuing to
contribute to the press essays and articles
on various topics which were then agi-
tating the public mind. The relation of
French politics to those of America was
one of the questions which called forth
some of his most brilliant productions.
When Governor Sumner was in office,
Mr. Ames accepted a seat in the council
of the commonwealth, and delivered a
eulogy on Washington before the Massa-
chusetts legislature. He was chosen
president of Harvard College in 1804, but
this honor he was obliged to decline on
account of his ill health. His writing
was epigramatic and witty, his style
graceful and refined ; he was a brilliant
conversationalist and a delightful corie-
pondent. His writings were collected
and published, with a memoir by the Rev.
J. T. Kirkland, in 1809; and in 1854, his
son, Seth Ames, issued a more complete
edition in two volumes, and several of his
congressional speeches were published by
a grandson in 1891. He died in Dedham,
Massachusetts, July 4, i!

ALLSTON, Washington,

Accomplished Artist.

Washington Allston was born at Brook
Green Domain, in the district of Wacca-
maw, South Carolina, November 5, 1779.
When seven years of age he was sent to
Newport, Rhode Island, to prepare for
college, and was graduated from Harvard
in 1800. His talent manifested itself at
an early age, and his chief pleasure was
in drawing and sketching. His first essay
at painting was a portrait of the eldest

son of Dr. Waterhouse, Professor of Med-
icine at Harvard College, and this was
followed by portraits of four members of
the Channing family. He had no regular
instructor in drawing or painting until
after he went abroad in May, 1801. He
studied in England at the Royal Acad-
emy and afterwards visited Paris, and
then Rome, where he remained for sev-
eral years. During this period he gained
for himself a high reputation as a colorist,
and was called the "American Titian,"
because of the wonderful wealth and har-
mony of his magical color combinations.
In 1S09 he returned to America, and after
spending- two years here, he sailed for
England and established himself in Lon-
don, where he entered upon a career of
uninterrupted prosperity. Many of his
pupils became artists of note ; and he
painted a numl^er of sul)jects of great
merit, among them: "'Uriel in the Sun,"
"Jacob's Feast," and "The Dead Man Re-
vived by Touching the Bones of Elijah,"
a picture which took a prize of two hun-
dred guineas from the British Institute,
and was afterwards bought by the Phila-
delphia Academy. His work at this
period shows "high imaginative power,
and a rare mastery of color, light and
shade." He was most influenced and in-
spired by the Italian masters, though his
principal teachers were West and Rey-
nolds.

In 1818 he returned to America and
established a studio in Boston, moving
some years later to Cambridgeport. where
he spent the remainder of his life. In
1 8 19 he was made associate of the Royal
Academy. The choicest of his works
during- this period are in Boston, some
belonging to the Museum of Fine Arts,
and some to the private collections of the
older families of the city. His "Spanish
Girl." "Spalatro's Vision of the Bloody
Hand." "The Death of King John." "Jere-
miah," "The Witch of Endor," "Miriam

184

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and Rosalie," are best known in Amer-
ica. His Belshazzar's Feast," a most
ambitious undertaking, was left unfinish-
ed at his death, and became the property
of the Boston Athenjeum. Allston's writ-
ings display much talent, and his works
in both prose and poetry have been highly
praised by critics. His "America to Great
Britain" was declared by Charles Sum-
ner to be "one of the choicest lyrics in
the language," and it was incorporated in
"Sybilline Leaves." Some of his other
works are: "The Sylphs of the Seasons,"
a poem read before the Phi Beta Kappa
at Cambridge, and published in 1813;
"The Paint King" and the "Two Paint-
ers," "Monaldi," a romance of Italian life
(1841) ; "Lectures on x^rt and Poems"
(1850). See "Ware's Lectures on the
Works and Genius of Washington AU-
ston" (Boston. 1852) ; and "Artist Biog-
raphies, Allston," by ^I. F. Sweetzer
(Boston, 1879).

Mr. Allston married (first) Ann Chan-
ning, a sister of William Ellery Channing.
He married (second) in 1830. a sister of
Richard H. Dana. He died in Cambridge.
Massachusetts, July 9, 1843.

SWIFT, Joseph Gardner,

Engineer Officer.

General Joseph Gardner Swuft was born
in Nantucket, Massachusetts, December
31, 1783, son of Dr. Foster Swift, sur-
geon, United States army, grandson of
Samuel Swift and of Thomas Delano, and
a descendant of Thomas Swift, Dorches-
ter, Massachusetts. 1630.

He attended the Bristol Academy. Taun-
ton, Massachusetts, and was one of the
first two graduates from the United States
Military- Academy, receiving a commis-
sion as second lieutenant. Corps of Engi-
neers, October 12, 1802. He superintend-
ed the construction of Fort Johnston,
1804-06. He was promoted to first lieu-

tenant, June II, 1805, and to captain, Oc-
tober 30, 1806. He superintended the
erection of the Governor's Island bat-
teries, in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts,
and the Northeastern coast defences,
1808-10. He was promoted to major,
February 2t„ 1808, and was engaged on
the fortifications of the Carolina and
Georgia harbors, 1810-12. He served as
aide-de-camp to Major-General William
Pinckney in 1812, being promoted to lieu-
tenant-colonel, July 6, and to colonel and
chief engineer. United States army. July
13, 1812. He served as cx-officio superin-
tendent of the Military Academy from
July 31, 1S12, to July 28, 1817. He was
chief engineer in the St. Lawrence River
campaign of 181 3. receiving the brevet of
brigadier-general on February 19, 1814.
for meritorious services. On April 21
1817, he was appointed a member of the
board of engineers for the Atlantic coast ;
chief of the engineer bureau at Washing-
ton, D. C. April 3, 1817. and inspector of
the Military Academy. April 7. 1818. He
was surveyor of the United States reve-
nue service for the port of New York.
1818-27; member of the board of visitors
to the Military Academy, 1822-24; chief
engineer of the L'nited States harbor im-
provements on the Great Lakes, 1829-
35. and of the New Orleans and Lake
Pontchartrain railroad. 1830-31. In 1839
he was active in suppressing the Canada
border disturbances, and in 1841 was ap-
pointed by President Harrison as LTnited
States Commissioner to the British prov-
inces to negotiate a treaty with Great
Britain.

General v^wift received the degree of
Doctor of Laws from Kenyon College,
Gambier, Ohio, in 1843 • ^^'^^ elected a
member of La Societe Francaise de Sta-
tique Universelle de Paris in 1839, and
was a member of several scientific and
historical societies. He was the author
of a diary, and of contributions to scien-

185

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

tific publications. He was married, in
1805, to Louisa, daughter of Captain
James Walker, of Wilmington, North
Carolina. Of his children, two sons died
in the service; Jonathan Williams, an
officer in the United States navy, was
crippled for life on board the frigate
"Brandywine ;" and McRea Swift became
a civil engineer. General Swift died in
Geneva, New York, July 23, 1865.

GREENLEAF, Simon,

Educator, Author.

Simon Greenleaf was born in New-
buryport, Massachusetts, December 5,
1783, son of Moses and Lydia (Parsons)
Greenleaf, grandson of the Hon. Jona-
than and Mary (Presbury) Greenleaf,
great-grandson of Daniel and Sarah
(Mood}^) Greenleaf, great-great-grandson
of John and Elizabeth (Hills) Greenleaf,
great-great-great-grandson of Stephen
and Elizabeth (Coffin) Greenleaf, and
great-great-great-great-grandson of Ed-
mund Greenleaf, who came to America
and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts,
about 1635.

He attended the Latin school in New-
buryport. and at the age of eighteen be-
gan the study of law with Ezekiel Whit-
man, of New Gloucester, Maine. He was
admitted to the bar in Cumberland coun-
ty, Maine, in 1805, and opened an office
first in Standish, then in Gray, and in
18 1 7 removed to Portland, Maine. In
1820 and 1821 he represented Portland
in the Maine Legislature, and in August,
1820, became reporter of the Supreme
Court under the act of the new State,
passed June 24, 1820. His service in that
position ended in July, 1832. He was
Royal Professor of Law at Harvard Col-
lege, 1833-46; Dane Professor of the same
branch, succeeeding Judge Story, 1846-
48; and Professor Emeritus, 1848-53. He
was at one time president of the Massa-

chusetts Bible Society, and was a mem-
ber of the Massachusetts Historical So-
ciety. He received the honorary degree
of Master of Arts from Bowdoin in 1817,
and that of Doctor of Laws from Har-
vard in 1834, from Amherst in 1845, ^rid
from the University of Alabama in 1852.
He was the author of: "Origin and
Principles of Freemasonry" (1820) ; "Full
Collection of Cases, Overruled, Denied,
Doubted or Limited in their Application"
(1821); "Reports of Cases in the Su-
preme Court of Maine, 1820-31" (nine
volumes, 1822-35) ; "'Remarks on the Ex-
clusion of Atheists as Witnesses" (1839) ;
"Treatise on the Law of Evidence" (three
volumes, 1842-53) ; "Examination of the
Testimony of the Four Evangelists, by
the Rules of Evidence Administered in
Courts of Justice, with an account of the
Trial of Jesus" (1846) ; and a discourse
on the life and character of Joseph Story
(1845). He also prepared and adapted
to LTnited States practice an enlarged edi-
tion of "Digest of the Laws or England
respecting Real Property," by William
Cruise (three volumes, 1849-50). He was
married, September 18, 1806, to Hannah,
daughter of Ezra and Susanna (Whit-
man) Kingman, of Bridgewater, Massa-
chusetts. He died in Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, October 6, 1853.

GREENLEAF, Jonathan,

Clergyman, Author.

The Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf was born
in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Sep-
tember 4, 1785, son of Moses and Lydia
(Parsons) Greenleaf, and brother of the
Lion. Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853), and
of Moses Greenleaf, who was born in
Newburyport, Massachusetts, October 17,
1777, married, February 11, 1805, Persis,
daughter of Deacon Ebenezer Poor, of
East Andover, Maine, published "Statis-
tical View of the District of Maine"

186

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

(1816) and a '^Survey of the State of
Maine" with a map (1829), and died in
Williamsburg, Maine, Alarch 20, 1834.

Jonathan Greenleaf was reared on a
farm at New Gloucester, Maine, and at-
tended the common schools. He studied
theology with the Rev. Francis Brown,
D. D., of North Yarmouth, Maine, and
was licensed to preach by the Cumber-
land Association at Saco, Maine, in Sep-
tember, 18 14. He was ordained at Wells,
Maine, March 18, 1815, by the York
County Association, as pastor of the First
Congregational Church. In 1828 he was
dismissed and removed to Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, as pastor of the Mariners'
Church. Fie was corresponding secre-
tary of the Seamen's Friend Society, New
York City, 1833-41, and after supplying
for a few months the vacant Congrega-
tional church at Lyndon, Vermont, he
established in 1843 the Wallabout Pres-
byterian Church in Brooklyn, New York.
and remained its pastor until his death.
The honorary degree of Master of Arts
was conferred upon him by Bowdoin Col-
lege in 1824. and that of S. T. D. by the
College of New Jersey in 1863. He was
the author of "Sketches of the Ecclesias-
tical History of the State of Maine"
(1821) ; "History of the Churches of New
York" (1846) ; "Thoughts on Prayer"
(1847) ; "A Sketch of Lyndon, Vermont"
(1852) ; "Genealogy of the Greenleaf
Family" (1854) ; and a "Sketch of Wells"
in Maine Historical Collections (1831).
He was married, November 2, 1814, to
Sarah Johnson, of New Gloucester,
Maine. He died in Brooklyn, New York,
April 24, 1865.

LAWRENCE, Amos,

Merdiant, Philantliropist.

Amos Lawrence was born at Groton,
Massachusetts, April 22, 1786, son of Sam-
uel and Susanna (Parker) Lawrence.

grandson of Captain Amos and Abigail
(Abbott) Lawrence and of William and
Sarah Parker, of Groton ; great-grandson
of John and Anna (Tarbell) Lawrence
and of Deacon Nehemiah Abbott, of Lex-
ington ; great-great-grandson of Nathan-
iel and Sarah (Morse) Lawrence; great-
great-great-grandson of John and Eliza-
beth Lawrence, the emigrants, and of
John and Hannah Morse, of Dedham, and
a lineal descendant of Sir Robert Law-
rence, of Ashton Hall, Lancashire, Eng-
land.

Amos Lawrence attended Groton Acad-
emy, and in 1799 obtained employment in
a country store at Dunstable, Alassachu-
setts, and later in Groton. In 1807 he
removed to Boston, where he was em-
ployed as a clerk in a dry goods house,
and upon the failure of his employers he
was appointed by the creditors to settle
the affairs of the concern. On December
17, 1807, he opened a dry goods store on
Cornhill, Boston, with his brother Ab-
bott as an apprentice. In 1814 the
brothers became partners under the firm
name of A. & A. Lawrence, and during
the war of 1812 they erected mills for the
manufacture of cotton and woolen goods
in New England. They established the
first cotton factory in Lowell, Massachu-
setts, and later engaged in the sale of
foreign cotton and woollen goods on com-
mission.

Amos Lawrence retired from active
participation in business affairs in 1831-,
and devoted himself to philanthropic
works. His gifts included about $40,000
to ^\'ill^ams College. He founded a
library at Groton Academy, donated a
valuable telescope, and at the time of his
death he was engaged in raising the sum
of $50,000 for the academy. On account
of his gifts the name of Groton Academy
was changed to Lawrence Academy in
1846. He also gave liberally to Kenyon
College, to Wabash College, and to the

187

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Bangor Theological Seminary. He estab-
lished the Children's Infirmary at Bos-
ton ; donated a building for the Boston
Society of Natural History; and contri-
buted $10,000 toward the completion of
the Bunker Hill monument. He present-
ed many books to libraries and to in-
dividuals, and his private benefactions
were large. His name was one of the six
in "Class B, Business Men," submitted
for a place in the Hall of Fame for Great
Americans. New York University, in Oc-
tober, 1900, and received twenty votes,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, with twenty-nine
votes, only exceeding, and none in the
class gaining a place.

He was twice married, first on June 6,
181 1, to Sarah, daughter of Giles and
Sarah (Adams) Richards, of Dedham ;
and (second) on April 11, 1821, to Nancy
(Means) Ellis, a daughter of Robert
Aleans, of Amherst, New Hampshire, and
widow of Judge Ellis, of Claremont. New
Hampshire. He died in Boston, Massa-
chusetts, December 31. 1852.

BLANCHARD, Thomas,

Prolific Inventor.

Thomas Blanchard was born at Sut-
ton, Massachusetts, June 24, 1788, fifth
son of Samuel Blanchard, a farmer. He
early developed remarkable mechanical
gifts, and when only thirteen years of
age invented a machine for paring apples.
He was soon after this employed by his
brother in the making of tacks, and in-
vented a machine to save himself the
trouble of counting them. In his intervals
of leisure he learned the use of black-
smith's tools, and also acquired skill in
turning and carving wood, which proved
useful in preparing the models of his in-
ventions. In 1812, at the end of six years
of experiments, he produced a machine
which turned out five hundred tacks a
minute, more perfectly than they could

be made by hand. He sold the patent
rights of this machine for five thousand
dollars, which enabled him to fit out a
shop.

He next invented a machine for turn-
ing and finishing gun barrels at one oper-
ation, the finishing having hitherto been
accomplished by hand, with much labor.
He overcame the difficulty of turning the
breech, which had two flat and two oval
sides, by means of a wheel placed in the
arbor of the lathe and operated by a lever.
The government immediately ordered one
of these machines for the United States
Armory at Springfield, giving him a
royalty of nine cents on every g^n bar-
rel turned by his lathe. He was em-
ployed at the armory for five years, and
made many improvements in the stock-
ing of arms, inventing for this purpose as
many as thirteen different machines. His
next invention was an eccentric lathe for
turning irregular forms, one of the most
valuable mechanical devices that has ever
been given to the world, one of its appli-
cations being the pantagraph, an instru-
ment for reproducing statuary. He set
up a pantagraph in Washington and ob-
taining plaster casts of the heads of Web-
ster, Clay, Calhoun and others, repro-
duced them in marble, and exhibited the
busts in the rotunda of the capitol. When
it was learned that these busts, which
were as much like the original as any
skilled hand could have shaped them, had
been made by machinery, the members
of Congress were astonished, and when
he asked for a renewal of his patent,
which had expired, and explained that he
had derived no profit beyond that ex-
pended in litigation in defending it, a
resolution was introduced into the Senate
by Webster, and the patent was renewed
for a number of years. Rufus Choate,
who had been retained as opposing coun-
sel, wittily remarked, "Blanchard had
turned the heads of Congress and gained

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAi'UV

his point." In 1825 Mr. Blanchard built
a steam carriage to travel on common
roads, which was easily controlled, could
turn corners and climb hills. In 1826 he
invented a steamboat which would ascend
the rapids on the Connecticut river be-
tween Springfield and Hartford, an im-
provement which rendered possible the
navigation of many of the western rivers.
In 1830 he built a steamboat to voyage
between Pittsburgh and Olean Point,
where the fall was six hundred feet, and
the river in many places extremely rapid.
He next contrived a process for bending
timber without weakening the fibres of
the wood on the outer circle, which
proved of more financial value to the in-
ventor than the lathe. He also invented
a machine whereby envelopes could be
cut and folded at the same time. He took
out in all more than twenty-five patents,
realizing large amounts from some of
them. He died in Boston, Massachu-
setts, April 16, 1864.

BATES, Joshua,

Public Benefactor.

Joshua Bates was born at Weymouth,
Massachusetts, in 1788, only son of
Joshua Bates, who was a colonel in the
Revolutionary army. The family was
among the first to immigrate to New
England, the name appearing as early as
1633, among the settlers of Plymouth
county.

There being no suitable school in Wey-
mouth, Joshua Bates received his educa-
tion from the town clergyman, studying
with him until he was fifteen years old.
He then entered the employ of William
Gray, of Boston, and won the respect of
his employer by his remarkable business
ability, his integrity, and straightforward
manner of conducting affairs, the famous
merchant frequently asking his advice on
matters usually considered too intricate

for the comprehension of a boy. When
only twenty-one years of age he was sent
to London as agent of the firm, and here
he still further won the admiration of his
employer by his keenness and sagacity.
He afterward established a banking house
in partnership with a son of Sir Thomas
Baring, the business later being merged
in the famous house of Baring Brothers
& Company. In the points at issue be-
tween the government of Great Britain
and that of the United States, growing
out of the War of 1812, he was chosen as
umpire by the joint commission, and his
decisions were unquestioningly accepted
by both parties. He was a lover of books,
and a public benefactor in his discriminat-
ing charities. In 1852, when he learned
of the establishment of the Free Public
Library in Boston, he donated $50,000 for
the purchase of books of acknowledged
standard, to be at all times accessible to
the public, and kept in a room where at
least one hundred readers could be com-
fortably seated, thus contributing to the
enjoyment of a large number of people.
This benefaction resulted in "Bates Hall,"
in Boston Public Library, named in his
honor, which was a most fitting memo^
rial. Mr. Bates afterwards added to his
gift his own private library, consisting of
over thirty thousand volumes, making
his aggregate donations to the library
amount to over $100,000, which pro-
claimed him a public benefactor of great
merit and worth. He died in London,
England, September 24, 1864. —

GREENLEAF, Benjamin,

Educator, Author.

Benjamin Greenleaf was born in Haver-
hill, Massachusetts, September 25, 1786,
son of Caleb and Susanna (Emerson)
Greenleaf, grandson of Timothy and Sus-
anna (Greenleaf) Greenleaf, great-grand-
son of John and Abigail Greenleaf.

iSt;

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

great-great-grandson of Samuel and
Sarah (Kent) Greenleaf, great-great-great-
grandson of Stephen and Elizabeth (Cof-
fin) Greenleaf, and great-great-great-
great-grandson of Edmund Greenleaf,
who settled in Newbury. Massachusetts,
about 1635.

He was graduated from Dartmouth
College in 1813, and was preceptor of
Bradford Academy from December 12,
1814, to April 6, 1836. He represented
Bradford in the State Legislature in 1837-
39. In 1839 he founded the Bradford
Teachers' Seminary, which he conducted
until its discontinuance in 1848. He was
a pioneer educator in the natural sciences
by illustrated public lectures, and in lead-
ing teachers to dispense with text-books
in the recitation room. As an author he
v/as widely known. He published a tract
of eight pages entitled "Rules of Syntax"
about 1825. He worked out the mathe-
matical calculations for a number of alma-
nacs, notably for the Cherokee Mission.
He published text-books on arithmetic,
mental and written, algebra, geometry
and trigonometry, and at the time of his
death left in manuscript a "System of
Practical Surveying." His text-books be-
gan to issue from the press in 1835, and
continued in new works and new edi-
tions almost to the time of his death,
some being translated into modern Greek
and into Burmese.

He was married, November 20, 1821, to
I.ucretia, youngest daughter of Colonel
James Kimball, of Bradford, Massachu-
setts. He died in Bradford, Massachu-
setts, October 29, 1864.

PARKMAN, Francis,

Clergyman, liitterateur.

The Rev. Francis Parkman was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, June 4, 1788,
son of Samuel and Sarah (Rogers) Park-
man, grandson of the Rev. Ebenezer

Parkman, and a descendant of Thomas
Parkman, of Sidmouth, Devonshire, Eng-
land, and of Elias Parkman, who settled
in Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1633. Rev.
Ebenezer Parkman was the first minister
at Westborough, Massachusetts, 1724-82,
and the author of "Reformers and Inter-
cessors" (1752); "Convention Sermon"
(1761), and a short sketch of Westbor-
ough. Samuel Parkman was a wealthy
Boston merchant, active, public-spirited
and enterprising, and a liberal benefactor
of Harvard College, the cause of educa-
tion always receiving from him most
earnest support.

Francis Parkman was graduated from
Harvard College with the degree of A. B.
in 1807, and that of A. M., 1810. He sub-
sequently studied theology under the su-
pervision of the Rev. William E. Chan-
ning in Boston, and was a student at
Edinburgh University. He was ordain-
ed to the Unitarian ministry in December,
1813, and that same year was called to
the pastorate of the New North Church,
Boston, Massachusetts, and served faith-
fully and acceptably until 1849, ^ period
of thirty-six years, exerting a powerful
influence for good in the community, and
promoting the spiritual welfare of those
under his direct supervision. He founded
the professorship of Pulpit Eloquence and
Pastoral Care at Harvard in 1829. He
was vice-president of the Society for the
Relief of Aged and Indigent Unitarian
Clergymen, 1849-52, and was president of
the convention of Unitarian ministers
held at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1852.
The honorary degree of A. B. was con-
ferred on Francis Parkman by Yale Col-
lege in 1807, and that of D. D. by Har-
vard College in 1834. He was the author
of "The Ofifering of Sympathy" (1829),
and contributed many articles of worth
and merit to the "North American Re-
view" and the "Christian Examiner."

He was married to Caroline, daughter

190

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of Nathaniel Hall, of ]\Iedford, Massachu-
setts. He died in Boston, Massachusetts,
November 12, 1852. Dr. George Park-
man, a Harvard professor, brother of
Francis Parkman, was murdered by Pro-
fessor John G. Webster.

LYMAN, Theodore,

Pliilanthropist.

Theodore Lyman was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, February 20, 1792, son of
Theodore and Lydia (Williams) Lyman ;
grandson of the Rev. Isaac and Sarah
(Plummer) Lyman; great-grandson of
Captain Moses and Mindwell (Sheldon)
Lyman, and a descendant of Richard and
Sarah (Osborne) Lyman. Richard Ly-
man was a native of High Ougar, Essex
county, England, and came to America
in the ship "Lion" in 1631, settling first
at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and in
1635 at Hartford, Connecticut. Theodore
Lyman Sr. was an eminent merchant, en-
gaged in the northwest fur trade and in
the coast and China trade.

Theodore Lyman, his son, was prepar-
ed for college at Phillips Exeter Academy
and was graduated from Harvard College
A. B. 1810, A. M. 1815. He studied liter-
ature in the University of Edinburgh,
1812-14, and in the latter year travelled
on the continent for a short time, being
in France during the first restoration.
He returned to the United States in the
autumn of 1814, and revisited Europe in
June, 1817, travelling in Germany with
Edward Everett, and visiting Greece,
Egypt, and Palestine. He returned to
Boston, Massachusetts, in 1819. He
commanded the Boston brigade. State
militia, 1823-27; was a representative in
the Massachusetts^ Legislature, 1821-24,
State Senator, 1824, State Representative,
1825, and mayor of Boston, 1834-35. On
October 21, 1835, he rescued William
Lloyd Garrison from the mob that at-

tacked the meeting of the Female Anti-
Slavery Society while he was in attend-
ance. After his wife's death in 1835, he
devoted himself to assisting the poor and
criminal classes. He removed to Brook-
line in 1844. He was president of the
Boston Farm School, 1840-46; and in the
latter year, and subsequently during his
lifetime gave $22,500 to the State Reform
School at Westboro, Massachusetts, to
which he also left in his will the sum of
$50,000. $10,000 to the Farm School of
Boston, and $10,000 to the Massachusetts
Horticultural Society, of which he was a
life member. He was the author of:
"Three Weeks in Paris" (1814) ; "The
Political State of Italy" (1820) ; "The
Hartford Convention" (1823) ; "The
Diplomacy of the United States" (two
volumes, 1828).

He was married. May 15, 1821, to Mary
Elizabeth Henderson, of Nev/ York, and
resided at Waltham, Massachusetts,
1821-44. He died in Brookline, Massa-
chusetts, July 18, 1849.

GRAY, Francis Galley,

Antiquarian, Philantliropist.

Francis Calley Gray was born in
Salem, Massachusetts, September 19,
1790, son of William and Elizabeth (Chip-
man) Gray. He was graduated from
Harvard College in 1809, studied law,
and was admitted to the bar, but did not
follow the profession. He served as
private secretary to John Quincy Adams
from 1809 to 1814, and as such accom-
panied him on his mission to Russia. He
was a Representative in the Massachu-
setts Legislature, 1822-24, and in 1836,
and was State Senator from Sufifolk
county in 1825. 1826, 1828, 1829, 1831, and

1843.

He was also vice-president of the Pris-
on-discipline Society, and was for several
years chairman of the board of directors

191

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of the Massachusetts State Prison. His
spare time he devoted to antiquarian and
historical research. On January 29, 1818,
he was elected a member of the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society, and there-
after edited several volumes of its pub-
lished "Collections." He was a member
of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, and its corresponding secretary ;
was president of the Boston Athenaeum ;
and a fellow of Harvard College, 1826-
36. In 1841 Harvard conferred upon him
the honorary degree of LL. D. In his
will he left to Harvard College a collec-
tion of rare engravings and $16,000 for
the care of the collection, and $50,000 to
establish a Museum of Comparative Zo-
ology, the money bequests to be given at
the option of his nephew William, who
presented them to Harvard in 1858. Dr.
Gray was a constant contributor to the
'"North American Review" and other
periodicals, was a frequent speaker at
public gatherings, and published a not-
able pamphlet, "Prison Discipline in
America" (1848). He died in Boston,
Massachusetts, December 29, 1856.

LEAVITT, Joshua,

Clergyman, Editor, Reformer.

Joshua Leavitt was born in Heath,
Massachusetts, September 8, 1794, son of
Roger and Chloe (Maxwell) Leavitt, and
grandson of the Rev. Jonathan Leavitt
of Charlemont, Massachusetts, a graduate
of Yale, 1758, died 1802.

Joshua Leavitt was graduated at Yale
College, A. B. 1814, and A. M. 1817. He
studied law, was admitted to the bar in
Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1819,
and practiced his profession at Putney,
Vermont, from 1819 to 1823. He entered
Yale Divinity School, from which he grad-
uated in 1825, and was ordained to the
Congregational ministry on February 23,
1825. In the latter year he became pastor

at Stratford, Connecticut, serving as
such until 1826, and also as agent of the
American Temperance Society for four
months. He removed to New York City
in 1828 to become secretary of the Amer-
ican Seamen's Friend Society, and also
edited the "Sailor's Magazine," 1828-31.
In 183 1 he purchased "The Evangelist,"
in New York City, making it a liberal
temperance and anti-slavery organ,
which he edited until 1837. He then was
editor of "The Emancipator" in New
York and Boston, 1837-47; and "The
Chronicle," the first daily anti-slavery
paper, in 1848; was ofifice editor of "The
Independent," in New York City, 1848-
64, and a member of its staff until his
death. He formed societies and estab-
lished chapels in various foreign and do-
mestic ports in connection with the Sea-
men's Friend Society, and was the first
secretary of the American Temperance
Society. He was a delegate to the con-
vention at Albany, New York, that gave
birth to the Liberal party in 1840, and m
that year established "The Ballot Box,"
in which he supported James G. Birney
for President of the United States. He
founded the Cheap Postage Society in
Boston, Massachusetts, in 1847, ^"d re-
sided in Washington, D. C, until 1849,
during this period laboring industriously
for the adoption of the two-cent postage
rate. Through his correspondence with
Richard Cobden, it is claimed that he had
an influence in securing the repeal of the
English corn laws, and in 1869 he receiv-
ed a gold medal from the Cobden Club
of England for his article advocating free
trade. He was a member of the Coloniza-
tion Society ; founded the New York
Anti-Slavery Society in 1833, was a mem-
ber of its executive committee in 1835,
and continued a member of the National
Anti-Slavery Society, into which the
former was merged.

He was married to Sarah, daughter of

192

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the Rev. Solomon Williams, of North-
ampton, Massachusetts. He received
the degree of D. D. from Wabash Col-
lege in 1854. He^is the author of: "Easy
Lessons in Reading" (1823) ; "The Chris-
tian Lyre" (1831). and a series of read-
ers (1847). He died in Brooklyn. New
York, January 16, 1873.

CHOATE, Rufus,

statesman, Liitterateur.

Rufus Choate was born in Ipswich,
Massachusetts, October i, 1799. son of
David and Miriam (Foster) Choate, and
descended from John Choate, who immi-
grated to Massachusetts in 1643. He
was remarkably endowed with the traits
of his parents. His father's sterling in-
tegrity and unusual intellectual endow-
ments marked him as a superior man, and
he also inherited his mother's keen per-
ceptions, ready wit and native dignity of
bearing which were remarkable. He was
early noted for his insatiable thirst for
knowledge, for his tenacious memory and
his extraordinary precocity. He could
recite whole pages of "Pilgrim's Progress"
when he was but six years old, and he
had exhausted the greater part of the
village library before he was ten.

After attending the academy at New
Hampton, New Hampshire, for a term,
he entered Dartmouth College, from
which he was graduated with the valedic-
tory in 1819. The famous Dartmouth
College case was on trial during his un-
dergraduate days, and it was Webster's
great speech in connection therewith that
so inspired Choate as to lead to his final
choice of the law as his profession. After
serving as a tutor at Dartmouth for a
year, he spent three years in Washington,
D. C, studying law under William W'irt.
Attorney General of the United States in
1823. was admitted to the bar, and for
five years practiced at Danvers, Massa-

MASS— 13 I

chusetts. In 1825 he was sent to the
State Legislature as a Representative,
and in 1827 as a Senator. He was chosen
as a Representative in Congress in 1830,
and distinguished himself by a brilliant
speech on the tariff in the Twenty-second
Congress. He was re-elected in 1832 to
the Twenty-third Congress, but resigned
his seat at the close of the first session
and removed to Boston, where he devoted
himself to his profession, and acquired a
reputation as an eloquent, powerful and
successful advocate. In 1841. when
Daniel Webster became Secretary of
State in President Harrison's cabinet, Mr.
Choate was elected to fill the seat he had
vacated in the Senate, and he made sev-
eral brilliant speeches, notably those on
the tariff, the Oregon boundary, the fiscal
bank-bill, the Smithsonian Institution,
and the annexation of Texas. At the
close of the term, Mr. Webster was re-
turned to the Senate, and Mr. Choate
once more resumed the practice of his
profession. He went to Europe m 1850,
and during his brief tour in England and
on the continent a most forcible impres-
sion was made upon his mind by his ob-
servations of the characteristics of the
older civilizations of the world, and, in
his comparison of these with those of the
newer, he saw the perils chat were likely
to follow a disruption of the union exist-
ing between the States. In his earnest
desire to avoid such disruption will be
found the key to his whole later life, and
his last public utterance was an oration
in behalf of an undivided nation. In 1852
he was a delegate to the Whig National
Convention at Baltimore, and there urged
the nomination of Daniel Webster for the
presidency. He was a delegate to the
State Convention of 1853, and took an
important part in revising the constitu-
tion of Massachusetts. In 1856 he sup-
ported the Democratic national ticket,

93

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and made some speeches in the interest
of Buchanan and Breckinridge.

Busy as was his life, he yet devoted
a portion of each day to the study of
literature, history, and philosophy ; and
it was this habit, together with his tena-
cious memory, which made him one of
the most scholarly of public men. He
was especially fond of Greek literature,
and was only restrained from writing a
history of Greece by seeing the early
volume of Grote's great work. He con-
templated a visit to Europe in 1859, and
had proceeded as far as Halifax, Nova
Scotia, when his health failed so utterly
that his son, who accompanied him, de-
cided to return home, and while resting
at the lodgings he had temporarily taken
he died suddenly, July 13, 1859. Among
his most famous speeches will always be
named : The eulogy on President Har-
rison (1841) ; an address upon the anni-
versary of the landing of the Pilgrims
(1843) ; ^ eulogy on Daniel Webster

(1853) ; an address at the dedication of
the Peabody Institution in Danvers

(1854) ; an oration before the Young
Men's Democratic Club of Boston (1858) ;
two addresses before the Law School at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, and two lec-
tures before the Mercantile Library As-
sociation of Boston ; but no adequate
idea of his wonderful oratory can be ob-
tained from, reading his speeches. His
works, with a memoir, published in two
volumes, was prepared by Samuel Gil-
man Brown (1862).

COOPER, Samuel,

Clergyman, Patriot of tlie Revolution.

Samuel Cooper was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, March 28, 1725, son of
William and Judith (Sewall) Cooper, and
grandson of Thomas and Mehitable
(Minot) Cooper, and of Chief Justice

Samuel and Hannah (Hull) Sewall. His
father, the Rev. William Cooper, gradu-
ated from Harvard College in 1712; was
minister of the Brattle Street Church,
Boston ; and in 1737 was offered the
presidency of Harvard College, which he
declined.

Samuel Cooper was prepared for col-
lege at the Boston Latin School, then
entering Harvard College, from which
he graduated in 1743, at the age of nine-
teen. He then took up theological stud-
ies, and in 1744 became a colleague with
the Rev. Benjamin Colman, being made
assistant pastor of the Brattle Street
Church, Boston, May 21, 1746. He was
a member of the Harvard corporation,
1767-83, and, like his father before him,
was elected to the presidency of the col-
lege, but declined. He was an ardent
patriot of the Revolution, and a vigorous
contributor to the public press in behalf
of the patriot cause, and the most posi-
tive articles in the "Boston Press," on the
stamp act and subsequent political usur-
pations on the part of Great Britain, were
from his pen. His views and his unfalter-
ing expression of them made him a par-
ticular object of denunciation by the Brit-
ish in Boston, and he was publicly lam-
pooned in an oration in one of the streets
of the city. He was finally obliged to
leave, and during 1775 and 1776 his
church was used as barracks for the Brit-
ish soldiers.

He was a fellow and first vice-presi-
dent of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences. He received the degree of
S. T. D. from the University of Edin-
burgh, in 1767, and that of A. M. from
Yale College in 1750. He was married,
September 12, 1746, to Judith, daughter
of Dr. Thomas and Judith (Colman) Bull-
finch, of Boston. He died in that city,
December 29, 1783.

194

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

SMITH, Sophia,

Educationist.

Sophia Smith was born in Hatfield,
Massachusetts, August 27, 1796, daugh-
ter of Joseph and Lois (White) Smith ;
granddaughter of Lieutenant Samuel
and Mary (Morton) Smith, and of Lieu-
tenant Elihu White ; niece of Oliver
Smith, philanthropist, and first cousin
once removed of Benjamin Smith Lyman,
geologist.

Her early education was extremely
meagre. She attended school in Hart-
ford, Connecticut, in 1810, for three
months, and in 1814 was for a short time
a pupil in the Hopkins Academy, Hadley,
Massachusetts. She was, however, an
extensive reader, and acquired an ample
fund of knowledge. In 1861 she inher-
ited a large fortune (about $450,000)
from her brother, Austin Smith. In later
years she conceived the idea of building
a college for women, defined the object
and general plan of the institution, ap-
pointed the trustees, and selected North-
ampton, Massachusetts, as its site. The
college, which bears her name and which
was the first institution for the higher
education of women in New England,
was opened in September, 1875, with L.
Clark Seelye as president. Miss Smith
bequeathed for the founding of the col-
lege $365,000, and also $75,000 for the
endowment of Smith Academy at Hat-
field, Massachusetts, where she died, June
12, 1870.

GRINNELL, Henry,
Father of Grinnell Exploring Expedition.

Henry Grinnell was born at New Bed-
ford, Massachusetts, 1799, son of Captain
Cornelius and Sylvia (Howland) Grin-
nell. Lie was educated at the New Bed-
ford Academy, and in 1818 became a
clerk in the house of Fish & Grinnell, in
New York City, of which his brother

Joseph was a junior partner, and on the
retirement of Preserved Fish in 1825,
Henry and his brother Moses H. were
admitted partners, and the firm became
Fish, Grinnell & Company. In 1828 when
Joseph withdrew, Robert B. Minturn, a
brother-in-law, was admitted and the
firm of Grinnell, Minturn & Company
was established, Henry continuing a
partner until his retirement from business
in 1849.

Being largely interested in whale fish-
ery, Mr. Grinnell took especial interest
in the geography of the Arctic regions,
and was a devoted friend of seamen. In
1850 he fitted out the "Advance" and the
"Rescue," and organized an expedition to
search for Sir John Franklin. The ex-
pedition, in command of Lieutenant
Edwin J. de Haven, Linited States navy,
with Dr. Elisha Kent Kane as surgeon
and historian, sailed from New York in
May, 1850. They discovered land at sev-
enty-five degrees, twenty-four minutes
and twenty-one seconds north, ninety-
five degrees west, and named it Grinnell
Land. Being caught in the ice, the ves-
sels drifted from September, 1850, until
June, 1 85 1, when they reached Baffin's
Bay, then returned home. In 1853, with
George Peabody, Mr. Grinnell fitted out
a second expedition, his portion of the
expense being $50,000. It sailed from
New York on May 30. 1853, under Dr.
Kane, and reached seventy-eight degrees,
forty-three seconds north, the highest
latitude ever reached by a sailing vessel.
The expedition returned in the fall of
1S55, having been forced to abandon the
"Advance." Mr. Grinnell then contribu-
ted liberally to the Hayes expedition in
i860, and to the "Polaris" expedition in
1871. He was a charter member and the
first president of the American Geograph-
ical Society, organized in 1S52, and its
vice-president from 1854 to 1872. This
society owns a crayon portrait of him,
195

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

framed in wooa taken from the "Reso-
lute," and presented in 1886 by his daugh-
ter Sylvia, widow of Admiral Ruxton, of
the British navy. Mr. Grinnell died in
New York City. June 30, 1874.

TUPPER, Benjamin,

Revolutionary Soldier, Pioneer.

Benjamin Tupper was born in Stough-
ton. Massachusetts, March 11, 1738, son
of Thomas Tupper, grandson of Thomas
and Mary Tupper ; a descendant or
Thomas Tupper (born in Sandwich, Eng-
land, June 28, 1578), who came to Amer-
ica as early as 1635, possibly in 1624, re-
sided in Saugus (Lynn). Massachusetts,
previous to 1637, where with nine others
he settled Sandwich on Cape Cod, where
he died March 28, 1676; and maternal de-
scendant of Ezra Perry, of Sandwich,
Massachusetts.

His father having died when he was
quite young, he served an apprenticeship
to a tanner in Dorchester, Massachusetts,
and about 1754 went to live with Joshua
Howard, a farmer at Easton. He served
as a private in the company of his ma-
ternal uncle. Captain Nathaniel Perry,
during the French and Indian war; was
clerk of a company in the eastern army.
in the winter of 1756-57; was promoted
corporal in 1757, and sergeant in 1759.
He taught a district school in Easton in
1761. He removed to Chesterfield, Mas-
sachusetts, where as lieutenant of militia
he dispersed the Supreme Court of the
crown at Springfield, Massachusetts. He
was commissioned major of Colonel Fel-
lows' regiment at Roxbury, took part in
the battle of ]^>unker Hill, and in July,
1775, led an expedition to Castle Island,
Boston llarl)or. burning the light-house,
and carrying off much property. When
the British attempted to rebuild the light-
house. Major Tupper attacked the guard,
killed the officers and four privates, and

igb

captured the rest of the troops, the total
killed and captured being fifty-three, and
demolished the works, which act of gal-
lantry won him the thanks of Washing-
ton in general orders, and catised Jeffer-
son to characterize the affair as an in-
stance of "the adventurous genius and
intrepidity of New Englanders." The
British admiral said that no one act in the
siege caused so much chagrin in London
as the destruction of the light-house.
Major Tupper was sent to Martha's Vine-
yard to capture two vessels in August,
1775; made an expedition to Governor's
Island, P)Oston Harbor, in September;
and commanded a number of gunboats on
the Hudson river in August, 1776, partici-
pating in an engagement near Fort Wash-
ington, tie served as lieutenant-colonel
of Colonel Bailey's regiment in the north-
ern army under Gates in 1777, becoming
colonel of the Eleventh Regiment of Con-
tinental troops in July, 1777; was at Val-
ley Forge, 1777-78; engaged in the battle
of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, where his
horse was killed under him ; was appoint-
ed inspector in General Robert Patter-
son's brigade in September, 1778; served
as aide to Washington ; superintended
the stretching of a chain across the Hud-
son river at West Point in 1780, and
toward the close of the war was brevetted
brigadier-general.

He was subsequently a member of the
Massachusetts Legislature, and a justice
of the peace ; was one of the signers of
the petition of Continental officers for the
laying out of a new State "westward of
the Ohio," June 16, 1783, and in 1785,
owing to General Rufus Putnam's resig-
nation as surveyor of the northwestern
lands, accepted the vacancy, and in con-
nection with General Putnam called a
convention at Boston, Massachusetts,
March i, 1786, which organized the Ohio
Company of Associates. General Tupper
made a second survey in 1786. and on his

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

return took charge of the military organ-
izations at Springfield, Massachusetts,
during Shay's rebellion, repelling the in-
surgents' attack on the armory, and being
immediately afterward discharged from
active service. He removed to Ohio in
the summer of 1787, arriving on August
9, 1788, at Marietta, where he was actively
engaged in promoting the plans of the
Ohio Company. At the assembling of the
first civil court of the Northwestern
Territory, September 9, 1788, with Rufus
Putnam, he served as justice of the
quorum, and thereafter, with the excep-
tion of one or two sessions, presided until
his death. General Tupper was a mem-
ber of the Society of the Cincinnati, and
the inventor of the screw propeller.

He was married, November 18, 1762.
to Huldah White, of Bridgewater. wlio
died in Putnam, Ohio, 1812. Of his chil-
dren : Major Anselm Tupper, who was a
"fine classical scholar, a good mathe-
mr.tician. and something of a poet." died
in Marietta, Ohio, December 25, 1838;
Colonel Benjamin Tupper, Jr., died at
Putnam, Ohio, 1815; General Edward
W. Tupper, who served under General
Harrison in the War of 1812, died in
Gallipolis, Ohio, 1823 ; daughter Rosoma
married Governor Winthrop Sargent, and
died in Marietta, 1790. Benjamin Tup-
per, father of these children, died in Mari-
etta, Ohio, June, 1792.

NOYES, George Rapall,

Theologian, Author.

George R. Noyes was born at- New-
buryport, Massachusetts, March 6. 1798,
son of Nathaniel and IMary (Rapall)
Noyes, and a descendant of William
Noyes, who was instituted rector of Chol-
derton, Wiltshire, England, in 1602, and
of his son Nicholas, who with his brother,
the Rev. James Noyes, came to Ipswich,
Massachusetts, in the "Mary and John" in
1624.

Fie was fitted for college in the New-

buryport Academy, and was graduated
at Harvard College, A. B. 1818, A. M.
1821. During his college course he
taught school three winters, and after
leaving college took charge of the acad-
emy at Framinghain for one year. He
studied at the Cambridge Divinity School,
1819-22, and was licensed to preach in the
latter year, but remained in Cambridge
as a teacher until 1825, then serving as
tutor in the college until 1827, devoting
his spare time to the study of the Hebrew
and Greek scriptures and literature. He
was pastor of the First Congregational
Church at Brookfield, 1827-34; pastor of
the First Unitarian Society at Petersham,
Massachusetts, 1834-40 ; and Hancock
Professor of Hebrew and other oriental
languages, and Dexter Lecturer on Bib-
lical Literature at Harvara College, 1840-
68. He received the honorary degree of
S. T. D. from Harvard College in 1839 ;
and was chosen a fellow of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1844.
He was generally recognized as an emi-
nent Greek and Hebrew scholar. His
published works include : '"An Amended
Version of the Book of Job, with Intro-
duction and Notes"' (1827) ; "A New
Translation of the Book of Psalms"
(1831) ; "A New Translation of the He-
brew Prophets Arranged in Chronologi-
cal Order" (three volumes, 1833-37) .• "^
New Translation of the Proverbs. Eccles-
iastes and the Canticles" (1846) : "Theo-
logical Essays from Various Authors"
(1856) ; and "The New Testament Trans-
lated from the Greek Text of Tischen-
dorf" (1869). He also published num.er-
ous tracts, sermons and periodical ar-
ticles. A revised edition in four volumes
of his Old Testament translations was
published in 1867-68.

He was married, ]May 8, 1828, to Eliza
Wheeler Buttrick, of Framingham, Mas-
sachusetts. He died in Cambridge, Mas-
sachusetts, June 3, 1868.

197

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

MORGAN, Abner,

Revolutionary Soldier, Legislator.

Abner Morgan was born in Brimfield,
Massachusetts, January 9, 1746, son of
Jonathan and Ruth (Miller) Morgan ;
grandson of David and Deborah (Cotton)
Morgan ; great-grandson of Joseph and
Tryphenia (Smith) Morgan, and a de-
scendant of Captain Mills and Prudence
(Gilbert) Morgan.

He was graduated at Harvard College
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in
1773 ; studied law and practiced his pro-
fession at Brimfield, being the first law-
yer there, and he also practiced in the
city of Worcester. He represented Brim-
field in the General Court that met at
Watertown, Massachusetts, from July 19,
1775, to January 21, 1776, and voted to
raise a regiment from Berkshire and
Hampshire counties to serve in the ex-
pedition to Canada. He became major
of the First Regiment of Continental
troops raised in Massachusetts, and
under Colonel Elisha Porter marched
with General Arnold to Quebec to join
General Montgomery. After the death
of General Montgomery, General Arnold
being disabled. Major Morgan led the
final attack on Quebec, January i, 1776,
when they were driven off by overpower-
ing numbers, and retreated to Crown
Point, New York, where on July 8, 1776,
Major Morgan drew up an address of the
field officers to General John Sullivan on
the latter's withdrawing from the com-
mand of the army of Canada. He served
in the army until August 29, 1778, when
he was appointed brigade major for
Hampden county, Massachusetts. He
was commissioned justice of the peace of
Massachusetts by Governor Hancock in
1781 ; was chairman of the committee for
taking up persons dangerous to the com-
monwealth in 1782; served as selectman
of Brimfield for twenty-two years, and

was the assessor for Hampden district to
collect direct the United States tax levied
on the State by Congress in 1798. He
represented Brimfield in the Massachu-
setts Legislature, 1798-1801. He received
from the government a pension, and a
bounty grant of twenty thousand acres
in Livingston county. New York, on the
banks of the Genesee river.

He was married, March 31, 1796, to
Persis, daughter of David and Tabitha
(Collins) Morgan, and in 1826 removed
to Lima, New York, and from there to
Avon, New York, where he died, Novem-
ber 7, 1837.

BRYANT, Gridley,

Builder of Bunker Hill Monument.

Gridley Bryant was born at Scituate,
Massachusetts, in 1798. He attended the
common schools of the neighborhood,
and at the age of fifteen years he was ap-
prenticed to a builder of Boston, with
whom he remained for a number of
years. When nineteen years of age he
had sole charge of his employer's works,
this fact testifying to his efificiency and
capability.

At the age of twenty-one years he com-
menced business on his own account. He
invented a portable derrick in 1823, first
used in the construction of the United
States Bank at Boston. In April, 1826,
he was the projector and engineer of the
first railroad in America used to convey
the stone quarried at Quincy, Massachu-
setts, to Charlestown, for the Bunker Hill
monument, of which he was master
builder and contractor. He was the in-
ventor of the eight-wheel car, a turn-
table, a switch, a turnout, and many other
valuable railway equipments, and with a
generosity that was prodigal he gave his
inventions for the benefit of mankind,
never applying for a patent, this fact
proving conclusively tbit he possessed

198

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

public spirit of no mean order. His eight-
wheel car principle was adopted by Ross
Winans, who in 1834 took out a patent
for an eight-wheel car, with appliances
and improvements, adapting it to general
passenger travel. This patent was pur-
chased by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company, and as Bryant's eight-wheel
car was in use on several roads, litiga-
tion followed, and Mr. Bryant was sum-
moned as a witness, but the corporations in
whose behalf he testified made no com-
pensation for his disinterested services,
and their failure to keep their promises
hastened his death, which occurred at
Scituate, Massachusetts, June 13. 1867.

COPLEY, John Singleton,

Famous Painter.

John Singleton Copley was born in
Boston, Massachusetts, July 3, 1737, son
of Richard and Mary (Singleton) Cop-
ley, and grandson of John and Jane
(Bruflfe) Singleton. His parents emi-
grated from County Limerick, Ireland,
and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, in
1736, and his father died in the West In-
dies in 1737. His mother was married,
May 22, 1747, to Peter Pelham. of Boston,
and one son, Henry, was born of this
union. The half-brothers were both de-
voted to art, Henry Pelham being both a
portrait painter and an engraver in Bos-
ton in 1774. He prepared a map of Bos-
ton and one of County Clare, Ireland,
and contributed to the Royal Academy
miniature portraits and sketches.

John Singleton Copley was without
teacher or models, and was obliged to
manufacture his own colors. He made
the statement that he never saw a good
picture until after he left America. His
persevering industry alone made him a
great painter, his genius first showing it-
self on the walls of his room and on the
white margins of his school books. His

stepfather died in 1751, and the two sons
devoted themselves to the care of their
aged mother, residing in Lindel Row,
near the upper end of King street, Bos-
ton. In 1755 he painted from life a minia-
ture of Colonel George Washington, and
in 1760 he sent "The Boy and the Tame
Squirrel," anonymously to Benjamin
West, then in England, with the request
that it be placed in the exhibition rooms.
Upon receiving the picture, West ex-
claimed, "It is worthy of Titian himself !"
Through West's influence it was exhibit-
ed at Somerset House. The American
pine, of which the stretcher was made,
disclosed its origin, and the identity of
the artist was soon discovered. Upon
the nomination of West he was elected
a fellow of the Society of Artists of Great
Britain, and he was invited to make Eng-
land his home. Mr. Copley and his wife
lived on Beacon Hill, Boston, in a solitary
house, picturesquely located in the midst
of eleven acres of land, and in his studio
in this house his best portraits were
painted.

Mr. Copley visited New York in 1771,
and in June, 1774, embarked for England,
further to pursue his art. He reached
London on July 11, 1774, was shown the
art treasures of that city by Benjamin
West, and received a visit from Sir Joshua
Reynolds and from Mr. Strange, the en-
graver. He painted the portraits of Lord
and Lady North, visited Italy, and on his
return painted portraits of the king and
queen. On May 27, 1775, Mrs. Copley
with her family embarked at Marblehead
for England, where she arrived several
weeks before the return of her husband
from Italy, she reaching Dover, June 24,
1775. London henceforth became their
home and Mr. Copley was made a mem-
ber of the Royal Academy. He had his
painting. "The Death of the Earl of
Chatham," engraved, and he sent copies
to President Washington, to John Adams
199

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and to Harvard College. In acknowl-
edgement, Washington wrote, "The work
is rendered more estimable in my eye
when I remember that America gave
birth to the celebrated artist who pro-
duced it;" John Adams wrote, "I shall
preserve (it) with great care, both as a
token of your friendship, and as a finish-
ed monument of 'The Fine Arts' from one
of the greatest masters, and as an indubi-
table proof of American genius ;" and from
Harvard he received a vote of thanks.

Harvard University possesses Copley's
portraits of John Adams, Thomas Hub-
bard. Madam and Xicholas \V. Hoylston,
President Holyoke and Thomas Hollis ;
the engraving from "Chatham." and a
series of eleven prints from Copley's
works, the gift of Gardiner Greene. His
"Siege of Gibraltar" was painted about
1789-90 for the council chamber of ( kiild-
hall, London, and the figures are all por-
traits. "The Red Cross Knight." painted
about 1788-90, gives excellent full-length
portraits of Mr. Copley's son and two
daughters, and became the property of
S. G. Dexter, of Boston, who married a
great-granddaughter of the artist. "The
Family Picture" became the property of
Charles Amory, of Boston, and "Mrs.
Derby as St. Cecilia" of W. Appleton of
the same city. "The Daughter of George
HI." is in Buckingham Palace, and his
other historical English subjects include
"Offer of the Crown to Lady Jane Grey" ;
"Charles Demanding in the House of
Commons the Five Impeached Mem-
bers" ; "King Charles Signing Straft'ord's
Death Warrant"; "Assassination of
Buckingham"; "Battle of the Boyne";
"The Five Impeached Members Brought
Back in Triumph," and "The King's Es-
cape from Hampton Court."

Mr. Copley was married, November 16,
1769, to Susannah Farnum. daughter of
Richard and l-'dizabcth (Winslow")

Clarke. Her father was agent in Boston
for the East India Company, to whom
the tea thrown overboard in Boston har-
bor by the patriots before the Revolution,
was consigned. Her mother was a lineal
descendant of Mary Chilton of the "May-
flower," 1620, who married John Win-
slow, brother of the first governor of the
colony. Her familiar lineaments were
copied in Copley's works, notably in "The
Nativity" ; "The Family Picture" ; "Venus
and Cupid," and the "Death of Major
Pierson." Mr. Copley died in London,
England, September 9, 1815. His eldest
child, Elizabeth Clarke, born in Boston in
1770, was educated in England, became
her father's reader and companion, and
in 1800 was married to Gardiner Greene,
of Boston, and died in that city in 1866
at the age of ninety-six. The third child,
Susannah, died in 1785 when nine years
old. of scarlet fever, and the fourth, Jona-
than, died the same year, an infant, while
Alay. the youngest child, lived unmar-
ried, attaining the age of ninety-five
years, dying at Hampton Court Palace,
April 22), 1868.

John Singleton Copley Jr., the second
child of John Singleton Copley, R. A.,
was born on Beacon Hill, Boston, May
21. 1772. He was educated at Trinity
College, Cambridge, England, and visit-
ed P>oston in 1796, where he failed to
obtain a settlement of his father's affairs,
resulting from a sale by the agent of his
estate on Beacon Hill, after his father's
departure for Italy. He visited Mount
Vernon, was a guest of General Wash-
ington, and became enamored of Eliza-
beth, daughter of Bishop W'hite, of Phila-
delphia, whom he wished to marry, but
the bishop would not allow his daughter
to make her home in England. He trav-
eled on horseback through the wilderness
of the Middle States and expressed a
wi^-'h to settle in his native land. He re-

200

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

turned to England, however, in 1798,
where he became a lawyer in 1804 and
entered political life as a Tory member
of parliament in 1818. He became Lord
Chancellor in 1827 and was raised to the
peerage as Baron Lyndhurst, of Lynd-
hurst, April 27, 1827. He was twice
married, but left no male issue and the
title lapsed with his death, which occurred
at Tunbridge Wells, England, October
12, 1863, he having reached the age of
ninety-one years and nearly six months.

DERBY, Elias Hasket,

Ship Owner and Foreign Trader.

Elias Hasket Derby was born in Sa-
lem, Massachusetts, August 16. 1737, son
of Captain Richard Derby ( 1712-83);
and great-grandson of Roger Derby, who
acquired wealth through trading in all
parts of the world and whose business
descended to his sons and grandsons.

Elias H. Derby greatly increased the
foreign trade of the Derby firm, and at
the outbreak of the Revolutionary War
owned seven large vessels and had ac-
cumulated a fortune of $50,000, a very
large sum for that day. He rendered effi-
cient service in equipping the first colo-
nial navy of one hundred and thirty-eight
armed vessels against British commerce
on the high seas, and gradually converted
the majority of his vessels into letters-of-
marque. He also established shipyards,
and built for the colonies their largest
ships, fully able to cope with the ordinary
British sloop-of-war. After the war he
greatly extended the trade of his house —
to Russia in 1784, to China in 1788, also
carrying on a large East Indian trade
from 1788 to 1799, sending thirty-seven
different vessels on one hundred and
twenty-five voyages, and increasing his
property five-fold. His vessels were the
first to float the Stars and Stripes in the
harbor of Calcutta, and were the first

American vessels seen at the Cape of Good
Hope and the Isle of France, and to carry
cargoes of cotton from Bombay to China.
He subscribed for $10,000 of the $74,700
of six per cent, stock issued at his sug-
gestion to build for the United States ser-
vice vessels for the new navy organized
in 1798, and he built at his yard the fam-
ous frigate "Essex," which upon being
comjnissioned was placed in command of
his nephew, Richard Derby. He built a
palatial residence in Salem, Massachu-
setts, and is said to have acquired the
largest fortune accumulated in America
during the eighteenth century, and to
have advanced the interests of American
shipping and the extension of commerce
to a greater degree than any other man of
his time. He died in Salem, Massachu-
setts, September 8, 1799.

COBB, David,

Revolutionary Soldier, Liegislator, Jurist.

David Cobb was born in Attleboro,
Massachusetts, September 14, 1748, son
of Thomas and Lydia (Leonard) Cobb;
grandson of ^Morgan and Esther (Hodges)
Cobb ; and great-grandson of Austen
Cobb, of Taunton, Massachusetts, who
received a deed of his farm there in 1679.

David Cobb was graduated from Har-
vard College in 1766, studied medicine,
and practiced his profession at Taunton,
Massachusetts. He was secretary of the
Bristol County Convention of 1774. and
delegate to the Provincial Congress at
Concord, 1775. He entered the Conti-
nental army as lieutenant-colonel of
Jackson's regiment, and served in New
Jersey and Rhode Island, 1777-78. He
was on the staff of General Washington
as aide-de-camp with the rank of colo-
nel, entertained the French officers, nego-
tiated with the British commander for the
evacuation of New York, and received
the brevet of brigadier-general in 1783.

201

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

On returning home in 1786 he was made
major-general of State militia, and ren-
dered conspicuous service during Shay's
rebellion. He was judge of the Court of
Common Pleas of Bristol county, Massa-
chusetts, 1784-96; speaker of the lower
house of the Massachusetts Legislature,
1789-93, and a representative in the Third
United States Congress, 1793-95. In 1796
he removed to Gouldsboro, Maine, repre-
sented the east district of Maine in the
Massachusetts Senate, and was president
of that body in 1801-05. ^^ '^^'^s a mem-
ber of the Massachusetts Council, 1808-
10 and 1812-18; Lieutenant-Governor,
1809; member of the military defence,
1812; and Chief Justice of the Hancock
county (Maine) Court of Common Pleas,
1803-09. In 1817 he returned to Taun-
ton, Massachusetts.

He was a fellow of the American Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences, and received
the degree of Master of Arts from Llar-
vard College in 1769, from the College of
New Jersey in 1783, and from Brown
University in 1790. He died in Taunton,
Massachusets, April 17, 1830.

TALBOT, Silas,

Naval Officer.

Silas Talbot was born in Dighton,
Bristol county, Massachusetts, in 1751,
son of Benjamin Talbot, a prosperous
farmer of Bristol county, and his wife,
Zififorah Allen, who died in 1763.

Silas Talbot went to sea as a boy, on
coasting vessels, and in young manhood
became a merchant in Providence, Rhode
Island. He joined the Continental army
as a lieutenant, was commissioned cap-
tain, June 28, 1775, and took part in the
siege of Boston, and accompanied the
troops to New York. He proposed an
attack on the British fleet in the North
river, by means of a fire ship, and ascend-
ing the Hudson river in a ship filled with

combustibles, made a night attack, suc-
ceeding in partly destroying the British
ship "Asia," after which, although se-
verely burned, he escaped to the Jersey
shore. On October 10, 1777, Congress
tendered him a vote of thanks and pro-
moted him to the rank of major. He took
part in the defence of Mud Island, in the
Delaware river, and was badly wounded,
and on his return to duty joined the army
under Sullivan, participating in the battle
of Rhode Island, in August, 1778.

His naval career began October 29,
1778, when, in command of a small sloop
with two guns and sixty men, he planned
and executed the capture of the British
ship "Pigot," of two hundred tons,
anchored off Newport, for which Con-
gress awarded him a vote of thanks and
promoted him to lieutenant-colonel. In
command of the "Pigot" and "Argo" he
was detailed to guard the coast from
Long Island to Nantucket. He captured
the British schooner "Lively;" two let-
ters-of-marque brigs from the West In-
dies ; the privateer "King George ;" the
sloop "Adventure," and the brig "Elliot,"
and later captured the "Dragon," a large
armed vessel, after a severe battle of four
hours. He was commissioned captain and
assigned to the command of the privateer
"George Washington," and, falling in
with a British fleet, was captured, and
confined in the prison ship "Jersey," and
and in the "Old Sugar House," New
York City. In November, 1780, he was
taken to England on the "Yarmouth,"
being kept in close confinement and suf-
fering great cruelties. He was finally ex-
changed in 1781, and was sent to Cher-
bourg, France, where he sailed for Amer-
ica in a French brig. This brig was cap-
tured by the British privateer "Jupiter,"
but Captain Talbot was transferred to an
English brig and taken to New York.
He removed to Philadelphia and later to
New York, and was a representative

202

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

from that State in the Third Cong-ress,
1793-95. Upon the reorganization of the
United States navy, he was commis-
sioned captain, May 11, 1789, and com-
manded a squadron in the West Indies
during the war with France. He planned
the expedition under Lieutenant Isaac
Hull, to cut out the French privateer
"Sandwich," at Port Platte, Santo Do-
mingo. He resigned his commission Sep-
tember 21, 1801.

He was twice married; (first) in 1772,
to Anna, daughter of Colonel Barzillai
Richmond ; and (second) to Rebecca,
daughter of Morris Morris, and grand-
daughter of Governor Mifflin. He died in
New York City, June 30, 1813, and was
buried in Trinity churchyard, New York
City.

CLAPP, Asa,

Distinguislied Merchant, Legislator.

Asa Clapp was born in Mansfield, Mas-
sachusetts, March 15, 1762, son of Abiel
Clapp ; grandson of Samuel and Bethiah
(Dean) Clapp; great-grandson of Thomas
and Mary (Fisher) Clapp, and great-
great-grandson of Thomas and Abigail
Clap.

When very young he volunteered to
serve as substitute for one who had been
drafted for the expedition for expulsion
of the British troops from Rhode Island,
was appointed a non-commissioned offi-
cer, and remained in the service until hon-
orably discharged. He then proceeded
to Boston, shipped on a vessel, and soon
obtained command. He passed several
years at sea, and in 1793 was captured
and held in England for six months, when
he was released and indemnified for his
loss. In 1798 he became a merchant in
Portland, Maine, where he accumulated a
large fortune in foreign and domestic
trade.

In 1807, when Congress laid an em-

bargo on the shipping in the United
States, Mr. Clapp firmly supported the
government, although it was greatly to
his financial disadvantage. He was chosen
a member of the Massachusetts Council
in 181 1. In 1812, when an embargo was
again laid, and a few months later war
was declared, Mr. Clapp again gave the
government his support, and voluntarily
subscribed nearly one-half of the whole
amount of his property to the loan to sus-
tain the national credit. In 1816 he was
appointed by President Madison one of
the commissioners to obtain subscriptions
to the capital stock of the Bank of the
United States, to which corporation he
was the largest subscriber in Maine. He
was elected a delegate to the convention
held in 1819 for the purpose of forming
the Maine constitution, and he was re-
peatedly chosen a representative in the
State Legislature.

He was married to Eliza Wendall,
daughter of Dr. Jacob Quincy, of Boston,
Massachusetts. His death occurred in
Portland, Maine, April 17, 1848.

CROSBY, Enoch,

Hero of Cooper's "The Spy."

Enoch Crosby was born in Hardwich,
Massachusetts, January 4, 1753, son of
Thomas and Elizabeth Crosby. In 1753
his parents removed to Carmel, New
York, and in 1771, after serving an ap-
prenticeship, Enoch Crosby went to Dan-
bury, where he worked at his trade as
shoemaker.

He joined the Continental army in
1775, serving in the Lake Champlain
campaign for several months. He was
sent home ill. and on his recovery in Sep-
tember, 1776, he started on foot to return
to the American camp at White Plains,
New York. On his way he met a stranger
who mistook him for a fellow Tory, and,
by keeping up the deception, Crosby dis-

203

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

covered a plot among a band of Tories
against the Patriots. Proceeding to White
Plains, he divulged his information to
John Jay, then a member of the commit-
tee of safety. A body of cavalry was at
once despatched under Crosby's leader-
ship, and the whole company of loyalists
was seized and imprisoned. Jay then sug-
gested that Crosby could best aid the
cause by becoming a spy, to which he
consented. He took his kit of tools and
went from house to house repairing shoes
and gaining much useful information.
He afterward joined the British army, in
which he rendered invaluable assistance
to the Americans, risking his life many
times to accomplish his purpose. After
the Revolution he purchased a farm in
Carmel, New York, and resided there
until his death. In 1794, at the request of
John Jay, an appropriation was granted
for his services, but he declined it, say-
ing that "it was not for gold" that he had
served his country. He was for many
years a justice of the peace, and was at
one time an associate judge in the Court
of Common Pleas. In 1812-13 he was
supervisor for the township of Southeast.
In 1827 he visited New York as a witness
in a law suit, and was recognized by an
old man who presented him to the court
as the original of "Harvey Birch" in
Cooper's romance, "The Spy." At that
time the dramatization was being per-
formed at the Lafayette Theatre, and Mr.
Crosby was invited by the proprietor to
occupy a box. He was introduced to the
audience as "the real spy," receiving tre-
mendous applause. See "The Spy Un-
masked" (1828) by Captain H. L. Bar-
num, and an article by H. E. Miller in the
"New England Magazine" for May, 1898,
entitled "The Spy of the Neutral Ground."
He (lied in Brewsters, New York. lune 26,
1835-

RANTOUL, Robert,

Xiegislator, Reformer.

Robert Rantoul was born in Salem,
Massachusetts, November 23, 1778, son
of Robert and Mary (Preston) Rantoul.
His father, at the age of sixteen in 1769
emigrated from Kinrosshire, Scotland,
where the family had been domiciled
since 1360, and settled in Salem, Massa-
chusetts, out of which port he command-
ed privateers and merchantment for Wil-
liam Gray and others, and, sailing at the
age of thirty on a Mediterranean voyage,
was lost at sea, with all on board, when
in command of the ship "Iris."

The son engaged in business on his
own account as a druggist at Beverly,
Massachusetts, in 1796. He was a repre-
sentative in the State Legislature, 1809-
20; and 1823-33; and State Senator, 1821-
23. He was a member of the State Con-
stitutional Conventions of 1820 and 1853,
and during the W'ar of 1812 he served in
the militia and coast guard, 1812-15, after
which he became a member of the Massa-
chusetts Peace Society. He was an early
opponent of the habitual use of strong
drink, and became a life member of the
Massachusetts Temperance Society in
1812. Lie also opposed the retention of
capital punishment. He was an enthusi-
astic student and writer of local history.
He was one of the founders of a charity
school at Beverl}'. which was the first
Sunday school in America. For fifty con-
secutive years he filled a number of pa-
rochial and town offices, writing the yearly
reports to the town of the poor depart-
ment, for half a century.

He was married. June 4, 1801, to Jo-
annah, daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Herrick) Lovett, of Beverly, Massachu-
setts. He died in Beverly, Massachu-
setts, October 24, 1858.

204

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

CUTLER, Jervis,

Pioneer of tlie Ohio Company.

Jervis Cutler was born in Eclgartown,
Massachusetts. September 19, 1768, sec-
ond son of Manasseh and Mary (Balch)
Cutler. He was educated in the village
school, and entered commercial life under
Captain David Pearce, of Gloucester, who
sent him to Europe.

When nineteen years old he was one
of the first band of settlers who left Ips-
wich, Massachusetts, December 3, 1787,
under the patronage of the Ohio Com-
pany, to settle the lands on the Muskin-
gum river, in the Ohio territory. In the
midst of the pestilence, famine and debt
which overtook the settlers, he returned
to New England, reaching home in 1790.
He returned to Ohio in 1802, and engaged
in the fur trade on the Miami river, sell-
ing his furs in Boston. He was elected
captain of a rifle company in May, 1806.
and soon after was made major of Colo-
nel McArthur's regiment of Ohio militia.
On May 3, 1808, President Jefferson ap-
pointed him captain in the Seventh
United States Infantry, with orders to
open a recruiting office in Cincinnati.
Ohio. On February 23, 1809, he was or-
dered to New Orleans, where he was at-
tached to the command of Major Zebulon
M. Pike. He was prostrated with yellow
fever and returned to Massachusetts,
where he took up engraving on copper.
In 1812 he published "A Topographical
Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana
Territory and Louisiana, with a concise
account of the Indian tribes west of the
Mississippi, to which is added the journal
of Mr. Charles Le Raye while a captive
with the Sioux nation on the waters of
the Missouri river." He illustrated the
book with copper plate engravings, and
printed about one thous'and copies. His
work on this book gained for him orders
for engraving from Boston and Salem

publishers. In 1814 he made the journey
to and from Ohio on horseback, and in
1817 moved his family there in wagons.
Later he removed to Nashville, Tennes-
see, where he engraved plates for bank-
notes, and illustrated "Tannehill's Ma-
sonic Manual." In 1841 he removed to
Evansville, Indiana, and died there, June
25, 1844.

He was married (first) in 1794, to Phil-
adelphia, daughter of Captain Benjamin
Corgill. She died October 6, 1820. He
married (second) in 1824, Mrs. Elizabeth
S. Chandler, of Evansville, Indiana.

JARVIS, William,

Diplomatist.

William Jarvis was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, February 4, 1770, the only
son of Dr. Charles Jarvis, and grandson
of Colonel Leonard and Sarah (Church)
Jarvis.

He was educated in Latin schools in
Boston, at Bordentown (New Jersey)
Academy, 1784-85, and was instructed in
mathematics b}^ William Waring, of
Philadelphia. 1785-86. In 1786 he engag-
ed in a mercantile business in Norfolk,
Virginia, and in 1791 in Boston, Massa-
chusetts. This venture failing in 1796,
he went to Corunna as supercargo, and
after two voyages he had mastered the
science of navigation and was able to buy
a third interest in the brig, "Mary." Al-
though of limited nautical experience, he
was given full charge of the vessel by the
other owners, and after navigating the
brig for four years, and also trading on
his own account, he retired from the sea
in 1802 with a considerable fortune,
which enabled him to liquidate his obliga-
tions made by endorsing commercial
paper that caused his failure in i^g6. On
February 4. 1802, he was appointed by
President Jefferson as Charge d'Affaires
and Consul General at Lisbon, the court

205

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of Portug-al, and established a reputation
as diplomatist by his dexterous manage-
ment of the difficult negotiations with the
Portugese government ; with the com-
mander of the French forces at Lisbon,
1807-08, and with the British govern-
ment. The revolution released large
flocks of merino sheep formerly held by
the grandees, and in 1809 Mr. Jarvis took
advantage of the opportunity afforded
him to purchase two hundred of the royal
Escurial flock and ship them to the
United States, where he distributed them
among the public men of the various
States. These sheep, with the exception
of one hundred sent by the former United
States Minister, Colonel David Humph-
reys, to the United States on his leaving
Lisbon in 1802, were the first of the breed
introduced into the United States. He
subsequently increased his exportation of
merinos by purchasing seventeen hundred
of the Aguirres flock and fourteen hun-
dred Paulars. Consul Jarvis returned to
the United States in 1810 with his fam-
ily, reaching Boston in November. He
then reported at Washington, where he
dined with President Madison, and, when
asked to receive compensation for his
eight years' service, refused, on the
ground that his country needed its funds
to prosecute a war with Great Britain. In
1812 he purchased a tract of land in
Weathersfield, Vermont, where he made
his home and engaged in agriculture. He
was in Lisbon fourteen months on busi-
ness, 1813-14, during the war of 1812, re-
turning home in January, 181 5. He sup-
ported Henry Clay for the Presidency in
1824. 1832 and 1844; William Henry Har-
rison in 1836 and 1840; and General Za-
chary Taylor in 1848. He was married
in 1808 to Mary Pepperell, daughter of
Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Bartlett)
S])arkill, of Boston, Massachusetts, the
ceremony having been performed in Por-
tugal, first by the United States Consul

at St. Lucor, secondly, by a Roman Cath-
olic priest, and thirdly by a Protestant
clergyman in Lisbon. Mrs. Jarvis died
at Haverhill, Massachusetts, April 7,
181 1. His second marriage occurred in
May, 181 7, to Ann Bailey, daughter of the
Hon. Bailey and Peggy Leonard (White)
Bartlett, of Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Consul Jarvis died at Weathersfield, Ver-
mont, October 21, 1859.

TUDOR, William,

Legislator, Diplomatist.

William Tudor was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, January 28, 1779, son of
Colonel William and Delia (Jarvis) Tu-
dor, grandson of John and Jane (Varney)
Tudor, and of Elias and Deliverance (At-
kins) Jarvis, and great-grandson of Wil-
liam Tudor, whose wife (probably Mary)
brought their son John from England to
Boston, 1714-15. Colonel William Tudor
( 1 750-1819), graduated at Harvard Col-
lege, A. B., 1769, and received the Mas-
ter's degree in 1772. He was appointed
Judge Advocate General, with the rank
of colonel, serving on Washington's staff,
1775-78. After the return of peace, he sat
in both houses of the Massachusetts Leg-
islature, was Secretary of State, 1809-10,
and clerk of the Supreme Court, 1811-19.
He was the author of various addresses,
including "The Boston Massacre" ; and
his memoir was published by the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society, of which he
was one of the founders. His wife, Delia
Jarvis, was a Tory, and wrote the me-
morial verses on the battle of Bunker Hill,
published in "The National Intelligen-
cer," June 24, 1843, on the occasion of the
completion of the monument at Charles-
town, Massachusetts.

Their son, William Tudor, attended
Phillips Andover Academy, then enter-
ing Harvard College, from which he grad-
uated A. B. in 1796, and receiving the

206

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Master's degree three years later. He
was soon after sent by John Codman on
a business commission to Paris, France,
and after his return to Boston, soon again
revisited Europe for study and recre-
ation. He was one of the founders of the
Anthology Club in 1805, and of its suc-
cessor, the Boston Athenaeum, in 1807.
In the fall of 1805 he went to the West
Indies with James Savage, in connection
with his brother Frederic's ice-trade busi-
ness, and in 1807 went to France for the
same purpose. In December, 1814, he
originated the "North American Review,"
its initial number appearing in May, 1815,
and was the first editor of that periodical.
He was subsequently a member of the
Massachusetts Legislature ; United States
Consul at Lima, Peru, 1823-27; and
Charge d'Afifaires at Rio Janeiro, 1827-
30. He was a member of the Massachu-
setts Historical Society, and one of the
founders of the Bunker Hill Monument.
He was author of "Letters on the Eastern
States" (1820) ; "Miscellanies," selected
from his contributions to the "North
American Review" and the "Monthly
Anthology" (1821) ; "Life of James Otis,
of Massachusetts" (1823) ; "Gebel Teir,"
a political allegory (1829) ; and several
addresses, including his Fourth of July
oration in Boston in 1809. He died of
yellow fever, in Rio Janeiro, March 9,
1830, while occupying his official station
there.

MILLER, William,

Fatter of tlie Millerite Sect.

This remarkable man, founder of a
remarkable religious sect, was born at
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, February 15,
1782, son of Captain William and Paulina
(Phelps) Miller; grandson of William
and Hannah (Leonard) Miller and of the
Rev. Elnathan Phelps, a Baptist minister.
His grandfather removed from West

Springfield, Massachusetts, and settled on
a farm in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, about
1747, and his father served in the Revo-
lution and removed to Low Hampton,
New York.

William Miller was employed on the
farm in New York, and his education was
acquired chiefly through reading books
which he procured with money earned
by chopping wood. He engaged in farm-
ing in Poultney, Vermont. He served as
sheriff in 1809-10, and commanded a com-
pany of volunteers sent in 1812 to Burl-
ington, where he was transferred to the
United States army. He fought in the
battle of Plattsburgh, September ii,
1814, was promoted to captain, and re-
signed from the army June 25, 181 5. Dur-
ing his residence in Poultney he became
interested in the writings of Voltaire,
Hume, Paine, Ethan Alien and others,
and professed to be a deist, but was con-
verted and joined the Baptist church at
Low Hampton, to which place he remov-
ed in 1816. In 1818, at the close of two
years' study of the Bible, he announced
his conviction that in twenty-five years
(1843 by Jewish time, or 1844, Roman)
Jesus Christ would appear in person to
judge the world, and in 1831 he entered
upon his self-imposed mission as a
preacher on the topic of the second advent
of Christ. He had been licensed to preach
by the Baptist church at Low Hampton,
but was never ordained. He spoke in
Vermont and New York in the pulpits of
nearly all denominations, the Episcopal
and Roman Catholic alone excluding him.
People flocked to hear him, and many
were converted to his views. In 1839 he
delivered his first course of lectures in
Massachusetts. On March 14, 1844, he
announced the second coming of Christ
to be at hand. In October, 1844, after
seven months' waiting, work was sus-
pended by the Millerites, and all repaired
to their tabernacles, where they waited

207

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

until the end of November, when they
dispersed and affiliated with various
sects. "Father" Miller continued to hold
together fifty thousand disciples, and in
April, 1845. a declaration of faith was
agreed upon, and the name "Adven-
tist" adopted, which sect under various
names increased steadily. In 1840 he
aided in establishing "The Signs of the
Times and Exposition of Prophecy," pub-
lished in Boston, which afterward be-
came the "Advent Herald." He publish-
ed many sermons and lectures, and his
"Dream of the Last Day" was widely cir-
culated. See biographies by Sylvester
Bliss, James White and Joshua V. Himes.
He was married, June 29, 1803, to Lucy
Smith, of Poultney, Vermont. He died
at Low Hampton, New York, December
20. 1849.

COGSWELL, Joseph Green,

Educationist, Librarian.

Joseph Green Cogswell was born in
Ipswich, Massachusetts, September 27,
1786, son of Francis and Anstice (Man-
ning) Cogswell, and a descendant of John
Cogswell, who immigrated to America
from England in 1635.

He was fitted for college at Phillips
Academy. Exeter, and was graduated at
Harvard College in 1806 receiving his A.
B. degree in 1807 and an honorary A. B.
from Yale the same year. He made a
voyage to India as supercargo, and then
practiced law in Belfast, Maine. He was
a tutor at Harvard College, 1814-15. He
studied at the University of Gottingen,
1816-17. and investigated educational
methods and bibliography in the Euro-
pean capitals, 1818-19. He was Professor
of Mineralogy and Geology and college
librarian at Harvard College. 1821-23, ^"^1
during his professorship greatly enrich-
ed the college with gifts of rare mineral
and botanical specimens. In 1823, with

George Bancroft, he established the
Round Hill School, at Northampton, Mas-
sachusetts, with which he continued until
1836, when he took charge of a like in-
stitution in Raleigh, North Carolina.
However, he soon left the south to as-
sume the editorship of the "New York
Review," which he conducted until 1842,
when its publication ceased.

In New York he made the acquaintance
of John Jacob Astor, and, with Washing-
ton Irving and Fitz Green Halleck. ar-
ranged the plan of the Astor Library,
being appointed a trustee of the library
fund. Washington Irving secured for
him the appointment of Secretary of Le-
gation to Madrid, Spain, in 1842, but Mr.
Astor prevented his acceptance by ap-
pointing him superintendent of the pro-
posed library, and he went abroad after
Mr. Astor's death in 1848 and selected a
large number of the books for its shelves.
He prepared an alphabetical and analyt-
ical catalogue of the books in the library
which was published in eight large
volumes, and he gave to the library his
own valuable series of bibliographical
works. He retired from the superintend-
ency in 1861. on account of his advanced
age, and in 1864 took up his residence
in Cambridge. Massachusetts, resigning
his office as trustee of the library. He
left, of his moderate fortune, $4,000 to a
school in Ipswich, and was buried there,
his Round Hill pupils erecting over his
grave a handsome monument. He receiv-
ed the degree of A. M. from Harvard in
1814; that of Ph. D. from Gottingen in
1819. and that of LL. D. from Trinity
College (Connecticut) in 1842. and from
Harvard College in 1863. He was a fel-
low of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences of Boston. See "Life of Jo-
seph Green Cogswell, as Sketched in His
Letters." a memorial volume, by Anna E.
Ticknor (1874). He died in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, November 26, 1871.

208

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

COGSWELL, Jonathan,

Clergyman, Author, Philanthropist.

Jonathan Cogswell was born in Rowley,
Massachusetts, September 3, 1782, son of
Dr. Nathaniel Cogswell and a direct de-
scendant of John Cogswell, of Bristol,
England, who settled in Ipswich, Massa-
chusetts, in 1635.

Jonathan Cogswell was graduated at
Harvard College, A. B., in 1806, and re-
ceived the A. M. degree in 1809. He pur-
sued theological studies with a tutor at
Bowdoin College in 1807-09, and com-
pleted his course at Andover Theological
Seminary in 1810. He was settled over
the Congregational Church at Saco,
Maine, in 1810, and served until 1828,
when he resigned, having saved about one
thousand dollars which he intended to
use in securing a home, his health pre-
venting his further pastoral work. An
eloquent appeal made in his church for
aid for foreign missions, determined him
to contribute his savings to that cause,
and the next year he took charge of the
New Britain Church at Berlin, Connecti-
cut, where he ministered for five years.
The death of his brother Nathan in 1832
gave to his family a large estate, and he
was made trustee for the heirs. In 1834
he was made Professor of Ecclesiastical
History in the Theological Institute at
East Windsor, Connecticut, and to this
institution he gave his services for ten
years, together with large sums of money
and the greater part of his large library.
In 1844 he removed to New Brunswick,
New Jersey, where he joined Dr. Jane-
way and Mr. Ford in building the Sec-
ond Presbyterian Church and parsonage,
personally bearing a large portion of the
expense. He was an early member of the
New York Historical Society, a life direc-
tor of the American Bible Society, a life
member of the American Tract Society,
and a liberal contributor to these and

other charitable organizations. He found-
ed scholarships in the College of New
Jersey and in Rutgers College.

He received the degree of A. M. from
Bowdoin College in 1815, and that of D.
D. from the University of the City of
New York in 1836. He published ser-
mons ; a treatise on the necessity of capi-
tal punishment; "Hebrew Theocracy"
(1848); "Calvary and Sinai" (1852);
"Godliness a Great Mystery" (1857) ; and
"The Appropriate Work of the Holy
Spirit" (1859). See "The Cogswells in
America" (1884) by E. O. Jameson. He
died in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Au-
gust I, 1864.

TAPPAN, Arthur,

Educationist, Reformer.

Arthur Tappan was born in North-
ampton, Massachusetts, May 22., 1786,
son of Benjamin (1747-1831) and Sarah
(Homes) (1748-1826) Tappan; grandson
of the Rev. Benjamin (1720-1790) and
Elizabeth (Marsh) Toppan, and of the
Rev. William Homes, of Martha's Vine-
yard, Massachusetts, whose father, Rob-
ert, married Mary, sister of Dr. Benjamin
Franklin ; great-grandson of Samuel and
Abigail (Wigglesworth) Tappan, and
great-great-grandson of Abraham and
Susanna (Taylor) Toppan, who emigrat-
ed to America from Yarmouth, England,
May ID, 1637, and settled in Essex county,
Massachusetts. His father was a gold
and silversmith in Northampton for
twenty years, when he relinquished it to
engage in the drygoods business.

Arthur Tappan attended the common
schools of Northampton, and later was
apprenticed to a wholesale importing
merchant in Boston in 1801. In 1806 his
employers set him up in the drygoods
importing business in Portland, Maine,
his partner being Henry D. Sewall, son of
Chief-Justice Sewall. In 1808 they re-

MASS— 14

209

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

moved the business to Montreal, Canada.
He was married in September, 1810, to
Frances, daughter of Colonel Edward
Antill of the Continental army, and em-
barked for England to purchase goods.
On the outbreak of the war of 181 2, Tap-
pan and Sewall refused to take the oath
of allegiance, and were obliged to leave
the province at a great financial sacrifice.
In 1815 Arthur Tappan engaged in the
importing business in New York City, the
firm being Arthur Tappan & Company,
]jut in 1816 the country was so flooded
with importations that he began a job-
bing business, Avhich he conducted with
great success.

Mr. Tappan was elected chairman of
the American Education Society of New
York in 1807 and was its president, 1831-
33. He was associated with his brother
Lewis in the founding of the "Journal of
Commerce," September i, 1827, and was
one of the founders of the American
Tract Society in 1828. Pie opposed slav-
ery, and in 1830 paid the fine and costs
necessary to liberate William Lloyd Gar-
rison, who was confined in jail at Balti-
more. He supported the publication of
"The Liberator," and aided in the estab-
lishment of "The Emancipator" in New
York City, in March, 1833. He was one
of the founders of the New England Anti-
Slavery Society at Boston, and was chos-
en first president of the New York City
Anti-Slavery Society, October 3, 1833.
He was president of the American Anti-
Slavery Society, and donated $1,000 a
month for its maintenance, but in 1840
he resigned on account of the offensive
attitude of several of its members toward
the church and the Union. He subscrib-
ed $15,000 to Lane Theological Semi-
nary, and was instrumental in securing
Dr. Lyman Beecher as first president of
the institution in 1832, but he failed be-
fore his payment became due, and his

brother John and other relations paid the
amount. When he heard of the act of
the trustees prohibiting anti-slavery dis-
cussion in the institution, he presented
the dissenting students with $1,000 which
enabled them in 1835 to repair to Oberlin
Seminary, Ohio, where more liberal ideas
prevailed. He gave to Oberlin College a
professorship and "Tappan Hall," on con-
dition that it should be conducted on anti-
slavery principles. On December 16,
1835, his store was destroyed by fire, and
was immediately rebuilt, but in May,
1837, owing to the financial panic, the
firm was obliged to suspend operations.
In 1849 h^ purchased a moiety of the es-
tablishment known as the Mercantile
zA.gency, with which he was connected
until 1854, and resided at Belleville, New
Jersey, but in 1854 removed to New
Plaven, Connecticut, where he died, July
23, 1865.

KENDALL, Amos,

liav/yer. Journalist, Cabinet Officer.

Amos Kendall was born in Dunstable,
Massachusetts, August 16, 1787' son of
Zebedee Kendall, grandson of John Ken-
dall, great-grandson of Jacob Kendall,
great-great-grandson of Jacob Kendall,
and great-great-great-grandson of Fran-
cis Kendall, the progenitor of the family
in America, who emigrated from Eng-
land about 1640, and settled in Woburn,
Massachusetts.

