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[Page 265]
Vawter, John, born in Orange county (now Madison), Virginia,
January 8, 1782. He was licensed as a Baptist minister in 1804, and in 1807, with his father,
removed to the sparsely inhabited territory of Indiana, and settled in Madison, of which he was
the first magistrate. He was soon afterward elected sheriff of Jefferson and Clarke counties, and
in 1810 was appointed United States marshal for the state. He served as a frontier ranger during
the Indian campaign of 1811-13, was elected colonel of militia of Jennings county in 1817, and
founded Vernon, the county-seat. He was pastor of the Baptist church in Vernon in 1821-48, a
member of the legislature in 1831-35, and in 1836 of the enate, where he was instrumental in
securing the adoption of a policy of internal improvement by the state. He removed to Morgan
county in 1848, founded Morgantown, and presented a brick church to the Baptist congregation of
that place. He died in Morgantown, Indiana, August 17, 1862.
[Pages 265-266]
Barry, William Taylor, born in Lunenburg county, Virginia,
February 5, 1785. He graduated at Transylvania University and coming to William and Mary College
studied law under Judge St. George Tucker, and natural philosophy under President James Madison.
He was admitted to the bar, and practiced at Lexington, Kentucky, where his eloquence soon
brought him into notice. He served in both branches of the Kentucky legislature, and in December,
1810, was elected to congress to fill a vacancy, serving until March 3, 1811. In the war of 1812
he was aide to Gov. Shelby, and was present at the battle of the Thames, October 55, 1813. He was
appointed to the United States senate in February, 1815, to fill a vacancy, and resigned in 1816
to become a judge of the Kentucky supreme court. He was afterwards lieutenant-governor, state
secretary, and chief justice of the state. On March 9, 1829, he was appointed postmaster-general.
The incumbent of this office was not then a cabinet minister. President Jackson elevated him to
gratify his friend Maj. Barry. Much dissatisfaction was expressed with his management of the
department, and he was severely denounced on the floor of the house by William Cost Johnson, of
Maryland, and others. A son of Maj. Barry, then a lieutenant in the army, challenged Johnson, but
the challenge was withdrawn after its acceptance. On April 10, 1835, he resigned to accept the
office of minister to Spain, and died on his way to that country. His remains were brought home
by order of the Kentucky legislature, and buried at Frankfort, November 8, 1854.
[Page 266]
Breathitt, John, born near New London, Virginia, September 9,
1786. He removed with his father to Kentucky in 1800, was a surveyor and teacher, studied law,
and was admitted to the bar in 1810. He was an earnest Jacksonian Democrat, and for several years
was a member of the legislature. He was lieutenant-governor of Kentucky in 1828-32, and governor
in 1832-34. He died in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1834.
[Page 266]
Cabell, Joseph Megginson, born at "Repton," across the James river
from the present Midway Station, Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1788, son of Joseph Cabell and
Pocahontas Rebecca Bolling, his wife. He was a student at Washington College, later read law
under Gov. William H. Cabell and Hon. William Wirt. For some reason: he changed his name to
Charles Joseph Cabell. He removed to New Orleans, Louisiana, and took front rank at the bar. He
was three times "called to: the field of honor first with Gen. Benjamin Jones, then of
Amelia county, Virginia, afterwards of Alabama; second, with Dr. Upshaw, of New Orleans, formerly
of King and Queen county, Virginia; and third, with a Mr. Nicholson, also of New Orleans. He
died, unmarried, November 23, 1810, in New Orleans, of yellow fever.
[Pages 266-267]
Joynes, Thomas R., born in Accomac county, Virginia, in 1789.
After attending a country school, he served as clerk in a village store, and later was a student
at the Margaret Academy. He read law with Maj. John Wise, father of Gov. Henry A. Wise, in 1810
was admitted to the bar, and soon obtained a commanding practice. Among his professional
competitors was his intimate personal friend, Judge (afterwards secretary of state) Upshur. In
1811 he was elected to the house of delegates. He was in the Richmond Theatre on the night of its
memorable destruction by fire. During the war with Great Britain in 1812-14, he was lieutenant
and captain of militia. He was successively commissioner in chancery, county surveyor and
commonwealth attorney. In 1828 he was appointed clerk of the county and superior courts at
that time an office of great dignity and consideration. In 1829-30 he was a member of the
constitutional convention, and in that notable body, though speaking rarely, he took a prominent
and influential part, especially in support of the "mixed basis" of representation. His
remarkable powers of mathematical analysis enabled him to present statistical statements of which
John Randolph said that "his irresistible array of figures set all figures of speech at
defiance." After the constitutional convention, though often solicited, he declined further
political service, except that in 1840 he was a presidential elector on the Whig ticket. His old
personal friend, President John Tyler, more than once offered him a prominent /federal office,
but he invariably declined it. In 1848 he resigned his clerkship, and afterwards devoted himself
to the care of his large estates He was an enthusiastic and successful planter, whose information
and experience were widely influential. He reared, and educated in the best schools of that day,
a large family of children; was a devoted friend of education, and often helped boys and young
men to go to school. He died at his home, "Montpelier," September 12, 1858.
[Page 267]
Wilkinson, Jesse, born in Virginia, about 1790. He entered the
navy as a midshipman in 1805, and in 1810 had risen to the rank of lieutenant. During the was or
1812-14, he commanded the schooner Hornet, which was principally used as a dispatch boat
on the Potomac river, carrying the dispatches between the seat of government and the American
fleet. He was stationed at the Norfolk navy yard, 1816-18, and 1820-21, in the interim commanding
the Hornet, on coast survey duty. In 1818 he was promoted to master, and commanded the
brig Spark, of Commodore David Porter's flotilla, engaged in the suppression of piracy
in the West Indies, and was so engaged until 1823, from which time he was on duty at the Norfolk
navy yard until 1825, and at the Boston navy yard in 1826. In 1827-28 he commanded the John
Adams, in the operations against the West Indies pirates, in 1829 was promoted to captain,
and from that year until 1833 was again stationed at the Norfolk navy yard. From 1835 to 1840 he
commanded the frigate United States, in the Mediteranean squadron; served
on the flag-ship Macedonian in 1840-42, and from 1843 to 1847 was commandant of the
Norfolk navy yard. He was made commodore, and in 1848-49 commanded the West Indies squadron, with
the Raritan as his flag-ship. He passed many years on court martial duty and on leave