Amos Kendall spent his boyhood on his
father's farm, and attended the academy
at New Ipswich in 1805-06. He served
as a teacher in the public schools at
Reading and Dunstable, Massachusetts.
He prepared for college at Groton Acad-
emy, Massachusetts, under Caleb Butler-
and was graduated with honors from
Dartmouth College in 181 1. He studied
law in the office of William M. Richard-

210

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

son, in Groton, Massachusetts, from 1811
to 1814, when he removed to Washing-
ton, D. C. Soon afterward he went to
Kentucky, where he was a tutor in the
family of Henry Clay for three years.
He was admitted to the bar at Frankfort,
Kentucky, October 17, 1814, and removed
the following year to Georgetown, Ken-
tucky, where he was appointed postmas-
ter, and also became editor of the George-
town "Patriot," which he conducted for
two years. He was part owner and co-
editor of the "Argus of Western Amer-
ica," at Frankfort, Kentucky, from 1816
to 1829. He supported the Democratic
party, and secured the passage by the
legislature of an act to appropriate fines
and forfeitures to the purpose of promot-
ing education. He was appointed Fourth
Auditor of the United States Treasury
by President Jackson in March, 1829, and
removed to W^ashington, D. C. He aided
in forming the anti-bank policy ; was ap-
pointed special treasury agent to nego-
tiate the State Bank, and was instrumen-
tal in having the "Globe" newspaper
supersede the "Telegraph" as the official
organ of the administration. He was ap-
pointed Postmaster-General by President
Jackson in June, 1835, was retained in
that position by President Van Buren.
and resigned May 9, 1840. on account of
ill health. During his term of office he
introduced many reforms in the Post-
office Department, freed it from debt, and
urged the enactment of a law forbidding
the passage through the mail of any mat-
ter touching upon the subject of slavery.
In carrying out his plans of postoffice
reform he incurred the enmity of certain
powerful naval contractors, and for sev-
eral years was embarrassed by a suit that
was brought against him for alleged hold-
ing back of moneys belonging to them.
This suit he defended at his own expense,
and it was finally decided in his favor.

He established "Kendall's Expositor" in
1841, and the "Union Democrat" in 1842,
both of v/hich were soon discontinued.
He was offered a foreign mission by
President Polk, but declined the appoint-
ment. He was associated with Samuel F.
B. Morse in the ownership and manage-
ment of the Morse telegraph patents,
1845-60, the success of which brought
him a fortune. The remainder of his life
he spent in Washington, D. C, and at his
country home, "Kendall Green," near that
city.

Mr. Kendall gave $100,000 toward the
erection of Calvary Baptist Church at
Washington, D. C, in 1864, and after its
destruction by fire in 1867 contributed
largely toward rebuilding it. He was the
founder and first president of the Colum-
bian Institution for the Deaf and Dumb,
and contributed $20,000 toward its sup-
port. He also gave $25,000 to two mis-
sion schools in Washington, D. C. He
published in the Washington "Evening
Star" a series of protests against the se-
cession of the Southern States in i860,
and on April 17th, 1861, placed his two
houses and grounds at Washington at
the disposal of the government for the
quartering of troops in case they should
be needed, retiring to Trenton, New Jer-
sey, in order that the premises could be
so occupied. He traveled in Europe in the
years 1866-67. Fie was a trustee of the
corporation of the Columbian Univer-
sity, Washington, D. C, 1865-69, and
president of the board of trustees, 1867-
69. He was the author of an incomplete
"Life of Andrew Jackson" (1843) and a
pamphlet entitled "Full Exposure of Dr.
Charles T. Jackson's Pretensions to the
Invention of the Electro-Magnetic Tele-
graph" (1867). See his autobiography,
edited by his son-in-law. William Stick-
ney (1872).

He was married (first) in October,

211

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

1818, to Mary B. Woolfolk, of Jefferson
county, Kentucky, who died October 13,
1823 ; married (second) January 5, 1826,
to Jane Kyle, of Georgetown, Kentucky.
He died in Washington, D. C, November
12, 1869.

JUDSON, Adoniram,

Noted Missionary.

Adoniram Judson was born in Maiden,
Massachusetts, August 9, 1788, son of
the Rev. Adoniram and Abigail (Brown)
Judson. His father was a Congregational
minister.

He entered the sophomore class of
Brown University in 1804 and was grad-
uated as the valedictorian in 1807. He
was at this time sceptical in matters per-
taining to religion, and, intending to enter
upon dramatic authorship as his profes-
sion, in order to familiarize himself with
the regulations of the stage, he joined a
theatrical company. The sudden death of
a classmate under peculiar circumstances
changed the whole course of his life, and
caused him to regard religion seriously.
He taught a private school in Plymouth,
Massachusetts, 1808-09, and entered the
Andover Theological Seminary, from
which he graduated September 24, 1810.

He consecrated himself to the work of
foreign missions in February, 1810. and
found in the seminary kindred spirits
as earnest and zealous as himself in urg-
ing upon the Christian churches the
needs of the heathen. He was licensed
by the Orange Association of Congrega-
tional Ministers in Vermont, May 17,
1810. The American Board of Commis-
sioners for Foreign Missions was formed
June 28, 1810, and sent him to England to
confer with the London Missionary So-
ciety, to which he offered himself as a
missionary to Tartary or India, and was
accepted. He set sail in the ship "Packet,"

January i, 181 1, but was captured by the
French privateer 'TInvincible Napoleon,"
and imprisoned in Bayonne, France, from
which place he was soon released, return-
ing to England and thence to the United
States. In the meantime the American
Board had decided to work independently
of any other organization, and Mr. Jud-
son was ordained Congregational mis-
sionary, February 6, 1812. He set sail for
Calcutta under their patronage from
Salem, Massachusetts, February 19, 1812,
with his wife, Ann (Hasseltine) Judson,
whom he had married, February 5, 1812.
Reaching Calcutta, India, June 17, 1812,
he identified himself with the Baptist de-
nomination, and by this act severed his
connection with the American Board.
Burmah had been his destination, but he
was not well received there, owing to
England's trouble with that government,
and he proceeded to the Isle of France,
where he labored for some months. He
then ventured into Burmah, and settled
in Rangoon, July 14, 1813, and proceeded
at once to master the Burmese language,
a formidable task. The Baptists of Amer-
ica formed a missionary union. May 18,
1 8 14, and took him under its care. After
a five years' residence in Rangoon, a rayat
was built and opened with appropriate re-
ligious services, and as soon as his knowl-
edge of the language permitted. Dr. Jud-
son commenced to preach. He baptized
Mong Nau, the first convert to Chris-
tianity, June 27, 1819. In 1824, when the
war between England and Burmah broke
out, he removed to Ava. The mission-
aries suffered much during this war, and
he was cast into prison, where he spent
two years hourly expecting death. He
was rescued and returned to Rangoon,
and then to Amherst, where his first wife
(lied. October 24, 1826. In 1831 he re-
moved to Maulmain, and on April 10,
1834. married (second) Mrs. Sarah Hall

!I2

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Boardman, who died in St. Helena, Sep-
tember I, 1845. He married (thirdj Emily
Chubbuck, June 2, 1846.

Mr. Judson went on missionary tours
all through India, and in his forty years'
labor converted thousands to the Chris-
tian faith. Stricken with the fever of the
country, and a sea voyage being recom-
mended to him. he sailed for the United
States on April 8, 1850, and died and was
buried at sea four days afterward, April
12. His name was one of the twenty-one
in "Class E, Missionaries and Explorers,"
submitted as eligible for a place in the
Hall of Fame. New York University, in
October. 1900, and received thirty-six
votes, the largest number given in the
class, but fifteen less than necessary to
secure a place. Brown University gave
him the degree of D. D. in 1823. He pub-
lished: "Elements of English Grammar"
(1809) ; "A Dictionary of the Burman
Language" (translated, 1826) ; "The Holy
Bible" (translated, 1835, second edition,
1840) ; "Grammatical Notices of the Bur-
man Language" (1842) ; "An English and
Burmese Dictionary, including a Gram-
mar" (1850).

EMERSON, V/illiam,

A Founder of the Boston Athenaeum.

The Rev. William Emerson was born
in Concord, Massachusetts. May 6. 1769,
son of the Rev. William and Phoebe
(Bliss) Emerson, and descended from
Thomas Emerson, of Ipswich, England,
who immigrated to America about 1635.
His great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth
Bulkeley Emerson, was a daughter of the
Rev. Edward Bulkeley, who succeeded his
father, the Rev. Peter Bulkeley, as pastor
of the church at Concord, Massachusetts.
The Rev. William Emerson, father of
William Emerson, the subject of this re-
view, was born in 1743, graduated from

21

Harvard College in 1761, and became
pastor of the Concord church, succeeding
his father-in-law, the Rev. Daniel Bliss,
whose predecessors, John Whiting and
Joseph Estabrook. carried the succession
of pastors back to Rev. Edward Bulkeley.

William Emerson, our subject, after
graduating from Harvard College in 1789.
taught school in Roxbury for about two
years. He studied theology, and on May
23, 1792, was ordained to the ministry at
Harvard, Massachusetts, in 1799 he de-
livered the Artillery Election sermon in
Boston, and in October of the same year
was installed pastor of the First Church
in that city. He was editor of the "Month-
ly Anthology" from May, 1804, to Octo-
ber, 1805. On October 3rd of the latter
year the Anthology Club was formed, and
he was chosen as vice-president, and it
was on his motion that the club estab-
lished a library of periodical literature,
and from which grew the Boston Athen-
aeum. He died in Boston, May 12, 181 1,
leaving a nearly completed "History of
the First Church," and which was pub-
lished after his death, with a number of
his sermons.

He was married, October 25, 1796, to
Ruth Haskins, of Boston. Three of their
five sons were gifted men. William, the
eldest, was graduated from Harvard Col-
lege in 1818, taught school for a time,
and went to Germany to study theology ;
becoming skeptical on various essential
points, he forsook the ministry for the
law. Edward Bliss Emerson graduated
from Harvard College in 1824, began the
study of law with Daniel Webster, but
died in 1834, in the West Indies, whither
he had gone on account of ill health.
Charles Chauncy Emerson graduated
from Harvard College in 1824, studied
law with Samuel Hoar, of Concord, prac-
ticed with success, and died of consump-
tion, May 9. 1836.

3

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

WAYLAND, Francis,

Distinguisliecl Etiucator and Author.

Francis Wayland was born in New
York City, March ii, 1796, son of Francis
and Sarah (Moore) Wayland. His pa-
rents immigrated to America from Eng-
land in 1792, and in 1805 his father was
ordained a Baptist minister.

He attended Dutchess County Acad-
emy, Poughkeepsie- New York ; was
graduated from Union College, A. B.,
1813, A. M., 1816; studied medicine in
Troy, New York, 1814-15, and attended
the Andover Theological Seminary, 1816-
17. He was a tutor at Union College,
181 7-21 ; was pastor of the First Baptist
Church. Boston, Massachusetts, 1821-26;
and Professor of Mathematics and Nat-
ural Philosophy at Union College, 1826-
27. During his pastorate in Boston he
had attracted widespread attention by
two able sermons : "The Moral Dignity
of the Missionary Enterprise," and "The
Duties of an American Citizen," delivered
in 1823 and 1825, respectively. In Feb-
ruary. 1827. he accepted the presidency
of Brown University, succeeding Presi-
dent Asa Messer. who died October 11,
1826. President Wayland continued in
office until 1855. when he resigned and
was succeeded by Barnas Sears. In addi-
tion to his other duties he lilled the chair
of Moral Philcjsophy, 1834-55. During
his administration. Manning Hall and
Rhode Island Hall were built, and a fund
of $25,000 was created for the library.
He was a pioneer among college presi-
dents in welcoming the modern branches
of learning, and in adopting a partially
elective system..

President Wayland received from
Brown University the honorary degree of
A. M. in 1822 ; from Union College that of
D. D. in 1827, and from Harvard D. D.
in 1829 and LL. D. in 1852. He was first
president of the American Institute of

Instruction, and a member of the Amer-
ican Philosophical Society. He delivered
the Dudleian lecture at Harvard in 1831,
and the address at the opening of the
Providence Athenaeum in 1838, and is
the author of seventy-two publications,
among which are : "Occasional Dis-
courses" (1833) ; "Elements of Modern
Science" (1835) ; "Elements of Polit-
ical Economy" (1S37) ; "Moral Law of
Accumulation" (1837); "The Limitations
of Human Responsibility" (1838) ;
"Thoughts on the Present Collegiate Sys-
tem in the United States" (1842) ; "Do-
mestic Slavery considered as a Scriptural
Institution" (1845) ! "Sermons Delivered
in the Chapel of Brown University"

(1849) ; "Memoir of Harriet Ware"

(1850) ; "Memoir of Adoniram Judson"
(two volumes, 1853) ; "Elements of In-
tellectual Philosophy" (1854) ; "Notes on
the Principles and Practices of Baptist
Churches" (1857); "Memoir of Thomas
Chalmers, D. D." (1864). A memoir of
his "Life and Labors" was written bv his
sons, Francis and Pieman Lincoln (two
volumes, 1867). He married (first) No-
vember 2, 1835, Lucy Lane, daughter of
Heman and Elizabeth Lincoln, of Boston,
Massachusetts. The children by this
marriage were : Francis and Heman Lin-
coln. He married (second) August i,
1838, Mrs. H. S. Sage, of Boston, Massa-
chusetts, who died October 22, 1872.
President Wayland died in Providence,
Rhode Island, September 30, 1865.

TAPPAN, Lewis,

Anti-Slavery Leader.

Lewis Tappan was born in Northamp-
ton, Massachusetts, May 23, 1788, son of
Benjamin and Sarah (Homes) Tappan-
and brother of Arthur Tappan. He en-
gaged in business as a clerk in a Boston
drygoods store, becam,e a member of the
firm of Tappan and Searle, importers, and

214

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

in 1810 visited England to purchase
goods, joining his brother Arthur, who
was abroad for a similar purpose. In
1815 he furnished his brother Arthur with
the capital necessary to establish ap im-
porting business in New York City, and in
1817, the project having failed, he dis-
solved partnership. In 1828 he removed
to New York City, and became a mem-
ber of the firm of Arthur Tappan & Com-
pany, the partnership continuing until
1841. They established the "Journal of
Commerce" as a high-class commercial
paper in 1827, and in 1831 Arthur Tap-
pan withdrew and Lewis continued it.
The proprietors holding that a daily paper
could not be carried on without desecrat-
ing the Lord's day, all work on the paper
was suspended on Sundays.

Mr. Tappan joined the anti-slavery
movement, and on July 10, 1834, his house
was attacked by a mob, who broke open
the doors and windows, threw the furni-
ture into the street, and lighted a fire
which they fed with the beds and bed-
ding. After the financial crisis of 1837
he withdrew from the business firm and
established the first mercantile agency in
the country. He founded and was presi-
dent of the American Missionary Asso-
ciation. He was the author of: "Life
of Arthur Tappan" (1870). He died in
Brooklyn, New York, June 21, 1873.

EGLESTON, Azariah,

Soldier of tlie Revolution.

Azariah Egleston was born in Sheffield,
Massachusetts, February 23, 1757. son of
Seth and Rachel (Church) Egleston. His
ancestors came from Exeter, England, in
1630, and settled in Dorchester, Massa-
chusetts, whence they removed to Wind-
sor, Connecticut, and then back to Mas-
sachusetts, finally locating at Sheffield.

With his three brothers, Azariah Egles-
ton enlisted in the company recruited by
Captain Noble, and known as "The Flow-

er of Berkshire-" and served for eight
months in Colonel John Paterson's regi-
ment. He re-enlisted for a year, and
served in Canada, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. He served in Colonel Stark's
command at Trenton, December 25,
1776, at the capture of the Hessians, and
was at Princeton, at the capture of three
regiments of British troops. He re-
enlisted for the war, at Mount Independ-
ence, opposite Ticonderoga, and was
made sergeant, and took part in the battle
of Bemis' Heights, September 19, 1777,
and at the surrender of Burgoyne at Sara-
toga, October 17th following. He was
promoted to ensign, January i, 1777, and
served under Washington at Valley
Forge and in the battle of Monmouth, and
at the siege of Newport, Rhode Island.
In 1783 he was promoted to lieutenant,
and in December, 1783, was sent to West
Point, New York, as paymaster of the
First Massachusetts Regiment, where he
settled his accounts. In 1784 he retired
to Lenox, Massachusetts. On May 29,
1787, Governor Hancock commissioned
him deputy quartermaster-general of
militia, with the rank of major. He was
one of the founders of the .Society of the
Cincinnati, and his name was the twenty-
second signed to the articles of associa-
tion. He founded and for years support-
ed the school which dev<;ioped into the
Lenox Academy. He was ffie organizer
of Trinity Episcopal Church at Lenox.
His home in that town was the rendez-
vous of army officers and of the leaders
of the State in art, literature and science.
He represented his district in the General
Court of the State from 1796 to 1799;
was State Senator, 1807-09; and asso-
ciate justice of the Court of Sessions,
1808-14.

He married, August 11, 1785, Hannah,
daughter of General John Paterson. He
died at Lenox, Massachusetts, January

12, 1822.

215

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

MANLY, John,

Naval Officer of the ReTolution.

John Manly was born in Torquay, Eng-
land, about 1733. Bred a sailor from his
boyhood and having emigrated to Amer-
ica and settled at Marblehead, Massachu-
setts, he there became master of a mer-
chant vessel.

On October 24, 1775, he received a
naval commission from General Wash-
ington, and was given command of the
schooner "Lee," and ordered to cruise in
Massachusetts Bay, in order to cut off
supplies for the British army. He kept
guard over this hazardous station during
the most tempestuous season, and the
captures which he made were of the great-
est importance. The ordnance brig
"Nancy" fell into his hands, and supplied
the Continental army with several heavy
pieces of artillery, of which it was very
destitute, and this good fortune eventu-
ally led to the evacuation of Boston, and
the services of Captain Manly were the
theme of general eulogy. In December,
1775, he succeeded in capturing three
other transports loaded with guns and
stores, and brought them into port. Dur-
ing the winter the "Falcon" chased him
into Gloucester harbor, but without his
suffering any harm. On April 17, 1776,
Manly was appointed a captain in the
Continental navy, and in the following
August was placed in command of the
new thirty-two gun frigate "Hancock,"
becoming the second captain in the navy
in rank. Plis capture of the British war
vessel "Fox," a twenty-eight gun ship,
brought him a great deal of credit, but
she was afterward recaptured by the
"Flora." On July 8. 1777, the "Hancock"
and the "Boston" were sailing in com-
pany when they were attacked by the
British forty-four gun ship "Rainbow"
and the brig "Victor." The "Boston"
escaped, but the "Hancock" was cap-

tured, and Manly was taken prisoner and
confined on board the "Rainbow," and at
Halifax in Mill prison until near the end
of the war, when he was exchanged. He
was afterward put in command of the
privateer "Pomona," when he was again
captured and taken to Barbadoes, where
he was for a time imprisoned. He subse-
quently succeeded in escaping, however,
and while in command of the privateer
"Jason" captured two British privateers
in July, 1779. In September, 1782, he was
entrusted with the command of the frigate
"Hague," and sailed for the West Indies.
A few days after leaving Martinique he
was attacked by a British seventy-four
gun ship, and. to escape her, ran his ves-
sel aground. Three ships-of-the-line
joined in the fight, and kept up a heavy
fire on the "Hague," but eventually she
got away, firing thirteen guns in farewell
defiance as she escaped. This exploit
took place after the terms of peace had
been signed, and thus Captain Manly
fired the first and last guns of the naval
operations of the American patriots. On
his return to Boston a few months after-
wards. Captain Manly was received with
great honor, but was subsequently called
to answer a number of charges made
against him by his subordinate officers,
and investigation resulted in his with-
drawal from the naval service. He died
in Boston, September 12, 1793.

PORTER. Rufus,

Inventor, Editor.

Rufus Porter was born in West Box-
ford, Massachusetts, May i, 1792, son of
Tyler and Abigail (Johnson) Porter,
grandson of Benjamin and Ruth (Foster)
Porter, and a descendant of John Porter,
who emigrated from England, and settled
in Hingham. Massachusetts, in 1644.

Rufus Porter made his living as a shoe-

216

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

maker, fifeplayer and house painter from
1807 until about 181 5. He taught school
for some time, and in 1820 invented a
camera-obscura which enabled him to
produce a portrait in a short time. This
invention encouraged his nomadic inclin-
ations, and he supported himself by trav-
elling throughout the country, making
portraits, until landscape painting at-
tracted his attention. This last occupa-
tion he abandoned in 1840 for journalism,
and became editor of the "New York
Mechanic," later published in Boston as
the "American Mechanic." He began the
publication of "The Scientific American"
in New York in 1845, editing it until 1846,
when he became interested in electrotyp-
ing. After a few months he devoted him-
self exclusively to his inventions, which
include a revolving almanac, a revolving
rifle, a horse-power flatboat, a cord-mak-
ing machine, a clock, cornsheller, churn,
washing machine, signal telegraph, fire
alarm, flying ship, triphammer, fog
whistle, engine lathe, balanced valve,
rotary plough, reaction wind-wheel, port-
able house, thermo engine and rotary en-
gine. He died in New Haven Connec-
ticut, August 13, 1884.

HOOPER, William,

Signer of Declaration of Independence.

William Hooper was born at Boston,
Massachusetts, June 17, 1742, the son of
William Hooper, clergyman, who was
born in Scotland in 1702, and died in
Boston, April 14, 1767.

The son early displayed remarkable
literary ability, and at the age of fifteen
entered Harvard College, from which he
was graduated when eighteen. He then
studied law under James Otis, and upon
his admission to the bar removed to
North Carolina, where in 1767 he settled
at Wilmington, and became at twenty-
six one of the leading lawyers of the prov-

ince. In 1770 he took active part with
the government in the suppression of the
"Regulators," and insurgent mob. By
his advice decisive measures were resort-
ed to, and a battle fought, in which the
rioters, three thousand in number, were
defeated by the militia. In 1773 he was
elected to the General Assembly, and
took the lead against new laws initiated
by the British party for the regiilation of
courts of justice, publishing a series of
essays under the name of "Hampden,"
which aroused the people to the impor-
tance of the issues involved, while his
own private fortune sufifered from the re-
sult, a suspension of all courts for more
than a year. In 1774, 1775 and 1776 he
was a delegate to Congress, in which he
was chairman of the committee which
prepared an address to the inhabitants of
Jamaica ; brought in the resolution that
the 20th of July, 1775. be observed as a
day of fasting and humiliation for the
whole country, and on July 4th, 1776.
signed the Declaration of Independence.
In 1777 he resigned his seat in Congress
to take part in the fortunes of his State
at home, and with his family was driven
from his residence near Wilmington. A
house belonging to him was fired upon
from a British sloop in Cape Fear river,
and he was exposed to considerable peril,
but in all the public measures demanded
by the exigencies of the times, he bore a
leading and undaunted part. In 1786 he
was one of the Federal judges who de-
cided the controversy between New York
and Massachusetts, relative to territorial
rights, and until his death continued to
hold a distinguished place at the bar and
in the councils of his State.

In 1767 he married Anne Clark, of Wil-
mington, a sister of General Thomas
Clark, of the United States army, by
whom he had two sons and one daugh-
ter. He died in October, 1790.

;i7

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

MARETT, Philip,

Philanthropist.

Philip Marett was born in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, September 25, 1792, son of
Captain Philip Marett, of the Revolution-
ary army, and a descendant of French
Huguenots from Normandy.

He was educated in the Boston public
schools, where he was awarded the
Franklin medal in this twelfth year. He
was engaged in the foreign shipping trade
during the greater part of his life. He
was Vice Consul to Portugal in 1818;
president of the Boston common council,
1835; and president of the New England
Bank, 1837-45. He made an extended
tour of the Old World in 1845, ^"^1 in
1852 settled in New Haven, Connecticut.
In 1867 he drew his own will, leaving his
entire estate of $650,000 to his wife and
daughter, and at their death to be dis-
tributed in benevolent and charitable
legacies, chiefly in the city of New Haven.
A clause in the will provided that one-
tenth part of said estate should be given
to the city of New Haven in trust, the
income to be used "for the purchase of
books for the Young Men's Institute, or
any public library which may from time
to time exist in said city." Mr. Marett
died in 1869, and his widow in 1878, and
his daughter, Mrs. Ellen M. GifTord, who
left over $800,000 to charity, in 1889. The
Young Men's Institute and the New
Haven Free Pul^lic Library, established
in expectation of the legacy, now contest-
ed their respective claims to the income,
and, the Supreme Court deciding in favor
of the latter, it became the bene'nciary
to the income from one-tenth of the es-
tate, and the library owes its existence to
this benefaction. The bequests were :
One-fifth to the New Haven Hospital;
one-fifth to the New Haven Aged and
Infirm (not paupers) ; one-fifth to Yale
University ; one-tenth to Protestant and

one-tenth to Roman Catholic Orphan asy-
lums of New Haven ; one-tenth to the
free library, and one-tenth to the state
for the relief of imbeciles. The last be-
quest was declined by the state in 1897,
and was divided proportionately between
the other objects named. Air. Marett
died in New Haven, Connecticut, March
22, 1869.

HEWES, George R. T.,

Actor in "Boston Tea Party."

George Robert Twelves Hewes was
born at Boston, Massachusetts, August
25, 1742, son of George and Abigail
(Sever) Plewes. His father, a native of
Wrentham, early settled in Boston, where
he engaged in business as a glue maker,
tanner, soap boiler and tallow chandler.

His father having died while he was
still very young, the son was placed in
the care of an uncle, who was a farmer at
Wrentham. His schooling was desultory
and meagre, and he seems to have shown
no ability or desire to profit by his oppor-
tunities. At the age of twelve he was
apprenticed to a shoemaker; later he
made several fishing voyages to the
Banks with one of his brothers, and then
settled down again at his old trade of
shoemaking. tie witnessed the riots on
the passage of the Stamp Act, and the
disembarkation of the English troops at
Long Wharf on November i, 1768, and
either participated in or witnessed the
other stirring events of those days. In
the memoirs published of him, he gives
particular and interesting accounts of the
massacre on March 5, 1770. Caldwell,
one of the victims, stood by Hewes' side
and fell into his arms when he was shot.
Later on, he himself was assaulted by a
Tory custom house officer named Mal-
colm, who was tarred, feathered and
flogged for this and other like conduct.
Three years later Mr. Hewes participated

218

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

in the celebrated "Boston Tea Party."
The causes which led to this act are re-
corded in history, and of his share in it
he thus speaks :

It v/as now evening, and I immediately dressed
myself in the costume of an Indian, equipped
with a small hatchet, which I and my associates
denominated the tomahawk, with which and a
club, after having painted my hands and my
face with coal dust in the shop of a black-
smith, I repaired to Griffin's wharf, where the
ships lay that contained the tea. When I first
appeared in the street after being thus disguised,
I fell in with many who were dressed, equipped
and painted as I was, and who fell in with me,
and marched in order to the place of our desti-
nation. When we arrived at the wharf, there
were three of our number who assumed an
authority to direct our operations, to which we
readily submitted. They divided us into three
parties, for the purpose of boarding the three
ships which contained the tea at the same time.
The name of him who commanded the division
to which I was assigned was Lendall Pitt. . . .
As soon as we were on board, he appointed me
boatswain, and ordered me to go to the captain
and demand of him the keys to the hatches and a
dozen candles. I made the demand accordingly,
and the captain promptly complied and delivered
the articles; but requested me at the same time
to do no damage to the ship or rigging. We
were then ordered by our commander to open
the hatches, and take out all the chests of tea
and throw them overboard, and we immediately
proceeded to execute his orders; first, cutting
and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so
as thoroughly to expose them to the eftects of
the water. In about three hours from the time
we went on board, we had thus broken and
thrown overboard every tea chest to be found
in the ship; while those in the other ships were
disposing of the tea in the same way, at the
same time. We were surrounded by British
armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist
us. We then quietly retired to our several
places of residence, without having any conver-
sation with each other, or taking any measures
to discover who were our associates.

When the British troops invested Bos-
ton, Hewes was imprisoned, but escaped
to Lynn. Later he shipped on board the
privateer "Diamond," Captain Thomas

Stacy, which, during- a three months'
cruise, captured three British ships. He
then shipped under Captain Samuel
Smedley, of New London, in the "De-
fence," which captured four British ships,
and took them to Boston. Hewes re-
ceived neither wages nor prize money for
his part in these exploits. From time to
time he served with the militia until the
close of the war, mainly on coast guard
duty between Boston and New York, also
in Rhode Island, under Captain Thomas
George, participating in an engagement
at a place called Cobble hill, in which the
British were beaten. Also he was sta-
tioned for a time with militia at West
Point, under General ^McDougall.

He married Sally, daughter of Benja-
min Sumner, of Boston. He died at Rich-
field Springs, New York, November 5,
1840.

PARMENTER, William,

National liegislator.

William Parmenter was born in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts. ]\Iarch 30, 1789, son
of Ezra and Mary (Ellison) Parmenter;
grandson of Samuel Parmenter. of Sud-
bury. Massachusetts, and a descendant of
John Parmenter, the immigrant, who
came from England about 1638 ; was orig-
inal proprietor of Sudburv^ and afterward
removed to Roxbury, IMassachusetts.

William Parmenter was graduated
from the Boston Latin School, where he
received a Franklin medal. He served
as clerk in the mercantile house of Pratt
& Andrews, Boston, and was chief clerk
to Amos Binney, navy agent, during the
War of 1812. and for several years there-
after. He resided at East Cambridge.
Massachusetts, from 1824 to 1866. and
was manager of a glass manufactory from
1824 to 1836. He was a member of the
State Senate in 1836, and was a Demo-
cratic and Anti-Mason representative

210

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

from the Fourth Massachusetts District
in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, Twen-
ty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Con-
gresses, 1837-45, being chairman of the
committee on naval affairs during part of
his term. He was president of the Mid-
dlesex Bank, 1832-36; naval officer of the
port of Boston, by appointment from
President Polk, 1845-49, and from that
year until his death lived in retirement,
occasionally superintending some of the
county institutions.

He was married, in 1815, to Mary,
daughter of Thomas Parker, of Boston,
Massachusetts. Their son, William Elli-
son (Harvard, 1836), was associate jus-
tice of the Municipal Court of Boston,
1871-83, and Chief Justice, 1883-1902; and
William Ellison's son, James Parker
(Harvard, 1881), was appointed associate
justice of the same court in 1902. Ezra,
another son of William, was mayor of
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1867. Wil-
liam Parmenter died in East Cambridge,
Massachusetts, February 25, 1866.

EDWARDS, Jonathan,

Theologian, Author.

Jonathan Edwards was born in North-
ampton, Massachusetts, May 26, 1745,
second son of the Rev. Jonathan and
Sarah (Pierrepont) Edwards, and grand-
son of the Rev. Timothy Edwards and of
the Rev. James Pierrepont.

His youth was spent at Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, at that time an Indian
settlement, and there he acquired a mas-
tery of the dialect of the Housatonnuck
Indians. His father desired that he
should become a missionary among the
aboriginal tribes, and he began to study
the dialect of the Oneidas with the Rev.
Gideon Ilawley. stationed on the Susque-
hanna river, but the French and Indian
war put an end to his project after six

months' sojourn with the tribe. The re-
moval of his father's family to Prince-
ton, New Jersey, and the sudden death of
his father, mother and sister, caused him
to change his plans. Friends assisted
him to prepare for college, and he was
graduated at the College of New Jersey
in 1765. He then studied theology under
the Rev. Dr. Bellamy at Bethlehem, Con-
necticut, and was licensed to preach by
the Association of Litchfield County in
1766. He returned, however, to Prince-
ton, where he was tutor in the college,
1767-68, and in January, 1769, he became
pastor at White Haven, Connecticut.
Here he met the opposition of the advo-
cates of the "half-way covenant," and
also the reaction incident to the extrava-
gant religious fervor brought about by
the revival of 1740—42. The churches
were at the same time also greatly divid-
ed and impoverished by reason of the war
with the mother country, and his own
congregation took advantage of all these
causes to rid themselves of their minister.
He was dismissed from his charge, May
19, 1795, and found a church at Cole-
brook, a retired country parish in Litch-
field county, where he ministered to a
small and not exacting congregation,
1796-99, meanwhile pursuing his theo-
logical and metaphysical researches. He
was called from his retirement in 1799 to
assume the presidency of Union College,
Schenectady, New York, rendered vacant
by the resignation of the first president,
the Rev. Dr. John Blair Smith. He was
eminently successful in his administra-
tion and won the friendship of his faculty,
the students and the citizens of Schenec-
tady.

He received the degree of A. M. from
the College of New Jersey and from Yale
in 1769, and in 1785 that of S. T. D. from
the College of New Jersey. By an odd
coincidence, on the first Sunday of the

220

Stockbridge Monument.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

year of his death, i8oi, he preached from
the text, "This year thou shalt die," as
his father had done. He prepared of the
works of his father left unpublished :
"History of the Work of Redemption,"
two volumes of sermons and "Miscel-
laneous Observations on Important Theo-
logical Subjects" in two volumes. He
published of his own writings, "A Dis-
sertation Concerning Liberty and Neces-
sity," sermons on "The Necessity of the
Atonement and Its Consistency with
Free Grace in Forgiveness" (1785), and
observations on the "Language of the
Muhhekenew Indians." The Rev. Tryon
Edwards, his grandson, edited with a
memoir most of his published writings
(two volum,es, 1842). He died in Schenec-
tady. New York. August i, 1801.

ALLEN, Solomon,

Xoted Revolutionary Soldier.

Solomon Allen, the hero of one of the
most remarkable events of the Revolu-
tionary War, was born at Northampton,
Massachusetts, February 23, 1751, and
was one of the four brothers who saw
service during that period, those beside
himself being Major Jonathan Allen, and
Captains Moses and Thomas Allen.

At the time of the capture of Major
Andre, the unfortunate British officer,
Lieutenant Solomon Allen was on duty
as adjutant in the vicinity of New York.
When Andre was brought to his post,
September 23, 1780, the commander. Colo-
nel Jameson, placed him under charge of
Allen, with a guard of nine men, to be de-
livered to General Benedict Arnold, at
West Point. Allen, in narrating the
event, described Andre as wearing an old
torn crimson coat, nankeen vest and
small-clothes, and flapped hat. His hands
were bound behind him, a soldier holding
the strap, and soldiers surrounded him,
being ordered to kill him on the spot

should he attempt to escape. Allen ar-
rived with his prisoner at the Robinson
house, opposite West Point, where Ar-
nold had his headquarters. Allen says
that, when he had reached West Point,
he found Arnold at his meal. On being
told of the errand, Arnold showed great
confusion, and asked Allen to go upstairs
and sit with Mrs. Arnold, doubtless with
the intention of preventing his convers-
ing with other officers, and then Arnold
precipitately fled. Washington soon ar-
rived, and in the afternoon Arnold's
treachery was discovered through the
medium of letters which had been
brought in. Allen was invited to dine
with the American officers, and heard
General Knox remark, "What a very for-
tunate discovery this was. Without it,
we should have all been cut up," to which
Washington responded, "I do not call this
fortunate, but a remarkable Providence."
After the war, Allen, who had been pro-
moted to major, was conspicuous in the
expedition that quelled the Shays re-
bellion.

Jn the meantime. Allen had become
deeply religious, and at the age of forty
was made deacon in the Northampton
church. He had become desirous of
preaching, but had no education, and the
obstacles in his way seemed insuperable.
However, he devoted himself to studying
the works of Howe and Baxter, in addi-
tion to the Scriptures, and wrote out a
few sermons. He soon began to preach
through western Massachusetts and west-
ern New York, receiving little compensa-
tion, but food and clothing, living out of
doors much of the time, and seeming to
rejoice in the fatigues and privations
which he suffered for the cause of re-
ligion ; whenever he received a small sum
of money, he expended it for books and
clothing for the destitute people he en-
countered. In 1820, after having been a
preacher for nearly twenty years, and

221

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

having converted several hundred people
and established several churches, he vis-
ited his children and friends in Massa-
chusetts, New York and Philadelphia.
Early in 1821 he arrived in New York,
and died there January 20th of that year,
aged seventy years. At his funeral,
eight clergymen acted as pallbearers. It
is said of him that the attachment of chil-
dren for him was peculiar and pathetic ;
they would throng after him, wherever he
appeared, to listen to his words of instruc-
tion, and the interesting stories he would
relate.

ADAMS, Hannah,

First of American Female Authors.

Hannah Adams, first of American
women to make literature a profession,
was born at IMedheld, Massachusetts, in
1755. Her father was a man of literary
tastes, and was for a time prosperous in
his business, which was mainly the sale of
English goods and books. Reverses
came, and the daughter, who inherited his
tendencies and had for \ears given her
principal attention to the reading of fic-
tion, was forced into a literary career. Her
education was defective, but circum-
stances led her to the acquisition of
knowledge by the most strenuous appli-
cation. Books came to her through her
father's agency, and were eagerly devour-
ed. Before her first publication, however,
she had largely supported herself and
aided in providing for her father's fam-
ily by weaving bobbin lace. She acquir-
ed the rudiments of Latin, Greek, geog-
raphy and logic from some of the board-
ers at her father's house, and in turn
taught them to young men resident in the
vicinity.

Her first book, "A View of Religions,"
was put to press in 1784, and published
by subscription, for which she received
fifty copies of the book, and was obliged

to find a sale for them. The volume con-
tained an alphabetical compendium of
Christian denominations, a brief survey
of Paganism, Judaism and Deism, and an
account of the different religions of the
world. It went through several editions,
the second being issued in 1791, and was
reprinted in Great Britain. The sale of
the second edition placed her for a season
in a comfortable pecuniary position.
When the fourth edition appeared it was
under the name of "Dictionary of Relig-
ions." Her next venture was a "Summary
History of New England," subsequently,
without her assent, abridged for the use
of schools, by a clergyman of whom she
speaks in her autobiography with exceed-
ing charity, and then by herself. Her
labors upon it were arduous, and for a
time impaired her eyesight. Partially re-
covering, she wrote a concise "View of
the Christian Religion" (1801), and sub-
sequently the "History of the Jews"
(181 2). In the preparation of this work
she corresponded with persons of dis-
tinction at home and abroad, and among
them the celebrated .-Xbbe Gregoire of
France. Her other published writings
were : "A Controversy with Dr. Morse"
(1S14), and "Letters on the Gospels"
(1826). Her writings, as a whole, did not
bring to her much pecuniary profit, but
their value and the associations formed
in their preparation, together with the
rare modesty, simplicity and genuine
wort'n of their author, were the means of
securing for her an annuity provided by
Llie generous subscriptions of friends at
Boston, Massachusetts, which enabled her
to pass the closing years of her life in
quietude and comfort. Her autobiography
was edited and published at Boston in
1832. with "Notices" in addition by Mrs.
H. F. Lee, and is an admnable work.

She died at Brookline, Massachusetts,
November 15, 1832, and hers was the first
interment in Mount Auburn Cemeterv-

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

MINOT, George Richards,

Jnrist, Historian.

George Richards Minot was born in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, December 22, 1758.
He was the son of Stephen Minor, a
prominent merchant of Boston, whose
means having been impaired by unsuc-
cessful business speculations, left the son
in great difficulty in securing a liberal
education.

He was prepared for college by the
celebrated master, John Lovell, in the
South Latin School, and was graduated at
Harvard College in 1778. During his
course, Eliot tells us. he was "distinguish-
ed for decorum, of behavior, a most ami-
able disposition, and close attention to his
studies. He excelled in history and belles
lettres, and was upon several occasions
the public orator of his class." It is also
said that "his classmates were eager to
confer upon him every honor which it
was in their power to bestow." He was
chosen to deliver the funeral oration of
Tutor John Wadsworth. in 1778, and gave
a Latin valedictory upon receiving his
master's degree in 1781. After gradu-
ation, he read law in the office of William
Tudor, judge-advocate on the staff of Gen-
eral Washington, where he had for a fel-
low student Fisher Ames. After his ad-
mission to the bar in 1781, he was. under
the revised State constitution, appointed
clerk of the House of Representatives of
Massachusetts. He w^as also secretary of
the convention which adopted the Federal
constitution in 1787, and in 1792 was ap-
pointed judge of probate for Suffolk
county. In this responsible position he
was an eminent success ; his pleasant and
affable manner being a potent element in
the settlement of many vexed questions,
while his duties were discharged with the
strictest integrity. While acting in this
capacity he w'as also on the bench of the

Court of Common Pleas, of which he was
appointed Chief Justice in 1799, and was
chosen judge of the Municipal Court of
Boston upon its establishment in 1800.

Judge ]\Iinot was one of the original
members of the Massachusetts Historical
Society, with Jeremy Belknap ; long presi-
dent of the Charitable Fire Society of
Boston ; and a fellow of the American
Acadeiny of Arts and Sciences. Eliot
says: "He was never fond of the hurry
and bustle of the world, and therefore
did not make the figure at the bar which
some of his friends expected from his
talents and elocution." He, however,
earned a reputation second to none as a
historian and orator. His most notable
works, besides numerous newspaper and
magazine articles on current issues, were :
"A History of the Insurrection in Massa-
chusetts in 1786" (1786), and two volumes
in continuation of Hutchinson's "History
of Massachusetts Bay." with introduc-
tory sketch of events from its original
settlement (1798 and 1803). Blake says
of this work : "The narrative is perspicu-
ous and the style simple and pure, as well
as a model of historical eloquence."
Among his public orations are one on
the anniversary of the Boston massacre
(March 5. 1782) and a eulogy on Wash-
ington (1800). He was long a ruling
elder in the First Church, Boston. In
1783 Judge ]\Iinot was married to Mary
Speakman, of Marlboro, and of his de-
scendants his grandson. Francis Minot,
physician, and his great-grandson. Charles
Sedgv.Mck Minot, biologist, attained dis-
tinction. He died in Boston. Massachu-
setts. January 2. 1802.

EARLE, Ral:h,

Painter of Revolutionary Battle Scenes.

This gifted man, believed to be the
first American painter of historical
scenes, was born in Leicester. Massachu-

223

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

setts, May ii, 175 1, son of Ralph and
Phebe (Whittemore) Earle, grandson of
William and Anna (Howard) Earle,
great-grandson of Ralph and Mary
(Hicks) Earle, and descended from Ralph
and Joan Earle, who came from England
about 1634. His father served as a cap-
tain in the American army during the
greater part of the Revolutionary War.

He was educated as an artist, and was
known to have painted portraits in Con-
necticut as early as 1771. In 1777 he
painted two full-length portraits of Timo-
thy Dwight, who became president of
Yale College. He executed, from sketches
which he took upon the spot, four his-
torical paintings which are believed to be
the first historical paintings by an Amer-
ican artist, the subjects being: "The
Battle of Lexington," "A View of Con-
cord, with the Royal Troops destroying
the Stores," "The Battle of the North
Bridge, Concord," and "A View of the
South Part of Lexington, where the First
Detachment was joined by Lord Percy."
In 1776 he went to England and studied
under Sir Benjamin West. He was elec-
ted a member of the Royal Academy in
London, and painted in that city until
1786- when he returned to America, and
lived at various times in Massachusetts,
Connecticut and New York. He mar-
ried, about 1773, Sarah Gates, and he
died in Bolton, Connecticut, August 16,
1801.

One of his sons, named for himself, be-
came an artist, studied in London, was
married to a niece of General Andrew
Jackson, and during a considerable por-
tion of the latter's presidential term was
a member of his household at Washing-
ton City. He painted a full-length por-
trait of General Jackson which was
highly commended.

DWIGHT, Timothy,

Educator, Anthor.

Timothy Dwight was born in North-
ampton, Massachusetts, May 14, 1752, son
of Major Timothy and Mary (Edwards)
Dwight ; grandson of Colonel Timothy
and Experience (King) Dwight, and of
Jonathan and Sarah (Pierpont) Edwards;
great-grandson of Nathaniel and Mehit-
able (Partridge) Dwight; great-great-
grandson of Captain Timothy and Anna
(Flint) Dwight, and great-great-great-
grandson of John and Hannah Dwight, of
Dedham, the immigrants, 1634-35.

He was graduated at Yale College in
1769, sharing the honors of the class with
the noted Nathan Strong. He was pnn-
cipal of the Hopkins Grammar School,
1769-71, and tutor at Yale, 1771-77, during
which time he studied law. He was licens-
ed to preach in 1777, and served as chap-
lain in Parson's brigade of the Connecti-
cut line, 1777-78. The death of his father
called him home and he took charge of
the farm, occasionally preaching in the
neighborhood churches from 1778 to
1783. At the same time he conducted a
day school, and while New Haven was
in the hands of the British, he had under
his care several of the refugee Yale stu-
dents. He was a representative in the
Massachusetts Legislature in 1782, and
refused a nomination as representative in
Congress. He was pastor of the church
at Greenfield Hill. Fairfield, Connecticut,
from 1783 to 1795, and established there
his celebrated academy, and became the
pioneer of higher education of women,
placing both sexes on an equal footing in
his school. During this period he secured
the union of the Congregational and Pres-
byterian churches in New England. He
was president of Yale College from Sep-
tember 8, 1795, to January 11, 1817, and
Livingston Professor of Divinity pro tem-

224

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

pore, 1795-1805, and by election, 1805-17.
He found the college with a narrow and
pedantic curriculum, with the bitterest of
feeling existing between the freshmen and
the upper-class men, and between the stu-
dents and the faculty, and with the burden
of a primary system. These he reformed,
and at his death the one hundred and odd
students had increased to upwards of
three hundred, and the college had taken
rank as one of the model university
schools in America.

Dr. Dwight received from the College
of New Jersey the degree of S. T. D. in
1787, and from Harvard College that of
LL. D. in 1810. His master dissertation
was : "History, Eloquence and Poetry
of the Bible," and his most ambitious
work was his epic "The Conquest of Can-
aan" and his most popular pastoral poem
was "Greenfield Hill" (1794). While a
chaplain in the army, he wrote the patri-
otic song "Columbia." He revised Watt's
Psalms, with additions of his own. and
made a selection of hymns, introduced in
the worship of the Presbyterian churches
by the General Assembly. His published
books include : "Travels in New Eng-
land and New York" (four volumes,
1821) ; "Theology Explained and Defend-
ed in a Course of 173 Sermons" (five vol-
umes, 1818) ; "The Genuineness and Au-
thenticity of the New Testament" (1793) ;
"Discourse on the Character of Washing-
ton" (1800) ; "Observations on Language"
(1816): "Essay on Light" (1816). See
Memoir by the Rev. Sereno Edwards
Dwight (1846).

He was married, in March, 1777, to
Mary, daughter of Benjamin Woolsey, of
Long Island, and they had eight sons, the
eldest of whom, Timothy (1778-1884) was
a merchant in New Haven, and gave
$5,000 to endow the Dwight Professor-
ship of Didactic Theology at Yale. Timo-
thy Dwight died in New Haven, Connec-
ticut, January 11, 1817.

WILLIAMS, Jonathan,

First Snperintendent at 'West Point.

Jonathan Williams, first superintendent
of the United States Military Academy
at West Point, was born in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, May 26, 1750, His father,
Jonathan Williams, being a well-to-do
merchant, the boy received a good Eng-
lish education in the best schools of the
time and place, but at an early age was
placed in his father's counting-house. He
was ambitious to learn, however, and de-
voted his leisure to study, gaining there-
by considerable proficiency in the clas-
sics, and a writing and speaking acquaint-
ance with the French language. His posi-
tion in a mercantile counting-house giv-
ing him opportunities for travel, he made
a number of voyages to Europe and the
We.^t India islands ; and it is said that
his business letters displayed careful
observation and unusual maturity of
judgment. In 1770, when twenty years
of age, he made a voyage to England in
company with a brother and an uncle,
John Williams, who had been a local com-
missioner under the British government.

Jonathan Williams was a grandnephew
of Benjamin Franklin, who at this time
was in England, and who took the young
man into his own home during his stay
in that country. Three years later he
again made the voyage to England hav-
ing the charge of letters to Franklin,
bearing on the political relations exist-
ing between England and America, and
on his return voyage Franklin entrusted
to him his replies. These confidences
brought the young man into acquaintance
with the most prominent personages of
the time, by whom, in spite of his youth,
he was considered a fit companion in
mental cultivation and resources. In a
letter to his father, dated September,
1774, he said :

MASS— 15

225

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

With regard to politics, nothing has occurred,
nor do I think anything will happen till the Par-
liament sits, when, I dare say, there will be warm
work, and I have great hope that American
affairs will wear a better aspect, for the minis-
try, I have reason to think, will find a greater
opposition than they expect. Unanimity and
firmness must gain the point. I can't help re-
peating it, though I have written it twenty times
before. The newspapers, which used to be the
vehicles of all kinds of abuse on the poor Bos-
tonians, are now full of pieces in our favor.
Only here and there an impertinent scribbler,
like an expiring candle flashing from the socket,
shows by his garrulity the weakness of his cause,
and the corruptness of his heart. ''~^^^'*'^''
- :1 =•"•; , ■■■■ '■'■'

In, 1775 Mr. Williams made a short
visit to France. In letters written at that
time he refers to the interest felt through-
out France in the disputes between Great
Britain and her colonies as follows:
"They suppose England to have arrived
at its pinnacle of glory, and that the em-
pire of America will arise on the ruins of
this kingdom., and I really believe. that
■ivhen we shall be involved in civil war
they will gladly embrace the first oppor-
tunity of renewing their attacks on an
old enemy, whom they imagine will be
so weakened by its intestine broils as to
become an easy conquest." In 1777 Mr.
Williams was appointed commercial
agent of the United States, and took up
his residence at Nantes. In 1783 he re-
ceived a commission from the farmers-
general of France to supply them with to-
bacco, which was a government monopoly.
He then settled at Saint Germain, where
he continued to reside until 1785, when he
returned with Dr. Franklin to the United
States. In 1790 he settled with his fam-
ily near Philadelphia, purchasing a coun-
try seat on the banks of the Schuylkill,
where he devoted himself to the study of
mathematics, botany, medicine, and the
law, and becoming a sufifiiciently proficient
lawyer to be made a judge of the Court
of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, which
position he held for several years.

While in France he had devoted much
time and thought to the subject of for-
tification, and, after having aided in quell-
ing the whiskey insurrection in western
Pennsylvania, he was appointed major in
the Second Regiment of Artillery and Enf
gineers in the regular army. During the
winter of 1802 he was made inspector of
fortifications, and appointed to the com"
mand of the post at West Point, where
his duties included instruction in the sub-:
jects with which he was familiar. The
Military Academy at West Point was
finally organized in 1802, and Major Wil-
liams was appointed its first superintend-
ent. In connection with this institution,
Major Williams rendered most valuable
service to his country. Under his direc-
tion it steadily advanced in character,
until all who were acquainted with its
regulations and discipline acknowledged
its advantages. It was not, however, un-
til the heroic deeds of McRae, Gibson,
Wood and Macomb had so largely con-
tributed to an honorable peace in the War
of 1812, that the military school became
a source of interest and pride to the na-
tion— these accomplished and intrepid
officers were first taught to be thorough
soldiers by Major Williams. In April,
1805. Williams returned to the array at
President JefTerson's request, with the
rank of lieutenant-colonel and the posi-
tion of chief engineer, but without giving
up his superintendence of the academy.-
His ability as an engineer, and the knowl-
edge which he had gained in France and
England regarding fortifications, werq
now put to important use. He planned
and built most of the inner forts of New
York harbor, including Fort Columbia^
Fort Clinton (now Castle Garden), and
Castle Williams, on Governor's Island,
which was named for him. It had been
promised to Colonel Williams that in case
of attack the fortifications he had con-
structed in the harbor , of ^ ,Ne;yy , Yprjfi

226

n--^c:AU

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

should be placed under his command. At
the beginning- of the War of 1812, seeing
that there was a near prospect that the
enemy would invade the city, he claimed
the fulfilment of that promise in vain, and,
after a protracted correspondence with
the War Department upon the subject,
he resigned his commission in the army of
the United States. Immediately after his
resignation, however, her was appointed
by the Governor of New York brigadier-
general of the State militia. In the au-
tumn of 1814 General Williams was elect-
ed a Member of Congress from the city
of Philadelphia, but he never took his
seat. 'Ubt'c. irrjn: j 'uij ni ].)-■

He was 'for many years vice-president
and corresponding secretary of the
American Philosophical Society, to whose
transactions he was a frequent contribu-
tor. He wrote also "The Use of the Ther-
mometer in Navigation" (Philadelphia,
1799) ; and translated "Elements of For-
tification" (1801), and Kosciusko's "Ma-
noeuvres for Horse Artillery" (1808). In
September, 1779, he was married, in the
house of the Dutch ambassador at Paris,
to Marianne, daughter of William Alex-
ander, of Edinburgh. He died in Phil-
adelphia, May 16. 1815.

1 5 "■■

ox

• 1 ^rfi-.'//nbffi!

WORCESTER, Noah,

Father of Massachusetts Peace Society,

This earnest and industrious exponent
of the doctrines of peace was born at
Hollis/' New Hampshire, November 25.
1758. He was descended from the Rev.
William W^orcester, who was the first
minister of Salisbury, Massachusetts, in
1638; his grandfather, the Rev. Francis
Worcester, was pastor at Sandisfield,
Massachusetts, and afterwards at Hollis ;
his father was a member of the conven-
tion which framed the New Hampshire
constitution. ^xkxoo Uj ]s:ioi ;i 'u- ;uo

Noah Worcester's Educational oppor-

tunities were meagre. At the age of sev-
enteen he was a fifer in the battle of
Bunker Hill, and two years later a fife-
major at Bennington. Before he was of
age he taught school for a time. At
twenty, he purchased his freedom from
his father, and went to Plymouth, New
Hampshire, where he taught school for
nine winters, doing farm work the re-
mainder of each year. In 1782 he mar-i
ried, and settled down at Thornton, a
village not far from Plymouth ; and where
he became town clerk, justice of the peace,
and a member of the legislature. His
career as a theologian and writer began
in 1785, with a letter in answer to a ser-r
mon by Rev. John Murray, the Univer-
salist, on "The Origin of Evil." Later he
was licensed to preach, and became minis-
ter at Thornton, also laboring on his farm
and at shoemaking. In 1792 he publish-
ed "A Dialogue between Cephas and
Bereas." In 1802 the New Hampshire
Missionary Society was organized and he
became its first evangelist, laboring in the
wilder parts of the state for eight years,
with the exception of a part of the year
1806, when he was disabled. In 1809 he
producied a tract against "The Baptist
Theory and Practice." In 1810 he went
to Salisbury, New Hampshire, to preach
for his brother Thomas, and during this
time published "The Bible News." The
doctrines advocated in the latter were con-
demned by the Hopkinton Association, in
which was his temporary charge, but he
would make no concessions, and replied
in "An Impartial Review" and other
tracts. One of these, an "Address to the
Trinitarian Clergy," won the attention of
Dr. Channing and other leaders of the
new school in Boston, who called W^or^
cester to that place to edit the newly es-
tablished "Christian Disciple." afterward
known as the "Christian Examiner." In
1813, in his fifty-fifth year, he took up
his residence in Brighton, Massachusetts,

227

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

now a part of Cambridge, and where he
had more congenial surroundings. His
"Solemn Review of the Custom of War,"
published in 1815, led to the founding of
the Massachusetts Peace Society, of
which he was secretary until 1828, and
during this period establishing the
"Friend of Peace," a quarterly, most of
whose contents he supplied. In 1818
Harvard College gave him the degree of
D. D. He died at Brighton, October 31,
1837. Channing pronounced a fervent
eulogy upon him, and his memoirs were
written by Henry Ware, the younger.

DEXTER, Samuel,

Statesman, Cabinet Official.

Samuel Dexter was born in Boston,
May 14, 1761. His father, Samuel Dexter,
a prosperous merchant of Boston, noted
for his scholarship and philanthropy, was
prominent in the struggles preceding the
Revolution, and labored zealously to in-
form the people of the dangerous policy
pursued by the British ministry ; he de-
voted considerable attention to theolog-
ical questions, and bequeathed $5,000 to
Harvard University for a chair of Biblical
Criticism. In his will he devoted $40 to
his pastor, on condition that he preach a
funeral sermon, without mentioning his
name, from the text, "The things which
are seen are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are eternal." 'T wish
the preacher," he said, "to expostulate
with his audience on the absurdity of be-
ing extremely assiduous to lay up treas-
ures on earth while they are indolent in
respect of their well-being hereafter."

The Dexters form one of the best
known families of New England, and dcr
rive descent from Richard Dexter, of
Boston and Maiden, who came to Amer-
ica in the early days of the Massachusetts
colony. From this ancestor the line runs
through his son, John Dexter, of Maiden,

deacon of the local church and captain
of militia, and through his son, Samuel
Dexter (1701-55), a graduate of Harvard
(1720), minister of Dedham, and grand-
father of the secretary.

Samuel Dexter (3d) was graduated at
Harvard College in 1781 ; studied law
under Levi Lincoln at Worcester, Massa-
chusetts. He was admitted to the bar in
1784, with promise of eminence in his
profession, but his commanding ability
soon came to be recognized and led him
into public service. He represented Mas-
sachusetts in the lower house in 1788-90,
served in the lower house of Congress in
1793-95, and in the United States Senate
from December 2, 1799, until June, 1800,
when he resigned to accept appointment
as Secretary of War under President
Adams. He retained this office until De-
cember 31, 1800, when he was appointed
Secretary of the Treasury, and remained
in the cabinet until the close of Adams'
administration. For a time also he had
charge of the Department of State. On
his return to the practice of his profes-
sion, he was retained in important cases
before the United States Supreme Court
at Washington, in which his logical reas-
oning and the strength of his arguments
were the basis of his success. In 1812,
withdrawing from his Federalist associa-
tions, he afifiliated with the Republicans
in support of President Madison's war
measures ; but he repudiated entirely the
policy of that party when nominated for
Governor of Massachusetts in 1816, on
the strength of his opposition to the Hart-
ford convention — an action which caused
it to be said that he had broken forth
from the legions of rebellion. In his letter
of acceptance, he declared : "Every com-
bination for general opposition is an of-
fense against the community." He failet^
of election, however, by only 2,000 votes,
out of a total of 96,000. A mission to
Spain was offered him by President Madi-

228

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

son in 1815, but declined. He was an
ardent supporter of the temperance move-
ment, and was the first president of the
first society formed in Massachusetts for
the promotion of that cause.

The degree of LL. D. was conferred
upon him by Harvard College in 1813.
Besides political pamphlets, he published
a poem entitled "Progress of Science," in
1780; a "Letter on Freemasonry";
"Speeches and Political Papers" ; and was
the author of the reply of the Senate to
President Adams' address on the death
of Washington. His wife was a sister of
William Gordon, legislator, Congressman,
and Attorney-General. He died in Athens,
New York, May 3, 1816.

SLATER, Samuel,

Manufacturer, Philantliropist.

Samuel Slater was born in Belper, Der-
byshire, England, June 9, 1768, son of a
yeoman in good circumstances, who was
able to give his son a thorough practical
education. After serving an apprentice-
ship of six years at cotton spinning with
Jedediah Strutt, Samuel Slater resolved
to come to America and here introduce
the industry.

Previous unsuccessful attempts had
been made to build an operative spinning-
jenny, with the machines working raw
cotton, both in Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, and like efforts had been made in
Pennsylvania and New York, but it re-
mained for Mr. Slater to successfully es-
tablish mills on the Arkwright system.
The work was attended with more labor
and discouragement than the average
young man of twenty-one years would
willingly face, but Mr. Slater was above
the average — a hard, courageous worker,
and had a firm belief in his ultimate suc-
cess. The manufacture of cotton was at
this time an established industry in Eng-
land, and all who were interested in the

business were reaping such rich rewards
that every eflfort was made to keep the
knowledge of the inventions of Har-
greaves, Arkwright and Samuel Cromp-
ton confined to Great Britain — an Act of
Parliament was passed prohibiting the ex-
portation of such machinery, and the ut-
most caution was taken to intercept the
departure of any person who possessed
knowledge of the manufacture ; admis-
sion to the factories where the new busi-
ness was pursued was cautiously restrict-
ed, and the manufacturers themselves
were fearful of each other and jealously
guarded their own interests. Sir Rich-
ard Arkwright was a partner of Jedediah
Strutt, to whom young Slater was appren-
ticed. The terms of the indenture were
quaint and peculiar, and provided that the
young apprentice "should be taught all
the mysteries of the cotton manufacture
as it was then known." The factory where
he was taught was probably the best in
England at that time. About 1789, when
Mr. Slater completed his apprenticeship,
the United States Congress passed its
first act for the promotion of manufactur-
ing interests, and the legislature of Penn-
sylvania offered a premium for the intro-
duction of the Arkwright patent into the
State. Mr. Slater, becoming acquainted
with these circumstances, resolved to es-
tablish this industry in America. His de-
parture from England was attended with
difficulties, and kept a secret from his
own family. The first intimation given
of his intentions was in a letter to his
mother, written after he had boarded the
vessel that was to carry him to America.
He brought with him no patterns, meas-
urements or designs of the complicated
machinery he had been studying during
his whole apprenticeship, as legal restric-
tions made it dangerous to leave England
with such property.

He first obtained employment with the
New York Cotton Manufacturing Com-

229

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

pany at New York City, but hearing of
the efforts that were being made to estab-
lish the manufacture of cotton in Rhode
Island by Morris Brown, a Quaker of
Providence, young Slater applied to him
for the position of manager, saying it was
a business in which he prided himself
that he could give the greatest satisfac-
tion in making machinery that would
"manufacture as good yarn, either for
stockings or twist,' as any that is made in
England." He received a favorable re-
sponse, and early in January, 1790, Mr.
Slater- reached Providence, from which
place he was taken to Pawtucket, where
Mr. BrOwn had invested some money in
machinery which the young manufacturer
pronounced worthless, saying that he
could "make machines that will do the
Work and make money at the same time."
An agreement was finally made whereby
he was to build a set of machines accord-
ing to the Arkwright system, and receive
therefor all the profits over the interest of
the capital invested; Mr, Slater to give
his time and experience in the erection of
the machines, which, when built, he was
to operate, and receive as compensation
one-half of the profits. Nearly a year
elapsed before the first frame of twenty-
fcmr spindles was built, as everything, in-
cluding the tools to work with, had to be
made. The greatest trouble came in mak-
ing the cards. "After his frames were
ready for operation, he prepared the cot-
ton and started the cards, but the cotton
rolled up on the top cards, instead of pass-
ing through the small cylinder. This was
a great perplexity to him, and he was for
several days in great agitation." He was
iit the time boarding in the house of Ozial
Wilkenson, one of whose daughters he
.mbsequently married. He did not con-
fide his anxiety to any one, but, noting
his distress, Mrs. Wilkenson said to him,
"Art thou sick, Samuel?" He then dis-
closed the cause of his trouble, saying.

"If I am frustrated in my carding ma-
chine, they will think me an imposter."
He feared that proper cards could not be
obtained outside of England, from which
country they were not allowed to be ex-
ported. He finally consulted with the
man who made the cards, and found the
teeth were not sufficiently crooked, that
the leather was inferior, and* the: holes,
which were pricked by hand, were too
largCy and permitted the teeth to fall back
from their proper, fplace. These difficul-
ties were remedied, and the machinery
successfully placed in operation December
21, 1790. The first ydrn made on.- this
machinery equalled in quality that of the
best English manufacture. The second
cotton mill operated in Rhode Island was
established about 1800, and in 1806 his
brother John arrived from England, and
together they l)uilt a cotton mill at the
site of the present town of Slatersville,
Rhode Island. All of the cotton mills
put in operation up to this; time were
started under the direction of men who
had been in some way connected with the
original factory. In 1810 there were near-
ly one hundred factories in operation with
over eighty thousand spindles, and Eng-
land recognized that she had a powerful
competitor in the business of cotton man-
ufacture, which has since made such
rapid strides and developments in Amer-
ica.

In 1812 Mr. Slater began the erection
of mills in Oxford (now Webster), Mas-
sachusetts, adding thereto in 1815-16 ma-
chinery aiid facilities for the manufacture
of woolen cloth. He also became a large
owner in several iron foundries, and ex-
tended his financial interests in many
directions, acquiring great wealth and a
reputation for business integrity, wise
and noble generosity, and sound religious
principles. In 1890 the town of Paw-
tucket, Rhode Island, held an elaborate
centennial celebration that lasted a week,

230

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the . main features of which centered
around the name of Samuel Slater, To
him is also given the honor of having
started the first Sunday-school in Amer-
ica. His son, John W. Slater, donated
$1,500,000 for the endowment of schools
among the freedmen of the South, the
people who worked to produce the cotton
that his father instructed Americans to
spin. Samuel Slater died at Webster,
Massachusetts, April 21, 1835.

ALGER, Cyrus,

Mannfactnrer of First Iron Rifled Cannon.

Cyrus Alger, the first to engage in the
manufacture of modern ordnance, was
born at Bridgewater' Massachusetts, No-
vember II, 1782, son of Abiezer and Hep-
sibah (Keith) Alger. He was descended
in the sixth generation from Thomas Al-
ger, who came to America about 1665 and
settled at Jamestown, afterwards remov-
ing to Bridgewater, where he died. Abi-
ezer Alger was largely engaged in the
business of iron founding, and had a fur-
nace at West Bridgewater, another at
Easton, and a third at Titicut, a village
of Middleboro.

■TiAfter attending Taunton Academy,
Cyrus Alger entered his father's foundry
and in due course of time became master
•of the trade. He was for some years in
charge of the foundry at Easton, and then
in 1809, when twenty-seven years of age,
engaged in business with General Wins-
low, of Boston. This partnership con-
tinued four years, and then Mr. Alger
engaged in business on his own account.
For some years the well known merchant,
Thomas H. Perkins, was his special part-
ner. He soon began to devise valuable
inventions applicable to his business, a
patent being issued to him March 30,
1811, for an improved method of making
cast iron chilled rolls, by which the part
subject to wear was given increased hard-

ness. During the War of 1812 he cast
large quantities of cannon balls for the
government. Mr. Alger introduced into
Boston the use of anthracite coal for melt-
ing iron, and adapted furnaces to its use.
In 1822 he invented the cylinder stove
for domestic use. He also reversed the
hearths of the reverberatory furnace for
melting iron, which used to incline Out-
ward, so as to cause the molten metal to
flow towards the flame. In 1827 his busi-
ness became incorporated as the South
Boston Iron Com,pany, of which he was
elected president (and remained as such
until his death), and Caleb Reed treas^
urer. The business had so steadily in-
creased and had gained such a reputation
that for many years after the incorpora-
tion into a company the shops were called
Alger's Foundries, and ultimately became
one of the most perfect and extensive iron
establishments in the United States. The
company began the manufacture of iron
ordnance in 1828. Mr. Alger had in-
vented a method of purifying cast iron
which gave it a strength nearly three
times that of ordinary iron castings, this
giving the company a great advantage in
making iron guns, especially those of
large caliber. The iron, when subjected
to this process, was technically known as
"gun iron," and it came into very exten-
sive use for various castings where great
strength was required.. ■.,.. - I'l.DT^Oll
In 1834 the first rifled cast iron gun
ever made in the United States was cast
and finished in these works. In 1835 he
began the manufacture of malleable iron
guns, a patent being granted to him May
30, 1837. He also received a patent for
the use of malleable iron in the manufac-
ture of plows, August 3, 1838. In 1836
the company commenced to manufacture
bronze cannon, many of which were made
for the United States ordnance depart-
ment and for the State of Massachusetts,
and, owing to their perfection, a gold

23 J

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

medal was awarded to Mr. Alger by the
Mechanics' Association. The largest gun
which had at that time been cast in this
country, the mortar "Columbiad," was
made in 1842. He next directed his atten-
tion to the subject of shells and fuses, and
was one of the first to make improve-
ments in them. In 1843 some of them
were furnished for the frigate "Cumber-
land," and in our Civil War his time fuses
for shells and grenades were extensively
used. Mr. Alger was very public-spirited,
and did much for South Boston through
his enterprise and investments. He was
the first to introduce the ten-hour system
of labor in South Boston, and his kind-
ness to the men in his employ was pro-
verbial. He was a member of the Com-
mon Council the first year of the organ-
ization of the city government of Boston,
and in 1824 and 1827 an alderman. Ad-
miral Dahlgren said of him: "He pos-
sessed that rare quality, sagacity, which
constitutes, in truth, the highest attribute
of the intellectual man. and enabled him
to arrive at results which others sought
by disciplined study laboriously and often
in vain."

Mr. Alger died February 4, 1856, and
was succeeded in the management of the
South Boston Iron Company by his only
surviving son. Francis Alger.

NORTON, Andrews,

Theologian, Litterateur.

Andrews Norton was born at Hing-
ham, Massachusetts, December 31, 1786.
son of Samuel and Jane (Andrews) Nor-
ton. He was fifth in descent from Wil-
liam Norton, of Ipswich, brother of Rev.
John Norton, successor of John Cotton
in the pastorate of the First Church, Bos-
ton. William Norton was the father of
Rev. John Norton, of Hingham, who in
turn was the father of Captain John Nor-

ton, whose son John married a daughter
of Jeremiah Belknap, father of the his-
torian, and had a son, Samuel, whose
third son was the subject of our sketch.
Brought up in the studious atmosphere
of New England's most intelligent ele-
ment, and early acquiring a love of books,
Andrews Norton, at the age of fourteen
years, was matriculated at Harvard Col-
lege. After his graduation in 1804, he
pursued a post-graduate course and stud-
ied theology, and in 1809 accepted a
tutorship in Bowdoin College. At the
end of a year he returned to Cambridge,
where during 181 1 he was tutor in mathe-
matics in Harvard College, and in 1812
assumed editorial control of the "General
Repository," a monthly publication of the
'liberal" school of theology. From this
position in 1813 he was chosen Dexter
Lecturer in Biblical Criticism, and in
1819 being promoted to the professorship
which it grew into — the Dexter professor-
ship of Sacred Literature, and he con-
tinued the incumbent until ill health com-
pelled his resignation in 1830. As an in-
structor, Professor Norton was distin-
guished by ability to present the pro-
foundest facts in lucid and attractive
terms, and through his complete scholar-
ship became a father among scholars and
a moulder of the thought of many besides
his immediate pupils. He has had no
superiors in this country in the domain of
Scriptural interpretation, and few equals
in theological acumen. As a leader in
the true Unitarian or Arian protest
against Calvinistic dogmatism, he was
implacably opposed alike to the natural-
ism of Theodore Parker and the trans-
cendentalism of Emerson and his asso-
ciates. The latter tendency of thought
he arraigned in 1839 with a masterly
treatise, "The Latest Form of Infidelity,"
which, being answered by a prominent
transcendentalist, evoked a strong re-

232

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

joinder. Among his other theological and
Biblical treatises were : "Statement of
Reasons for not Believing the Doctrines
of Trinitarians Concerning the Nature of
God and the Person of Christ" (1833) ;
"The Evidences of the Genuineness of the
Gospels" (3 vols., 1837-44) ; "Tracts Con-
cerning Christianity" (1852) ; "A Trans-
lation of the Gospels" (2 vols.. 1855) ; and
"The Internal Evidences of the Genuine-
ness of the Gospels" (1855).

Professor Norton was also a wide
reader and intelligent critic of general
literature and belles lettres ; and, as is
usual with philosophic thinkers, a great
admirer of true poetry. During i?33-34,
in association with Charles Folsom, the
noted critic and editor of Worcester's
Dictionary, he engaged in the preparation
of a quarterly periodical, "The Select
Journal of Foreign Periodical Literature,"
in which he published numerous contri-
butions of his own, among them papers
on "Goethe" and Hamilton's "Men and
Manners in America." He edited, with
memoirs, the collected writings of his
friends. Charles Eliot, in 1817. and Levi
Frisbie, in 1823 ; and published an edition
of the "Poems of Mrs. Hemans" (1826),
and several tracts on the affairs of Har-
vard College (1824-25). Professor Nor-
ton was a constant contributor to period-
icals, such as the "'Literary Miscellany,''
"Monthly Anthology," "Christian Exam-
iner," and "North American Review."
For the last named he wrote on "Frank-
lin," "Byron," "Ware's Letters from Pal-
myra," and a "Memoir of Mrs. Grant of
Laggan." He also wrote a few short
poems of considerable merit and delicacy.
He died in Newport. Rhode Island, which
had been his summer home in his declin-
ing years, on September 18, 1852.

SARGENT, Henry,

Famoni Painter.

Henry Sargent was born at Gloucester,
Massachusetts, November 25, 1770. He
was educated at the Dummer Academy,
near Newburyport, and in the Boston
schools, his father having moved to the
New England metropolis after the close
of the Revolutionary War.

The young man entered his father's
mercantile establishment after leaving
school, but found more pleasure in paint-
ing the figure-head of one of his father's
ships than in bookkeeping and writing
business letters. Shortly he began to try
his hand at painting portraits and making
copies of pictures, and when by chance
the celebrated painter and soldier, Colo-
nel John Trumbull, saw in 1790 his copy
of Copley's "Watson and the Shark," he
commended the work so warmly that it
was decided that Henry should be per-
mitted to study art seriously ; consequent-
ly, in 1793, the young man sailed for Lon-
don, provided with letters from Colonel
Trumbull to Benjamin West and Copley.
After four years of profitable study in
England, he returned to Boston to begin
the practice of his profession ; but in two
years he appears to have become tired of
it, for in 1799 he entered the army, and in
the War of 1812 he served as aide-de-
camp to the governor of Massachusetts,
with the rank of colonel, and was after-
ward made assistant adjutant-general.
He twice represented the town of Boston
in the Legislature, and late in life he again
turned his attention to art.

Sargent was an intimate friend of Gil-
bert Stuart, a member of the Boston
Artists' Association. The pictures which
he painted include : "The Landing of the
Pilgrims," in the Pilgrim Hall at Ply-
mouth, Massachusetts ; "Christ Entering

233

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

into Jerusalem," for which the 'artist re-
ceived $3,009; '.'The Christ Crucified,"
"The Starved Apothecary," "The Tailor's
News," "The Dinner Party," "The Tea
Party," and the full length portrait of
Peter Faneuil in Faneuil Hall, Boston.
The ■ Massachusetts Historical Society
Owns a replica of the portrait of Faneuil,
and it is believed by some of the mem-
bers of that society that their portrait is
an original by Smybert, and that the
Faneuil Hall portrait is a copy? of, it by
Sargent. The first painting by Sargent
of "The Landing of ,the :'PtlgTim^''; was
ruined by being, ralip.^i ,,041 ap unseasoned
pine pole, but it appears that he went to
y/gi^k. ^ndpainted; a .second picture of the
.^a,^€?iSul?!)eG^,fv/He;Tdied ipi B9st;on, Feb-
ruary 21; 1845. ■■• ■s:>tni.L; b-i/nOii-Ju ^^U

JUDSON, Ann Hasseltine,

Noted Missionary.

i Ann Hasseltine Judson was born in
Bradford, Massachusetts, December 22,
,1789. She received a thorough education,
and early in life became deeply interested
in religious matters. She met Rev. Adoni-
ram Judson in 1810, when he was at An-
dover Theological wSeminary, preparing
himself for missionary work, and in 1812
they were married and she went with
him to India, being the first woman to
go as a missionary to foreign lands. They
were permitted to remain at Serampore
only a short time, as the East India Com-
pany was bitterly opposed to the intro-
duction of the Christian religion into the
province; then the}- went to Rangoon,
where she bravely endured the privations
?ind inconveniences of living under very
fcryjng conditions. She was of the great-
est assistance in the missionary work, but
the severity of her labors and the exhaust-
ing effect of the climate obliged her to
come home for a long rest.

During this period she was not idle.

however, but lectured extensively in the
cause of missions, and also wrote a his-
tory of the Burman mission whick-ild-
ceived high praise not only in this coun-
try but abroad. She returned; to Burmah
in 1823 to find misaiQnary.aflfair^ .prosper-
ing ; but the next year war broke out be-
tween the English at ,B,engal and the
Burman. government, and the lives qi the
missionaries \yere in danger, as they were
looked on as spies. Her husband was
seized in his own house and hurried away
to what was known as the "death prison."
Mrs. Judson was strictly guarded in the
mission house, which had been stripped
of furniture, her clothingbeing also taken,
and she was subjected to the brutality of
her rough guardians. At last she suc-
ceeded in getting a petition to the gov-
ernor of the city, and by this means and
-by bribes to inferior officers she succeed-
ed in mitigating in some degree the hor-
rors of her husband's confinement. Later
he was removed tc? another town, and ar-
rangements made, for his sacrifice, in
honor of a general who was to take com-
mand of a fresh army. . The general was
suspected of treason and executed, and
Air. Judson's life was saved. For a year
and a half Mrs. Judson, with her baby in
her arms, followed her husband from
prison to prison, supplying him with
food, for it was not provided by the gov-
ernment, and working in every way to
secure his release. She exercised such
influence over the mind of the governor
that though her husband was several
times condemned to death, with others,
he was preserved though the rest were
executed. Of her destitution and suffer-
ings during this period she has recorded
the harrowing history, and her heroic en-
durance shows the strength and great-
ness of her character. So great was her
absorption in the trials and anxieties at
the time that she "seldom reflected on a
single occurrence of her former life, or

234

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

recollected that she had a friend in exis- engaged in the mercantile business at

tence out of Ava." \Vhen, at last, peace Matamoras, Mexico. He accumulated a

wis declared between the two powers, handsome j fortune, and was transferring

htr husband was released, and together some $200,000 in silver across the coun-

thfey established a mission, at Amherst, try on the backs of mules, when he was

where she sought a restoration to health robbed of all by guerillas. Undeterred

of body, and peace to a mind long dis- by this great misfortune, he again enr

^racted by agonizing anxieties. Pier con- gaged in business, this time in New

-stitution was, however, so weakened by Orleans, Louisiana, where he was again

disease and sufifering, that she died two successful, and where he remamed until

months after. October 24, 1826. "Thus 1832, when he came north, settling in

ended the life of one whope 'name will be Alton, Illinois, where he engaged in busi-

remembered in the churches of Burmah ness with W. S. Oilman. It was in the

when the pagodas of Gautama shall have warehouse of Godfrey & Oilman that

falleti.'* - 'Btesides her history of the Bur- Elijah P. Lovejoy lost his life while de-

inan mission, Mrs. Judson translated the fending his anti-slavery newspaper office

Burman catechism and the Gospel of against a pro-slavery mob.

■Matthew into Siamese, aided by a native In 1833 ^^^- Godfrey united with the

teacher ; assisted in the preparation of a Alton Presbyterian Church, in which he

Burmese grammar; and made some trans- subsequently beca^me an, eilder, later

i^tions for the use of the Burmese. Her transferring his connection, to the church

life was written by Mrs. Emily C. Jud- at AIonticelTo. ^Extensive travel and ob-

son, and published in New York in: I'Sco. servation had revealed to him the power

-nt .ui-;.i'fu •>i-!;-; — l_ ■ . -id d^8i <'\ o?f -'female influence over society, and. to

GODFREY Beniamin"-^ li^ril s^g-jt use his ovvn words, "being desirous to

^ , ^ „ . ,, ,,„.'■•'. -^.4 ""■.'''^■' act the part of a faithful steward of what

Fpnnder of Monticello (Illinois) Seminary. , , . . -r

'' God had placed m mv possession, 1 re-
Benjamin Godfrey was born at Chat- solved to devote so much of it as would
ham, Massachusetts. December 4. 1794. erect a building to be dev'oted to the
Ke came of an old New Er^larid family, moral, intellectual and domestic improve-
At the early age of nine years he ran ment of females." This was the germ
away from home and Went to sea. his of Monticello Seminary, Upon the origi-
first voyage being to Ireland, where he nal building, erected four miles north of
spent nine years. The War of 181J Alton. Illinois, he expended $53,000. After
brought him home, and he spent part of it became a chartered institution he acted
thfe time during that conflict in the United as one of its trustees until his death.
States naval service. After returning from The institution opened its doors for the
Ireland he lived for a time with his uncle. reception of pupils on April 11, 1838. and
Benjamin Godfrey, with whom he studied from that time has been a phenomenal
and obtained a fair education, including success. Its original building was de-
a knowledge of navigation. stroyed about 1895, and was replaced by
He subsequently became master of a one costing $250,000^ and unsurpassed in
merchantman, and made voyages to architectural beauty, modern improve-
Italy, Spain, the West Indies, and other ments. and appointments, and complete
countries. On his last voyage he was equipment, by any educational institution
shipwrecked near Brasos. Santiago, and in the country. :>-':hf'.>ti ->.':
lost nearly all his fortune. In 1824 he Captain Godfrey led' an active business

235

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

life, and engaged in vast enterprises, in-
cluding the building of the Alton &;
Springfield railroad. In this enterprise he
lost heavily, but notwithstanding this
misfortune and his large benefactions, he
died a wealthy man. He was twice mar-
ried ; first to Harriet Cooper, of P)alti-
more, Maryland. November 27, 1817, by
whom he had twelve children. He was
married again, August 15. 1839, to R. E.
Petit, of Hempstead, Long Island, by
whom he had three children. Captain
Godfrey died at his suburban residence
in Godfrey, Illinois, August 13, 1862. His
widow survived him some twelve years,
when the homestead descended to the
children of his youngest son, Benjamin
Godfrey Jr., also now deceased.

WILLISTON, Samuel,

Friend of Hdncation, Pliilantliropiat.

Samuel Williston was born at East-
hampton, Massachusetts, June 17. 1795,
son of the Rev. Payson Williston (son of
the Rev. Noah Williston, of West Haven,
Connecticut), and Sarah Birdseye Willis-
ton, daughter of the Rev. Nathan Birds-
eye, of .Stratford, Connecticut. The
father's salary never exceeded $350 per
annum besides his settlement; but a
good share of this was spent in charity,
a few dollars being subscribed toward the
struggling young college of Amherst, to
which the son afterward gave $150,000.

At ten years of age the son began work
on a farm, continuing in this occupation
until he was sixteen, his wages amount-
ing at no time to more than seven dol-
lars a month. The greater part of two
winters he spent in mastering the cloth-
ier's trade. Until he was ten years old
he attended the district school in his na-
tive place, winter and summer, then in
winter only until he was sixteen, at which
age his schooling ceased altogether.
Thenceforth he labored all the year

round — in the summer on the farm, in
the winter in the shop. During the winter
of 1813-14 he was enabled to spend a
single term at the academy in Westfield,
and later began the study of Latin, first
with his father, and then with the Rev.
Mr. Gould, of Southampton. Wishing
to avail himself of the privileges offered
indigent students at Phillips Academy,
Andover, he went there in 1841, walking
most of the way, and carrying all he took
with him tied up in a bundle. For further
economy he boarded a mile and a half
from the academy, but barely had he be-
come recognized as a deserving and prom-
ising scholar when his eyesight failed
him, and he was obliged to leave. A se-
vere and prolonged struggle ensued.
After several attempts at clerking in
West Springfield and New York City,
rendered unsuccessful by the condition
of his eyes and his general ill health, he
returned to farm life.

In 1826 his wife, that she might in-
crease their then very limited income,
commenced the business of covering but-
tons, which, beginning as her own handi-
work and gradually extending to her
neighbors, soon employed thousands of
busy and skillful fingers throughout all
the section, and, after ten or a dozen
years, enlisted the aid of machinery, and
thus laid the foundation of a substantial
fortune.

Mr. Williston's career was distinguish-
ed by many acts of benevolence. In 1837
he bore a prominent part in the erection
of the First Church of Easthampton. In
1841 he established Williston Seminary.
Early in 1845 ^^ founded the Williston
Professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory in
Amherst College, and in the winter of
1846-47 he founded the Graves (now the
Williston) Professorship of Greek, and
one-half of the Hitchcock Professorship
of Natural Theology and Geology at
Amherst, these gifts amounting to a sum

236

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of $50,000 given by him for permanent
foundations to that institution, besides
other special donations. Through his
liberality and public spirit Easthampton
became one of the largest and most pros-
perous towns in Hampshire county. He
built churches, school-houses and town-
halls, enlarged the grounds and multiplied
the edifices of Williston Seminary, erect-
ed Williston Hall, and helped to erect
other buildings at Amherst College, and
increased the funds of both these institu-
tions until his donations to the two
amounted to nearly half a million. In
1841 ]\lr. Williston was a member of the
lower house of the Massachusetts Legis-
lature, and in 1842-43 a member of the
Senate. While a member of the Legis-
lature in 1841 he was chosen by that body
a trustee of Amherst College. He was
one of the first trustees of the State Re-
form School, one of the early trustees of
Mount Holyoke Seminary, and for many
years a corporate member of the Ameri-
can Board. For many years he was a
member of the corporation of Amherst
College, during the larger part of which
time he served upon the presidential com-
mittee, and upon special committees of
importance. To him, more than to any
other one man, Amherst owes its preser-
vation— its very life.

On May 2^, 1822, he was married to
Emily Graves, daughter of Elnathan
Graves, of Williamsburg, Massachusetts.

Mr. Williston died at Easthampton,
Massachusetts, July 18. 1874.

SEDGWICK, Catharine Maria,

Brilliant Novelist and Essayist.

This gifted woman, whose works gave
her the same rank among female writers
that Cooper held among male writers, was
born December 28. 1789. at Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, daughter of Thomas Sedg-

wick, speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, Senator, and a Supreme Court
Judge of Massachusetts.

Her first book, "New England Life,"
published in 1822, was begun as a re-
ligious tract, but in the writing it ex-
panded and took on the form in which it
is known. It was highly praised for its
vigor and clearness of style, as well as
diction, and was also strongly censured
because of its unfavorable picturing of
New England puritanism. She followed
this with "Redwood," in 1827, which met
with great success, and was republished
in England and translated into French
and Italian. Her next work, "Hope Les-
lie, or Early Times in America," was even
more successful, and has remained as her
most popular story. She then produced
in quick succession "Clarence, a Tale of
Our Own Times," "Le Bossu: One of the
Tales of Glauber Spa," and "The Lin-
woods, or Sixty Years Since in America."
In 1835 she collected in a volume her
shorter tales which had appeared in the
magazines, and in the following year be-
gan her stories of common life, "The
Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man."
In 1839 she gave her impressions of a
European journey in "Letters from
Abroad to Kindred at Home." She wrote
the "Life of Lucretia M. Davidson" for
Sparks's "'American Biography," and was
a frequent contributor to periodicals and
annuals. She possessed a vigorous in-
tellect, her style was strong and clear,
and her diction particularly pure. She
was thoroughly American in thought, and
her writings contained faithful transcripts
of local customs and manners, making
them faithful depictions of the time in
which she lived and of which she wrote.
In 1S71 her friend, Mary E. Dewey, pub-
lished "Life and Letters of Catharine M.
Sedgwick." She died July 31, 1867.

m

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY.

HENSHAW, David, ii u> t:.Mi.:.M
Man of Affairs, Conerimiiiiiiti:'.

David Henshaw was born at Leicester,
Massachusetts, April 2, 1791. His ances-
tors were among the original proprietors
of the town, his grandfather, Daniel Hen-
shaw, removing there from Boston in
i;?48, while his father, David Henshaw,
was a Revolutionary patriot, and for
many years during the prime of his life
was a highly respectfed magistrate. An
early American ancestor was Joshua
Henshaw, who lived in Dorchester in
1668 ; and his uncle, William Henshaw,
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

David Henshaw spent his boyhood on
his father's farm, and attended the free
schools of his native town, and afterward
Leicester Academy. At the age of six-
teen he becarne an apprentice to a drug
house in Boston, and soon after he be-
came of age he established himself in a
store of his own, in connection with his
brothers and David Rice, which was very
successful, and continued in that business
until 1829. He devoted all his leisure
time to reading and study, and, taking
an interest in politics, became noted as
one of the best political writers of his
time. His natural talents in connection
with his mental culture enabled him to
hold a prominent and leading position in
the Democratic party, not only in his
own State, but in New England, and, in-
deed, in the Union. Besides his political
essays,, he contributed to the periodical
and daily press. After retiring from busi-
ness, in 1826 and 1S30 Henshaw repre-
sented the district in both houses of the
legislature of the commonwealth. In
1830 he was appointed collector in the
custom house at Boston ; in 1839 he was
sent to the House of Representatives
from Boston, and served through one
term. At the same time he interested
himself in a number of railroad projects,

and even before the charter was obtained,
he expressed a willingness to invest his,
whole fortune in the Boston & Worcester
railroad. Through his agency in devis-
ing and pushing forward this roa4, a.s:
well as those between Boston and Provi-,
dence and Boston and Albany, the busi-;
ness of Boston was placed ten years it);
advance of what it would otherwise have
been. On July 24, 1843, he was appoint-
ed Secretary of the Navy by President
Tyler, but he held the office only a few
months, as the appointment was not con-
firmed by the Senate, and he was suc-
ceeded by Thomas Walker Gilmer. He
spent the last years of his life at his an-
cestral home in Leicester, and died tli^re
November 11, 1862. .-i ,. ■.]'r/i ^'cn^^^.

HITCHCOCK, Samuel Austin,

Mannfactarer, PMlantliropiBt.

Samuel Austin Hitchcock was born at
Brimfield, Massachusetts, January 9,
1794. His grandfather was a clergyman
in Connecticut. His father was a hatter
in Brimfield. His mother, a woman, of
energy and determination, did what she
could to educate her son, although cir-
cumstances were suph that his , only
schooling w^as received at the district
school of his native town. One of the
teachers there. Colonel Issachar ,Bro\vn,
taught young Hitchcock the principal part
of what he learned from books. The bo^
subsequently taught school himself for a
term, and was solicited to continue, but
he preferred to go into business. He
longed, however, for more and better edu-
cation, and would haVe thought it an in-
estimable prrvM*lege if he' could have had
a single term at Monson Academy, like
the other boys of the town. This is
doubtless,, -^he secret of his munificent do-
nations to educational, institutiorisj, an,c!|
especially those scholarships in aid of in-
digent and meritorious students.

238

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Young" Hitchcock learned the cotton
manufacturers' trade in ^Vebster, Massa-
chusetts, from the Slaters, and for six
years had charge of a factory in South-
bridge. He afterward resided in Boston,
doing business there as a merchant. Hav-
ing thus laid the foundation of his for-
tune, he retired from active service and
returned to his native town, where, chief-
ly by wise investments in manufacturing,
railroad, state and national stocks, he ac-
cumulated a large property. Mr. Hitch-
cock was selectman and overseer of the
poor in Brimfield, and represented the
town in the Legislature of Massachusetts.
For many years he was treasurer of the
parish of Brimfield, and president of the
bank in Southbridge. To the church of
Brimfield, of which he was a member, he
gave a fund of $5,000 toward the support
of the minister. He established the
Hitchcock Free School in Brimfield, en-
dowing it with buildings and funds at an
expense of $80,000. His donations to
Amherst College began in 1848, and form-
ed an aggregate of at least $175,000. They
were mostly given as permanent funds,
and were chiefly for scholarships, a pro-
fessorship, and kindred purposes. He
died in Brimfield, Massachusetts, Novem-
ber 24, 1873. ..../.:•:

LYON, Mary, =\ ,^.

Fonnder of Mt. Holyoke Seminary.

Mary Lyon was born at Buckland, Mas-
sachusetts, February 28, 1797, daughter of
Aaron and Jemima (Shepard) Lyon.

Her father died when she was very
young, the family was placed in straight-
ened circumstances, and with an eager
desire to obtain an education, she could
secure no better advantages than those
afforded by the village schools. She im-
proved so well her limited opportunities
that at the age of eighteen she obtained
a position as school teacher at Shelburne

Falls, on a salary of seventy-five cents a
week. She saved money enough to pay
for schooling at Sanderson Academy at
Ashfield, where she studied sometimes
twenty hours a day, and excelled all her
classmates ; then entered the school of
Rev. Joseph Emerson, at Byfield, near
Newburyport. Mr. Emerson believed in
giving women the same educational ad-
vantages as men, and his opinions, which
at that period were considered very ad-
vanced, without doubt influenced his am-
bitious pupil. In 1824 she went to Am-
herst, Massachusetts, to study chemistry
under Professor Eaton, and in that same
years became the assistant of Miss Zil-
pah Grant, who also had been a pupil of
Mr. Emerson, and who had become the
principal of the Adams Female Academy
at Derry, New Hampshire. This semi-
nary, it is claimed, was the first institu-
tion for women in this country to have
a systematic course of study with ex-
aminations for admission to the different
grades, and the first to grant what are
now called diplomas. Miss Lyon remain-
ed here, spending the winter months,
when the academy was closed, in teaching
at Ashfield and Buckland, until 182S,
when Miss Grant removed to Ipswich,
Massachusetts, and opened a school in
which \yere, developed the principles de-
rived from Mr. Emerson originally, and
put into practice at Derry, although Miss
Grant failed to realize her cherished de-
sire of founding an endowed institution
with buildings and equipment like those
possessed by men's colleges. Miss Lyon
remained at Ipswich as one of Miss
Grant's assistants until late in the year
1834, when she gave up teaching in order
to raise a fund for establishing a school
of high order which young women in
moderate circumstances might enter. By
personal solicitation, and in the face of a
prejudice against higher education for
women, she raised a small fund ; Deer-

.c>iio: .0 "T'}<!f)'r'):.n*

239

' H ■-

.nObU\)~! JO VJIMl'JiV -3t")> i!i

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

field, Sunderland, and South Hadley each
made attempts to secure the projected in-
stitution, the last named succeeding.

On October 3, 1836, the corner-stone of
the first building of Mt. Holyoke Semi-
nary (now college) was laid, and in the
autumn of 1837 the institution was open-
ed. It was Miss Lyon's hope that Miss
Grant might be associate principal, but
this proved impossible. One feature of
the system established, though not origi-
nal with Miss Lyon, was that all the
domestic labor was performed by the
scholars and teachers. As at Ipswich,
a strong religious influence was brought
to bear upon the pupils, and the mis-
sionary spirit in particular was cultivated.
During the twelve years in which Miss
Lyon was principal at Mt. Holyoke Semi-
nary, several thousand yovmg women
came imder her instruction and personal
influence.

She published, among other works,
"Tendencies of the Principles Embraced
and the System Adopted in the Mount
Holyoke vSeminary" (1840). Miss Lyon
died at South Hadley, March 5. 1849. Her
biography was written by President
Hitchcock of Amherst College.

BROMFIELD, John,

Manufacturer, Philantliropist.

John Bromfield was born at Newbury-
port, Massachusetts, April 11, 1779. His
father, John Bromfield, was a direct de-
scendant of Edward Bromfield, the first
of this family to settle in America in 1675.
He settled at Boston, Massachusetts, and
his mansion-house, surrounded by spa-
cious grounds, was situated on the street
that now l:)ears his name. The family of
Bromfield was distinguished in the annals
of English history, and William Brom-
field, one of the ancestors, was appointed
lieutenant of ordnance in the Tower by
Queen Elizabeth, and owned large estates
in the vicinity of London.

John Bromfield received his primary
education from his brother, and in 1792
entered an academy in Byfield. At the
age of fourteen he obtained employment
in the counting-house of Larkin & Hurd,
of Charlestown. In 1809 he went to
China as agent for Theodore Lyman Sr.,
and was joint supercargo of the "Ata-
hualpa" with William Sturgis, and re-
mained in China as Mr. Lyman's agent
after the departure of the ship. He ac-
quired quite a fortune during his resi-
dence abroad, which was augmented, as
he said, "beyond his hopes or desires."
Unlike the majority who accumulate
wealth, he felt disposed to devote the
greater portion of his fortune to philan-
thropic works. He cared little for wealth
or display, and desired that his gifts
should be bestowed without the author
being known. He left $10,000 to the city
of his birth for planting and preserving
trees in the streets and keeping the side-
walks in order, gave $25,000 to the Bos-
ton Athenaeum, and at his death willed
over $100,000 to various charitable institu-
tions. Mr. Bromfield never married, as
he lived much within himself, and found
his chief companionship among his books.
He was a profound thinker, an able finan-
cier, and a prudent business man. He
systematically avoided society, lived with
economy, and gave liberally of his in-
come to his relations. His charitable con-
tributions were incessant, and always
given in secret. The practical kindliness
of his nature is well shown in the follow-
ing story of one of his generous deeds.
On one of his winter passages to Europe
he found the sailors suffering extremely
from handling frozen ropes with their
naked hands. Having been brought up to
do things as well as read about them, he
took one of his thick overcoats and made
with his own hands a pair of mittens for
every sailor. He died at Boston, Massa-
chusetts. December 8, 1849.

240

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

LOVELAND, Abner,

Condnotor on "Undergronnd Railroad."

Abner Loveland was born at South-
field, Massachusetts, November 5. 1796,
the eighth generation from Robert Love-
land. The name Loveland is derived
irom the Manor of Loveland, Norwich,
Norfolk county, England. The maternal
side was of Scotch- Welsh, the paternal
Saxon, and settled in England prior to A.
D. 1066, the date of the Norman conquest.
Sir John Loveland, mayor of London,
built the church of St. Michael's, Cook's
Lane, in which his monument stands. Sir
John's brother, Robert Loveland, was
father of the founders of the family in
this country. He was supercargo of the
ship in which he and his family sailed;
he died on the voyage, but his widow
and sons Robert, John and Samuel land-
ed at Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1635.
Robert remained at Boston ; John and
Samuel, with the widow, removed to
V\'^ethersfield, Connecticut, and bought a
tract of land from the Indian chief. Se-
quin. Thus they were among the found-
ers of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethers-
field, being of the sixty bold spirits who
penetrated the wilderness from Boston
and settled these three towns in Con-
necticut in October. 1635. They arrived
in time to send their gifts of corn and
wampum to found old Harvard College,
to reap the first fruits of the first New
England printing press in 1639, and to
read the first book printed from that press
in 1640.

Robert Loveland was born in 1602, and
became a trader between Europe and the
American colonies. The New London
public records show that he was a mari-
ner between New London and Boston in
1658. In 1660 he was supercargo of the
ship "Hope," on the voyage from Malaga,
Spain. The colonial records show that
Robert Loveland, of Boston, was at New

London in 1662, and was taxed there in
1666. He left the sea about this time,
entering largely into the commercial en-
terprises of New London. He died there
in 1668, quite a wealthy man. His
brother John died at Hartford in 1670,
and Samuel was drowned at an earlier
date. Robert's son, Thomas, born in
1649, was in 1670 the only man in Amer-
ica bearing the name Loveland, and as
shown by the records of the court of
Hartford was that year made a freeman
at Wethersfield, this privilege being
granted to those of twenty-one years of
age, who owned real estate and were
members of some Congregational church.
Thomas's son, Thomas, of Glastonbury,
had a .son, Elisha, born in 1709, whose son
Elisha was born May 4, 1738. From rec-
ords of Glastonbury is found Elisha Love-
land's family record. Elisha Loveland
served in the Revolutionary War, in the
Connecticut line, from 1775 to December
20. 1780. Elisha's son, Abner, born April
18. 1764, at sixteen years of age also
enlisted in the United States army for
three months. Afterward he engaged in
the privateer service, was taken prisoner,
and confined at Quebec and Montreal,
escaped, was recaptured and imprisoned
at Quebec until the close of the war, and
then returned to Glastonbury and mar-
ried Lois Hodge, January 11, 1787.

Abner Loveland, son of Abner and Lois
(Hodge) Loveland. migrated in 1819, to
Ohio and arrived on November 13th at
Wellington, Lorain county. The follow-
ing year he removed to a section which
subsequently became Brighton, and built
the first human habitation in that town-
ship. In 1821 his father's family from
Massachusetts joined him. In 1833 he
removed to Wellington again. An honest,
practical, sagacious man. possessed of the
Qualities needed in a hardy pioneer, Abner
Loveland was finally owner of a consider-
able estate, and became much interested

MASS— 16

241

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

in raising blooded stock. He was of reti-
cent and retiring disposition, never seek-
ing notoriety, yet a man of strong con-
victions and ready to defend them at any
cost. He was a great reader, and in his
house might always be found the best
secular and religious books and news-
papers of the times. He was a constant
subscriber to the New York "Observer,"
New York "Tribune," and later to the
"Independent," and was a great admirer
of the writings of Horace Greeley, Henry
Ward Beecher and other Abolitionists.
Originally a Whig, he became an active
Abolitionist, his house being a well known
station on the "Underground Railroad."
His efforts to aid runaway slaves extend-
ed from the Kentucky border to Lake
Erie, at a point opposite a friendly sta-
tion in Canada. He was one of the re-
sponsible parties arrested in 1858 in the
Oberlin-Wellington rescue case in which
one John Price, an escaped slave from
Kentucky, was kidnapped at Oberlin,
Ohio, and while on the way south with
his alleged owner was rescued at Well-
ington by Abolitionists who ignored the
fugitive slave law. This famous case was
one of the events of the period from 1856
to i860 that widely awakened public opin-
ion at the north, and resulted in the con-
solidation of the Republican party and the
election of Mr. Lincoln. In church con-
nections Mr. Loveland was a Congrega-
tionalist. He was a strong advocate of
temperance, and himself a teetotaler.

In 1826 he married Pamelia De Wolf, a
woman of education and refinement, from
Otis, Massachusetts, who brought sun-
shine and happiness into every house-
hold she entered. She bore him four
children : Celestia. Correlia, Edwin and
Frank Clarence. She died at Welling-
ton, June 5, 1862. Mr. Loveland died at
Wellington, Ohio, March 2, 1879.

DIXON, Joseph,

Prominent Inventor.

Joseph Dixon was born in Marblehead,
Massachusetts, January 18, 1799. He was
self-educated, and early displayed re-
markable mechanical ingenuity. His first
invention, a machine for cutting files,
was made in 1820. He learned the trade
of printer, lithographer and wood en-
graver, and later studied medicine and
became an expert chemist. He also stud-
ied photography, and in 1839 followed
up the experiments of Daguerre and
succeeded in taking portraits by the
camera, applying a reflector to the camera
to prevent the reversed position before
obtained, which Professor S. E. B. Morse
undertook to have patented for him in
England. He built the first double-crank
engine, and applied it to the locomotion
of the engine itself. He first used the pro-
cess of transferring on stone, used in li-
thography. He also invented plato-lithog-
raphy, long before it was believed to be
of any particular value, and when he
found that by it banknotes could readily
be counterfeited, he invented and patent-
ed the use of colored inks in printing
banknotes so as to prevent counterfeit-
ing. His process was used by all the
banks, but without compensation to him-
self. He perfected the process of making
collodion for use in photography, and
claimed to have first discovered the anti-
friction metal afterward known as "Bab-
bitt metal." He first demonstrated the
practicability of melting steel. He in-
vented the plumbago or graphite crucible,
and established a factory for its manufac-
ture at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1827, re-
moving it to Jersey City, New Jersey, in
1847, "^vhere it grew to be the largest of
the kind in the world. He also used
graphite in the making of lead pencils.
He died in Jersey City, New Jersey, June
17, 1869.

242

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

MAY, Samuel Joseph,

Anti-Slavery Advocate.

Samuel Joseph May was born in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, September 12, 1797.
He was a graduate of Harvard College
in the class of 181 7, and after studying
theology at Cambridge became a Uni-
tarian clergyman, and in 1822 accepted a
call to a church in Brooklyn, New York.

He was early interested in the anti-
slavery cause, and preached as well as
wrote in favor of it, advocating immedi-
ate emancipation, and for which he was
mobbed and burnt in effigy at Syracuse,
New York, in 1830. He was a member
of the first New England Anti-Slavery
Society, formed in Boston in 1832, and
eagerly championed Prudence Crandall
when she was persecuted and arrested
for receiving colored girls into her school
at Canterbury, Connecticut. Mr. May
was also a member of the Philadelphia
convention of 1833 which formed the
American Anti-Slavery Society, and was
one of the signers of the "Declaration of
Sentiments," the author of which was
William Lloyd Garrison. For eighteen
years he was the general agent of the
Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, and
as such lectured and traveled extensively.
He had charge of the Unitarian church at
South Scituate, Massachusetts, from 1836
to 1842, becoming in the latter year, at
the request of Horace Mann, the principal
of the Girls' Normal School at Lexington.
Massachusetts. In 1845 ^^ became pastor
of the Unitarian Society at Syracuse.
New York, which position he retained
until three years before his death. Mr.
May was always more or less active in
many educational and charitable enter-
prises, and did a great deal toward im-
proving the public school system of Syra-
cuse. He was called the St. John Apostle
of the Gospel of Freedom, on account of
his gentle voice and manner. He was

both gentle and firm, courageous, unwear-
ied and unselfish in the anti-slavery
cause. He published: "Education of the
Faculties" (Boston, 1846) ; "Revival of
Education" (Syracuse, New York. 1855),
and "Recollections of the Anti-Slavery
Conflict" (Boston, 1868). Mr. May died
in Syracuse, July i. 1871.

DOWSE, Thomas,

Ardent Bibliophile.

Thomas Dowse was born in Charles-
town. Massachusetts, December 28. 1772,
son of Eleazer Dowse, a leather dresser.
When he was three years old his father's
house was burned by the British soldiers,
and he was taken to Sherburne, Massa-
chusetts. He served an apprenticeship to
his father, and in 1793 removed to Rox-
bury, Massachusetts, where he obtained
employment with a leather dresser. He
was an ardent bibliophile, and every
spare dollar was laid aside for the pur-
chase of some rare or beautiful book. He
entered into the leather-dressing busi-
ness for himself in Cambridgeport in
1803, met with financial success, and, con-
tinuing to invest a large proportion of his
income in books, he accumulated a library
of five thousand volumes, which was esti-
mated to have cost about $40,000. In
1820 he drew as a prize in a lottery a valu-
able set of engravings and water-color
paintings, which he gave to the Boston
Athenaeum. By his will he bequeathed
property to the value of $100,000 to Har-
v^rd University, but the will was changed
because of a prank of some Harvard stu-
dents who destroyed a sign of a golden
lamb in front of Mr. Dowse's shop, and
the property was diverted to the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society. A permanent
fund of $10,000 was set aside for the pres-
ervation and care of his library. He died
in Cambridgeport. Massachusetts, No-
vember 4, 1856.

243

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

WINTHROP, John,

Astronomer, Pioneer Seismologist.

John Winthrop was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, December 19, 1714. His
father was Adam Winthrop, a magistrate
of the colony ; his grandfather and great-
grandfather were also named Adam, the
latter being the eldest son of the first
Governor John Winthrop.

In 1732 John Winthrop was graduated
A. B. at Harvard College, and six years
later was appointed Hollis Professor of
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy to
succeed Isaac Greenwood. During the
forty years he held this chair, he was rated
the foremost scientist in America, and
exerted great influence upon the opinions
of Franklin and Count Rumford, as well
as upon the thought of the day. He was
a pioneer in modern scientific methods,
and contributed much by his observations
and experiments to developing physics to
its present perfection. In 1761 and agam
in 1769 he observed the transit of Venus,
on the former occasion leading an expe-
dition to Newfoundland at the expense of
the General Court, probably the first
scientific commission fitted out in the
colonies. This incident furnished the
topics for two poems from his pen, pub-
lished in "Pietas et Gratulatio" (1761) ;
and his lectures on the second observa-
tion, made in Cambridge, were publish-
ed at the request of the faculty and stu-
dents of the college. His report of the
transit of Mercury in 1740 was contribu-
ted to the forty-second volume of the
"Transactions" of the Royal Society, and
led to his election as a fellow. He made
further additions to astronomical science
by his observations on comets and me-
teors, writing two lectures on comets in
1759; an "Account of Several Fiery Me-
teors" (1765) ; and his famous "Cogitata

de Cometis," communicated to the Royal
Society by Dr. Franklin in 1766.

It is, however, as the real founder of
the science of seismology that he deserves
the most conspicuous notice. In the
earthquake of November 18, 1755, he no-
ticed for the first time in the history of
science that the disturbance of the earth's
crust were in the form of waves, iand
transmitted a pendulum-like motion to
buildings and objects on the surface.
Strikingly in advance of the science of
the day in his methods of systematic ex-
perimentation and deduction, he was the
first to apply computations to the phe-
nomena, thereby discovering the analogy
lietween seismic motions and musical
vibrations, and also the principle that the
quicker the motion the shorter the wave
lengths of the disturbance. Moreover,
he attributed the original cause to the
action of heat. These views, set forth
in his "Lecture on Earthquakes" (1755)
could not but excite the opposition of the
clergy, and were accordingly attacked by
Rev. Thomas Prince, of Boston, who
feared that orthodox theology would suf-
ler in consequence of their promulgation.
Professor Winthrop replied in his master-
ful "Answer to Dr. Prince's Letter on
Earthquakes" (1756), stating the princi-
ple since repeatedly reiterated, that the
acknowledgment of the agency of second
causes in no sense overturns theism. In
his personal beliefs he was thoroughly
orthodox, believing, as Eliot tells us, the
"truths of Christianity from study and
conviction." and "had the consolation of
our divine religion during his latter
years." In his "Lecture on Comets" he
naively observes : "It is not to be doubt-
ed that the All-wise Author of nature de-
signed so remarkable a sort of bodies for
important purposes, both natural and
moral, in his creation. The moral pur-
poses seem not very difficult to be found.

244

Hon. John Winthrop, of Cambridge, Professor of Mathematics, Harvard.
1738-1779, Judge of Probate, 1775-1779

I

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Such grand and unusual appearances tend
to arouse mankind, who are apt to fall
asleep while all things continue as they
were; to awaken their attention and to
direct it to the Supreme Governor of the
universe, who they would be in danger of
totally forgetting were nature always to
glide along with an uniform tenor."

In addition to his professional duties he
was for many years and until his death
judge of probate for Middlesex county.
Upon the accession of Governor Thomas
Hutchinson in 1769, he was chosen one
of the council, but on account of his
staunch advocacy of the charter-rights of
the colony, attempted to be abrogated by
act of parliament, he was in 1774 removed
by royal mandate, along with James Bow-
doin and Samuel Dexter. Upon the
achievement of independence, however,
he was rechosen to the position. In addi-
tion to the works already mentioned he
published "Two Lectures on the Paral-
lax" (1769). The degree of LL. D. was
conferred on him by the University of
Edinburgh in 1771. and by Harvard Col-
lege in 1773. He was also a fellow of the
college from 1765 until his death, and a
member of the American Philosophical
Society. Although his brilliant writings
are of but little value to physics in its
present advanced stage of development.
he laid the foundations of Harvard's pre-
eminence in scientific inquiry, and rightly
holds first place among scientists of
America. His son. James Winthrop. a
patriot soldier and for many years judge
of the court of common pleas, was also
distinguished for his historical and scien-
tific investigations and wrote "An At-
tempt to Translate Part of the Apoca-
lypse of St. John into Familiar Language"
(1794) : he was librarian of liarvard Col-
lege (1772-87). Professor \\'inthrop
died in Cambridge, Alassachusetts. May
3' 1779-

DEXTER, Timothy,

Eccentric Character.

Timothy Dexter was born in Maiden,
Massachusetts, January 22, 1743. He
early became an apprentice to the leather-
dressing trade, in which he proved so pro-
ficient that in 1764 he began bu.^iness on
his own account in Charlestown, Massa-
chusetts. His subsequent great wealth
was entirely the product of his own in-
dustry and shrewdness. The latter qual-
ity was especially displayed in the pur-
chase of the depreciated Continental
money, which, after Hamilton's funding
system went into operation, became sud-
denly increased in value.

With the accession of wealth, Dexter's
eccentricity of character asserted itself,
and he made efforts both desperate and
ridiculous to attain social prominence.
He assumed the title of "Lord," and most
earnestly endeavored to attract the notice
of the good folk of first Boston and then
Salem. Failing in this, he removed to
Xewburyport, where he purchased two
large houses, one of which he afterwards
sold at a profit, while the other he fitted
up most extravagantly. The grotesque
traditions concerning him, still current in
the east, are almost incredible. His
library was completely equipped with ele-
gant books, his taste for literature, how-
ever, going no further than the beauty
of their bindings. His art gallery was
supplied in a like manner, he having com-
missioned a young connoisseur to pur-
chase a number of paintings in Europe.
Dexter unhesitatingly rejected all the
masterpieces, and would only accept those
that were worthless. He kept a poet
laureate whose rhymes, when unaccept-
able to his master, were rewarded with
cuffs, blows, and sometimes pistol shots.
Dexter's mansion was magnificent with
minarets and other architectural d^^vices

245

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

alien to the quiet New England atmos-
phere. In his garden was a group of forty
enormous columns, surrounded with
mammoth statues of the world's great
men, himself being included among the
number, with the modest inscription, "I
am the greatest man in the East." The
cost of this freakish embellishment was
about $15,000. His coach-and-four were
of the most conspicuous style, and a
crowd of wondering and jeering people
generally followed him on his drives.
Although so seemingly imbecile, he was
nevertheless singularly successful in all
business ventures, and attempts to trick
him in such enterprises were sure, by
either chance or cunning, to result in his
eventual good fortune. A troublesome
neighbor, his absurd conduct often
brought horse-whipping and like atten-
tions upon him. Happening to be in Bos-
ton when the news of the death of Louis
XVI. was received. Dexter hastened to
Newburyport and had the passing-bell
tolled before the tidings of the monarch's
death were circulated. He appeared as
an author in the volume "A Pickle for the
Knowing Ones." Upon one occasion he
had a fine cofifin made, a tomb prepared,
and even went so far as to carry on a
mock funeral. So strange a character,
was, moreover, not content with mere
eccentricity for its expression. Dexter
was dissipated to an extraordinary degree
of abandonment, and, although toward
the end of his life he appeared to have
shown some repentance for his many
follies, yet nothing but absolute insanity
can excuse him altogether. He died at
Newburyport, Massachusetts, October
22, 1806. CSee his life by S. L. Knapp).

BARTLET, William,

Liberal Friend of Education.

William Rartlet was born at Newbury-
port, Massachusetts. January 31. 1748, a
descendant of John Bartlet, of Newbury,

1635. His parents were esteemed for
their moral worth and respected for their
piety.

A biographer has said of him: "By
nature he was liberally gifted. There
was a singular analogy between his men-
tal and corporal structure. His firm,
athletic, commanding frame had a coun-
terpart in a mind of unusual comprehen-
siveness and energy. He possessed a
quick perception, an accurate discrimina-
tion, a solid and correct judgment, united
with great ardor, decision and persever-
ance. His advantages for education were
simply those of a common school, but the
ardor and activity of his mind supplied a
multitude of defects." Engaging in busi-
ness, he rose from comparative poverty
lo affluence, and in the most liberal but
modest manner distributed his wealth.
Temperance, the Education Society, home
and foreign missions, appealed to him
strongly ; but Andover Theological Semi-
nary was the chief object of his care and
beneficence. In 1806 Professor Eliphalet
Pearson, former principal of Phillips
Academy, returned to Andover to live,
and with the trustees and patrons began
to plan a divinity school in the interest
of the old or moderate Calvinism, in op-
position to the Unitarianism which had
become dominant at Harvard. About the
same time, Mr. Bartlet and another lay-
man of Newburyport, Moses Brown, in-
fluenced by their pastor, Dr. Samuel
Spring, were discussing the founding of
a divinity school in the interest of the
new or Hopkinsian Calvinism, their in-
tention being to locate it at Newbury.
A third layman, John Norris, of Salem,
who had conceived a similar project, was
induced to join them. The two sets of
founders, previously unknown to each
other, on becoming acquainted with
each other's designs, were desirous of
uniting their funds in one great institu-
tion ; and, for the sake of such a union

246

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

were willing on each side to do all they
could, consistently with a good con-
science, to meet the views of those on
the other side. The union, brought about
mainly in consequence of Mr. Bartlet's
firmness, was consummated May lo, 1808,
eight months after the founding of the
seminary, Messrs. Bartlet, Brown and
Norris receiving the title of associate
founders, each giving $10,000. and Mr.
Bartlet an additional amount of $10,000
constituting a fund for the support of two
professors and for the aid of students.
Subsequently Mr. Bartlet gave $15,000 to
make the endowment of one of the profes-
sorships wholly his own work. He erect-
ed also the chapel, Bartlet Hall, and three
houses for professors, besides purchas-
ing the lands connected with them at an
aggregate cost of $75,000. In addition he
bequeathed $50,000, making his total
gifts $160,000.

The second associate founder, and the
only one who was a church member,
Moses Brown, had, like William Bartlet,
risen to prosperity by his own efforts, be-
ginning as a chaise-maker and finally en-
gaging in the shipping business. In addi-
tion to his contribution to the associate
foundation, he gave in 1819 $25,000 to en-
dow the professorship of ecclesiastical
history. His granddaughter gave a house
for the use of the occupant of this chair.
John Xorris, of Salem, the third associate
founder, was a merchant and a member
of the Massachusetts Senate. He was
deeply interested in missions and at first
was inclined to give $5,000 only toward
the endowment fund, but being persuad-
ed by his wife that "the missionary work
and the seminary are the same," he in-
creased his subscription. She was his sole
heir, and by her will the endowment was
increased by $30,000.

Mr. Bartlet's wife approved his gifts to
the seminary, and was a benefactress of
many a needy student. Mr. Bartlet died
at Newburyport, February 8, 1841.

MELVILL, Thomas,

Snbjeot of Holmes's "Last Leaf" Poem.

Thomas Melvill was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, June 16, 175 1, son of
Allan and Jean (Cargillj Melvill, and
grandson of Thomas Melvill, minister of
Scoonie parish, Fifeshire, Scotland.

Left an orphan when ten years of age,
the lad was educated by his maternal
grandmother, Mrs. Mary Cargill, who is
said to have been a relative of the cele-
brated and eccentric Dr. Abernethy. He
was graduated at the College of New Jer-
sey (Princeton) in 1769, later receiving
the degree of A. M. from his olnia mater
and from Harvard. He visited Scotland
in 1771, and on his return to Boston in
1773 entered with spirit into the patriotic
movements of the time. He was a mem-
ber of the Long Room Club ; was in sym-
pathy with the Sons of Liberty ; and was
one of the "Indians" who actively par-
ticipated in the "Boston Tea Party" on
the night of December 16, 1773; some of
the lea taken from his shoes that night
is still preserved by the family. In 1774
he was married to Priscilla, daughter of
John Scollay, a prominent Boston mer-
chant, and among his descendants was
Herman Melvill, the author.

Thomas Melvill was appointed an aide
to General Warren before the battle of
Bunker Hill, and later was a captain in
Colonel Craft's regiment of artillery. He
commanded a detachment of artillery
sent to Nantasket to watch the move-
ments of the British fleet, and he served
in the Rhode Island campaigns of 1777
and 1779. having been promoted to ma-
jor. Early in the latter year Melvill re-
turned to his commercial avocation in
Boston, for there is a record of his at-
tendance at a meeting of merchants held
in Faneuil Hall. June 16, 1779, to take
measures for reducing and regulating the
price of merchandise and of enhancing the
value of the Continental or paper money.

247

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

In the same year he was elected fire-
ward, and when he resigned in 1825 the
fire board passed a vote of thanks to
"Thos. Melvill, Esq., for the zeal, intre-
pidity and judgment with which he has
on all occasions discharged his duty as a
fireward for forty-six years in succession,
and for twenty-five as chairman of the
board." When the custom house was es-
tablished in Boston, in 17S6, he was ap-
pointed surveyor; in 1789 he was made
inspector, and upon the death of James
Lovell, in 1814, he was appointed naval
officer of the port. The last named posi-
tion he held until 1829. He was in the
State Legislature in 1832. Melvill was
the last man in Boston to wear the cocked
hat and small clothes of the P^evolution-
ary period, and his quaint and picturesque
figure inspired Oliver Wendell Holmes to
write his poem, "The Last Leaf," in
which the following stanza occurs :

I know it is a sin

For me to sit and grin

At him here;
But the old three-cornered liat.
And the breeches and all that

Are so queer!

'Tlis aspect among the crowds of a
later generation." wrote Dr. Holmes, "re-
mind me of a withered leaf which has
held to its stem through the storms of
autumn and winter, and finds itself still
clinging to its bough while the new
growths of spring are bursting their buds
and spreading their foliage around it."
Major Melvill died in Boston, September
16, 1832.

PHILLIPS, Samuel,

Distinguished Educator.

Samuel Phillips, founder of Phillips
Academy. Andover, Massachusetts, was
born at North Andover, Massachusetts,
February 7, 1752, fourth son of Hon.
Samuel and Elizabeth (Barnard) Phil-

lips. His father, a graduate of Harvard
College in 1734, was master of the gram-
mar school in the south parish of An-
dover for some time, then removing to
the north parish, where he carried on the
business of a merchant. He was a deacon
of the church for fifty years; represented
Andover in the General Court; was a
member of the Governor's Council pre-
vious to the Revolution, and for many
years was a civil magistrate.

His son, Samuel Phillips, fifth of the
name, was fitted for college at Dummer
Academy, Byfield, Massachusetts, and
was graduated at Harvard College in
177T. standing seventh in a class of sixty-
three. He was a founder or a leader of
three associations formed for scientific
or patriotic purposes, and was highly es-
teemed by his fellows. Returning to An-
dover, he succeeded his father as town
clerk in 1773 (though the records were
kept by his wife), and treasurer; in 1774
he was on committees to frame non-im-
portation resolutions, and in 1776 he
erected a powder-mill to supply the Con-
tinental troops. From 1775 until 1780 he
was a member of the Provincial Congress,
and served on important committees,
thrice conferring with Washington on
matters connected with the war. As a
member of the Massachusetts Constitu-
tional Convention of 1779-80 he aided in
drawing i:p "a frame of a constitution and
declaration of rights," and a declaration
or test oath to be taken by magistrates.
He was a member of the State Senate
from 1780 to iSoi, excepting 1787-88,
when Shays' rebellion was in progress,
and he formed one of a commission to
treat with the disafifected. By virtue of
his office as Senator he was an overseer
of Harvard College, and in 1793 received
the degree of LL. D. from that institu-
tion. For fifteen years he was president
of the Senate, and for one year was Lieu-
tenant-Governor, chosen by the Feder-

48

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

alists. In 1781 he was appointed a jus-
tice of the Court of Common Pleas for
Essex county, and remained on the bench
until April, 1798. In addition he super-
intended stores at Andover and Alethuen,
also a saw-mill, a grist-mill, a paper-mill,
and the powder-mill already mentioned,
"giving to each a sufficient and approxi-
mate share of his oversight. With a spirit
subdued by the predominancy of the re-
ligious sentiment, he was as earnest, ac-
tive and indefatigable in this multitude of
engagements as though this world was
everything." His name is most widely
known as the projector of Phillips Acad-
emy. As soon as he left Harvard College
he conceived the idea of founding a clas-
sical academy at Andover, and drew up a
constitution for it, his desire being to
establish it in the north parish, and to
have it a private institution under his per-
sonal supervision. To this end he pre-
vailed upon his father to divert estates
of which he was to be the heir, and per-
suaded his uncle, John Phillips, later the
founder of Phillips Exeter Academy, to
co-operate. The plan having been slight-
ly modified and a decision reached to lo-
cate in the south parish, a purchase of
land was made in January, 1777, this and
subsequent purchases being in his father's
name and at his expense. The Academy
was formally founded April 21, 1778; the
board of trustees was organized April
28th, with Hon. Samuel Phillips, the
judge's father, as president, and the Phil-
lips school was opened April 30th in an
old carpenter's shop, with twenty pupils.
On October 4th the institution was incor-
porated as Phillips Academy, being the
first incorporated academy in the State.
The property originally transferred to the
trustees by Samuel Phillips and John
Phillips consisted of 141 acres of land in
Andover, with buildings upon it. and 200
acres in JafTrey. New Hampshire, and
about $8,000 in money. In 1785 a new

academy building was erected by Samuel
and John Phillips and their brother. Sen-
ator William Phillips, a resident of Bos-
ton. Though Judge Phillips made no di-
rect bequest to the academy, "the efforts
and sacrifices by which he contributed to
its endowment, superintendence and pros-
perity, justly rank him among the great-
est benefactors of mankind." He was a
trustee of Dartmouth College and a found-
er of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences in Boston. General Washing-
ton, while on his presidential tour in 1789,
paid him the honor of a visit, and was
much impressed with the character and
aims of the academy.

Judge Phillips was married, at Cam-
bridge, IMassachusetts July 6, 1773, to
Phoebe, youngest daughter of Hon.
Francis and ^Nlehetabel (Coney) Fox-
croft, a woman of deep piety, enthusi-
asm in patriotic and philanthropic work,
great culture and fascinating social quali-
fies. She bore him two sons. John and
Samuel. The former was an assistant
teacher in the academy, and the latter a
State Senator, who with his mother gave
Phillips Hall and a steward's house to
Andover Theological Seminary, their ex-
penditures for this purpose amounting to
about ?20,ooo. His daughter. Mary Ann,
was the mother of Rev. Phillips Brooks.

Senator William Phillips, uncle of the
judge, has been mentioned as a benefac-
tor of Phillips Academy. He was a
wealthy merchant, and gave to the acad-
emy property equal to that given by his
brother Samuel. $6,000. His son William
(1750- 1 827). was deeply attached to
Judge Phillips, and, becoming interested
in the academy through that cousin, early
became a trustee, and for fifteen years
gave $500 annually to assist needy stu-
dents. Prior to this he had given lands
and books exceeding $1,000 in value.
When in 1818 the academy was burned,
he gave $5,000 toward a new building,

249

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAl'liY

and in his will he left the institution $15,-
000. He bequeathed $10,000 to the Theo-
logical Seminary. For many years he
represented Boston in the Legislature, in
1812-23 was Lieutenant-Governor, and
rivalled his relatives in patriotism and
devotion to duty. The gifts of the Phil-
lips family to the academy alone aggre-
gated $71,000. Judge Phillips died at
Andover, Massachusetts, February 10,
1802.

CHURCH, Benjamin,

Revolntionary War Surgeon.

Benjamin Church, surgeon-general in
the War of the Revolution, left behind
him the reputation of being a traitor to
his country. There is no record of the
date of his birth or any account of his
early lite.

Fie entered Harvard College, where he
was graduated in 1754, and having stud-
ied with Dr. Charles Pynchon, an eminent
physician of the time, became noted for
his skill, particularly as a surgeon. In
addition, as he was talented and had a
poetic fancy, he obtained a certain repu-
tation as a writer. About the year 1768
he built for himself an elegant house at
Raynham, Massachusetts, which involved
him in debt, and probably led to the mis-
fortunes and disgrace of his after life.
P'rior to the War of the Revolution, Dr.
Church was a zealous Whig, and asso-
ciated with the principal men of that
party in Boston and was a writer for
"The Times," a newspaper which was de-
voted to the W^higs, and which Governor
Bernard denounced as a seditious sheet.
It appears from a letter of Governor
Hutchinson, dated January 29, 1772, that
even at that time he was traitorously
in the service of the government — traitor-
ously, because, not being suspected by
the patriots, he was looked upon as one
of them, and in 1773 was chosen to de-

liver the annual oration in the Old South
MeetHig House. He was also one of the
leaders in the "Boston Tea Party." In
J 774 he was a member of the Provincial
Congress, and was appointed Surgeon-
General and Director of Hospitals, but at
this time it began to be suspected that
he was in the pay of the British govern-
ment. One of his students who kept his
bocks and knew of his pecuniary condi-
tir n. could not otherwise account for his
sudden acquisition of some hundreds of
new British guineas. It appears that he
had frequent intercourse with Captain
Price, a half-pay British officer, and with
Robinson, one of the commissioners sent
over from England to try to arrange
peace. A few days after the battle of
Lexington, in April, 1775, being at Cam-
bridge, with the Committee of Safety, he
brought himself under specific suspicion
by suddenly returning to Boston and
visiting the house of General Gage. His
treachery was detected through a letter
written in cipher to his brother in Boston,
which he had entrusted to a young wo-
man upon whom it was found. The
cipher being translated by Elbridge
Gerry, it was discovered that Church had
been for some time in treasonable corre-
spondence with the enemy. He was
brought to trial before a court martial,
and was convicted, October 3d (Wash-
ington being president of the court), "of
holding a criminal correspondence with
the enemy." On General Washington
charging him with his baseness. Church
did not even attempt to vindicate him-
self, but, on being called to the bar of
the House of Representatives, October
27, he offered a defense which was con-
sidered ingenious and able. He said that
the letter for his brother not having been
sent, he had communicated no intelli-
gence ; that there was nothing in the letter
but notorious facts ; that his exagger-
ation of the strensTth of the American

250

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

force was only designed to favor the
cause of his country, and that his object
was purely patriotic. He concluded by
saying: "The warmest bosom here does
not flame with a brighter zeal for the se-
curity, happiness and liberties of Amer-
ica, than mine." He gained nothing by
his eloquence, being expelled from the
house, and ordered to be imprisoned for
life, and debarred the use of pens, ink
and paper. He fell sick in prison, how-
ever, and in 1776 was released and per-
mitted to sail for the West Indies, but the
ship in which he sailed was never heard
from again. Dr. Church published "An
Elegy on the Times" (1765) ; "Elegy on
Dr. Mayhew" (1766) ; "Elegy on the
Death of Dr. Whitefield" (1770); "Ora-
tion on the Fifth of March" (1773).

FITCH, Ebenezer,

Clergyman, Edncator.

Ebenezer Fitch, first president of Wil-
liams College, was born at Norwich, Con-
necticut, September 26, 1756, son of Dr.
Jabez Fitch, a physician of considerable
eminence, and Lydia (Huntingdon)
Fitch.

He passed his childhood at Canterbury,
Connecticut, which gave rise to the er-
roneous idea that he was also born there,
a statement that was even inscribed upon
his tombstone. He was fitted for college
by the Rev. Dr. James Cogswell, for some
years a minister in Canterbury. From his
earliest boyhood he contemplated enter-
ing the ministry, and his excellence in
study and in conduct were marked both
at school and at home. He was gradu-
ated with honor at Yale College in the fall
of 1777, a commencement which, owing;
to the distracted state of the country in
consequence of the Revolutionary War,
was attended by but few people. The
next two years he spent in New Haven
as a resident graduate, and a part of a

year at Hanover, New Jersey, teaching
an academy. In 1780 he received the de-
gree of A. M., with the appointment of
tutor in Yale College. This office he re-
signed in 1783 to form a mercantile con-
nection with Henry Daggett, of New
Haven, and in June of the same year he
went to London to purchase goods,
which, owing to his ignorance in business
matters, were wholly unsuited to the
simple wants of the Connecticut people,
and hence involved him in serious pecu-
niary embarrassment from which he was
unable to extricate himself for a number
of years. In 1786 he was a second time
elected to the office of instructor in Yale
College, and until 1791 officiated as senior
tutor and librarian. During his tutor-
ship he connected himself with the col-
lege church, and was licensed to preach
in May, 1790.

He was elected preceptor of the Acad-
emy of Williamstown, Massachusetts, in
1790, and on October 26, 1791, commenc-
ed teaching a school there, which subse-
quently attained great prosperity. In
June, 1793, the institution at Williams-
town, known as the Williamstown Free
School, received from the General Court
of Massachusetts a charter as a college,
and in August of the same year Mr. Fitch
was elected president. The first com-
mencement of Williams College was held
on the first Wednesday in September,
1795, President Fitch having been or-
dained a minister of the gospel on June
17th previous. In 1800 he received the
honorary degree of D. D. from Harvard
LJniversity. He presided over Williams
College with a marked degree of ability
and success for twenty-two years.
Through his wise and prudent direction
of its earlier affairs was the institution's
later prosperity made possible. His most
distinguishing characteristics were pur-
ity and benevolence, and through his per-
sonal aid many students without means

251

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of their own were enabled to obtain a col-
lege education. Upon his resignation
from the presidency in 1815, he became
pastor of the Congregational church at
West Bloomfield, New York, and remain-
ed there twelve years, and after resign-
ing continued to preach occasionally un-
til the time of his death, March 21, 1833.

CRANCH, William,

One of Fonnders of Washington City.

William Cranch was born in Wey-
mouth, Massachusetts, July 17, 1769, son
of Richard and Mary (Smith) Cranch.
His mother's sister, Abigail Smith, be-
came the wife of John Adams, second
President of the United States.

William Cranch entered Harvard Col-
lege before he was fifteen years old, and
was graduated with honors in 17S7, John
Ouincy Adams, his cousin, being a class-
mate. He began the study of law with
Judge Thomas Dawes, of Boston, and
was admitted to the bar at the age of
twenty-one. He began practice in Brain-
tree, but removed to Haverhill, ana at-
tended the circuits at Exeter, Portsmouth
and other places in New Hampshire. In
1794 he received an olTer from James
Greenleaf to remove to Washington City
and take charge of his large land inter-
ests there, at a salary of $1,000 per annum
and a dwelling house. Washington had
then but recently been chosen as the per-
manent seat of government, and many
preparations had been made for the needs
of the new city when the removal there
should take place in 1800. Under con-
tract made by President Washington
with the owners of the land on which
the city was laid out, the government was
to have half of the lots and the owners
of the land the other half. The govern-
ment being in great need of funds for the
buildings required at once, sold to James
Greenleaf one-half of all its lots (about

6,000) for about $66 apiece, on six years'
time without interest. Mr. Greenleaf as-
sociated with himself in this enterprise
Robert Morris, the financier of the Revo-
lution, and James Nicholson, employing
Mr. Cranch with full power of attorney
to represent them. Nearly all the lots
were north and west of the White House,
in what is now the best part of Wash-
ington, and the speculation seemed likely
to prove a good one. It did not prove so,
however, and, Robert Morris having fail-
ed, spent most of the latter years of
his life in a debtors' prison. Nicholson
also failed ; James Greenleaf got out with
a loss of practically all he had, and Mr.
Cranch found himself so embarrassed by
endorsements in connection with the en-
terprise that in 1800 he was obliged to
seek the protection of the insolvency
laws.

In i8co he was appointed one of the
Commissioners of Public Buildings by
President Adams, and in 1801 assistant
judge of the newly constituted circuit
court for the District of Columbia. In
1802 he succeeded Alexander J. Dallas
as reporter of the Supreme Court, and
published his first volume of reports in
1804. In 1805, much to his surprise, he
being a staunch Federalist, President
JefTerson appointed him Chief Judge of
the United States Circuit Court for the
District of Columbia, and this office he
held during his life. In the winter of
1806-07 the case of Bollman and Swartout
for treason, and as accomplices of Aaron
Burr in his alleged conspiracy, was tried
by him. President JeiTerson had ordered
their arrest and transportation to the dis-
trict on his own authority ; but Judge
Cranch's decison was that executive com-
munications, not on oath or affirmation,
could not under the constitution be suffi-
cient evidence to charge treason, still les.s
to commit for trial. The whole influence
of the President was brought to bear up-

\2

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

on Judge Cranch, and the popular clamor
was loud ; but they had no effect on him,
and later the Supreme Court sustained his
conclusions. In iSii he removed to
Alexandria, where he had purchased a
farm, and from there he saw the burning
of Washington by the British forces in
1814. In 1829 he was made LL. D, by
Harvard College. In 1852 he published,
in six volumes, his "Reports, Civil and
Criminal, of the Circuit Court of the Dis-
trict of Columbia," covering forty years
from 1801 to 1841. Nature seems to have
intended him for a judge. In him untir-
ing industry and perseverance were com-
bined with great talent for clearness and
order; a logical mind that enabled him
to see the pivotal point in the cases that
came before him, and an unswerving in-
tegrity and high principle to decide them
without fear or bias. During his more
than fifty years on the bench, not one of
of his decisions was reversed by the
Supreme Court. Judge Cranch was an
early riser and an incessant worker.
When not employed upon his professional
and official duties, he was at work upon
the small chores about his house — market-
ing, gardening and repairing. His heart
was as tender as a woman's ; his domes-
tic affections deep and strong; and his
hospitality generous, even when his cir-
cumstances obliged the greatest economy.
He was deeply religious, and by convic-
tion a Unitarian Christian of progressive
type. On April 6, 1795, he was married
to Nancy, sister of James Greenleaf. They
had thirteen children, several of whom
died in infancy. Judge Cranch died in
Washington, September i, 1855.

CHAPMAN, John,

Pnblic Benefactor.

John Chapman, popularly known as
Johnny Applesced, was born in or near
Springffeld, Massachusetts, in 1775.

About the year 1803 he removed to the
vicinity of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and
there began his life work primarily that
of raising apple trees for the benefit of
others, and incidentally of disseminating
the doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg.

Keeping in advance of civilization, he
crossed over mto Ohio about 1806, and
worked westward until the central and
northern parts of that state were dotted
^ith his nurseries. He was accustomed
to clear a place in the forest, plant his
seeds, fence in the patch, and when the
locality was settled, to dispose of the
trees for "fippenny bit"' apiece, or for
food or old clothes, though he as frequent-
ly gave them away. From time to time
he made long journeys, usually on foot,
to trim the trees in his widely scattered
plantations, or to procure a fresh sup-
ply of seeds from the cider mills in west-
ern Pennsylvania. Though he went un-
armed, he was never molested by In-
dians or wild beasts, the former regarding
him as a "great medicine man," prob-
ably because he scattered through the
woods seeds of medicinal plants, such as
catnip and pennyroyal. Johnny's chief
article of clothing was an old coffee sack,
with holes for his head and arms, and a
tin pan, which formed a part of his slen-
der outfit, and which sometimes servea
for a hat. Every house was freely open
to Appleseed John (as he was at first
called), his goodness, unselfishness and
childlike simplicitv endearing him to all :
but he usually preferred the shelter of the
woods to that of a roof, even in winter
time. He had a strong affection for chil-
dren, and an equally strong one for ani-
mals ; he was even heard to regret that he
had killed a rattlesnake that had bitten
him. During the War of 1812 he often
warned the settlers of approaching dan-
ger, and when Mansfield, Ohio, was be-
lieved to be threatened bv the Indians,

253

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

voluntarily went through an unbroken
wilderness to Mt. Vernon, thirty miles
away, for troops, making the round trip
between sunset and sunrise over a new
cut road.

Johnny Appleseed lived in Ashland
county, Ohio, until 1838, and then re-
moved to the vicinity of Fort Wayne,
Indiana, to continue his beneficent work.
In March, 1847, he heard that one of his
nurseries, twenty miles away, had been
broken into by cattle, and started to re-
pair the damage, but fell ill at a friend's
house, a few miles from Fort Wayne, and
died on the following day, the eleventh of
the month. His name is engraved on a
monument erected in Mifflin township,
Ashland county, Ohio, to the memory of
some of the pioneers ; and the story of his
life has been charmingly told in a volume
by the Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis.

RUGGLES, Timothy,

Self-expatriated Loyalist.

Timothy Ruggles was born in Roches-
ter, Massachusetts, October 20, 171 1, son
of the Rev. Timothy and Mary (White)
Ruggles ; grandson of Captain Samuel
Ruggles, of Roxbury, and Martha (Wood-
bridge) Ruggles, who was a granddaugh-
ter of Governor Thomas Dudley.

He was graduated from Harvard Col-
lege in 1732; studied law, and establish-
ed himself in practice in Rochester. In
1740 he removed to Sandwich, Massa-
chusetts, and there remained, with in-
creasing reputation and a constantly in-
creasing list of clients, until 1753, when
he removed to Hardwick. He was an im-
pressive pleader, his eloquence enhanced
by his majestic presence. His services
were in constant demand in adjoining
counties, where his principal antagonist
was Colonel James Otis, then at the
height of his fame. At the time of his
settlement in Hardwick he had accumu-

lated a liberal fortune, and entered upon
a style of living commensurate with his
standing and affluence. He was appoint-
ed judge of the Court of Common Pleas
in 1756, and from 1762 to the Revolution
he was Chief Justice, and served as a
special justice of the Provincial Superior
Court, 1762-75. He was repeatedly elect-
ed a representative in the General Court
of Massachusetts, and while the armies
were in winter quarters was speaker of
the house, 1762-63. He was commission-
ed colonel in the provincial forces under
Sir William Johnson, and was second in
command at the battle of Lake George
in 1755, where he distinguished himself
for courage, coolness and ability. In
1758 he commanded the third division of
the provincial troops, under Abercrombie,
in the attack on Ticonderoga. He serv-
ed as brigadier-general under Amherst
in the campaign of 1759-60. In 1763 he
was appointed by the Crown, "surveyor-
general of the king's forests," as a reward
in a measure for his military services in
the French and Indian war. He was a
delegate to the first Colonial (or Stamp
Act) Congress of 1765, which met in New
York, October 7, and was elected its
president, but refused to sanction the ad-
dresses sent by that body to Great
Britain, for which he was publicly cen-
sured by the General Court of Massachu-
setts. He was led by a sense of duty "in
the halls of legislature and on the plat-
form to declare against rebellion and
bloodshed." He was appointed Manda-
mus Councillor, August 16, 1774, and in
1775 left Boston for Nova Scotia with the
British troops, and accompanied Lord
Howe to Staten Island. His estates were
confiscated, and in 1779 he received a
grant of ten thousand acres of land in
Wilmot, Nova Scotia, where he engaged
in agriculture.

In 1735 he married Mrs. Bathsheba
Newcomb. widow of William Newcomb,

254

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and the daughter of the Hon. Alelatiah
Bourne, of Sandwich. His daughter
Mary married Dr. John Green, of Green
Hill, Worcester, Massachusetts. Judge
Ruggles died in W'ilmot, Nova Scotia,
August 4, 1795.

PHILLIPS, John,

Founder of Phillips £aceter Academy.

John Phillips was born at Andover,
Massachusetts, December 27 (o. s.), 1719,
second son of Rev. Samuel and Hannah
(White) Phillips, and great-great-grand-
son of Rev. George Phillips, first minis-
ter of Watertown (Cambridge), I\Iassa-
chusetts.

He is said to have been precocious and
fond of learning, and, aided by his father's
tuition, was ready to enter Harvard Col-
lege before he was twelve years of age
and graduating in 1735 at the age of six-
teen. For some time he had charge of
schools in Andover and adjoining towns,
meanwhile studying theology under his
father, and also taking the courses in
medicine. In 1741 he removed to Exeter,
New Hampshire, and for a year or two
conducted a private classical school while
continuing his theological studies. For
an equal period he had charge of the pub-
lic school. On August 4, 1743, he was
married to Sarah, daughter of Rev. Sam-
uel Emery, of Wells, Maine, and widow
of Nathaniel Gilman, of Exeter, who was
seventeen years his senior. In that year
his name appeared on the list of rate-
payers for the first time. "He was then
assessed the modest sum of 4s 2d ; he
lived to become the wealthiest citizen of
the town."

Having been ordained to the ministry,
Mr. Phillips supplied pulpits in Exeter
and other towns, and "was esteemed a
zealous, pathetic and animated preacher."
In 1747 the Second Church of Exeter, of
which he was a ruling elder, urged him

to become its pastor, and he received calls
to churches elsewhere ; but he refused all
invitations, partly because of an affection
of the lungs, and partly because, having
heard Whitefield preach, he felt it impos-
sible to reach the standard of excellence
set by that divine. Turning to secular
pursuits, he kept a small store, engaged
in the lumber trade, and invested in land,
and, having inherited habits of economy
and industry, grew rich by his own
eft'orts ; while he also fell heir to a part
of his first wife's estate, which for those
times was very large. He was a member
of Governor Wentworth's Council in
1767-75 ; represented Exeter in the Pro-
vincial Assembly in 1771-73; was a judge
of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas
in 1772-75, and toward the end of Gov-
ernor Wentworth's administration re-
ceived the appointment of Mandamus
Councillor, but probably never acted in
that capacity. In 1770, at the Governor's
suggestion, he organized a militar\- com-
pany of citizens, called the Exeter Cadets,
and was commissioned its commander,
with the title of colonel of foot. This
became the best drilled body of militia
in the province. In 1774 Colonel Phillips
was chosen by his townsmen a member of
the Committee of Correspondence, but,
unlike his relatives in Andover, he took
no active part in the Revolution, preserv-
ing a neutral attitude throughout. He
had by that time retired from trading,
and, besides attending to his large estate,
was loaning money on interest and was
carrying out various plans for the ad-
vancement of education, having no chil-
dren to inherit his property. In 1770 the
trustees of Dr. Wheelock's Indian Char-
ity School at Lebanon, Connecticut, de-
cided to move it to Hanover, New Hamp-
shire, and to erect it into a college. To
insure this, ]\Ir. Phillips deeded to the
institution a large tract of land in Sand-
wich, New Hampshire, in 1772-73, and in

-DD

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

1775 g-ave i30O, part to be used for the
purchase of philosophical apparatus ; in
1 78 1 he conveyed upwards of 4,000 acres
of land in northern New Hampshire and
in Vermont for the use of the college,
without restrictions, and in 1789 gave iyj
toward the foundation of a professorship
of divinity, which was established and
still bears his name. He was a trustee
of Dartmouth in 1773-93, and received
from it the degree of Doctor of Laws in
1777.

In T777 his nephew, Hon. Samuel Phil-
lips. Jr., of Andover, Massachusetts, car-
ried out a long cherished scheme of found-
ing a classical school in that town by in-
ducing his father and uncle to endow it.
The gifts of Dr. John Phillips in land and
money aggregated $31,000, making him
the chief benefactor of Phillips Academy,
of which he was a trustee during his life,
and after the death of his eldest brother
served as president of the board of trus-
tees. In 1781 Dr. Phillips founded a
similar academy at Exeter, this being ex-
clusively his ov^n project. "This was a
bold step, for the Revolution was not
over, and it was uncertain when peace
would be declared." Phillips Exeter
Academy was incorporated April 3, 1781,
being the oldest educational institution
established by the State Legislature. The
first meeting of the board of trustees was
held December 18, 1781, and, after delays
experienced in obtaining land, the school
was opened February 20, 1783, and the
formal dedication of its building and the
installation of William Woodbridge, its
first preceptor, took place May ist. Dr.
Phillips gave to this institution the bulk
of his fortune, amounting to about $134.-
000, and gave it his personal supervision
as president of its board of trustees dur-
ing the remainder of his life. He be-
queathed a sum to Phillips Academy, An-
dover, for the assistance of students, espe-
cially those engaged in the study of divin-

ity, and from this foundation was evolved
the famous Theological Seminarj\ He
was also a benefactor of Harvard and of
Princeton.

Colonel Phillips was reserved and for-
mal by nature, and somewhat austere in
his faith, but was a man of broad sym-
pathies, and was animated by the most
unselfish motives. His first wife died
October 9, 1765, and on November 3,
1767, he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth
Hale, widow of Dr. Eliphalet Hale, of
Exeter, and daughter of Hon. Ephraim
Dennett, of Portsmouth. She survived
her husband about two years. Dr. Phil-
lips died at Exeter, April 21, 1795. As
was said by a biographer, "without nat-
ural issue, he made posterity his heir."

SARGENT, Winthrop,

W^estern Pioneer.

Winthrop Sargent was born in Glou-
cester, Massachusetts, May i, 1753, son
of Winthrop and Judith (Saunders) Sar-
gent ; grandson of Colonel Epes and Es-
ther (Maccarty) Sargent and of Thomas
and Judith (Robinson) Saunders, and a
descendant of William and Mary (Epes)
Sargent, who settled at Cape Ann.

He was graduated from Harvard Col-
lege. A. B., 1771, A. M., 1774. He was
captain of a merchant ship belonging to
his father, and in 1775 entered the patriot
army. He was naval agent at Gloucester
from January i to March 16, 1776; and
afterward captain in General Henry
Knox's regiment of artillery, serving un-
til the close of the war, and attaining the
rank of major. In 1786 he became con-
nected with the Ohio Company, and was
appointed by Congress surveyor of the
territory northwest of the Ohio river. He
was commissioned secretary of the North-
western Territory, September i, 1789, re-
commissioned. December 10, 1794, and
was commissioned governor of the Miss-

256

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

issippi Territory, May 7, 1798, serving
from 1798 to 1801. He served in the In-
dian wars of 1791 and 1794-95, taking part
in the expedition under General Arthur
St. Clair, where he was wounded. He
was a fellow of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences ; corresponding
member of the Massachusetts Historical
Society; a member of the American Phil-
osophical Society, and an original mem-
ber of the Society of Cincinnati. In col-
laboration with Benjamin B. Smith he
published "Papers Relative to Certam
American Antiquities" (1796) and "Bos-
ton," a poem (1803).

He was married, October 24, 1798, to
Mary, daughter of William and Eunice
(Hawley) Macintosh, of Inverness. Scot-
land, and afterwards of Natchez. Missis-
sippi. He died in New Orleans. Louis-
iana, June 3, 1820.

HOLBROOK, Amos,

Pioneer in Public Vaccination.

Dr. Amos Holbrook, one of the fore-
most physicians of his day, was born
January 23, 1754, in Bellingham, Massa-
chusetts. After obtaining a liberal liter-
ary education he studied medicine, first
under the instruction of Dr. Metcalf, of
Franklin, Massachusetts, and later at
Providence. He joined the American
army at Cambridge, in August, 1775, and
was appointed assistant surgeon in the
regiment commanded by Colonel John
Creaton, in March of the following year
was made full surgeon in the same regi-
ment, and served with it in New Jersey.
Later he was transferred to Colonel
Vose's command, but his health had been
broken by the vicissitudes of the cam-
paign, and he resigned, in March, 1777.

Establishing himself in practice in Mil-
ton. Massachusetts, he recovered his
health, in measurable degree, but. seek-
ing further improvement, late in 1777 he

MASS— 17

accepted appointment as surgeon on
board a privateer commanded by Captain
Truxtan, and made a voyage to Europe.
While there, he spent some months in
France, schooling himself in the more
recent developments of medical science,
and, returning to his home in Milton, re-
engaged in practice, and in which he
continued with conspicuous success for
more than half a century. In March,
1778, he began the particular work in
which he was to attain distinction, by
petitioning the town authorities of Milton
to provide a hospital building where he
might practice innoculation for smallpox,
which was then exceedingly prevalent
throughout the State, and thenceforth he
kept abreast of the foremost European
practitioners in reference to the preven-
tion and treatment of smallpox. He in-
augurated the practice of public vaccina-
tion in the town of Milton, and at his
first clinic, in 1808, he vaccinated one-
fourth of the entire population — t^t^j per-
sons, of varying ages, from three months
to seventy years. Three months later, on
October 8, 1808, he innoculated with
smallpox virus twelve persons who had
some months previously been treated
with vaccine ; they were quarantined in
hospital for fifteen days, and none of them
suffered the least inconvenience. This
was recognized as a very important ex-
periment, and added largely to his repu-
tation, which now extended to the old
world. In 181 1 he was elected a member
of the Medical Society of London, Eng-
land, also of the Literary and Philosoph-
ical Society of Preston, England. He
was a member of the Massachusetts So-
ciety from 1800 to 1832, and was a coun-
sellor and vice-president of that body for
some years. In 1813 the honorary degree
of M. D. was conferred upon him by Har-
vard College.

According to the custom of that time.
Dr. Holbrook educated for the profes-

257

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

sion numerous young men, and his name
is connected with almost every enter-
prise associated with the prosperity of
his community. He built in i8oi a hand-
some mansion in a commanding position
on Milton Hill, overlooking the harbor
and the shipping. It was a fine specimen
of tasteful architecture, and long retained
the colors of the beautiful fresco work
on which an Italian artist was employed
for a whole year. Dr. Holbrook was presi-
dent of the board of trustees of Milton
Academy, 1830-42.

He was three times married; in 1773,
to Melatiale Howard, of Medway, who
died in 1782, leaving three children; in
1783, to Patience, daughter of Daniel
Vose, of Milton, who died in 1789, leav-
ing a daughter, Clarissa, who was mar-
ried to Dr. Henry Gardner, of Dorches-
ter, and became the mother of Governor
Henry J. Gardner ; and (third) to Jerusha
Robinson, of Dorchester, who left two
daughters — Sarah Perkins, who was mar-
ried to William Ellery Vincent, and
Catharine, who was married to Dr. Thad-
deus M. Harris, a practicing physician in
Milton, librarian of Harvard College and
a distinguished entomologist. Dr. Hol-
brook died at Milton, Massachusetts. June
17, 1842.

SAMPSON, Deborah,

Revolutionary AVar Heroine.

Deborah Sampson (or Samson) was
born December 17, 1760, at Plympton,
Massachusetts, and was a descendant of
Henry Samson, one of the "Mayflower"
emigrants of 1620, and also of Governor
Bradford. Her parents were of such
habits that their children were taken from
them and Deborah was bound out to a
farmer, who treated her kindly, but made
no provision for her schooling, and she
was unable to obtain any education until
after the expiration of her time, in her

eighteenth year. The stirring events of
the Revolutionary War appealed to her
most strongly, and she determined to have
a part in the struggle. By teaching a dis-
trict school one term she was enabled to
buy sufficient cloth for a suit of man's
clothes, which she made herself. Giv-
ing out that she was going far away in
search of employment, she left the place
where she had been living, in her woman's
garb, which she exchanged for the man's
suit in the shelter of a wood, and then
sought the camp of the Fourth Massachu-
setts Regiment, commanded by Colonel
Richardson, and under the name of Rob-
ert Shurtlefif she enlisted in the company
of Captain Thayer, of Medway. She was
tall and large framed, and having been
accustomed to outdoor work from her
childhood, she possessed great powers of
endurance, and a masculinity of manner
that served her well. She served as a
soldier for three years, and was held in
high regard by her officers for her fidelity
and her courageous conduct in various
hazardous enterprises. In a skirmish
near Tarrytown, New York, she received
a sabre stroke in the head, and four
months later was shot through the shoul-
der. During the Yorktown campaign sne
was prostrated with brain fever, and was
taken to a hospital, where her sex vvas
discovered by Dr. Binney, of Philadel-
phia, who made no revelation of her se-
cret. After her recovery, however, he
sent her to General Washington, with a
sealed letter advising him of the fact
which he had discovered. Washington,
without addressing any words to her,
handed to her a discharge from service,
with a note of advice and a sum of money.
She then retired to her former home,
where she was received with honor. She
was married to Benjamin Gannett, a
farmer of Sharon, Massachusetts, in the
winter of 1784. During the presidency
of Washington she was invited to the

258

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

national capital, where she received from
Congress a pension and a land grant, and
received many favors from the people.
In 1820 she renewed her claims for ser-
vices rendered as a soldier ; she was then
in robust health, and was the mother of
three grown children. In 1797 she pub-
lished a narrative of her army life, under
the title "The Female Review." She died
at Sharon, Massachusetts, April 27, 1827.
She had suffered more or less all her later
years from the effects of the gunshot
wound received at Tarrytown, the bullet
having never been extracted.

ABBOT, Benjamin,

Prominent Educator.

Benjamin Abbot, first principal of Phil-
lips Academy (1788-1838), was born at
Andover, Massachusetts, September 17,
1762, son of John Abbot and descendant
of George Abbot, who emigrated from
Yorkshire, England, to Massachusetts
and settled in Andover in 1640.

At the age of twenty-one he entered
Phillips Academy, where among his class-
mates were John T. Kirkland and Josiah
Quincy, each of whom became president
of Harvard. In 1788 he was graduated at
Harvard College with the salutatory ora-
tion, and was at once engaged as an in-
tructor in Phillips Exeter Academy, and
from the first discharged the duties of
preceptor or principal, but would not for-
mally signify his acceptance of the office
until October 15, 1790. At that time his
salary was raised to $500 per annum, and
he was given an assistant, John C. Ripley,
A. B. By 1793 the number of pupils had
so increased that a new building was a
necessity, and in 1794 one was erected,
just in front of the present structure. In
1797 the trustees voted that any student
who had attended the academy for six
months and had made "valuable improve-
ment" in eight studies named, or in any

two of them, and had sustained good
moral character, should be entitled to a
certificate thereof. In 1799 the preceptor's
salary was fixed at $700, in addition to
the free use of a dwelling house; in 1803
$200 was appropriated for the use of
divinity students, and it was voted to em-
ploy a mathematical instructor. "In 1808
the qualifications for admission with a
view to an English education were de-
fined and apparently considerably raised ;
the head master was vested with the title
of principal ; a professorship of mathe-
matics and natural philosophy was estab-
lished, the first incumbent being Ebenezer
Adams, A. M. ; and it was voted expedient
to reduce the number of classes and to
establish a uniform system of classifica-
tion." In 1812 the first tuition fee was
raised, the sum of $12 per year becom-
ing payable by all but "foundationers."
In 1814, by request of Nicholas Gilman,
$100 was received, the income of which
was to pay for instruction in "solemn
musick." In 1818 the department of lan-
guages was made to comprise three
classes, or years, and an advanced class
to prosecute the studies of the first col-
legiate year ; the course of English study
was also to occupy three years, and more
stringent regulations in respect to the ad-
mission of pupils were adopted. In 1832
Dr. Abbot, who had received the degree
of Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth in
181 1, tendered his resignation. The trus-
tees refused to accept it, but they light-
ened his labors by reducing the number
of pupils to sixty. In 1838 Dr. Abbot
resigned the principalship. postponing the
formal act until August 28, when nearly
four hundred of his pupils gathered to do
him honor. After eloquent speeches, he
was presented with a beautiful silver vase,
and announcement was made that an Ab-
bot scholarship had been founded at Har-
vard. John Gibson Hoyt. LL. D.. who
knew Dr. Abbot intimately, wrote of him

'59

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

as follows: "lie was foremost among
scholars as he was a primate among
teachers. He knew that among regal
minds progress is the supreme law ; and
he was not content to sit by the roadside,
a wondering spectator, while the grand
procession moved on. New books and
new educational systems did not come
and go without his knowledge. He made
the academy the centre of his efforts and
his thoughts. Invitations to the Boston
Latin School and to other positions,
though oft'ering large rewards for less
labor, he resolutely declined. Prevented
by his continuous duties from seeing
much of the great world, he was neverthe-
less a live man. His mind was a foun-
tain, not a reservoir. He breathed his
own spirit into the worn text-books of
the recitation-room and the mystic page
glowed with his enthusiasm. * * *
Few men were so deeply versed as he in
that most abstruse of all studies, the
human nature of boys. * * * He
knew how to put himself into communi-
cation with youthful minds." Bell in his
historical sketch of the academy said:
"His manners were such as would be-
come a nobleman. Courteous as he was
dignified, he doffed his hat in response to
the greeting of the lowliest person he met.
As he walked down the aisle of the
schoolroom, bowing graciously to the
right and left, his appearance so' im-
pressed every pupil, that the memory of
it will never fade away. It made genera-
tions more mannerly."

Dr. Abbot was twice married; (first)
in 1791, to Hannah Tracy Emery, of Exe-
ter; she bore him one child, John Emery,
who became minister of the North Church
in Salem, Massachusetts; (second) in
May, 1798. to Mary, daughter of James
and Elizabeth (Peck) Perkins, of Boston,
who survived him, dying in her ninety-
fourth year. She bore him a son, Charles

Benjamin, and a daughter, Elizabeth, who
became the wife of Dr. D. W. Gorham.
Dr. Abbot died at Exeter, October 25,
1849.

CHENEY, Moses,

Clergyman, Reformer.

The Rev. Moses Cheney was born in
Haverhill, Massachusetts, December 15,
1776, the second son of Nathaniel and
Elizabeth Ela Cheney. His father, who
fought at Bunker Hill, was a great-grand-
son of the heroine, Hannah Dustin, who,
aided by a fellow-captive, scalped nine
Indians on Dustin Island, near Concord,
New Hampshire, and made her escape in
March, 1697.

Moses Cheney, a feeble child, unable to
work out of doors until thirteen years of
age, learned to read from his mother. The
family library consisted of the Bible,
Watts' "Psalms and Hymns," and an
English primer, and when he arrived at
manhood he had read and studied so thor-
oughly that he could repeat the Bible
from beginning to end. At the age of
eighteen the feeble boy was greatly
changed, being then a powerful man of
six feet and an inch, and having the
strength of a giant. His home was at
Sanbornton, New Hampshire, whither his
parents removed in 1780. Here, after a
little primitive schooling, at twenty, he
learned the joiner's trade, at which he
worked in summer, and at sleighmaking
in winter. Being ambitious to succeed, he
overworked, and in three or four years
his health broken, turned from manual
lal)or to books. He paid his way at
Gilmanton Academy by teaching singing.
also studying medicine at home, and at-
taining sufficient knowledge to enter upon
practice as Dr. Cheney. After the loss of
his health, his mind ran continually on re-
ligious channels. For a year following his

260

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

conversion, he was haunted day and nig^ht
by the text: "Behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people." At thirty he began to preach,
and never gave up preaching to the end
of his life. It was said that no man in
New England preached, prayed, and sang
more hours for a rovmd half century than
"Old Elder Cheney" as he was called after
he was forty-five, on account of his
hoary head, which, like Jefferson's, was
originally red. He preached throughout
New Hampshire and much of Massachu-
setts— a good deal in Chelmsford, Lowell,
Beverly, and towns about, in Salem and
in Groton ; and a whole year in Littleton.
He lived and preached a year in r>rent-
v\'ood. New Hampshire; preached in
Portsmouth and Exeter, in Hampton and
in Rye. Wherever he went, reformation
followed him. In 1824 he removed from
Brentwood to Derby. Vermont, where he
lived for many years.

EHder Cheney was one of nature's
preachers, magnetic and irresistible. Tall,
broad-chested, with a great head covered
by snowy hair, and with blue eyes, and
a clear ringing tenor voice, once seen and
heard, he was never forgotten. He was
a devoted lover and supporter of music
of all sorts, and knew all the psalms and
hymns by heart ; and. in whatever com-
pany he sang, whether the music was
sacred or secular, his high, pure tenor
voice led all the rest. In politics he was
a JefTersonian Democrat. In religious
faith he was originally a Baptist, but for
the last twenty years of his life he was
practically free from all sectarianism. A
man of singular uprightness of character,
of rare gifts, and of most varied and
thrilling experiences for one whose lot
was so humble, his life was one of ex-
ceptional and perpetual influence for
good. He married Abigail Leavitt, who
was born at Exeter. New Hampshire.
March i. 1781. daughter of iMoses and

Ruth Leavitt. In 1784 she accompanied
her parents to Sanbornton, New Hamp-
shire. Five of their nine children — four
brothers and a sister — ^constituted "The
Cheney Family." so favorably known in
concert circles in 1845, ^^^^ ^^r several
years following. Mr. Cheney died at
Sheffield, Vermont, August 9, 1856.

CHAPLIN, Jeremiah,

Famous Educator, Clergyman.

Jeremiah Chaplin, first president of
Walerville College, now Colby Univer-
sity (1820-33). ^'^''^s born in Rowley
(Georgetown). Massachusetts, January 2,
1776. In his boyhood he was inured to
hard labor on his father's farm, but with
the characteristic energy of the sons of
New England, devoted himself also to ac-
quiring a thorough classical training. En-
tering Brown University at the age of
nineteen, he was graduated at the head
of his class in 1799, and immediately re-
ceived an appointment as tutor to his
olina niafcr. At the end of a year he
began theological studies under Rev.
Thomas Baldwin. D. D.. the famous pas-
tor of the Second Baptist Church of Bos-
ton, and in the summer of 1802 accepted
a charge in Danvers. Massachusetts.
Here he continued for sixteen years, en-
gaged in pastoral labors and the instruc-
tion of young men preparing for the min-
istry, and in the meanwhile his reputation
as a profound scholar and theologian con-
stantly increased. In 1818. upon the in-
auguration of the theological department
of the Maine Literary and Theological
Institution, chartered h\ the iMassachu-
setts Legislature in February. 1813. he
accepted an invitation to become its prin-
cipal and Professor of Theology. He re-
moved at once to Waterville. bringing
with him several young men formerly
under his private instruction, and at once
began successful work. In October. 1819.

261

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Rev. Avery Briggs assumed the duties of
Professor of Languages, thus inaugurat-
ing the first beginnings of the college.
The power "to confer such degrees as are
usually conferred by universities" was
granted by the first legislature of the
State of Maine in June, 1820, and in the
tollowing February the name of the in-
stitution was changed to Waterville Col-
lege. The presidency was offered to Rev.
Daniel 11. Barnes, of New York, a well-
known and successful teacher of theol-
ogy, and upon his refusal Dr. Chaplin
was elected to the post, and the faculty
was increased by the accession of Rev.
Stephen Chaplin, of North Yarmouth,
Maine, as Professor of Theology. The
college graduated as its first class in
1822, two studentS; one of them Rev.
George D. Boardman, Sr., the cele-
brated missionary. An academy was
soon opened, still known as the Water-
ville Classical Institute, and also a me-
chanics' shop, which, however, was dis-
continued at the end of a few years. In
spite of its many struggles, privations
and sacrifices, like all infant institutions
of learning, the college grew steadily
during Mr. Chaplin's wide and efficient
administration. He labored earnestly in
its behalf, and was finally rewarded by
seeing the funds largely increased, and
the much-needed buildings erected one
by one. At the end of thirteen years he
resigned the presidency, and, freed from
the weighty cares and responsibilities
which had pressed so heavily and been
borne so cheerfully, he returned to pas-
toral work. He held successive charges
in Rowley, Massachusetts, and Wilming-
ton, Connecticut, and then removed to
Hamilton, New York.

Dr. Chaplin was noted for the clearness
and precision of his thought. As was
said by James Brooks, a graduate of the
college: 'Tlis discourses were as clear,
as cogent, as irresistibly convincing as

the problems of Euclid." His character
was simple and lovable, evoking respect
and reverence. He held firmly to the pro-
found principles of Calvinism, but was
original and forcible in the method of set-
ting forth his beliefs, lending them a
logic which was more than "formal." He
published one book, "The Evening of
Life," which has gone through several
editions. He died in Hamilton, New
York, May 7, 1841.

CRANE, Zenas,

Founder of Important Paper Industry.

The Crane family of Massachusetts,
conspicuous in the history of the com-
monwealth from early colonial days, was
founded by Henry Crane, born in Eng-
land, in 1621, and who settled in Dorches-
ter, Massachusetts, and was a selectman
at Milton, and a trustee of the first meet-
ing house built there.

Zenas Crane was born May 9, 1777,
and died in Dalton, Massachusetts, June
20, 1845. -He was a son of Stephen and
Susannah (Babcock) Crane. He learned
the rudiments of paper making under his
brother Stephen, who had established a
small paper mill at Newton Lower Falls,
and then in General Burbank's mill at
Worcester. In 1799, being then twenty-
two years of age, he went westward on
horseback in search of a location for a
mill of his own. At Springfield he found
a small mill established before 1788, prob-
ably by Eleazer Wright, and, going still
further west, reached the upper Housa-
tonic, and passed his first night in Berk-
shire county at an inn near the border
line between Dalton and Pittsfield, not
far from where his sons. Zenas M. and
James B. Crane, afterward built fine man-
sions, and where the world famous Crane
mills are now located. Zenas Crane asso-
ciated with himself two others, and they
selected the site for their mill in 1799, but

262

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the mill was not built until iSoi, as ap-
pears by the following advertisement in
the "Pittsfield Sun" of February 8 of that
year :

Americans! Encourage your own Manufac-
tories, and they will improve. Ladies, save your
rags.

As the subscribers have it in contemplation to
erect a PAPER MILL in Dalton, the ensuing
spring; and the business being very beneficial
to the community at large, they flatter them-
selves that they shall meet with due encourage-
ment. And that every woman, who has the
good of her country, and the interest of her
own family at heart will patronize them, by
saving their rags, and sending them to their
Manufactory, or to the nearest storekeeper —
for which the subscribers will give a generous
price. Henry Wiswall,

Zenas Crane,
John Willard.

Worcester, Feb. 8, iSoi.

Martin Chamberlain, an early settler of
the town, was skeptical, and would give
only oral permission for the erection of a
building, but finally (December 25, 1801),
executed a deed to Wiswell, Crane and
Daniel Gilbert (who had taken the place
of Willard), for fourteen acres of land,
with a paper mill and appendages thereon
standing, for $194. The building con-
tained one vat, and was of two stories,
the upper one being used as a dry^ing
loft. The capacity was twenty posts, a
post being one hundred and twenty sheets
of paper. When the mill started, there
were two weekly newspaper in the coun-
ty, and one of them purchased much of
its supply from this mill. The nearest
postofifice to Dalton was at Pittsfield,
where Mr. Crane received his mail until
1812, when the Dalton office was estab-
lished.

Mr. Crane conducted the mill, since
known as the "Old Berkshire," until 1807,
when he sold his undivided third to Wis-
well, and engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness in the east part of town, and in which

he continued until 1810. In that year he
bought David Carson's interest in what
was later known as the "Old Red Mill,"
which was operated by Crane, Wiswell,
Chamberlin & Cole until 1822, when Mr.
Crane, who had from the date of his pur-
chase been superintendent and chief man-
ager, became sole owner. In 1842 he
transferred his interest in the Old Red
Mill to his sons, Zenas Marshall and
James Brewer Crane, who were already
his partners. That year the Boston &
Albany railroad was opened. In the fall
of 1870 the mill burned down, but was re-
built. In 1879 the firm was awarded the
contract for supplying the United States
government with paper for bank bills,
bonds, etc. To fill this contract the firm
bought the brick mill which had been
built a few years before by Thomas Colt,
near the Dalton line, not far from the site
of the inn where Zenas Crane passed his
first night in Berkshire county. It is now
known as the Government Mill. Several
of its employees are detailed from the
United States Treasury Department, and
such was the perfection of the system
employed that not the slightest irregular-
ity has ever come to light. The introduc-
tion of silk threads into the fibre of the
paper was the discovery of Zenas Mar-
shall Crane, son of Zenas Crane, in 1846,
but he did not apply for a patent at the
time, although his idea was adopted by
several State banks. Twenty years later,
when the United States government
adopted the plan, an Englishman en-
deavored to establish a claim as the
patentee, but the fact that certain State
banks could show issues made by them at
an earlier date, saved the government
much more in royalties than any profit
the Cranes may have received. In 1850
the firm of Crane & Wilson leased a stone
factory which had been built in 1836 as a
woolen factory, between the Old Red
Mill and the Government Mill. Seymour

263

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Crane, young-est son of Zenas Crane, be-
ing then a member of the firm. In 1865
the property was rented by Zenas Crane
Jr., the eldest son of Zenas M. Crane.
The mill was burned May 15, 1877, and
rebuilt on a larger scale, and was then
operated by Z. and W. M. Crane.

Zenas Crane was several times a mem-
ber of the Legislature after 181 1, and in
1836-37 was a member of the Executive
Council under Governor Everitt. He
married Lucinda Brewer, daughter of
Gains and Lucretia (Babcock) Brewer,
of Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

FLINT, Timothy,

Clergyman, Author.

Timothy Flint was born in Reading.
Alassachusetts, July 11. 1780. His early
education was received in the schools of
his native town, and he then entered Har-
vard College, from which mstitution he
was graduated in the year 1800. He de-
voted two years to theological study, and
was then ordained pastor of the Congre-
gational church of Lunenburg, Massa-
chusetts. He was fond of scientific study
and experiments, and, on account of his
chemical work, was charged by ignorant
persons with counterfeiting coin. Feel-
ing ran high and culminated in his bring-
ing suits for slander to estalDlish his inno-
cence. This, with political differences,
engendered ill feeling among his parish-
ioners, and he relinquished his charge in
1814, and after preaching in various local-
ities in New England, went as a mission-
ary to the Mississippi Valley, where he
spent some seven or eight years, and was
the first Protestant minister to adminis-
ter the communion in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1822 he visited New Orleans, and after
traveling from place to place, in pursuit
of his missionary duty, was forced by ill
health to return to the north, where he
devoted himself to literature.

In 1826 he published an account of his.
wanderings, under the name of '"Recol-
lections of the Last Ten Years Passed in
the X'alley of the Mississippi," which met
with immediate success, and he followed
it the same year with "Francis Berrian,
or the Mexican Patriot." His third work
was "The Geography and History of the
Mississippi Valley," which appeared in
two volumes in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1827.
The next year he published "Arthur Clen-
ning," and several other stories of Indian
life. His next work was "Lectures upon
Natural History, Geology, Chemistry.
Application of Steam, and Interesting
Discoveries in the Arts'" (Boston, 1832).
Mr. i'lint then went to New York, and
upon the retirement of C. F. Hoffman
from the editorship of the "Knicker-
bocker ^Magazine," succeeded him for a
few months. About tb.is time he trans-
lated Droz's "The Art of Being Happy,"
with additions of his own, and also a
novel, entitled, "Celibacy \"anquished, or
the Old Bachelor Reclaimed." He re-
moved to Cincinnati in 1834, where he be-
came the editor of the "Western Monthly
]\Iagazine" for three vears, besides con-
tributing to it a number of essays and
stories. The next year he contributed to
the "London Athenaeum" a series of
"Sketches of the Liberation of the United
States." He afterwards removed to Red
River in Louisiana, but ill health obliged
him to return to New England in 1840.
While passing through Natchez he was
buried for some hours in the ruins of a
house blown down by a violent tornado,
which increased his illness, and on his
arrival at Reading became rapidly worse,
and died there August 18, 1840.

EVERETT, Alexander Hill,

Statesman, Diplomat, Author.

This versatile man was a native of
Massachusetts, born in Boston, March 19,
1790, son of the Rev. Oliver Everett, of

264

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Boston, and an elder brother of Hon.
Edward Everett.

He was a student at the Dorchester
Free School, and at Harvard University,
from which he graduated at the age of
sixteen, at the head of his class. He
taught for a year in Phillips Academy,
Exeter, New Hampshire, and then began
reading law under John Quincy Adams,
and divided his time between his law
books and the writing of articles for the
"Monthly Anthology." In 1809 he went
to Russia with Mr. Adams, who had been
appointed United States Minister to St.
Petersburg, and there remained two years
as a legation attache. On his return
home he visited Sweden, England and
Paris, and on arriving in Boston took up
the practice of his profession. Literary
work had now a strong hold upon him,
and the war with Great Britain made the
occasion for his writing for the '" Boston
Patriot," a Democratic journal, a series
of letters urging a relentless prosecution
of the war, and which were afterwards
reprinted in a volume entitled "Remarks
on the Governor's Speech," and followed
this with another series of articles de-
nouncing the Hartford Convention. In
1815-16 he was an attache of the legation
to the Netherlands, and in 1818-24 was
charge d'affaires, in the latter capacity
rendering important service in the con-
duct of the claims brought by the United
States for spoliations suffered during the
PVench ascendancy. Meantime he was
industriously occupied with his pen, writ-
ing for the "North American Review"
and other periodicals, and also writing a
volume entitled "Europe; or a General
Survey of the Political Situation of the
Principal Powers, with Conjectures on
Their Future Prospects, by a Citizen of
the United States," and which was pub-
lished in Boston and London, and was
considered of such value that it was trans-
lated into French and Spanish, and also

into German, with an introduction and
commentary by Professor Jacobi, of
Halle.

In 1824 Mr. Everett returned to Amer-
ica, and the next year was appointed Min-
ister to Spain. While there he invited
Washington Irving to become an attache
of the legation, and at the same time aid-
ed William H. Prescott in collecting ma-
terials for his monumental histories. Re-
turning home in 1829, he became editor of
the "North American Review," which he
conducted with signal ability for hve
years. He became a member of the State
Senate in 1830. He was the author of
the address issued by the convention of
1831, by which Henry Clay was nomi-
nated for the presidency; and in 1833, as
chairman of a committee of the tariff
convention, he drew up a memorial in
reply to one prepared by Mr. Gallatin, for
the free-trade convention of 1832. In
1840 he spent two months in Cuba as
confidential commissioner, investigating
charges brought against the United States
consul, and on his return accepted the
presidency of Jefferson College, Louis-
iana, a position which he was soon after-
wards obliged to resign on account of
ill-health. Besides the literary works
already referred to. >.Ir. Everett publish-
ed a great number of fugitive articles,
and also the following volumes: "New
Ideas on Population, with Remarks on
the Theories of Godwin and Malthus"
(1822); "Critical and Miscellaneous Es-
says" (1845 ^"d 1847). ^^^ "Poems"
(1845). He wrote the lives of Joseph
Warren and Patrick Henry for Sparks'
"American Biography." and was one of
the many distinguished contributors to
the columns of the younger Nathan
Hale's "Boston Miscellany of Literature
and Fashion" during the brief existence
of that publication. An accomplished
orator, he delivered numerous public ad-
dresses on important occasions. In 1845

26=

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAl'HY

he was appointed commissioner to China,
and set out for his post, but on account
of ill-health did not arrive there until the
following year. He died at Canton,
China, June 28, 1847.

SPRAGUE, Charles,

Financier, Poet.

Charles Sprague was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, October 22, 1791. His
father, Samuel Sprague, a native of Hing-
ham, where the family had lived for five
generations, was one of the party that
threw overboard the tea in Boston har-
bor. His mother, Joanna Branton, was
a woman of remarkably original powers
of mind, and wielded great influence in
the development of her son's talent.

He was educated at the Franklin
School, Boston, having for one of his
teachers Lemuel Shaw, who afterward be-
came Chief Justice of Massachusetts.
When ten years old he met with an acci-
dent by which he lost the use of his right
eye. He left school when only thirteen
and entered a mercantile house, and
when twenty-five was admitted to a part-
nership which was continued until 1820,
when he became teller in the State Bank.
When the Globe Bank was established in
1825, he was chosen cashier, which posi-
tion he retained until his retirement from
business life in 1864. Mr. Sprague's poet-
ical writings consist largely of theatrical
prize prologues. He was first brought
into prominence by his poetical address
at the opening of the Park Theatre in
New York, which was received with great
enthusiasm, and he increased his reputa-
tion by similar successes in Portsmouth,
Salem, and Philadelphia. Pie composed
a "Shakespearian Ode" which he read at
the Boston Theatre in 1820, at a celebra-
tion in honor of the great dramatist. His
chief poem, "Curiosity," was delivered be-
fore the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Har-

vard in 1829, and the following year he
recited a "Centennial Ode" on the cele-
bration of the settlement of Boston. He
also wrote a number of shorter poems
which have great poetical merit. His
dramatic odes are elegant polished com-
positions possessing a refined eloquence
which is characteristic of all his produc-
tions. Edwin P. Whipple says: "His
prologues are the best which have been
written since the time of Pope. His
'Shakesperian Ode' has hardly been ex-
celled by anything in the same manner
since 'Gray's Progress of Poesy.' But
the true power and originality of the man
are manifested in his domestic pieces.
"The Brothers,' 'I See Thee Still,' and
'The Family Meeting' are the finest con-
secrations of natural affection in our liter-
ature." The "London Anthenseum" says:
"Sprague has been called the 'American
Pope.' for his terseness, his finished ele-
gance, his regularity of metre, and his
nervous points." Loring says: "Amidst
a host of competitors, he received the
prize six times for producing the best
poem for the American stage, an instance
unprecedented in our literary annals."
His "Prose and Poetical Writings" ap-
peared in 1850. He died in Boston, Jan-
uary 22, 1875.

EVERETT, Edward,

Distinguislied Statesman and Orator.

Edward Everett was born in Dorches-
ter, Massachusetts, April 11, 1794. He
was the son of Rev. Oliver Everett, from
1782 until 1792 pastor of the New South
Church in Boston, and brother of Alex-
ander H. Everett, an eminent writer and
diplomatist.

Edward Everett received his early
education in the public schools of Boston,
and entered Harvard College, from which
he was graduated in 181 1. While in col-
lege he displayed his natural literary

266

Oc/tiarf/ Gierett

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

talent by editing the college publication
known as the "Harvard Lyceum." After
graduating he was for a while tutor in the
college, pursuing at the same time stud-
ies in divinity. In 1812 he delivered the
Phi Beta Kappa poem at Harvard, his
subject being "American Poets." This
poem, written at eighteen, gave great
promise that Everett's name might stana
high on the list of American poets, but
this promise was never fulfilled. He wrote
but little poetry afterward, though one
poem, "Alaric, the Visigoth," sustains his
claim to rank among the poets in the
English tongue. In 1813 he was made
pastor of the Brattle Street (Unitarian)
Church in Boston, where he speedily at-
tained a high reputation for eloquence
and spirit in his discourses. He also
preached in Cambridge, and young as he
was gained a v/ide reputation as being
one of the most eloquent and especially
one of the most pathetic preachers in the
United States. In 1815, having been
chosen Eliot Professor of Greek in Har-
vard, he went to Europe to fit himself for
the duties of this position, remaining
abroad during the next four years. He
pursued a wide course of study, and form-
ed a distinguished circle of acquaintances,
including such eminent people as Scott.
Byron, Jeffrey, Sir Humphrey Davy,
and Romilly. M. Cousin, the French phil-
osopher and translator of Plato pro-
nounced him "one of the best Grecians I
ever knew." In 1819 Mr. Everett re-
turned, and entered upon his duties at
Harvard. From 1820 he edited the
"North American Review," to which he
contributed largely at that time, and also
subsequently, when the editorship passed
into the hands of his brother, Alexander
H. Everett.

In 1825 Mr. Everett began his political
career as a Member of Congress from the
Boston district, and sat in the house for
ten successive years, but declined re-

election in 1834. While in Congress he
voted with the Whigs. In 1835 he was
elected Governor of Massachusetts, which
office he held by successive re-elections
for four years, and losing a further re-
election in 1839 by only one vote out of
over one hundred thousand. In 1840 he
went to Europe, and while there was ap-
pointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the
Court of St. James, being further honored
by receiving from Oxford University the
degree of D. C. L., and from Dublin and
Cambridge universities that of LL. D.
In 1845, owing to a change of adminis-
tration, he was recalled from London, and
during the next four years he was presi-
dent of Harvard College. In 1852 occur-
red the death of Daniel Webster, Secre-
tary of State, and Mr. Everett was ap-
pointed by Mr. Fillmore to fill out the
few months remaining of the latter's
term in that office. In 1853 ^^- Everett
was elected United States Senator, but
he only held the seat one year, being
obliged to resign on account of impaired
health. In 1853, when the plan to pur-
chase Mount Vernon by private subscrip-
tion was organized, Mr. Everett was in-
vited to deliver an oration on Washing-
ton in behalf of the undertaking. His ac-
complishment of this task was one of the
most memorable events in the history of
literature and forensic eloquence in the
United States. The oration he delivered
on that occasion has been pronounced one
of the most powerful, comprehensive and
elegant ever written in any languag'e,
comparing favorably with those of Cicero,
Demosthenes and Edmund Burke. Dur-
ing the spring of 1856 and the summer
of 1857, Mr. Everett delivered this oration
in the principal cities and towns of the
country more than one hundred times,
with the result of turning into the treas-
ury of the Mount Vernon Association
nearly $60,000. In addition to this, dur-
ing 1858 and 1859, he contributed to the

26^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

"New York Ledger," owned and pub-
lished by Robert Bonner, a weekly article
for which the latter paid in advance $io,-
GOO to the ladies of the Mount Vernon
Association. The receipts for other ad-
dresses and lectures delivered for chari-
table purposes were nearly $100,000. Pie
took an active part in the discussion of
the political cjuestions of his time, but he
was more noted as an orator on literary
and other public occasions. Collections
of his speeches and addresses have been
made at several periods. One of these,
made in 1850, in two volumes, contained
more than eighty addresses ; a third vol-
ume appeared in 1858, and a fourth in
1868. The best of these are the Phi Beta
Kappa oration, and the one he delivered
at Harvard, July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth
anniversary of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and a day on which, within a
few hours of each other, Thomas Jeiifer-
son and John Ouincy Adams both passed
away, even as their names lingered on the
eloquent tongue of the great orator.

In i860, when Civil War was threaten-
ing and political conditions had broken
the people into various discordant fac-
tions, Mr. Everett was candidate for
Vice-President with John Bell, of Tennes-
see, for President, on what was known
as the Bell-Everett, or Union ticket. The
election gave them the electoral votes of
Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, thir-
ty-nine in all; the ticket received 590,631
votes out of a total of 4,662,170. Through-
out the war, Mr. Everett was a consistent
Union man, always retaining, however,
a considerate feeling for the Southern
people, whom he regarded as misguided
and misled. His oration at the dedication
of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, November 15, 1863, was a
magnificent production, in full accord with
the gravity of the occasion, and couched
in eminentlv fitting langfuacfe. This ad-

dress is worthy of being ranked among
the greatest intellectual triumphs of its
author.

Mr. Everett's last appearance was at a
meeting held in Faneuil Hall, Boston,
January 9, 1865, for the purpose of assist-
ing the people of Savannah, Georgia. He
was taken seriously ill after this fatiguing
day, and never recovered, dying in less
than a week thereafter. Perhaps the best
summing up of Mr. Everett's intellectual
gifts is to be found in an article by George
S. Ilillard, which was published in the
"North American Review," in 1837, for
even at that time Mr. Everett had reach-
ed a high eminence in the regards of his
fellow-citizens. "The great charm in Mr.
Everett's orations." says Mr. Hillard,
"consists not so much in any single and
strongly developed trait, as in that sym-
metry and finish which on every page
gives token of the richly endowed and
thorough scholar. The natural move-
ments of his inind are full of grace, and
the most indififerent sentence which falls
from his pen has that simple elegance
which is as difficult to define as it is easy
to perceive. His level passages are never
tame, and his fine ones are never super-
fine. His style, with matchless flexibil-
ity, rises and falls with his subjects, and
is alternately easy, vivid, elevated, orna-
mented, or picturesque, adapting itself to
the dominant mood of the mind, as an in-
strument responds to the touch of a mas-
ter's hand. His knowledge is so exten-
sive, and the field of his allusions so wide,
that the most familiar views, in passing
through his hands, gather such a halo
of luminous illustrations that their like-
ness seems transformed, and we enter-
tain doubts of their identity."

In 1822 Mr. Everett married the daugh-
ter of Peter C. Brooks, one of the wealth-
iest men of Boston. Mr. Everett died in
Boston, January 15. 1865.

268

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

BORDEN, Richard,

Enterprising Manufacturer.

Richard Borden was born at Fall River,
Massachusetts, April 12, 1795, son of
Thomas and Mary (Flathaway) Borden.
He was in the seventh generation in de-
scent from Richard Borden, born in Eng-
land in 1601, who came to America in
1635, with his wife, Joan, and two sons,
Thomas and Francis, who were then quite
young. His third son, Matthew, was born
in Portsmouth, near the north end of the
island of Rhode Island, in May, 1638,
being the first child born of English par-
ents after the arrival of the first company
of settlers upon the island. His fourth
son, John, born September, 1640, from
whom the subject of this sketch descend-
ed, became quite famous among the
Friends throughout the country as John
Borden, of Quaker Hill, on Rhode Island.
This John Borden became a very exten-
sive land owner, and settled his two sons,
Richard and Joseph, near the Fall River
stream. For many years the Borden fam-
ily owned a large portion of the land and
water power in Fall River, and are still
among the largest owners of land and the
largest owners of manufactories in that
city. When Fall River became a town,
in 1803, it contained eighteen families,
half of these being Bordens.

Richard Borden spent his early years
after leaving school on his father's farm.
From 1812 to 1820 he had a grist mill at
the last fall near the mouth of the river.
He also combined the occupation of mari-
ner and shipbuilder with that of miller.
After the war of 1812. in which he had
enlisted as private and subsequently be-
came colonel, he was engaged with ]\Iajor
Bradford Durfee in the construction of
coasting vessels, and after their day's
labor on these in the yard, they worked
in a neighboring blacksmith's shop on the
iron work for the vessels. They launched
from their shipyard about one vessel a

year, of from twenty to seventy-five tons
burden. The work of the blacksmith's
shop gradually developed into a good
business in the manufacture of spikes,
bars, rods, and other articles, which was
the beginning of the Fall River Iron
Works Company, and which has been the
source of the capital for the development
of many of the most important industries
of Fall River. The demands for the
products of their shop was what suggest-
ed the establishment of the iron works.
They formed a company with Holder
Borden and David Anthony, of Fall
River, William Valentine and Joseph But-
ler, of Providence, and Abraham and
Isaac Wilkinson, of Pawtucket, each con-
tributing $3,000, making a capital of $24,-
000, which was soon reduced to $18,000
by the withdrawal of the two Wilkinsons.
At first hoop-iron was the principal pro-
duction ; then the manufacture of bar-
iron of various sizes was begun, and two
nail-making machines set up, the heading
of the best quality of nails having been
to that time hand-work. As the business
rapidly increased, the shops were en-
larged and new branches of production
were added. They were the first makers
of iron wire for the manufacture of wood
screws in this country. The Fall River
Iron Works Company, which was organ-
ized in 1821, was incorporated in 1825,
with a capital of $200,000. In 1845 ^^ was
increased to $960,000. By 1849 the com-
pany owned about one mile of wharf
frontage, making it the principal wharf
proprietor in Fall River. The growth of
the large and varied business from its
small beginnings is largely due to Colo-
nel Borden, who was its treasurer from
the time of its organization until his
death, a period covering over fifty years.
The Old Colony railroad, which was orig-
inally chartered to run between Boston
and Plymouth, owes its extension in the
direction of Fall River and Southeastern
Massachusetts, chiefly to Colonel Borden.

269

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

He, with his brother Jefferson, also estab-
lished the Fall River Steamboat line in
1847, with a capital of $300,000. He was
president and director of the American
Print Works, the American Linen Com-
pany, the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manu-
factory and the Richard Borden Manu-
facturing Company, and was a director
in the Annawan Manufactory. He was
president and director of the Fall River
National Bank ; director, treasurer, agent
and corporation clerk of the Fall River
Iron Works Company, and president of
the Watuppa Reservoir Company. Of
outside corporations, he was president of
the Bay State Steamboat Company, the
Providence Tool Company, the Cape Cod
Railroad Company, and the Borden Mill-
ing Company, and a director of the Old
Colony Railroad Company. In Fall River
he was once served as assessor and sur-
veyor of highways, and was elected to
the State Legislature as representative
and senator. He was chosen presidential
elector in 1864, at the second election of
Abraham Lincoln. Fie was a man of
much patriotic feeling, and gave the sol-
diers' monument and lot at the entrance
of Oak Grove Cemetery. The Richard
Borden Post of the Grand Army of the
Republic was named in his honor. Be-
sides being prominent as a man of great
energy and industry in business life, he
was distinguished for liberality to char-
itable and educational objects.

In 1828 Colonel Borden was married to
Abby Walker, daughter of James and
Sally (Walker) Durfee. He died Febru-
ary 25, 1874, leaving four sons and two
daughters.

THOMPSON, Daniel Pierce,

Public Official, Novelist.

Daniel Pierce Thompson was born at
Charlestown, Massachusetts, October i,
1795. His grandfather, Daniel Thomp-

son, of Woburn, a cousin of Count Rum-
ford, fell at Lexington.

He was taken to Berlin, Washington
county, Vermont, in childhood, where he
was brought up on a farm. He worked
his way to and through college and was
graduated at Middlebury in 1820. His
early education had been what a scanty
attendance upon the public school afford-
ed. Finding a water-soaked volume of
the English poets, he dried the leaves,
and having thus gained a glimpse of the
world of literature, was now intent upon
getting an education. By the sale of
some sheep which he owned, he was en-
abled to begin his preparation for college,
and by teaching school and earning a few
dollars here and there with incredible toil,
he continued until his graduation. While
a private tutor in Virginia he studied
law, and was admitted to the bar. After
spending a few years in the practice of
his profession, in 1824 he opened an office
at Montpelier, Vermont, and was made
register of probate. In 1830-33 he was
clerk of the Legislature, and appointed
compiler of the State laws enacted since
1824, in continuation of Slade's work
The volume appeared in 1835. While at
college he contributed short tales and
essays to the periodicals, and contmued
to write frequent articles for the maga-
zines upon poetical and miscellaneous
topics. An offer made by the "New Eng-
land Galaxy" of a prize for a tale, was
his first incentive to the writing of fiction,
and in competing for this prize he wrote
"May Martin : or, The Money Diggers,"
which gained the prize, and when printed
in book form in 1835 had an enormous
sale. He took an active interest in the
anti-Masonic controversy, and published
a satirical novel aimed against the Free
Masons, entitled "The adventures of Tim-
othy Peacock ; or. Free Masonry Prac-
tically Illustrated," which was issued
under the pen-name of "A Member of the

270

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Vermont Bar." He was judge of probate
for Washing-ton county, 1837-40, clerk of
the county court, 1843-45, and then of
the Supreme Court, and Secretary of
State, 1853-55. VVith these peaceful avo-
cations he combined a great deal of liter-
ary activity, which did much in the serv-
ice of his adopted State, for most of his
novels aimed to illustrate its traditions
and popularize its early history. Of this
character are : "The Green Mountain
Boys" (1840), which embodied the more
romantic incidents of the early history of
Vermont; "The Rangers"' (1850), was
illustrative of the revolutionary history
of V'ermont, and was the result of a care-
ful study of the times; and "Tales of the
Green Mountains" (1852) ; "Locke Ams-
den : or. The Schoolmaster" (1845) was
largely autobiographical, and was drawn
from personal observations intending to
illustrate the art of self-culture; "Grant
Greeley : or. The Trapper of Lake Um-
bagog" (1857), crossed the border into
New Hampshire, and "The Doomed
Chief" (i860), into the region of King
Philip. Mr. Thompson's other books
were: "Lucy Hosmer" (1848) ; "Centeola,
and Other Tales" (1864) ; and a "History
of Montpelier" (i860). He contributed
in youth to Zadoc Thompson's "Gazette
of Vermont" (1824) ; and in his later
years wrote sundry historical monographs
and biographical articles. He was ex-
tremely popular as a lyceum lecturer, and
was an accomplished orator on public
occasions. He died at Montpelier, June
6, 1868.

EDWARDS, Bela Bates,

Clerg^yman, Educator, Author.

Rev. Bela Bates Edwards was born at
Southampton, Hampshire county, Massa-
chusetts, July 4, 1802, son of Elisha and
Anne (Bates) Edwards. His earliest ances-
tor in America was Alexander Edwards,

who emigrated from Wales in 1640, and
became one of the early settlers of Spring-
field and later of Northampton, Massa-
chusetts. In 1753 his great-grandson
Samuel went with a colony to settle
Southampton, then a frontier town, and
built the house in which the subject of
this sketch was born. Samuel Edwards
was a soldier in the colonial army
throughout the Louisburg expedition, and
his son. Professor Bela Bates Edwards'
father, fought at Saratoga.

Professor Edwards was graduated at
Amherst College in 1824, entered An-
dover Theological Seminary in 1825, re-
turned in 1826 to Amherst to serve as
tutor for two years, and was graduated
at Andover with exceptional honors in
1830. During the last two years at An-
dover he had been assistant secretary of
the American Education Society, and
after graduation he spent five years in its
Boston office. In 1837 he was elected Pro-
fessor of Hebrew, and in 1848 of Biblical
Literature, in Andover Theological Semi-
nary. From the time of his graduation
from college until his death he was an
editor of quarterly reviews, first of the
"American Christian Register," later of
the "Quarterly Observer," which in 1833
he united with the "Biblical Repository."
]n 1844 the "Repository" was merged in
the "Bibliotheca Sacra," which was that
year founded by himself and Professor
Park, and of which he was editor-in-chief
until his death. For these periodicals
Professor Edwards prepared innumerable
articles and reviews. He wrote or edited
alone or with coadjutors forty-three vol-
umes and several pamphlets. Among the
former are the "Biography of Self-Taught
Men" (1831) ; "Selections from German
Literature,'' by Professors Park and Ed-
wards ; "Kiihner's Greek Grammar," in
connection with Dr. S. H. Taylor; and
v/ith Drs. Sears and Felton, "Classical
Studies." He was a trustee of Abbot

271

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Academy and of Amherst College, of
which, as well as of Dartmouth, he was
urged to become president. Miss Lyon
consulted with him at every point in
founding Mt. Holyoke Seminary, and Mr.
Williston in establishing Williston Semi-
nary. The Congregational House Library
is largely a monument to his indefatigable
labors. He was a born philanthropist.
The evils of slavery were as a fire in his
bones, and, as a founder of the Society
for Ameliorating the Condition of the
Slave, he was incidentally a founder of its
result, the American Missionary Associa-
tion. He was with difficulty dissuaded
from taking up foreign missionary work,
and was repeatedly urged to accept the
secretaryship of the American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. As
a preacher he could not be called popular,
but from the Andover chapel pulpit he
held the intelligent audience spelllDOund.
His chief work was as a teacher. Pie was
familiar with Greek, Hebrew in its vari-
ous dialects, Arabic, Syriac, Old Saxon ;
conversed and corresponded in Latin and
German ; and had a reading knowledge of
French, Italian and Spanish. His ear for
rhythm and his conscientious regard for
accuracy of expression made him a past
master of English. As a lecturer he was
fascinating ; he was by nature both a
statistician and a poet ; a most accurate
and versatile scholar, with mind enriched
not only by reading but by extensive
travels in this country and Europe. Dur-
ing his professorship he had accumulated
material for commentaries on Habakkuk,
Job. the Psalms, and Corinthians, and he
longed to live and complete this, "his life's
work." but his restless energy and exces-
sive labors had so impaired a naturally
vigorous constitution that he was unable
to throw off a malarial fever which re-
sulted in consumption.

He was married, at Conway, Massachu-
setts, November 3, 1831. to Jerusha Wil-

liams, daughter of Colonel Charles E. and
Sarah Williston (Storrs) Billings, and a
granddaughter of Rev. Richard S. Storrs,
of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Mrs.
Edwards, who survived her husband for
forty-four years, dying in 1896, was a
woman of unusual character and ability,
and maintained a remarkably successful
girls' boarding school for the first twelve
years after her husband's death. Of Pro-
fessor Edwards' three children, the eldest
son died at the age of four ; George Her-
bert, the second son, a junior at Yale Col-
lege, died at sea, greatly lamented. The
daughter, Sara Billings, became the wife
of Rev. William E. Park, pastor of the
Congregational church in Gloversville.
New York. Professor Edwards died at
Athens, Georgia, April 20, 1852. A
memoir by his lifelong friend, Dr. Ed-
v/ards A. Park, together with two vol-
umes of his sermons and addresses, was
published after his death.

WYETH, Nathaniel Jarvis,

Pioneer Explorer.

Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth was born in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 29,
1802, son of Jacob Wyeth, a graduate
from Harvard in the class of 1792. The
son was given a classical education, in-
tending to enter Harvard, but soon de-
cided to engage in business enterprises.
In 1826 he entered the employment of
Frederick Tudor, the pioneer storer of ice
for shipment to tropical countries, and by
his energy and inventive genius practi-
cally revolutionized this industry.

In 1831. his attention having been at-
tracted to the great Northwest, he retired
from the ice business and organized an
expedition to march over the continent to
establish a colony in Oregon. Though
but twenty-nine years of age, he was fore-
sighted enough to see the value of acquir-
ing a territory so vast and important, and

272

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

that thus to acquire it, it was necessary
to colonize it with Americans. The ques-
tion of ownership of this territory was
then in dispute, the interests and influ-
ence of the Hudson Bay Company being
predominant. On December 19, 1831, he
wrote to Edward Everett, then Secretary
of State, expressing the hope that Con-
gress "would aid good men to form a set-
tlement in that region, and assume the
government of the colony." On March
II, 1832, he left Boston with a company
of twenty-one men, fully armed and
equipped, by way of Baltimore, Pittsburg*
Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Independence,
Missouri, and reached Oregon on Octo-
ber 29, 1832. Of the entire company only
eight reached the Columbia river. The
casualties were from disease brought on
by starvation, exposure, accidents and at-
tacks by Indians, but the chief loss was
from desertion. The active part taken by
the survivors in the bloody fight with the
Blackfeet Indians at Pierre's Hole is de-
scribed in Washington Irving's "Bonne-
ville." Of the eight who completed the
journey, one died shortly after reaching
Oregon, and the other seven asked to be
released from their five years' contract of
colonization. Entirely alone, he spent the
time to February 3, 1833, acquainting
himself with the topography and re-
sources of the country. He then recrossed
the continent with two half-breed Indians
as guides and servants, reaching Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, September 27,
1833, and by March 8th he was in Boston
preparing for a second expedition. On
November 20th he chartered a ship which
he loaded for the Columbia trade. On
May 5, 1834, he left Liberty, Missouri,
with sixty men ; from February 14th to
August 6th he built Fort Hall, on Lewis
river (now in the State of Idaho), and on
September 22d located his colony near the
present site of Portland, Oregon. He also

MASS— 18 273

built Fort William on the Columbia river,
and established a settlement on Wappa-
too Island. About this time he was pros-
trated by an illness which threatened to
terminate his career, and his men became
discouraged and demoralized in the ab-
sence of their leader, upon whom their
hopes rested. The Indians took advan-
tage of the demoralization, and the Hud-
son Bay Company, seeing in Wyeth's per-
sistent energy and pluck a formidable
competitor for the trade and possession
of this country, were silent abettors of
the persecution and ultimate destruction
of this expedition. Governor Pelly, of
this company, writes in 1838: "We have
compelled the American adventurers to
withdraw from the contest." Of Nathan-
iel Wyeth, Washington Irving wrote:
"He had once more reared the American
flag in the lost domains of Astoria, and
had he been enabled to maintain the foot-
ing he had so gallantly effected, he might
have regained for his country the opulent
trade of the Columbia, of which our
statesmen have negligently suffered us to
be dispossessed."

Nathaniel Wyeth lived to see Oregon
a territory of the United States, and al-
though he died before it was admitted as
a State in 1859, his last years must have
been happier in the knowledge that he
had done much to make the occupation of
this territory possible to his fellow-coun-
trymen. Dr. Marcus Whitman led his
great caravan of about two hundn^d
wagons and eight hundred souls by way
of Fort Hall, the route four times trav-
eled over by Wyeth between 1832 and
1836, and there he established a trading-
post ; and it was not until 1846 that Fre-
mont occupied Oregon by way of this
same route.

Nathaniel J. Wyeth married, in 1824,
Elizabeth Jarvis Stone. He died August
31, 1856.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

KNAPP, Isaac,

Abolitionist, Jonrnalist.

Isaac Knapp was born at Newburyport,
Massachusetts, January ii, 1804. He was
apprenticed to a printer, and early became
a warm friend of William Lloyd Garri-
son. In 1825, the year of his attaining his
majority, he bought the "Northern Chron-
icler," changing its name to the "Essex
Courant," and sold it the next year to
Mr. Garrison. He was employed in the
office of "The Genius," Benjamin Lundy's
paper, in Baltimore, and visited Garrison
while he was in prison there. He co-oper-
ated with Garrison in the establishment
of the "Liberator," and his name appeared
as publisher on the first number which
made its appearance January i, 1831. In
the autumn of the same year he was in-
dicted by the Raleigh (North Carolina)
grand jury for the "circulation and publi-
cation" of "The Liberator" in that coun-
ty, "in contravention to the act of the last
general assembly."

Mr. Knapp was one of the twelve who
founded the New England Anti-Slavery
Society. He boarded with Mr. and Mrs.
Garrison, immediately after their mar-
riage, in "Freedom's Cottage," on Bower
street, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and
visited Garrison while in jail in Boston.
In 1835 ^6 dissolved partnership with
Garrison, assumed all pecuniary liabil-
ities, and became sole publisher of the
paper. In 1838 Knapp, who possessed no
business talent and had further embar-
rassed himself by carrying on an anti-
slavery depository and publishing pam-
phlet after pamphlet, regardless of cost,
became financially involved and had mar-
ried unfortunately. An agreement for the
support of Knapp and Garrison was en-
tered into by Francis Jackson, Edmund
Quincy and William Bassett, acting as a
committee to supervise the finances of the
"Liberator." In 1842 it became neces-

sary, on account of Mr. Knapp's habits, to
sever his connection with the "Liberator,"
and he was bought out. In 183 1 Garri-
son wrote of him in the "Liberator:" "I
am pleased to have an opportunity of be-
stowing a well-deserved eulogy upon my
})artner in business. He is willing, for
the love of the cause, to go through evil
as well as good report ; to endure priva-
tion and abuse, and the loss of friends so
that he can put tyrants to shame and
break the fetters of the slaves. He has
been of essential service to me ; and his
loss would not be easily made up." This
testimony Garrison repeated in a letter to
Oliver Johnson in 1873.

Mr. Knapp died in Boston, September
T4, 1843, too early to see any great results
from his labors.

GREENOUGH, Horatio,

Famous Sculptor.

Horatio Greenough was born in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, September 6, 1805,
son of David Greenough, a prominent
merchant. The son had every advantage
offered him for culture and education, and
it is stated that when a boy he could re-
peat two thousand lines of English verse
without hesitation or error. His artistic
tastes were early developed. When quite
a child he became noted for his success
in carving toys for his companions, and
even at this early age made a very suc-
cessful copy in plaster of a Roman head,
taken from a coin. His evident talent at-
tracted to him many friends, and he read
books on art, and studied and worked, at
the same time, becoming thoroughly well
informed on general subjects. When fif-
teen years of age he was so fortunate as
to encounter a French sculptor who
taught him how to model in clay. He
then went to Harvard, where he remained
two years, and then became the friend of
Washington Allston. It was during his

274

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

collegiate course that Greenough designed
the existing Bunker Hill Monument. In
1825 he went to Florence and then to
Rome, thereafter making his residence in
Italy. In 1826 he returned to Boston,
where he remained for a few months and
executed the portrait busts of President
Adams, Chief Justice Marshall, and
others. Returning again to Rome, he was
the first American student who settled
there permanently. There he made the
acquaintance and secured the friendship
of the great Danish sculptor, Thorwald-
sen. During a visit to Paris, Greenough
executed a bust of Lafayette, which has
been considered by good judges more
truthful than that by the French sculp-
tor, David. James Fenimore Cooper
was one of his first patrons, and gave
him an order for an ideal group of the
nude cherubs, a work which was much
admired in America. The influence of
Allston, who had been his friend in
youth, of Cooper, Everett, and Richard
H. Dana, secured for him in 1835 a com-
mission from Congress for a statue of
Washington. He spent nearly eight years
upon this task, handling the theme poet-
ically rather than historically, and never
intending that it should be placed in the
open air ; it won high praise, but its loca-
tion before the capitol did not satisfy the
sculptor. Among his smaller and more
literal portraits, produced at various
periods, are busts of Henry Clay, Josiah
Quincy, Josiah Mason, James Fenimore
Cooper, Thomas Cole, Samuel Appleton,
and John Jacob Astor. A man of genius,
full of refined and poetic fancies, and no
mere copyist, he excelled in heads of chil-
dren and in ideal subjects. Many of his
best works are in private houses in Bos-
ton and elsewhere. Among those on sac-
red, legendary, or literary themes, are a
bust of Christ, "The Guardian Angel,"
"The Angel Abdiel," "Lucifer," "Venus
Victrix," the "Graces," and Byron's "Me-

dora." About 1837 he received from the
United States government a second com-
mission on which he labored at intervals
until 1851 ; this work, "The Rescue," de-
picts a combat between a settler and an
Indian. Partly to place it to his mind at
Washington, but as much to escape from
the political disturbances in Italy, he re-
turned to his native land in the fall of
1851. Here, as abroad, he made many
friends ; Ralph Waldo Emerson esteemed
his conversation "both brilliant and deep,"
and greatly admired his scattered writ-
ings in prose and verse. Attacked by
brain fever at Newport, he was taken for
treatment to Somerville, Massachusetts,
where he died, December 15, 1852. A
memorial volume (1853), was edited by
H. T. Tuckerman, and contains his "Es-
says on Art." Some of his letters ap-
peared in 1887. Two of his brothers at-
tained eminence, one as an architect, the
other as a sculptor.

FULLER, Sarah Margaret,

Liitterateur, Reformer.

Sarah Margaret Fuller, Marchioness
Ossoli, was born at Cambridgeport, Mas-
sachusetts, May 3, 1810, the oldest of
eight children born to Timothy and Mar-
garet (Crane) Fuller. Her father was an
able and public-spirited man, holding
high official position, but while mentally
gifted was opinionated and injudicious.
Her mother was of good Puritan stuck,
and a woman of peculiarly winning and
attractive personality.

The father took charge of Margaret's
early education, beginning when she was
six years of age to teach her Latin, and
ever after continued this forcing process,
which finally undermined her physicial
constitution. At the age of fifteen she
was a prodigy of learning, being pro-
ficient in Latin, Greek, French and
Italian, as well as a deep student of liter-

275

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ature. Her associates and friends during
this period of her life — Holmes, William
Henry Channing, James Freeman Clarke,
Richard Henry Dana, and others — were
such as to wonderfully stimulate and de-
velop her. Her family removed to Gro-
ton, Massachusetts, in 1833. Two years
later her father died, and Margaret,
gathering the younger children together,
knelt and pledged herself to a lifelong
fidelity to them, which meant a renuncia-
tion of cherished hopes and plans. About
this time she first met Ralph Waldo Em-
erson, with whom she was afterward on
terms of intimate friendship, visiting him
at his home in Concord. She taught
school in Boston and Providence ; in Bos-
ton, she was with A. Bronson Alcott, and
gave, besides, private lessons in French,
German and Italian. The Fuller family
removed to Jamaica Plain, Massachu-
setts, in 1839, Margaret having with her
two private pupils. Soon after she formed
what was known as a conversational club,
gathering around her a circle of the
brightest and most alert women in Bos-
ton, among them Mrs. Lydia Maria
Lamb, Mrs. Ellis Gray Loring, the wives
of Emerson and Parker, and Maria
White, afterwards Mrs. Lowell. Mar-
garet Fuller delighted in philosophical
themes, and in criticisms of art and litera-
ture, and, while the members took an
active part, her habits of monologue ren-
dered her manner disagreeable to some
persons. In 1840 she became principal
editor of the "Dial" (afterward to be suc-
ceeded by Emerson), a journal devoted to
transcendental philosophy, which met
with a storm of criticism from the very
outset, the editors being designated as
"Zanies," "Bedlamites," and "consider-
able madder than the Mormons." Among
its contributors were Emerson, Parker,
Hedge, Alcott, Channing and Clarke.
This periodical died after four years of

precarious life. Her connection with
Brook Farm has been greatly exaggerated
She never lived there, was not a stock-
holder, and did not wholly endorse it, al-
though she occasionally visited there.

Her literary work at this period con-
sisted of translations from the German,
"Summer on the Lakes" (the record of a
season's tour through what was then
called "the Far West"), and "Woman in
the Nineteenth Century." In December,
1844, she began what she called her "busi-
ness life," when she went to New York
to assume the position of literary critic
on "The Tribune." Her home was for
a time with the Greeleys, and we find her
writing for her paper about picture gal-
leries, the theatre, philharmonic concerts,
German opera, Ole Bull's performances
on the violin, and Mr. Hudson's lectures
on Shakespeare. The breadth of her work
on practical and philanthropic topics was
remarkable. She visited the purlieus of
"Five Points," and under the guidance
of William Henry Channing became con-
versant with all phases and conditions of
life and society. This practical work dis-
proves what has been often said of her,
that she sought nothing but self-culture,
and Mr. Greeley himself testifies that
"for every effort to limit vice, ignorance
and misery, she had a ready ear and a
willing hand." After nearly two years
of this labor she sailed for Europe, Au-
gust 18, 1846, with Mr. and Mrs. Marcus
Spring. After extensive travelling, dur-
ing which she met Carlyle, Wordsworth,
DeQuincey, Harriet Martineau (whom
she had previously seen in America),
Mazzini, and most of the leading people
of the day, she established herself in
Rome in the spring of 1847. Here she
resided during the revolution of 1848, and
through the siege by the French the year
after.

In December, 1847, she was married

276

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

to Giovanni Angelo, Marquis Ossoli, a
gentleman of rank. The story of her
courtship and marriage is a very ro-
mantic one. September 5, 1848, her
child, Angelo Philip Eugene Ossoli, was
born. During the siege of Rome by the
French, she took an active part in caring
for the wounded, and was in charge of
the Hospital of the Trinity. Mazzini,
chief of the Triumviri, who better than
any man in Rome knew her worth, often
expressed his admiration for her high
character. She was loved with all the
passionate fervor of the Italian nature,
for her ministrations of devotion. When
Rome was captured by the French in
June, 1849, the husband and wife went
to Rieti, a village in the mountains of
Abruzzi, where their child had been left.
They soon returned to Florence, spend-
ing a short but delightful season there.
May 17, 1850, they sailed from Leghorn
on the merchant vessel "Elizabeth," hav-
ing as fellow passengers Horace Sumner,
a younger brother of Charles Sumner,
and Celeste Paolini, a young Italian girl.
When the vessel was almost in port, their
trunks being packed for landing, after a
severe storm the vessel was driven on the
shores of Fire Island, and father, mother
and child were drowned. Her biography
has been written by Ralph Waldo Emer-
son, William Henry Channing and James
Freeman Clarke, all of them her intimate
friends, and each giving a different view
of her life. It is undoubtedly true that
she was a woman of genius, possessing
brilliant gifts. There are passages of
power and beauty in her prose works,
but her poetry is of inferior quality. She
was gifted as a critic, her articles show-
ing great insight. She was considered
the pioneer of the cause of the elevation
of woman. She wrote much for maga-
zines, besides publishing several books.
She died July 19, 1850.

STODDARD, David Tappan,

Foreign Missionary, Scientist.

David Tappan Stoddard was born at
Northampton, Massachusetts, December
2, 1818. At the age of ten years he had
made considerable progress in Latin and
Greek. He entered Williams College in
1834, but at the end of his sophomore
year removed to Yale College, where he
was graduated in 1838, with high rank
as a scholar, especially in the physical
sciences. He declined an invitation to go
with Commissioner Charles W^ilkes on
the celebrated United States exploring
expedition to the Southern seas, because
he considered himself consecrated to the
work of the Christian ministry, having
united with the church after entering col-
lege.

While at Yale College he had himself
constructed two telescopes, with which
he afterwards made several astronomical
discoveries. Becoming a tutor in Mar-
shall College, Pennsylvania, he studied
Latin, and was soon offered a professor-
ship at Marietta College, Ohio, but de-
clined it, and in 1839 entered the Congre-
gational Theological Seminary at An-
dover, Massachusetts. In 1840 he was a
tutor at Yale College, where during the
succeeding year he took an active part in
promoting a revival of religion. In 1842
he was licensed to preach, and on Decem-
ber 15th of the same year was appointed
to the Nestorian mission in Persia, by the
American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, at Boston, Massachu-
setts. In January, 1843, he was advanced
to the Christian ministry at New Haven,
Connecticut. During the next month he
was married, and in March, 1843, sailed
with his wife for their field of labor. Visit-
ing several missionary stations in Turkey,
when he reached Oroomiah. in Persia, he
commenced the study of the Syriac lan-

277

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

guage with much vigor. In five months
he was able to instruct a class of Nes-
torian youths, and the male seminary, re-
organized and committed to his care, was
opened, with high promise, in 1844. In
1846 Rev. Dr. Asahel Grant, his fellow
missionary laborer, having meanwhile
died, and the opposition of the Nestorian
patriarch, with that of the Jesuits, hav-
ing circumscribed his labors, a revival of
religion occurred which was followed
during the next year by the ravages of
cholera. Proceeding to Erzeroom, in
Asiatic Turkey, for the benefit of his
health, which had become enfeebled, Mr.
Stoddard returned to Oroomiah as an in-
valid.

Mrs. Stoddard died at Trebizond, in
Turkish Armenia, in 1848, of cholera, and
her husband visited America with his
children, whom he had left in this country
on his return to Persia in 185 1. While in
the United States he traveled through
the country, presenting the claims of the
missionary work. After his return to
Oroomiah he began to instruct his older
pupils, in order to prepare them for
preaching the Gospel to their country-
men. He prepared "A Grammar of the
Modern Syriac," which was published in
the "Journal of the American Oriental
Society" (New Haven, Connecticut), in
1855. He also prosecuted the study of
the heavens with the telescope, and fur-
nished to Sir John Herschel, of England,
his observations of the zodiacal light. An

DERBY, George Horatio,

Soldier, Humorist.

George Horatio Derby, famous as "John
Phoenix" (pen name), was born in Ded-
ham, Massachusetts, April 3, 1823, son of
John Barton Derby ; great-grandson of
Elias Hasket Derby (1739-99), the cele-
brated Salem shipping merchant, and a
direct descendant from Roger Derby, the
immigrant, who settled in Ipswich, Mas-
sachusetts, in 1671.

He was graduated at the United States
Military Academy in 1846, and was com-
missioned second lieutenant of ordnance.
Pie was transferred the same year to the
topographical engineer corps and was
employed in the survey of the harbor of
New Bedford, Massachusetts, and later
was ordered to Mexico, where he served
in the siege of Vera Cruz and at the bat-
tle of Cerro Gordo, where he was wound-
ed. For "gallant and meritorious con-
duct" in that battle he was brevetted first
lieutenant. He was on duty in the Topo-
graphical Ofifice, Washington, in charge
of various surveys and explorations in
the west, including Minnesota Territory,
in 1848-49, and Texas and the Pacific
Coast, 1849-52. He superintended the
survey of San Diego harbor in 1853-54,
had charge of the military roads, and was
a stafif officer to the commanding gen-
eral of the Department of the Pacific in
1854-56. He was coast surveyor, 1856-
59, and gained promotion to the rank of
captain of engineers. While in charge of
building lighthouses on the coasts of
Florida and Alabama, 1859-60, he suf-

extended notice of the meteorology of fered a sunstroke which led to softening

Oroomiah from his pen appeared in "Silli-
man's Journal of American Science." His
theological lectures, delivered in Syriac,
embraced a full course of doctrinal the-
ology. Mr. Stoddard was attacked with
typhus fever after a return from a mis-
sionar>^ journey to Tabriz, in Northern
Persia, in December, 185G, and died at
Oroomiah, January 22, 1857.

of the brain and loss of his eyesight, and
he was removed to New York City.

Under the pen name "John Phoenix"
he wrote numerous sketches and bur-
lesques, collected and published under the
title "Phoenixiana" (1855), and he was
also the author of "The Squibob Papers"
(1859). He died in New York City, May
15, 1861.

278

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

RICHARDSON, Albert Deane,

Journalist, Antlior.

Albert Deane Richardson was born in
Franklin, Massachusetts, October 6, 1833,
son of Elisha and Harriet (Blake) Rich-
ardson, and grandson of Timothy and
Julia (Deane) Blake. He was brought
up on a farm and attended the academy
at Holliston, Massachusetts, editing the
academy paper and contributing both
prose and verse to the "Waverly Maga-
zine" and other Boston publications. He
taught school two terms in Medway,
Massachusetts, and in 185 1 went to Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania, where he first
taught a village school, and subsequently
became a reporter on the Pittsburgh
"Journal." He also attempted some dra-
matic writing at this time, several of his
farces being purchased by Barney Wil-
liams, and this departure brought him an
offer to go on the professional stage,
which he, however, refused.

Pie removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, in
1852, where he was a local editor on the
"Sun;" made a journalistic trip to Nia-
gara Falls in 1853, and there formed the
acquaintance of Junius Henri Browne,
who became his lifelong friend. He was
subsequently detailed to report the cele-
brated Matt Ward trial in Kentucky, the
sale of his published report exceeding
twenty thousand copies. Pie was em-
ployed on the Cincinnati "Unionist" in
1854, and afterward edited the Cincinnati
"Columbian," declining its entire man-
agement in 1855. ^" 1857 he severed his
connection with the "Gazette" and went
to Kansas, where he served as secretary
of the Territorial Legislature, engaged in
political life, and contributed regularly
to the Boston "Journal." He accom-
panied Horace Greeley and Henry Vil-
lard to Pike's Peak in 1859, and the same

year revisited New England and made an
extended tour of the southwestern terri-
tories, corresponding meanwhile for the
New York "Sun" and other newspapers.
He subsequently made a second trip to
Pike's Peak as special correspondent of
the "Tribune," in company with Colonel
Thomas W. Knox, with whom he estab-
lished and edited the "Western Moun-
taineer." He traveled through the South-
ern States as secret correspondent of the
New York "Tribune" in 1860-61 ; and was
afterward a war correspondent for the
same paper. On May 3, 1863, with Junius
H. Browne, also of the "Tribune," and
Colburn of the New York "World," he
joined a party of thirty-four men who
attempted at night to pass the Confed-
erate batteries at Vicksburg on two
barges lashed to a steam-tug. Pie was
taken prisoner and confined at Salisbury,
North Carolina, but finally escaped, and
after a journey of four hundred miles ar-
rived in Tennessee in 1865. During his
imprisonment his wife and infant son had
died, and he himself had contracted pneu-
monia, and was obliged to visit California
for the benefit of his health in the spring
of 1865 and again in 1869. ^^ was the
author of: "The Field, the Dungeon and
the Escape" (1865), descriptive of his ex-
periences during the Civil War; "Beyond
the Mississippi" (1866) ; and "Personal
History of Ulysses S. Grant" (1868). See
"Garnered Sheaves" (1871) by Abby Sage
Richardson.

Mr. Richardson married (first) in April,
1855, Mary Louise Pease, of Cincinnati,
Ohio. He married (second) in Novem-
ber, 1869. while on his death-bed, Abby
Sage. Air. Richardson was shot and
fatally wounded in the "Tribune" ofifice,
New York City, by Daniel MacFarland,
November 26, 1869, and died December
2. 1869.

279

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

RANTOUL, Robert, Jr.,

Lavyer, Journalist, Congressman.

Robert Rantoul Jr. was born in Bev-
erly, Massachusetts, August 13, 1805, son
of Robert Rantoul, the reformer (q. v.)-

He was graduated from Harvard Col-
lege, A. B., 1826, A. M., 1829. He studied
law in Salem, Massachusetts, and estab-
lished himself in practice therein 1829, re-
moving in 1830 to South Reading, Massa-
chusetts. He removed in 1832 to Glouces-
ter, Massachusetts, and was the Demo-
cratic representative from Gloucester in
the State Legislature, 1834-38, was a mem-
ber of the judiciary committee, and in 1836
of a special committee to revise the sta-
tute laws of Massachusetts. He repre-
sented the State in the first board of direc-
tors of the Western railroad, 1836-38. In
1837 he was appointed by Governor Ever-
ett a member of the first Massachusetts
Board of Education, and served until
1844, when he resigned. He removed
to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1839, and
soon became prominent as an advocate
and a lawyer. He was United States Dis-
trict Attorney for Massachusetts, 1845-
49. On the resignation of Daniel Webster
from the United States Senate in 1850.
Governor Briggs, of Massachusetts, ap-
pointed Robert C. Winthrop to fill the va-
cancy, but, upon the meeting of the State
Legislature in 185 1, Mr. Rantoul was
elected, and served until March 4th, when
the term ended. He was elected by the
coalition a representative in the Thirty-
third Congress, 1851-52. In 185 1 he was
counsel for Thomas Simms, the first fugi-
tive slave surrendered by Massachusetts.
He published a weekly journal in Glou-
cester in the interests of the Jacksonian
Democracy, 1832-38; was editor of a
"Workingmen's Library" and two series
of a "Common School Library." He car-
ried the "Journeymen Bootmakers' Case"
through the courts, establishing the right

of laborers to combine for business pur-
poses.

He was married, August 3, 183 1, to
Jane E., daughter of Peter and Deborah
(Gage) Woodbury, of Beverly. He died
in Washington, D, C, and rests at Bev-
erly, under a stone which bears an epitaph
from the pen of Sumner. On his sudden
death at the age of forty-seven, Whittier
wrote elegiac verses which have been
much admired. The date of his death
is August 7, 1852.

LOWELL, Charles Russell,

Civil 'W&T Soldier.

Charles Russell Lowell was born in
Boston, Massachusetts, January 2, 1835,
son of Charles Russell and Anna Cabot
(Jackson) Lowell, and grandson of the
Rev. Charles (q. v.) and Hannah Bracket
(Spence) Lowell.

He was graduated at Harvard College,
A. B., in the class of 1854, first in his class.
When the Civil War broke out, he was
manager of the Mount Savage iron works
in Maryland, and he made his way at once
to Baltimore and on foot to Washington
from the Relay House, railway com-
munication having been suspended from
that point. He was commissioned
captain in the Sixth Regiment United
vStates Cavalry. April 20, 1861, and was
the officer who recruited General Chaf-
fee as private in that regiment. He
was in command of a squadron of the
.Sixth United States Cavalry Regiment
in the Army of the Potomac all through
the Peninsula campaign, at the close of
which he was brevetted major for gal-
lantry, and assigned to the personal staff
of General George B. McClellan. At the
battle of Antietam he conveyed the orders
of the commanding general under severe
fire, rallied broken regiments, and dis-
played a degree of courage that was re-
warded by his being selected to carry the

280

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

captured standards to Washington. In
the autumn of 1862 he organized the Sec-
ond Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment,
and in May, 1863, was commissioned colo-
nel of the regiment. He was in command
of the advanced defences of Washington
during the winter of 1863-64, and was
engaged against the attack of Early in
July, 1864. Later he commanded the pro-
visional cavalry brigade under General
Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, and
finally he was given command of the re-
serve brigade made up of three regiments
of United States cavalry, his own regi-
ment, and a battery of artillery, which
distinguished itself at the battle of Ope-
quon Creek (Winchester), September 19,
1864, and on October 9th took a leading
part in the overthrow of General Rosser's
cavalry. At Cedar Creek, on October 19,
1864, he held the enemy in check until the
arrival of Sheridan, who formed his new
line close behind Lowell's men. Though
wounded early in the day, he was lifted
on his horse and led his brigade in the
final successful charge, where he received
his mortal wound. His commission as
brigadier-general, issued at the request of
General Sheridan, was signed at Wash-
ington on the day of this battle. He was
married in October, 1863, to Josephine,
daughter of Francis and Sarah Blake
(Sturgis) Shaw. He died at Middletown,
Virginia, October 20, 1864.

HOWE, Elias.

Famous Inventor.

Elias Howe was born in Spencer, Mas-
sachusetts. July 9, 1819, son of Elias
Howe, a farmer and miller. He assisted
his father in summer, and attended the
district school in winter. In 1835 he went
to Lowell, where he worked in a machine
shop, and in 1837 he removed to a shop
in Cambridge, and soon after to one in
Boston. While there he conceived the

sewing-machine that made his name fam-
ous. He experimented continuously for
five years, completing his first invention
in May, 1845. He had meantime return-
ed to Cambridge, where his father had a
machine shop. In making his first ma-
chine he received financial aid from
George Fisher, an old schoolmate.

In September, 1846, Mr. Howe patent-
ed the first sewing-machine, but the oppo-
sition to labor-saving machines rendered
the introduction difficult, and he engaged
as a railroad engineer until his health
failed. As the artisans of America were
unwilling to receive his invention, he
went to England in 1847, hoping to in-
troduce it there, but met with no better
success. He then worked his way home
as a common sailor, having disposed of
his English rights to William Thomas,
after adapting the machine to stitching
valises, umbrellas and corsets. On reach-
ing home he found his sewing-machine
imitated by rival inventors and extensive-
ly introduced by parties who had money
to advertise and show the working of the
machine, this being done regardless of
Howe's patents. In 1854, with the aid of
wealthy friends, he succeeded in estab-
lishing the priority of his invention, and
repurchased the patents, which he had
parted with during his adversity. This
enabled him to collect royalty on every
machine produced in the United States,
and his income soon reached $200,000 per
annum. When his patents expired in
1867, he had received in royalties from the
sale of machines over $2,000,000, and
after that he engaged in the manufacture
of sewing-machines.

In the Civil War, Mr. Howe served as
a private in the Seventeenth Connecticut
Volunteers. He was decorated with the
cross of the Legion d'Honneur by the
French government, and received for his
sewing-machine invention various other
medals and honors, including the gold

281

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

medal at the Paris Exposition in 1867.
In the selection of names for the Hall of
Fame for Great Americans, New York
University, made by the board of electors
in October, 1900, Howe stood fourth in
"Class D, Inventors," receiving forty-
seven votes, Fulton, Morse and Whitney
only securing places with eighty-five,
eighty and sixty-seven votes, respective-
ly. Pie died in Brooklyn, New York,
October 3, 1867.

ANDREW, John Albion,

\Var Governor of Massacliusetts.

John Albion Andrew was born at
Windham, Maine, May 31, 1818, son of a
prosperous merchant of that place. He
was graduated at Bowdoin College in
1837. He studied law in the office of
Henry H. Fuller in Boston, was admitted
to the bar in 1840, and practiced his pro-
fession in Boston.

He was a strong advocate of the views
of the Whigs, and was a persuasive speak-
er and an active worker in that party
until he joined the anti-slavery party of
Massachusetts in 1849. ^^ repudiated
the fugitive slave law of 1850, and ac-
quired considerable celebrity by his de-
fense of fugitive slaves arrested in Boston,
and under process of law returned to
their owners in Virginia in 1854. He was
elected to the lower house of the State
Legislature in 1858. He w?s at the head
of the Massachusetts delegation to the
Republican National Convention held in
Chicago in i860, and voted at first for
William H. Seward, afterwards announc-
ing the change of the vote of part of
the Massachusetts delegation to Abraham
Lincoln. On returning to Massachusetts
his popularity was established, and he
was nominated for governor and elected,
receiving the largest popular vote that
had ever been cast for a candidate to that
office.

A close student of the times, and far in
advance as to the trend of public affairs,
he anticipated Civil War and bent all his
energies to putting the State in a position
to promptly meet any emergency. His
purpose was declared in his inaugural
address. He not only sought to place the
militia of Massachusetts in thorough
preparation for war, but endeavored to
induce the governors of Maine and New
Plampshire to co-operate with him. When
the President's proclamation of April 15,
i86i,-was issued, calling for a volunteer
army of 75,000 men, he was ready with
live infantry regiments, a battalion of
riflemen, and a battery of artillery, all of
which were dispatched to the defence of
Washington. One of these regiments,
the famous Sixth Massachusetts, was as-
sailed by a mob in passing through Balti-
more. This regiment was the first to
touch the southern soil, and the first to
sprinkle it with its blood. Governor An-
drew was equally active in responding to
all subsequent calls for troops, and in car-
ing for the sick and wounded in the field,
and early in 1862 urged upon the govern-
ment the necessity of emancipation, and
the policy of employing colored troops in
the war. In that same year he instigated
and was prominent at a gathering of the
governors of the loyal States at Altoona,
Pennsylvania, on which occasion he for-
mulated a plan and wrote an address
which was issued for the encouragement
of the national government. By his in-
fluence with the Secretary of War, color-
ed troops were recruited, and the first
regiment organized was the Fifty-fourth
Massachusetts, which left Boston in May,
1863, and made a good record in the
army. Governor Andrew was re-elected
four successive years, declining the nomi-
nation offered him in 1865 to give atten-
tion to private business and to recruit his
failing health. During his governorship
he advocated a modification in the divorce

282

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

laws of the State, which prohibited the
marriage of a divorced person, and, de-
spite sharp opposition from the clergy,
his recommendation was substantially-
agreed to by act of Legislature. Previous
to the suspension of the habeas corpus
act in 1864, he opposed the action of the
Federal government in making arbitrary
arrests of southern sympathizers in Mas-
sachusetts. He was opposed to capital
punishment, and repeatedly recommend-
ed its repeal. As governor he sent to the
Legislature twelve veto messages, all but
two of which were sustained. His fare-
well address, which he delivered to the
Legislature of Massachusetts on Janu-
ary 5, 1866, advocated a temper of good
faith and generosity to the South, one
pregnant phrase being, "demanding no
attitude of humiliation, inflicting no acts
of humiliation," and which excited intense
interest at the time, not only in New Eng-
land, but throughout the country and in
Europe.

Governor Andrew was president of the
first National Unitarian Conference held
in 1865, and there sought to direct the
deliberations of that body to such a state-
ment of faith as should meet the approval
of those who accept the birth, life, mis-
sion and teaching of Jesus Christ as su-
pernatural. On leaving the office of gov-
ernor he was tendered the presidency of
Antioch College, Ohio, which he declined.
Returning to private life in 1866, Gov-
ernor Andrew resumed the practice of
law. He was president of the New Eng-
land Historic-Genealogical Society, 1866-
67, and a life member from 1863. He re-
ceived the honorary degree of LL. D.
from Amherst and from Harvard in 1861.
See "Men of Our Times," by Harriet
Beecher Stowe ; "Memoir with Personal
Reminiscences," by P. W. Chandler; and
"Discourse," by the Rev. Elias Nason.
He was married to Eliza Jane Hersey, of

Hingham^ Massachusetts, on December
25, 1848. Mrs. Andrew died June 12,
1898. Governor Andrew died in Boston,
Massachusetts, October 30, 1867.

MORTON, William Thomas Green,

Discoverer of Anaesthesia.

This distinguished man, who brought
vast benefits to suffering humanity, was
born in Charlton township, IMassachu-
setts, August 9, 1819, son of James Mor-
ton ; grandson of Thomas Morton, a Rev-
olutionary soldier, and a descendant of
Robert Morton, who came from Scotland
to Alendon, Massachusetts, and removed
thence to New Jersey, where he founded
Elizabethtown.

His father, a farmer, lost his property
in 1835, and young Morton was obliged
to leave school and support himself. In
Hartford, Connecticut, he studied dentis-
try with Horace Wells, became his part-
ner for a time, and soon after removed
to Boston. There he entered as a student
of medicine the office of Dr. Charles T.
Jackson, in March, 1844, and in July,
1844, first applied hydrochloric ether to
the tooth of a patient before applying the
instrument used in filling, and thus dis-
covered that ether caused insensibility to
pain. He then applied hydrochloric ether
to insects, birds and small quadrupeds,
but with no positive results. He matricu-
lated at the Harvard Medical School in
1844, where he made the acquaintance of
Dr. Joseph C. Warren, and attended clin-
ical lectures at the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Hospital. On September 30, 1846,
he shut himself alone in a room, breathed
hydrochloric ether, and was rendered for
a time insensible, as described by him-
self after recovering. He next adminis-
tered it to a patient with a painful tooth,
and extracted the tooth and brought his
patient to consciousness by dashing cold

283

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

water in his face. On October 14, 1846,
Dr. Warren sent for Alorton to adminis-
ter his preparation to a patient then about
to undergo an operation. The operation
proved painless, and successful. The
next trial was successfully made, Novem-
ber 7, 1846, in amputating a leg, but the
profession discouraged the use of the
preparation in the hospital as against the
code of medical ethics, the preparation
being a secret of Dr. Morton. He soon
after made a free gift of the use of his
discovery to the hospital, and in 1848 the
trustees presented him with a silver box
containing $1,000, the inscription on the
box concluding: "He has become poor
in a cause which made the world his
debtor." He was granted a patent for his
discovery in November, 1846, and in Eu-
rope in December, 1846, and when he
ofifered the free use of his patent to the
army and navy, both departments de-
clined to have anything to do with it.
The popular opposition to its use ruined
his practice in Boston, and when he ap-
plied to Congress for relief in 1846 and
again in 1849, his claims were opposed
by both Dr. Jackson and Horace Wells.
In 1852 his friends obtained the introduc-
tion of a bill in Congress appropriating
$100,000 as a national testimonial for his
discovery, on condition that he should
surrender his patent to the United States
government, but it failed to pass, as it
again did in 1853 and 1854. The medical
profession of Boston, New York and
Philadelphia gave the bill tardy support
in 1856, 1858 and i860, respectively. The
bill before Congress was so amended as
to embrace the names of Jackson, Wells
and Long, as equally entitled with Mor-
ton to credit for the discovery of the ap-
plication of ether as an anaesthetic, and
as amended was never acted upon. Dr.
Morton received a prize of 2500 francs
from the French Academy of Sciences for
the application of the discovery to surg-

ical operations. He was also decorated
by the governments of Russia and Swed-
en, and the commonwealth of Massachu-
setts caused his name to be placed second
in the list of fifty-three immortals that
adorn the dome of the State house in
Boston. Dr. Nathan P. Weyman, of
New York, left a history of the part taken
by Dr. Morton in the ether controversy in
"Trial of a Public Benefactor" (1859).
Dr. Morton engaged in farming at Wel-
lesley, Massachusetts.

He was married, in May, 1844, to
Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Whitman,
of Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Morton
died suddenly while in Central Park,
New York City, July 15, 1868.

GANNETT, Ezra Stiles,

Prominent Unitarian Clergyman.

Ezra Stiles Gannett was born in Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts, May 4, 1801, son
of Caleb and Ruth (Stiles) Gannett;
grandson of Ezra Stiles, president of
Yale, 1778-95 ; and a descendant on his
father's side from Mary Chilton, of the
"Mayflower."

He entered Harvard College in 1816,
was president of the "Hasty Pudding
Club," and held first honors at commence-
ment in 1820. He was graduated from the
Divinity School in 1823, and in May, 1824,
he accepted a call to be Dr. Channing's
colleague at the Federal Street Church in
Boston, and was ordained to the Unitar-
ian ministry on June 30, 1824. In 1827 he
received a unanimous call from the new
Second Unitarian Society of New York
City to become its pastor, and in 1832
was ofifered the position of general agent
of the American Unitarian Association,
which he had been foremost in organiz-
ing, and of which he had been for six
years the secretary ; but he declined both
invitations at the earnest solicitation of
his people. In 1836 his health, which

284

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

had been failing for some time, broke
down entirely, and he was ordered to
Europe for rest. Returning to his church
in 1838, in 1839 ^^ received a shock of
paralysis which cost him the use of his
right leg and left him for life dependent
on the two canes by which everyone
knew "Dr. Gannett" on Boston streets.
He became editor of the "Monthly Mis-
cellany of Religion and Letters" in 1840,
and in the same year delivered courses
of Sunday evening lectures on Unitarian
and Scriptural Christianity. In October,

1842, Dr. Channing died and Air. Gannett
became his successor. He delivered the
Dudleian lecture at Harvard in 1843, ^^"^
from January, 1844, to May, 1849, was
joint editor with Dr. Lamson of the
"Christian Examiner." In 1847 he was
chosen president of the American Uni-
tarian Association, which in that year
obtained an act of incorporation, and he
remained in office until 1851. For five
or six years following he delivered lec-
tures throughout New England. He was
president of the Benevolent Fraternity of
Churches from 1857 to 1862. In 1859 the
society built a new church edifice on the
corner of Arlington and Boylston streets,
where he continued to preach until 1869,
when he was made senior pastor of the
society for life, and was succeeded in the
active ministry by the Rev. John F. W.
Ware. He took a prominent part in sev-
eral controversies, sustaining always, but
in a liberal spirit, the "Channing" or con-
servative theology. He was an overseer
of Harvard College, 1835-58, and received
from that institution the degree of D. D. in

1843. His published writings consist
chiefly of sermons, addresses, essays and
magazine articles. See "Ezra Stiles Gan-
nett, Unitarian Minister in Boston, 1824-
1871" (1875), a memoir by his son, Wil-
liam C. Gannett.

In October, 1835, Mr. Gannett was

married to Anna, daughter of Bryant P,
Tilden, of Boston. He was killed in a
railway accident six miles from Boston,
Massachusetts, August 26, 1871.

CLARK, Henry James,

Distingpiislied Naturalist.

Henry James Clark was born at Easton,
Massachusetts, June 22, 1826. He was
graduated at the University of the City
of New York in 1848, and began to study
under Professor Asa Gray, at the Cam-
bridge Botanical Gardens, in 1850, at the
same time teaching at the Westfield
(Massachusetts) Atademy.

He was graduated from the Lawrence
Scientific School at Harvard in 1854, and
from 1854 to 1863 was private assistant
to Professor Agassiz, whom he aided in
the preparation of the portions of his
"Contributions to the Natural History of
the United States" relating to anatomy
and embryology. Professor Agassiz said
of him in 1857: "Clark has become the
most accurate observer in the country."
He was Assistant Professor of Zoology
at the Lawrence Scientific School, 1865-
66. He delivered in 1864 a course of
twelve lectures entitled, "Mind in Na-
ture," at the Lowell Institute. He held
the chair of Natural Sciences at the Agri-
cultural College of Pennsylvania in 1866-
69; was Professor of Natural History at
the University of Kentucky, 1869-72 ; and
Professor of Veterinary Science at the
Massachusetts Agricultural College,
1872-73. He was a member of the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences and of other
learned societies. Besides valuable con-
tributions to the various scientific period-
icals, he published : "A Claim for Scien-
tific Property" (1863) ; "Mind in Nature,
or the Origin of Life, etc." (1863), and
"The Fundamental Science" (1865). For
full list of his works and memoir, see

285

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

"Biographical Memoirs of American
Academy of Sciences" (Volume i, 1877).
He died at Amherst, Massachusetts, July
I, 1873-

AMES, Cakes,

Mamafacturer, Railroad Projector.

Oakes Ames was born in Easton, Mas-
sachusetts, January 10, 1804, the elder
son of Oliver and Susanna (Angier)
Ames. He early gained a thorough
knowledge of the details of the shovel-
making business, and became overseer of
the manufactory. In i860 Mr. Ames was
elected councillor from the Bristol dis-
trict, and served in the cabinet of Gov-
ernor Andrew. He was in 1862 elected
to represent his district in the Thirty-
eighth Congress, and was re-elected to
four succeeding Congresses.

Prior to 1864, Congress had attempted,
by offering land grants and other induce-
ments, to persuade m.en of enterprise to
open a railroad through the great central
plains, and so connect the east and west,
the government interests imperatively
demanding such a road. Urged by Presi-
dent Lincoln and others, Oakes Ames
undertook this immense and hazardous
work, risking his entire fortune in the
enterprise, and, though the difficulties to
be overcome were very great, they were
conquered, and on May 10, 1869, the rails
of the Union Pacific and the Central
Pacific were joined, and the east and west
united. This was seven years earlier than
the terms of the contract required, and in
the carriage of mails and the transporta-
tion of troops and supplies was of vast
service to the government. The neces-
sary limits of this sketch forbid adequate
treatment of the Credit Mobilier affair,
about which there had been much mis-
understanding. It was simply a con-
struction company similar to those by
which other railroads were built at that

time and afterwards. It was not until
this matter was given a political turn
that it became a subject of public scandal.
Several representatives and senators in
Congress were found to have an interest
in it, and it is claimed that Mr. Ames
had interested them thus, in order to in-
fluence their legislation. Congress or-
dered an investigation, and he was finally
condemned and censured by the House of
Representatives for "seeking," so reads
the resolution, "to procure congressional
attention to the affairs of a corporation
in which he was interested." The facts
appear to be that no special legislation
was expected or desired. Those con-
gressmen who openly avowed their own-
ership in the stock retained public con-
fidence, while those who, frightened by
public clamor, denied their ownership,
were politically ruined. Up to that time
the honor and integrity of Oakes Ames
had never been questioned, and those who
knew him best gave no heed to the charge
of corrupt intent on his part. In the
spring of 1883 the Legislature of Mas-
sachusetts passed resolutions of gratitude
for his work, and faith in his integrity,
and called for a like recognition on the
part of the national Congress.

Mr. Ames was simple and democratic
in his tastes, caring little for the luxuries
that wealth commands ; he was a total
abstainer from intoxicating liquors, and
under a rugged exterior he carried a kind
heart. He made a bequest of $50,000 for
the benefit of the children of his native
village, which proved of great advantage
to them. He died at North Easton, Mas-
sachusetts, May 5. 1873.

CURTIS, Benjamin Robbins,
La\pyer, Jurist.

Benjamin Robbins Curtis was born in
Watertown, Massachusetts, November
4, 1809, son of Captain Benjamin and

286

e^

J

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Lois (Robbins) Curtis ; grandson of Dr.
Benjamin and Elizabeth (Billings)
Curtis, and a descendant in the sixth
generation from William and Sarah
Curtis, who came from Essex county,
England, to Boston, in 1632. He was a
brother of George Ticknor Curtis.

Benjamin Robbins Curtis was gradu-
ated at Harvard College in 1829, after-
wards studying law, and was admitted
to the bar in 1832. After practicing at
Northfield, Massachusetts, for a short
time, he removed to Boston, where he
acquired renown in his profession. He
served two years in the Massachusetts
Legislature, and in 1851 President Fill-
more appointed him a justice of the
United States Supreme Court. The fam-
ous Dred Scott case came before the
court while he was on the bench. As one
of the two dissenting justices, in his ar-
gument against the position taken by
Chief Justice Taney, and which became
the decision of the court, he upheld the
right of Congress to prohibit slavery, and
claimed that a person of African descent
could lawfully be a citizen of the United
States. He resigned from the bench in
1857, and resumed the practice of his
profession in Boston, also practicing in
the United States Supreme Court. He
was elected to the State Legislature two
terms. In 1868 he was one of the council
for the defence in the impeachment trial
of President Johnson, and he read the
answer to the articles of impeachment,
the argument largely embodying his own
conclusions. He also opened the defence
in a speech occupying two days in its
delivery, and which attracted the atten-
tion of high legal authorities. He was
a Democratic candidate for United
States Senator from Massachusetts in
1874, in opposition to Henry L. Dawes.

His son, Benjamin Robbins, born in
1855, was graduated from Harvard Col-

lege in 1875; admitted to the bar in 1878;
lecturer on jurisdiction and practice of
United States Courts in Boston Univer-
sity, 1882-91 ; judge of the Municipal
Court of Boston, 1869-91 ; the author of
"Dottings Round the Circle" (1876) ;
editor of "The Jurisdiction, Practice and
Peculiar Jurisdiction of the Courts of the
United States" (1880), and of a volume
of Meyer's "Federal Decisions in Courts"
(1885), and died in Boston, Massachu-
setts, January 25, 1891. Among Judge
Curtis's published works are: "Reports
of Cases in the Circuit Courts of the
United States" (two volumes, 1854) ;
"Decisions of the Supreme Court of the
United States" (twenty-two volumes) ;
and "Digests of the Decisions of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, from
the origin of the court to 1854." His
brother, George Ticknor, prepared Vol-
ume one, and his son, Benjarr\in R., Vol-
ume two, of his "Memoirs and Jvliscel-
laneous Writings." Pie died in Newport,
Rhode Island, September 15, 1874.

SHURTLEFF, Nathaniel Bradstreet,

Antiquarian.

Nathaniel Bradstreet Shurtleff was
born in Boston. Massachusetts, June 29,
1810, son of Dr. Benjamin and Sally
(Shaw) ShurtleiT; grandson d Benjamin
and Abigail (Atwood) Shu'tlefT, and a
descendant of William Sliurtleff of Ply-
mouth and Marshfield, Mi'suchusetts.

He attended the Bosto 1 public schools,
and the Round Hill school at Northamp-
ton, Massachusetts, ar'l was graduated
at Harvard College, / B., 1831, A. M.,
1834, and M. D., 1834,- He was demon-
strator at Harvard, 1835-36, and subse-
quently settled in practice in Boston,
succeeding to his father's extensive prac-
tice after the latter's death in 1847, and
was married, '-'.ily 18. 1836. to Sarah

287

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Eliza, daughter of Hiram Smith, of Bos-
ton. He devoted much time to literary
work ; he was appointed by the Secretary
of State to take charge of the printing of
the "IMassachusetts Colony Records" and
the "New Plymouth Colony Records,"
serving from 1853 to 1858. He was mayor
of Boston, 1868-70. He was correspond-
ing secretary of the New England His-
toric-Genealogical Society in 1850, and
its vice-president in 1851-52; a m,ember
of the Massachusetts Historical Society,
the American Philosophical Society, the
American Antiquarian Society, the Amer-
ican Statistical Association, and Amer-
ican Academy of Sciences ; and an hon-
orary member of the London Society
of Antiquarians. He was a member of
the board of overseers of Harvard Col-
lege, 1852-61 and 1863-69, and secretary
of the board, 1854-74. He received the
honorary degree of Master of Arts from
Brown University and from the Univer-
sity of Illinois in 1834, and that of M.
D. in 1843 from Shurtleff College, Alton,
Illinois, which was named in honor of
his father, who had been a generous con-
tributor to its support.

Dr. Shurtleff edited several numbers of
the "New England Historical and Genea-
logical Register," and "Records of the
Colony of New Plymouth in New Eng-
land," with David Pulsifer (eleven vol-
umes, 1855-61), and was the author of:
"Epitome of Phrenology" (1835) ; "Per-
petual Calendar for Old and New Style"
(1848) ; "Passengers of the Mayflower in
1620" (1849); "Brief Notice of William
Shurtlefif of Marshfield" (1850) ; "Genea-
logical Memoir of the Family of Elder
Thomas Leavett of Boston" (1850) ;
"Thunder and Lightning, and Deaths in
Marshfield in 1658 and 1666" (1850);
"Records of the Governor of and Com-
pany of the Massachusetts Bay in New
England," 1628-1686 (five volumes, 1853-

54) ; "Decimal System for Libraries"
(1856), and "Memoir of the Inauguration
of the Statue of Franklin" (1857). He
died in Boston, Massachusetts, October
17, 1874.

HOWE, Samuel Gridley,

Distinguished Educator, Pliilantliropist.

Samuel Gridley Howe was born in
Boston, Massachusetts, November 10,
1801, son of Joseph N. and Patty (Grid-
ley) Howe, and grandson of Edward C.
Howe. He was graduated at Brown
University in 1821, and at the Harvard
Medical School in 1824. He at once
joined the patriot army in Greece, in
which he served from 1824 to 1830, and
being surgeon-in-charge of the Greek
fleet the three last years. He visited the
United States in 1827 in order to raise
funds for the relief of the famine prevail-
ing in Greece, and founded a colony on
the Isthmus of Corinth. In 1830, being
prostrated by swamp fever, he returned
to the United States, where he became
interested in the blind, and, seeking better
methods for their education, in order to
further this design he visited Europe in
1831. While in Paris he sympathized
with the Polish patriots, and was elected
president of the committee formed for
their relief. While engaged in carrying
funds to a detachment of the Polish army,
he was arrested by the Prussian authori-
ties, imprisoned for six weeks, and then
taken to the French frontier and liber-
ated.

Mr. Howe returned to the United
States in 1832, and opened the first school
for the instruction of the blind in Boston,
at his father's house, and which was the
foundation of the Perkins Institution for
the Blind, of which institution he was
superintendent until his death. His suc-
cess as the instructor of Laura Bridg-

288

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

man, the blind deaf-mute, gave rise to the
rapid multiplication of institutions for
the blind in the United States. He also
founded an experimental school for the
training of idiots, the result of which was
the organization in 1851 of the Massa-
chusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-
Minded Youth, and he was its superin-
tendent from 1848 to 1875. His first
appearance as an anti-slavery agitator
was as the Free Soil candidate for repre-
sentative in the Thirtieth Congress in
1846. He was defeated in the election
by Robert C. Winthrop, Democrat. He
was connected with the United States
Sanitary Commission and the Freedmen's
Relief Association during the Civil War,
and in 1867 went to Greece to carry sup-
plies to the Cretans in their struggle
against the Turks. In 1871 he was one of
the commissioners appointed by the
United States government to report on
the question of annexation, and champ-
ioned the measure as a civilizing ex-
pedient. He was a member of the Mas-
sachusetts Board of Education ; president
of the ^Massachusetts Board of Charities,
and trustee of the Massachusetts General
Hospital, and of the McLean Asylum for
the Insane. He received the degree of
LL. D. from Brown University in 1868.
He edited "The Commonwealth,'' 1851-
53; "The Cretan," 1868-71; published re-
ports of various institutions ; and was the
author of: "Historical Sketch of the
Greek Revolution" (1828), and "Reader
for the Blind," printed in raised charac-
ters (1839). His widow, Julia (Ward)
Howe, published "Memoirs of Dr. Samuel
G. Howe" (1876). His name in "Class
C, Educators," received nine votes for a
place in the Hall of Fame for Great
Americans, New York University, Octo-
ber, 1900. He was married in 1843, ^^
Julia, daughter of Samuel and Julia
(Cutler) Ward. He died in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, January 9, 1876.

MASS— Vol 1-19 289

MOTLEY, John Lothrop,

Distingniished Historian.

John Lothrop Alotley was born in Dor-
chester, Massachusetts, April 15, 1814,
son of John and Anna (Lothrop) Motley,
and grandson of the Rev. John Lothrop, a
prominent clergyman of Boston.

He attended private schools at Jamaica
Plain and Round Hill, Massachusetts,
then entering Harvard College, from
which he was graduated in 183 1. In 183 1-
32 he studied at the universities of Gron-
ingen and Berlin, receiving the degree of
Ph. D. from Groningen, and then travel-
ing in the south of Europe. He studied
law in Boston, and was admitted to the
bar in 1836, and in the following year de-
voted himself to literary work. In 1841
he was appointed secretary of the Ameri-
can legation at St. Petersburg, but re-
turned home after a few months' resi-
dence there. He was a representative in
the ^Massachusetts General Court and in
1 85 1 went to Europe with his family,
visiting Berlin, Dresden, the Hague and
Brussels, where he gathered material for
"The Rise of the Dutch Republic," which
he began in 1846, and which was publish-
ed in England and America in 1856, re-
printed in English in Amsterdam, and
translated into Dutch, German, French
and Russian. This work established Mr.
Motley's reputation as a historian. He
returned to the United States in 1856 and
settled in New York City, but in 1858
went back to Europe, where he was re-
ceived into the highest social circles. On
November 14, 1861, he was appointed by
President Lincoln United States Minister
to Austria, and held office until 1867,
when he resigned and was succeeded by
John Jay. He returned to Boston in
1868. and continued his literary work. He
delivered an address before the New
York Historical Society in 1868, on "His-
toric Progress and American Democ-

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

racy." He was appointed by President
Grant United States Minister to England
in 1869, but was recalled in 1870. He
then revisited Holland, and afterwards
went to England and resvimed his writ-
ing. In 1873 he suffered from an attack
of paralysis which partially disabled him.
He visited Boston in 1875, and on his
return to England took up his residence
with his daughter, Lady Harcourt, in
Dorsetshire, where he continued to work
on his "History of the Thirty Years'
War."

The honorary degree of Litt. D. was
conferred upon him by the Regents of
the University of the State of New York
in 1864, that of LL. D. by the College of
the City of New York in 1858. by Har-
vard in i860, by Cambridge in 1861, and
by Leyden in 1872, and that of D. S. L.
by Oxford in i860. He was a member of
the Massachusetts Historical vSociety ; a
fellow of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences ; member of the American
Philosophical Society, and of the leading
learned societies of Europe. He publish-
ed articles on : "The Life and Character
of Peter the Great," "Novels of Balzac,"
and "Polity of the Puritans." in the
"North Am.erican Review ;" and "The
Causes of the Civil War" in the "London
Times;" and is the author of: "Morton's
Hope, or the Meinoirs of a Young Pro-
vincial" (1839); "Merry Mount, a Ro-
mance of the Massachusetts Colony"
(1849) ; "Rise of the Dutch Republic"
(three volumes, 1856) ; "The History of
the United Netherlands, from the Death
of William the Silent to the Twelve
Years' Truce, 1609" (two volumes, i860).
and "The Life and Death of John of
Barneveld, Advocate of Holland ; with a
View of the Primary Causes of the
Thirty Years' War" (two volumes. 1874).

He was married, in 1837. to Mary,

daughter of Park Benjamin, journalist.
Mr. Motley died in Dorsetshire, England,
May 29, 1877, and was buried in Kensal
Green Cemetery.

JACKSON, John B. S.,

Educator.

John Barnard Swett Jackson was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, June 5, 1806,
son of General Henry and Hannah
(Swett) Jackson. His father, born in
1747, died January 4, 1809, was colonel
of the Fourteenth Massachusetts Regi-
ment, 1777-79. o^ the Ninth, 1779-82, the
Fourth, 1782-92, and was major-general,
1792-96. His mother was a sister of
John Barnard Swett, a physician of New-
buryport, Massachusetts. His uncles,
Charles and Dr. James Jackson, became
his guardians on the death of his father.

John B. S. Jackson was graduated at
Harvard College, A. B., 1825, A. M., 1828,
M. D., 1829, and was house apothecary
at the Massachusetts General Hospital in
1827. He continued his medical studies
in Paris, London and Edinburgh, and in
June. 1831. settled in practice in Boston,
Massachusetts. He was house physician
and surgeon in the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Hospital, 1835-39; physician, 1839-
64 ; and consulting physician, 1864-79. ^^
was Professor of Pathological Anatomy
at Harvard, 1847-54, and Shattuck Pro-
fessor of Morbid Anatomy by the pro-
vision of the founder of the chair, 1854-
79. He was a fellow of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences ; dean of
Harvard Medical School, 1853-55 ! ^"d
curator of the Warren Anatomical
Museum, 1847-79. He visited Europe in
185 1 and 1874, and the Barbadoes in 1867.
He was a member of the Boston Society
for Medical Improvement, and for more
than forty years curator of the anatomical

290

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

museum, collected by that society and
known as the Jackson Cabinet. He was
the author of: "A Descriptive Catalogue
of the Anatomical Museum of the Bos-
ton Society for Medical Improvement"
(1847), ^^d a "Descriptive Catalogue of
the Warren Anatomical Museuin of Har-
vard" (1870).

He was married in 1833 to Emily J.,
daughter of William, T. Andrews. He
died in Boston, Massachusetts, January
6, 1879.

HENTZ, Caroline Lee,

Prolific Xovelist.

Caroline Lee Hentz was born in Lan-
caster, Massachusetts, June i, 1800, the
daughter of General John Whitney, and
sister of General Henry Whitney, both
officers in the United States army.

She early evidenced literary ability,
and before she had reached the age of
thirteen she was the author of a poem, a
novel, and a tragedy in five acts. In 1825
she married Nicholas M. Hentz, a French
gentleman, who at that time was associ-
ated with Mr. Bancroft, the historian, in
the Round Hill School at Northampton,
Massachusetts, and who was soon after-
wards appointed to a professorship in the
college at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
This position he occupied for several
years, and then removed with his family
to Covington, Kentucky. Here Mrs. Hentz
wrote her popular drama "De Lara, or
the Moorish Bride," for which she re-
ceived a prize of five hundred dollars offer-
ed by the Arch Street Theatre. Philadel-
phia, where it was successfully produced
for many nights. It was afterwards pub-
lished in book form. From Covington,
Mr. and Mrs. Hentz went to Cincinnati,
Ohio, and in 1834 to Locust Hill, Flor-
ence, Alabama, where for nine years they
had charge of a flourishing female acad-
emy. In 1843 they transferred this insti-

tution to Tuscaloosa, and in 1848 to Co-
lumbus, Georgia, where Mrs. Hentz re-
sided the remainder of her life. These
frequent changes and the arduous duties
connected with the school, afforded her
little opportunity for literary labor, and
she was not able to write with any degree
of regularity until her removal to Colum-
bus. Here she wrote her second tragedy,
"Lamorah, or the Western Wild," which
was brought out in a newspaper, and
afterwards produced on the stage at Cin-
cinnati. In 1843 she wrote a poem, "Hu-
man and Divine Philosophy," for the
Erosophic Society of the University of
Alabama. In 1846 she brought out "Aunt
Patty's Scrap-bag," a collection of short
stories written for magazines, which was
followed in 1848 by "Mob Cap," for which
she received a prize of two hundred dol-
lars. Both of these books have been almost
universally read and admired. Among her
other works are: "Linda, or the Young
Pilot of the Belle Creole," "Rena, or the
Snowbird," "Marcus Warland," Eoline, or
Magnolia Vale," "Wild Jack," "Ellen and
Arthur," "The Planter's Northern Bride,"
and "Ernest Linwood." Fler short poems
are scattered throughout various period-
icals, and are full of the tender warmth of
the writer's nature. Her tragedy, "De
Lara," stands first among her poetical
works, and holds high rank in the dra-
matic literature of America. Mrs. Hentz
died in Marianna, Florida, February 11,
1856.

RICH, Isaac,

Benefactor of Colleges.

Isaac Rich, philanthropist, was born at
Wellfleet, Massachusetts, October 24,
1801, son of Robert and Eunice (Hard-
ing) Rich, and grandson of Reuben and
Hannah (Gross) Rich. Though born in
humble circumstances he was of a dis-
tinguished family, Richard Rich, the first

29]

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRArilY

of his American ancestors, having been a
man of rank who married the daughter
of Thomas Roberts, governor of New
Hampshire. Richard Rich's son John,
brother-in-law of Robert Treat Paine,
signer of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, married Mary Treat, granddaugh-
ter of Robert Treat, for thirty years gov-
ernor of Connecticut.

Isaac Rich was the oldest of eleven
children, and began life as a fisher boy.
Before attaining his majority he estab-
lished himself in Boston, where a kins-
woman had married the Hon. Lemuel
Shaw, Chief Justice of the common-
wealth. Though entering upon active
life without capital, by remarkable per-
sonal powers, diligence in business and
fidelity to moral and religious principles,
he in later years came to be recognized
even by the Federal government as stand-
ing at the head of all mercantile houses
in his line in the United States. Under
the influence of Dr. Wilbur Fisk he be-
came the most generous patron of liberal
education that New England up to that
time had known. To the academy at
Wilbraham and to Wesleyan University
and to the Boston Theological Seminary
he gave at least $400,000. Later in life
he executed a will by which he bequeathed
to Boston University, of which he was a
chief founder, a larger sum than at that
time had ever been bequeathed or given
by any American for the promotion of
university education. He was a trustee
of Wesleyan University from 1849 to
1872, and in 1868 he erected its library
building at a cost of $40,000, besides con-
tributing to the endowment fund more
than $100,000. lie was a trustee and
benefactor of Wesleyan Academy at Wil-
braham from 1853 to 1872, and of the
Boston Theological Seminary from its
beginning in 1866 to 1871. He was the
first charter member of the corporation of
Boston University, and the first president

of its board of trustees. To it he gave
generous sums at the outset, and at his
death the residue of his estate, officially
estimated at $1,700,000. Rich Hall, one
of the principal buildings of the univer-
sity, was named in his honor. He mar-
ried Sarah Andrews, of Boston. He died
in Boston, January 13, 1872.

UPHAM, Charles Wentworth,

Clergyman, Legislator, liitterateur.

Charles Wentworth Upham was born
at St. John, New Brunswick, May 4, 1802,
son of Joshua and Mary (Chandler) Up-
ham. His mother was the daughter of
Hon. Joshua Chandler, of New Haven,
Connecticut. His father was born at
Brookfield, Massachusetts, November 14,
1 741, graduated at Harvard in 1763, prac-
ticed law at Brookfield, and at the out-
break of the Revolution joined the Royal-
ists. (See an excellent letter giving his
views in "Force's American Archives,"
4th ser., vol. ii, p. 852). At the close of
the war he went with his family and a
large body of emigrants to New Bruns-
wick, where he was made one of the
council and one of the first justices of
the supreme court. He died, in London,
November i, 1808, just as he had com-
pleted the work of obtaining the better
establishment of the courts of the prov-
ince. He was the son of Jabez Upham,
born in Maiden, Massachusetts, January
3, 1717, who removed to Brookfield, where
he was a practicing physician until his
death, November 4, 1760. Dr. Upham
was the great-grandson of Lieutenant
Phinehas Upham, who was mortally
wounded at the capture of the Narragan-
sett Fort, December 19, 1675. Lieutenant
Upham was the son of John Upham, the
ancestor of all of that name in this coun-
try. John Upham sustained a high char-
acter, being much employed in the public
affairs of Weymouth, Massachusetts,

292

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

where he was admitted as a freeman Sep-
tember 2, 1635, and of Maiden, Massa-
chusetts, to which town he removed
about 1650 and where he died, February
25, 1682.

Charles Wentworth Upham (sixth in
descent from the emigrant, John Upham)
inherited none of the Royalist instincts
of his father, although it happened that
the interest taken in him by friends of
his father came near drawing him into
the British service. One of these friends
was Spencer Perceval, prime minister,
and another Captain Blythe, of the Brit-
ish navy. The assassination of the for-
mer in 1812 and the death of the latter in
a naval engagement in 1813, cut off ad-
vancement in that direction. Determined
to find for himself a means of livelihood,
he made his way to Boston, where his
cousin, Phinehas Upham, took him into
his family and sent him to Harvard Col-
lege. Graduating in 1821 with high
honor, he prepared for the ministry at
the Harvard Divinity School, and in 1824
was ordained as colleague-pastor with
the Rev. John Prince, LL. D., over the
First Church (Unitarian) of Salem. Mas-
sachusetts. During his ministry at Salem
he published a variety of discourses, lec-
tures and tracts, and was then, as through
life, a frequent contributor to newspapers
and other periodicals. Inability to preach
on account of an attack of bronchitis led
him to resign his pastorate at Salem in
1844. He continued to worship at that
church through life, and ever maintained
a deep interest in its history as the first
Congregational church organized in this
country. Mr. Upham held many political
positions with distinction and marked
ability. He was a representative of his
district in the General Court several
years; in 1852 was mayor of the city of
Salem ; and in 1850, 1857 and 1858 he
served in the State Senate, being unani-
mously chosen president of that body the

last two years. He was an active mem-
ber of the Massachusetts Constitutional
Convention in 1853, and represented the
Salem district in the Thirty-third Con-
gress (1853-55), where he was recognized
as an able speaker and debater, making
many warm friends from all sections of
the country. He was an eloquent ex-
ponent of the cause of the non-extension
of slavery, and took an earnest and influ-
ential part in the nomination and support
of John C. Fremont for the Presidency.
His "Life of Fremont," was highly re-
garded and had a very extensive circula-
tion. Mr. Upham took a deep interest in
the cause of education. He introduced
measures for the establishment of a regu-
lar educational department of the State
government, and visited more than a hun-
dred towns in 1851-52, making addresses
on that subject. His speeches and writ-
ings were rendered attractive by a warmth
of sentiment and broad liberality of view,
as well as by a certain dramatic skill in
arranging his material. The work by
which he is perhaps most widely known
is his "Salem Witchcraft, with an Account
of Salem Village," published in 1867,
which will probably remain the standard
history of that strange period. Among
other writings may be mentioned the fol-
lowing: "Dedication Sermon, and Sec-
ond Century Lecture," First Church, Sa-
lem; letters on the "Logos" (1828) ; dis-
course on the "Anniversary of the A. and
H. Artillery Company" (1832) ; "Life of
Sir Henry Vane" (1835) ; "Oration at
Salem," July 4, 1842 ; "Oration before the
New England Society of the City of New
York" (1846) ; "Speech in Massachusetts
House of Representatives on the Com-
promises of the Constitution and the
Ordinance of 1787" (1849) ; "Rededica-
tion of the First Church, Salem" (1867) ;
"Records of Massachusetts under the
First Charter" (1869) ; "Salem Witch-
craft and Cotton Mather, A Reply"

293

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

(1869). His last work was a continua-
tion in three volumes of a "Life of Tim-
othy Pickering," to which he devoted
himself with affectionate regard for its
subject, his fellow townsman, parishioner
and friend.

Air. Upham was married, March 29,
1826, to Ann Susan, daughter of Rev.
Abiel Holmes, D. D., of Cambridge, Mas-
sachusetts, and sister of Oliver Wendell
Holmes. Two sons, William P. and Oli-
ver Wendell Holmes Upham survived
them. Mr. Upham died at Salem, June
15, 1875. Mrs. Upham died April 5, 1877.
See memoir by George E. Ellis, 1877,
from ''Proceedings of Massachusetts His-
torical Society." See also "Upham Gene-
alogy," ''Allibone's Dictionary of Au-
thor," "Appleton's Cyclopaedia," "Amer-
ican Antiquarian Society Proceedings,"
October, 1875 ; "Necrology," New Eng-
land Historic-Genealogical Society, Janu-
ary, 1878 ; "Duyckinck's Cyclopedia," etc.

DURANT, Henry,

Founder of University of California.

Henry Durant was born in iVcton, Mid-
dlesex county, Massachusetts, June 17,
1803. He was graduated at Yale College
in 1827, and was a tutor in that institu-
tion for the four following terms. He
then studied theology, and became pastor
of a church in Byfield, Massachusetts,
where he remained for twelve years, and
then gave up the pulpit to take charge of
the Dummer Academy.

In 1853 Mr. Durant removed to Cali-
fornia and established the College School
at Oakland, continuing in its services as
principal until i860. The College of Cali-
fornia was, through his suggestion and
influence, incorporated in 1855, ^^^ he
was enabled to bring about the organiza-
tion as a working institution in 1859.
Professor Durant was not only its founder

and builder, but he took up the real edu-
cational work, and became one of the first
of its teachers and trustees, and continued
his connection with the institution until
he was enabled to bring about the con-
summation of his hopes and prayers by
merging it into the University of Cali-
fornia, which he succeeded in accom-
plishing in 1869. He was Professor of
Greek in the college from i860 to 1869,
also teaching mental and moral philos-
ophy. As a teacher he was interesting,
even fascinating, possessing an enthusi-
asm which was contagious. He was also
a philologist of extensive attainments, and
wrote considerably on the subject, with
the intention of publishing, but unfor-
tunately left the manuscripts incomplete
at the time of his death. He was devoted
to his college work, and in the winter of
1861-62 worked in a mine in the heart of
the Sierras to gain money for its endow-
ment, although without success. In 1870
he was elected first president of the Uni-
versity of California, and held the office
for nearly two years. During that period
he was privileged to see the child of his
brain and long-deferred hopes, nurtured
for nearly twenty years in imagination
only, at last firmly planted on the heights
of Berkeley. In the words of one of the
regents of the university, he saw his cher-
ished child "looking out through the
Golden Gate, with its doors wide open to
all, the rich and the poor, the woman and
the man, and he bade the distant genera-
tion welcome to the treasures of science
and the delights of learning, the im-
measurable good of rational existence,
the immortal hopes of Christianity, the
light of everlasting truth."

President Durant resigned the presi-
dency of the university in 1S71, and was
soon after elected mayor of Oakland, an
office which he held at the time of his
death, which occurred January 22, 1875.

294

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

HUNT, Harriot Kezia,

Fliysician, Reforzner.

Harriot Kezia Hunt was born in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, in 1805, daug^hter of
Joab Hunt, a shipping merchant, distin-
guished for great strength and independ-
ence of character.

She received a thorough education in
the best schools of her native city, and in
1827, after the death of her father, which
left the family in straitened circum-
stances, she, with her only sister, opened
a school for girls. In this connection her
attention was first called to sanitary con-
ditions and the prevention of disease, and
she began the serious study of medical
text-books. An opportunity for practical
observation and experience was afforded
her later through acquaintance with Dr.
and Mrs. Valentine Mott, who came from
London and established themselves in
Boston. Miss Hunt then gave up her
school, and for three years acted as sec-
retary to Mrs. Mott, meanwhile vigor-
ously prosecuting her studies with Dr.
Mott. Her experience and advanced
studies but deepened her desire for the
medical profession, and in 1835, with her
sister Sarah, she opened an office for
regular medical practice. Her reading
had been thorough and profound, and, as
she was not recognized by the medical
schools, she did not hold herself bound
by their regulations and formulas. ^Mental
disease specially attracted her attention,
and, with her keen perception and reflec-
tive faculties, she soon discovered that
the cure of many physical maladies lay
through "ministering to a mind diseased,
or plucking from the memory a rooted
sorrow." In 1843 she organized in
Charlestown the Ladies' Physiological
Society, and addressed the members at
their bi-monthly meetings on hygiene of
the body and mind and the prevention
of disease. In this wav she obtained

the ease and facility in speaking which
she afterwards displayed before larger
audiences. She made application in
1847 to the faculty of Harvard College
for permission to attend a course of lec-
tures in the medical school, but, although
she was then forty-two years of age and
had had twelve years practice as a phy-
sician, her application was refused on the
ground of "expediency." Three years
later, on repeating her request, the de-
sired permission was granted ; but the
vehement protestation of the class of 185 1
caused her to relinquish this opportunity.
Dr. Hunt became early interested in
the women's rights movement, and fre-
quently addressed conventions on the
sanitary reforms needed among women.
This opened the way for several lectur-
ing tours through New England, New
York State, and Ohio, when her subject
was always "Woman as a Physician to
Her Sex." The practical results of her
teaching have been large and of immense
benefit to women ; while the example of
this pioneer practitioner in medicine has
induced many to follow in her steps. She
persevered through years of opprobrium
and misjudgment, and to her is largely
due the facilities and encouragement
which women now possess in studying
for the medical profession. She had a
happy, useful and successful career in
Boston, and her words, "All women
workers have my benediction," are sig-
nificant of the fullness of her life. The
Women's Medical College of Philadel-
phia conferred upon her the degree of
Doctor of Medicine in 1853. For twenty-
five years she contested the payment of
her taxes on the ground of the injus-
tice of taxation without representation.
She published in 1856: "Glances and
Glimpses ; or, Fifty Years Social, includ-
ing Twenty Years Professional Life."
She died in Boston, Massachusetts, Janu-
ary 2, 1875.

295

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

COFFIN, James Henry,

Meteorologist, Author.

James Henry Coffin was born at Wil-
liamsburg, Massachusetts, September 6,
1806, son of Matthew and Betsey (Allen)
Coffin, both natives of Martha's Vine-
yard. He was a descendant of Sir Rich-
ard Coffin, knight, who came into Eng-
land with William the Conqueror, and
fifth in descent from Tristram Coffin, one
of the first settlers of Nantucket Island.
Matthew Coffin, who was a country
broker, was ruined by the financial crisis
that followed the close of the War of
1812, and his children fell to the care of
relatives.

James Henry Coffin, who for several
years had shown a decided aptness for
mechanical pursuits, had a strong desire
to become a cabinet and musical instru-
ment maker, but his plans were changed,
and in 1821 he became a member of the
family of an uncle, Rev. Moses Hallock,
of Plainfield, Massachusetts, occupying
his time with farm work and studies pre-
paratory to entering college. In 1823 he
was able to enter Amherst College, and
during his course, which was not com-
pleted until 1828 owing to interruptions
by reason of illness, he partly paid his
expenses by teaching school during vaca-
tions and at other times. The year after
he left college was spent partly in teach-
ing, partly in business pursuits. In the
summer of 1829 he opened a private
school for boys at Greenfield, to which
was added later a boarding house and
manual labor department, including a
farm, giving the students an opportunity
to earn means for their own schooling.
This undertaking proved a success, and
as it was the first school of the kind in
this country — at least to be operated suc-
cessfully— it excited great interest among
educators. It was soon converted into a
joint stock company, was chartered under

the name of the Fellenberg Manual Labor
Institution, and reopened with a large
number of pupils and most flattering
prospects, but owing to the incapability
of the superintendent of the farm and
boarding house, several thousand dollars
were sunk, and Mr. Coffin was forced to
close the school and fall back for sub-
sistence on surveying, which he had
studied previously. In 1836 the people
of Greenfield urged him to reopen the
Manual Labor Institution, but about that
time he was invited to become principal
of the academy at Ogdensburg, New
York, and accepted, remaining in this
position two years and a half. During
this latter period he began his investiga-
tions in meteorology, and entered upon
the career which made his name famous.
By means of very ingenious self-register-
ing instruments he made constant and
simultaneous observations of the baro-
metric changes connected with the varia-
tions of the wind-vane and with the fall
of rain. In January. 1839, he published
the first number of a short-lived monthly
periodical, "The Meteorological Regis-
ter," in which he gave in detail the re-
sults of his experiments. To the "Nat-
ural History of New York," published in
1845, he contributed a chapter on the
climate of the State, embodying the re-
sults of further study of the phenomena
connected with physical science, velocity
of wind, rainfall, the changes of seasons,
and the like. He spent the winter of
1839-40 at Williamstown, Massachusetts,
engaged in prosecuting his investigations
in the departments of astronomy and
meteorology, and in the autumn of 1840
became connected with Williams College
as a tutor, on the slender annual salary
of three hundred dollars. He remained
in this position for three years, and in-
creased the indebtedness to him of the
scientific world by erecting an observa-
tory on the Greylock peak of Saddle

296

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

mountain, at an elevation of nearly four
thousand feet above sea level, and where
observations were taken throughout the
year by a self-registering anemometer.
In October, 1843, ^e removed to South
Norwalk, Connecticut, to take the place
of principal of the academy there. In
1846 he was called to the chair of mathe-
matics and astronomy at Lafayette Col-
lege, Easton, Pennsylvania, where he re-
mained until his death. The value of his
services were inestimable both as an in-
structor who inspired his pupils with his
own enthusiasm and devotion to work,
and as a scientist whose renown con-
ferred distinction on the institution. He
constructed an improved anemometer for
the use of the college, and this was dupli-
cated by him in 1872 for the observatory
at Cordova, Argentine Republic. On the
establishment of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution in 1846, he was invited to become
one of its collaborators in the line of
meteorology. Two volumes embodying
the "Results of Meteorological Investi-
gations for 1854-59" were prepared under
his supervision for the institution, his
own work being performed gratuitously.
Under the auspices of the same scientific
body were published : "Winds of the
Northern Hemisphere" (1853) ; "Psy-
chrometrical Tables" (1856) ; "The Orbit
and Phenomena of a Meteoric Fire Ball"
(1869); "The Winds of the Globe, or.
The Laws of the Atmospheric Circula-
tion over the Surface of the Earth"
(1876). He also published "Exercises in
Bookkeeping" and "Key" (1835) ; "Ele-
ments of Conic Sections and Analytical
Geometry" (1849) ; "Key" (1854) ; and
"Solar and Lunar Eclipses" (1845). His
chief work, "The Winds of the Northern
Hemisphere." was the ovitcom,e of many
years of labor, and was based on data
obtained from more than six hundred
land stations and from numerous posi-
tions at sea, and among the facts estab-

lished were the existence in both the
northern and southern hemispheres of
three great zones of winds. A principle
announced by him in 1853, at the meeting
of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science, is wrongly linked
in Europe with the name of another
scientists, and is known as the "Buys-
Ballot law of the winds." The degree of
Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him
by Rutgers College in 1859.

Dr. Coffin was characterized by a love
of truth, firmness yet gentleness of man-
ner, modesty, unselfishness, earnestness
in his life as a Christian, and independ-
ence in political affairs, in which he was
deeply interested. He was twice mar-
ried: On December 5. 1833, to Aurelia
M., daughter of Rev. Ebenezer Jennings,
of Dalton, Massachusetts, and a former
pupil of his; and on March 12, 1851, to
Mrs. Abbie Elizabeth Young, who sur-
vived him. A son and a daughter by his
first wife also survived him ; the former,
Selden Jennings Coffin, succeeded his
father as professor at Lafayette. A "Life
of Dr. Coffin," by John C. Clyde, was
published at Easton in 1882. and a bio-
graphical sketch by Professor Guyot ap-
peared in 1877, in the "Biographical
Memoirs of the National Academy of
Sciences." Dr. Coffin died at Easton,
Pennsylvania, February 6, 1873.

HOPKINS, Albert,

Astronomer, Observatory Founder.

Albert Hopkins was born in Stock-
bridge, Massachusetts, July 14, 1807, a
brother of the celebrated Mark Hopkins.
Like his brother, he was precocious, and,
entering Williams College in the junior
class, was graduated when only nineteen
}ears of age. He then spent a year in
the study of agriculture and civil engi-
neering, and returned to his alma mater

297

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

as Professor of Mathematics and Natural
Philosophy in 1829.

In 1834 Professor Hopkins was sent
abroad to make purchases of apparatus
for Williams College. Having become
interested in astronomy, he devoted
much study to that science, and upon
his return built an astronomical observ-
atory entirely from his own means, and
which was eventually donated to the
college. By this liberality Williams
College was the first American college
to enjoy the distinction of having an
observatory in connection with its work.
In 1869 a memorial professorship of
astronomy with an endowment of $25,-
000 was established by David Dudley
Field, with the stipulation that its income
should be secured to Professor Hopkins
during his lifetime. Although the equip-
ment of the observatory was not of the
finest, Professor Hopkins made many im-
portant discoveries, and contributed many
important papers upon astronomical sub-
jects to the Transactions of the Royal
Society of Great Britain. He had great
versatility, giving instruction in French
for a number of years, besides becoming
a minister of the gospel. He was much
devoted to his ministerial work, supply-
ing the pulpits of the various churches in
town and vicinity, besides acting as pas-
tor of the college during much of the
time. He also built a missionary chapel
almost entirely at his own expense, at
White Oaks, where he devoted himself to
philanthropic work, and in 1868 organ-
ized it into a church. He was moreover
a great student of botany, and it was he
who first organized scientific expeditions
in connection with college work. He
founded, while at Williams, a natural his-
tory society, and also an Alpine Club.
The degree of Doctor of Laws was con-
ferred on him in 1859 by Jefiferson Col-
lege, and he was elected corresponding

fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
of Great Britain.

In 1841 he married Louisa, daughter of
Rev. Edward Payson. She was a highly
gifted lady, who became celebrated as an
authoress. She prepared the question
books for the Massachusetts Sunday
School Union, and was the authoress of
many books for the young. Professor
Hopkins died in Williamstown, May 24,
1872, surviving his wife ten years.

HILDRETH, Richard,

Prolific Aiithor.

Richard Hildreth was born at Deer-
field, Franklin county, Massachusetts,
June 28, 1807, son of Hosea Hildreth,
Avho in 181 1-25 was professor of mathe-
matics in Phillips Exeter Academy. He
was graduated from the above named in-
stitution in 1823, and from Harvard Col-
lege in 1826. Removing to Newburyport
to study law, he engaged also in literary
pursuits, contributing to the "Ladies'
Magazine," edited by Mrs. Sarah J. Hale,
and published in Boston ; to Willis'
"Boston Magazine," and subsequently to
Buckingham's "New England Magazine."
He was admitted to the bar in 1830, and
began practice in Newburyport, but soon
removed to Boston, where in 1832 he be-
came editor of the "Atlas," a daily news-
paper, which was the organ of Rufus
Choate and other young politicians of the
Republican party. His vigorous articles
exerted great influence, especially a series
published in 1837, in which he opposed
the efiforts of influential men in the south-
west to bring about the separation of
Texas from Mexico. In 1834-36 he lived
on a plantation in the south for his health,
and there wrote "Archy Moore," the fore-
runner of anti-slavery novels, which ap-
peared in 1836, and was republished in
England. In 1852, the year in which Mrs.

298

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" appeared
in book form, a new edition of Mr. Hild-
reth's novel appeared, entitled "The
White Slave."

After spending the winter of 1837-38
in Washington City as correspondent of
the "Atlas," he returned to the editorial
chair, and in addition to supporting Gen-
eral Harrison in the press, wrote an elec-
tioneering biography of that presidential
candidate. In 1840-43 Mr. Hildreth lived
at Demarara, British Guiana, for the bene-
fit of his health, and edited two journals
published at the capital, Georgetown :
"The Guiana Chronicle" and the "Royal
Gazette," supporting the policy of the
British government in the abolition of
slavery. He also edited a compilation of
the laws of the colony, with an historical
introduction. There he also wrote
'Theory of florals" (1844), and "Theory
of Politics" (1853), in Avhich he attempted
to apply to the subjects discussed the
rigorously inductive method of investi-
gation. The series was to comprise vol-
umes on wealth, taste, knowledge and
education, but his method of treatment
was not a popular one, and he abandoned
this undertaking to devote himself to a
"History of the United States" (six vol-
umes, 1849-56), which was projected
while he was a student at Harvard. The
work, which covers the period beginning
with the settlement of the country and
ending with the close of President jMon-
loe's first term, gave its author a high
position among historians. His other
works include a translation from the
French of Dumont of "Bentham's Theory
of Legislation" (two volumes, 1840) ;
"Despotism in America," a discussion of
the results of the slaveholding system
(1840, new edition, with chapter on the
"Legal Basis of Slavery," 1854) ; "Japan
as It Was and Is" (1855) ; "History of
Banks" (1857), and a compilation from
Lord Campbell's "Lives of Atrocious

Judges" (1857). He contributed to
"Appleton's American Cyclopaedia," and
for several years to the New York
"Tribune." In 1861 President Lincoln
appointed him consul at Trieste, Italy,
and he remained at his post until failing
health obliged him to give up duties of
every kind. Air. Hildreth died in Flor-
ence, Italy, July 11, 1865.

SEARS, Edmund Hamilton,

Clergyman, Author, Poet.

Edmund Hamilton Sears was born at
Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Massachu-
setts, April 6, 1810. His father was a
farmer, and, though a prominent and in-
fluential man in his village was of narrow
means, and through his boyhood Edmund
H. Sears was accustomed to hard labor,
both summer and winter.

At a very early age young Sears gave
evidences of unusual literary skill, writ-
ing hymns and sermons when he was a
mere boy. His strong desire for a col-
legiate education was with some difficulty
gratified, and after a brief preparation he
entered the sophomore class of Union
College, Schenectady, New York, in 1831.
He soon became a prominent figure in
his class by reason of his resolute char-
acter, his scholarship, and the readiness
with which he composed both in prose
and verse. He was graduated from the
college in 1834, and from the Harvard
Divinity School in 1837, and preached for
a short time as a missionary at Toledo,
Ohio. He was ordained as minister of
the Unitarian church at Wayland, Mas-
sachusetts, in 1839: but soon accepted a
call from the Unitarian Society at Lan-
caster, Massachusetts, where he remain-
ed for seven years. In 1848 he was re-
settled at Wayland, and lived quietly and
happily there for nearly twenty years.
His religious works were widely read
and circulated, and caused him to receive

299

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

many calls from the larger and wealthier
societies of the Unitarian body. But his
health was always delicate, and he pre-
ferred the seclusion of a small country
parish, that he might have leisure for
writing and study. In 1865 he was set-
tled over the church at Weston, Massa-
chusetts, and in 1867 removed to that
town.

Dr. Sears' published works are: "Re-
generation" (1853, ninth edition, 1873);
"Pictures of the Olden Time" (1857) ;
"Athanasia, or Foregleams of Immor-
tality" (i86oj; "The Fourth Gospel; the
Heart of Christ" (1872) ; "Sermons and
Songs" (1875) ; and "Christ in the Life,"
the latter volume, a collection of sermons
and lyrical pieces, being issued after his
death. He was for many years editor of
the "Monthly Religious Magazine," pub-
lished in Boston, and he wrote a number
of poems, mostly religious, two of which,
"It came upon the midnight clear," and
"Calm on the listening ear of night," are
among the most beautiful in hymnody,
widely-known, and sung throughout the
world. For two reasons Dr. Sears' writ-
ings have had a unique place in the re-
ligious literature of the time ; they show
a catholicity of spirit, and a depth and
intensity of religious feeling that have
made them acceptable to those of widely
differing beliefs, and they give a clear
and forcible exposition of some features
of the philosophy of Emanuel Sweden-
borg. whose works Dr. Sears read and
accepted to a considerable extent. Dr.
Sears was much loved and reverenced by
those who knew him, as his character was
to an unusual degree unworldly, elevated
and consecrated. The degree of D. D.
was conferred upon him in 1871 by Union
College.

He was married during his pastorate at
Wayland to Ellen, daughter of Ebenezer
Bacon, of Barnstable, by whom he had
three sons and a daughter. Edmund

Hamilton Sears Jr., born at Wayland,
April 20, 1852, was graduated at Har-
vard in 1874; taught in the Normal In-
stitute at Hampton, Virginia, one year;
was instructor in Latin and Greek in the
State University at Oakland, California,
for eight years; in 1885-91 had a private
school for girls ; then became principal
of Mary Institute, St. Louis, a branch
of Washington University. Rev. Edmund
H. Sears, D. D., died at Weston, Massa-
chusetts, January 16, 1876.

FITZPATRICK, John Baptist,

Roman Catliolic Divine.

John Baptist Fitzpatrick, third Roman
Catholic bishop of Boston, was born in
Pioston, Massachusetts, November i,
1812, of Irish parents who settled in that
city in 1805. They were represented to
be persons of striking character, and of
personal appearance so venerable and pre-
possessing that they inspired respect from
all with whom they came in contact.

John B. Fitzpatrick's education was be-
gun at home under the direction of his
parents. He afterwards entered the pri-
mary and grammar schools of Boston,
and subsequently attended the Adams
and Boylston schools, and from both of
these institutions he received the Frank-
lin medals. In 1826 he entered the Bos-
ton Latin School, where he remained for
three years, attaining the same distinc-
tion that had marked his career in the
primary schools. His knowledge of
Christian doctrine, of which he made a
special study, was also superior. In Sep-
tember, 1829, he entered the Montreal
College to prepare himself for the minis-
try of the Roman Catholic church. There
he showed such efficiency in his studies
that he was withdrawn from the rank of
the students and appointed Professor of
Rhetoric and Belles-lettres, subjects for
which he had always evinced a special ap-

300

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

titude. In 1833, at the public exhibition
of Montreal College, he maintained a dis-
cussion in Latin, Greek, French, and
English, in the presence of four bishops
and the governor of the province. He
was graduated at the College of Mon-
treal in 1837, and went to the Grand
Seminary of St. Sulpice at Paris, to com-
plete his ecclesiastical studies. He soon
attracted attention at St. Sulpice, as he
had done elsewhere, and his fine intel-
lectual gifts received ready recognition.
He was appointed to teach the catechism
in French at the Church of St. Sulpice to
the sons of the aristocratic families in the
Faubourg St. Germain, and was also
chosen as one of the four or five masters
to preside at theological conferences.

Mr. Fitzpatrick was made a subdeacon
in May, 1839, a deacon the following
September, and on June 13, 1840, was
ordained to the priesthood. The No-
vember following he returned to Boston,
and his first appointment was at the
Cathedral. He was subsequently assist-
ant pastor of St. Mary's, and pastor of
East Cambridge churches. In 1844 Dr.
Fitzpatrick was appointed coadjutor to
Bishop Fenwick, and was consecrated at
Georgetown on March 4th of the same
year, by Bishop Fenwick, Bishop Whelen,
of Richmond, Virginia, and Bishop Tyler,
of Hartford, Connecticut, assisting. From
that time he relieved Bishop Fenwick
from the more arduous of his duties. In
1846 Bishop Fitzpatrick attended the
sixth provincial council of Baltim.ore.
During his administration he was called
to face a number of unfortunate and try-
ing occurrences which took place in the
diocese, principal among them being the
blowing up of the Catholic church which
was being built at Dorchester, on July
4, 1854. On the fourth and fifth of the
same month an anti-Catholic mob, led
by a fanatic named Orr, broke into the
churches, destroyed the pews, and other-

wise demolished and fired the church in
Bath, and about the same time a Know-
nothing riot occurred at Manchester,
New Hampshire, which resulted in great
destruction to church property, and much
distress to the Catholic population. In
October of the same year the "Ellsworth
Outrage," as it is known, took place,
when a priest was cruelly assaulted and
injured by a mob of citizens. These
were only a part of the numberless diffi-
culties with which he had to contend.
After returning from Rome, whither he
went in 1854, Bishop Fitzpatrick engaged
in his celebrated controversy with the
Boston school board, which eventuated in
a repeal of the laws obnoxious to Cath-
olic pupils. So rapidly did the Catholic
population grow under his administration
that in 1853 it became necessary to erect
two new sees out of the Boston diocese.
There were but forty churches and forty
priests when he began his episcopate, and
at his death he left three hundred
churches and three hundred priests, and
had also built a large reformatory, a hos-
pital, one of the finest orphan asylums in
the United States, and Boston College,
which, under the care of the Jesuit
fathers, has become famous as an institu-
tion of learning. Bishop Fitzpatrick also
conceived and planned the new Boston
Cathedral, and purchased a large and
eligible lot for its location, but the frui-
tion of his grand plans was left to his
successors.

Bishop Fitzpatrick was a man of re-
fined and cultivated tastes. "A beautiful
trait of his character was a love of truth ;
this was recognized and felt by all who
knew him and by none more than by
those who knew him best," so says of
him his biographer, Dr. Clarke. His long
illness and protracted sufferings only
served to bring out with greater lustre
his many excellent traits. His death was
worthy of his life, calm, resigned, devout,

301

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and noble to the last, and produced a pro-
found sensation in Boston and through-
out New England, and was earnestly felt
in every part of the country. Every
honor was paid to his memory. As his
remains were carried to the church the
bells of the city of Boston were tolled
by order of the mayor, and again during
the funeral. People of all religions turn-
ed out by tens of thousands to show their
sorrowful respect. His funeral was at-
tended by ten bishops and one hundred
and forty priests ; by the governor, mayor,
and other officials, and by an immense
concourse of people, including some of
the most distinguished and literary men
of the country. He died at Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, February 13, 1866. His
biography may be found in volume two,
"Lives of the Deceased Bishops," by Dr.
R. H. Clarke.

JUDD, Sylvester,

Clergyman, Prolific Author.

Sylvester Judd was born at Westhamp-
ton, Hampshire county, Massachusetts,
July 23, 1813. descendant of Thomas
Judd, who emigrated to New England
about 1633. His great-grandfather, Rev.
Jonathan Judd. was the first minister of
Southampton, Massachusetts. His father
(1789-1860), for whom he was named,
was a self-taught scientist, owner and
editor, in 1822-34, of the "Hampshire
Gazette," published at Northampton, and
a zealous antiquarian. He was author of
"Thomas Judd, and His Descendants"
(1856), and "History of Hadley" (1863).
His mother was a daughter of Aaron
Hall, of Norwich, in the same county.

Sylvester Judd spent his boyhood and
youth in Northampton. He was gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1836, and then
took charge of a private school at Tem-
pleton, Massachusetts. Before going to
college he had united with the Orthodox

Congregational church which his parents
attended, and it was their hope that he
would enter the ministry. At Templeton
he became acquainted with Unitarianism,
and soon discarded the beliefs of his earl-
ier years, declining about that time a
professorship in Miami College, Ohio, a
Presbyterian institution. He entered the
divinity school connected with Harvard
College, and on his graduation in 1840
was ordained pastor of the Unitarian
church at Augusta, Maine, with which he
was connected until his death. During
his last year in the divinity school he pub-
lished a series of papers entitled "A Young
Man's Account of his Conversion from
Calvinism," and in 1843 began the work
upon which his reputation as an author
chiefly rests: "Margaret: A Tale of the
Real and Ideal, including Sketches of a
Place not before Described, Called Mons
Christi." A revised edition in two vol-
umes appeared in 1851, and a series of
illustrations by Felix O. C. Darley, in
1856. To use his own words, "the book
designs to promote the cause of liberal
Christianity ; it would give body and soul
to the divine elements of the Gospel. It
aims to subvert bigotry, cant, pharisaism
and all intolerance. Its basis is Christ * *
It designs also * * * to aid the cause of
peace, temperance and universal freedom
* * * But more particularly * * * the
book seems fitted to partially fill up a gap
long left open in Unitarian literature,
diat of imaginative writings." The story
is loosely constructed, but is much ad-
mired for its portrayals of rural life at the
time of its author's boyhood, and for its
beautiful descriptive passages. In 1850
Mr. Judd published a companion to "Mar-
garet," "Richard Edney, and the Gov-
ernor's family, a Rus-Urban Tale," the
scene of the story being laid in Maine, and
at a later period. In the same year ap-
peared "Philo, an Evangeliad," a didactic
poem in blank verse defending Unitarian

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

doctrines. He left in manuscript "The
White Hills, an American Tragedy,"
based on the same Indian legend used by
Hawthorne in his "Great Carbuncle."
The year after his death, "The Church, in
a Series of Discourses," was published.
Mr. Judd was also a popular speaker on
temperance and other reforms.

He was married, in 1841, to a daughter
of the Hon. Revel Williams, of Augusta,
Maine, who with three children survived
him. A volume compiled by Arethusa
Hull, and entitled "Life and Character
of Sylvester Judd," was published in 1854.
He died in Augusta, Maine, January 26,
1853-

WHITTIER, Elizabeth Hussey,

Poetess.

Elizabeth Hussey W^hittier was born
at Haverhill, Massachusetts, December
7, 181 5, daughter of John and Abigail
(Hussey) Whittier, and the younger
sister of John Greenleaf Whittier. Her
mother was a daughter of Samuel and
Mercy (Evans) Hussey, of Somersworth.
New Hampshire ; and it is a curious co-
incidence that her ancestor, Christopher
Hussey, and Thomas Whittier, ancestor
of her husband, were the only two out of
the sixteen petitioners against the order
restraining the Quakers in Massachusetts
in 1652, who braved the displeasure of
the court, and refused to withdraw.

In her childhood Elizabeth Hussey
Whittier was the special pet and play-
fellow of her brother, John Greenleaf
Whittier, the delightful Quaker poet of
later days, and as they both grew older
she became his beloved and sympathetic
companion. She and his elder sister
alike encouraged him in his early ambi-
tions, but Elizabeth's poetic temperament
made her best suited to understand his
genius. When their parents died and the
rest of the family had left the old home-

stead at Haverhill, Elizabeth continued to
keep house for her brother, and they were
constant companions except when his
participation in the national struggle
called him away from home. In her little
poem the "Wedding Veil," she suggests
that the reason of her remaining unmar-
ried was because she had lost her lover
by death. Her grief did not, however,
darken her life, for in spite of her ex-
treme sensibility she was always gay and
cheerful. She has been described by T.
W. Higginson as "the gifted sister Lizzie,
the pet and pride of the household, one of
the rarest of women, her brother's com-
plement, possessing all the readiness of
speech and facility of intercourse which
he wanted ; taking easily in his presence
the lead in conversation, while he sat
rubbing his hands, and laughing at iier
daring sallies. She was as unlike him
in person as in mind ; for his dignified
erectness she had endless motion and
vivacity; for his regular, handsome feat-
ures, she had a long Jewish nose, so full
of expression that it seemed to enhance,
instead of injuring, the effect of the large
and liquid eyes that glowed with merri-
ment and sympathy behind it * * * Her
quick thoughts came like javelins; a
saucy triumph gleamed in her great eyes ;
the head moved a little from side to side
like the quiver of a great weapon, and
lo ! you were transfixed * * * She was a
woman never to be forgotten, and no one
can truly estimate the long celibate life
of the poet without bearing in mind that
he had for many years at his own fire-
side the concentrated wit and sympathy
of all womankind in this one sister."

Elizabeth H. Whittier was as ardent
an opponent of slavery as was her broth-
er ; as far as it was possible for a woman
shut up in a little village, she aided in
the great reform of the times. In 1836
the poet sold the Haverhill farm and pur-
chased a little cottage in the village of

303

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Amesbury, and Elizabeth sorrowfully
severed her early connection to accom-
pany him thither. The change was a
matter of great importance to the simple
country girl, and she never was quite as
happy as in her new home. In 1840 she
wrote in her diary, "I am not homesick
in Amesbury, but it never seems like
home when Greenleaf is away." Soon
after her arrival there she was elected
president of the local Women's Anti-
Slavery Society, and it is evident from
her diary that she occasionally was ac-
tively implicated in the escape of slaves
to Canada. Of her poetical work her
brother wrote, "As she was very distrust-
ful of her own powers, and altogether
without ambition for literary distinction,
she shunned everything like publicity,
and found far greater happiness in gen-
erous appreciation of the gifts of her
friends than in the cultivation of her
own. Yet is has always seemed to me
that had her health, sense of duty and
fitness, and her extreme self-distrust per-
mitted, she might have taken high place
among lyric singers." These remarks he
prefaced to his "Hazel Blossoms," in
which little volume he included selections
from his sister's poems. Of these the
most pleasing is "Lines on Dr. Kane in
Cuba," which he tells us was read to
that venerable traveler while on his
death-bed, and brought tears of pleasure
to his eyes. Her political sympathies are
ardently expressed in her verses on "John
Quincy Adams." "Snowbound" was
written by Whittier the year after the
loss of this beloved sister, whom he never
ceased to mourn. She died at Amesbury,
Massachusetts, September 3, 1864.

ROBINSON, William Stevens,

Journalist, Parliamentarian.

William Stevens Robinson was born
in Concord, Massachusetts, December 7,

(1776-

1818, son of William Robinson

1837) and Martha (Cogswell) Robinson;
grandson of Jeremiah and Susannah
(Cogswell) Robinson and of Emerson
and Eunice (Robinson) Cogswell, and a
descendant of John Robinson (1671-
1749) and Mehitable Robinson, of Exeter,
New Hampshire, and of John Cogswell,
who sailed from Bristol, England, May
23, 1635, in the "Angel Gabriel," went
tirst to Ipswich, Massachusetts, and
afterward settled in Chebacco (now
Essex).

William S Robinson after attending
the public school, served an apprentice-
ship in the office of "The Yeoman's Ga-
zette," at Concord, Massachusetts, from
1835 to 1839, and was editor and pub-
lisher of the same from the latter year
until 1842, when he became assistant
editor of the Lowell "Journal and Cour-
ier," a Whig publication. In 1848-49 he
was editor of the Boston "Daily Whig,"
afterward the "Republican." He edited
and published the Lowell "American," a
Free-soil Democratic newspaper from 1849
to 1854. He was a member of the Massa-
chusetts Legislature, 1852-53, and secre-
tary of the State Constitutional Conven-
tion of 1853. He contributed to the
Springfield "Republican" under the pen-
name "Warrington," 1856-76, and to the
New York "Tribune," 1857-69, his letters
on public men and events during the Civil
War period earning for him the title of
"the famous war correspondent." He
was clerk of the committee on the re-
vision of the statutes, 1859, and of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives,
1862-73, the journals of that body being
first published under his supervision. In
1871 and 1873 he opposed by his writings
the gubernatorial candidacy of General
Benjamin F. Butler. His numerous legis-
lative pamphlets, reports and memorials
include: "Memorial and Report on the
Personal Liberty Bill" (1861-67) ; "The
Salary Grab, and Expose of the Million

304

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Dollar Congressional Theft" (1873). He
also published "Warrington's Manual of
Parliamentary Law" (1875). See "War-
rington's Pen Portraits'" (1877J, edited
by Harriet H. Robinson.

He was married, Movember 30. 1848,
to Harriet Jane Hanson, of Lowell, Mas-
sachusetts. He died in Maiden, Massa-
chusetts, March 11, 1876, and was buried
in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord,
Massachusetts.

GORE, Christopher,

Law Tutor of Daniel Webster.

Christopher Gore, seventh Governor of
Massachusetts, was born in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, September 21, 1758. His
father, John Gore, was a respectable
Tory mechanic, who at the outbreak of
the Revolution went to Halifax. He
afterwards returned to Boston, but was
persecuted and banished as a Loyalist.
An act of the Legislature of his State re-
stored him to citizenship in 1787. He
was able to give his son a good education,
sending him to study at Harvard College
where he was graduated in 1776,

After reading law with Judge Lowell,
Christopher Gore established himself in
an extensive and lucrative practice in
Boston. It was in his office, in the Scol-
lay building, where the Winthrop statue
now stands, that Daniel Webster made
his law studies. Liking the location of
the office, it is said, he approached Mr.
Gore, and so strongly appealed to him
as a young man of unusual promise that
his request for admission as student and
clerk was immediately granted. It was
largely through Gore's influence that
Webster declined the clerkship of the
New Hampshire Court of Common Pleas
at (in that day) the generous salary of
fifteen hundred dollars, and thus, prob-
ably, were his talents saved for a wider
field of usefulness. Upon presenting him

for admission to the bar in 1805, Gore set
forth his high opinion of the future states-
man in such flattering language that it is
said to have formed an incentive to Web-
ster's ambition for many a year after.
In 1789 he was appointed the first United
States Attorney for the district of Mas-
sachusetts, and was conspicuous in this
office for the energy and determination
with which he discharged his duties in
the face of many serious difficulties. He
continued to hold this office until 1796,
when he was appointed a colleague of
William Pinkney, as commissioner under
the fourth article of Jay's treaty, to settle
the American spoliation claims against
England. Mr. Gore was successful in
recovering sums to a large amount for
American citizens, and his arguments in
their behalf are said to have been elabor-
ate and powerful. He remained abroad
until 1804, having been Charge d' Affaires
in 1803, during the absence of his friend,
Rufus King, Minister to England. In
1809 Mr. Gore was elected Governor of
Massachusetts, but in the following year
he was replaced by Elbridge Gerry. In
1813 Mr. Gore was made a United States
Senator, in which capacity he served
about three years. He was a Presidential
elector in 1816. He then retired finally
from all public affairs, residing at his
beautiful country-seat at Waltham, Mas-
sachusetts, where he owned several hun-
dred acres laid out after the plan of an
English country gentleman's residence.
Here he lived in the most gorgeous style,
with liveried servants, four-horse coaches
with outriders, and other forms of mag-
nificence then quite unusual in New Eng-
land. It is said that these extravagant
and undemocratic habits contributed a
large share to preventing his reelection
as Governor.

Governor Gore was one of the first
fifteen overseers of Harvard College
elected under the statute of 1810, per-

MASS-Vol 1—20

305

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

mitting persons other than the high
officers of the commonwealth and the pas-
tors of the neighboring Congregational
churches to serve on the board. He was
an overseer for five years and a fellow
from 1812 to 1820. Having no children,
he made Harvard his residuary legatee,
and as a result the institution received
nearly $100,000. Gore Hall, Harvard
University, was built with this fund, and
named after him. This building, which
was intended to be a copy of King's Col-
lege Chapel, Cambridge, England, w^as
made the house of the university library.
He also left valuable bequests to the
American Academy and the Massachu-
setts Historical Society, of which he was
a member. Governor Gore died March
I, 1827.

SMITH, Nathan, M. D.,

Distinguished Professional Instmotor.

Considering physicians who have
adorned the profession of medicine as
great teachers, leaders in advancing med-
ical knowledge, in improving medical and
surgical practice, and, above all, in rais-
ing the standard of professional life and
medical education, the name of Nathan
Smith stands very high.

He was born at Rehoboth, Massachu-
setts, September 30, 1762, of poor parents.
Soon after his birth his family moved to
Chester, Windsor county, Vermont, and
there the parents spent the remaining
years of their lives, and gave the son such
education as the ordinary country
schools of the time afforded. But more
valuable by far than schooling was the
solid foundation of physical and moral
strength he acquired in that simple farm
life, in close contact with nature, and
under the guidance of religious influences.
Here the youth stored up forces which
needed but the incident of circumstance
to stir into activity, potential and far-

reaching. In common with others of that
neighborhood, young Smith served his
country in those frontier expeditions
against the repeated incursions of the
Indians. Often, too, the necessity of cir-
cumstances compelled him to undergo the
dangers of hunting the savage beasts
which then swarmed in the neighboring
forests. In one of these excursions he
nearly lost his life from exposure, hunger
and fatigue.

Later we find Nathan Smith spoken of
as a teacher in the district school, and
then occurred the fateful event in his life,
which came in this way. The routine of
the neighborhood of Chester was dis-
turbed by the report that Josiah Good-
hue, of Putney, Vermont, was to visit the
place for the purpose of amputating the
thigh of a lad afflicted with some incur-
able disease, and when the surgeon asked
for an assistant who would hold the leg
that was to be taken oflf, young Smith
offered his aid. The courage, steadiness
of nerve and close attention of the assist-
ant impressed the operator, and it is re-
lated that he even allowed the young man
to tie the arteries as the operation pro-
gressed. To young Smith the surgeon
was a ministering angel of comfort, the
workings of the human body more
marvelous than he had dreamed, and he
asked of Goodhue permission to enter his
office as a medical student. Dr. Goodhue
told the young man that if he would place
himself under some suitable person for
instruction he would accept him as a
student when he had acquired education
sufficient to qualify for his entrance into
the freshman class of Harvard College.
Smith was then twenty-one years of age.
The conditions imposed by Dr. Goodhue
were fulfilled within a year under the
tuition of Rev. W. Whiting, of Rocking-
ham, Vermont. Dr. Goodhue then "gen-
erously offered him a home and tuition,
while the youth on his part was to assist

306

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

by performing any manual labor that
might arise in the country physician's
family." The usual apprenticeship terms
of three years were conscientiously filled,
and in 1787 Nathan Smith began the prac-
tice of medicine at Cornish, New Hamp-
shire.

Scarcely had he become established in
his practice before he realized his own
shortcomings, and he eagerly sought the
advantages offered at the Medical School
at Harvard College, which had been
established at Cambridge a few years be-
fore. Here he attended also the course
of lectures on natural philosophy, one of
the requirements for a degree in medi-
cine at that time for those who were not
graduates of a college. He was graduated
Bachelor of Medicine in 1790, the fifth
man to receive that degree from the
university. His inaugural dessertation
was on "The Circulation of the Blood,"
and presaged that close observation and
study which marked his future career.
Returning to Cornish, he continued to
practice there for the succeeding six
years. Recognizing the crude condition
of the medical profession in his neighbor-
hood, he determined to devote his life and
labors to bettering the condition of those
who were to be his fellow laborers in
medicine. There were then three medical
schools in the United States — at Philadel-
phia, New York and Cambridge. To send
students from northern New England to
such distant places as Philadelphia and
New York was scarcely to be considered
on account of the great expense incurred,
while the cost of attending courses at
Cambridge was well nigh prohibitory to
men of limited means. The apprentice-
ship method Smith had determined was
inadequate to meet the demands of the
standard he had set as necessary. But
one course was left — to establish within
easy access to the surrounding country a
medical school equipped to supply a cor-

rect medical education. Accordingly, he
applied to the trustees of Dartmouth Col-
lege (1796) "asking their encouragement
and approbation of a plan he had devised
to establish a Professorship of the Theory
and Practice of Medicine in connection
with Dartmouth College." This plan was
approved by President Wheelock and the
trustees, but such a novel and far reach-
ing scheme was too important hastily to
be entered upon, so it was "voted to post-
pone final action upon the proposition for
a year." In the meantime Smith was to
visit Europe in order to broaden the scope
of his own knowledge, and incidentally
to procure suitable apparatus for under-
taking the work of carrying on a school
founded upon the plans outlined. This
step meant much for the young man. He
borrowed the funds necessary to under-
take the journey, and sailed from Boston
in December, 1796, for Glasgow. His
visit to Europe was opportune and profit-
able. In Edinburgh he attended the
medical lectures of Monro and Black for
three months, after which he went to
London, where he remained four months.
At London he procured the necessary
apparatus for anatomy, surgery and
chemistry to be used for beginning
courses in the new medical institution
which he now felt certain was to be estab-
lished. He arrived in Boston early in
September, 1797, having since sailing
been elected a corresponding member of
the Medical Society of London, although
he had not yet obtained the degree of M.
D. He immediately set about carrying
into execution the plan already matured,
and he delivered a first course of lectures
early in 1798, even before his election as
professor. In August, 1798, the trustees
formally appointed him a professor,
"Whose duty it shall be to deliver public
lectures upon Anatomy, Surgery, Chem-
istry and the Theory and Practice of
Physics." These lectures began early in

.307

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

October, and continued ten weeks. He
was now granted the degree of A. M.
(Dartmouth, 1798), to which the college
added that of M. D. in 1801.

The first years of the new school at
Hanover were beset with difficulties. A
small two-story house of four rooms was
first used for the lectures, and later two
rooms in the lower story of Dartmouth
Hall served as lecture hall, dissecting
room, chemical laboratory, and library.
In 181 1 a modern building was erected
for the Medical School. The whole bur-
den of the school was borne by him, ex-
cept for the assistance given by Lyman
Spalding (in 1798-99) who lectured on
Chemistry and Materia Medica. Smith
was Professor of Medicine and Lecturer
on Anatomy, Surgery, Midwifery and the
Theory and Practice of Physic. His first
and only colleague at Hanover was Cyrus
Perkins (Dartmouth, A. B., 1800; M. B.,
1802; M. D., 1810), who was appointed
Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in
1810, at the request of Smith, "for relief
from teaching Anatomy." As the number
of students increased, and as these later
went out into practice, the fame of the
elder professor grew rapidly. To them
he gave his assistance and time freely,
and often at great personal sacrifice;
under the most favorable conditions, re-
muneration for services was often inade-
quate, and an increase of knowledge and
skill on the part of the physician did not
bring a corresponding increase in fees.
This state of affairs led him to petition
the Legislature of New Hampshire in
1803 for aid. He was granted $600 for
apparatus, and a further sum of $3,450
was voted in 1809 for the erection of a
brick or stone building for a Medical
School, on condition that "he would give
a site for it, and assign to the State his
Anatomical Museum and Chemical Appa-
ratus." This Smith did in June, 1811,
by conveying to the State of New Hamp-

shire forty-five square rods, upon which
was erected a brick building, containing
two large lecture rooms, and two wings
of three stories each for the library, chem-
ical laboratory, museum, etc.

In 1812 Professor Smith accepted the
appointment of Professor of the Theory
and Practice of Medicine and of Surgery
in the Medical Department established at
Vale College in that year. He began his
course at Yale in 1813, and continued
there as professor until his death. Smith's
resignation from Dartmouth was not ac-
cepted until 1814. He was reelected in
1816, but declined the place. However,
he gave a final course of lectures that
year, a course attended by sixty-six
medical and forty-four college students.
He removed finally to New Haven the
following year. In 1814 the Legislature
of Connecticut granted $20,000 to Yale
College, this being obtained principally
through the personal exertions of Nathan
Smith. A stone building was purchased,
a library begun, and the foundation of an
Anatomical Museum laid down with the
money.

In 1820 the State of Maine, realizing
the necessity for a medical school, estab-
lished one with the understanding that
Nathan Smith should undertake its
founding. The Medical School of Maine
was opened in the spring of 1821, in Mas-
sachusetts Hall. Smith delivered all the
lectures, except those on Chemistry,
which had previously been given for
years at the College. He continued to
lecture at the Maine School for five years,
when his duties at Yale and in a very
extensive consulting practice forced him
to resign from Bowdoin. Thus he suc-
cessfully established three medical
schools, all of which have long since
proved that the foundations he laid were
firm and solid, upon which have since
been reared institutions honorable alike
to the founder and to the cause he so

308

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

fondly cherished, higher medical educa-
tion. In addition to the duties entailed
by his lectures at Yale and Bowdoin, he
gave four courses of lectures at the Uni-
versity of Vermont between the years
1822 and 1825 inclusive. His entire career
as a teacher of medicine covers the period
1797 to 1828 inclusive, and in that time
he was connected with forty-two general
courses, and gave instruction in different
departments in about one hundred and
thirty-eight special courses.

In 1824 Nathan Smith published
a "Treatise on Typhus Fever." in which
he gives a description of the disease now
known as typhoid. His description is
clear, and in such harmony with modern
text-books that it seems incredible he
wrote it so many years ago. In his
"Observations on the Pathology and
Treatment of Necrosis" he shows the
same power of accurate description, and a
method of treatment which seems to have
anticipated modern surgery. His ovario-
tomy on July 5, 1821, was without any
knowledge of McDowell's achievement
twelve years before, and stands second
in time as an historical event in that line
of surgery. "To him is justly due the
credit of having introduced and diffused
over a large part of New England the
most correct practice of all the celebrated
surgeons of the past and the present cen-
tury, which is no mean praise." It can
truly be said that Nathan Smith died for
the cause for which he had so strenuously
labored. Unmindful of a slight attack
of vertigo in July, 1828, he continued to
make preparations for his lectures. A
fatal attack of paralysis overtook him
while delivering these lectures in the fol-
lowing December, and he died January
26, 1829, at the age of sixty-seven years.
His monument stands in the New Haven
Cemetery, fashioned after the tomb of
the Scipios at Rome. His wife, Sarah
(Chase) Smith, was a daughter of General
Jonathan Chase.

MORTON, Marcus,

Laxryer, Jurist, Goverxior.

Marcus Morton, fourteenth Governor
of Massachusetts, was born at Freetown,
Massachusetts, February 19, 1784. His
early education was obtained in his native
State, and on his graduation at Brown
University in 1804 he entered the law
school at Litchfield, Connecticut. In
1807 he was admitted to the bar in Taun-
ton, Massachusetts, and, engaging in
practice, resided there during the re-
mainder of his life. His professional and
political success was immediate, and in
181 1 he was appointed clerk of the State
Senate for one year. In 1816 he was
elected a representative in Congress from
the section later included in the Twelfth
District of Massachusetts, and served
through the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Con-
gresses until 1821. In 1823 he was chosen
to the State Executive Council, and in
the following year was elected Lieuten-
ant Governor. For fourteen years after
1825 he was judge of the Supreme Court,
and, resigning upon accepting nomination
to the Governorship, was elected by a
majority of one vote over Edward Ever-
ett. He failed of reelection at the end of
his first term, but was again a successful
candidate in 1842. By appointment of
President Polk in 1845, he became Col-
lector of the Port of Boston, and con-
tinued in the of^ce until his resignation
in 1848. Governor Morton's opposition
to slavery led him to denounce tne
Democratic party in 1848, and join the
Free-Soil party, by which he was chosen
a delegate to the State Constitutional
Convention in 1853. and elected to the
State Legislature in 1858.

Governor Morton was a man of the
highest character, scrupulously zealous in
living up to every principle of right. His
record in the various offices filled by him
was characterized by thoroughness and
won approbation, without his manifesting

309

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

any of the distinctive qualities of great-
ness. The degree of LL. D. was con-
ferred on him by Harvard University in
1840, and he served for thirty-two years
as a member of the board of overseers
(1826-52 and 1854-60). Governor Mor-
ton died in Taunton, Massachusetts, Feb-
ruary 6, 1864. His son, Marcus Morton,
also a noted member of the Massachu-
setts bar, was chosen Associate Justice
of the State Supreme Court in 1859, and
became Chief Justice in 1872.

LOVELL, Joseph,

First Surgeon General, U. S. A.

Joseph Lovell, the first Surgeon Gen-
eral of the United States army, was born
in Boston, December 22, 1788. His
grandfather Lovell was a leading member
of the "Sons of Liberty," and was taken
to Halifax as a hostage by the British
in 1776, when they evacuated Boston.
Upon his return the elder Lovell served
in the Continental Congress, and was
chairman of the committee on foreign
affairs. His son, James S. Lovell, mar-
ried Deborah Gorham, "a noted Boston
belle," and to this couple was born
Joseph, the subject of this memoir.

After a preliminary education in the
schools of Boston, Joseph Lovell entered
Harvard College, and was graduated in
1807. He immediately began the study
of medicine with Dr. Ingalls, in Boston,
and in 181 1 was graduated at the Har-
vard Medical School as a member of the
first class which received the degree M.
D. from Harvard. He volunteered May
15, 1812, as surgeon in the Ninth United
States Infantry, and was put in charge
of the general hospital at Burlington,
Vermont, established for the troops mov-
ing towards the frontier in the War of
1812. The appointment of a physician
not yet twenty-four years of age to such
an important post indicates the state of

the medical department of the army at
the beginning of hostilities. The experi-
ence of the Revolution had been for-
gotten ; the greater number of those sur-
geons who had served in that war, men
whose experience would now have been
of value, were either dead or superannu-
ated. There were no records of the
medical officers preserved, and, with no
executive head and no organization at
hand, the medical department was in a
bad way when the army assembled at
Greenbush, New York, in 1812. Young
Lovell showed executive ability from the
outset ; his hospital became known as the
model hospital ; his capacity soon at-
tracted the attention of General Wilkin-
son, and later, in the northern frontier
campaign, secured for Lovell the endorse-
ment of Generals Scott and Brown. A
report on the Burlington Hospital says:
"The following regulations were adopted
in the General Hospital at Burlington,
where in no instance from its first estab-
lishment, even when monthly reports
counted from six to nine hundred men,
was an infectious disease generated or
propagated." Among the regulations
instituted by Lovell were: Frequent
washing of walls and floors, daily sanding
of the floors, frequent and generous sup-
ply of fresh air to every room and ward ;
"no person was permitted to spit on the
floors of the wards. Spit-boxes were
furnished every bed, and filled with sand
twice a day, sometimes oftener;" the
soldiers suffering from infectious and
contagious diseases were separated from
the other sick, and surgical cases were
not allowed in the same rooms with fe-
brile cases ; venereal and skin diseases
were given a separate ward. After the
battle of Bridgewater, it was thought
advisable to transfer eleven hundred
patients from Buffalo to Williamsville,
where a general hospital was established
with Lovell and two other surgeons in

310

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

charge. Lovell had been made full hos-
pital surgeon, June 30, 1814. Mann
wrote, under date of February 14, 1814,
"Surgeons and mates of regiments under
existing discouragements have no induce-
ments to continue long in service.
Curiosity alone will induce them to sacri-
fice the term of one year in ser^^ice. This
being gratified, its exciting powers lose
their effects. "

In December, 1814, the duties of
medical officers in the army were defined
for the first time by a general order from
the War Department. Then came peace
with its heterogeneous, "patch-work kind
of" legislation, all of which was as detri-
mental to better discipline as it was to
the health of the troops. In 1817. Lovell,
the chief medical officer of the Northern
Department, addressed to Major General
Brown a paper on the causes of disease
in the army. This report dealt with the
various questions of reorganization of the
Medical Department ; it was the basis of
that change later, and marked Lovell as
the surgeon best fitted to execute the
plan.

Congress spent a great part of the
session of 1817-18 in discussing the pro-
visions of a bill for regulating the general
stafT of the army. This bill was passed
finally, May 14, 1818. Section eleven
reads "And be it further enacted, That
there shall be one Surgeon General with
a salary of two thousand five hundred
dollars per annum, one assistant surgeon
general with the emoluments of a hos-
pital surgeon and that the number of
post surgeons be increased not to exceed
eight to each division." For the position
of Surgeon General thus created. Joseph
Lovell was selected, his appointment
being dated April 18. 1818. He was not
then thirty years old, but "the ability he
had shown in charge of the General Hos-
pital at Burlington, and when serving
with Generals Scott and Brown on the

northern frontier, and his appreciation of
the wants of the army, evinced by his
able reports on various subjects con-
nected therewith, designated him as the
fittest person to assume the organization
of the new department, and his appoint-
ment gave great satisfaction both to the
army at large and to the medical staff."
The revision of the medical regulations
was the first subject undertaken by the
new Surgeon General. In carrying out
this revision, Lovell determined to
incorporate the views expressed in his
letter to General Jacob Brown, and these
regulations subsequently served as the
model for all changes made in our army
regulations. The system of placing re-
sponsibility upon the individual surgeon
for the property of the government
intrusted to his care was the principal
reason for the reduction of the per
capita appropriation from $7 per annum
to S3 for each man in the service. In
1818 Lovell made a report to Congress,
in which he urged many recommenda-
tions for the further improvement of the
Medical Department. This he did at the
request of John C. Calhoun, then Secre-
tary of War. In consequence of further
urging by Lovell, Congress passed an
act on May 8, 1820, in which the Apothe-
cary General and his assistant were re-
quired to give bonds to the United States
for the faithful performance of their
duties. These duties had in part been
performed by the Commissary General
of Purchases, and had been the object of
severe criticism.

An act of Congress reducing the size
of the army was passed March 2. 1821.
In the reorganization which ensued, the
Medical Department fared badly. Lovell
made many efforts to raise the medical
standard by instituting examinations for
all applicants for appointments as assist-
ant surgeons. He also tried to have the
emoluments for the different grades in-

311

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

creased and graduated. Nothing resulted
from these efforts until June, 1834, when
a bill "Increasing and regulating the pay
of the Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons
of the Army'* was passed. The correction
of the abuses and deficiencies in the old
organization was necessarily slow, but
Lovell kept memorializing the Congress.
and his quarterly reports never failed to
express strongly the necessity for further
changes. The medical officers found in
him a sincere and persistent advocate of
justice in the increased duties which the
changing conditions brought with them.
In the discussion in Congress, during
1829 and 1830, upon the reduction of
expenses of the army, Lovell not only
protested against any reduction of the
number of medical officers, but advocated
an increase in their number. Six months
later, Lovell sent a second communica-
tion to the Secretary of War, showing
"that notwithstanding a very consider-
able increase in the number of military
posts and stations, the number of medical
officers is less than it has been at any
period within the last ten years." A long
investigation resulted in the Secretary of
War reporting that "The Surgeon Gen-
eral of the army might be dispensed
with," and making further recommenda-
tions, which Lovell was able to demon-
strate in a rejoinder were all founded
upon wrong information or upon inac-
curate data. As a result of this statement
by Lovell, the military committee of the
House decided that the circumstances
demanded an increase rather than a re-
duction of the medical staff, and this
resulted in the passage, June 28, 1832, of
an act, "That the President be, and he is
hereby authorized by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, to appoint four
additional surgeon's mates in the army of
the United States." In the Black Hawk
War, or "Cholera campaign." as that
affair came to be called, the demand for

surgeons proved the wisdom of Lovell's
course, and in response to his appeal
Congress passed an act (July 4, 1836)
adding three surgeons and five assistant
surgeons to the roster of the medical
staff of the army.

One of the last official acts of Surgeon
General Lovell was to submit a report on
June 4, 1836, in which he pointed out the
necessity for an increase in the medical
corps. The exacting duties of his office
had already affected seriously his con-
stitution, and he survived the death of
his wife but a short time. He died Octo-
ber 17. 1836. The "National Intelli-
gencer" of Washington said of him : "It
rarely falls to our lot to record the death
of one whose loss to the community and
the profession, both military and civil, of
which he was a distinguished member, is
so deeply and widely spread as the un-
timely exit of Doctor Joseph Lovell, late
Surgeon General of the Army." Brown
says of him :

The greatness of the loss to the army, and
especially to the corps which he may almost be
said to have brought into being, can hardly be
exaggerated. Throughout his official career he
had gained the universal respect, admiration and
affcxtion of all with whom he was associated.
His predominant characteristics were a strong
sense of the dignity of his position and of the
profession to which he belonged, and a gentle-
ness of demeanor in all his relations both official
and personal with the subordinate officers of
the Medical Staff. * * t Jn his correspond-
ence with the officers of his Department, no one
could be more gentle and even tender; * * *
his good service extended to every branch and
department of the army. It was through his
efforts that the whiskey ration was finally abol-
ished; by his representations that Congress
passed the bill by which obnoxious officers were
weeded out through the agency of a board of
examination; that the rations and the clothing
of the soldiers were improved, post hospitals
built on a rational principle, and officers held to
a strict accountability for their treatment of the
sick and the expenditure of supplies. In all his
relations, whether as Christian, philanthropist,

312

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

profound scholar, skilful surgeon, experienced
officer or truehearted gentleman, he was one of
whom the Medical Staff may always be proud
and the memory of whose good life is written on
every page of its history.

In 1842, the officers of the Medical
Corps of the United States army testified
their appreciation of his services by the
erection of a handsome monument over
his grave in the Congressional Cemetery
at Washington.

BRIGGS, George Nixon,

Statesman, Governor.

George Nixon Briggs. fifteenth Gov-
ernor of Massachusetts, was born at
Adams, Massachusetts, April 13, 1796.
His father was a soldier in the Revolu-
tionary War.

The son, at the age of thirteen, was
sent to White Creek, New York, to learn
the hatter's trade. He did not complete
his apprenticeship, but, aided by a
brother, attended school for a time, then
studied law, and was admitted to the bar
of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in
1818. His success as a practitioner was
immediate and pronounced, and he soon
became one of the most brilliant and
astute criminal lawyers in the State.
From 1824 to 1830 he filled the office of
registrar of deeds of Berkshire county.
In 1830 he was elected to Congress as a
Whig, took his seat in 183 1, and served
by successive reelections until 1843.
While in Congress he distinguished him-
self as a logical and powerful debater,
and an uncompromising champion of any
cause he believed to be in accord with
right and truth. He served on many
important committees, was chairman of
the committee on post-offices and post-
roads, and gained recognition as one of
the leaders of his party. In 1843 he be-
came Governor of Massachusetts, and

was seven times reelected, serving until
185 1. There could be no more eloquent
tribute to his steadfast devotion to duty
and the high place he held in the affec-
tions of the people of his State. As has
been well said by a biographer, "He was
a candidate without caucus or convention
or nomination, save by the voice of the
people." While Governor he was urged
to commute the death sentence of Pro-
fessor Webster, the murderer of Dr.
Parkman, principally on the ground of
his high position in the community, but
refused, in the face of powerful pressure,
to interfere with the execution of the law.
In 1853 he was a member of the State
Constitutional Convention, and a frequent
speaker in its debates. From 185 1 to
1856 he served by appointment as a judge
of the Court of Common Pleas, retiring
only when the court was abolished upon
the reorganization of the judiciary of
Massachusetts. He was one of the
founders of the Republican party in the
State, and labored earnestly to secure the
nomination and election of Lincoln, and
the preservation of the Union. He was a
prominent member of the Baptist de-
nomination, and at different times presi-
dent of the American Baptist Missionary
Union, American Temperance Union and
American Tract Society. He was long
a trustee of Williams College, and was
urged to accept the chancellorship of
Madison University, which he declined.
His son, Henry Shaw Briggs, born in
1824, attained the rank of brigadier-
general of volunteers in the Union army
during the Civil War. In 1861 Governor
Briggs was appointed United States
Commissioner to New Grenada, but was
accidentally shot while hunting, shortly
before the time he had intended to set
out for South America. He died at Pitts-
field, Massachusetts, September 12. 1861.

313

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

WASHBURN, Emory,

Lawyer, Governor, Statesman.

Emory Washburn, eighteenth Gov-
ernor of Massachusetts, was born in
Leicester, Massachusetts, February 14,
1800, son of Joseph and Ruth (Davis)
Washburn. He was fifth in descent from
John Washburn, first secretary of the
Massachusetts Bay Company, and grand-
son of Seth Washburn, an early settler
of Leicester, which he represented in the
Massachusetts Legislature and Senate.
Seth Washburn was also a soldier of some
experience, both in the Indian wars and
the Revolution, performing the duties of
major at the battle of Bunker Hill. His
wife was a granddaughter of Mary Chil-
ton, the first white person to step on
Plymouth Rock at the landing of the Pil-
grim colonists. Their son, Joseph
Washburn, born 1755, died 1807, was an
ensign and lieutenant in the Fifteenth
Massachusetts Regiment, Continental
army, being on duty at Saratoga when
General Burgoyne surrendered and sub-
sequently serving under General Wash-
ington. After the war he was appointed
deputy sheriff of Worcester county, and
so continued to his death. His wife was
a daughter of Ebenezer Davis, of Charl-
ton, and by her he had seven children,
of whom Emory was the sixth.

Emory Washburn was educated at
Leicester Academy, and at the age of
thirteen entered Dartmouth College,
whither he was attracted by the appoint-
ment of his former pastor. Rev. Zephaniah
Swift Moore, as professor of Ancient
Languages. Two years later, when Pro-
fessor Moore became president of Wil-
liams College, the young man followed
him, and was graduated there in 1817. He
immediately commenced law studies at
Williamstown with Charles Augustus
Dewey, later judge of the State Supreme
Court, and continued at Harvard Univer-

sity under Asahel Stearns, then sole
resident professor of law. On his admis-
sion to the bar in 1820, he entered on
practice at Leicester, where he was town
clerk for several years. In 1826-27 he
represented the town in the State Legis-
lature, and was appointed with Abner
Phelps and George W. Adams, of Boston,
to the committee which made the first
report on the practicability of a railway
line between Boston and Albany. In
1828 he removed to Worcester, where he
also attained prominence in civic and
official life, being elected to the State
Legislature in 1838, and to the Senate
in 1840. While Senator (1841-42) he was
chairman of the committee on judiciary,
and in 1843 he was elected judge of the
Worcester Court of Common Pleas for a
four-year term. During 1830-34 he was
aide on the stafif of Governor Lincoln,
and for many years law partner of Gov-
ernor John Davis. In 1853, while absent
in Europe, he was nominated, without
his knowledge or consent. Whig candi-
date for Governor, and was elected by a
large majority over George S. Boutwell.
He was reelected in 1854, being virtually
the last candidate of his party, which
soon after expired in the rising tide of the
American or "Know-Nothing" party.
In 1856 he was appointed Bussey Profes-
sor of Law in Harvard University, and
occupied the chair for twenty years.
Upon his resignation in 1876 he opened
a law office in Cambridge, and once more
participated in public and political issues.
His name was widely mentioned for
Congress, but. refusing this, he was later
elected to the Legislature by an over-
whelming vote, and continued a member
of that body until his death. Governor
Washburn was for several years one of
the State Board of Education, and was
especially concerned in normal schools.
He was a prominent founder of the Wor-
cester County Free Institute of Industrial

.314

EMORY WASHBURN

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Science, and a trustee of Leicester
Academy and Williams College. For
over fifty years he was a member of the
American Antiquarian Society, and as its
secretary for twenty-six years contributed
to its learned reports. He was also a
member of the Massachusetts Historical
Society from 1854, and its vice-president
(1874-78); for many years a director of
the American Social Science Association,
and a fellow of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences. As a member of the
International Code Commission, he pre-
pared several important papers; as presi-
dent of the trustees of the donations for
education in Liberia, he conducted during
many years lengthy correspondence and
many perplexing negotiations in its be-
half; and as president of the State Board
of Trustees of the School for Idiotic and
Feeble-Minded Children, he performed
memorable services. Governor Washburn
was noted for his scholarship and
oratorical powers, frequently delivering
addresses and lectures on topics con-
nected with law, history and literary sub-
jects. Besides numerous review articles
and pamphlets, he published: ''Judicial
History of Massachusetts" (1840) ; "His-
tory of Leicester" (i860); "Treatise on
the American Law of Real Property"
(1862 and 1868) ; ''Treatise on the Amer-
ican Law of Easements and Servitudes"
(1863 and 1867) ; "Testimony of Experts"
(1866), and "Lectures on the Study and
Practice of the Law" (1871). In 1854
Harvard and Williams colleges conferred
upon him the degree of LL. D.

Of his character as a lawyer, his
intimate friend and legal associate, Hon.
George F. Hoar, said :

On the whole, the most successful of the
Worcester Bar in my time in the practice of his
profession, was Emory Washburn. He was a
man of less intellectual power undoubtedly than
either of his great contemporaries and antago-
nists, Allen, Merrick, or Thomas. Yet he prob-

ably won more cases year in and year out than
either of them. He was a man of immense
industry * * * indefatigable in his service of
his clients, often kept at work until one or two
o'clock in the morning. His mind was like a
steel spring, pressing in every part of the other
side's case. No strength of evidence to the
contrary, no current of decisions settling the
law, would prevent Washburn from believing
that his man was the victim of prejudice or per-
secution or injustice. But his sincerity, his
courtesy of manner and his kindness of heart,
made him very influential with juries, and it was
rare that a jury sat in Worcester county that
held not half a dozen of Washburn's clients
among their number. I was once in a very com-
plicated real estate case as Washburn's asso-
ciate; Charles Allen and Mr. Bacon were on the
other side. Mr. Bacon and I who were juniors,
chatted about the case just before the trial. Mr.
Bacon said, "Why, Hoar, Emory Washburn
doesn't understand that case the least in the
world." I said, "No, Mr. Bacon, he doesn't
understand the case the least in the world, but
you may depend upon it, he will make the jury
misunderstand it just as he does," and he did.

* * * He was public-spirited, wise, kind-
hearted, always ready to give his service without
hope of reward or return, to any good cause.

* * * He left no duty undone. Edward
Everett Hale used to say, "If you want any-
thing done, go to the busiest man in Worcester
to do it, Emory Washburn." * * * He was
a thorough gentleman, courteous, well bred, and
with an entirely sufficient sense of his own dig-
nity. But he had little respect for any false
notions of gentility, and had a habit of going
straight at any difficulty himself.

Rev. A. P. Peabody said of him at the
time of his death in 187^:

There was in him a simplicity, a transparency
of character, which won the universal respect of
those who differed from him the most widely in
opinion and policy. * * * He was thoroughly
independent. * * * He was remarkable for
his will and power to endure continuous labor.
While at the Bar, his industry was almost
beyond belief. His office was open to clients
from the early morning to a late evening hour.

* * * After his removal to Cambridge, he
allowed himself, as advancing age demanded, a
larger amount of repose and leisure; yet his
working hours still exceeded those of almost

315

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

any other man. In private life none that en-
joyed his intimacy can need our testimony to
his uniform courtesy, kindness, sympathy and
thoughtful, generous care for whatever could
conduce to their happiness and well being.

Governor Washburn was married, No-
vember 2, 1830, to Marianne Cornelia
Giles, who survived him with three chil-
dren. He died in Cainbridge, Massachu-
setts, March 18, 1877, from pneumonia
contracted while on duty in the State
Legislature.

CARTER, Robert,

Journalist, Antlior.

Robert Carter was born in Albany.
New York, February 5, 1819, of Irish
parentage, and was educated at the Jesuit
College of Chambly in Canada. In his
sixteenth year his guardian, who was
librarian of the New York State Library,
made him his assistant. In 1841 he re-
moved to Boston to undertake some
literary work in the interest of the
Swedenborgians, whose faith he had
adopted, and two years later he joined
James Russell Lowell in editing the
"Pioneer," which was short-lived. Mr.
Carter then found employment with book
publishers as editor and literary adviser.
He also held small government positions,
and in 1847 became secretary to William
H. Prescott, the historian, with whom he
worked for more than a year, in the mean-
time gathering material for his sketch on
the character and literary habits of Pres-
cott. In 1848 he became active in the
Free Soil party, and in 1850 wrote for the
"Boston Atlas" a series of articles in reply
to Professor Francis Bowen, who
attacked the Hungarian revolutionists in
the "North American Review." He then
became an editorial writer on the stafif of
the "Boston Daily Commonwealth," and
later sole editor. In 1854, as secretary of
the Massachusetts State Committee of

the Free Soil party, he personally called
the Worcester convention of July 20,
which founded the Republican party, by
adopting that name chosen by him, and
approving a platform which he had pre-
pared. In 1855 he became an editor of
the "Telegraph," and in 1856 was made
editor of the "Daily Atlas." In 1857 the
"Telegraph" and "Atlas" were united
with the "Traveller." After the failure
of the "Traveller," he removed to Wash-
ington, where he was special correspond-
ent to the "New York Tribune" until
1859. He then became connected with
Charles A. Dana and George Ripley in
editing the "New American Cyclopaedia."
From 1864 to 1869 he was editor of the
Rochester (New York) "Democrat," and
in the latter year became editor of
"Appleton's Journal." In 1873 he re-
signed this position to become an associ-
ate editor of "The American Cyclo-
paedia." His published writings include
"The Hungarian Controversy" (1852),
and "A Summer Cruise on the Atlantic
Coast of New England" (1858; new
edition, 1888). He died in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, February 15. 1879.

BOWLES, Samuel,

Distinguislied Jonrnalist.

Samuel Bowles, second of the name,
was born at Springfield, Massachusetts,
February 9, 1826. His education was
limited to the instructions of an excellent
private school which flourished in Spring-
field, and the knowledge unconsciously
absorbed in the atmosphere of his father's
printing office brought evidence at an
early age of his aptitude for journalism.

At the age of eighteen years he per-
suaded his somewhat reluctant father to
allow him to start the "Daily Repub-
lican." the first number appearing March
29, 1844. The experiment of publishing
a daily newspaper in Springfield at that

316

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHV

early day in newspaperdom was a haz-
ardous one, and in no other town in Mas-
sachusetts, outside of Boston, had the
venture been made. The result, however,
justified young Bowie's sanguine faith.
Before the close of the second year, the
journal was on a paying basis. Begun
as an evening paper, it was changed to
a morning issue December 4, 1846. Suc-
cessive enlargements at intervals of a few
years testify to the growing fame and
prosperity of the paper. The upbuilding of
the "Daily Republican" became its found-
er's chief aim in life. He plunged into work
with all the ardor of youth, the spur of
natural talent, and the zeal of intense devo-
tion to the new profession. At the close of
the presidential campaign of 1856, the
"Republican" had fairly achieved the
position which the New York "Tribune"
soon after accorded it, of "the best and
ablest country journal ever published on
this continent. It had won its place by
the hardest work, by its editor's natural
genius for journalism and by the oppor-
tunity of a great political epoch." Of strong
Whig proclivities, its young editor's re-
ceptive mind readily opened to the in-
spiration which created the Republican
party. Indeed, he may be said to have
presided at the inception of this great
party in Massachusetts. This was in 1855,
when Mr. Bowles, by virtue of his name
heading the list of those calling a confer-
ence at Boston to break down "Know-
Nothing" supremacy in Massachusetts,
became the presiding ofificer of the con-
vention which inaugurated the Republi-
can party in the State. It was about the
only time in his life that he ever entered
politics, outside the columns of his news-
paper. The "Republican" was the first
paper in the country to advocate the
ballot for every man. irrespective of race
or color, and was among the first to
champion woman suffrage. Mr. Bowles
found little occasion for variance with

the Republican party until the era of
southern reconstruction, when the need
for independence of party dictation grew
steadily until the presidential contest of
1872. The "Republican" then ceased to
be merely partisan, and began its career
as an independent journal by pro-
nouncing for Mr. Greeley for the presi-
dency. In 1876, recognizing in President
Hayes's fair professions of a liberal policy
toward the South, and of a reformed
civil service, the very principles for
which it had so long and earnestly
striven, the paper again became a hearty
supporter of the Republican nominee.
The "Republican," under Mr. Bowles's
direction early subscribed to the doctrine
of a gradual and judicious introduction
of free trade into the country as early as
the conditions seemed to warrant such a
policy, and was characterized by broad
and ripe views on questions of finance
and political economy. Mr. Bowles was,
par excellence, the journalist. He pos-
sessed the news instinct in the highest
degree, and the ability of newspaper
organization. He also had the special
gift and inspiration of the educator, which
found ample opportunity for exercise
upon the scores of young men who began
their careers as journalists under his
training. The office, indeed, acquired the
reputation of being a practical school of
journalism, and nowhere else could the
would-be editor so quickly and thorough-
ly acquire a varied knowledge of the
profession. The paper was also fortunate
in attracting to its columns the budding
efforts of literary talent, and introduced
to the world not a few writers who be-
came widely famed. The most conspicu-
ous of its literary proteges, perhaps was
Dr. J. G. Holland, one of the founders of
"Scribner's Magazine," who for sixteen
years was associated with Mr. Bowles in
editing the "Republican." An episode
which did much to bring the paper and

317

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

its editor into national prominence was
the unwarranted and vindictive arrest
of Mr. Bowles at New York in 1868, and
his confinement in Ludlow street jail, at
the instigation of James Fisk, who was
then flourishing amidst his corruptions.
This was in consequence of the aggra-
vating truthfulness of a sketch of Fisk's
early career which had appeared m the
"Republican." But "Prince Erie's" re-
venge served only to more quickly
awaken the moral sense of the commu-
nity to the reprehensibleness of his char-
acter and deeds.

Although Mr. Bowles never had the
opportunity or inclination to write books,
three or four very interesting and salable
ones were made up at intervals, mainly
from his letters of American travel to the
"Republican." The first of these, "Across
the Continent," was the fruit of a journey
to California by stage in 1865 with
Schuyler Colfax, Lieutenant Governor
Bross, of Illinois, and others. Another
book, entitled "The Switzerland of Amer-
ica," vividly and picturesquely describes
a vacation tour among the mountains and
parks of Colorado during the summer of
1868. Still another book, "Our New
West," was published by a Hartford sub-
scription firm in 1869, while latest of all
came the brochure, entitled "The Pacific
Railroad-Open," composed of a series of
articles contributed to the "Atlantic
Monthly," celebrating the completion of
the great transcontinental railway. The
remote portions of our national domains,
so faithfully portrayed in these books,
were then little written of or known in
the east, and Mr. Bowles' efforts to en-
lighten the public concerning them
proved valuable pioneer work. Mr.
Bowles visited Europe four times — first
in 1862, and afterward in 1870, 1871 and
1874. All his travels, whether on this
continent or abroad, were pursued with

the keenest relish, and made largely to
subserve an educational purpose. Phey
led, besides, to acquaintances and friend-
ships with many of the most distinguished
men of all pursuits in this country, and
with not a few in England. Mr. Bowles
never held public office, believing it in-
consistent with the vocation of a jour-
nalist. He freely lent his influence and
personal efifort, however, in behalf of
worthy schemes for the administration of
local charity, and municipal well-being
generally, and was, for several years of
his later life, a trustee of Amherst Col-
lege.

At twenty-two years of age Mr.
Bowles married Mary S. D. Schermer-
horn, of Geneva, New York, and several
children survived him, including his
eldest son, Samuel, who succeeded at his
father's death to the management of the
"Republican." An adequate biography
of Mr. Bowles may be found in "The
Life and Times of Samuel Bowles," in
two volumes, written by George S. Mer-
riam, and published in 1885 by the "Cen-
tury" Company, of New York. Mr.
Bowles's death, at the comparatively early
age of fifty-two years, was occasioned by
several recurring strokes of paralysis.
The remoter cause was the mental wear
and nervous exhaustion proceeding from
more than thirty years of an over-intense,
overworked life. He died at Springfield,
Massachusetts, January 16, 1878.

OTIS, Harrison Gray,

Law^yer, Public Official.

Harrison Gray Otis was born at Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, October 8, 1765, son
of Samuel A. Otis, a native of Barnstable,
and Elizabeth (Gray) Otis, the only
daughter of Harrison Gray. His father
was a merchant in Boston, and was active
in the cause of liberty, but was too youth-

318

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ful to become eminent in the Revolution,
like his brother, James Otis, the great
advocate.

Harrison Gray Otis received his early
education in the Latin School of Boston,
afterward entered Harvard, and was
graduated in 1783, receiving the highest
honors of the class. He then studied law
under the guidance of Judge John Lowell.
He was admitted to the bar in 1786, and,
as Judge Lowell's partner had just
engaged in business for himself, young
Otis was invited to take his place and
business in the lower courts. At that
time he owned no books, nor had he
means for obtaining any, but he borrowed
£116 of a Mr. Hayes, which was immedi-
ately expended in purchasing a law
library, and at the close of his first year's
practice at the bar the loan was refunded
out of his professional income. About
this period Mr. Otis partially turned his
attention to military tactics, and in 1787 he
was elected captain of the Boston I-ight
Infantry, a company of young gentlemen
of good standing in the community,
which in 1789 escorted Washington on his
entrance into Boston. He served as aide-
de-camp on the staff of Major-General
John Brooks in Shays' insurrection.

In 1796 Mr. Gray was elected one of the
seven representatives to the State Legis-
lature, and in the same year he was
elected to Congress as the successor of
Fisher Ames. He became a decided
opponent of the measures of Thomas
Jefiferson, and was one of the embarrassed
number who had to choose between
Jefferson and Aaron Burr. From that
period to the close of Madison's term,
Mr. Otis was constantly in Congress ; but
at the close of Adams's administration he
was made United States District Attor-
ney. He was elected speaker of the
House from 1803 to 1805, and president
of the Senate in 1805, which station he

filled during twelve years with grace,
dignity and urbanity. He was appointed
judge of the Court of Common Pleas in
1814, and continued in that office until
1818, when he was succeeded by William
Prescott. the father of the historian. Mr.
Otis took a prominent part in the Hart-
ford Convention of 1814, and thus laid
himself open to accusations of disloyalty,
which to some extent diminished his
popularity. Nevertheless, in 1817, he was
elected to the United States Senate.
Here Mr. Otis shone with peculiar lustre.
His speech in reply to Mr. Pinckney, on
the Missouri question, was a noble burst
of eloquence. Mr. Otis resigned his seat
in 1823, to become a candidate for mayor
of his native city. He was defeated, but
six years later was elected to that office,
and in his inaugural address took occasion
to repel a charge of disloyalty to the
Union, made by his opponents.

He married, in 1790, Sarah Foster,
daughter of William Foster. Mr. Otis
died in Boston, Massachusetts, October
28, 1838.

LAWRENCE, William,

Early Manufacturer.

William Lawrence was born in Groton,
Massachusetts, September 7, 1783, the
third son of Samuel and Susan (Parker)
Lawrence. His father was of the fifth
generation in descent from John Law-
rence, who was of Great St. Albans,
Hertfordshire, England, and came to
America in 1635, settling at Watertown,
Massachusetts, where he resided many
years, brought up a large family, and be-
came the common ancestor of the New
England Lawrences. Groton, whither he
removed in 1660. had recently been
erected into a township, and probably
derived its name from the Winthrops,
who came from Groton, Suffolk county.

319

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

England. John Lawrence soon became
one of the most honored citizens of the
township, and his mantle has fallen upon
liis descendants, the name being ever
after identified with the history and
character of the town.

William Lawrence intended to follow
his occupation of farming, but overwork
upon the farm impaired his naturally
strong constitution. In 1809 he went to
Boston and engaged as clerk in his
brother Amos's store, and the following
year began business for himself in a small
store, with practically no capital. In
1822 he formed a partnership with his
brother Samuel under the firm name of
W. & S. Lawrence, which was the founda-
tion of one of the strongest commercial
houses of the times. They were at first
principally engaged in the importing
business, but in 1825 became interested
in domestic manufactures, and it was
through their instrumentality that the
first incorporated company for the manu-
facture of woolen goods was established
at Lowell, known as the Middlesex Com-
pany. In 1826, William W. Stone was
taken into partnership, and the firm there-
after conducted the business under the
firm name of W. & S. Lawrence & Stone.
In 1842, William Lawrence retired from
business with a large fortune, and on the
paternal acres at Groton indulged his
taste for agriculture. He was a promi-
nent contributor to the religious and
public charities of Boston, and endowed
the Lawrence Academy at Groton with
a cash fund of $40,000, besides having
given other liberal donations to the in-
stitutions.

Mr. Lawrence was married, in 1813, to
Susan, daughter of William Boardman,
of Boston, who with four children, one
son and three daughters, survived her
husband. He died at Boston, October 14,
1848.

CUTTER, Ammi Ruhamah,

Army Surgeon in Revolution.

Elizabeth Cutter, a widow, whose hus-
band is supposed to have been Samuel
Cutter, came to New England in 1640,
and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
January 10, 1664. In her will she gave
her age as eighty-seven years, but as she
lived about two years longer, she was
at death aged eighty-nine. She dwelt
with her daughter in Cambridge about
twenty years. Three of her children
emigrated to this country : William, who
after living in America about seventeen
years, returned to his former home in
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in England ; Rich-
ard, the founder of the Cutter family in
America ; and Barbara, her daughter, who
came to this country unmarried, and later
married Mr. Elijah Corlet, the school-
master of Cambridge. In a relation Eliz-
abeth made before the church she is called
"Old Goodwife Cutter," and she makes a
statement to the effect that she was born
in some small place, without a church,
near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She "knew
not" her father, who may have died in
her infancy, but her mother sent her,
when she was old enough, to Newcastle,
where she was placed in a "godly family,"
where she remained about seven years,
when she entered another, where the re-
ligious privileges were less. Her husband
died, and she was sent to Cambridge,
New England, and came thither in a time
of sickness and through many sad
troubles by sea. What her maiden name
was is not known to the present writer.
From her own statement the inference
is drawn that her mother at least was in
humble circumstances.

Richard Cutter, son of Elizabeth Cut-
ter, died in Cambridge, at the age of about
seventy-two, June 16, 1693. His brother
William had died in England before this

320

ENXYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

time. Richard was under age, and prob-
ably unmarried when he came to Amer-
ica. He was one of the first to build a
house outside of the settlement, in that
part of Cambridge called Menotomy, and
his house for defense against the Indians
was furnished with flankers. In Decem-
ber, 1675, he sent four young men of his
family — his two sons Ephraim and Ger-
shom, and his stepsons Isaac and Jacob
Amsden — to the campaign in Rhode
Island which culminated in the Narra-
gansett fight, in which a great part of the
New England military were engaged.
Richard Cutter was twice married — (first)
about 1644, to Elizabeth Williams,
daughter of Robert Williams, of Roxbury,
and his wife, Elizabeth (Stalham) Wil-
liams; (second) February 14, 1662-63, to
Frances (Perriman) Amsden, parentage
unknown, widow of Isaac Amsden ; she
survived Richard Cutter's decease, and
died before July 10, 1728.

William Cutter, son of Richard Cutter,
the immigrant, was a thriving farmer,
and died in Cambridge, April i, 1723, in
the seventy-fourth year of his age. By
his wife Rebecca he was the father of ten
children. She was a daughter of John
Rolfe and his wife, Mary Scullard.

Rev. Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, son of
William and Rebecca (Rolfe) Cutter,
was baptized at Cambridge, Massachu-
setts, May 6, 1705, and was a student at
Harvard College when his father died.
The latter's will bequeathed to him the
houseplot in Cambridge, and provided
suitable maintenance for his education in
the "schools of learning" until he received
his "second degree in the Colledge." He
gave him also a young horse, "fit for
riding," when he commenced "Master."
Graduating from college in 1725, he pur-
sued for a short time the vocation of land
surveyor. November 26, 1727, he was
admitted to full membership in Cam-
MASS— Vol 1—21 32

bridge Church, being styled in the records
as "Sir Cutter," a title applied to all
graduates during the interval between
taking their first and second, or Master's
degree. In 1727 the trustees and pro-
prietors of North Yarmouth, Maine, met
to consider the erection of a "convenient
house for the public worship of God,"
and the provision of "a good orthodox
minister." Ammi R. Cutter, one of the
candidates, preached his first sermon
Sunday, November 10, 1729, and became
the settled minister of the town, being
chosen at a meeting of the inhabitants
of North Yarmouth, April 24, 1730, and
remained until August, 1735, when owing
to various difficulties about the tardy set-
tlement of his salary, and other differ-
ences, he was dismissed. Though re-
moved from the pastorate Mr. Cutter
appears to have continued in the church
relation. As was not unusual with his
contemporaries, he "united the clerical
with the medical profession" and re-
mained in the town about seven years,
practicing as a physician. During his
ministry sixty-three members were admit-
ted to the church, thirty-three by public
profession. While a resident of North
Yarmouth, he took a prominent part in
all public transactions, serving in 1741 as
the town's agent in the general court of
Massachusetts. In 1742 he was appointed
superintendent of a trading house for the
Indians, a position which required a man
of "distinguished reputation and in-
fluence." He was a soldier of the French
and Indian War, being a captain in Sir
William Pepperell's expedition for the
reduction of Louisburg. The winter fol-
lowing the capitulation of Louisburg,
Captain Cutter was detailed to remain as
surgeon and chief commandant of the
fortress. He died at Louisburg, March,
1746, probably a victim to the general
contagion. He married, about 1734,

EN'CYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Dorothy Bradbury, who survived her
husband more than thirty years, dying
June 17, 1776, aged sixty-eight years.

Dr. Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, eldest
child of Rev. Ammi Ruhamah and Doro-
thy (Bradbury) Cutter, was born March
15, 1735, at North Yarmouth. He was
sent in 1747 to be educated under the
care of a clergyman at Cambridge, entered
Harvard College after a year's prepara-
tory discipline in Cambridge, and gradu-
ated with honor in 1752. Among his fel-
low-students were some young men from
Portsmouth, one of whom was John
Wentworth, afterward Governor of the
province of New Hampshire. He be-
came a close friend of these, and was pre-
vailed upon to select that town as the
place to pursue his professional studies.
He studied medicine under the tuition of
Dr. Clement Jackson, of Portsmouth, and
being admitted to practice, was "ap-
pointed surgeon of a body of rangers
which formed a part of the army on the
frontiers in the war with the Indians in
1755." During this service he contracted
smallpox from his patients, but recovered
and returned safely to Portsmouth, where
he soon built up an extensive practice.
In the beginning of the year 1777 he was
called upon to give his time and services
to his country, and though he had a fam-
ily of ten young children, and an extensive
and lucrative practice, he did not hesitate,
but at once volunteered his services. He
was stationed at Fishkill, on the North
river, as physician general of the Revo-
lutionary army. A letter from General
\\'hii)ple, one of the signers of the Decla-
lation of Independence, shows the high
estimation in which Dr. Cutter was held.
He remained at Fishkill the greater part
of 1777 and did not return to Portsmouth
until the following year, when the circum-
stances of his family compelled him to re-
sign his office, and he returned once more
to the business of his profession and the

task of educating his children. He was
a thoroughly domestic man, and sought
no higher enjoyment than he could find
at his own fireside. He had no taste for
political life and probably held no other
office than a seat in the convention which
framed the constitution of the State of
New Hampshire. In 1794 he admitted his
third son William into partnership in his
practice, and gradually withdrew from the
duties of his profession as the infirmities
of age came upon him. He remained in
active practice fifty years, and possessed
the affection and entire confidence of his
patients. He was one of the original
members and for a long time president of
the New Hampshire Medical Society, and
was for many years at the head of the
profession in that state. He received the
degree of M. D. from Harvard College,
and was chosen an honorary member of
the Massachusetts Medical and Humane
Societies. His leading characteristics
were energy, intelligence and benevo-
lence, and a will whose energy seldom
failed to accomplish its determinations.
He died December 8, 1820, aged eighty-
five years at his home. Dr. Cutter mar-
ried, November 2. 1758, Hannah Tread-
well, born August 24, 1734, in Ports-
mouth, died January 20, 1832, daughter
of Charles and Mary (Kelly) Treadwell.

TYNG, Dudley Atkins,

La-wyer, Man of Strong CLaracter.

Dudley Atkins Tyng, son of Dudley
and Sarah (Kent) Atkins, was born at
Newburyport, Massachusetts, September
3. 1760, and died at Boston, August i,
1829.

Reared with fondness and great care
l)y his mother, a woman of lovely char-
acter and intellectual ability, he grew up
in an atmosphere of refinement, and his
two elder sisters, both women of superior
taste and judgment, fostered his correct

322

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

development. His scholastic learning was
acquired under the supervision of the
eccentric but admirable pedagogue, Mas-
ter Moody. He was sent to Harvard, and
by natural inclination was one of the
successful students, graduating there in
1781. He was selected, with John Davis,
to be one of the two assistants to Dr.
Williams, Professor of Astronomy at
Harvard, in an expedition to Penobscot
Bay, with the consent of the British
commander there, to observe the total
eclipse of the sun, in 1780. Soon after
his graduation, he was made a Master
of Arts, and received the same honor
from Dartmouth in 1794. Judge John
Lowell wrote this estimate of him :

The college was shaken to its centre by the
Revolutionary War. Its students were for a
time dispersed, its funds dilapidated and sunk by
depreciated paper. The old race of ripe scholars
had disappeared and nothing but the shadow of
its past glories remained. The successive ad-
ministrations of Locke and Langdon had com-
pleted the ruin which civil commotions had
begun. That Mr. Tyng should have made him-
self a sound scholar under such disadvantages is
the best proof of the vigor of his mind and the
intensity of his application. That he was such
a scholar to all the useful purposes of life we all
know. He had a ripe and chaste taste in litera-
ture. He was well conversant with English his-
tory and belles-lettres. His conversation and
writings afford abundant proof of it.

Having profited by his studies he pro-
ceeded at once to Virginia, where he be-
came a tutor in the family of Mrs. Selden,
sister of Judge Mercer, a member of the
highest condition in the Old Dominion. He
entered the judge's office as a law student,
and there laid the foundation for his legal
knowledge. He was admitted to the bar
in Virginia, but came north in 1784, and
on December i, 1785, by the effective
exertions of his early friend and instruc-
tor, Chief Justice Parsons, was admitted,
in 1 791 to the Essex bar, Massachusetts,

and was soon appointed justice of the
peace for the county of Essex.

It w^as at this period of his life that a
change transpired, which has borne its
result to this day, although it did not
materially benefit him, as was then to be
supposed. The message was conveyed to
him that a relative contemplated making
him her heir. Sarah, daughter of Eleazur
Tyng, had married John Winslow, of
Boston ; but, widowed, childless and
aging, while holding dear her own family
name which was disappearing from New
England, she desired to transmit it to the
young, ambitious and worthy Dudley At-
kins, for he was of equal blood descent
as herself from the Hon. Edward Tyng.
She was glad to give him a large portion
of the Tyng estate if he complied. He
agreed to the proposition, and by the act
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
on January 16, 1790, it was legally and
officially consummated that henceforth he
should be rightfully known as Dudley
Atkins Tyng. His benefactor, Mrs.
Winslow, died in 1791. It is said that the
land amounted to one thousand acres, but
was of inferior quality, and speedily con-
sumed all available capital in convincing
him of the futility of his further tenure
of it. Judge Lowell describes the unfor-
tunate situation thus: He resided on the
place from 1791 to 1795, and took great
interest in the affairs of Tyngsborough,
and he promoted the building of the first
canal in Massachusetts, viz., around Pa-
tucket Falls in the Merrimac, of great
importance then to his county, and to-
day the site of the most wonderful
manufacturing establishments in this
country.

In 1795 he accepted President Wash-
ington's proffer of the post of Collector
of the Port of Newburyport, then of im-
portance in a commercial way, and it is
said "no man in the United States, from

323

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Maine to Georgia, ever performed the
duties of collector with greater fidelity,
exactitude and ability, than he performed
them. He left that office with a reputa-
tion as spotless as that with which,
thirty-four years afterward he left the
world."

He was appointed Reporter of the Su-
preme Court, in 1803, and he removed to
Boston. This was the chief work of his
life, and critics have since said that the
preparation of modern reports were not
comparable with the thoroughness of his
execution of his seventeen volumes of
"Cases Argued and Determined in the
Supreme Judicial Court of the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts, September,
1804, to March, 1822." It will ever remain
a monument to him and a matter of pride
to his descendants. He was a valued
member of the Massachusetts Historical
Society, from April 30, 1793, until he died.
He took a lively interest in Harvard, and
that institution conferred on him the de-
gree of LL. D. in 1823, and he was an
overseer, 1815 to 1821. He was a trustee
and alumnus of Dummer Academy.

Professor Andrews Norton, of Harvard,
wrote his epitaph in Latin, which reads
thus when translated:

Dudley Atkins Tyng, well skilled in the law,
to whom was assigned by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts the office of recording in regis-
ters the acts and decrees of the judges; remark-
able for dignity and steadfastness, of singular
beneficence, of eminent probity, of pure faith in
Christ the Master, he worshipped God relig-
iously. With his life well perfected he died in
the year of our Lord, 1829, August ist, the year
of his nativity 69.

Dudley Atkins Tyng married (first)
October 18, 1792, Sarah Higginson, born
in 1766, daughter of Stephen Higginson,
an eminent merchant of Boston, and a
member of the Continental Congress.
She died at their residence on Federal
street, in Boston, in 1808, and was long

remembered as "a very bright, lovely
woman ; very cheerful and happy. She
maintained this character in the midst of
trials ; she became the mother of ten chil-
dren in fifteen years, to all of whom she
devoted herself, always in the nursery and
always happy." Her remains were de-
posited in the burial-ground on Boston
Common. Dudley Atkins Tyng married
(second) December 18, 1809, Elizabeth
Higginson, the sister of his first wife,
who brought up his children. She
survived him, and married (second) in
January, 1841, Rev. James Morss, D. D.,
of Newburyport, and died childless.

PARKER, Samuel,

Pioneer Missionary.

The Rev. Samuel Parker was a native
of Massachusetts, born at Ashfield, April
^3' I779» son of Elisha and Thankful
(Marchant) Parker, and descended from
Robert Parker, of Barnstable. His father
was of Yarmouth, Cape Cod, and at the
beginning of the Revolutionary War was
a member of the coast guard, later re-
moving to the place where his son was
born, and taking part in all the battles
from Bennington to Saratoga.

Samuel Parker derived from his
mother a taste for knowledge, and after
preparation under private tutors entered
the sophomore class of Williams College,
from which he was graduated in the class
of 1806. His education was acquired
under great difficulties. He journeyed on
foot from his home to the college when
he entered it, and borrowed money to
pay his expenses while a student — a debt
which he repaid, with ten per cent, in-
terest, out of his earnings as a school
teacher, one year of such service being
as principal of the academy at Brattle-
boro, Vermont. He studied theology
under the Rev. Dr. Theophilus Packard,
of Shelburne, was licensed as an itinerant

324

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

preacher by the Massachusetts Society of
Domestic Missions, and in the course of
his ministerial work traveled on horse-
back, winter and summer in the then
wild western regions of New York and
Pennsylvania. He then entered the An-
dover Theological Seminary, from which
he graduated with the first class, then
resuming his missionary labors in west-
ern New York. In 1812 he became pastor
of a Congregational church in Danby,
Tompkins county, New York, beginning
his ministrations in a barn ; he continued
here until 1826, leaving the congregation
with a large membership and a suitable
church edifice. From Danby he went to
Ithaca, New York, from which he traveled
throughout New England soliciting funds
for the Auburn Theological Seminary, a
task in which he was so successful that
he was re-engaged for a second term.
He next settled in Apulia, New York,
where he built a church and gathered a
congregation, in spite of great difficulty
and personal danger owing to the hostility
of many of the people against religious
institutions. He achieved a success, and
later accepted a call from a church in
Middlefield, Massachusetts, from whence
he soon removed again to Ithaca, on ac-
count of illness in his family, and where
he opened an academy for young women.
About this time (1833) his life found
new direction. A curious narrative was
published under the title of "Wise Men
From the West," being the story of four
Indians from Oregon who had come to
St. Louis, Missouri, to "learn about the
Bible and the White Man's God." This
volume came under the eye of Mr. Parker,
and by it he was led to oiTer his services
to a missionary society to travel to the
far west and establish a mission among
the Indians, but the plan was deemed so
visionary that the board would not accept
the proffer. Returning to Ithaca in the
following January, he proposed that his

church should send him out as a mis-
sionary, and he asked for volunteers to
accompany him, from among the young
men of the congregation. At length, in
May, 1834, with a few young men, he
started for St. Louis, where his real jour-
ney was to begin, but reached there too
late to join the train of the American
Fur Company, and he returned home. In
March, 1835, ^^ again went to St. Louis,
where he joined Dr. Whitman, and, with
the fur traders' caravan, after a journey
of one hundred and twenty-six days,
reached the fur traders' camp on Green
river, now in southwestern Wyoming.
From there he went alone through what
is now Idaho and Washington, to the
Nez Perce country. Here the Indians
built for him a great tent, out of fur
skins, and in which, through an inter-
preter, he preached to from four to five
hundred redskins daily and nightly. After
two years' labor, he returned home, voy-
aging by way of the Sandwich Islands
and Cape Horn. He now published a
volume containing his experiences, and
which went through five editions and was
republished in England, recognized as the
work of an earnest faithful missionary —
the first under authority of the American
Missionary Board, and preaching through
an interpreter. This volume gave to the
world the first authentic information con-
cerning the far west, its peoples, their
productions, the climate, and also con-
taining a vocabulary of several Indian
dialects. This work, with Mr. Parker's
subsequent lectures throughout the east,
lesulted in the claiming and recovery for
the Hudson Bay Company of the great
northwest to the domain of the United
States. In his later years Mr. Parker
performed much volunteer mission work,
and preached with his old-time vigor until
he was well past his seventieth year, and
died in Ithaca, New York. March 21,
1866.

325

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

In early life he married a Miss Sears.
of Ashfield, Massachusetts. After her
death, he married Jerusha Lord, a native
of Salisbury, Connecticut, and a niece of
Noah Webster.

PARKER, Joel,

Distinguished Jurist and Instructor.

Joel Parker was born in Jaffrey, New
Hampshire, January 25, 1795; son of
Abel and Edith (Jewett) Parker; grand-
son of Samuel and Mary Robbins (Proc-
tor) Parker, and sixth in descent from
Samuel Parker, who emigrated from Eng-
land prior to 1643, first settled in Woburn,
Massachusetts, in 1644, and was one of
the first settlers at Chelmsford. Abel
Parker was a native of Westford, and
served in the Revolutionary War as sec-
ond lieutenant of the Middlesex and Wor-
cester brigade under Generals Gates and
Heath.

Joel Parker attended Groton Academy,
and later entered Dartmouth College,
from which he was graduated A. B.,
181 1, A. M., 1814. He studied law with
his brother Edmund, of Amherst, New
Hampshire, was admitted to the bar in
Cheshire county in 1817. He practiced
at Keene from 1817 to 1821, and at Co-
lumbus. Ohio, after the latter year. He
was a representative in the State Legis-
lature, 1824-26; Associate Justice of the
Superior Court of New Hampshire, 1833-
38, and Chief Justice, 1838-48. While
Associate Justice he originated the bill
abolishing the court of common pleas,
and providing that trial terms should be
held by a single judge, empowered to try
all causes except murder and treason,
and giving the court full chancery
powers. He was chairman of the com-
mittee appointed to revise the laws of the
State in 1840; Professor of Medical
Jurisprudence at Dartmouth College.
1847-57, and Professor of Law, 1869-75.

He removed to Cambridge, Massachu-
setts, in 1847, ^^d practiced law in Bos-
ton with his brother-in-law, Horatio G.
Parker. He was Royall Professor at
Dane Law School, Harvard University,
from 1847 to 1875. He was a represen-
tative from Cambridge in the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1853, and a member
of the commission for the revision of
Massachusetts statutes in 1855. In his
will he made provisions for founding the
professorship of law at Dartmouth Col-
lege, of which he was a trustee, 1843-60.
He was president of the New Hampshire
Medical Society and of the Northern
Society of Arts and Sciences. The honor-
ary degree of LL. D. was conferred upon
him by Dartmouth College in 1837 and
by Harvard University in 1848. He was
the author of: "Progress" (1840);
"Daniel Webster as a Jurist" (1853) ; "A
Charge to the Grand Jury on the Uncer-
tainty of Law" (1854) ; "The Non-Exten-
sion of Slavery" (1856) ; "Personal
Liberty, Laws and Slavery in the Terri-
tories" (1861) ; "The Right of Secession"
(1861); "Constitutional Law" (1862);
"Habeas Corpus and Martial Law"
(1862) ; "The War Powers of Congress
and the President" (1863) ; "Revolution
and Construction" (1866) ; "The Three
Powers of Government" (1869), and
"Conflict of Decisions" (1875).

He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
August 17, 1875. He was married, Janu-
ary 20, 1848, to Mary Morse, daughter of
Elijah Parker, of Keene, New Hampshire.

PHINNEY, Sylvanus B.,

Old-time Journalist, Enterprising Citizen.

Major Sylvanus Bourne Phinney, son
of Timothy Phinney, was born in Barn-
stable, Massachusetts, October 27, 1808,
in the building later occupied by the
Sturgis library. He died at the age of
ninety-two. Before the close of the War

326

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of 1812 he was a passenger with his father
&n board of the packet-sloop commanded
by Captain Howes, plying between Barn-
stable and Boston in 1814, when the
packet was fired upon by the British
frigate "Nymph" in Massachusetts Bay,
captured, and burned with all the cargo.
He was taken prisoner with the others
and confined for some time.

Major Phinney received his education
in the common schools of his native town,
and at an early age served an apprentice-
ship in the printing office of Hon. Nathan
Hale, publisher of the "Boston Adver-
tiser." Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale,
son of Nathan Hale, wrote an interesting
letter for publication in a brief biography
of Major Phinney, published on the oc-
casion of his eightieth birthday. In this
letter he has the kindest words to say
of his father's apprentice, who had con-
tinued his lifelong friend. "Indeed," he
says, "my first association with a world
larger than the nursery is connected with
'Sylvanus,' as we used to call you in those
days ; and from that hour to this the name
Sylvanus, and strange to say, the name
Sylvester, has always been a pleasant
name. I owe it to you that I have always
tried to make out the popes of the name
of Sylvester a better series of popes than
the general series which surrounded them.
If any of them take any comfort from
my good opinion, they owe it to you * * *
In after days, our home associations with
Barnstable were all connected with your-
self. I dare say that you have forgotten,
but I have not, that you and Mrs. Phinney
mterested yourselves in the ladies' move-
ment for the completion of the Bunker
Hill Monument, which began, I think,
about the }ear 1835. But, indeed, my
dear Major Phinney, you know perfectly
well, though you will be too modest to
say so, that you have interested yourself
in every good thing which has been done
in the Old Colony from the time when

the English took you prisoner down to
the present day."

On completion of his apprenticeship,
Major Phinney took charge of the "Barn-
stable Journal," the first number of
which was published by N. S. Simpkins,
October 10, 1828, and continued in this
position until June, 1830, when he estab-
lished the "Barnstable Patriot." While
foreman of the "Journal" printing office
he printed from stereotype plates two
large editions of the "English Reader."
The first number of the "Patriot" was
dated June 26, 1830. and he continued its
editor and proprietor nearly forty years,
publishing his valedictory January 26,
1869. The history of those forty years
was written in the "'Flarnstable Patriot."
He planned an independent newspaper
devoted to the interests of Cape Cod, and
open for the free discussion of religion,
politics, and other public questions.
"Though obliged to contend against
weighty and angry odds, we made steady
headway from the first, and increasing
confidence in ourself was warranted by
the public good-will which gathered to
our aid, and cheered us on to what years
ago, we counted as absolute success. But
the vicissitudes of such a career! How
great and how varied! How gratifying
and how joyous, how sad — oh, sometimes
how sad — even amidst success, is the
forty years' life of an editor and publisher
in its current passing! How indescrib-
able the retrospect from its close I But
the friendships we have made and enjoyed
through our regular calling, they have
been and remain a host, thank God I The
opponents political, with whom we have
exchanged the common, and sometimes
uncommon severities of our profession,
we believe, with very few, and those in-
significant, exceptions, have left nothing
rankling to disturb their goodwill to-
wards us * * *The second-hand press and
old font of type with which we published

327

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the first "Patriot," loaned us by our old
master, Hon. Nathan Hale of blessed
memory, were brought to us by packet
from Boston ; and our paper to print
upon, the first winter, was transported
therefrom upon a stagecoach top * * *
And may we not claim that in the enlight-
enment of the public sentiment, the dif-
fusion of liberal ideas, the softening of
religious asperities, and the inculcation of
Democratic principles in the county, the
'Patriot' has been preeminently a pioneer
and co-worker? In the cause of our
country, in contest with her foreign foe
or later, in that for her own unity and
integrity, the 'Patriot' was ever true to
its name, and its professions. And to the
Democratic principles of government it
has given constant support with all the
efBciency it could command."

Major Phinney began his military
career early in life, and when he was but
twenty-two years old was commissioned
major of the First Regiment of Massa-
chusetts militia. He took part in the
regimental reviews of 1832 and 1833.
During the Civil War he supported the
government heartily. He was appointed
by Governor John A. Andrew a member
of the Committee of One Hundred, and
presented the Sandwich Guards, Com-
pany D, Third Regiment, Massachusetts
Battalion, with a costly flag upon which
was inscribed : "Our flag floats today not
for party but for country." On visiting
that regiment at Fortress Monroe in
March, 1862, Major Phinney was present
at the memorable battle between the
"Monitor" and the "Merrimac." He cast
his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and
remained a Democrat throughout his long
life. He represented the town of Chatham
in the Constitutional Convention of 1853 ;
was Democratic candidate for Congress.
and councillor of the first district. He
represented the first district in the Demo-
cratic National conventions of 1844-53-

57. He was elected councillor by the
State Senate to fill a vacancy. When he
was candidate for councillor in 1882 he
polled 9,922 votes, the largest Democratic
vote ever before cast in that district. He
was appointed Collector of Customs for
the Barnstable district by President
Polk, and held office through the adminis-
trations of Polk, Pierce, Buchanan and
Johnson, during which time he disbursed
for the government hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars to the fishermen of Cape
Cod under the Cod Fishing Bounty Act
of 1819, and was instrumental in procur-
ing from Congress an appropriation of
$30,000 for building the custom house and
postoffice at Barnstable. He raised by
subscription a sufficient amount of money
for purchasing the grounds and building
the Agricultural Hall, while president of
the Barnstable County Agricultural So-
ciety, in which he was always greatly
interested, and represented the society for
twelve years in the State Board of Agri-
culture. For many years he held the office
of vice-president of the New England So-
ciety. He was a pioneer in cranberry
culture, the leading agricultural product
of the Cape today. And he began the
planting of pine trees to make use of the
sandy and uncultivated lands of that sec-
tion, furnishing an example that has been
followed by many enterprising farmers
and landowners.

He was for seventeen years president
and for twenty-five years a director of the
Hyannis National and Yarmouth banks.
He was secretary for many years of the
Barnstable Savings Institution in the
days of its prosperity, and in 1870 was
elected president of the Hyannis Savings
Bank. He was prominent in the Uni-
tarian church, and for more than a score
of years president of the Cape Cod
Unitarian Conference. He was active in
charity and good works to the extent of
his means. In 1883 he was appointed by

328

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Governor Benjamin F. Butler on the JACKSON, James, M. D.,
State Board of Health, Lunacy and Char-
ity. He was in 1885 elected a trustee of
Humboldt College (Iowa). The esteem
in which he was held by those closely
associated with him in office and business
is shown by the presentation of a valu-
able silver service in 1861 when he re-
tired as collector, and the occasion was
taken by the speakers and afterward by
the press to commend his able, efficient
and satisfactory administration of his
office. He was clerk of the Cape Cod
Central railroad from its organization to
the time of its consolidation with the Old
Colony railroad in 1872, when he presided
at a notable meeting of directors and
leading citizens at Masonic Hall, Hyan-
nis, at which a testimonial was presented
to the retiring superintendent, Ephraim
N. Winslow. Again, upon the retire-
ment of Hon. Nymphas Marston as judge
of probate, Major Phinney presided at a
presentation of a similar testimonial. In
1862 he was chosen at a citizens' meeting
of the town of Provincetown to represent
its interests at a hearing in Washington
on the fishery treaty then under consider-
ation.

Major Sylvanus B. Phinney married
(first) in 1832, Eliza Cordelia Hildreth,
daughter of Colonel Jonathan Hildreth.
of Concord, Massachusetts. She died
July, 1865, and he married (second) in
October, 1866, Lucia Green, of Barn-
stable, youngest daughter of Hon. Isaiah
L. Green, of Barnstable, who repre-
sented the Barnstable district in Congress
and voted for the War of 181 2. Children
of first wife, born at Barnstable : Theo-
dore, married Helen F. Hobbs ; Robert,
married Sarah Clough ; Gorham, mar-
ried Ellen Jane Oaks Pratt, whose father
was the largest iron manufacturer in
Boston ; Cordelia.

Advanced Professional Instructor.

Dr. James Jackson was born at New-
buryport, Massachusetts, October 3, 1777,
son of the Hon. Jonathan and Hannah
(Tracy) Jackson, and grandson of Ed-
ward and Dorothy (Quincy) Jackson and
of Captain Patrick Tracy.

He was graduated at Harvard College,
A. B., 1796. While in his senior year he
attended the lectures given at the medical
school in Cambridge. In 1797 he began
his pupilage with Dr. Holyoke, at
Salem, where he spent two years in prac-
tical study, and after that nine months in
London hospitals. It is worthy of note
that while Jackson's course at St.
Thomas's Hospital as "dresser," and his
study under Cline and Astley Cooper at
Guy's, indicate in him a preference for
surgery, it is with medicine and medical
teaching that his name is linked exclusive-
ly. In fact he himself was to become a
leader in establishing and advancing a
system of medicine new and permanent.

While in London, Jackson studied the
novel question of vaccination at St. Pan-
eras Hospital, where Woodville was lec-
turing upon Jenner's recent discovery.
This fact became known in Boston, and
when Jackson began practice there in
October, 1800, he shared quickly with
Waterhouse the honors of being an
authority on vaccination in this country.
The prestige thus gained was fortunate
for the young physician, and it assured
him a financial success from the start.
He was one of the foremost defenders of
vaccination in the bitter controversies
waged against the practice, and to his
advice and guidance are due the convic-
tion and confidence which finally resulted
in both medical and popular minds. His
early marriage (October 3, 1801) to Eliz-

329

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

abeth Cabot brought him a wide circle of
friends who helped secure his future.

The next year (1802) Jackson's college
friend and companion, John C. Warren,
returned from Europe, settled in Boston
immediately, and entered into the exten-
sive surgical practice already controlled
by his father. Jackson and John C. War-
ren are linked inseparably in much that
is best in the history of medical progress
in Massachusetts for the first fifty years
or more of the nineteenth century. In
1802 Jackson was graduated Bachelor of
Physic from Harvard, and in the same
year he was appointed physician to the
Boston Dispensary. This appointment,
together with the appointment as visit-
ing physician to the almshouse, which he
received in 1809. gave him an advantage
in offering clinical instruction to medical
students, and he improved his opportuni-
ties. In 1809 he was granted the Doctor-
ate of Medicine, and was in 1810 elected
Professor of Clinical Medicine in Har-
vard College. This professorship was
created especially for Jackson. He held
also the position of medical attendant to
the Alms House, the only hospital in
Boston then available for clinical demon-
strations to any number of students. The
necessity for some such privilege led the
government of the college to petition the
overseers of the poor to grant this advan-
tage to their students. This they did
upon certain conditions which were read-
ily assumed by Jackson and John C. War-
ren. Thus it was that the Medical School
was in a position to offer students an
inducement to enter Harvard, which in-
ducement proved a powerful factor in
increasing the number of pupils and at
the same time materially benefiting the
sick poor of the city.

In 1812 Jackson was elected Hersey
Professor of Theory and Practice, as
successor to Waterhouse, who had held
the professorship since the establishment

of the school. Jackson continued to
occupy this chair until 1836, when he
resigned. The following notes explain
in a few words the sense of loss sustained
by his resignation :

The Faculty liax iiig been informed ]>y Dr.
Jackson, Professor of Theory and Practice of
Physic, that it is his intention to resign the
oflice of Professor in Harvard University.

Voted, That the i*"aculty recognize with grati-
tude the labours of Dr. Jackson in removing
the Medical School to Boston, in obtaining a
building for its accommodation, in his lectures
in the Theory and Practice and on Clinical Med-
icine, and in effecting the establishment of the
Massachusetts General Hospital and connect-
ing it with the Medical School, and that they
learn with deep regret that they are to be de-
prived of the future services of one who has
contributed so much to the reputation and use-
fulness of the Medical School of Harvard Uni-
versity.

The resolutions, upon motion of War-
ren, were unanimously adopted.

In the various societies and institu-
tions with which Jackson was associated,
he was always zealous for the advance-
ment of the best interests of the profes-
sion as a whole, and the medical school
in particular. His arguments were con-
vincing, his counsel wise, his course firm
but not dogmatic. It is no disparagement
to others to say that the defeat of the
attempt in 1810 to set up another State
medical society, and another medical
school in opposition to Harvard, was due
in great measure to the course mapped
out by Jackson. The boldness and force-
fulness of the views expressed in his
treatise on the "Brunonian System"
marked him as a critic free from narrow-
ness, and unmindful of the possibility of
personal unpopularity. He was the sort
of leader around whom students and their
elders might gather for guidance and
courage in overcoming false prophets.
Harvard has never wanted for such
leaders, social, political, or medical, and it

330

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

is largely to this fact that much of her
preeminence is due. This is especially
true of her Medical School and Jackson
was one of her earliest prophets.

When the building of the Massachu-
setts General Hospital was projected by
the two Warrens the scheme found in
Jackson a devoted advocate. The first
appeal for contributions was signed by
J. C. Warren and Jackson, and has been
called the cornerstone of that institution.
The great advantage and necessity to
medical education of such a hospital
makes us regret that the bond existing
between this hospital and the young
Medical School eventually was not
strengthened rather than severed. Upon
the completion of the Massachusetts
General Hospital in 1821, Jackson was
given charge of the medical service with
his friend and colleague Warren, in the
surgical service. Here the teacher found
opportunity for his work. "So gentle was
he, so thoughtful, so calm, so absorbed
in the care before him ; not to turn round
and look for a tribute to his sagacity, not
to foster himself in a favorite theory, but
to find out all he could, and to weigh
gravely and cautiously all that he found,
that to follow him in his morning visit
was not only to take a lesson in the heal-
ing art, it was learning how to learn, how
to move, how to look, how to feel, if that
can be learned. To visit with Dr. Jack-
son was medical education." — O. W.
Holmes.

The method pursued by Jackson in
teaching medicine was at variance with
the unorganized system then in vogue in
this country. He published a full and
interesting syllabus of his lectures as
early as 1815, and later (1825), in two
volumes, his lectures and notes which
are themselves a system of teaching clin-
ical medicine. His keen observation and
logical reasoning enabled him to impress
upon student and practitioner exactly the

points necessary to avoid routine methods
in treatment and haphazard customs of
diagnosis and prognosis. He was a
teacher of the practical as well as the
scientific side of medicine; the bedside
was his laboratory ; he taught the culti-
vation of nature's gifts, without substitu-
tion of artificial devices; his patient was
the man not the disease. That he suc-
ceeded in developing a group of able
practitioners and eminent teachers for the
future pages of history will show. Jack-
son cared for little outside the practice
of medicine. His ambition was to be the
highest and best type of doctor. Unaided
and unembellished by the extra-medical
honors so frequently acquired by others
of his calling, he comes down to us almost
without a rival still, the "beloved physi-
cian." Today his "Letters to a Young
Physician Just entering Upon Practice"
are as helpful, as worthy of study, and
as full of practical guidance as they were
when fresh from the pen of their author.
As a teacher he was conspicuously prac-
tical, and the confidence which his
methods inspired in his pupils was ever
after retained, and invariably led them to
turn to him for advice and assistance
when in after years unusual cases con-
fronted them. This unbroken bond of
sympathy and love between teacher and
pupil welded the latter into a bulwark of
strength and usefulness against the
attacks of those enemies and rivals which
beset most medical schools of the time.
He died August 27, 1867. —

WARREN, John Collins, M. D.,

Eminent Practitioner and Instructor.

John Collins Warren was born in Bos-
ton, August I, 1778, eldest son of Dr.
John Warren. He attended the Boston
Latin School. 1786-93, and was graduated
from Harvard College in 1797. After
studying one year with his father, then

331

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at
the Harvard Medical School, he entered
Guy's Hospital, in London, as dresser to
William Cooper, senior surgeon. This
experience gave young Warren abundant
opportunity to develop his taste for sur-
gery, and he declares in one of his letters
to his father, "now I see a good operation
with the pleasure 1 used to feel at the
successful solution of Euclid's problems —
a pleasure greater than almost any I
know. I have acquired that high taste,
that high relish, for these, without which
no man can exert himself for the attain-
ment of any art ; and I am only surprised
that I was so long blind." Cooper was
quite old and made only occasional visits
to the hospital, consequently his dresser
had exceptional opportunities to practice
surgery on his own account. Upon the
retirement of William Cooper, during
Warner's interneship, Astley Paston
Cooper, his nephew, became surgeon and
lecturer to Guy's. The attachment formed
between that rapidly rising surgeon and
young Warren was ever after a source
of mutual pleasure and benefit. After a
year's stay at Guy's Hospital, Warren
spent two years in Edinburgh, Holland,
Belgium and Paris. At Edinburgh he
studied under Gregory, Hope, John and
Charles Bell, and Monro. In Paris he
lived with Dubois, then sole surgeon to
the Clinique de I'Ecole de Medecine, and
also studied with Vouquelin, Corvisart,
Desfontaines, Sabatier, Cuvier, Chaussier
and Deouytren — the last not yet known
to fame. His stay in Paris was some-
thing over a year.

Returning home in December, 1802,
equipped with the advantages thus ac-
quired, Warren entered immediately
upon practice. His father had recently
sufifered an attack of paralysis and felt
the need of an assistant in his practice,
which was then the largest in Boston, if
not in New England. John C. Warren

assumed the responsibility of his father's
entire practice during the following sum-
mer, and in the autumn of that year
(1803) he undertook the dissections for
the lectures at Cambridge. In 1805 he
opened rooms over White's apothecary
store (No. 49 Marlborough street, now
Washington street), Boston, and gave
public demonstrations in anatomy. These
lectures and demonstrations were largely
attended by physicians and medical stu-
dents of Boston, and anticipated the
establishment of the Harvard Medical
School, five years later. Besides these
courses, Warren was able to offer to
medical students the advantages of clin-
ical work at the Alms House, where he
and James Jackson gave their services
for the privilege of exhibiting the cases
to the classes. It was a great advantage
therefore to have these two young active
physicians as professors in the Harvard
Medical School.

John C. Warren was elected Adjunct
Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in
1809. When the school was transferred
to Boston in 1810, it found quarters in the
rooms which Warren had fitted for his
anatomical course. In the many under-
takings for the preservation, growth and
advancement of the school, Warren was
a leading spirit. First, the determined
attempt to set up a rival school was over-
come and defeated by the staunch support
given to Harvard by Warren, Jackson
and others. Next, the obtaining of a
legislative grant to build a new building
in Mason street owes its success fully as
much, if not more, to Warren than any
other single individual. The raising of
more than $150,000 for the erection of
the Massachusetts General Hospital is a
fitting tribute to the confidence and
esteem in which, with the other founders
of that institution, he was held by the
public. His selection as visiting surgeon
upon the opening (1821) of the hospital

332

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

seems to have been a natural conse-
quence. Upon the death of his' father in
1815, John C. Warren was elected to the
Professorship of Anatomy and Surgery,
the vacancy thus created. This position
he held until 1847, when the Hersey Pro-
fessorship of Anatomy was established in
place of the Hersey Professorship of
Anatomy and Surgery, and Warren was
made Emeritus Professor. The Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania offered him the Pro-
fessorship of Anatomy upon the death
of Caspar Wistar in 1818, and the Univer-
sity of New York offered the same chair
at that school in 1838.

The "New England Journal of Medi-
cine and Surgery," which became the
"Boston Medical and Surgical Journal" in
1828, was instituted (1812) as official
organ of the Massachusetts Medical Col-
lege (Harvard), and had for its editors
the professors of the school. Warren
assumed the duties of editor when the
publication became the "Boston Medical
and Surgical Journal," and much of the
success of that valuable paper was due to
him. His work, "Surgical Observations
on Tumors," added prestige both to the
author and to the school for which he
labored.

Upon returning from a journey in Eu-
rope in 1837, Warren relinquished much
of his practice, but devoted himself with
renewed energy to his teaching. His
efforts in procuring the erection of the
North Grove street building (1846), for
the medical school, which had long out-
grown its Mason street quarters, were
punctuated by his presentation in the fol-
lowing year of a valuable collection of
anatomical preparations to the school,
and which proved extremely useful in
teaching anatomy. His name is appro-
priately perpetuated by this gift — The
Warren Museum.

On a memorable morning in October,
1846, Warren was the central figure in

that important event which has no par-
allel in history, the introduction of ether
anaesthesia in surgical operations upon
human beings. The honor of being spon-
sor for the bold experiment has been
unanimously awarded to him. Too far
advanced in years himself to profit much
in surgical work by the new invention,
Warren wielded a powerful and trenchant
pen in its behalf, and by the weight of
his professional and social position, was
the means of fixing early its value, all of
which brought added glory to Harvard.
Warren served the school until 1847, ii^^^
years before his death. May 4, 1856.

WHEATON, Henry,

La-wyer, Diplomatist, Author.

Henry Wheaton was especially distin-
guished in the field of international law,
and his contributions to its literature
found world-wide recognition as of en-
during value, while his diplomatic ser-
vices at various European courts re-
dounded to the honor of himself and of
his country.

He was born at Providence, Rhode
Island, November 2'j, 1785. His ancestor,
a Baptist minister, came from Swansea,
South Wales, and settled first at Salem,
Massachusetts. Henry Wheaton was
graduated from Rhode Island College
(now Brown University) in 1802, was
admitted to the bar in 1805, and afterward
studied for two years in Europe, prin-
cipally at Poictiers, France. Returning
home, he practiced his profession in his
native city for five years, and then set-
tled in New York. His attention had
already been largely given to interna-
tional law, and from 1812 to 1815, the
period of U-'.e war with Great Britain, he
edited the "National Advocate," in which
he stoutly supported President Madison's
administration, and discussed with force
and ability a question of vast importance

333

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

at that time — the rights and duties of
neutral nat'ons in time of war. During
this same time (1814) he was a division
Judge A<iv(jcate of the United States
army, and in 1815 became Justice of the
City Marine Court, continuing in that
office for four years ; in both of these
positions his thorough knowledge of
maritime and international law rendered
his service of eminent value to the gov-
ernment and to American shipping inter-
ests. It was during this period, also, and
out of his relationship to the great ques-
tions then involved, that Mr. Wheaton
laid the foundations of his fame as an
author, in his "Digest of the Law of Mari-
time Captures and Prizes" (1815), based
upon his observations and studies during
the war then just closed ; and in Decem-
ber, 1820, he read before the New York
Historical Society a masterly address on
"The Science of Public or International
Law," which was published and attracted
wide attention. For a period of seven-
teen years (1810-1827) he was Reporter
of the United States Supreme Court, and
during that time he prepared twelve
volumes of reports of its cases, and a
digest of its decisions from 1789, in two
volumes ; and was also a valued con-
tributor to the "North American Review"
and the "American Quarterly." He was
a member of the New York Constitutional
Convention in 1821 ; of the Legislature in
1823; and in 1825 was associated with
Benjamin F. Butler and George Duer in
the revision of the New York statutes.
His diplomatic life, for which he was
so eminently prepared, began in 1827,
with his appointment to Copenhagen, as
Charge d'Affaires, and in that capacity he
accomplished a satisfactory settlement of
a disputed question as to sound dues. In
1835 he was transferred from Denmark to
Prussia, and in 1837 was made Minister to
Berlin, where, during a ten years' resi-
dence, he rendered notable service in con-

nection with the Scheldt dues, tolls of
the river Elbe, and the rights of Germans
who had become naturalized citizens of
the United States. In 1844 he negotiated
a treaty with Prussia, which was rejected
by the United States Senate for party
reasons, and in 1846 President Polk de-
manded his resignation, which was
promptly presented. The event was
viewed with surprise and almost indigna-
tion in Europe, Mr. Wheaton being held
in highest esteem and confidence for his
profound learning, unbending integrity,
diplomatic abilities and fine personal
qualities. The Baron von Humboldt
wrote him (June 18, 1846), that the
king lamented his removal, and failed to
understand the motives of a government
in dispensing with such a minister. After
some months of travel, Mr. Wheaton
reached home in May, 1847, ^"^1 was at
once made Lecturer on International Law
at Harvard University, and gave exalted
dignity to his chair until his death, less
than a year later (March 11, 1848), at
Cambridge.

While in Denmark, Mr. W^heaton won
much repute by his "History of the
Norsemen" (1831), and which wis after-
ward translated into French by P. Guillot.
In its sequel, "A History of Scandinavia"
(1838), he was assisted by Dr. Chricton.
His "Elements of International Law"
appeared in 1836. This monumental work
has long survived its author; it has been
repeatedly reproduced in Europe and the
United States, and has been translated
into various languages, including Chinese
and Japanese. Of the American edition
of 1863 (W. B. Lawrence), enlarged from
less than four hundred to almost twelve
hundred pages, and containing a biog-
raphy of Mr. Wheaton by the same
author. Congress ordered five hundred
copies for the use of American ministers
abroad, consuls, and governmental de-
partments. Of almost if not quite equal

334

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

value was his "History of the Law of
Nations," written in 1838 to compete for
a prize offered by the French Academy,
and published in English in 1845. ^^^
manuscript translation of the "Code of
Napoleon" was destroyed by fire, and his
plans of collecting his minor writings and
enlarging his "History of the Northmen"
were frustrated by his death. The degree
of LL. D. was conferred upon him by
Brown LIniversity in 1819, by Hamilton
College in 1843, '^^'^ by Harvard in 1845.

LORING, Ellis Gray,

Anti-Slavery Xieadcr.

Ellis Gray Loring was born in Boston.
Massachusetts, in 1803. He prepared for
college at the Latin School in that city,
where he was distinguished for scholar-
ship, and where he had Ralph Waldo
Emerson for a friend. He entered Har-
vard College in 1819, but did not remain
to graduate, leaving to study law, and
was admitted to the bar in 1827, and soon
attaining great eminence in his chosen
profession. He was one of a committee
appointed to draft the constitution for the
New England Anti-Slavery Society, sub-
sequently signed it, assisted "The Liber-
ator" in its pecuniary crisis, and distin-
guished himself in the defence of the
slave child "Med," in the Massachusetts
Supreme Court, where he secured the
decision that every slave brought on Mas-
sachusetts soil by the owner is free. By
his argument he succeeded in convincing
the opposing counsel, Benjamin R. Curtis,
subsequently a Justice of United States
Supreme Court, who shook hands with
him, and said : "Your argument has
entirely converted me to your side, Mr.
Loring." In 1833 Mr. Loring wis elected
counselor of the Anti-Slavery Society,
and was one of a committee that called
the meeting at Faneuil Hall in 1837, to
express its indignation at the murder of

the anti-slavery editor, Lovejoy, at Alton,
Illinois. He became conspicuous as the
author of a "Petition in behalf of Abner
Kneeland," which was headed by the
name of the Rev. Dr. William E. Chan-
ning. Kneeland. a professed atheist, had
been indicted for blasphemy, and Mr.
Loring's petition was a plea for freedom
of speech. Wendell Phillips said of him :
"The great merit of Mr. Loring's anti-
slavery life was. he laid on the altar of
the slave's needs all his peculiar tastes.
Refined, domestic, retiring, contempla-
tive, loving literature, art, and culture —
he saw there was no one else to speak,
therefore he was found in the van. It
was the uttermost instance of self-sacri-
fice, more than money, more than repu-
tation, though he gave both." Mr. Lor-
ing's espousal of the anti-slavery cause
lost him many clients, and drew upon him
the coldness of many of his friends among
the leading families of Boston, but he
never regretted the course he undertook
and pursued until he died. It has been
said that a large share of Dr. Channing's
anti-slavery reputation belongs to Mr.
Loring. He died in Boston, May 24, 1858.

STOKER, David Humphreys,

Physician and Professor.

Dr. David Humphreys Storer was a
native of Portland. Maine, born March
26. 1804. died in Boston. Massachusetts.
September 10, 1891, at the extreme age
of eighty-seven years.

He was a student at Bowdoin College,
from which he was graduated in 1822
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, after
which he pursued a course of study at
the Harvard Medical School, from which
he was graduated in 1825 with the degree
of Doctor of Medicine. Later he devoted
considerable attention to medical educa-
tion, and in 1838 aided materially in
founding the Tremont Medical School,

335

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

having as his associates Edward Rey-
nolds, Jacob Bigelow and Oliver Wendell
Holmes, all of whom, like himself, served
as professors in the Harvard School. Dr.
Storer labored faithfully and indefatig-
ably in the Tremont Medical School,
his enthusiasm and zeal being active
factors in its success, and to the young
men beginning the study of medicine he
was a true and loyal friend. On Septem-
ber 9, 1854, he was elected Professor of
Obstetrics and Medical Jurisprudence at
Harvard College, succeeding Dr. Walter
Channing. He proved to be a thorough,
conscientious worker, and in the fourteen
years of his incumbency of that office he
was never absent from his duty, and
tardy but three times, a most remarkable
record. As a tutor he was all to be de-
sired, making his lectures not only
practical but interesting, meeting the in-
dividual needs of each individual student,
who felt for him a deep affection, recog-
nizing in him a sympathetic friend as
well as a valued adviser. Said one of his
associates in the faculty : "As a profes-
sor, he was remarkable beyond any of his
colleagues for the personal interest he
took in the students. He kept up a
familiar, friendly, paternal, or rather fra-
ternal companionship with many among
them, and did more probably than any
one of us to make them love their medical
Alma Mater." In 1855 he was elected
Dean of the School, in which capacity he
served acceptably for nine years. He
also filled the position of visiting physi-
cian at the Massachusetts General PIos-
pital from 1849 to 1858, his term of ser-
vice being noted for efficiency and
faithfulness to duty.

In addition to his professional life, to
which he devoted so much thought and
attention, Dr. Storer took an active inter-
est in other affairs. Tie was one of the
earliest members of the Boston Society
of Natural History, and at its first annual

meeting, in 1831, six of the seven officers
then elected were physicians, a propor-
tion which held good at the annual elec-
tion in 1855, almost a quarter of a century
later. Schools of natural history were
then few in this country, and a large
number of physicians who afterwards be-
came prominent in their profession, pur-
sued their study in advanced science at
the meetings of this society. The society
included in its membership many noted
men of that day, eminent and successful
medical practitioners, and the meetings
were on the order of a social club, each
member endeavoring to add his contri-
bution, and by suggestion aided to
improve the contributions of the others
Dr. Storer was held in high esteem by
all the members, and he was chosen to
serve as first recording secretary, and
thus shared with the president, Dr. Jef-
fries Wyman, much of the detail work
in laying a solid foundation for the so-
ciety. He filled that important office for
six years. He was one of the seven mem-
bers appointed to give lectures, and in
that capacity made a report in 1831 on
"Mollusca for the Geological Survey of
the State," and delivered two lectures on
"Shells." He was elected curator of the
society in 1836, and two years later, when
curators were elected for the separate
departments. Dr. Storer was chosen for
the Department of Reptiles and Fishes,
he being thoroughly familiar with that
subject, having made in 1837 to the Leg-
islature "A Report upon the Fishes and
Reptiles of Massachusetts." In 1843 he
was elected vice-president of the society,
which office he filled for seventeen years,
discharging the duties in a highly accept-
able manner. The rooms of the society
on Mason street, Boston, being inade-
quate, a committee was appointed, which
included Dr. .Storer, to solicit funds for
the erection of a new building, and three
years later the society purchased the old

236

A::;^^^^, ., ,

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

building on Mason street, then recently
vacated by the Harvard Medical School,
and for their valuable service the commit-
tee received the thanks of the society. Dr.
Storer delivered the annual address in
that same year (1848), and which was
noted for eloquence and brilliancy. The
following is a tribute to his thirty years of
constant service to the society: "Dr. D.
Humphreys Storer was continually bring-
ing forward specimens for the cabinet; at
one time he presented seventy specimens,
all carefully put up by him in glass bottles
and labelled. To his generosity mainly
was due the fact, that out of one hundred
and twenty species of Massachusetts
fishes then known, ninety were in the col-
lection, and every described reptile of the
State with one exception."

Dr. Storer's important publication on
natural history was his "History of the
Fishes of Massachusetts" (1867), which
consisted of 287 pages, v/ith th'ity-seven
plates, and is a classic in North American
ichthyology. This work grew out of his
appointment in 1839 as one of the com-
missioners on the Zoology of Massachu-
setts, this commission being the forerun-
ner of the Fishery Commission of the na-
tional government, and of various State
commissions. A fellow worker in this
field of natural science says of him: "In
the amount of information given, with
its accuracy and style of presentation, he
has established his claim to present and
future gratitude, and has proved his right
to rank amongst the foremost of Ameri-
can Ichthyologists."

Dr. Storer was an active member of
the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, the American Philosophical So-
ciety, the Boston Society of Medical Im-
provement, the Massachusetts Medical
Society, the American Medical Associ-
ation, the American Association for the
Advancement of Science, honorary mem-
ber of the New York Medical Society, and

of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and
corresponding member of the Academy
of Natural Science of Philadelphia. In
1876 Bowdoin College conferred upon
him the degree of Doctor of Laws. The
following letter is an eloquent testimonial
of the esteem in which Dr. Storer was
held by his associates in the Medical
Faculty, he receiving the same upon his
resignation :

Dear Friend and Colleague: It is with great
regret that we, the members of the Medical
Faculty, have received your note stating that
you have sent your resignation to the Corpora-
tion. We had hoped to continue long to profit
by your services and to enjoy your companion-
ship. We trusted that you would share with
us the pleasure of seeing our institution, so long
and deeply endebted to your labors, flourishing
and extending still further its usefulness and
reputation. You will carry with you the kind-
est remembrances of your colleagues and the
recollection of services which we feel to have
been of the highest value to the cause of med-
ical education. We are sure that the Medical
School and the University, on the roll of whose
honored instructors your name will stand re-
corded, when the edifice which now shelters
their students shall have all crumbled to ruin,
you will still remain, as we confidently believe,
the friend and counsellor of those with whom
you have been so long associated. As a teacher
you have been eminent, interesting, instructive,
indefatigable; as Dean, attentive to every duty,
and ever watchful for the welfare of the stu-
dents; as a colleague always kind and devoted.
This is our record in simple truth and justice.
Accept our kindest wishes at parting and believe
us, very sincerely your friends.

(Signed by all members of the faculty).

WILLIS, Nathaniel Parker,

Journalist, Poet.

Of this brilliant and versatile writer it
was said by a kinsman and biographer.
Rev. Richard S. Storrs, that "he will be
remembered as a man eminently human,
with almost unique endowments, devot-
ing rare powers to insignificant purposes,
and curiously illustrating the fine irony

MASS- Vol 1-22

ZZ7

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of nature, by which she often lavishes one
of her choice productions on compara-
tively inferior ends."

Nathaniel Parker Willis was born in
Portland, Maine, January 20, 1806, son
of Nathaniel and Hannah (Parker)
Willis. His father and grandfather were
both journalists. During the Revolu-
tionary War his grandfather published in
Boston, Massachusetts, a Whig news-
paper, called the "Independent Chron-
icle ;" he subsequently went west, and
edited a number of journals in different
places, assisted by his son, who was to
be the father of Nathaniel P. Willis. In
1816 the "Boston Recorder," which later
became the "Congregationalist and Bos-
ton Recorder," was established by the
father, who also founded the "Youth's
Companion" in 1827. He was for twenty
years a deacon in Park Street Church
(Congregational). Hannah Parker,

mother of Nathaniel P. Willis, was born
at HoUiston, Massachusetts, in 1778. For
her young Willis cherished an unusually
deep and devoted affection, from her he
inherited his emotional nature, and of
whom he said, "My veins are teeming
with the quicksilver spirit my mother
gave me." There were nine of the Willis
children. Nathaniel being the second, and
a sister, .Sarah Payson, better known as
"Fanny Fern," gained considerable repu-
tation as a writer of domestic and chil-
dren's stories.

Nathaniel P. Willis was six years old
when the family removed to Boston. At
a suitable age he attended the Boston
Latin School, and fitted for college at
Andqver Academy, giving his vacation
and other leisure time to work in his
father's printing of^ce. He then entered
Yale College, from which he was gradu-
ated in 1827. It has been said that col-
lege life left a more enduring impress
upon Willis than upon almost any other
American writer. During his college

course he contributed verses to the "Re-
corder," the "Youth's Companion," the
"New York Review and Athenaeum
Magazine" (Bryant's new magazine),
Goodrich's "Token," and other period-
icals, and it was also at this time that his
scriptural poems began to appear in the
poet's corner in the "Boston Recorder,"
under the name of "Roy," and which
were much admired. His literary success
brought him into the best society in New
Haven, and his social disposition made
him a general favorite. Somewhat of a
dandy, and an admirer of pretty women,
he devoted himself largely to society life,
and in after years found the background
for many of his best stories in this early
social experience. After graduation he
returned to Boston, where he entered into
an editorial engagement with Samuel G.
Goodrich ("Peter Parley"), publisher of
"The Legendary" and "The Token," two
illustrated annuals. Goodrich had already
published Willis's "Sketches" in 1827, and
had said of him that "before he was
twenty-five he was more read than any
other poet of his time." In 1829 Willis
began the publication of the "American
Monthly Magazine," which after two and
a half years was merged into the "New
York Mirror," a journal devoted to litera-
ture, the fine arts and society, with Willis,
George P. Morris, and Theodore S. Fay as
editors. In 183 1 Willis went abroad as
foreign correspondent for the paper,
under agreement to write weekly letters
at ten dollars each. The result of this
European trip was most fortunate, as it
constantly furnished him with stimulus
and incidents for future literary work.
Having flattering letters of introduction,
it was his good fortune to meet notable
and desirable people in a familiar and
cordial way, and he had the additional
advantage of becoming attached to the
embassy of William C. Rives, then United
States Minister to the court of France.

338

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

This gave Willis the entree to the court
circle of whatever country he visited, and
was of greatest service to him. He
traveled through Europe and Asia Minor,
and his "Pencilings by the Way," fully
recorded in the "Mirror," were most
favorably received in America, partly due
to the fact that Europe was by no means
so familiar to Americans as it is today.
In London he was received with par-
ticular favor, as a man of elegant manners
and extreme fashion in dress. His de-
scriptions of dinners, balls, soirees,
garden parties and the opera were widely
read. In 1837 he married Mary Stace,
daughter of General William Stace, who
was the ordnance store keeper at Wool-
wich Arsenal, and soon after they sailed '
for America.

While in England, Willis contributed
to "Blackwood's" and other magazines,
besides publishing "Melanie," and other
brochures, both prose and verse. He was
accused of abusing the hospitality of his
friends in putting into his pages private
conversations and opinions, and various
unpleasantnesses resulted. In 1837 Willis
and his wife took up their residence at
"Glenmary," near Owego, New York, and
his "Letters from Under a Bridge," writ-
ten at this time, are considered among the
best of his works. Afterward he wrote
a number of plays, which met with some
success. In 1839 Willis made a business
trip to England, where he met Thackeray,
and engaged him as a contributor to the
"Corsair," a weekly journal in which he
was interested at that time. In 1840, on
his return to America, he found a ready
market for his writings, being at this
time "beyond a doubt the most popular,
the best paid, and in every way the most
successful magazinist that America had
yet seen." He held the attention of his
readers more closely than any other
periodical writer of his day. In 1844,
after the death of his wife, he again

visited England, where he did some
traveling and a good deal of writing. In
1846, while abroad, he married Cornelia
Grinnell, the niece and adopted daughter
of Joseph Grinnell, Congressman from
New Bedford, Massachusetts. On their
return to America they made their home
at "Idlewild," near Cornwall-on-the-Hud-
son. Willis still maintained his connec-
tion with "The Mirror," which he and
Morris had managed under various names
for over twenty years, and which had now
become the "Home Journal." For some
ten years Willis was a well known and
lavorite figure in New York. His unfor-
tunate connection with the Forrest
divorce suit, and his reputed admiration
for the fair sex, gave rise to reports that
he was a profligate, but there was never
proof of such an accusation. His health
failing, he now traveled south, writing
continually for his paper. In 1861, at the
outbreak of the Civil War, he went to
Washington City as its war correspond-
ent. A large number of subscribers to
the "Home Journal" fell ofif after the
war, and Willis found himself in straight-
ened circumstances during his later years.
He died at "Idlewild," near Cornwall-on-
the-Hudson, January 20, 1867, and was
buried at Mount Auburn, near Boston,
Massachusetts. Among his pallbearers
were Longfellow, Lowell and Holmes.

He edited and compiled "Scenery of
the United States and Canada" (London,
1840) ; "Scenery and Antiquities of Ire-
land" (1842) ; "A Life of Jenny Lind"
(1S51); and "Trenton Falls" (1851).
His bibliography includes: "Scripture
Sketches" (1827); "Fugitive Poetry"
(1829) ; "Melanie, and Other Poems,"
(London, 1835; New York, 1837); "Pen-
cilings by the Way" (London, 1835;
New York. 1836) ; "Inklings of Adven-
ture" (1836) ; dramas — "Bianca Visconti
and Tortesa, the Usurer" (1839) ; "Loit-
erings of Travel" (1839) ; "Al Abri"

339

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

(1839) ; "Poems" (1843) ; "Lady Jane and
Other Poems" (1844) ; "Dashes at Life
with a Free Pencil" (1845); "Rural Let-
ters" (1849) ; "Life Here and There"
(1850); "People I Have Met" (1850);
"Hurrygraphs" (1851) ; "Fun Jottings"
(1853) ; "A Health Trip to the Tropics"
(1854); "Outdoors at Idlewild" (i«54);
"Famous Persons and Places" (1854) ;
"The Rag Bag" (1855) ; and "Paul Fane"
(1857). His biography appears in the
"American Men of Letters Series," by
Henry A. Beers, who also published se-
lections from his prose writings, in 1855.

GUSHING, Luther Steams,

Law^yer, Jurist.

Luther Stearns Cushing was born in
Lunenburg, Worcester county, Massa-
chusetts, June 22, 1803, son of Edmund
and Mary (Stearns) Cushing, and was a
representative of one of the most dis-
tinguished families in New England, the
members of which have always responded
to the call tor service wherever it might
be. It is noteworthy that in the Revolu-
tionary War there were over one huiidred
of the Cushing family who actively par-
ticipated therein.

Luther S. Cushing graduated at the
Harvard Law School in 1826, and subse-
quently conducted the "American Jurist
and Law Magazine" for several years, in
conjunction with C. Sumner and C. S.
Hillard. He served as clerk of the Mas-
sachusetts House of Representatives for
twelve years, from 1832 to 1844, and was
a member of that bcdy in the lattti year,
and from 1844 to 1848 he served as judge
of the Court of Common Pleas in I'oston.
In 1848 he was appointed lectur«rr on
Roman Law at Harvard College, ard re-
porter of the Massachusetts Supreme
Court, of whose decisions lie issued
volumes fifty-five to sixty-six, and served
in these capacities until his decease. He

was the author of "Cushing's Manual of
Parliamentary Practice," and the "Law
and Practice of Parliamentary Assem-
blies," the former of which for almost half
a century having been the recognized
authority for nearly all the State legis-
latures in the country, and the standard
for reference in nearly all deliberative
assemblies and societies. More ihnn a
half million copies of "Cushing's Manual"
were sold by the publishers He wrote
treatises on "Trustee Process and Re-
medial Law" (1837) ; "Reports of (.Con-
troverted Election Cases in Massachu-
setts" (1852); an "Introduction to the
Study of Roman Civil Law" (1854), and
several volumes of "Rules of Proceeding."
He translated Sarigney's "Law of Pos-
session" (1838) ; Pothier's "Contracts"
(1839) ; Mattermaier's "Effect of Drunk-
enness on Criminal Responsibility"
(1841) ; and Domat's "Civil Laws m their
Natural Order" (1850). Judge Cusning
died in Boston, Massachusetts, June 22,
1856.

BOWDITCH, Henry IngersoU, M. D.,

Practitioner, Instructor.

Henry IngersoU Bowditch, who for
many years served in the capacity of
Jackson Professor of Clinical Medicine at
the Harvard Medical School, was a na-
tive of Salem, Massachusetts, born Au-
gust 9, 1808, son of Nathaniel Bowditch,
an eminent mathematician, also an over-
seer of Harvard College, president of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
and a member of many foreign scientific
bodies. He also had the advantage of
good example and excellent counsel from
his mother, and thus in his boyhood was
laid a firm foundation for his future great-
ness.

He was a student at Harvard College,
which institution conferred upon him the
degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1828, that

340

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of Master of Arts later, and that of Doctor
of Medicine in 1832. This knowledge
was supplemented by his service as
house-pupil at the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Hospital under Drs. Jacob Bigelow,
James Jackson and John Ware, all of
whom were active factors in the success
he later achieved. He showed a decided
preference for the branch of medicine,
not having any inclination for surgery,
and he continued his studies along that
line in Paris, France, from 1832 to 1834,
under Louis, of whom he wrote, "my be-
loved master in medicine, whose noble
example will always lead every honest
scholar to a reverent regard for scientific
truth, whose works have been to me a
stimulus to patient labors in my profes-
sion, and whose friendship was to me
a lifelong delight." During his stay in
Paris he was also under the excellent
preceptorship of Andral and Chomel. Dr.
Bowditch began the active practice of his
profession in Boston, Massachusetts, in
1834, and during the early years of his
professional life, with the assistance of a
classmate, Charles F. Barnard, he pro-
cured rooms in the Warren Street Chapel,
and formed classes for the education and
betterment of the poor, and this philan-
thropic work was kept up by him for
many years, as there is a record of boys
and girls coming to his office on Satur-
day afternoons with their little earnings
for the savings-bank books which he kept
for them.

Dr. Bowditch became a partisan of the
anti-slavery movement in the following
manner: In the famous Garrison mob
of 1835 he was a chance eyewitness of
the unjust treatment of Mr. Garrison by
"gentlemen of property and standing;"
and on October 21, 1835, Mr. Garrison
was forced to take refuge in the Leverett
street jail. In his diary he says that he
determined to devote his "whole heart
to the abolition of that monster, slavery ;

but even anti-slavery never has taken mc
away from constant labor for the eleva-
tion of medicine." For his act, which
was condemned by the church. State,
the constitutions and the laws of the
country, he was mocked, sneered at and
"cut" on the street by his father's old
friends, and, though this ostracism was
bitter, he never swerved from his purpose,
which he believed to be right. He was
known to take runaway slaves in his
chaise to a place of safety, carrying his
pistol in his hand for protection ; he
worked for the fugitive Latimer, who was
arrested and taken from Boston in 1842;
and he agitated the "Great Massachusetts
Petition" which resulted in the passage
of a law forbidding the use of Massachu-
setts State jails for the detention of fugi-
tive slaves, and prohibiting State officers
from helping to return them. In 1846
he was secretary of the Faneuil Hall
Committee, and a co-worker with Parker,
Phillips, Garrison, Sumner and Quincy,
and in 1846 and 1850 was a member of the
vigilance committee. He was also instru-
mental in the formation of an Anti-Man-
hunting League, a secret oath-bound club,
with twenty-four lodges in as many
towns, and with a membership of over
four hundred, who were armed with
"billies," and were trained for capturing
and carrying off any slaveholder who
should come to the State to hunt and re-
claim a runaway slave. He was secre-
tary of this organization, the records of
which were kept in cipher. During the
Civil War, although too old to enlist in
defense of his country, he sent two sons
who died on the field of battle.

During his connection with the Massa-
chusetts General Hospital, Dr. Bowditch's
lessons in percussion and auscultation,
as well as method of examining patients,
made his visits to the wards of the hos-
pital a help to the students and house-
officers, and in 1838 he was appointed

341

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

admitting physician at the institution, pleural effusions with such earnestness

In 1846 he was promoted to the oflice of
visiting physician, and held it until 1864.
In 1863, upon the opening of the Carney
Hospital, he was made president, and its
first visiting physician. Previous to this
he had been for some time physician to
the St. Vincent Orphan Asylum, then
under the charge of Sister Superior Anne
Alexis, the founder of the Carney Hos-
pital. Shortly after the opening of the
Boston City Hospital, Dr. Bowditch was
appointed visiting physician there, and
served from 1868 to 1871, and later he
was appointed consulting physician to
both Carney and City hospitals, as well
as to the New England Hospital. From
1852 to 1855 he was connected with the
Boylston Medical School, where he
taught auscultation and percussion, and
on January 22, 1859, he was elected Jack-
son Professor of Clinical Medicine at the
Harvard Medical School, which position
he occupied till August 31, 1867, when
he resigned. He was an advocate of
congressional action for a more humane
medical service during war, and thus he
assisted in securing an ambulance ser-
vice, and in sanitary science he guided
the State Legislature to the creation ov
the first Board of Health in this country.
He was appointed president of that board
upon its creation in 1869, and retained
the position ten years, and during his
connection with it he was an uncompro-
mising foe to political chicanery. In 1878,
during the terrible yellow fever epidemic,
Dr. Bowditch was chosen unanimously as
the one person fitted to cope with the
situation, and he was made a member of
the National Board of Health, from which
he was forced to resign at the end of a
year, owing to impaired health. In 1850
he was a pioneer advocate of laparotomy
for abdominal and pelvic tumors and
abcesses, and in 1859 he visited Europe,
and there advocated the operation for

that it was generally adopted both in
Great Britain and upon the Continent.

Upon his return from Europe in 1834,
he was admitted to the leading medical
society in the city, the Boston Society
for Medical Improvement, and in the fol-
lowing year he and John Ware organized
the Boston Society for Medical Improve-
ment. In 1876 Dr. Bowditch was presi-
dent of the American Medical Associ-
ation, and he was also a member of the
American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, of the American Public
Health Association, of the American
Academy of Medicine, of the Paris Ob-
stetrical Society, of the Paris Society of
Public Hygiene, of the Boston Society
of Natural History, of the Royal Italian
Society of Hygiene, of the Association
of American Physicians, of the New Y'ork
Academy of Medicine, of the Philadelphia
College of Physicians, and of the New
York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut
State Medical societies. Dr. Henry I.
Bowditch died in Boston, January 14,
1892.

LOWELL, James Russell,

Distingnished Author, Diplomatist.

James Russell Lowell, one of Amer-
ica's most distinguished authors, and who
has left an enduring mark upon American
literature and thought, and who also
proved himself an accomplished diploma-
tist, was born in Cambridge. Massachu-
setts, February 22, 1819.

He came of an excellent ancestry, de-
scended from Percival Lowell, who came
from Bristol, England, in 1639, and set-
tled in Newbury. His father. Rev. Charles
Lowell, was born in Boston, August 15,
1782, son of Judge John and Rebecca
(Russell) (Tyng) Lowell, and grandson of
Rev. John and Sarah (Champney) Lowell
and of Judge James and Katherine

342

a^}

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

(Graves) Russell, these generations
numbering among their members many
distinguished clergymen and lawyers and
jurists.

Rev. Charles Lowell was graduated
from Harvard College A. B, 1800, A. M.
1803 ; studied theology in Edinburgh,
Scotland, 1802-04; was made a fellow of
Harvard, 1818; and received from the
same institution the degree of S. T. D. in
1823. After completing his theological
course in Edinburgh he traveled for a
year in Europe. He was installed pastor
of the West Congregational Church, Bos-
ton, January i, 1806, and served in that
capacity fifty-five years. His health fail-
ing in 1837, Dr. Cyrus A. Bartol became
his associate, and Dr. Lowell traveled for
three years in Europe and the Holy Land.
He was secretary of the Massachusetts
Historical Society ; a corresponding
member of the Archaeological Society of
Athens ; and a founder and member of the
Society of Northern Antiquarians of Co-
penhagen. His published works included:
"Sermons," 1855; "Practical Sermons,"
1855: "Meditations for the Afiflicted, Sick
and Dying," "Devotional Exercises for
Communicants." He was married, Octo-
ber 2, 1806, to Harriet Bracket, daughter
of Keith and Mary (Traill) Spence, of
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and sister
of Captain Robert Traill Spence, United
States Navy. The Rev. Dr. Charles
Lowell died in Cambridge, January 20,
1861. His son,

James Russell Lowell, prepared for col-
lege at the boarding school of William
Wells, Cambridge, and graduated from
Harvard College A. B. 1838; LL. B. 1840;
and A. M. 1841. He received later in life
the following honorary degrees : From
Oxford University, D. C. L. 1873; ^^'om
the University of Cambridge, LL. D.,
1874; and the latter degree also from St.
Andrews, Edinburgh, and Harvard, 1884;
and Bologna, 1888. On January 2, 1884,

he was elected Lord Rector of the Univer-
sity of St. Andrews, Scotland. He was an
overseer of Harvard, 1887-91 ; a fellow of
the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences; a member of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, the American Philo-
sophical Society, and the Royal Academy
of Spain ; and a fellow of the Royal So-
ciety of Edinburgh and the Royal Society
of Literature of London. In all these
bodies he enjoyed a unique distinction,
and in Europe his talents commanded the
highest admiration.

Mr. Lowell was devoted to letters from
the first, and while in college edited 'Tlar-
vardiana." After his graduation in law
and admission to the bar, he opened a law
office in Boston. However, he had no
inclination for the legal profession, and
gave his time to literature, writing numer-
ous pieces of verse which were published
in magazines, and in 1841 were put into
book form, his first published volume.
In 1842 he brought out the "Pioneer"
magazine, which was shortlived. A pro-
nounced Abolitionist, he was a regular
contributor to the ''Liberty Bell," and he
afterward became corresponding editor
of the "Anti-Slavery Standard." In 1846
his "Bigelow Papers" appeared in the
"Boston Courier" and became famous
from the outset, and exerted a powerful
influence upon the political thought of the
day. These were satirical poems in the
Yankee dialect, and were eagerly read,
not only for their peculiarity of expres-
sion, but for their underlying philosophy
He had now become a somewhat prolific
writer, principally upon political topics,
and through the columns of "The Dial,"
the "Democratic Review" and the "Mas-
sachusetts Quarterly." He spent about a
years in Europe in 1851-52. In 1855 he
succeeded Henry W. Longfellow as
Smith Professor of French and Spanish
Languages, Literature and Belles Lettres
at Harvard University, serving until 1886,

343

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and was university lecturer, 1863-64. He
was also editor of the "Atlantic Monthly"
from 1857 to 1862, and joint editor with
Charles Eliot Norton of the "North Amer-
ican Review," 1863-72. He was active in
the organization of the Republican party
in 1856, and a warm supporter of its first
Presidential candidate, John C. Fremont.
In 1876 he was a Presidential elector from
Massachusetts. In 1877 he was appointed
Minister to Spain by President Ruther-
ford B. Hayes, and in 1880 was made
Minister to the Court of St. James, Eng-
land, serving as such until 1885. During
his residence in England he was highly
honored, delivering many addresses, and
being the orator on the occasion of the un-
veiling of the bust of Coleridge in West-
minster Abbey in May, 1885. In these
various efforts he displayed a breadth of
scholarship, originality of thought, ele-
gance of expression and depth of feeling,
which proved a revelation to Old World
litterateurs. He was a devoted student
during all his absences from this country,
and in 1887 delivered before the Lowell
Institute, Boston, a course of lectures on
the English dramatists. On his return
home he retired to his country seat,
"Elmwood." on the Charles river, Cam-
bridge, and devoted himself to study and
literature, continuing his lectures at Har-
vard University. He edited the poetical
works of Marvell Donne, Keats, Words-
worth and Shelly for the "Collection of
British Poets," by Professor Francis J.
Childs, of Harvard. His published works
include: "Class Poem," 1838; "A Year's
Life," 1841 ; "A Legend of Brittany, and
Other Miscellaneous Poems and Son-
nets," 1844; "Visions of Sir Launfal,"
1845 ; "Conversations on Some of the Old
Poets," 1845; "Poems." 1848; "The Bige-
low Papers," 1848. and a second series,
1867; "A Fable for Critics," 1848;
"Poems," two volumes. 1849, &"<^ two
volumes under same title, 1854; "Poetical

Works," two volumes, 1858; "Mason and
Slidell, a Yankee Idyl," 1862; "Fireside
Travels," 1864; "The President's Policy,"
1864; "Under the Willows, and Other
Poems." 1869; "Among My Books,"
1870; "My Study Windows," 1871 ; "The
Courtin'," 1874; "Three Memorial
Poems," 1876; "Democracy, and Other
Addresses," 1887; his "American Ideas
for English Readers," "Latest Literary
Essays and Addresses," and "Old Eng-
fish Dramatists," were published posthu-
mously in 1892. At the time of his death
he was engaged on a "Life of Haw-
thorne." His last published poem, "My
Book," appeared in the "New York
Ledger," in December, 1890.

He was married, in 1844, to Maria
White, of Watertown, Massachusetts,
who died in 1853. In 1857 he was mar-
ried to Frances Dunlap, a niece of Gov-
ernor Robert P. Dunlap, of Maine. He
died at Cambridge, August 12, 1891. His
life work was commemorated in "James
Russell Lowell: a Biography," by Horace
E. Scudder, two volumes, 1901. In 1898
a part of his estate Elmwood — was pur-
chased by the Lowell Memorial Park
Fund, nearly forty thousand dollars of
the purchase price being obtained by
popular subscription.

WRIGHT, Azariah,

Soldier and Pioneer.

The Wright family is an ancient Eng-
lish family, numbering among its early
members John Wright, Lord of Kelvedon
Hall, of London, England, who died in
1551. One of the descendants of John
Wright was Deacon Samuel Wright, the
immigrant ancestor of the line herein fol-
lowed, who was at Springfield, then
Agawam. Massachusetts, as early as 1639.
The line of descent is carried through his
son, Samuel Wright, through his son,
Lieutenant Eliezer Wright, and through

344

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

his son, Azariah Wright, father of Cap-
tain Azariah Wright, who was born in
Northfield, March 6, 1697, died October
17, 1772. He married, January 2^, 1726,
Elizabeth, daughter of William Arms, of
Deerfield, and widow of Ebenezer Field.
She died October i, 1772.

Captain Azariah Wright was born in
Northfield, Massachusetts, March 7, 1737-
38, died at Westminster, August 2"], 181 1.
He had a remarkable career as a soldier
and pioneer. In the old French and In-
dian War he was a soldier under Captain
John Burk, and at Hinsdale in 1757. He
was peculiarly fitted by nature for the
rough life of a pioneer. He delighted to
act in those scenes which tended fully to
develop his capacity to overcome the
obstacles of an unknown wilderness. As
early as 1770 he was captain of a military
company at Westminster, Vermont,
where he had made his home. He was a
strict disciplinarian and he is said to have
trained his men with all the rigor and
severity of a martinet. He took part in
the events of March. 1775, leading up to
what is known as the Westminster mas-
sacre. The Whigs were opposed to the
holding of court by the Tory judges,
against whose administration of justice
and authority, derived from New York
governors, they rebelled. The Whigs
took possession of the court house and
held it until Sheriff Patterson with a
drunken posse attacked them with fire-
arms and drove them out. The Whigs
had no guns, and the indignation follow-
ing the massacre of two men and wound-
ing of others in this assault knew no
bounds. Captain Azariah Wright and his
company and several other militia com-
panies of the vicinity, sheriff, judges, and
all the guilty Tories were thrown into
prison, and the prisoners of the sheriff
released. But for the outbreak of the
Revolution this massacre would have
been of more historical importance. The

Tory prisoners were sent to New York
and never tried. Captain Wright has
been called an "Ethan Allen" for the part
he took in the New York-New Hampshire
land grant difficulties which culminated
in this massacre. He was a soldier in the
Revolution, and in 1776 went with twelve
men of his town to Quebec. He made a
famous attack on Thomas Chandler Jr.,
whom he had had trouble with, and
through two very illiterate and abusive
letters stirred up opposition enough to
cause Chandler the loss of his office as
speaker of the house. Chandler sued
Wright for ten thousand pounds, and got
a verdict for three pounds. His first wife,
Mary Wright, died November 27, 1776,
and his second, also Mary Wright, died
December 8, 1797.

TAY, Samuel,

Revolntionary Soldier.

Tay is perhaps another form of the old
English or Anglo-Saxon Tey, which is
the name of three places in County Essex,
England. In the region about Boston in
former times the pronunciation was Toy.
There were undoubtedly a number of the
name in this country at an early period,
and the name is used at the present time
as Tay and Toy. There were three gen-
erations in this country prior to Major
Samuel Tay, namely: William Tay, Na-
thaniel Tay, William Tay, father of Major
Samuel Tay, born at Woburn, Massachu-
setts, October 25, 1700, died there, De-
cember 8, 1780. He married (first)
January 2. 1724, Abigail Jones, born June
6, 1708, died September 26, 1778, daugh-
ter of Samuel and Abigail (Snow) Jones,
of Woburn ; married (second) May 16,
1780. Bethia, daughter of Nathaniel and
Elizabeth Parker, of Reading, Massachu-
setts, and widow of Hezekiah Winn, of
Wilmington, Massachusetts.

Major Samuel Tay was born at Wo-

345

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

burn, Massachusetts, December 4, 1738,
died there, November 2 or 3, 1804. He
was a resident of that place all his life,
and a celebrated military officer. While
under age he enlisted, April 10, 1758, in
Captain Ebenezer Jones's company.
Colonel Ebenezer Nichol's regiment, and
went with it to Lake George, where he
performed active service at a very inter-
esting time in the history of this coun-
try. After a service of seven months and
twenty-one days he was discharged Octo-
ber 29, 1758. His next important service
of which we have record, aside from men-
tion of him in a roll of the East Company
of the militia in Woburn, April 15, 1758.
is that of April 19, 1775. At that time he
was a sergeant of the same company,
otherwise known as Fox's company, that
marched per roll from Woburn to Con-
cord and thence to Cambridge, his term
of service being five days. He was active
during the entire period of the Revolu-
tionary War. as a member of committees,
and also as one of those whose services
for agreeing with men to enter the mili-
tary service who were paid by the town,
per receipts still extant. In 1776, as cap-
tain, he led fifty Woburn men in an expe-
dition to Canada — in other words, to
Ticonderoga, for the period of five
months. These men were probably what
we call at the present time a volunteer
force, gathered from the dififerent com-
panies of militia, and marched from Wo-
burn on a memorable day, June 24, 1776.
It is recorded that before this company
started. Rev. John Marrett, of the second
parish (now Burlington), preached to it
at a lecture in his parish at five p. m.,
Sunday, July 14, 1776, and on the same
date, when the company marched for
Crown Point, he prayed with them at
Deacon Blanchard's, in his parish. Under
date of May 26, 1776, he is mentioned in
a list of officers chosen by the several
companies in the local militia regiment as

second lieutenant of Captain Jesse Wy-
man's Woburn company, which officers
were ordered in council to be commis-
sioned. May 6, 1776. There is also pre-
served a memorandum stating that "Said
Tay, captain of Woburn, marched with
his company, July 26, 1776." On Septem-
ber 3, 1776, being then at Ticonderoga,
he was reported as captain in Colonel
Jonathan Reed's regiment, Brigadier
General Bricket's brigade; and he is also
named in the same capacity during the
months of November and December,
1776. He appears to have returned to
Woburn with his company before Feb-
ruary 14, 1777, receiving mileage and
travel allowance from Fort Edward to
Woburn, distance two hundred and fifty
miles. In 1781, near the close of active
service in Massachusetts during the war,
he was captain in Lieutenant Colonel
Webb's regiment, engaged July 7, 1781,
discharged December i, 1781, service five
months, five days, including eleven days
(two hundred and eighteen miles) travel
home. This regiment was raised in Suf-
folk and Middlesex counties to reinforce
the Continental arm}' for three months,
but as often the case, they were held for
a longer period. In 1784 he was promoted
to major, and went by this title to the
day of his death. He held the office of
selectman in 1786. He had previously
been a constable, and several commis-
sions of his military service are still pre-
served among the families of his descend-
ants. His house in Woburn is still stand-
ing, and is No. 907 Main street. The
estate adjoining the house occupied a
greater part of the center of the present
North village in that city, and more than
one hundred years ago was minutely de-
scribed in an assessor's list of that day ;
the house forty by thirty, two storied in
front, one in rear. There were other
buildings, including one very old barn.
The farm contained one hundred acres of

346

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

land, bounded west on the country road,
or main street.

Major Tay married, April 27, 1769,
Sarah Johnson, born December 4, 1743.
daughter of Francis and Sarah (Wyman)
Johnson, of Woburn, Massachusetts.
Children: Sarah, Esther, William, Abi-
gail Jones, Samuel, Francis Johnson.

PARKER, Ebenezer,

Soldier of tlie Revolution.

The Parker family is an ancient and
honorable one, and the name was in use
as a surname at an early date. The coat-
of-arms of the Brownsholme family of
Parker, the pedigree of which is traced
to William Le Parker, of Extwistle, Lan-
cashire, before 1400, seems most likely
that to which the American line belongs:
Vert, a chevron between three stags'
heads, caboshed or. Crest : A leopard
head afifrontes erased or ducally gorged
gu. Motto: Sepre ande (Dare to be
just). The immigrant ancestor of the line
described herein was Thomas Parker,
who was the father of Lieutenant Hana-
niah Parker, who was the father of
John Parker, who was the father of An-
drew Parker, who was the father of
Thomas Parker, who was the father of
Deacon Ebenezer Parker.

Deacon Ebenezer Parker was born in
Lexington, Massachusetts, August 13.
1750, died October 19, 1839. He was a
member of Captain John Parker's com-
pany of Lexington minute-men, having
the rank and duties of corporal. He then
joined in the march to Concord, at the
return and the running raid on the re-
treating Red-coats. He marched to Cam-
bridge with his company, May 6, 1775,
and at the battle of Bunker Hill was in
Captain John Parker's company, assign-
ed to guard the Neck. In 1777 he re-
moved with his family to Princeton, and
he and his wife were dismissed by the

Lexington church to Prmceton, Novem-
ber 9, 1788. His father deeded his real
estate to him in 1795, amounting to three
hundred acres, and in 1794 Ebenezer
Parker had increased his holdings to six
hundred acres, besides owning farms in
Stamford, Vermont, Rindge and Fitzwil-
liam, New Hampshire, and Barre, Massa-
chusetts. He was active in church and
town affairs ; deacon of the Princeton
church ; assessor in 1782 and for almost
twenty years thereafter ; selectman most
of the time from 1786 to 1805; in 1796,
1797 and 1800 was representative from
his district comprising Rutland and Oak-
ham as well as Princeton. He settled
many estates and held many positions of
trust. His tavern business was large for
his time, and he kept as many as ten
riding horses, thirty cattle and forty
sheep. On account of feeble health he
was unable to be present at the celebra-
tion of the sixtieth anniversary of the
battle of Lexington when eleven of his
comrades were present. He married

(first) Dorcas , \Vho died suddenly.

November 28, 1798. He married (second)
Mary (Binney) Rice, widow of Solomon
Rice; she died March 22, 1816. His chil-
dren, all by his first wife, were : Abijah,
Ouincy, Betsey, Polly, Lucy, Ebenezer
Jr.. Bitha (Bethia), and Aurelius Dwight.

CAKES, Jonathan,

Enterprising Naval Commander.

The family of which Captain Jonathan
Oakes, who was a prominent citizen of
Maiden. Massachusetts, was a worthy
representative, was composed of men who
faithfully performed every duty allotted
to them, and discharged every obligation
in the best possible manner, winning the
approval and commendation of their fel-
low-citizens. The pioneer ancestors were
Edward and Thomas Oakes, brothers,
natives of England, from which country

347

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

they emigrated to the New World in
1642, settling in Cambridge, Massachu-
setts. The line of descent to Captain
Oakes was through Thomas Oakes, the
younger brother ; through his son,
Thomas Oakes ; and through his son,
Jonathan Oakes, born in Maiden, Massa-
chusetts, October 6, 1709, died there Sep-
tember 25, 1770. He married, July 28,
1750, Esther Buckman, of Maiden, and
among their children was Jonathan, of
whom further.

Captain Jonathan Oakes, eldest child
of Jonathan and Esther (Buckman)
Oakes, was born in Maiden, Massachu-
setts, October 4, 1751, died August 6,
1818. He acquired the education afforded
by the schools of that day, and prior to
attaining the age of twenty years, hav-
ing determined upon a seafaring life, he
was master of a vessel in the merchant
service, and his skill as a navigator and
sailor and his courage in time of danger
made his services invaluable during the
Revolutionary War. During the latter
i:>art of the year 1776 he was captain of
the private armed brigantine "Hawke,"
mounting ten guns, and having a crew of
eighty men. Her owners were Uriah
Oakes, cousin of Captain Oakes, and Wil-
liam Shattuck, of Boston. Her officers
were Captain Jonathan Oakes, First Lieu-
tenant John Smith. Second Lieutenant
John Dexter, and Master Smith Kent.
In May, 1777, the "Hawke" was received
into the service of Massachusetts, and
formed a part of the fleet which sailed
under Commodore Manley, and met with
disastrous results ; but the ship command-
ed by Captain Oakes escaped the capture
by the British which befell the more
powerful vessels of the fleet, and shortly
afterward made several valuable prizes,
among Which were the "Fanny," "Charm-
ing Sally," "Jenny" and the "Devon-
shire." During the winter of 1777-78 the

"Hawke" was overhauled and her arma-
ment increased to twelve carriage guns
and eight swivel guns. Captain Oakes
again took command of her, and during
the year 1778 he made prizes of the ship
"Jenny," and the brigantine "Thomas;"
and in the same year, sailing with the brig
"General Gates" as consort, took in the
brigantine "Nancy," and possibly others
of the British naval vessels and privateers.
In February, 1779, he purchased an inter-
est in the "Elizabeth," which then was*
lying in Salem harbor, changed her name
to the "Thomas," and manned her wfth
six guns and a crew of eighteen men. In
1780 he was placed in command of the
"Favorite," armed ship of ten guns, in-
tended for both the merchant service, and
naval warfare, and made a cruise with her
to the West Indies. In the same year he
was commander of the brig "Patty," six
guns, owning a share in her, his partners
being John and William Shattuck, of
Boston. The "Patty" was the last priva-
teer ship of which Captain Oakes was in
command, and during a voyage with her
in April, 1781, from Martinique, bound
homeward, he made a prize of the British
armed brig "Betsey." After the cessation
of hostilities, Captain Oakes resumed his
former line of work, merchant marine,
and in 1796 was serving in the capacity
of Paris agent for the Boston house of
John and Richard Codman. Upon his
return to his native place. Maiden, he re-
tired from active pursuits, but he did
not cease his interest in the politics of
his native State, in which he always took
a keen interest, serving for twelve times
as representative from Maiden in the
General Court of Massachusetts.

He married, July 22, 1774, Sarah Nichols,
born October 24. 1754, daughter of John
Nichols, of Maiden. Children : Sarah,
Jonathan, Betsey, Hannah, James, Na-
than, Polly, and Rachel.

348

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

STRONG, Theodore,

Educator, Distingnislied Matlieinatieiaii.

Professor Theodore Strong, LL. D.,
was born at South Hadley, Massachu-
setts, July 26, 1790. He graduated from
Yale College in 1812, taking the prize in
mathematics and with high standing in
all his studies, and at once became a tutor
in Hamilton College. He became Pro-
fessor of Mathematics and Natural Phil-
osophy in the same institution in 1816,
serving as such until 1827, when he ac-
cepted the same position at Rutgers (New
Jersey) College, which he held for thirty-
five years, from 1827 to 1862.

From his student days, his whole
strength of mind was given to mathe-
matics. The most difficult problems,
which had long baffled the efforts of
others for their solution, attracted his
enthusiastic and most persistent atten-
tion. His range of mathematical inves-
tigation and attainment extended to the
highest spheres of inquiries wherein New-
ton and La Place had gone before him.
He early resolved some difficult questions
pertaining to the geometry of a circle,
propounded as a challenge to all man-
kind in "Rees' Encyclopaedia," by some
distinguished Scotch mathematicians ;
and he completed the solution of cubic
equations after a manner which none of
the European mathematicians had ever
been able to accomplish. By a most in-
genious mode of factoring he devised also
a method of extracting any root of any
integral number by a direct process. In
1859 he published a "Treatise on Alge-
bra," in which he presented the whole
science in original forms of his own, a
thorough piece of solid intellectual ma-
sonwork. In the summer of 1867 he wrote
a volume on the "Differential and Integral
Calculus," full of new processes and re-
sults of his own origination. In this
very comprehensive treatise he exhibited

the highest style of analytic powers of
mind.

For fifty years a teacher of the higher
mathematics, he bore with him through-
out all his long life the characteristics of
a man devoted to the highest and best
ends of human pursuit. He was indus-
trious, thoughtful, simple minded, humble,
cheerful and happy. He was a man of
remarkable gentleness of spirit, and at
the same time of great ardor in his moral
convictions. He abhorred shams of all
kinds, and everything like intrigue and
mean insinuations and intentions. In
conversation, disquisition and debate, of
all of which he was fond, his eyes and
features were always on the move with
life. He was a positive patriot, and took
a great interest in the social questions of
the times, and always occupied the ad-
vanced positions of the hour in all mat-
ters of social reform. He was a man of
full height and breadth, of dark complex-
ion and dark eyes, and a very intellec-
tual face. He was always very regular
in all his bodily habits, and enjoyed gen-
erally robust health. He possessed a
competency, and while his life was not
free from many trials, it abounded in
many and great blessings to the very end.
He held to a decided and unwavering
faith in the Word of God ; the great facts
of revealed religion stood out as clear to
his eyes as those of mathematical truth.
Because of his great distrust in his own
heart, he was not a member of any
church until a short time before his
death ; but he everywhere openly con-
fessed Christ among men his life through,
held an almost childlike faith in God and
prayer, and was an ardent lover of the
Bible and of good men. He remarked to
his biographer, when almost eighty years
of age, when speaking of the beauties of
this world and of the grandly appointed
life of man in it : "We ought to go through
life shouting." He was an original

349

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

member of the National Academy of Arts
and Sciences. He died at New Bruns-
wick, New Jersey, February i, 1869. He
married, September 23, 1818, Lucy Dix,
of Littleton, Massachusetts, who sur-
vived him until November, 1875.

FENNO, John Woodbridge,

Merchant Prince.

The Fenno family, representatives of
which have been prominent in various
capacities and in different walks of life,
trace their ancestry to Governor Thomas
Dudley, a native of England, born about
1576, died at Roxbury, Massachusetts,
July 21, 1653. On a tablet at the corner
of Dunster and South streets, Cambridge,
is the following: "Thomas Dudley,
Founder of Cambridge, Governor of
Massachusetts, Lived here in 1630." The
line of ancestry from Governor Thomas
Dudley is as follows: Governor Thomas
Dudley, Mercy Dudley, Rev. Benjamin
Woodbridge, Benjamin Woodbridge,
Elizabeth Woodbridge, Mary Oilman
Grafton, who married Joseph Fenno, and
they are the parents of John Woodbridge
Fenno.

John Woodbridge Fenno was born in
Salem, Massachusetts, July 30, 1792, died
November 7, 1859, in Boston, buried at
Salem, Massachusetts. After serving as
clerk seven or eight years in the old Com-
mercial Bank of Salem, he became a
broker in that city, his great financial
capacity, integrity, farsightedness, public
spirit and personal enterprise making
him the leading broker there, where for
a long time he transacted heavy business
operations for the Peabodys, Pickerings,
Brookses, and other chief shipping mer-
chants of that place engaged in the East
India and other foreign trade. Subse-
quently he came to Boston, and at once
took a prominent rank among the most
useful citizens of that city. The mercan-

tile and commercial world of Boston and
the sister cities well knew by what bril-
liant abilities and by what an unblemish-
ed course he advanced to fortune, being
worth at one time half a million of dol-
lars. To him more than any other man,
Boston is indebted for the Merchants'
Exchange on State street, as through his
representations the distinguished firm of
which he was a partner purchased the
valuable land upon which it is built, so
that it might be secured to the citizens
for its present important purposes, in-
stead of ministering merely to private
ends. The land was fenced in, but the
delay in purchasing it caused the other
members of the firm to grow uneasy at
holding such a large property unavailable
for an indefinite period, and Mr. Fenno
assumed the responsibility solely, and
held the land thus for two years, entirely
animated by a desire to benefit the citi-
zens. At the end of this long interval
the property was sold to the highest bid-
der at a loss of about $65,000. Mr. Fenno
was a pioneer in numerous public enter-
prises, his foresight suggesting them and
his abilities, influence and abundant
means admirably combining in carrying
them out. To him we are indebted for
the great and successful movement which
made East Boston what it is, a populous
island and the great workshop of the
metropolis. Mr. Fenno was the fore-
most man of the company which did so
much to place East Boston in the way to
fulfill promises which her natural position
indicated, and to his efforts the existence
of the first ferry is owing, and also the
building of the Cunard wharf. Leading
merchants will coincide with us in ac-
cording great credit to Mr. Fenno for his
powerful and unselfish exertions at that
time. It may be mentioned as an illus-
tration of the substantiality of the firm
of Dana, Fenno & Henshaw, that it fur-
nished great and vital aid to the Suffolk

350

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and other banks in Boston, standing firm
amid the disastrous financial crisis of
1837, when many an old and honored
banking institution and mercantile house
was crushed beneath the monetary pres-
sure.

Among other great enterprises with
which Mr. Fenno had become connected
was the Grand Junction railway, and he
subsequently projected that memorable
and mighty international jubilee in Bos-
ton, in 1851, when Lord Elgin visited the
city to join in celebrating the close
friendly and profitable union between the
states and the provinces. The good actions
of Mr. Fenno in the days of his pros-
perity should at least be remembered.
What he did when he had the means is
still operating beneficially in Boston,
though we regret to say that he died a
poor man. Mr. Fenno was a kind-hearted
and in his palmy days a very benevolent
man. He took a great interest in Father
Taylor's ministrations, and his purse
many times proved his sincerity for the
sailor. Father Taylor said of him at one
time, "he was one of God's noblemen."
Mr. Fenno was one of the merchant
princes of Boston, holding membership
in the firms of Dana, Fenno & Flenshaw,
and Harden & Company, and until with-
in a short time of his death was keeper
of records at the Boston Custom House.
During the War of 1812 he was given
charge of the funds and valuables of the
banks and property of the citizens of
Salem, and with the Salem Light Infan-
try took them inland for safety.

Mr. Fenno married. September 24, 1815,
Anne Fossett Grafton, born January 15,
1794, died July 11, 1869, daughter of
Woodbridge and Patience (Woodbridge)
Grafton. Children: Elizabeth Grafton,
George Grafton. John Ward. Dana Graf-
ton, Mary Grafton.

ALLEN, John Perry,

Early Mannfacinrer.

Among the ancient and honored fami-
lies of New England none holds a more
prominent place than the Allen family,
which has been represented in this coun-
try for more than three centuries, the
early members thereof coming from Eng-
land within the three years following the
landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. In
early colonial records the name Allen is
variously written Alen, Alin, Allin,
Ailing, Allyn, Allyne and Allying. The
five generations in this country preced-
ing John Perry Allen were represented
by William Allen, Samuel Allen, Jona-
than Allen, Jacob Allen, and Deacon
Nathan Allen. The last named was born
in Manchester, Massachusetts, in 1768,
and resided there during his entire life-
time. He was a joiner and housewright
by trade, but devoted the greater part of
his time to farming, which he conducted
on his father's old home farm in that part
of Manchester which was then called
North Yarmouth. He married, July 5,
1792, Elizabeth Perry, of Manchester, and
among their children was John Perry, of
whom further.

John Perry Allen, second son and child
of Deacon Nathan and Elizabeth (Perry)
Allen, was born in Manchester, Massa-
chusetts, April 12, 1795, and died there,
January 30, 1875, after a long and de-
servedly successful business career. He
undoubtedly was one of the most capable
business men the town of Manchester has
produced, and his rise in life was due
wholly to his own personal efifort, for his
beginning was small and his capital was
limited, but he wrought well on founda-
tions laid by himself. He was a man of
great determination of character, and
early in life gave ample proof of a capac-
ity to originate, build up and success-

351

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

fully direct large enterprises. He was the
pioneer of cabinet making in Manchester,
beginning at once in the manufacture of
furniture to be used in the Boston public
market in 1816, when he had just attain-
ed the age of twenty-one years. For many
years he was the leading manufacturer
of the town, and until his death his
brother Nathan had an interest in the
business, but John P. Allen was always
the active head of the concern as he had
been its founder. Having been in busi-
ness several years, Mr. Allen found that
the work of sawing veneers by hand was
slow, expensive, and in a measure unsatis-
factory, and this embarrassment to the
best results he undertook to remedy, in
1826, by purchasing the old Carter grist
mill on Central Square, Manchester, and
utilizing its water power for operating
saws to cut the veneer woods. The ex-
periment cost considerable money and
much valuable time, but the result attain-
ed fully warranted the outlay, and work-
ed a complete revolution in the manu-
facture of furniture on a large scale. Mr.
Allen was the first man to engage in the
business, and afterward for many years
he stood at its head, doing the greater
part of the sawing of veneers for the
entire country. In August, 1836, during
his absence from home, his residence and
factory buildings were burned to the
ground, causing him heavy losses in a
financial way ; but before another year
had passed, new and larger buildings were
erected, and the business resumed on a
larger scale than ever before. Fourteen
years later, about 1850, Mr. Allen discon-
tinued his connection with the furniture
manufacturing concern and afterward
engaged somewhat extensively in the
manufacture of barrels with machinery,
but this enterprise proved unsuccessful
?nd was abandoned. Having closed out
his interest in the barrel factory, Mr.
Allen retired from active pursuits, but he

never lost sight of the fact that his native
town still held claims upon him for the
promotion of interests of a public char-
acter. In earlier years he had been promi-
nently identified with every measure pro-
posed for the welfare of the town of Man-
chester, its institutions and its people,
and as long as he lived his interest in this
respect never abated. His sympathies
were large, his emotions generous and his
heart charitable, and he gave liberally of
his abundant means to many worthy
causes. The solid mahogany pulpit in the
Congregational church in Manchester
was donated by him. Mr. Allen was in
the truest sense a gentleman of the old
school, and it was always a pleasure to
meet him in any presence, and those
whose good fortune it was to meet him
at his own fireside and receive his cordial
welcome and generous hospitality, cher-
ished his memory and honored him for
his many noble qualities and high moral
character.

Mr. Allen married, November 28, 1816,
Ruth Allen, born September 4, 1798, died
June 13, 1875, eldest child and only
daughter of John Allen. Children : Eliza
F., John Perry Jr., Edward F., Ruth L.,
Ruthelia.

HORSFORD, Eben Norton,

Scientist, Author, Humanitarian.

The family from which is descended
Professor Eben N. Horsford, scientist,
author and humanitarian, is of English
origin. In England the family name ap-
pears in the various forms of Horseford,
Hosseford and Hosford, and in America
the forms mostly used are Hosford and
Horsford. Burke gives as a coat-of-arms
of the family : Azure, a chevron argent,
three lions' heads erased. Crest: Out
of a ducal coronet a demi-pegasus. The
immigrant ancestor was William Hors-
ford, and the line in direct descent to

352

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Professor Horsford was through John
Hosford, Timothy Hosford, Daniel
Horsford, Captain Daniel Horsford,
Roger Horsford, Jerediah Horsford,
father of Professor Horsford, who was
born in Charlotte, Vermont, March 8,
1 791, died at Livonia Station, New York,
January 14, 1875. He was a member of
the New York State Assembly, and Rep-
resentative in Congress, elected as a
Whig. He married, September 15, 1816,
Charity Maria Norton, born at Goshen,
Connecticut, May 31, 1790, died at Mos-
cow, New York, October 30, 1859.

Professor Eben Norton Horsford was
born in Moscow, New York, July 27,
1818. He attended the district school
and the Livingston County High School,
and during his boyhood was employed in
the preliminary surveys of the New York
& Erie and the Rochester & Auburn rail-
roads. He took the engineering course in
the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Troy, New York, and graduated in 1838,
at the age of twenty. In 1840 he was
appointed Professor of Mathematics and
Natural Sciences in the Albany Female
Academy, and in the second year of his
professorship won the gold medal offered
by the Young Men's Association of Al-
bany for essays, his subject being "Me-
chanical Powers." He retained his pro-
fessorship until 1844, also delivering a
course of lectures on chemistry at New-
ark (Delaware) College, when he resign-
ed his chair in Albany and went to Ger-
many, where he was a student from 1844
to 1846, investigating chemistry under
Baron Liebig, at Giessen. On his return
home in 1847, he was elected Rumford
Professor of Application of Science to the
Useful Arts, in Harvard College, and
filled that position with enthusiasm and
credit for sixteen years. His investiga-
tions in chemistry led to inventions and
discoveries of great usefulness and com-
mercial value, and in 1863 he resigned his
MASS— Vol. 1-23 35

Harvard professorship to give his ex-
clusive attention to manufactures based
upon his inventions and covered by
about thirty patents. He founded and
was president of the Rumford Chemical
Works in Providence, Rhode Island. His
services along other lines were also high-
ly beneficial. He selected the material for
the service pipes of the Boston water
works, for which the city presented him
a service of plate. At the outbreak of the
Civil War he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Andrew a member of the commis-
sion for the defense of Boston harbor, and
he prepared the plans adopted for pro-
tection against Confederate cruisers. He
devised a marching ration for soldiers in
the field, largely reducing bulkage and
cost of transportation, and of which Gen-
eral Grant made much use. He was a
United States commissioner to the
World's Fair in Vienna in 1873, and a
juror at the Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia in 1876. He was a member
of the American Philosophical Society; a
fellow of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences; a knight of the Order of
Dannebrog, conferred by the King of
Denmark ; a resident member of the New
England Historic Genealogical Society;
twice an examiner of the United States
Mint at Philadelphia, and one of the
board of managers of the Sons of the
Revolution. He received the honorary
degree of A. M. from Union College in
1843, and from Harvard College in 1847,
and the degree of M. D. from the Castle-
ton (Vermont) Medical College. He
made his home in Cambridge until his
death, January i, 1893.

After the death of Hon. Samuel Gar-
diner, father-in-law of Professor Hors-
ford, who resided at Shelter Island, New
York, the estate at that place came to
Professor Horsford, who usually spent
his summers there. He became deeply
interested in the antiquities of the island,
3

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

and erected a monument to the memory
of Nathaniel Sylvester, Lord of the
Manor of Shelter Island, and to the
Quakers who found shelter there with
him. in the comparative leisure of his
later years he gave close attention to
tracing the routes of the Norsemen who
early visited this continent ; and with un-
wearied patience and enthusiastic zeal
studied the sagas, pored over ancient
charts, explored the coast of New Eng-
land, and at length became satisfied that
he had found in Cambridge the location of
the house built by Leif Ericson, and that
at Watertown, on the Charles river, he had
discovered the long-lost Norumbega, the
settlement made by the Icelandic voy-
agers, and he here erected a substantial
monument to mark the spot. The result
of his researches were embodied in a
series of monographs, richly illustrated
with copies of ancient charts and maps.
In testimony of their appreciation of his
efforts to demonstrate the discovery and
colonization of America by the Norse-
men, the Scandinavian societies of North
America, at their annual assembly in
1 891, presented to Professor Horsford an
engrossed address framed in wood from
Norway, elaborately carved by a Nor-
wegian lady; in 1892 the King of Den-
mark decorated Professor Horsford as
previously related ; and, in the same spirit,
the Scandinavian societies of Boston
united in a special memorial service for
Professor Horsford shortly after his
death. Professor Horsford was author of
"Hungarian Milling and Vienna Bread,"
(1873) 5 "Indian Names of Boston,"
(1886) ; "On the Landfall of John Cabot
in 1497, '^1"'^ the Site of Norumbega,"
(1886) ; "Discovery of America by North-
men," (1888) ; "Discovery of the Ancient
City of Norumbega," (1889) ; "The Prob-
lem of the Northmen." (1889) ; "The De-
fences of Norumbega," (1891) ; "The
Landfall of Leif Ericson," (1892) ; "Leif's

House in Vinland," (1893). ^^ ^^so re-
produced in print the manuscript of
"German and Onondaga Lexicon," left
by the Moravian missionary, David Zeis-
berger, comprising seven volumes ; and
published various pamphlets on miscel-
laneous subjects. Professor Horsford
made generous use of the wealth that
came to him as the reward of his inven-
tive genius. Wellesley College was the
object of his largest benefactions. He was
president of the board of visitors ; he es-
tablished by a large endowment the sys-
tem of Sabbatical years, whereby one
year in seven is given each professor,
without loss of salary, for travel and
study ; and he also endowed the library
and gave a fund for the purchase of scien-
tific apparatus. He was personally
cheerful, cordial and p^enial. with a high
sense of honor and a most generous spirit
and unquestioned honesty of purpose.
He was an ingenious and persistent inves-
tigator, an enthusiastic teacher, and a
devout Christian. He sought always to
make life brighter for his fellow-men.

Professor Horsford married (first) in
1847, Mary L'Hommodieu Gardiner,
daughter of Hon. Samuel Gardiner, of the
Gardiner family of Shelter Island, New
York. They had four daughters. Mrs.
Horsford died in 1855. Professor Hors-
ford married (second) in 1857, her sister,
Phebe Dayton Gardiner. They had one
daughter.

WASHBURN, William Barrett,

Governor, U. S. Senator.

William Barrett Washburn was born
in Winchendon, Massachusetts, January
31, 1820, son of Asa and Phebe (Whit-
ney) Washburn, grandson of Colonel
Elijah Washburn and of Captain Phineas
Whitney, and a descendant of John
Washburn, the immigrant.

He attended the Westminster and

354

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Hancock academies, then entering Yale
College, from which he was graduated
A. B. in 1844. He clerked for his uncle.
W. B. Whitney, of Orange, for three
years; and in 1847 engaged in the chair
and woodenware manufacturing business
in Erving, Massachusetts, in which he
continued until 1857. Subsequently he
was in the same business in Greenfield,
Massachusetts, where he also served as
president of the national bank for several
years. He was a State Senator from the
Franklin district in 1850, and a repre-
sentative in the State Legislature in 1854.
He was elected without opposition in
1862 a Republican Representative from
the Ninth Massachusetts District, and by
reelection served in the Thirty-eighth to
the Forty-second Congresses, serving
until January i, 1872, when he resigned
to become Governor of Massachusetts.
He was chairman of the committee on
claims in the Forty-second Congress, and
was a delegate to the Loyalist Conven-
tion at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in
1866. He resigned the governorship
upon his election as United States Sena-
tor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
death of Hon. Charles Sumner, and
served from May i, 1874, to March 3,
1875. He received the honorary degree
of LL. D. from Yale College in 1872 ; was
an overseer of the charitable fund of Am-
herst College. 1864-71 ; a trustee of Yale
College, 1869-81, and a fellow of Yale,
1872-81 ; and a trustee of Smith College
and of the Massachusetts State College.
He bequeathed $50,000 each to the Amer-
ican Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, of which he was a corporate
member, to the American Home Mission-
ary Society, and to the American Mis-
sionary Association.

He was married, September 6, 1847,
to Hannah A., daughter of Colonel Sam-
uel Sweetser, of Athol, Massachusetts.
He died suddenly in Springfield, Massa-
chusetts, October 5, 1887.

RICHARDSON, Caleb,

Victim in Marine Disaster.

The emigration of the Richardsons
from England to America is believed to
have begun in 1630, when Ezekiel Rich-
ardson came over in one of the ships of
Winthrop's fleet, and he was followed in
1636 by his brothers, Samuel and Thomas.
The line here particularly treated is that
of one of the brothers, Samuel, who
figures in New England colonial history
as one of the founders of the town of
Woburn, Massachusetts. The descent is
traced through his son, Joseph Richard-
son, to Joseph Richardson, to Reuben
Richardson, to Caleb Richardson, to Cap-
tain Rufus Richardson, to Rufus Richard-
son, to Caleb Richardson, whose name
heads this sketch. Rufus Richardson
(father) was born in Stoneham, Massa-
chusetts, July 5, 1803, died there, Febru-
ary 9, 1831. He married, April 8, 1827,
Elizabeth Iris, who bore him two chil-
dren.

Caleb Richardson was born in Stone-
ham, Massachusetts, August 5, 1830, and
after the death of his father he and his
brother Rufus were provided for by their
paternal grandfather, who was appointed
their guardian in 1831. Caleb Richard-
son attended the district school, and
worked on the farm until he was about
nineteen years old, and in 1849 set out on
a voyage to the gold fields of California,
sailing by way of Cape Horn. In 185 1 he
returned east, and it is said that in so do-
ing he worked his way to Panama, cross-
ed the isthmus on foot and then took
passage for home. Shortly after his re-
turn from California he began making
shoes, but about 1855 started in business
as a butcher and meat dealer. In 1870
he removed to Everett, Massachusetts,
and afterward until his death was promi-
nently identified with the business and
public life of that city. He was in all re-
spects a successful, progressive and pub-

355

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

lie-spirited business man, taking an active
part in municipal affairs, but declined the
several offices which were tendered him,
except that of road commissioner, which
he held for a year. He was chiefly instru-
mental in organizing the Everett fire de-
partment upon an efficient and permanent
basis. He was a member of Palestine
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of
Everett, and in religious preference was a
Universalist.

Mr. Richardson married Mary Bradley
Pearson, who was born May 23, 1834, in
North Wilmington, Massachusetts, and
was drowned with her husband, January
18, 1884. She was a daughter of Aaron
and Dolly (Fames) Pearson, and grand-
daughter of Aaron Pearson, a soldier of
the Revolution.

Mr. Richardson and his wife were pas-
sengers on board the steamship, "City of
Columbus," of the Boston and Savannah
line, which was sunk off Gay Head,
Martha's Vineyard. The boat left Bos-
ton on January 18, 1884, with eighty-one
passengers and a crew of forty-six officers
and men, bound for Savannah, Georgia.
She struck the "Devil's Reef Bridge," a
sunken ledge of rocks off Gay Head. The
passengers, almost without exception,
and many of the crew were below. Most
of them rushed to the deck in their night
clothes, but so sudden had been the shock
and so short the time between the strik-
ing of the steamer and its sinking, that
many of the women and children did not
appear at all. The steamer's boats and
life rafts were launched as soon as pos-
sible, but were almost immediately en-
gulfed by the highrunning sea. Seven
got away on a raft, but were never heard
of again. The more fortunate succeeded
in climbing into the rigging, which was
above water, and none who failed to get
a foothold there were saved. The suffer-
ings endured by these drenched and half-
dressed persons for the next few hours

are indescribable. The waves broke over
them with remorseless violence, pieces
of spars and disabled tackle fell upon
them, and every hour witnessed the end
of the sufferings of some poor mortal
whose stiffened fingers relinquished their
grip on the frozen ropes, and whose ex-
hausted frame sank into the wintry sea.
The mental anguish of the survivors was
intensified by seeing the bodies of those
who had not been notified in time to
leave their beds, washed out through the
gaping apertures torn by the waves in
the ship's sides. About forty men in all
took refuge in the rigging. The hard-
ships which attended this solitary means
of escape will be realized when it is re-
called that five of the men rescued from
the rigging died of their sufferings be-
fore reaching shore, and that neither wo-
man or child escaped alive from the
doomed steamer.

As soon as the distress of the vessel
was known at Gay Head a life-boat put
off bravely, albeit a tremendous sea was
running from the north-west. This boat's
crew took seven persons down from the
rigging, one of whom died on the way
back to shore. The revenue cutter "Dex-
ter" arrived upon the scene later and her
boats had already taken more than a
dozen out of the rigging. The "City of
Columbus" went down with her forefoot
resting on a sunken ledge, and the rail-
ing around her bow was visible above
water. The refugees were mostly in the
fore and main top and rigging, and to reach
them it was impossible to row over the
rigging, as the boats would have been
pounded to pieces. The men in the rig-
ging were forced to jump into the sea and
were caught as they rose to the surface
and pulled into the boat. Quick work
was demanded on the part of the life
savers, for the castaways were to be-
numbed with cold to live long after strik-
ing the icy water. Most of the survivors

356

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

could not swim, but nearly all were
saved.

Captain S. E. Wright was among the
last to leave the ship. Two men who
were frozen so stiff as to be unable to
relinquish their holds on the ratlines were
the only persons remaining on the
steamer, except the captain. Lieutenant
Rhodes called to Captain Wright to jump.
"Save those men first," he shouted.
"They are frozen,'" was the reply. The
captain then jumped and was rescued by
the officer, who returned to the cutter,
asked for a man to steer that he might
swim to the ship and take the unfortunate
men down. His request was granted,
but on nearing the wreck again he found
it folly to attempt to get alongside. Lieu-
tenant Rhodes refused to give up the
attempt, and sang out to the men in the
life-boat to take him to the wreck. Ty-
ing a line about him he stood in the bow
of the life-boat within thirty feet of the
vessel when he sprang into the sea. W hen
almost within reach of the wreck he was
struck by a piece of timber on the leg
and sank. He was pulled aboard and
taken to the cutter, where it was found
that his leg was cut, but disdaining to
give up, he demanded another chance.
The sea was smoother, and with dry
clothing on he set out again and this time
reached the men in the shrouds. One
man was hanging with his arms and feet
through the ratlines, and begged not to
be taken down. He was Caleb Richard-
son, of Everett, and he died in the boat
before the cutter was reached. His com-
panion in the ratlines was also almost
gone, and expired before reaching the
"Dexter." Thus the lieutenant's heroic
endeavors were in vain, but not as United
States officers reckon the risking of their
lives.

Caleb and Mary Bradley (Pearson)
Richardson were the parents of four chil-
dren: Charles W., x\melia, Mabel, Wil-
liam Pearson.

VARNUM, Joseph Bradley,

Soldier, National Legislator.

Joseph Bradley Varnum was born in
Dracut, Massachusetts, January 29, 1750,
son of Joseph Varnum. He received a
fair education, and worked on his father's
farm. In 1768 he was commissioned
captain in the Massachusetts militia, and
commanded a company of minute-men in
Rhode Island and New York. He was
promoted to colonel in 1787, being active
in the suppression of Shays' Rebellion in
that year; and was further promoted to
brigadier-general in 1802, and to major-
general in 1805. He was a representative
in the State Legislature, 1780-95; a mem-
ber of the Governor's Council, 1787-1795 ;
a Representative from Massachusetts in
the Fourth to the Eleventh Congresses,
1795-1811, serving as speaker of the
House, 1807-11; and was elected United
States Senator from Massachusetts in
opposition to Timothy Pickering in 181 1,
serving until March 3, 1817. He was
president pro tempore of the Senate, and
acting vice-president of the United States,
1813-14. He was a member of the State
Constitutional Convention of 1787, pre-
siding officer of the convention to revise
the State Constitution in 1820; and was
defeated for Governor of Massachusetts
by Caleb Strong in 1813. He was a Jeff-
ersonian Democrat in politics, and an
Abolitionist. He died in Dracut, Massa-
chusetts, September 21, 1821.

TUCKERMAN, Joseph,

Clergyman, Philantliropist.

Joseph Tuckerman was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, January 18, 1778, son of
Edward and Elizabeth (Harris) Tucker-
man, grandson of Edward and Dorothy
(Kidder) Tuckerman, and a descendant
of John Tuckerman of England and Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, 1650.

He attended Phillips Academy, An-

357

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

clover; studied under the Rev. Mr.
Thacher, at Dedham ; and was graduated
from Harvard College, A. B., 1798, A. M.,
1801, in the class with William Ellery
Channing and Joseph Story. He was
ordained to the Unitarian ministry, No-
vember 4, 1801, as pastor in Chelsea,
Massachusetts, where he organized the
first American Seaman's Friend Society.
He went abroad in 1816 for his health,
and resigned his pastorate November 4,
1826, when he removed to Boston to enter
the ministry-at-large, a city mission for
the poor, conducted on a broad basis
under the auspices of the American Uni-
tarian Association, which afterward be-
came connected with the Benevolent Fra-
ternity of Churches, an organization of
several parishes for cooperative charity.
In this capacity, by close and scientific
investigation, he developed an original
and successful system for administering
toward the relief of pauperism, and in
1828 Friend Street Chapel was erected for
his use. During a visit to Europe in
1833-34 he assisted in establishing the
ministry-at-large in London and Liver-
pool, his efforts in the latter city result-
ing in the Tuckerman Institute. While in
England he became a friend of the Scotch
dramatist and poet, Johanna Baillie, and
of Lady Byron, who was actively inter-
ested in charity reforms. His methods
became the model for similar philan-
thropic work in France by Joseph Marie
de Gerando, philosopher and politician.
He received the honorary degree of D.
D. from Harvard College in 1824. He
was the author of several sermons, essays,
tracts and reports, relating to philan-
thropy, and of: "Gleams of Truth; or
Scenes from Real Life" (1835) 5 and
"Principles and Results of the Ministry
at Large in Boston" (1838), revised as
"Elevation of the Poor" (1874). Me-
moirs of his life were written by William

Ellery Channing (1841), and by Mary
Carpenter (1849).

He was first married in June, 1803, to
a daughter of Samuel Parkman, of Bos-
ton, and secondly, November 3, 1808, to
Sarah, daughter of Colonel Samuel and
Sarah (Gray) Gary, of Chelsea, Massa-
chusetts, who died in 1839, leaving one
son, Joseph Jr., (1810-1898), a million-
aire of Newport, Massachusetts, who
married Lucy Keating Tuckerman, sister
of Henry Theodore Tuckerman, and
their only son, Ernest, became a well
known artist in Paris. Dr. Tuckerman
died in Havana, Cuba, where he had gone
for the benefit of his health, April 20,
1840.

SPRAGUE, Peleg,

Iiaxryer, Jurist, Statesman.

The family of Sprague is a highly
honored one, tracing back many centuries,
the members of each generation perform-
ing their full share in the development
of the communities wherein they made
their homes. William Sprague, the im-
migrant ancestor, was born in England,
in 1609, and, accompanied by his two
brothers, Ralph and Richard Sprague,
came to the New World, locating in
Salem, Massachusetts, in 1629. The line
of descent is traced through Samuel,
."^amuel, Phineas, Seth, Peleg. Seth
Sprague. father of Peleg Sprague, was
born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, July 4,
1760, died there, July 8, 1847. He served
as a soldier in the Revolution, and held
the offices of United States assessor, town
treasurer, representative, senator, coun-
cillor, presidential elector, president of
the Plymouth County Abolition Society,
and vice-president of the Massachusetts
Abolition Society. He married Deborah,
daughter of Abner and Deborah (Bisbee)
Sampson.

35'^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Peleg Sprague was born in Duxbury,
Massachusetts, April 27, 1793. He re-
ceived his early education at the public
schools in Duxbury, and fitted for college
partly under the Rev. John Allyn, of
Duxbury. but mostly at the Sandwich
Academy. He graduated at Harvard Col-
lege in 1812, and on taking his second
degree in 1815 had the highest honor, an
English oration. This institution con-
ferred upon him the degree of LL. D. in
1847. He studied law for a time in the
Law School of Litchfield, Connecticut,
established by Tappan Reeve, Chief Jus-
tice of the Supreme Court of Connecti-
cut, then the only law school in the coun-
try, and finished his law studies in the
offices of Levi Lincoln, of Worcester, and
Samuel Hubbard, of Boston, thus enjoy-
ed exceptional opportunities for a thor-
ough preparation for a professional
career. He was admitted to the bar at
Plymouth, Massachusetts, in August,
1815, and established himself in business
in Augusta, in what was then the District
of Maine, and a part of Massachusetts.
At the end of two years he removed to
Hallowell, which town, before the city of
Augusta was made the capital of the
new State of Maine in 1820, seems to
have attracted a remarkable galaxy of
able lawyers. There could have been no
better school for a young attorney. He
was there called upon to enter the arena
with men experienced in the profession
and unscrupulous in their efforts to crush
out youthful aspirants. But among these
Mr. Sprague held his own, and became so
well established in the confidence of the
community that he was chosen a repre-
sentative from Hallowell in the first
Legislature of Maine in 1820. and re-
chosen in 1821. In 1824, at the age of
thirty-one, he was chosen a member of
Congress, and served until 1829. In the
latter year he delivered the oration be-
fore the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Bow-

doin College. In that year also he was
elected by the Legislature to the United
States Senate, and served until his resig-
nation in 1835. Iri Congress his ability
and eloquence were soon recognized, and
his high personal character won him the
esteem and friendship of many eminent
men. among whom may be mentioned
more especially Henry Clay. He was a
member of the Senate during the first
session of the Twenty-first Congress, and
took part in the memorable debate on
Foot's resolution relative to the survey
of the public lands, in the course of which
Mr. Webster made his remarkable speech
in reply to Mr. Hayne, of South Caro-
lina.

At the close of his senatorial term in
1835, Mr. Sprague removed to Boston,
Massachusetts. He settled himself at
once in practice in his new home, and he
was called to compete for occupation and
rank with many eminent men in the legal
profession, but he nevertheless won both
fam.c and success. In 1835 he was se-
lected by the Pilgrim Society as its orator,
and his address delivered at Plymouth,
December 22, 1835, gave him a wide-
spread reputation as a man of learning
and eloquence. In 1841 John Davis, the
judge of the United States Court for the
District of Alassachusetts, resigned his
seat on the bench after an incumbency of
forty years, and President Harrison ap-
pointed Mr. Sprague to the place. His
uncertain state of health induced him to
accept the position, which, however
honorable, was in a measure a retirement
from an active career, though afterwards
its duties and responsibilities largely in-
creased, and became very onerous. The
appointment was universally acknowl-
edged to be an admirable one. Born and
brought up in a town largely interested
in navigation, the study of admiralty law
had been a congenial one. and the air of
an admiralt^■ court was not stsangfe to

359

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

him. For twenty-four years, until his
resignation in 1865, Judge Sprague per-
formed his judicial duties with distin-
guished ability. During the last years
of his service these duties were rendered
especially arduous by the novel cases in
American jurisprudence arising while the
War of the Rebellion was progressing.
They became still more arduous on ac-
count of an affection of the eyes which
had long troubled him, and which inca-
pacitated him for the work of taking notes,
and made even the light of the court room
a serious annoyance. His well-trained
and exact memory enabled him, however,
to recall the name and testimony of every
witness, and to state in his charges or
decisions with absolute accuracy and
clearness all the evidence bearing on the
cases at issue. The affection of his eyes
and the condition of his general health
became finally so serious that in 1865 he
resigned his seat on the bench, and spent
the last years of his life in a darkened
room, which only mitigated the suffering
he patiently endured. The retirement of
Judge Sprague called forth widespread
expressions of regret and many tributes.
A volume of his speeches and addresses
was published in 1858, and a volume of
his judicial decisions from 1846 to 1861
was published in 1861, and another in
1868. These volumes contain, however,
but a small portion of his judicial opin-
ions, the greater number of cases that
came before him, especially the more im-
portant ones, never being reported. These
opinions were delivered in language re-
markable for clearness, precision and con-
ciseness. Scarcely an unnecessary word
was used, yet this brevity was accom-
panied by a directness and lucidity of
expression that prevented any obscurity.
The clearness and transparency of style
sometimes deceived a careless reader as
to the depth of reasoning beneath.

Judge Sprague married, in Albany, Au-

gust 31, 1818, Sarah Deming, born Febru-
ary 17, 1794, died April 24, 1881, daughter
of Moses and Sarah Deming. Children :
Charles Franklin, Seth Edward, Sarah,
Francis Peleg. The death of Judge
Sprague occurred October 13, 1880. Un-
like many members of the bar who, how-
ever distinguished, leave nothing behind
them but their names buried in the re-
ports, and even these soon forgotten, he
left abundant and honorable memorials of
his career.

BREWER, Josiah,

Missionary.

Josiah Brewer was born at South Ty-
ringham, Massachusetts, June i, 1796.
He was graduated at Yale College in
1 82 1, after which he studied theology at
Andover for a time, interspersing his
studies there with missionary labors in
jails and hospitals and among the Indians.
From 1824 to 1826 he was a tutor at
Yale, continuing his theological studies
under the Yale professors, and in 1826 he
was licensed to preach. In the same year
he was sent by the American Board of
Foreign Missions as a missionary to
Smyrna. lie made a tour of the archi-
pelago, preaching and distributing Bibles,
and in 1828 returned to America and sev-
ered his connection with the American
board. He was married in December.
1829, to Emilia A. Field, daughter of Dr.
David Dudley Field, of Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, and with his young bride
started for Smyrna, in February. 1830,
having been employed by the New Haven
Ladies' Greek Association to establish
female schools for Greeks in Asia Minor.
The destruction of the Turkish fleet by
the allied naval forces of England, France
and Russia, at the battle of Navarino in
1827, had opened the door of Turkey to
the messengers of civilization and Mr.
Brewer was a pioneer in the introduction

360

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

of female schools and of the printing
press. In 1831 he published in Smyrna
the first religious newspaper printed in
the Greek language.

After eight years of arduous labor
abroad he returned to the United States,
settling in Connecticut, where he was ap-
pointed chaplain of the penitentiary at
Wethersfield. From 1841 to 1850 he lec-
tured and preached in the anti-slavery
cause, and edited various anti-slavery
journals; from 1850 to 1857 he taught
school at Middletown, Connecticut, and
from 1857 to 1866 was officiating pastor
of the church in Housatonic, Massachu-
setts. His published works include,
"Residence in Constantinople" (1827),
and "Patmos and the Seven Churches of
Asia" (1851). He died at Stockbridge.
Massachusetts, November 19, 1872.

SALISBURY, Stephen,

Man of Large AfiPairs.

Stephen Salisbury, son of Stephen and
Elizabeth (Tuckerman) Salisbury, was
born March 8, 1798, at Lincoln Square,
in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts,
at the old Salisbury mansion erected by
his father, who came from Boston to
Worcester, in 1767, and built the above
residence in 1770, in which he dwelt the
remainder of his days.

Stephen Salisbury, the subject of this
narrative, obtained his primary education
at the Old Centre district school, pre-
pared for college at the Leicester Acad-
emy, and graduated with honors from
Harvard University in 1817. His class
was celebrated for what its members ac-
complished after they went forth to the
actual work of their lives, among them
being Hon. George Bancroft, Hon. Caleb
Gushing. Professor Alva Woods and
George B. Emerson. He studied law
under Hon. Samuel M. Burnside, and was
admitted to practice at the Massachusetts

bar, but owing to his extensive local in-
terests never entered actively into the
practice of the legal profession, though a
well read and highly capable attorney.
His own business interests kept his time
fully occupied, but his legal schooling
was of lasting benefit to him in after life.
While he never sought office, he yielded
to the calls of his fellow citizens and
served in various prominent positions, all
of which he filled with a most thorough
completeness. Among the places of trust
thus accepted by him were those of se-
lectman, 1839; representative in the Gen-
eral Court of Massachusetts, 1838-39 ;
Senator, 1846-47, and alderman during
the first year Worcester was an organ-
ized city, 1848. In i860 and again in 1872
he was elected a Presidential Elector from
his State. As early as 1840 the records
show he was an active member of the
American Antiquarian Society, a member
of its council from October, 1853, and
president in 1854, continuing as such for
more than thirty years. He was the third
president of the Worcester Free Public
Library, and served from 1864 to 1865,
and again from 1868 to 1872, inclusive.
He generously contributed toward the
reading rooms connected with this
library. He was also a member of the
Massachusetts Historical Society. The
degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred
upon him by Harvard University in 1875.
He was overseer of the university for two
full terms from 1871 to 1883. He was
also a conspicuous figure in the history
of the Worcester Free Institute, now the
Polytechnic Institute ; was its first presi-
dent, an office which he held until his
death in 1884; and gave the valuable land
on which the buildings stand, and con-
tributed liberally to the support of the
institution.

In reviewing his many responsible
financial trusts it is found that from 1845,
when Hon. Daniel Waldo died, for more

361

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

than thirty-nine years he served as presi-
dent of the Worcester Bank, and was for
fifty-two years one of the directors, being
first elected in 1832. He also held the
office of president of the Worcester Coun-
ty Institution for Savings for a quarter
of a century, resigning in 1871. He was
made a director of the Worcester &
Nashua railroad at the date of its organ-
ization in 1845, ^nd was its president in
^850-5 1. At Lincoln Square he built the
factory long known as "Court Mills," for
the manufacture of farm implements, and
when the site was needed for other pur-
poses he built for the Ames Plow Com-
pany (which had succeeded to tne busi-
ness of the earlier partnership) a large
factory on Prescott street. He built the
first wire mill on Grove street, and en-
larged the works to adapt them to the
expanding business, finally selling the
site to the Washburn & Moen Manufac-
turing Company. Lie built other large
factories on Union street.

While busy with a multitude of cares,
he neglected riol the wcig'bilier matters.
He was identified as a member of the
Second Parish Unitarian Church, in
which he ever took a deep interest. In
all of his relations he was every inch a
man, honored and trusted by a wide circle
of friends throughout the commonwealth.
Whether he be viewed from social, re-
ligious, civic, or financial point of view,
he always showed a full, well rounded
character — a genuine type of American
citizenship. His personal manner was
genial, courteous and obliging to a mark-
ed degree. His own interests were al-
ways gauged by the best interests of his
friends and neighbors. Lie was a well
read gentleman, deeply versed in his-
torical and antiquarian lore, art and
literature, in which he took great delight,
with the added years of his eventful life.

During his later years he accomplished

much for the substantial improvement of
the northern portion of his home city,
aiding very materially in building up a
great manufacturing centre. He built the
spacious business block on Lincoln
Square, and in 1837 his residence on
Highland street. His father's ancient
mansion, in which he was born, presents
at this writing about the same homelike
appearance that it did a century ago,
when it was occupied by a trustworthy,
loyal Revolutionary patriot.

Of his domestic relations it may be said
that no more affectionate husband or
loving parent ever graced a Massachu-
setts home and fireside. His first wife,
to whom he was married November 7,
1833, was Rebekah Scott Dean, of
Charlestown, New Hampshire, who died
July 24, 1843, leaving as their only child,
Stephen Salisbury Jr. He next married
Nancy Hoard, widow of Captain George
Lincoln, who died September 4, 1852. In
1855 he married Mary Grosvenor, widow
of Hon. Edward D. Bangs, former Secre-
tary of State of Massachusetts ; she died
September 25, 1864. He died August 24,
1884, in his eighty-seventh year. In the
language of one who had long known
him, "he was a considerate gentleman of
the old school type, a model of which
this generation has none too many imita-
tors." At his funeral. Rev. Andrew P.
Peabody, D. D., LL. D., used for his text,
"We all do fade as a leaf." With his de-
mise a generous property passed to his
only child, Stephen Salisbury Jr., a con-
siderable portion of this property being
composed of farm lands lying in close
proximit}' to the business portion of the
city of Worcester. The son, with wise bus-
iness discretion, erected many dwellings,
factories and business blocks thereon,
thereby contributing greatly to the growth
and prosperity of the city, and a propor-
tionate increase in valuation to the estate.

362

i-iu/U^L ^ -4 S.MaJoJUfS.

Q^. c^. ^4^^

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

CHILD, Lydia Maria,

Author, Reformer.

Lydia Maria Child was born at Med-
ford, Massachusetts, February i6, 1802,
daughter of David Francis. She attended
the village schools and later a private
seminary, and was taught by her brother,
Convers Francis, afterwards Professor of
Theology in Harvard College. In her
nineteenth year she went to live with her
brother at Watertown, Massachusetts,
and in his study wrote her first story,
"Hobomok" (1821). This met with im-
mediate success, and was soon followed
by "The Rebels: A Tale of the Revolu-
tion" (1822), which ran through several
editions. This was followed by "The
Mother's Book," which passed through
eight American editions, twelve English
and one German. In 1826 she became
editor of the "Juvenile Miscellany," which
was the first children's periodical pub-
lished in the English language.

In 1828 she was married to David Lee
Child, and some three years later she and
her husband became deeply interested in
the subject of slavery, through the in-
fluence of William Lloyd Garrison. Mr.
Child was a member of the Massachusetts
Legislature, and the editor of the "Massa-
chusetts Journal," and he used all his
powers of tongue and pen in upholding
the anti-slavery cause, which at that time
was extremely unpopular in the north.
In 1833 Mrs. Child published "An appeal
in behalf of that class of x^mericans call-
ed Africans," which called forth a volley
of indignation and abuse from press and
rostrum. She at once found herself al-
most friendless. Social and literary doors
were closed against her, the Boston
Athenaeum withdrew its ticket of admis-
sion, the sale of her books ceased, and the
subscriptions to her magazine became
painfully less. Whenever opportunity
presented itself, however, she wrote and

spoke with telling efifect, not only on
the slavery question, but upon peace,
temperance, education, and woman's
equality reforms. In 1859, upon the cap-
ture of John Brown, she wrote a letter of
sympathy to him under cover of a letter
to Governor Wise, who rebuked her for
her misguided enthusiasm. She also re-
ceived a letter of vituperation from Mrs.
Mason, wife of Senator Mason, author of
the fugitive slave law. These letters were
all published in pamphlet form, and had
a circulation of three hundred thousand
copies. The last years of her life were
spent in quiet retirement at Wayland,
Massachusetts. Among her published
writings are : "The First Settlers of New
England" (1829) ; "The American Frugal
Housewife" (1829, thirty-third edition,
1855) ; "The Mother's Book," "The Girl's
Own Book," and "The Coronal" (1831) ;
"The Ladies' Family Library" (five
volumes, 1832-35) ; "Philothea," a ro-
mance of ancient Greece (1835) ; "Letters
from New York" (two volumes, 1843-
45) ; "Flowers for Children" (three
volumes, 1844-46) ; "Fact and Fiction"
(1846) ; "The Power of Kindliness"
(1851) ; "Isaac T. Hopper, a True Life"
(1853) ; "The Progress of Religious Ideas
Through Successive Ages" (three vol-
umes, 1855) ; "Autumnal Leaves" (1856) ;
"Looking Toward Sunset" (1846) ; "The
Freedman's Book" (1865); "Miria, A
Romance of the Republic" (1867), and
"Aspirations of the World" (1878). See
"Letters of Lydia Maria Child, with a
Biographical Introduction by John G.
Whittier and an Appendix by Wendell
Phillips" (1882). She died in Wayland,
Massachusetts, October 20. 1880.

BLAKE, George Smith,

Naval Officer.

Commodore George Smith Blake was
born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in
1803. He entered the United States navy

363

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

at the age of fifteen as midshipman on
board the ship-of-line "Independence."
He was next assigned to the schooner
"Alligator," and aided in the capture of
a ship from Portugal, returning to the
United States as her commander. On
March 3. 1827, he was commissioned lieu-
tenant, and served in the West Indian
squadron, in the Philadelphia Navy Yard,
and on the Coast Survey. In 1846 he re-
ceived a commendatory letter from the
Secretary of the Navy for his wise action
during a severe storm ofif Florida, and
the following year became commander.
His next promotion was September 4,
1855, when he was made captain. In
1858 he was appointed superintendent of
the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and
when the academy was temporarily re-
moved to Newport in 1861, Secretary
Welles requested that Captain Blake re-
main in charge. When the national
stores at Annapolis were in danger of
being confiscated by the Confederates,
the prompt and wise action of Captain
Blake prevented the capture, and he re-
mained in command of the naval academy
until 1866. He was promoted to commo-
dore July 16, 1862, and served as light-
house inspector from 1866 to 1869. He
died in Longwood, Massachusetts, June
24, 1 8/1.

ANDREWS, Joseph,

Accomplislied Engraver.

Joseph Andrews was born at Hingham.
Massachusetts. August 17, 1806. His
early years were spent in his native place,
and he acquired a practical education by
attendance at the district school. While
still quite young he evinced a decided
inclination for art, and at the age of fif-
teen went to Boston, where he began an
apprenticeship with Abel Bowen, a wood
engraver of that city, and was instructed
in copper plate engraving by Hoagland.

Two years later, after becoming thor-
oughly familiar with every detail of the
engraving business, owing to his perse-
verance, diligence and aptitude, he engag-
ed in the engraving and printing business
at Lancaster, Massachusetts, in partner-
ship with his brother, who had served
an apprenticeship as a printer. In 1829
he executed his first engraving on steel
from Alvan Fischer's painting, entitled
"The Wicked Flee Where No Man Pur-
sueth," and also made small plates for
book publishers. Realizing his deficien-
cies in the line of work he had chosen,
he determined to render himself more
capable, and accordingly, in 1835, went to
London, England, and studied for about
nine months with Joseph Goodyear, under
whose excellent guidance he executed the
plate of "Annette de I'Arbre," after W.
E. West, and then proceeded with his
instructor to Paris, France, where he
engraved the head of Benjamin Franklin
after a painting by Duplessis. He made
another journey through Europe in 1840-
42, and during his stay in France execut-
ed six plates of portraits for the Galarie
Historique de Versailles, published under
the auspices of Louis Philippe. Thence
he proceeded to Florence, Italy, where he
commenced his plate of the "Duke of
Urbino," after Titian, which he finished
upon returning to the United States. The
most important of his productions is a
historical engraving after Peter Frederick
Rothermel's painting, "Plymouth Rock,
1620," on which he worked during the
years intervening between 1855 and 1869.
His other works include : George Wash-
ington, from the original painting by
Stuart ; Oliver Wolcott, after Trumbull ;
John Quincy Adams; Zachary Taylor;
Jared Sparks, after Stuart; Amos Law-
rence, after Harding, and Abbott Law-
rence, after Healy, engraved in conjunc-
tion with Thomas Kelly ; James Graham,
after Healy ; Charles Sprague ; Thomas

364

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Dowse, after M. Wight; "Passing the
Ford," after Alvan Fischer; "The Panther
Scene," after G. L. Brown; "Swapping
Horses," after W. S. Mount; "Parson
Wells and His Wife ;" "Christiana and
Her Children in the Valley of Death,"
after Daniel Huntington ; "The Witch of
Endor," after Allston, and "The Pilgrim's
Progress," after Billings.

Joseph Andrews, after an active and
useful career, in which he achieved a
large degree of success, directly the re-
sult of his own ability and determination
to make a place for himself in the world,
passed away at his home in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, May 7, 1873, honored and
esteemed by all with whom he was
brought in contact.

BARNES, James,

Civil "War Soldier.

General James Barnes was born in
Boston, Massachusetts, May 4, 1807. He
was graduated from the United States
Military Academy at West Point in 1829,
standing fifth in a class which included
such men as Robert E. Lee. Joseph E.
Johnston, and other distinguished officers
of the Civil War. He was commissioned
second lieutenant of the Fourth Artillery,
and served at the Military Academy as
assistant teacher of French and Military
Tactics for one year. He was then
ordered to the garrison at Fort McHenry,
Maryland ; served in the Black Hawk
expedition in 1832, and was in garrison at
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, 1832-
33, during South Carolina's threatened
nullification. He was promoted to first
lieutenant of the Fourth Artillery in
1836, and resigned from the army the
same year.

He was assistant engineer of the West-
ern railroad from Worcester, Massachu-
setts, to Albany, New York, from 1836 to
1842, chief engineer and superintendent of

the same railroad, 1842-48, and consult-
ing engineer of the Sea Board & Roanoke
railroad from Norfolk to Weldon, North
Carolina, 1848-52. He constructed the
Watertown & Rome railroad, New York,
1848-52; the Buffalo, Corning & New
York railroad (in part) 1852-54, and the
Potsdam & Watertown railroad, New
York, 1853-57.

At the breaking out of the Civil War,
he offered his services to the government,
and was commissioned colonel of the
Eighteenth Massachusetts Volunteers,
July 26, 1861. He was with the Army of
the Potomac, and participated in the
battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville ; took part in the Penn-
sylvania campaign ; and commanded the
Fifth Division of the Fifth Army Corps
at the battle of Gettysburg, and was
wounded during that engagement. He
was commissioned brigadier-general.
United States Volunteers, November 29,
1862, was afterward on sick leave and
court martial duty, and later in com-
mand of the defences of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, Virginia, also of St. Mary's
district, and of the camp for Confederate
prisoners at Point Lookout, Maryland,
from July, 1864, to July, 1865. He re-
ceived the brevet of major-general of
United States Volunteers, July 13, 1865,
for gallant and meritorious services dur-
ing the war, and was mustered out of
service January 15, 1866. General Barnes
died in Springfield, Massachusetts, Feb-
ruary 12. 1869.

BIGELOW, George T.,

Laxryer, Jurist.

George Tyler Bigelow was born at
Watertown, Middlesex county, Massa-
chusetts, October 6, 1810, nephew of
Timothy Bigelow, the noted lawyer, and
a descendant of John Bigelow, of Water-
town, 1632.

365

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

He was destined for the bar, but upon
his graduation from Harvard College in
1829, he was deemed too young to begin
preparation for it, and in order that he
might gain a broader knowledge of men
and things, and the mental discipline ac-
quired by teaching, was sent to Mary-
land, where for a year he was principal
of the Brookville Academy, and for an-
other year tutor in the family of Henry
Vernon Somerville, whose home. Blooms-
bury, was near Catonsville. Returning
to Massachusetts, he read law in the office
of his father, in 1835 was admitted to
practice, and opened an office in Boston.

In 1844 he was sent to the lower house
of the State Legislature, and served for
four years and in 1847-48 was a member
of the upper house. He became Com-
mon Pleas Judge in 1849; Associate Jus-
tice of the Supreme Court in 1850. In
i860 he succeeded Lemuel Shaw as Chief
Justice, and held his seat until 1868, when
he resigned, and until January, 1878, was
actuary of the Massachusetts Hospital
Life Insurance Company. In 1868 he was
elected an overseer of Harvard Univer-
sity, and in 1873 was appointed a com-
missioner for the revision of the city
charter of Boston. During his early
years in Boston he was connected with
the militia as colonel of an infantry regi-
ment, and in 1844 he was an aide to Gov-
ernor Briggs. Judge Bigelow died in
Boston, Massachusetts, April 12, 1878.

TUCKERMAN, Henry Theodore,

Author.

Henry Theodore Tuckerman was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, April 20, 1813,
son of Henry Tuckerman, and grandson
of Edward and Elizabeth (Harris) Tuck-
erman, the former connected with the
organization of the first fire insurance
company of New England.

Tie attended the public schools of Bos-

ton, and although prepared for college
did not matriculate, owing to ill-health.
He spent the years 1833 and 1837-39
abroad, remaining nearly all the earliest
year in Italy, and on the second trip
visited Sicily, residing for some time in
Palermo and later in Florence. He then
returned to Boston and engaged in liter-
ature as a profession, his name soon be-
coming well known in many of the lead-
ing publications. He removed to New
York City in 1845, and in 1853 revisited
England. He was a corresponding mem-
ber of the Massachusetts Historical So-
ciety, and received the honorary degree
of A. M. from Harvard College in 1850.
He edited "The Boston Book" (1836) ;
the "Poems of Wordsworth," with an in-
troductory essay, (1849), ^^^ with Wil-
liam Smith, "A Smaller History of Eng-
lish and American Literature," (1870).
He was author of: "The Italian Sketch
Book" (1835); "Isabel, or Sicily; a Pil-
grimage" (1839) ; "Rambles and Rev-
eries" (1841) ; "Thoughts on the Poets"
(1846); translated into German (1856);
"Artist Life ; or Sketches of American
Painters" (1847) '■> "Characteristics of
Literature" (1849-51); "Life of Commo-
dore Silas Talbot," and "The Optimist,"
essays (1850) ; "A Month in England,"
"Memorial of Horatio Greenough,"
"Leaves from the Diary of a Dreamer,"
and "Mental Portraits" (1853), the latter
revised as "Essays, Biographical and
Critical" (1857) ; "John Wakefield Fran-
cis" (1855) ; "Essay on Washington, with
a Paper on the Portraits of Washington"
(1859); "The Rebellion; its Latest
Causes and True Significance" letters
(1861); "America and Her Commenta-
tors" (1864); "The Criterion" (1866);
"Maga Papers about Paris," and "Book
of the Artists" (1867); "Life of John
Pendleton Kennedy" (1871); "The Spirit
of Poetry;" the well known poems "Love
of Fame," "Mary," and "Apollo Belvi-

366

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

dere" (1851), and a "Sheaf of Verse"
(1864). The Redwood Library, Newport,
Rhode Island, in which city Mr. Tucker-
man spent several summers, contains a
memorial set of his publications, the gift
of his sister. Mr. Tuckerman never mar-
ried. He died in New York City, De-
cember 17, 1871.

BIGELOW, Erastus Brigham,

Prolific Inventor.

Erastus Brigham Bigelow was born at
West Boylston, Massachusetts, April 2,
1814, son of Ephraim and Mary (Brig-
ham) Bigelow. His father was a farmer
who with difficulty earned sufficient to
live upon, and who made chairs and
worked as a wheelwright in winter to eke
out his scanty resources. Besides Eras-
tus, he had another son, Horatio Nelson
Bigelow, born about a year and a half
earlier. The two boys attended the dis-
trict school when there was any, and
aided their parents on the farm or in the
shop at other times. In the meantime the
father established a cotton factory, and
Horatio became the overseer. Erastus
was more of a student, the tendency of
his mind being particularly toward music.
He became proficient on the violin and
in later years both of the brothers played
in an orchestra. Erastus had to go to
work in a cotton mill as soon as he was
old enough, but, although he enjoyed
studying machinery, he did not like the
labor. Desiring more schooling than he
had obtained, it was his habit to play the
violin at dancing parties in order to earn
the necessary funds.

His inventive genius possessed him
from early years. While still a boy, he
invented a hand loom for weaving sus-
pender webbing, and another for piping
cord, from which he realized a little
money. By 1830 he had saved enough to
enable him to enter Leicester Academy.

He studied Latin and showed such prog-
ress that his teacher recommended a col-
lege course. His father did not favor the
idea, and when the boy's means were ex-
hausted he had to go to work again. He
would not return to the mill, however,
but went into the dry goods store of S.
F. Morse & Company, of Boston. He
there became interested in stenography
and, without any teacher, mastered the
subject. Later he published a small work,
the "Self-taught Stenographer," and as it
met with ready sale, he might have made
some money out of it, but he took a part-
ner and started in business with the re-
sult that he found himself heavily in
debt. He then began the manufacture
of twine, and afterward established a cot-
ton factory in Wareham. Removing to
New York, he studied penmanship and
taught writing for a few months, after
which he began the study of medicine
His attention was directed toward the
manufacture of Marseilles quilts, and he
invented a power loom which successfully
wove knotted counterpanes. A Boston
house took the invention with an under-
standing that the inventor should receive
one-quarter of the profits, but the firm
became insolvent, and again he was dis-
appointed. He also invented a loom for
weaving coach lace by power. Uniting
with him his brother, he took a mill at
Leicester ; a company was formed, and
named the Clinton Company, and as the
establishment grew, the place became
Clintonville, and finally the town of Clin-
ton. This was in 1841. The business
done previous to 1846 was very small,
but steadily grew until it gave employ-
ment to one hundred people and produced
one hundred thousand quilts per annum,
worth $150,000. In the meantime the
coach lace loom suggested to Mr. Bige-
low the carpet loom. In 1839 he invented
a power loom for weaving two-ply in-
grain carpets, whose production was fifty

367

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

per cent, more than the hand loom used
at that time. In 1845 he made his first
application of the invention to the weav-
ing of Jacquard Brussels carpets at
Lowell. The patent was taken out in
England in March, 1846, but not in the
United States until later. In 1851 the
loom had been brought to such perfec-
tion that the jury in the Crystal Palace
Exhibition in London declared his Brus-
sels carpeting better and more perfectly
woven than any hand loom goods that
had come under its notice. Over fifty
patents were taken out by Mr. Bigelow,
including inventions for weaving coach
lace, counterpanes, ingrain carpeting,
ginghams, and other plaids, Brussels and
Wilton carpeting, tapestry carpeting, silk
brocatel, and wire cloth.

Mr. Bigelow was as skilled as an or-
ganizer as he was in his capacity for
invention. He constructed the industries
at Clintonville and Lowell connected with
his inventions, and was one of the found-
ers and organizers of the National Asso-
ciation of Wool Manufacturers, of which
he was also the first president. Later in
his life he made a study of the tariff
question and taxation in general, publish-
ing many important articles on the ques-
tion, claiming that "there is no principle
of universal application involved either
in free trade or protection ; they are ques-
tions of policy." He believed that pro-
tection was essential in this country, and
would be until the cost of labor, taxation,
and capital should become nearly the
same in Europe and America. Mr. Bige-
low was a Republican, but meddled very
little in politics.

He was twice married ; his first wife,
Susan W. King, died in 1841 ; his second
wife, Eliza Frances Means, was a daugh-
ter of Colonel David Means, of Amherst,
New Hampshire. They had one child, a
daughter, who became the wife of Rev.
Dr. Daniel Merriman, pastor of the Sec-

ond Congregational Church in Worcester,
Massachusetts. About ten years before
his death, Mr. Bigelow bought an estate
at North Conway, New Hampshire, to
which he gave the name of Stonehurst.
There he delighted himself by forming a
system of irrigation, raising the water.^
of the Saco river to his estate through the
power furnished by their own descent.
He died in Boston, December 6, 1879.

WAINWRIGHT, Richard,

Naval OfB.ceT.

Richard Wainwright was born in
Charlestown, Massachusetts, January 5,
1817, son of Robert Duer and Maria
(Auchmuty) Wainwright. He was war-
ranted a midshipman in the United States
Navy, May 11, 1831, and was at the Naval
Academy, Norfolk, Virginia, 1837-38. He
was promoted to passed midshipman,
June 15, 1837, and was attached to the
brig "Consort," on coast survey duty,
1838-41. September 8, 1841, he was com-
missioned lieutenant and was in com-
mand of the "Water Witch," on the home
station, 1848-49; on coast survey, 1851-
57; cruised in the frigate "Merrimack,"
1857-60, and on ordnance duty at the
Washington Navy Yard, 1860-61. He
was promoted to commander, April 14.
1861, and assigned in 1862 to the flagship
"Hartford" under Admiral David G. Far-
ragut, who commanded the expedition
directed toward the capture of New
Orleans and the opening of the Missis-
sippi river. The fleet sailed from Hamp-
ton Roads on February 2, 1862, gained
the mouth of the Mississippi, and sailed
up the river until opposite Forts Jack-
son and St. Philip. On April 24th, the
"Hartford," "Brooklyn" and "Richmond,"
with four smaller ships, were ordered to
follow up the west bank and attack Fort
Jackson, taking as close a position to the
forts as the pilots would allow. At first

368

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

the enemy's artillery had poor range and He stood in the highest rank of Amer-

their fire was comparatively ineffective,
but when the Confederates sent afloat a
dozen fire-rafts, one bore down on the
"Hartford," and through an error of the
pilot, the ship grounded in the mud. The
rigging of the "Hartford" was soon in
flames, but her captain valiantly resisted
and drove off both the fire-raft and the
ram "Manassas." New Orleans was cap-
tured the following day, and on June 28th,
Captain Wainwright participated in the
passing of the Vicksburg batteries, and
again on July 15-16, on the return of the
fleet from the above city. For his gal-
lantry on these several occasions he re-
ceived the commendation of Admiral Far-
ragut.

He was married to Sallie Franklin,
daughter of Richard and Sophia (Dallas)
Bache, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commander Wainwright's death occur-
red while he was still in command of the
"Hartford," near New Orleans, Louisiana,
August 10, 1862.

BOND, George Phillips,

Famous Astronomer.

George Phillips Bond was born in Dor-
chester, Massachusetts, May 20, 1825,
son of the renowned astronomer, William
Cranch Bond, and his wife, Selina Cranch.

He was graduated at Harvard College
in the class of 1845. Having begun to
make astronomical observations as early
as 1842, he became assistant observer at
the Harvard Observatory after gradu-
ation, and held the post until 1859, when,
upon the decease of his father, he was
appointed to succeed him as director.
The same year he was made Phillips
Professor of Astronomy at Harvard, and
filled this double capacity until his death.
Thus his whole life, even from boyhood,
was devoted to astronomical labors in
connection with the observatory, which
the father and son have made illustrious.
MASS-Voi. 1-24 369

ican astronomers, and has to a great
extent contributed by his observations
and original researches to the advance-
ment of his science. In 1851 he made a
voyage to Europe, where he observed the
total eclipse of that year in Sweden, and
visited the principal observatories of the
north. He undertook another voyage to
Europe in 1863, and spent a few months
in England and Germany. Of his numer-
ous scientific investigations the most im-
portant are his works on the Donati
comet and the nebula of Orion ; his report
on the former commanded the general
admiration of astronomers, as a full and
faithful monograph on the physical phe-
nomena of the celebrated comet, and was
awarded a gold medal by the Royal As-
tronomical Society of London. Among
his other important works are some re-
lating to the mathematical theory of
some portions of astronomy, especially
his papers on "Cometary Calculations,"
the "Method of Mechanical Quadratures,"
and that on the "Use of Equivalent Fac-
tors in the Method of Least Squares;"
the reduction of the observations made
for the United States coast survey chron-
ometric expeditions between Cambridge
and Liverpool, upon which depend the
most trustworthy American longitudes,
and the observations of zones of small
stars. He was the first to discover the
dusky rings of Saturn (November 5,
1850), and wrote a treatise on their con-
struction, in which their fluid nature was
first established. His other works include
papers on various comets, on stellar pho-
tography, and on the "Elements of the
Orbits of Hyperion and the Satellite of
Neptune," in the discovery of which he
participated.

Professor Bond was married, January
27, 1853, to Harriet Gardner Harris. He
died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Feb-
ruary 17, 1865.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

UNDERWOOD, Adin Ballou,

lia-wjer. Civil War Soldier.

Adin Ballou Underwood was born at
Milford, Worcester county, Massachu-
setts, May 19, 1828. His ancestors were
early settlers of Hingham and Water-
town ; his father. Orison Underwood,
was brigadier-general of militia ; his
mother was a Cheney.

He was graduated from Brown Uni-
versity in 1849, and took the law course
at Harvard College. He practiced his
profession at Worcester from 1853 to
1855, then removing to Boston. In April,
1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War,
he was commissioned captain in the Sec-
ond Massachusetts Regiment, and in i86j
was made major of the Thirty-third Mas-
sachusetts, and in April, 1863, promoted
to colonel. He was engaged in the l^attles
of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and
Gettysburg, and at Lookout Mountain
received injuries which left him a cripple
for life. He was commissioned brigadier-
general, November 6, 1863, ^^^ brevetted
major-general, September i, 1865. He
was Surveyor of Customs at Boston from
1866 to 1885. He died of pneumonia, m
Boston, January 14, li

BURNS, Anthony,

Famous Fugitive Slave.

Anthony Burns was born in Virginia
about 1830. When twenty years old he
made his escape and reached Boston,
where he worked during the years 1853-
54. The fugitive slave law which had
recently been signed by President Fill-
more made possible his arrest, May 24,
1854. Burns was confined in the court
house, and his trial was opened on the
morning of May 25, Richard H. Dana Jr.,
Charles M. Ellis and Robert Morris vol-
unteering as his counsel. The case was
adjourned to the 27th, and on the 26th a

mass meeting was held in Faneuil Hall,
which was addressed by Judge Russell,
Theodore Parker and Wendell Phillips ;
when news that a mob had gathered
around the court house reached Faneuil
Hall, the meeting dissolved and its excited
members rushed thither. A door was
forced, and in the struggle that followed,
one Bachelder was killed, while others
were wounded, among them Rev. Thomas
Wentworth Higginson. Finding the
court house garrisoned by marines and
soldiers, the besiegers retreated. On the
27th overtures were made to Colonel
Suttle for the purchase of Burns. The
colonel agreed to part with him for the
sum of $i2QO, provided the money was
tendered before 12 o'clock p. m.. May 27th.
The money and pledges were provided
by the exertions of L. A. Grimes, pastor
of the church for colored people, and the
deed of manumission needed only the
signature of the marshal, which he was
prevented from affixing by District Attor-
ney Hallett. A decision was given by the
commissioners, June 2, in favor of the
slave owner, and Burns was marched to
the wharf, surrounded by soldiers. There
were fifty thousand spectators, but no
attempt at rescue was made, the streets
being lined with soldiers. In State street
the windows were draped with black ;
a coffin inscribed with the legend, "The
Funeral of Liberty," was suspended from
a window opposite the old State House,
and a United States flag was hung across
the street draped with black and with the
Union down. Burns was placed on board
a United States cutter and taken to Rich-
mond, where he was fettered and confined
in a slave pen for four months, and
treated with harshness. He was then
sold to a Mr. McDaniel, of North Caro-
lina, who is entitled to credit for the
kindness with which he treated Burns,
and the resolute help he gave in restoring
him to his friends at the north. The

370

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Twelfth Baptist Church in Boston, of
which Burns was a member, purchased
his freedom through contributions made
by the citizens. He returned to Boston,
and by the benevolence of a lady was
given a scholarship at Oberlin (Ohio)
College in 1855, from which he entered
Fairmont Institute. In i860 he was put
in charge of the colored Baptist church
in Indianapolis, Indiana, but under the
threat of the enforcement of the "Black
Laws," with penalty of fine and impris-
onment, he remained there only three
weeks. Not long after, he found a field
of labor at St. Catherine's, Canada, where
he worked with commendable zeal until
his death, July 27, 1862.

at the time of his death he was engaged
in translating the "Comparative Anat-
omy" of Siebold and Stannius. He died
in Boston, Massachusetts, July i, 1854.

BURNETT, Waldo Irving,

Distingruislied Naturalist.

Waldo Irving Burnett was born in
Southboro, Massachusetts, July 12, 1828,
son of Dr. Joel Burnett. His studies were
directed by his father, who from earliest
childhood fostered his interest in science.
When sixteen years of age, he was
thrown upon his own resources by the
death of his father, and he taught school
and studied medicine. He was graduated
at the Tremont Medical School, Boston,
in 1849, and afterward studied at the Eu-
ropean universities, devoting special at-
tention to natural history and microscopy.
Ill-health prevented him from accepting
active positions on his return to America,
and he devoted himself to literary work.
He contributed to many scientific publi-
cations. His prize essay, "The Cell, its
Physiology, Pathology and Philosophy,
as deduced from Original Observations;
to which is added its History and Criti-
cism" (1852), was published by the
American Medical Association, of which
he was an honored member. His trans-
lation of Siebold's "Anatomy of the Inver-
tebrate" passed through two editions, and

WARE, Henry,

Theologian.

The Rev. Henry Ware was born in
Sherborn, Massachusetts, April i, 1764,
son of John and Martha (Prentiss) Ware,
grandson of Joseph and Hannah (Wood)
Ware and of Henry Prentiss, and a de-
scendant of Robert Ware, who came from
England in 1642, and settled at Dedham,
Massachusetts, being made freeman,
1647.

He worked on a farm, attended the
district school winters, prepared for col-
lege under the Rev. Elijah Brown, and
was graduated from Harvard College, A.
B., in 1785, and received the A. M. degree
in 1788. He taught school in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, 1785-87, meanwhile study-
ing theology, and was ordained pastor of
the First Unitarian Church at Hingham;
Massachusetts, October 24, 1787, serving
until 1805. He was Hollis Professor of
Divinity at Harvard from 1805 to 1840,
and was Professor Emeritus from the lat-
ter year to 1845, ^^^ election instigating
the famous Unitarian Congregational
controversy which resulted in the sepa-
ration of the two bodies of the church,
Dr. Ware becoming one of the founders
of the conservative school of Unitarian-
ism. He was acting president of Harvard
College in 1810 and 1828-29, and received
the honorary degree of D. D. from the
college in 1806. He was the author of
"Letters to Trinitarians and Calvinists,"
written in answer to "Letters to Unita-
rians," by Dr. Leonard Woods (1820) ;
"Answer to Dr. Woods' Reply" (1822) ;
"Postscript to an Answer" (1823) ; and
"An Inquiry into the Foundation, Evi-
dences, and Truths of Religion," lectures

371

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

(two volumes, 1842). See "Discourse on
Life and Character" by Dr. J. G. Palfrey.
He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
July 12, 1845.

He was three times married : (first)
March 31, 1789, to Mary, daughter of the
Rev. Jonas and Lucy (Bowes) Clark, of
Lexington, Massachusetts ; (second) Feb-
ruary 9, 1807, to Mary, daughter of James
Otis, and widow of Benjamin Lincoln
Jr.; and (third) September 18, 1807, to
Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Bowes,
of Boston, Massachusetts.

Rev. Henry Ware Jr., son of Rev. Dr.
Henry and Mary (Clark) Ware, was born
April 21, 1794. He was graduated from
Harvard College, A. B., in 1812, and re-
ceived the A. M. degree in 1815. He was
an assistant teacher in Phillips Exeter
Academy, New Hampshire, 1812-14. He
studied theology under his father, was
licensed to preach in 1815, and was or-
dained pastor of the Second Unitarian
Church in Boston, Massachusetts, Janu-
ary I, 1817. As successor to Noah Web-
ster he edited the "Christian Disciple,"
afterward the "Christian Examiner,"
1819-22. He visited Europe in 1829-30
for the benefit of his health, and upon his
return resigned his pastorate and was suc-
ceeded by Ralph Waldo Emerson, who
had become his colleague in the Second
Church, in 1829. He was Professor of
Pulpit Eloquence and Pastoral Care in
Harvard Divinity School, 1829-40; and
Parkman Professor of the same, 1840-42.
The honorary degree of D. D. was con-
ferred upon him by Harvard College in
1834, of which College he was an over-
seer, 1820-30. Dr. Ware was a member
of the Massachusetts Historical Society,
and was the author of: "Hints on Ex-
temporaneous Preaching" (1824) ; "Ser-
mons" (1825) ; "The Formation of Chris-
tian Character" (1831) ; "The Life of the
Saviour" (1832) ; "Scenes and Characters
Illustrating Christian Truth" (1837), also

memoirs of Joseph Priestly, Noah Web-
ster and others, fugitive sermons, essays
and poems. See his "Memoir" by Dr.
John Ware (two volumes, 1846), and
selections from his writings by Chandler
Robbins (four volumes, 1846-47).

He was married (first) in October,
1817, to Elizabeth Watson, daughter of
Dr. Benjamin and Elizabeth (Oliver)
Waterhouse, of Cambridge, Massachu-
setts; (second) June 11, 1827, to Mary
Lovell, (1798-1849), daughter of Mark
and Mary (Lovell) Pickard, of Boston,
Massachusetts. Her "Memoir" was writ-
ten by the Rev. Edward B. Hall. Of Dr.
Ware's three sons who survived him. Dr.
John F. W. Ware became a Unitarian
clergyman, and William Robert Ware
was an architect of note. Dr. Ware died
in Framingham, Massachusetts, Septem-
ber 22, 1843.

McKEAN, Joseph,

Educator.

Joseph McKean was born in Ipswich,
Massachusetts, April 19, 1776, son of Wil-
liam and Sarah (Manning) McKean, and
grandson of Dr. Joseph and Eliza (Board-
man) Manning, of Ipswich. His father,
a native of Glasgow, Scotland, settled in
Boston, Massachusetts, as a tobacconist
in 1763, removed to Ipswich in 1775, but
after the Revolution returned to Boston.

Joseph McKean attended Phillips An-
dover Academy, 1787-90, and was gradu-
ated from Harvard College, A. B., in
1794. He then taught school in Ipswich,
Massachusetts, and studied theology
under the Rev. Dr. Joseph Dana, 1794-
96; the Rev. John Thompson, 1796-97;
and the Rev. John Elliott, of Boston, 1797.
?Ie was also principal of the academy at
Berwick in 1796-97. He was ordained
to the Congregational ministry, Novem-
ber I, 1797, and at once entered upon the
pastorate of the church at Milton, Massa-

372

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

chusetts, which he held until 1803, when,
on account of pulmonary trouble, he was
obliged to pass the following winter in
the Barbadoes, and the two succeeding
winters in North and South Carolina. He
formally resigned his pastorate October
3, 1804, and, when his health improved,
engaged in teaching in Boston. He was
appointed Hersey Professor of Mathe-
matics and Natural Philosophy in Har-
vard College in 1806, but declined, having
taken up the study of law. He was chosen
about this time to represent Boston in
the General Court, and was reelected for
a second term. He was Boylston Profes-
sor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard,
1809-18, when pulmonary troubles again
forced him to retire. He spent a short
time in South Carolina, and from there
went to Havana, Cuba. He was secre-
tary of the Massachusetts Congregational
Society ; a member of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel ; corresponding
secretary of the Society for the Suppres-
sion of Intemperance, and of the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society, and an hon-
orary member of the New York Histor-
ical Society. He received the degree of
LL. D. from the College of New Jersey
in 1844, and that of S. T. D. from Alle-
gheny College, Pennsylvania, in 1817. He
was the founder of the Porcellian Club of
Harvard College ; and the McKean Gate,
at the college, inscribed in his honor, was
erected by the club in 1901. He contrib-
uted additional matter to Wood's continu-
ation of Goldsmith's "History of Eng-
land ;" published a memoir on the Rev.
John Eliot, S. T. D., in the "Historical
Collections of the Massachusetts Histor-
ical Society," and occasional sermons.

He was married, in September, 1799, to
Amy, daughter of Major Joseph Swasey,
of Ipswich, a soldier at Bunker Hill, and
his wife, Susanna, daughter of Henry
Wise (Harvard, 1717) and granddaugh-

ter of John Wise (Harvard, 1673). Jo-
seph McKean died in Havana, Cuba,
March 17, 1818.

HOOPER, Samuel,

Liegislator, Financier.

Samuel Hooper was born in Marble-
head, Massachusetts, February 3, 1808.
His father and grandfather were both
merchants, and his father was president
of the old Marblehead Bank.

In early life Samuel Hooper went as
supercargo in his father's vessels to
Cuba, Russia and Spain. He was mar-
ried in 1832 to a daughter of William
Sturgis, and thereupon became a junior
partner in the firm of Bryant, Sturgis &
Company, in Boston, where he remained
ten years.

As a member of the firm of William
Appleton & Company he was engaged in
the China trade for a third of a century,
from 1842 to 1875. He was interested
in the manufacture of iron and in iron
mines. He was a representative in the
State Legislature, 1852-55; State Senator
in 1857; and a Republican representative
from Boston in the Thirty-seventh to the
Forty-third Congresses inclusive, 1861-
75, serving on the committees of ways and
means, banking and commerce, and on
the war debts of the loyal States. He
was credited by Secretary Chase with
being largely responsible for the success
in floating the first national loan of April,
1861, and in establishing the national
banking system. He was a delegate to
the Philadelphia Loyalists' Convention of
1866. He founded the Sturgis-Hooper
Professorship of Geology in connection
with the School of Mining and Practical
Geology in Harvard University in 1865,
and which was made a separate chair in
1875. His contribution to Harvard Uni-
versity to sustain the professorship was

373

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

$50,000*. Harvard conferred upon him
the honorary degree of A. M. in 1866.
He was the author of: "Currency or
Money; Its Nature and Uses" (1855);
"A Defence of the Merchants of Boston"
(1866) ; "An Examination of the Theory
and the Effect of the Laws Regulating
the Amount of Specie in Banks" (i860) ;
and pamphlets and speeches. He died in
Washington, D. C, February 13, 1875.

GREENWOOD, Francis W. P.,

Clergyman.

Rev. Francis William Pitt Greenwood
was born in Boston, Massachusetts, Feb-
ruary 5, 1797, son of William Pitt and
Mary (Langdon) Greenwood, grandson of
Isaac and Mary Greenwood, and of Cap-
tain John and Mary (Walley) Langdon,
and great-grandson of Professor Isaac
Greenwood, born 1702, died 1745, and of
Nathaniel and Abigail (Harris) Lang-
don.

After acquiring a practical education in
the district schools, Francis W. P. Green-
wood matriculated at Harvard College,
which institution conferred upon him the
degrees of A. B. in 1814, and that of A.
M. in 1817, and he also graduated from the
Divinity School in 1817. He was ordained
pastor of the New South (Unitarian)
Church, Boston, Massachusetts, October
21, 1818, but two years later resigned
to make a tour of Europe in order to re-
cuperate, his health having become im-
paired. LIpon his return to his native
land he accepted the position of editor of
the "Unitarian Miscellany," Baltimore,
Maryland, and served in that capacity one
year, 1822-23. He was colleague to Dr.
Freeman at King's Chapel, Boston, 1824-
2y, and sole pastor for sixteen years, 1827-
43. For one year, 1837-38, he was asso-
ciate editor of the "Christian Examiner."
In 1839 ^6 received from Harvard Col-
lege the honorary degree of S. T. D, He

was a member of the Massachusetts His-
torical Society, a fellow of the American
Academy of Sciences, and a member of
the Boston Society of Natural History,
being a contributor to its journal. He is
the author of "Lives of the Apostles"
(1827) ; "History of King's Chapel"
(1833); "Sermons to Children" (1841) ;
"Sermons of Consolation" (1842) ; "Ser-
mons," edited with a memoir by the Hon.
Samuel A. Eliot (two volumes, 1844) ;
and "Miscellaneous Writings," edited by
his son (1846). Dr. Greenwood also re-
vised the King's Chapel liturgy and pub-
lished a collection of hymns which pass-
ed through many editions. After an ac-
tive, useful and exemplary life, one well
worthy of emulation, having performed
many kindly acts and ministered in many
ways to the poor and needy, he passed
away at his home in Dorchester, Massa-
chusetts, August 2, 1843, honored and
respected.

GILBERT, John Gibbs,
Actor.

John Gibbs Gilbert, actor, was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, February 27,
1810, son of John Neal and Elizabeth
(Atkins) Gilbert, and grandson of John
and Mary (Belknap) Gilbert and of Gibbs
and Hannah (Newell) Atkins. He at-
tended the public schools of Boston, and
in 1824 became a clerk in the dry goods
store of his uncle, Thomas Gibbs Atkins.

From his youth he was attracted to a
theatrical life, and as a boy in the Boston
High School was noted among his fel-
lows for skill and force in declamation.
At the age of eighteen, he obtained per-
mission from the directors of the old
Tremont Theatre in Boston to make an
appearance as Jaffier. in "Venice Preserv-
ed," a fact of which his relatives knew
nothing, since he was merely announced
as a "young gentleman from Boston."

374

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

He had the privilege of but one appear-
ance, but his performance proved so suc-
cessful that he reappeared upon the stage
as Sir Edward Mortimer in "The Iron
Chest,'' and Shylock in "The Merchant of
Venice." In September, 1828, he secured
an engagement with James H. Caldwell,
manager of the Camp Street Theatre.
New Orleans, Louisiana, where he ap-
peared as Sir Frederick Vernon in "Rob
Roy," and failed from stage fright. Short-
ly afterward he acted as an old man in
"The May Queen," and from that time
played in the southwestern theatres until
1834, having found the line of acting for
which he was preeminently fitted. From
1834 to 1839 he was engaged at the Tre-
mont Theatre, Boston, and there first
acted Old Dornton in "The Road to
Ruin." At different times he was asso-
ciated with J. B. Booth, Edwin Forrest.
James W. Wallack, Hamblin, Tyrone
Power, Cooper, Ellen Tree, and Charlotte
Cushman, and for a while was also stage
manager. His first appearance in New
York City was on June 13, 1839, at the
Bowery Theatre, as Sir Edward Morti-
mer. From 1840 to 1843 he played at the
Tremont Theatre, Boston ; at the Na-
tional Theatre, 1843-45 ; and was manager
of the Federal Street Theatre, 1845-47.
He then went to London, England, and
played an engagement at the Princess
Theatre, appearing first as Sir Robert
Bramble in "The Poor Gentleman" and
during the engagement supported Char-
lotte Cushman, Macready and others.
While abroad he studied comedy acting
in London and Paris. Returning to New
York (1848) he played under the man-
agement of Thomas Hamblin at the Park
Theatre, New York City, and after the
burning of that theatre continued with
Hamblin's company at the Bowery The-
atre, New York City. Subsequently he
was engaged at the Howard Athenaeum,
Boston : at the Chestnut Street Theatre,

Philadelphia, 1851-54; and delivered the
opening address for the new Boston The-
atre in September, 1854, acting there
until 1857, when he went to Niblo's Gar-
den, New York City, where he played
Dominie Sampson to Charlotte Gush-
man's Meg Merrilies. After a short en-
gagement at the Arch Street Theatre,
Philadelphia, he was connected with the
Wallack-Davenport company from Sep-
tember 22. 1862, until May 5, 1888. His
Sir Anthony Absolute has been placed at
the head of all his many characters, and
he appeared in that at the Fifth Avenue
Theatre, where he made his farewell ap-
pearance in New York City, November
10, 1888. His final appearance upon the
stage was in Boston. His performance
of Sir Peter Teazle was nearly as good,
although it was pronounced by some de-
ficient in polish. His admirable render-
ings of Master Walker in "The Hunch-
back," and Mr. Hardcastle in "She
Stoops to Conquer," showed his wide
versatility, while his Sir Harcourt Court-
ley was pronounced as finished a modern
portrait as any of the old ones that have
been enumerated. Other characters not
already mentioned were : Dr. Sutclifife,
Lord Ogleby, Job Thornberry and Mr.
Ingot. Away from the theatre his life
was a quiet one, and he left an honored
name and memory. He was twice mar-
ried, his second wife, who survived him,
but died in Brookline, Massachusetts,
in April, 1898, was Sarah Hay Ganett,
daughter of Jonathan and Esther (Leon-
ard) Davitt, of Salem. Mr. Gilbert died
in Boston, Massachusetts, June 18, 1889.

FIELDS, James Thomas,

Publisher, Author, Poet.

James Thomas Fields was born at
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December
31, 1816. His father was a shipmaster
and died at sea in 1821, leaving his widow

375

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

with the care of his two sons and of the
shipyards and wharves.

He was educated in the public schools
of his native place, and graduated from
the high school in 1830. Four years later
he removed to Boston, Massachusetts,
and there entered the employ of Carter
& Hendee, a noted book publishing
house. This firm was afterward succeed-
ed by Allen & Ticknor, and in 1839 Mr.
Fields was admitted as junior partner, the
title of the firm being Ticknor, Reed 8c
Fields, and this was again changed in
1846 to Ticknor & Fields. Shortly after
entering the employ of the first named
firm, "he acquired a power," says Mrs.
Fields in her volume of reminiscences,
"considered very strange by the other
clerks, of seeing a person enter the shop,
and predicting what book was wanted
before the wish was expressed. For
some time he kept this to himself, but
after awhile, on its being discovered, it
was one of the interests of the day among
the clerks, to see how many times James
would be right ; and he seldom made a
miss." In 1847 ^e visited Europe, where
he made several close friends among the
leading literary men of the day. He
made three subsequent visits abroad, in
1851, 1859, and 1869. In 1862 he under-
took the editorship of the "Atlantic
Monthly," succeeding James Russell
Lowell, and remained in that position
until his final retirement from business
in 1871. He was frequently invited to
appear before college societies as poet or
lecturer, and delivered the anniversary
poem before the Mercantile Library As-
sociation in 1835 and again in 1848. After
his retirement from business, he devoted
a portion of his time to lecturing; his
lectures were calculated to awaken inter-
est in literary biography, and he possess-
ed the happy faculty of putting his audi-
ence into warm personal relations with
himself. In 1858 he collected, edited and

published the first complete edition of the
works of Thomas de Quincy, in twenty
volumes. He published two volumes of
poems, '"Yesterdays with Authors"
(1872); "Hawthorne" (1876); "In and
Out of Doors with Charles Dickens"
(1876); "Underbrush," essays; "Bio-
graphical Notes with Personal Sketches,"
and was co-editor with Edwin P. Whip-
ple of a "Family Library of British
Poetry."

But it was as a publisher that his most
distinctive work was done, and it is as
such that he will be remembered. He
possessed, in an eminent degree, the
double faculty of judging of the intrinsic
and money value of the manuscripts sub-
mitted to him, and the rare ability of
making these two identical in his deal-
ings with the public. "Fields from the
start," says E. P. Whipple, "had deliber-
ately formed in his mind an ideal of a
publisher who might profit by men of
letters, and at the same tinie make men of
letters profit by him. He thoroughly
understood both the business and literary
side of his occupation. Some of the first
publications of the house belonged to a
light order of literature, but they still
had in them that undefinable something
which distinguishes the work of literary
artists from the work of literary artisans."
He became the publisher of nearly all of
the New England circle of writers, "that
circle which compelled the world to ac-
knowledge that there was an American
literature," and was the means of intro-
ducing to the American public the best
works of contemporary English authors,
with very many of whom he was on terms
of personal intimacy. Harvard Univer-
sity conferred upon him the honorary de-
gree of A. M. in 1858, and Dartmouth
College that of LL. D. in 1874.

Lie was married in 1854 to Annie,
daughter of Dr. Zabdiel Boylston Adams,
of Boston. She published a number of

\76

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

volumes in prose and verse. In 1859 they
established at their home on Charles
street, Boston, the first and for many
years the only American salon, a favor-
ite meeting place for men of letters, in-
cluding Emerson, Hawthorne, Holmes,
Longfellow, Lowell, Agassiz and many
others. Even after the death of Mr.
Fields the house continued to be the ren-
dezvous of visiting foreign literati, as
well as of American artists and authors.
Mr. Fields died in Boston, Massachu-
setts, April 24, 1881.

PROCTOR, Joseph,

Early Mannfactarer and Merchant.

Joseph Proctor, youngest but one of the
children of John and Lydia (Waters)
Proctor, was born in Danvers, August 23,
1743, baptized September 4 of the same
year, and died January 20, 1805.

Of his early life and occupation little is
now known, but from subsequent events
it may properly be assumed that the foun-
dations of his career as a man of business,
a husband, a father, and a true Christian,
were deeply and broadly laid, under judi-
cious culture, and that, aided by his natu-
rally strong common sense, his integrity
of character and honesty of principle and
purpose, produced in his life the most
substantial results and left their impress
on the hearts of his children and descend-
ants in all generations subsequent. He
moved to Gloucester about 1766 and pur-
chased lands fronting on what became
known as Canal street. That part of the
town was known at one time as "the
Cut," so called in allusion to its prox-
imity to the small watercourse known by
the same name, where the canal was after-
ward constructed. From that point his
lands extended northerly nearly to Wash-
ington street, including what afterward
became Mansfield street, which formed
the old bed of the millpond from which

he obtained power for operating his mill
machinery. In this locality he erected
his mill, several dwellings, barns and
other buildings, and also storehouses for
fish, grain and merchandise.

Mr. Proctor first erected suitable build-
ings, built in 1768 the house on Canal
street, then brought his bride from Dan-
vers and established himself as a miller
and potter, and engaged extensively in
the manufacture of earthenware, which at
that time was in general use for all do-
mestic purposes. His mill was consid-
ered a triumph of mechanical engineer-
ing, and by its peculiar construction was
made to accomplish a very great amount
of work with a comparatively small ex-
penditure of power. He also had a
cooperage for making hogsheads, barrels
and other utensils, and a forge for light
iron work and repairing. He established
and carried on a fishing business, send-
ing his vessels to the Grand Banks, and
also built several vessels for fishing and
other purposes, employing some of them
in the foreign trade, but particularly for
shipping fish and earthenware to south-
ern ports and the West Indies, and on the
return voyage the vessels brought back
cargoes of foreign produce, cocoa, and
corn for his mill, and frequently goodly
sums of money.

For five successive years Mr. Proctor
filled the office of selectman of Glouces-
ter, and in later years several of his de-
scendants served in the same capacity.
/\.t a meeting of the officers of the Sixth
Regiment of Militia, held at Gloucester,
January 27, 1775, he was chosen first lieu-
tenant of the Sixth Company, commanded
by Captain Jacob Allen ; Samuel Gorham
was second lieutenant, and Eben Parsons
ensign. During the Revolutionary War
he was agent for the owners of the priva-
teer "General Stark," by the operations of
which several rich prizes were taken and
sent into American ports; and there is a

In

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

tradition in the family that Joseph Proc-
tor was the first man in Gloucester to
reduce granite blocks by the use of steel
wedges. The sickness which resulted in
Mr. Proctor's death was due to fatigue
and exposure consequent to getting afloat
one of his vessels which had been driven
on Coffin's beach in a heavy storm. He
died January 29, 1805.

On March 3, 1768, Joseph Proctor mar-
ried Elizabeth Epes, born in Danvers,
April 24, 1743, died July 29, 1817, daugh-
ter of Captain Daniel and Hannah (Pres-
cott) Epes, and granddaughter of Colonel
Daniel Epes, of Salem, and Hannah Epes.
his wife.

HOLMES, John,

Legislator, Governor.

John Holmes was born in Kingston,
Massachusetts, March 28, 1773, son of
Melatiah and Elizabeth (Bradford)
Holmes ; grandson of Joseph and Rebecca
(Waterman) Holmes and of Simon Brad-
ford, and a descendant in the sixth gen-
eration of William Holmes, of Marsh-
field, Massachusetts, who was born in
1592.

He was early employed in his father's
iron works at Kingston, leaving to enter
r'rown University, from which he was
graduated A. B. in 1796, and receiving the
A. M. degree in 1799. He studied law,
was admitted to the bar, and practiced
in Alfred, Maine, from 1799 to 1841. He
was a Representative in the Massachu-
setts Legislature, 1802-03, '^"d 1812; a
State Senator, 1813-17; a northeastern
boundary commissioner. 1815; a Repre-
sentative from Massachusetts in the Fif-
teenth and Sixteenth Congresses, 1817-
20. He was a delegate to the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1820, and chairman
of the committee that drafted the consti-
tution of the State of Maine. He was
chosen United States Senator from the

newly organized State of Maine, serving
from 1820 to 1827, and was again elected
to the Senate to fill the unexpired term
of Judge Albion K. Parris (appointed to
the bench of the Supreme Court of
Maine), serving 1829-33. He was a com-
missioner to revise the criminal code and
to organize a State prison system. He
represented his district in the State Legis-
lature in 1829 and 1835-38. He removed
to Thomaston, Maine, in 1838, and re-
mained there until 1841, when having
been appointed United States District
Attorney by President Harrison, he di-
vided his time between Thomaston and
Portland.

He was twice married : (first) Septem-
ber 22, 1800, to Sally, daughter of Noah
and Hanna Rhodes ; and (secondly) July
31, 1837, to Caroline P. (Knox) Swan,
widow of James Swan, and daughter of
Plenry Knox, Secretary of W^ar in Presi-
dent Washington's cabinet. He pub-
lished : "The Statesman, or Principles
of Legislation and Law" (1840). He died
at Portland, Maine, July 7. 1843.

EMMONS, Ebenezer,

Geologist, Anthor.

Ebenezer Emmons was born at Middle-
field, Massachusetts, May 16. 1799, son
of Ebenezer and Mary (Mack) Emmons;
and nephew of the Rev. Nathaniel Em-
mons, theologian.

He was graduated from Williams Col-
lege in 1818, and from the Rensselaer
Technical School, Troy. New York, in
1826. He then attended the Berkshire
Medical School, Pittsfield. Massachusetts,
and in 1828 removed to Williamstown,
Massachusetts, where he practiced medi-
cine. He was also Lecturer on Chemis-
try at Williams College, 1828-33 ; and
junior professor in the Rensselaer Tech-
nical School, 1830-39. Tn 1836 he was
appointed upon the Geological Survey of

378

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

New York, and in 1838 accepted the Chair
of Chemistry in the Albany Medical Col-
lege, removing to that city in the latter
year. He was afterward transferred to
the Chair of Obstetrics, and remained on
the faculty of the Medical School until
1852. He was Professor of Natural His-
tory at Williams College, 1833-59, and of
Mineralogy and Geology, 1859-63. In
surveying New York he was assigned to
the northern district, much of which was
unexplored territory. He discovered a
group of rocks constituting as he sup-
posed a distinct system underlying the
Silurian, and not recognized in the ordi-
nary classification. He believed the rocks
to be the equivalents of the Cambrian
rocks of England, and applied to them
the term Taconic system. His discovery
was not received seriously by contempo-
rary geologists, and subjected him to
ostracism. Later discoveries in the
Canada survey and by Barrandi in Bo-
hemia corroborated his views, which be-
fore his death were generally accepted
by American geologists. Subsequent in-
vestigations, however, showed that Dr.
Emmons misread the geological struc-
ture of the region studied by him, and his
arrangement was therefore set aside. In
1853 he was placed in charge of the
Geological Survey of North Carolina, and
in this field made several important con-
tributions to the advance of American
geology. Berkshire Medical School con-
ferred upon him the degree of M. D. in
1830.

He published : "Manual of Mineralogy
and Geology" (1826) ; "Report on the
Second Geological District of New York"
(1842) ; "The Agriculture of New York"
(four volumes, 1846-49-51 and 54) ; "The
Geology of the Midland Counties of
North Carolina" (1856) ; "The Agricul-
ture of the Eastern Counties of North
Carolina" (1858) ; "The Swamp Lands of

North Carolina" (i860), and "A Text-
book of Geology" (i860).

He was married, in 1818, to Maria
Cone, of Williamstown, Massachusetts.
He died in Brunswick county. North
Carolina, October i, 1863.

PLUNKETT, Charles H.,

Early Manufacturer.

Charles H. Plunkett, a man of great ex-
cellence of character, was born in Lenox,
Massachusetts, September 16, 1801, sec-
ond of the sons of Patrick and Mary
(Robinson) Plunkett.

He entered upon the duties of life sadly
handicapped. Crippled by a fever sore,
his early school days were less than suffi-
cient, yet he acquired the rudiments of
an education, and his indomitable spirit
was manifested in his beginning of a life
of self-support at the age of eighteen
years, on a peddler's cart, though at the
time and for long before he was unable
to walk without the aid of crutches. Not-
withstanding his disadvantages he was
entirely successful, and found a reward
for his efforts not alone in business ex-
perience and reasonable compensation,
but also in health. In 1825 he became a
partner in the store of Durant & Com-
pany, in Hinsdale, and was so occupied
for a period of five years. In 1831 he pur-
chased a water privilege of Captain Mer-
riman. and built a woolen mill, and a not-
able evidence of his independence and
deep-seated moral principle is discernible
in the fact that this was the first instance
of the raising of a building frame in the
town unaccompanied with the providing
of liquor for those engaged. Taking into
company with himself his brother,
Thomas F. Plunkett, of Pittsfield, and
Mr. Durant, he devoted himself with un-
flagging industry to every department of
the business, and made it gratifyingly

379

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

remunerative. In 185 1 he began the
building- of the Lower Valley mill, taking
as a partner his brother-in-law, Charles
J Kittredge. Prosperity attended them
in this venture, and in 1855 Mr. Plunkett
bought the Aaron Sawyer tannery, where
he built the middle mill to establish in
business his son Henry, as a member of
the firm of C. H. Plunkett & Son. In
i860 his factories furnished employment
to some two hundred and fifty people, and
were the principal industry of the village.
After his death (in i860) the business
was incorporated under the title of the
Plunkett Woolen Company.

Mr. Plunkett governed his entire busi-
ness career by one steadfastly adhered to
rule : "This one thing I do," devoting
himself entirely to the one occupation he
had chosen, and resolutely declining to
be drawn into any other. When scarcely
eight years old he joined the church in
Hinsdale, and that at that early age he
well knew his heart and motives is amply
evidenced by his unblemished Christian
walk and conversation from that moment
until the end of his life. He was more
than a mere doer of the law ; he was of a
deeply religious nature. His sterling
moral principle was fortified by a strong
will, and, dealing with thousands, he was
never open to hint of inexactness or in-
justice. That he excelled in judgment
appears from the testimony of a distm-
guished lawyer, who said, "I would as
soon have his judgment on an important
law case as that of a judge on the bench
of the Supreme Court." In delivering the
funeral discourse over the remains of Mr.
Plunkett, on September 2"], i860, the Rev.
Mr. Todd said : "During the thirty-five
years he has been in this town he has
risen in business, in character and in in-
fluence, until he, who began life a poor,
lame, diseased boy, became one of the
most remarkable men Berkshire has ever
raised." After the funeral the Berkshire

Manufacturers' Association adopted reso-
lutions containing the following appre-
ciative sentences : "The Commonwealth
that he served well has lost one of her
truest sons ; his native county is sensible
of its great loss ; the town in which he
spent his active life mourns ; the large
business community of which he was pre-
eminently the protector, friend and guide,
is bewildered with the sudden stroke; his
stricken family, alas ! may they have a
stronger than human arm for their sup-
port in the dark hour. He was one of
the originators of this association, and
one of its presidents, one of its guiding
counsellors. In his own line of business
his opinions were positive authority, and
for wisdom in human aflfairs generally,
we do not often meet his peer."

Mr. Plunkett married, in 1841, Mary
Kittredge, born in 1809, ^ daughter of
Dr. Abel Kittredge. To Charles H. and
Mary (Kittredge) Plunkett were born
five children, of whom the last survivor
is a son, George T. Plunkett, owner and
manager of the Plunkett factories. The
public library in Hinsdale is the out-
growth of a bequest of five thousand dol-
lars, made by a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Plunkett. and since then the Plunkett
family have quadrupled this original be-
quest, making Library Hall one of the
principal architectural ornaments and
educational agencies of the town.

Abel Kittredge, M. D., was born in
Tewksbury, Massachusetts, in 1773, died
in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, June 3, 1847;
married in Hinsdale, in 1795, Eunice
Chamberlain. He was descended from
John Kittredge, who received a grant of
land in Billerica, Massachusetts, in 1660.
John Kittredge married, November 2,
1664, Mary Littlefield, born December 14,
1646. They had five children.

Dr. Kittredge studied medicine with
his brother, Dr. William Kittredge, of
Conway, Massachusetts, and entered

380

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

upon practice in Dalton, whence he re-
moved to Hinsdale, and thence to Dalton
again, finally settling in Hinsdale in 1832.
In 1800 Governor Strong commissioned
him "surgeon's mate" of the Third Regi-
ment of militia. In 1802 he located in
Hinsdale and there practiced his profes-
sion until 1827, when he relinquished it
on account of eye ailment, his son, Dr.
Benjamin F. Kittredge, succeeding him.
Dr. Abel Kittredge thereafter busied
himself with agricultural matters, and be-
came one of the largest farmers in the
town. He reared nine children: i. Ma-
rinda, born 1798, became the wife of Rev.
Mr. Lombard. 2. William C, was a
lawyer and judge, and became Lieuten-
ant-Governor of Vermont. 3. Benjamin
F., born 1802, a physician, above referred
to. 4. Judith, born 1805, married a Dr.
Wells, of Windsor. 5. Mary, wife of
Charles H. Plunkett (see above). 6.
Eunice, born 181 1, married Hiram Pad-
dock, of Hamilton, New York. 7. So-
phronia, born 1816, married a Mr. Bar-
don, of Hamilton, New York. 8. Charles
J., born 1818, who became a merchant
and manufacturer. 9. Abel, born 1822,
who was a farmer and manufacturer.

HOOD, George,

Man of Affairs, Legislator.

George Hood, son of Abner and Mary
(Richardson) Hood, was born in Lynn,
November 10, 1806, and received his early
education in the public schools at Nahant.
in which locality his youth was spent.
After leaving school he learned the trade
of shoemaking, followed that occupation
for a few years, but soon after attaining
his majority went west with John C.
Abbott, and in company with him located
in St. Louis and established a shoe busi-
ness in that city. This was in 1829, and
although the country was comparatively
new to the line of trade they established,

it proved a successful venture and was
soon followed by a branch store in Nat-
chez, Mississippi, which Mr. Hood started
for his firm and gave to it his personal
attention until 1835, when he returned
to Lynn. However, he retained his in-
terest in the business in St. Louis and
Natchez until 1841.

Having returned to the east, Mr. Hood
established a commission shoe and
leather house in Boston, and continued
at its head until his death, although in
many ways his attention was directed
in other channels of business and at the
same time he became an active figure in
local and general politics. In this field
his fortunes were cast with the Demo-
cratic party, the minority party always in
Essex county politics and generally in the
State ; yet frequently he was called to
stand as the nominee of his party in the
hope that his known personal influence,
high character and popularity might turn
the scale of doubtful contest. He filled
various offices of local importance, served
several times in the lower house of the
General Court and in 1843 was elected
to the Senate. In 1846 he v/as nominated
by the Democratic State Convention for
the Lieutenant-Governorship, but was de-
feated at the polls by the natural oppo-
sition majority in the State, and in 1852
he stood as the Democratic candidate for
a seat in the lower house of the Federal
Congress, but the Republican majority
in the district was too great to overcome.
In 1853 he was chosen a delegate to the
convention for revising the constitution
of the Commonwealth. The crowning
achievement of Mr. Hood's political
career was the great good he was so
largely instrumental in accomplishing in
connection with the movement to incor-
porate the city of Lynn and supersede
the old with a new form of government.
The charter proposed in 1849 contained
provisions which were unsatisfactory to

381

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

many of the people, and he led the forces
which opposed and defeated its adoption.
In the spring of the year 1850 another
charter was granted, and was accepted
by vote of the people. Although he had
opposed the second charter and was not
at all in sympathy with the movement to
establish the so-called high form of mu-
nicipal government, Mr. Hood was nomi-
nated and elected the first mayor of
Lynn ; and so satisfactory was his admin-
istration of the city government during
that year, that in March, 1851, he was re-
elected by a largely increased majority
and served two years in office.

But not politics alone occupied Mr.
Hood's attention during the period of his
activity in that field, for he continued his
mercantile business in Boston, and in
1853 was one of the principal organizers
of the Shoe and Leather Fire Insurance
Company of Boston, and its president
from 1853 to 1858 when he resigned. Be-
sides these and other personal concerns,
he always manifested a wholesome inter-
est in the social and industrial welfare of
his native town and its institutions. He
was in all r».spects a model citizen, uni-
versally esteemed for his high moral char-
acter, his unselfish liberality and public
spirit, and for his real worth as a man.

Mr. Hood died at his home in Lynn,
June 29, 1859, being then a little less than
fifty-three years old. He was married,
September 11, 1833, to Hermione Breed,
born in Lynn, March 18, 1812, died Janu-
ary 20, 1887, daughter of Major Aaron
Breed and his second wife, Mary Kemp,
granddaughter of Amos Breed and Ruth
Newhall, great-granddaughter of Jabez
and Desire Breed, great-great-grand-
daughter of Samuel Breed and Anna
Hood, and great-great-great-granddaugh-
ter of Allen Breed (or Bread), who was
the son of Allen Bread, the immigrant
ancestor of the family of that surname in
America.

DAVIS, Charles Henry,

Distinguished Naval Officer.

Admiral Charles Henry Davis was
born in Boston, Massachusetts, January
16, 1807, son of Daniel Davis (1762-
1835), United States Attorney for Maine,
1796-1801, Solicitor General of Massa-
chusetts, 1800-32, and author of "Crim-
inal Justice" (1828), and "Precedents of
Indictment'' (1831) ; and descended from
Dolor Davis, of Cambridge, 1630, and
Barnstable, 1638.

Charles H. Davis entered Harvard in
the class of 1825, and left college to be-
come midshipman in the United States
navy, August 12, 1823, making his first
cruise on board the United States frigate
"United States," in the Pacific, 1827-28.
With his promotion to the rank of passed
midshipman, received in March, 1829,
were orders to join the "Ontario," of the
Mediterranean squadron. In March,
1831, he was made lieutenant, and was on
board the "Vicennes," of the Pacific
squadron, 1833-35, and in the "Independ-
ence," of the Brazil squadron, 1837-41.
He then served on the United States
Coast Survey for seven years, 1842-49.
While engaged in the survey of the
waters between Massachusetts and Long
Island, forming the gate to Long Island
Sound, he discovered the "New South"
and several minor shoals before unmark-
ed, and his services in behalf of coastwise
navigation was specially acknowledged
by marine insurance companies and mer-
chants and boards of trade in Boston and
New York. He was the founder of the
"American Ephemeris and Nautical Al-
manac," and superintended its publica-
tion, 1849-56, and again 1859-61. He
commanded the "St. Mary," of the Pacific
squadron, 1856-59. He was a member
of the Naval Board in 1861, having in
charge the inspection of the southern
Atlantic ports and coast with a view to

382

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

offensive operations against the seceding
States, and he was made captain and
chief of staff of the Port Royal expedition
of 1861. He succeeded Commodore
Foote as flag-officer of the Mississippi
flotilla, May 9, 1862, and on May 10
fought the naval battle of Fort Pillow,
forcing eight well-equipped Confederate
iron-clads to seek the protection of the
guns of the fort. On June 5, upon the
evacuation of Fort Pillow, he again en-
gaged the fleet in front of Memphis, and
succeeded in capturing or sinking seven
of the eight iron-clads, the "Van Dorn"
alone escaping. He then received the
surrender of Memphis, and joined the
victorious flotilla, the fleet of Farragut,
operating against Vicksburg. In July,
1862, he was commissioned commodore
and ordered to Washington as chief of
the Bureau of Navigation, but did not
leave the Mississippi until November.
His commission as rear-admiral was
given him February 7, 1863, ^^^^ ^^ ^^~
ceived with it the thanks of Congress for
the victories of Fort Pillow and Memphis.
He was appointed Superintendent of the
Naval Observatory at Washington in
1865, and 1867-69 commanded the South
Atlantic squadron. He returned to Wash-
ington as a member of the Light-house
Board, next was commandant of the
Norfolk Navy Yard, and in 1874 returned
to the Naval Observatory as superintend-
ent, retaining the position up to the time
of his death. He was elected a fellow
of the American Academy of Arts ana
Sciences, and a member of the American
Philosophical Society, and was one of the
incorporators of the National Academy of
Sciences. He received from Harvard
University the degrees of A. B. and A.
M. in 1841, and that of LL. D. in 1868.

He published : "The Law of Deposit at
the Flood Tide : its Geological Action and
Office" (1852) ; "Memoir Upon the Geo-
logical Action of Tidal and Other Cur-

rents of the Ocean" (1849); translated
Gauss's "Theoria Motus Corporum Coe-
lestium" (1858) ; and was a constant con-
tributor to scientific publications and re-
views. He died in Washington, D. C,
February 18, 1877.

BALDWIN, John D.,

Clergyman, Journalist, Legislator.

John Denison Baldwin, son of Daniel
Baldwin, was born in North Stonington,
Connecticut, September 28, 1809, and
died at Worcester, Massachusetts, July
8, 1883, aged seventy-three years, nine
months and ten days.

When he was seven years old the fam-
ily moved from his native town to Che-
nango county, New York, which at that
time was wilderness, and for seven years
the son labored with his father and other
members of the family to subdue the soil,
as their ancestors had done in New Eng-
land nearly two hundred years before.
He learned to shoot straight and to love
nature. Those years in New York forests
strengthened his character as well as his
muscles and developed the poetical side
of his nature. When the family returned
to live in Stonington, he was fourteen
years old. He attended school and stud-
ied diligently during the next three years,
and at the age of seventeen began teach-
ing. He entered Yale College and pur-
sued his course from time to time, as his
other duties permitted, but did not gradu-
ate. Later he began the study of law,
but soon abandoned it for theology. He
preached for a short time to a Methodist
congregation, but later entered the Di-
vinity School at Yale College, and was
graduated in 1834. In 1839 he received
his degree of Master of Arts out of regu-
lar course. He was ordained September
3. 1834, and was pastor of the Congre-
gational church at West Woodstock, Con-
necticut, until July 25, 1837. From Janu-

3.^3,

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ary 17, 1838, to May, 1845, ^^ ^^^ pastor
of the church at North Brandford, Con-
necticut, and at North Killingly from
April 29, 1846, to September 17, 1849,
made his mark as a preacher.

He was a man of sagacity and pubHc
spirit, and took a useful part in public
affairs. He was elected to the Connecti-
cut Legislature from North Killingly by
the Free Soil party. As chairman of the
committee on education he reported a
bill for the establishment of normal
schools, and in 1850 his bill was passed.
He served on the board of trustees upon
whom he devolved the selection of a site,
and the normal school was built at New
Britain. At that time the normal school
was an innovation in the educational sys-
tem, and it required no little agitation
and earnest efforts to establish in Con-
necticut the schools for the proper train-
ing of public school teachers now deemed
essential to the public school system
everywhere. As a member of the Legis-
lature he became more than ever inter-
ested in the Free Soil party and the anti-
slavery movement. Seeking a larger field
of usefulness in order to advance the re-
forms in which he was interested, he
turned from preaching to journalism. He
became editor of the Free Soil newspaper,
the "Charter Oak," published weekly at
Hartford, later called "The Republican."
Editorial work he found to his liking, and
his pen became recognized as one of the
political forces to be reckoned with. In
1852 he went to the larger field in Boston
as joint owner of the "Daily Common-
wealth" with William Claflin, John B.
Alley, Dr. Samuel G. Howe, and William
Spooner, Mr. Baldwin being editor and
manager. He established close connec-
tions with the leaders of the Free Soil
party, and gave substantial aid through
his paper to the organization of the Re-
publican party. Charles Sumner, Henry
Wilson and Theodore Parker were almost

daily visitors at his office, and the friend-
ships formed then were continued
through life. "The Commonwealth" be-
came the "Daily Telegraph" later, and
was with "The Traveler" eventually con-
solidated. Mr. Baldwin bought the
"Cambridge Chronicle" and edited it for
a few months only. In 1859 he came to
Worcester, and, with his two sons, John
Stanton Baldwin and Charles Clinton
Baldwin, he bought the "Worcester Spy."
That paper had been founded in Boston
by Isaiah Thomas in 1770, and in 1775
removed to Worcester, where the first
issue was printed May 3, 1775, just after
the battle of Lexington. The daily edition
was established in 1845. When Mr. Bald-
win took charge of "The Spy," the paper
had had some lean years, though it was
fairly prosperous. The memorable elec-
tion of i860 and the subsequent events
that culminated in the Civil War made
new demands on the publishers of daily
newspapers. Mr. Baldwin and his sons
took advantage of the opportunity —
better facilities were secured, the tele-
graphic news came into use, and the
editorial page of the newspaper was
looked upon as the political guide of the
Republicans. The friends of "The Spy"
used to call it the "Worcester County
Bible ;" its political opponents expressed
their dissent from the editorial opinions
of the paper by calling it "The Lying
Spy." As the newspaper grew in circu-
lation and prestige, it became a very
profitable business enterprise, and Mr.
Baldwin and his sons acquired compe-
tence. A brick building was erected on
Main street opposite the City Hall for a
home for the newspaper. Mr. Baldwin
had not only the efficient help of his sons,
whose knowledge of the printing business
and conduct of the counting room reliev-
ed him of a large share of detail to devote
his attention to editorial work and his
literary and political interests, but he

384

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

surrounded himself with capable news-
paper men. The late Captain J. Everts
Greene was perhaps the best known
among his assistants. Mr. Baldwin was
at the head of his paper until his death,
though he was not able to do office work
during his last few years. He was a
thorough newspaper man of the old
school ; a shrewd business man, as well
as a clear and forcible writer, farsighted
and uncompromising.

He entered political life to further the
principles that he advocated in his news-
papers. His leadership was recognized
by his Republican associates in Worces-
ter county when he was selected the year
after he came to Worcester as a delegate
to the Republican National Convention of
i860. His influence at the convention
was felt, and it was at his suggestion that
Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, was nomi-
nated for Vice-President. At the next
Congressional election in 1862, Mr. Bald-
win was elected a representative by a
large majority, and was reelected in 1864
and 1868 by even greater majorities. His
successor was George Frisbie Hoar, late
United States Senator. In Congress he
served on the committees on expendi-
tures, on public buildings, on the District
of Columbia, on printing, and on the
library. He was not a frequent speaker,
but many of his speeches were notable
efforts. He spoke March 5, 1864, on State
sovereignty and treason, the house being
in committee of the whole. He made a
brilliant speech April 7, 1866, on Congress
and reconstruction in the house, and again
January 11, 1868, in reply to Hon. James
Brooks, of New York, on the negro race,
he made a memorable speech ; some of
these were published. He was active and
influential in committee work. He made
an effort to secure an international copy-
right act during his last term, and his
speeches and reports entitle him to stand

among the benefactors of American liter-
ature.

Mr. Baldwin will be remembered not
only for his achievements in the political
world and as a national legislator, not
only as one of the great editors of the
Civil War period of Massachusetts, but
as an author and student. At the close of
his life he wrote in his autobiography
that he had been a close student all his
life, and he had never known a time when
it was not a pleasure for him to study.
This autobiography, which, with his por-
trait painted by the late William Wil-
lard, was left to his grandson, Robert S.
Baldwin, is an important contribution to
the history of the eventful period in which
he lived. It gives his political and re-
ligious views as well as his part in the
activities of life.

After he became a preacher, he acquir-
ed the French and German languages.
He was interested in science, and was one
of the first to take up the process of mak-
ing portraits by the daguerreotype pro-
cess, and some of his pictures of his fam-
ily and others have been preserved.
While in Congress he had an opportunity
for archaeological research. His book on
"Prehistoric Nations" was published by
the Harpers in 1869. In 1872 he pub-
lished "Ancient America," which had a
large sale and attracted much attention.
In 1880 he published his "Genealogy of
the Descendants of John Baldwin, of
Stonington, Connecticut." In 1881, in
collaboration with Rev. William Clift, he
published a "Record of the Descendants
of Captain George Denison, of Stoning-
ton." In 1882 he published a partial gene-
alogy of the descendants of Thomas
Stanton, of Stonington. In 1847 he pub-
lished a collection of his poems entitled
"The Story of Raymond Hill and Other
Poems." The book reveals both the
poetical temperament of the author, and

MASS— Vol 1—25

38:

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

skillful use of English in verse as well as
prose. The last time Mr. Baldwin ap-
peared in a public assembly as a speaker
was June 24, 1878, at the exercises attend-
ing the reinterment of the remains of
Isaiah Thomas, when he read a very in-
teresting account of the labors of Mr.
Thomas in the Revolution.

Mr. Baldwin was a member of the
American Oriental Society of New
Haven, established in 1843. He was
elected a member of the New England
Historic-Genealogical Society on April
22, 1868; of the American Antiquarian
Society, October 21, 1869; and an honor-
ary member of the Worcester Society of
Antiquity, January 2, 1877. One who
knew him intimately wrote the following
at the time of his death :

Mr. Baldwin was a man of imposing stature,
much exceeding six feet in height, of large frame
and great muscular strength. In his early man-
hood, his massive head, erect figure and stalwart
proportions indicative of activity and power,
gave an aspect of uncommon force and dignity.
His mind like his body was large and vigorous.
His political sagacity was highly esteemed by
those who had long been associated with him.
Though so much of a recluse, especially in later
j-ears, he knew human nature well and could
foresee with great accuracy the political effect of
any measure or event. His election forecasts
were in general singularly near the truth, and
his judgment of men, their character, capabili-
ties and popularity, was rarely at fault. His
advice in political matters was often sought and
highly valued. It was delivered confidently but
without arrogance and more than once those
who had refused to be guided by it at an import-
ant juncture had cause to regret that it had
been rejected. As a writer Mr. Baldwin was
direct, clear and forcible. His style had no orna-
ment. It was sometimes rugged, but always
strong and sincere. His wide range of reading
and retentive memory gave him a vast store of
facts, and his knowledge of political history was
especially large and accurate. But though his
profession of journalism kept his mind occupied
much with such subjects, his favorite pursuit was
the study of antiquity, both the dim past of which
authentic history gives only hints and sugges-

liims. and the less remote but almost as difficult,
field of family genealogy to which most of his
later years, while his health allowed, was de-
voted.

Mr. Baldwin married, April 3, 1832,
Lemira Hathaway, daughter of Captain
Ebenezer and Betsey (Crane) Hathaway,
of Dightoii, Massachusetts. Captain
Hathaway, born in 1779, was the son of
Stephen Hathaway, born in 1745, and the
grandson of Nicholas Hathaway, born in
1722. His mother's maiden name was
Hope Pierce. Lemira Hathaway was
born March 6, 1813, and died April 2,
1904. The children of John Denison and
Lemira (Hathaway) Baldwin were: i.
Ellen Frances, born in Dighton, Massa-
chusetts, January 19, 1833, died in New
Orleans, March, 1854. ("She had made
it certain," her father wrote of her, "that,
if she had lived, she would have won a
brilliant reputation in literature"). 2. John
Stanton, born in New Haven, Connecti-
cut. January 6, 1834. 3. Charles Clinton,
])orn in Woodstock, Connecticut, May 4,
1835. 4. Mary Jane, born in Woodstock,
Connecticut, May 6, 1836, died in Hart-
ford, Connecticut, December 29, 1850.
("She was bright, vigorous and promis-
ing," her father wrote of her, "and had
seemed sure of a long life").

JEWETT, Charles Coffin,

Expert Librarian.

Charles Coffin Jewett was born at
Lebanon, Maine, August 12, 1816, son of
the Rev. Paul and Eleanor (Punchard)
Jewett. He was graduated from the
Salem Latin School, Massachusetts, and
entered Dartmouth College, but transfer-
red to Brown University, where he was
graduated in 1835.

Fle was principal of an academy at
Uxbridge, Massachusetts, 1835-37. He
was graduated from Andover Theological
Seminary in 1840, but was not ordained.

386

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

He was librarian at Andover, 1837-40;
was principal of Day's Academy, Wren-
tham, Massachusetts, 1840-41 ; was in
charge of the library at Brown Univer-
sity, and rearranged and catalogued the
books in 1842-48; and was Professor of
Modern Languages at the same institu-
tion, 1843-48. While holding the latter
chair he spent two years and a half in
France, Germany and Italy, studying the
language of each country, and making
purchases of English and classical books
amounting to seven thousand volumes,
under the direction of the library com-
mittee. Upon his return he was made
librarian and assistant secretary at the
Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
D. C, serving as such from 1848 to 1858,
and was superintendent of the Boston
Public Library, 1858-68. He perfected
a system of cataloguing by a stereotypic
process, thereby saving both money and
space. He was the author of: "Close of
the Late Rebellion" (1842) ; "Catalogue
of the Library of Brown University"
(1843) ; "Facts and Considerations Rela-
tive to Duties on Books" (1846); "No-
tices of Public Libraries in the United
States" (1851) ; "On the Construction of
Catalogues of Libraries and their publi-
cation by means of separate stereotyped
titles" (1852) ; "Catalogue of the Boston
Public Library." He died at Braintree.
Massachusetts, January 9, 1868.

JOHNSON, Ellen Cheney,

Humanitarian, Reformer.

Ellen Cheney Johnson was born in
Athol, Massachusetts, December 20, 1819,
daughter of Nathan and Rhoda (Hol-
brook) Cheney. She was an only child,
and was brought up largely in the com-
panionship of her father, a cotton manu-
facturer who taught her to fish, swim,
and ride on horseback, as well as to at-
tend to the lighter duties of the farm,

especially the care of young animals and
of plants and flowers.

She was educated at schools in Ware
and Francestown, New Hampshire, and
took a prominent place in the temperance
movements of the time. She removed
with the family to Boston, and was mar-
ried in 1838 to Jesse C. Johnson, a busi-
ness man of Boston, who died in 1881.
In 1861 her interest in the welfare of the
Union soldiers in the field was awakened,
and she became associated with Mrs.
Harrison Gray Otis in relief movements
for the sick and wounded. She was con-
nected with the United States Sanitary
Commission, and served on the finance
and executive committees of the New
England auxiliary branch, which she
helped to organize. Her interest in the
cause did not end with the war, but she
continued in touch with the families of
soldiers as long as she lived, and in many
ways lightened the burdens thrown on
them by the war. She was a pioneer in
the movement for the reformation of
women, especially in providing separate
and better prison accommodations for
female criminals. She was a member of
the Board of Prison Commissioners,
1879-84, and superintendent of the Re-
formatory Prison for Women at Sher-
born, Massachusetts, 1884-99, her prede-
cessors in office having been Eudora C.
Atkinson, the organizer of the work. Dr.
Eliza M. Mosher, and Clara Barton, 1882-
84. Her administration of the affairs of
the reformatory was eminently success-
ful, and included not only the care of the
unfortunates and of discharged convicts,
but of the large farm and dairy attached
to the institution, which was a model of
neatness and profitable management. She
attended by invitation the quinquennial
meeting of the International Council of
Women in London known as the Wo-
men's Congress, where she read a paper
on "Women in Prison." June 27, 1899.

.387

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

While in London, England, as the guest
of the Rt. Rev. Edward Stuart Talbot,
D. D., Bishop of Rochester, she died sud-
denly, June 28, 1899. A memorial tablet
was placed in the chapel of the reforma-
tory by Mr. and Mrs. James M. Barnard,
in July, 1900.

BARNARD, Rev. Jeremiah,

Prominent Clergyman.

Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, third son and
child of Robert and Mary (Holman)
Barnard, born in Bolton, Massachusetts,
in March, 1715, (the "History of Am-
herst" says February 28, 1750) died in
Amherst, New Hampshire, January 15,

1835-

He graduated from Harvard College in

1773, and on August 13, 1776, was com-
missioned chaplain of the Second Regi-
ment of Massachusetts troops raised to
reinforce the main American army at
Ticonderoga, New York. On March 3,
1780, he was settled as minister of Am-
herst, and fulfilled the duties of that office
until a short time before his death. As
minister of Amherst Mr. Barnard suc-
ceeded Rev. Daniel Wilkins (the first
minister) whose ministry had extended
through a period of nearly forty-two
years, but the new incumbent was wholly
unlike his predecessor. "His lot was
cast in stormy times, among a divided
people, and he possessed a will and
energy to breast the storm. Not always
wise or prudent in his utterances, his
people soon learned that in a contest
with him there were blows to take as
well as give. He lived and prospered
where a man of a more quiet and peace-
able disposition would have been crushed
between the contending factions in the
town. More tolerant of religious than
political differences, he kept the people
of his parish together, and when he re-
tired they were ready to give a cordial

welcome to his successor." (From "His-
tory of Amherst.") Soon after the death
of Mr. Barnard the following account of
his life in the ministry was published in
the Boston "Centinel:"

Died in Amherst, N. H., on the 15th inst., the
Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, aged eighty-four, senior
pastor of the Congregational church in that
town. This aged servant of the Most High
commenced his ministerial career in the vicinity
of this city, in the most trying period of the
Revolution, and by his prayers and patriotic sen-
timents contributed to encourage the Christian
patriots who distinguished themselves at Lexing-
ton, Concord and Bunker Hill. In 1780 he was
associated with the Rev. Daniel Wilkins as joint
pastor of the church and society in Amherst, and,
after a happy and harmonious association of four
years, by the death of Mr. Wilkins, the arduous
and responsible duties of sole pastor devolved on
Mr. Barnard. He continued solely to discharge
these duties with uninterrupted zeal and fidelity
for more than thirty years, in course of which
the societies were united and made honorable
progress in moral and religious improvement
from year to year, and were distinguished for
harmony and social order. In 1816, in conse-
quence of his advanced years and infirmities.
Rev. Mr. Lord was associated with him as col-
league, which relieved him of a portion of the
burden of his pastoral duties in his declining
years. Till within a few years, however, he con-
tinued to visit the sick, and administered to the
distressed. Although the mighty hand of time
had impaired his physical and intellectual ener-
gies, it had not diminished the benevolence of a
Christian and philanthropic heart. The religion
of Mr. Barnard was deep-rooted, though cheer-
ful, fervent without austerity. It was, indeed, a
religion of the heart-pure, social, and unaffected.
He was listened to with respect as a Christian
teacher; he was respected for his good sense,
and beloved as a friend. After a ministry of
fifty-five years, in the fullness of time, he has
been gathered to his fathers, and he will long
be remembered with respect by his society, par-
ticularly those who are old enough to know him
as he was before age had impaired his bodily
faculties and dimmed his mind.

On October 15, 1777, Rev. Jeremiah
Barnard married Deborah Henchman,
born in Lynn, Massachusetts, September

388

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

24, 1753, died in Amherst, October 12, profit, and began to manufacture flannels.

1833; she was the eldest daughter of Dr.
Nathaniel Henchman, died May 30, 1767,
and Margaret Mansfield, his wife, who
died July 21, 1777. Deborah Henchman
had two sisters, Elizabeth and Anna, and
one brother. Dr. Nathaniel Henchman,
who settled in Amherst in 1783, and was
one of the prominent physicians in that
locality until the time of his death, May
2y, 1800.

STEVENS, Nathaniel,

Pioneer Flannel Mannf actnrer.

Captain Nathaniel Stevens, son of
Jonathan Stevens, was born in Andover,
October 19, 1786, and died March 7, 1865,
at North Andover. He and his brother
William were educated in the public
schools and Franklin Academy. In 1804,
after leaving school, he took a sea voyage
to Leghorn as a common sailor before the
mast, for the sake of his health and the
experience. He was a trader in Andover
from 1810 to 1812. He was a lieutenant
of the Andover company in the War of
1812, and later was captain.

The example and encouragement of his
father-in-law, Moses Hale, started him in
the manufacturing business. Entering
partnership with Dr. Joseph Kittredge
and Josiah Monroe, in 1813, he built the
wooden mill on the site of the first saw
mills on the Cochickawick river, the same
building with brick walls instead of
wooden ones being still in use as part
of the Stevens mills. James Scholfield
was engaged to take charge of the mill,
and Mr. Stevens devoted his entire atten-
tion to manufacturing. By perseverance
and energy he soon mastered in all its
details the art of manufacturing cloth.
He then decided to give up making
broadcloth, in which he experimented
first, because of the difficulty of making
the goods and the uncertainty of the

He was the pioneer in the manufacture
of flannel in this country. In 1828 and
1831 he bought out his partners and took
entire charge of the mill and business.
He was warned by well meaning friends
that he would lose his time and sink his
capital. Abbot Lawrence, the importer,
especially warned him that American
manufacturers could not compete with
the British successfully, "Take my
advice," said he one day, when Mr.
Stevens carried a load of flannels to Bos-
ton, "sell out your mill, and go into some
other business." "Never," replied Stev-
ens, "as long as I can get water to turn
my mill wheel." Captain Stevens con-
tinued, despite the discouragements of
small and insufficient capital, of narrow
and inconvenient quarters, and of a
market flooded with foreign goods, and
against the advice of his friends, and won
a brilliant success eventually. He lived
to become one of the most wealthy, hon-
ored and influential manufacturers of the
country, a leader in the woolen industry
of the country, carrying on business for
half a century with continuous success
and increasing volume. He also had the
satisfaction of seeing the industry in
which he was a pioneer become of giant
proportions in the United States ; he
saw American looms producing the best
goods and winning a place in the markets
of the world, employing millions of dol-
lars in capital and hundreds of thousands
of men. Perhaps no other manufacturer
or single individual in this country con-
tributed more than Mr. Stevens in paving
the way for the textile industries that
have held the prestige of New England
when she ceased to be of importance as
an agricultural community. He opened
the way to wealth for the nation by prov-
ing that American mills could be operated
profitably. He was a remarkably shrewd
and farsighted business man, of much

389

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

common sense and consummate executive
ability. He had no precedents to fall
back on. He had to rely on his own dis-
cretion in making goods and marketing
them.

He was also generous with the wealth
that came as a fruit of his enterprise and
industry. He contributed to every char-
ity within his reach, and was especially
eager to contribute to the welfare and
progress of his native town. He was the
leading citizen of North Andover for
many years. He derived much pleasure
from the cultivation of the ancestral
acres. He was a man of iron constitu-
tion and phenomenal industry. He used
to say that he never felt fatigue until he
was fifty years old. He was a member
of the Merrimac Power Association, one
of the founders of the city of Lawrence,
which was formerly a part of Andover.
He believed in the value of sound learning
and gave the best possible education to
all of his large family. In politics he was
an ardent Democrat, a loyal supporter of
the Andrew Jackson administration, and
formidable in debate in defending and
supporting "Old Hickory." When the
Civil War came on, he was loyal to the
Union, and did his utmost to support the
administration in his old age. Three sons
became associated with him in business
in Andover, and all five became promi-
nent manufacturers. To the sons as well
as to the father the town of Andover,
the town of North Andover and all the
villages in which the family has mills owe
them a great debt. They have been
model mill proprietors in every sense of
the word.

Mr. Stevens married, November 6,
1815, Harriet Hale, born August 21, 1794,
died January 29, 1882, daughter of Moses
Hale, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Her
father was a pioneer manufacturer. Chil-
dren : I. Henry IT., a linen manufacturer
at Douglas. Massachusetts. 2. Charles

A., died at Ware, Massachusetts, April

7, 1892; began to make woolens at Ware
in 1843 in partnership with George H.
Gilbert; after ten years each partner con-
tinued by himself; married, April 20,
1842, Maria Tyler; represented his dis-
trict in Congress and in the Governor's
Council ; a Republican in politics ; son,
Jonathan Tyler, was also a prominent
manufacturer of Ware. 3. Moses Tyler.
4. George, connected with the North An-
dover mills owned by his father ; died in
middle life. 5. Horace N., was connected
with the Haverhill and North Andover
mills; died in middle life. 6. Julia Maria,
married Rev. Sylvan S. Hunting. 7.
Catherine, married Hon. Oliver Stevens.

8. Ann Eliza, married John H. D. Smith.

PHILLIPS, Ebenezer B.,

Pioneer in Fish Oil Industry.

Ebenezer Burrill Phillips, second son
and third child of James and Mary (Bur-
rill) Phillips, was born in Swampscott,
Massachusetts, July 5, 1808, and died
there November 26, 1879, after a business
career of full fifty years, one which ran
in various channels and was as honorable
as it was successful.

Like nearly all the other young men
born and brought up on the north shore,
he naturally took to the sea, and before
he had reached the age of twenty years
was master of a fishing vessel, the
"Essex," in which he was once driven
out to sea before a fierce gale and in a
blinding storm. In later years Captain
Phillips frequently narrated the story of
this perilous incident of the winter of
1829 and the narrow escape of all on
board, for the light vessel was at the
mercy of the waves for several days and
finally made port at Chatham, Massa-
chusetts. During the earlier part of his
business life Mr. Phillips produced fish
oils and marketed them among the leather

390

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

manufacturers of Salem and Woburn ;
and he also made what became known
as the "Phillips Beach Dunfish," which
became famous for quality and gave him
an extensive and prohtable trade. In
1830 his operations had so increased and
the market demand for the products of
his works became so widespread that it
became necessary to establish a sales
house in Boston, and some years later,
after Mr. Phillips had gone extensively
into the manufacture of codliver oil, a
second house was established in the same
city as a distributing center for that
special commodity. In the course of
time Mr. Phillips built up a vast oil
manufacturing establishment, and in
some particular productions of his works
he was a pioneer, and as a result of his
enterprise, capable business management
and the undoubted integrity which al-
ways characterized his business methods,
he also built up for himself a financial
fabric of large proportions. Such indeed
was the volume of business done by him
that he governed the market and its prices
so far as related to his own manufac-
tures, and came to be known in trade
circles as the "Oil King," but it is due
him to say that he never sought to
control the market for selfish ends and
the greater accumulation of riches, but
rather to establish a standard of quality,
maintain it, and never permit that quality
to deteriorate to meet the trade opposi-
tion of other producers and jobbers.

Having acquired large means, Mr.
Phillips made considerable investments
in Boston real estate and its improve-
ment, and at the time of the disastrous
conflagration in 1872 he owned not less
than sixteen mercantile buildings which
were destroyed, including those occupied
by himself. The insurance was nowhere
in proportion to the loss, but he was not
crippled by the misfortune and at once

set about the work of rebuilding more
substantially than before ; and in one of
the largest of the new structures he
continued in the fish oil business until
the time of his death. For a full half
century he was engaged in active busi-
ness, and while his manifold interests
were so extensive and varied in character
that men less fortunately constituted
than himself perhaps would have been
distracted by their exactions, he never
allowed himself to become a victim of
such emotions and when fatigued with
their cares would find relaxation and
recreation in excursions after sea-fowl,
for he was an enthusiastic sportsman, or
in a pleasure cruise along the north
shore, for he was a splendid sailor and the
owner of some of the swiftest craft that
ever sailed a race in his time. For many
\ ears he owned and sailed the famous
schooner "Moll Pitcher," and about ten
years before his death he owned the yacht
"Fearless," and by occasional changes in
her rig and model brought her up to a
condition that enabled him to sail her in
twenty-six consecutive races and cross
the finish line first almost every time;
and he himself always was at the wheel
or in command. Mr. Phillips was per-
haps one of the best types of the purely
self-made man the old town of Swamp-
scott ever produced.

Besides his real estate and other prop-
erty holdings in Boston, Mr. Phillips
made considerable investments in shore
front lands in Swampscott land on Cape
Ann. in the vicinity of Rockport and
Pigeon Cove. This was not by any means
a wild speculation, for it is evident that
he appreciated the fact that the north
shore was almost certain to become the
most popular summer resort region in
the east, and subsequent events have
proved the soundness of his judgment.
For many years previous to his death he

391

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

was president of the National Grand
Bank of Marblehead, a director of the
Province & Worcester railroad, and of
the Shoe and Leather Insurance Com-
pany of Boston.

Mr. Phillips married (first) February
9, 1837, Nancy Knowlton, born in Hamil-
ton, Massachusetts, October 22, 1816; one
child. Franklin Knowlton, born Novem-
ber 3, 1837, deceased. He married
(second) in Salem, April 4, 1841, Maria
Lowe Stanwood, born in Gloucester, De-
cember 8, 1814, died in Swampscott, Sep-
tember 12. 1882.

PAINE, William,

Loyalist in ReTolution.

William Paine, the first child of Timo-
thy and Sarah Paine, was born June 5,
1750, at Worcester, Massachusetts. He
graduated from Harvard College in the
class of 1768, his name standing second
in the catalogue, according to the dignity
of families. He studied medicine with
Dr. Edward A. Holyoke, a physician of
Salem. One of his instructors before
entering college was John Adams, after-
wards President of the L-nited States,
who taught in the Worcester school while
studying law with Hon. James Putnam, a
lawyer of great ability. He commenced
his practice in Worcester in 1771, in con-
nection with the business of an apothe-
cary. In 1772, with Dr. Levi Shepard
and Ebenezer Hunt, of Northampton, he
opened the first apothecary store in Wor-
cester county.

Like his father and brother Samuel.
he was very friendly to the Crown, and
took an active part in the political affairs
of the day In the spring of 1774 there
was great excitement in Worcester owing
to the objectionable acts of Parliament
then lately passed, especially at the report
of an effort to have the General Court

offer indemnity for the tea destroyed in
Boston Harbor. The Loyalists of the
town were much excited at what they
considered the treasonable action of the
Whigs in opposing the acts of Parlia-
ment, and finally a protest, signed by
over fifty of them, was presented at a
town meeting held in June, 1774. This
protest, which was the joint production
of Hon. James Putnam and Dr. Paine,
was quite lengthy, and complained bitter-
ly of the outrages perpetrated by the
Whigs, alluding especially to "the teas
of immense value lately belonging to the
East India Tea Company not long since
scandalously destroyed in Boston," and
also protesting against the Committee of
Correspondence then being formed, and
ending thus: "It is by these committees
also that papers have been lately pub-
lished and are now circulating through
the province inviting and wickedly
tempting all persons. These and all such
enormities we detest and abhor; and the
authors of them we esteem enemies to
our King and country, violaters of all
law and civil liberty, the malevolent dis-
turbers of the peace of society, disturbers
of the established constitution, and
enemies of mankind." These resolutions
were spread upon the town records of
Worcester, and when the opposition
found it out, trouble ensued, they de-
manding of the selectmen that the clerk
be ordered to strike and erase the same
from the public records. The selectmen
voted to so order the record erased, and
thereupon the clerk, in open town meet-
ing, with his pen defaced the pages on
which the obnoxious record was made,
but this not proving satisfactory to the
patriotic voters there assembled, he was
made to dip his fingers into the ink and
draw them across the records, so effec-
tually accomplishing the object that the
words have been utterly illegible, as may

392

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

be seen by inspection of the volume in
the hands of the city clerk of Worcester,
at this late date.

Soon after this Dr. Paine went to Eng-
land, where he remained until the spring
of 1775, but as the war came on he was
denounced as a Loyalist, and as he could
not return to his family and home, he at
once sailed for Liverpool, deigning to
avail himself of the advantages and means
of improvement afforded by foreign in-
stitutions, until the war should terminate.
.•\fter a year's attendance in hospitals,
and having received the degree of M. D.
from Marischal College at Aberdeen,
Scotland, he was appointed apothecary
to the English forces in America. Later
he was admitted to the Royal College of
Physicians of London. ?Ie returned to
America in 1782, landing in New York
in March, and in October of the same
year was appointed by Sir Guy Carleton
physician of the army. He was ordered
to Halifax and remained there on duty
until the troops were reduced in 1783,
when he was discharged on half pay. All
of this is found in Lincoln's "History of
Worcester." In the summer of 1784 Dr.
William Paine took possession of La
Tete, an island in Passamaquoddy Bay.
granted him by the English government
for his "service in war." He wrote to
his brother Nathaniel, in June, 1784: "I
am going to move bag and baggage to
Passamaquoddy. I have already erected
a house on the island, which is the spot
upon which I intend to reside." But on
account of poor society, lack of schools,
etc., he removed from that point in 1785
to St. John, New Brunswick, where he
began to practice his chosen profession
again. He was appointed by Governor
Thomas Carleton one of the first board
of aldermen of St. John, and in 1786 was
unanimously elected alderman from Sid-
ney ward. He was elected to a seat in the
Assemblv of New Brunswick and was

appointed clerk of the House. He was
afterward chosen speaker of the Assem-
bly, but as he soon after left the prov-
ince, retained the office but a short
time. In October, 1785, he was appointed
"Surveyor-General of the Woods in the
Province of Nova Scotia, all other his
Majesties' Territories in x-Xmerica," by Sir
John Wentworth, with orders to "care-
fully survey and diligently make and
register such white pine trees as may now
or hereafter be fit for the use of the
Royal Navy." He retained this position
until the summer of 1787, when, the act
of banishment having been repealed, by
permission of the war office he went to
Salem, Massachusetts. After the death
of his father in 1793, he returned to Wor-
cester, and occupied the paternal estate
until his death. Until 1812 he was on
half pay as a British officer, when he was
called upon by the British government
for service, but rather than act against
his countrymen he resigned his commis-
sion. In June of the last named year, he
petitioned the Legislature of Massachu-
setts for consent to his being naturalized
as a citizen of the United States. Dr.
Paine was one of the founders of the
American Antiquarian Society, and its
first vice-president. He died in Wor-
cester, April 19, 1833, the anniversary of
the fight at Lexington.

Dr. Paine was married, September 22,
1773, by Paine Wingate, to Lois Orne, of
Salem, by license of his friend. Sir John
Wentworth. Their children were: i.
Esther Orne, born August 18, 1774. 2.
Llarriet, born November 13, 1778, died
December 20, 1778. 3. Harriet, born No-
vember 21, 1779. 4. William, born No-
vember 2, 1783, died unmarried, July 21,
1834, at Batavia. 5. Elizabeth Putnam,
born at St. John, New Brunswick, June
26, 1786, died at Worcester. 6. Frederick
William, born at Salem, Massachusetts,
May 23, 1788.

393

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

PEABODY, Joseph,

Early Ship Builder, Foreign Trader.

Joseph Peabody was one of the most
eminent merchants in Salem in his gener-
ation, and as a vessel owner and foreign
trader was a typical exponent of the
enterprise which brought this port into
world-wide fame.

He was born December 12, 1757, and
died January 5, 1844, aged eighty-six
years. He passed his early life in Box-
ford and Middleton, and was reared to
farming. But agriculture never claimed
much of his attention, for he was only a
youth when he enlisted for service in the
Revolution, joining a military company at
Boxford which marched to Lexington,
but arriving too late to participate in the
fight. He subsequently gave his services
on the private armed vessels which played
so important a part in the ultimate suc-
cess of the American cause, and so dis-
tinguished himself as a brave and skill-
ful officer that in 1782 the merchants of
Alexandria rewarded him for his intre-
pidity in defending the vessel "Ranger," of
which he was then first officer, against a
treble-armed force on the "Potomac," in
which engagement he was wounded.
Later he had command of various ves-
sels, and at the close of the Revolution
commenced business as a ship owner and
merchant, continuing as such to the close
of his honorable and active career. In
1791, the year of his marriage, he retired
from personal service on the sea, and de-
voted himself to the upbuilding and man-
agement of what became a vast business
— so vast that for some years before his
death he was accounted one of the
wealthiest men of his time. His reputa-
tion extended throughout the commercial
circles of the day, for his success, won
by the most honorable methods and the
application of ability of the highest order.

was almost unprecedented. Certainly it
exceeded his most sanguine expectations.
Some idea of the magnitude of Mr.
Peabody's operations may be gained from
the following: He built eighty-three
ships, most of which he freighted him-
self, and in whose service he shipped in
the course of his long career some seven
thousand seamen. After 18 17 he pro-
moted to captaincies thirty-five men who
had entered his employ in boyhood. It
is said that prior to the W^ar of 1812 his
vessels made thirty-eight voyages to
Calcutta ; seventeen to Canton ; thirty-
two to Sumatra ; forty-seven to St. Peters-
burg; ten to other northern European
ports, and twenty to the Mediterranean.
The West Indies, the Spanish Main and
the northwest coast also came within the
range of his enterprise. The fact that so
important a house had its headquarters
at Salem gave prestige to the town and
its commercial activities, all his vessels
being built and equipped at that port, to
and from which they likewise sailed.
Thence, also, the coasting vessels dis-
tributed the merchandise brought from
all parts of the globe, and in the various
branches of this extensive business many
of the inhabitants of the town found
steady and profitable employment. Mr.
Peabody was in partnership at different
times with Thomas Perkins and Gideon
Tucker, both of whom were men of great
business capacity, and both of whom
made fortunes in the trade, but Mr. Pea-
body was always the master mind. He
was steady and clear in judgment,
whether of men or things, and he recog-
nized ability and special fitness in men
to such an extent that he rarely made a
mistake in choosing his assistants and
associates. He was conservative and
careful in his ventures, making up his
mind slowly and only after thoughtful
consideration, but once he had decided

394

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

upon a course nothing could turn him
from it, and the result usually showed
that his conclusions were correct and
well founded. He had the supreme
advantage of a practical acquaintance
with all the details of his immense busi-
ness, learned in the early years when he
was making his way up, and he never
undervalued the importance of this ex-
perience. His faculty of valuing all
things at their true worth was one of the
most potent elements in his success.

On August 28, 1791, Joseph Peabody
married (first) Catherine Smith ; (sec-
ond) her sister Elizabeth, October 24,
1795; they were daughters of Rev. Elias
Smith, of Middleton.

KNIGHT, Hiram,

Manufacturer.

Captain Hiram Knight, son of Silas
Knight, was born in Oakham, Massachu-
setts, August 22, 1793. He was one of
the successful business men of Leicester,
who began life without capital and won a
competence. Pie went to Leicester at the
age of twenty-one to work at his trade,
and his first home was on Main street, in
the house afterward occupied by the Lei-
cester Boot Company. The next year he
moved to Leicester Academy, of which
he was the steward from 1819 to 1822.
In 1823 he purchased the old Green
Tavern, on the corner of Main and Pax-
ton streets. Here for about two years
he kept the tavern, in addition to follow-
ing the occupation of butchering and for
a time was in partnership with Reuben
Merriam in making card clothing and in
a general store.

In 1825 he became a member of the
firm of James and John A. Smith & Com-
pany, who built and occupied the factory
where the woolen mill afterward stood.
The company also built the boarding
house and the brick factorv above. This

firm was founded by Winthrop Earle in
1802, in a building in the rear of Colonel
Thomas Denny's factory, which stood
east of the Leicester Hotel. After his
death in 1807, John Woodcock managed
the business. The widow of Winthrop
Earle married Alpheus Smith in 1808,
and he entered the business. Mr. Wood-
cock invented the machine for splitting
leather to a uniform thickness. In 181 1
the factory was moved west of the hotel,
and in 1812 it was enlarged. In that year
James Smith was admitted to partner-
ship, and the firm name became Wood-
cock & Smith. In 1813 the senior part-
ner retired, and in the following year
John A. and Rufus Smith took his inter-
ests, and for a time the firm name was
James & John A. Smith & Company.
Rufus Smith died in 1818. Hiram Knight
entered the firm October 25, 1825, with
John Woodcock and Emory Dreury. In
1827 and 1828 they built the brick factory.
Mr. Dreury left the firm in 1829.

In addition to the making of card ma-
chines, the firm began the manufacture of
card clothing in Philadelphia with George
W. Morse in charge, conducting business
under the name of James Smith & Com-
pany. The firm name of the concern was
Smith, Woodcock & Knight. The busi-
ness was moved to the central factory
north of the church in 1848. In 1848 T.
E. Woodcock and Dexter Knight, sons
of the senior partners, were admitted to
the firm, and the name became Wood-
cock, Knight & Company. In 1867 the
business passed into the hands of the
younger generation. The partners were
henceforth : T. E. Woodcock, Dexter
Knight, George M. Knight and James J.
Knight. In the year preceding the fac-
tory had been enlarged. The firm was
dissolved in 1881, and the property sold
later to the American Card Clothing
Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Knight kept the

395

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

boarding house for the firm until about
1832, when they moved back to the Green
Tavern. Mr. Knight had charge of most
of the building of the brick school build-
ing on Pleasant street. His own resi-
dence on the site of the old Green Tavern
he built in 1843 — a picturesque and at-
tractive house in the heart of the beautiful
village. Mr. Knight at one time owned
considerable land and carried on farming.
He was an active member of the Wor-
cester County Agricultural Society.

Captain Knight was engaged in the
manufacture of card clothing in the period
of the rapid development of that indus-
try, when inventive genius was perfect-
ing the wonderful machine for card
setting, of which a gentleman once said,
after watching its operation, "Why, it
thinks !" He was not trained to the busi-
ness, but was a natural mechanic, in-
genious and inventive. He made many
improvements in the machinery used and
according to the testimony of his part-
ner, John Woodcock, made the first card
clothing set by machinery in Leicester.
Captain Knight was in the stage in Ohio,
when Christopher C. Baldwin, of Wor-
cester, was killed. Captain Knight was
one of the directors of the Leicester Bank
from 1850 to 1874. Between the years
1836 and 1844 he served the town in
various offices. He was assessor, moder-
ator and selectman ; and was appointed
justice of the peace by Governor Bout-
well when that ofifice had the duties of
magistrate. In politics he was a Demo-
crat, but decidedly independent. He was
a member of the State Constitutional
Convention in 1853. In early life he was
active in military afifairs and was captain
of the Leicester company. He was one
of the early members of the Second Con-
gregational Church (Unitarian).

"Captain Knight," writes Rev. A. H.
Coolidge, "was a man of sound judgment,
self reliant and of strict business integ-

rity. He gave close attention to his
business and was successful. He was
wise and cautious in his investments and
became one of the wealthy men of the
town. For his success he was largely
indebted to his wife. She was a woman
of domestic tastes, and devoted herself
untiringly to the varied duties of the
household, acting her part with true wo-
manly fidelity and fortitude in all the
various experiences of the family, in
prosperity and in trial and sorrow. She
was married at the age of seventeen
years."

He married, April 28, 1818, Olive
Barnes, whose mother was Betsey Green,
daughter of William Green, who was
born in Leicester, in 1743, the son of Wil-
liam and Rebeckah Green. They had
eleven children, seven of whom died
young. Three sons, long known as the
partners and successors in business, of
Captain Knight, were the only children
who survived their parents.

DUNCAN, James H.,

Lavryer, National Legislator.

Colonel James Henry Duncan, son of
James Duncan, who was a soldier of the
Revolution, was born in Haverhill, Mas-
sachusetts, December 5, 1793, and died
there February, 1869. He received his
first instruction in the public schools of
his native town, and early in life develop-
ed habits of study and a love of books.
He fitted for college at Phillips Academy,
Exeter, New Hampshire, and at the age
of fourteen entered Harvard College,
where he attained high rank, and in 1812
was graduated with an honorable part.

He studied law in the offices of Hon.
John Varnum, of Haverhill, and Leverett
Saltonstall, Esq., of Salem, and was
admitted to the bar in 1815. He began
the practice of his profession in his native
place and soon rose to distinction in his

396

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

profession. He remained in active law
pursuit for nearly thirty-five years, and
when he retired upon taking his seat in
Congress, was among the leaders of the
bar, famous for his fidelity, integrity and
successful application to the duties of the
hour. Before he was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Duncan was chosen ensign of the
Harvard Light Infantry Company, and
step by step rose to the command of the
regiment, was colonel for several years,
and finally resigned for business reasons.
He was also interested in agriculture, and
enjoyed his farming as a change from
professional cares and distractions. He
was elected a trustee of the Essex Agri-
cultural Society, and was its president
from 1836 to 1839. When the National
Republican party was formed in 1827,
Mr. Duncan was the successful candidate
of the opposition on a fusion ticket sup-
ported by Federalists and Democrats for
representative to the General Court, and
in the following year was elected to the
State Senate, continuing three years and
declining another election. In 1837 and
1838 he was again elected to the General
Court, and in 1839 and 1840 again to the
Senate. Under the district system in
1857 he was again elected a representa-
tive. He was one of the best known and
most faithful and efificient legislators of
his day. His long experience and dis-
tinguished abilities gave him a place of
commanding influence and power. Upon
the passage of the State insolvency law in
1838 he was appointed a commissioner in
insolvency, and when the Federal gov-
ernment put in force the United States
bankrupt law in 1841, he became commis-
sioner in bankruptcy, and held that office
until the law that created it was repealed.
In 1839 he was a delegate to the National
Republican convention (Whig) at Har-
risburg, at which General William H.
Harrison was nominated for President.
In 1848 he was elected to represent the

largest manufacturing district in the
L^nited States in Congress, and was re-
elected in 1850. In his later years he
affiliated with the present Republican
party. He was a member and earnest
supporter of various literary and benevo-
lent organizations, especially those con-
nected with the Baptist church. In 1835
he was a fellow of Brown University,
Providence. He was a good financier,
and one of the largest and most enter-
prising owners of real estate, accomplish-
ing much for the development of that
city and the promotion of its business
interests. He owned a handsome resi-
dence and maintained a fine estate at the
corner of Main and Summer streets in
Haverhill, formerly owned by Moses B.
Moody. His mansion was designed by
the celebrated architect, Haviland, and
was one of the best houses in the city at
the time of its erection. It later became
the home of the Pentucket Club.

He married, June, 1826, Mary Willis,
born 1805, daughter of Benjamin and
Mary (McKinstry) Willis.

BREED, Nathan,

Founder of Great Shoe Indnstry.

Nathan Breed, son of James and Han-
nah (Alley) Breed, was born January 28,
1794, and died July 15, 1872. From both
parents he inherited sterling qualities of
character, and a liking for business from
his father, who was a tallow chandler,
and maker of soaps, in Lynn, and whose
house was located about where the en-
trance of Bowman place now leads from
Broad street, being called one of the old-
est.

Nathan Breed, who was the founder of
the shoe industry in Lynn, and for many
years one of its most prominent and ex-
tensive manufacturers, began business by
purchasing small pieces of stock of Mica-
jah Burrill and making them up into

397

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

children's sizes of shoes. The period of
his activity included the years from
about 1830 to the introduction of shoe
machinery. The shoes were not actually
made at the factory — that is, put to-
gether, but the soles were cut there, and
likewise the uppers. The shoes were
then put out to be bound by the women,
and then made by the men, sometimes
the two tasks being done by husband and
wife. This was the beginning of the little
"ten-footer" shoeshops which as a result
became abundant throughout Lynn and
adjacent towns, and the making was
largely done in them, when not done in
the kitchen, after the fashion of an earlier
day. The making was also put out to
people in other States as well as Massa-
chusetts, this building up the formerly
well known "shoe express" business, the
carriers taking large cases of cut stock
away, and returning the made-up shoes.
Mr. Breed's product went into every
State in the Union, and sometimes into
Canada.

One of Mr. Breed's foster industries
was located at St. Louis, Missouri, where
he assisted a former employee, John C.
Abbott, to go into business under the
firm name of Hood & Abbott. They later
extended their sale business to Nashville,
Tennessee. Mr. Breed's business was of
such extent that he came in time to leave
it largely to trusted assistants, while he
devoted his great energies to larger inter-
ests. He would visit the factory in the
morning, look over the simply kept books,
draw the required checks, and then depart
for the day. A strictly temperance man
himself, he would allow no stimulants
used in his factory or by his men if he
knew it. Out of the proceeds of his busi-
ness Mr. Breed built largely for the pros-
perity of the town, and with it there grew
up other and collateral lines of business,
such as the making of boxes, which was
first made a really important business

or trade by James N. BufTman. These
Mr. Breed purchased largely in advance,
as he did his leather stock, usually at-
tending to this part of his business in
person. Likewise he would keep his
workmen employed during the dull winter
season, and even solicited sales from
buyers, giving them the advantage of re-
duced prices and extended time if they
bought, and thus introduced business
methods by which he reaped the benefit
by a direct increase of his trade. The
buyers always came to the factory, and
no salesman went on the road to solicit
trade, nor was such a thing known as
selling by sample. Mr. Breed often
advanced money to his women employees
and friends for the purchase of the new
sewing machines which were then being
introduced, and later on these were ap-
plied to the shoemaking industry for
stitching purposes, this being a source of
additional income to the women em-
ployees, who often left their bank books
with Mr. Breed, so that the safe at the
factory became a sort of small savings
bank repository.

In due course of time Mr. Breed de-
sired to build for himself a house suited
to his growing needs and public spirit,
and accordingly purchased from his
father the property across Broad street,
removing the ancient homestead to Sils-
bee street, and giving his father a life use
of it, with such income as it might bring,
and also in another house he already
owned next to it. The new house he
built was the well known "Mansion
House" which stood back from Broad
street until its removal to the rear of
Bowman Place. In its prime it was a
place of great beauty, with a famous old
garden. As his business increased, Mr.
Breed invested largely in real estate,
owning land in Lynn Woods, also upon
Chestnut street, where many of the shade
trees were the work of his beauty loving

398

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

hand ; upon Exchange and Spring streets,
and from Broad back to Farrar. He pur-
chased land runniner back from Union
street at the rear of the later Sagamore
Hotel, and planted it with mulberry trees,
being interested in the then craze for
raising silk worms, there being a silk
mill at West Lynn. When that industry
waned, he cut a street through his land
and named it Mulberry street. He owned
at one time the "Quaker pasture" off the
present Union street and Burchstead
Place, now thickly settled with dwellings
and business blocks, and when the cut
was made for the Eastern railroad
through "Smith's field." he displayed his
wisdom and sagacity by securing the
diggings to fill in the low portions of his
tract, and thus made it better building
land. With his brother Isaiah he was
instrumental in having Oxford street cut
through to meet High street, and thus
benefited not only himself but the prop-
erty owners in that section. As a member
of the Sagamore Hotel corporation, he
withdrew when he learned of the inten-
tion to establish a bar in the house, and
likewise withdrew from the movement to
cut through Central avenue when he
learned that a theatre was likely to be
built upon that thoroughfare, thus attest-
ing to his unyielding allegiance to prin-
ciple above profits. He was also a stern
opponent of the slave trade, and never
cared whether or not his adversary in an
argument upon the subject was a cus-
tomer, past or prospective. He never
signed any real estate paper for let or
leasage but what he had the clause in-
cluded that the land or buildings there-
on should never be allowed to hold or
harbor the sale of intoxicating liquors, or
the business of gambling or betting in
any recognized form.

For thirty-six years Mr. Breed held the
office of director of the Lynn Mechanics'
(later the First National) Bank, and the

Essex Trust Company ; for a long period
was trustee of the Lynn Institute for
Savings, of which he was one of the
founders ; and director of the Lynn Gas
Light Company, of which he was one of
the founders, five other men being asso-
ciated with him in the enterprise. He
was a member of the Society of Friends,
and always took a deep interest in the
affairs of that denomination. The "read-
ing meetings" were frequently held at his
house, and, under the guidance of a good-
ly company of older Friends, the young
folks listened to readings from books
written by Friend authors, or at least
highly approved by Friends, and thought
to be instructive as well as entertaining.
Scripture was read, and Mr. Breed, with
beautiful dignity, would call on some
elderly man to oft'er prayer, and the lat-
ter portion of the meeting was sometimes
entirely given up to religious exercises.
Mr. Breed was sterling and loyal to his
convictions, and, though of great dignity
and reserve, his impression upon his
generation was for lasting good. The
mansion which he built across from his
shop, and which cost $10,000, was special-
ly planned for the entertainment of
Quaker guests, who were welcome at all
times, but who came in large numbers
from all parts of the country at the time
of the quarterly meetings. The house
had seventeen bedrooms, all of which
were at the disposal of the guests. His
charities were far spread, but performed
in a quiet and unostentatious manner,
known better by the recipients than by
the public. At his death he bequeathed
$50,000 to establish a school and asylum
for the destitute children of Lynn — a
most noble and worthy philanthropy.

Mr. Breed was a man of quiet, unas-
suming manner, of even temperament,
cordial and considerate in his intercourse
with his associates and warmly attached
to his friends. His capacity for business

399

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

was large and was increased by his sys-
tematic and quiet methods. He was
always master of himself, saw clearly the
end he had in view and pursued it with
a direct and persistent aim. He was a
man of clear judgment and marked sagac-
ity in affairs, prompt in action but not
hasty in reaching conclusions. While
firm in his opinions he was tolerant of
the opinions of others, and his whole life
was an illustration of the refined ameni-
ties which large experience and a wise
philosophy of living may produce in a
bright and kindly nature. To have known
him well one must have known him in his
own home and in the intimacies of private
life. Those who knew him there can
never forget the sunny, even tempera-
ment, the kindly nature and the warm and
generous instincts of the man.

Mr. Breed married, October 27, 1819,
Mary E. Sweet. Of their children, a
daughter, Mary Sweet, born April 12,
1826, died January 26, 1907, became the
wife of William Bradford, the great artist
and explorer who was known throughout
the world and was the first American to
lecture before the English Geographical
Society ; his pictures were purchased by
the leading Americans and Europeans ;
one of his largest paintings, representing
the Arctic regions, which was twelve feet
long and five feet high, was purchased by
the Duke of Argyle's son. Lord Walter
Campbell.

HEYWOOD, Benjamin F.,

Physician, Honored Citizen.

Dr. Benjamin F. Heywood, son of Hon.
Benjamin Heywood, born April 24, 1792,
married (first) Nancy Green, and (second)
her sister, Elizabeth Green. He was born
in the city of Worcester, and graduated
at Dartmouth College in the class of
1812. He attended medical lectures at
Dartmouth and Yale colleges, taking the
degree of M.D. at Yale in 1851. He form-

ed a partnership with Dr. John Green, in
the practice of medicine, which existed
twenty years. Dr. Heywood was council-
lor and censor of the State Medical So-
ciety, and became a member of the So-
ciety of the Cincinnati in 1859, in the
right of his father, who was an original
member. As a physician he was very
popular among his patients. He had the
confidence of his fellow citizens, being
sent repeatedly to both branches of the
city government. He was admitted a
member of the Fire Society in July, 1817,
and remained an active member more
than fifty-two years, and until his death,
December 7, 1869.

By his first marriage he had the follow-
ing named children: i. Benjamin, born
July 16, 1821. 2. Caroline, born August
7, 1823. 3. Frederick, born June 30, 1825.

4. John Green, born May 24, 1828, died
1833. By his second wife Elizabeth
(Green) Dr. Benjamin F. Heywood had:

5. Nathaniel Moore, born July 20, 1839.
died August 7, same year. 6. Nancy,
born December 24, 1840; she married Dr.
Griswold, and their children were: i.
Arthur Heywood, born December 14,
1879, graduated from Harvard College,
class of 1902, and in medicine from Johns
Hopkins University, ii. Ralph Mansell,
born August 8, 1881, graduated from
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis.
7 John Green, born March i, 1843, ^*"
tended the public schools of Worcester
and entered the Lawrence Scientific
School of Harvard at the age of eighteen
years, and graduated with the class of
1864, the year of his attaining his major-
ity. He was one of the founders of the
Ouinsigamond Boat Club in i860. In
1896 he was one of the organizers of the
Worcester Museum of Art. He was ad-
mitted to the Society of the Cincinnati
in 1871, and became a member of the
standing committee. 8. Mary Elizabeth,
born September 27, 1845, became the wife
of Captain H. L. Stone.

400

INDEX

INDEX

Abbot, Benjamin, 259

John, 259
Adams, Abigail, 179

Hannah, 222

Henry, 3

John, 3, 2^, 64, 180

John Quincy, 64

Samuel, 3
Agassiz, Jean L. R., 135

Louis R., 135
Alger, Abiezer, 231

Cyrus, 231

Thomas, 231
Allen, John P., 351

Jonathan, 221

Moses, 221

Nathan, 351

Solomon, 221
Allston, Washington, 184
Ames, Fisher, 182

Nathaniel, 182

Oakes, 286

Oliver, 286
Andrew, John A., 282
Andrews, Joseph, 364
Appleton, Daniel, 83

John, 61
Ashmun, Eli P., 95

Baldwin, Daniel, 383

Henry, 51

James, 51

John D., Rev., 383

Loammi, 51
Ballou, Hosea, 73

Maturin, 73
Bancroft, John C, 81
Barnes, James, 365
Barnard, Jeremiah, Rev., 388

Robert, 388
Bartlet, John, 246

William, 246

Bartlett, William F., 158
Bass, Edward, 175
Bates, Joshua, 189
Bigelow, Ephraim, 367

Erastus B., 367

George T., 365

Jacob, 147

John, 365

Timothy, 179, 365
Blake, George S., 363
Blanchard, Samuel, 188

Thomas, 188
Bond, George P., 369

William, 115

William C., 115
Borden, Richard, 269

Thomas, 269
Bowditch, Habakkuk, 74

Henry I., 340

Nathaniel, 74, 340
Bowdoin, James, 48
Bowles, Samuel, 316
Boyden, Seth, 152

Uriah A., 152
Bradstreet, Anne, 88

Simon, 88
Breed, Nathan, 397
Brewer, Josiah, Rev., 360
Briggs, George N., 313
Bromfield, Edward, 240

John, 240
Brooks, John, 60
Brown, John, 167
Bryant, Gridley, 198
Burnett, Joel, Dr., 371

Waldo I., 371
Burns, Anthony, 370
Bussey, Benjamin, 114

Cabot, George, 59
Carter, Robert, 316
Channing, William, 78

403

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

William E., 78
Chaplin, Jeremiah, 261
Chapman, John, 253
Cheney, Moses, 260

Nathaniel, 260
Child, David L., 363

Lydia M., 363
Choate, David, 193

John, 193

Rufus, 193
Church, Benjamin, 250
Clapp, Abiel, 203

Asa, 203

Samuel, 203
Clark, Henry J., 285
Clarke, Edward H., 151

Pitt, 151
Clifford, Benjamin, 149

John H., 149
Cobb, David, 201

Morgan, 201

Thomas, 201
Coffin, James H., 296

Matthew, 296
Cogswell, Francis, 208

Jonathan, 209

Joseph G., 208

Nathaniel, 209
Cooper, Samuel, 194

Thomas, 194

William, 194
Copley, John, 199

John S., 199

John S., Jr., 200

Richard, 199
Crane, Stephen, 262

Zenas, 262
Cranch, Richard, 252

William, 252
Crosby, Enoch, 203

Thomas, 203
Curtis, Benjamin, 286

Benjamin R., 286
Gushing, Benjamin, 148

Caleb, 148

Edmund, 340

John, 43. 82

John M., 148

Luther S., 340

Matthew, 82

Thomas, 43

William, 82
Cushman, Charlotte S., 146

Elkanah, 146

Robert, 146
Cutler, Jervis, 205

Manasseh, 205
Cutter, Ammi R., Dr., 322

Ammi I., Rev., 320, 321

Elizabeth, 320

Richard, 320

William, 320, 321

Dalton, Edward B.. 127

John C, 127

Michael, 93

Philemon, 93

Tristram, 93
Dana, Francis, 34

Richard, 34
Dane, John, 61

Nathan, 61
Davis, Charles H.. 382

Daniel, 382

John, 80
Derby, Elias H., 201, 278

George H., 278

John B., 278

Richard, 201

Roger, 201
Dexter, Samuel, 228

Timothy, 245
Dixon, Joseph, 242
Dowse, Eleazer, 243

Thomas, 243
Duncan, James, Col.. 396

James H., 396
Durant, Henry, 294
Dwight, Timothy, 224

Earle, Ralph. 223

William. 224
fvistburn. Manton, 129
Edwards. Alexander, 80

404

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Bela B., 271

Elisha, 271

Jonathan, 220

J ustin, 80

Samuel, 80

Timothy, 220
Egleston, Azariah, 215

Seth, 215
Emerson, Thomas, 213

William, 213
Emmons, Ebenezer, 378
Eustis, Benjamin, 44

William, 44
Everett, Alexander H., 264

Edward, 266

Oliver, 264

Faneuil, Peter, 175
Felton, Cornelius C, 120
Fenno, John W., 350

Joseph, 350
Fenwick, Benedict J., Rt. Rev., 109

Cuthbert, 109
Fields, James T., 375
Fitch, Ebenezer, 251

Jabez, 251
Fitzpatrick, John B., Rev., 300
Flint, Timothy, 264
Fowles, Zachariah, 58
Fuller, Sarah M., 275

Timothy, 275

Gannett, Caleb, 284

Ezra S., 284
Gardner, John L., 168
Garrison, Abijah, 150

William L., 150
Gerry, Elbridge, 22

Thomas, 22
Gilbert, John G., 374

John H., 374
Godfrey, Benjamin, 235
Gore, Christopher, 305

John, 305
Gray, Francis C, 191

William, 191
Greene, Benjamin D.. 97

Greenleaf, Benjamin, 189

Caleb, 189

Jonathan, 186

Moses, 186

Simon, 186

Timothy, 189
Greenough, David, 274

Horatio, 274
Greenwood, Francis W. P., 374

William P., 374
Grinnell, Cornelius, 195

Henry, 195

Hancock, John, 7

John, Rev., 7

Thomas, 7
Harvard, John, 88

Robert, 88
Hawthorne, Daniel, 105

Nathaniel, 104
Heath, William, 178
Henshaw, Daniel, 238

David, 238

Joshua, 238
Hentz, Caroline Lee, 291

Nicholas M., 291
Hewes, George, 218

George R. T., 218
Heywood, Benjamin F., 400
Hildreth, Hosea, 298

Richard, 298
Hitchcock, Samuel A., 238
Holbrook, Amos, 257
Holmes, John, 378

Meletiah, 378
Holyoke, Edward, 107

Edward A., 107
Hood, Abner, 381

George, 381
Hooker, Joseph, Gen., 159
Hooper, Samuel, 373

William, 217
Hopkins, Albert, 297
Horsford, Eben N., 352, 353

Jedediah, 353

William, 352
Howe, Edward C, 288

405

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Elias, 281

Joseph H., 288

Samuel G., 288
Humphrey, Heman, 75
Hunt, Harriet K., 295

Joab, 295
Hutchinson, Elisha, 176

Israel, 176

Thomas, 84

Richard, 176

Jackson, Edward, 165, 329

Henry, Gen., 290

James, 165, 329

John B. S., 290

Jonathan, 165, 329
Jarvis, Charles, 205

Leonard, 205

William, 205
Jewett, Charles C, 386

Paul, Rev., 386
Johnson, Ellen C, 387

Jesse C, 387

Nathan, 387
Judd, Jonathan, 302

Sylvester, Rev., 302

Thomas, 302
Judson, Adoniram. Rev., 212

Ann H., 234

Kendall, Amos, 210

Jacob, 210

John, 210

Zebedee, 210
Kirkland, Daniel, 71

John, T., 71

Samuel, 71
Kittredge, Abel, Dr., 380
Knapp, Isaac, 274
Knight, Hiram, Capt., 395
Knox, Henry, 39

William, 39

Lander, Edward, 123

Frederick W., 123
Lawrence, Abbott, 96

Amos, 187

John, 96

Samuel, 96, 187, 319

William, 319
Leavitt, Jonathan, 192

Joshua, 192

Roger, 192
Lincoln, Benjamin, 15

Enoch, 57

Levi, Gov., 57, 123
Livermore, Mary A., 54

Timothy, 54
Lloyd, James, 109
Loring, Ellis G., 335
Loveland, Abner. 241

Robert, 241
Lovell, James S., 310

John, 92

Joseph, 310
Lowell, Charles R., 280

Charles, Rev., 342

Francis C, 98

James R., 342

John, 71, 94, 98
Lyman, Isaac, 191

Moses, 55

Theodore, 191
Lynde, Benjamin, 46

Simon, 46
Lyon, Aaron, 239

Mary, 239

McKean, Joseph. 372

William, 372
Manly, John, 216
Mann, Horace. 81

Thomas, 81

Nathan, 81
Marett, Philip, 218
Mason, Lowell. 132

Robert. 132
May, Samuel J., 243
Melvill. Allan, 247

Thomas, 247
Meredith, William, 141

William M., 141
Miller, William, 207
Minot, George R., 223

406

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Stephen, 223
Moore, Judah, 72

Zephaniah S., 72
Morgan, Abner, 198

Jonathan, 198
Morse, Jedediah, 129

John, 129

Samuel F. B., 129
Morton, James, 283

Marcus, 309

Thomas, 283

William T. G., 283
Motley, John, 289

John, L., 289

Nixon, Christopher, 177

John, 177
Norton, Andrews, 232

John, 232

Samuel, 232

William, 232
Noyes, George R., 197

Nathaniel, 197

William, 197

Oakes, Edward, 347

Jonathan, 347, 348

Thomas, 347
Oliver, Peter, 47
Osgood, John, 57

Samuel, 57
Otis, Harrison G., 318

James, 9

Samuel A., 318

Paine, James, 43

Robert Treat, 43

Thomas, 43

Timothy, 392

W^illiam, 392
Parker, Abel, 326

Andrew, 347

Ebenezer, 347

El sha, 324

Hinaniah, 347

Isaac, 70

Joel, 326

John, 116

Samuel, 180, 324, 326

Theodore, 116

Thomas, 117, 347

William, 180
Parkman, Ebenezer, 190

Francis, 190

Samuel, 190
Parmenter, Ezra, 219

Samuel, 219

William, 219
Parsons, Ebenezer, 182

Moses, 182

Theophilus, 182
Peabody, Francis, 125

George, 125

Joseph, 394
Pearson, David, 163

Eliphalet, 163

John, 163
Peirce, Benjamin, 167

Jerahmael, 167
Perkins, Edmund, 164

Thomas H., 164
Phillips, Ebenezer B., 390

George, 255

James, 390

John, 255

Samuel, 248, 255

William, 249
Phinney, Sylvanus B., 326

Timothy, 326
Pickering, John, 37, 165

Timothy, 37, 165
Plunkett, Charles H., 379
Poor, Enoch, 35
Porter, Benjamin, 216

Ebenezer, 108

Rufus, 216

Thomas, 108

Tyler, 216
Prescott, Benjamin, 19

William, 19, 100

William H., 100
Proctor, John, 377

Joseph, 377
Putman, Edward, 32

407

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Elisha, 32
Israel, 17
John, 17, 32
Joseph, 17
Rufus, 32
Thomas, 17, 32
Pynchon, John, 169
William, 169

Quincy, Josiah, 35

Rantoul, Robert, 204

Robert, Jr., 280
Reed, William, 99
Revere, Paul, 12
Rich, Isaac, 291

Reuben, 291

Robert, 291
Richardson, Albert D., 279

Caleb, 355

Elisha, 279

Joseph, 355

Rufus, 355
Robinson, Jeremiah, 304

William, 304

William S., 304
Ruggles, Samuel, 254

Timothy, 254
Rumford, Count, 61
Russell, Benjamin, 163

John, 163

Salisbury, Stephen, 361
Sampson, Deborah, 258

Henry, 258
Sargent, Epes, 256

Henry, 233

Winthop, 256
Savage, Hobijah, 140

James, 140

Thomas, 140
Sears, Edmund H., 299
SedgAvick, Catharine M., 237

Thomas, 237
Shattuck, Benjamin, 99

George C, 99

William, 99

Shavi', John, 79

Lemuel, 79

Oakes, 79
Shays, Daniel, 181
Sherman, Roger, 173

Joseph, 173

William, 173
Shurtleff, Benjamin, 287

Nathaniel B., 287
Slater, Samuel, 229
Smith, Joseph, 195

Nathan, 306

Samuel, 195

Samuel P., 31

Sophia, 195
Sparks, Jared, 122

Joseph, 122
Sprague, Charles, 266

Peleg, 358

Ralph, 358

Samuel, 266

Seth, 358
Stevens, Jonathan, 389

Nathaniel, Capt., 389
Stoddard, David T., 277
Storer, David H., 335
Story, Elisha, 76

Joseph, 76
Stoughton, Israel, 107

William, 107
Strong, Caleb, 55

John, 55

Jonathan, 55

Theodore, 349
Sullivan, James, 49

John, 49

Philip, 49
Sumner, Charles, 156

Charles P., 156

Increase, 55

Job, 156
Swift, Foster, 185

Joseph G., 185

Samuel, 185

Talbot, Benjamin, 202
Silas, 202

408

EXCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Tappan, Arthur, 209

Benjamin, 209, 214

Lewis, 214
Tay, Samuel, 345

William, 345
Thayer, Sylvanus, 166
Thomas, Isaiah, 58

Moses, 58
Thompson, Benjamin, 61

Daniel, 270

Daniel P., 270

James, 61
Thoreau, Henry D.. 118

John, 118

Philip, 118
Ticknor, Elisha, 126

George, 126

William, 126
Todd, Christopher, 142

John, 142
Tuckerman, Edward, 357, 366

Ephraim, 367

Erastus B., 367

Henry, 366

Henry T., 366

John, 357

Joseph, 357
Tudor, John, 206

William, 206
Tufts, Simon, 60
Tupper, Benjamin, 196

Thomas. 196
Tyng, Dudley, 322

Dudley A.. 322

Underwood, Adin B., 370

Orison, 370
Upham, Charles W., 292

Joshua, 292

Varnum, Joseph, 357
Joseph B., 357

Wadsworth, Benjamin, 91

Samuel, 91
Wainwright, Richard, 368

Robert D., 368

Ward, Artemas, 31

Nahum, 31
W^are, Elijah, Rev., 371

Henry, Rev., 371

Henry J., Rev., 371

John, 371
Warren, John, 45, 331

John C, 331

Joseph, 13, 45
Washburn, Asa, 354

Emory, 314

John, 314

Joseph, 314

William B., 354
Wayland, Francis, 214
Webber, Samuel, 94
Webster, Daniel, no

Ebenezer, no
Wheaton, Henry, 333
White, Daniel A.. 117

John, 117

William, 117
Whitney, Eli, 69

Henry, Cjen., 291
Whittier, Elizabeth H., 303

John. 303
^\'illard, Samuel, 90

Simon, 90
Williams, Ephraim, 47

Isaac, 47

Jonathan, 225

Robert, 47
Willis, Nathaniel. 338

Nathaniel P., 2,Z7^ 33^
Williston, Noah, 236

Payson, 236

Samuel, 236
Wilson, Henry, 153
Winlock. Fielding. 144

Joseph, 144
Winthrop. Adam, 244

John, 244

John S., 95

Thomas. L., 95
Woods, Leonard, 75

Samuel, 75

J

409

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Worcester, Francis, 22^

Noah, 227

William, 22"]
Wright, Azariah. 344, 345

Eliezer, 344

Samuel, 344
VVyeth, Jacob, 2^2

Nathaniel J., 272
A'Vyman, Jeffries, 143

Rufus, 143

410

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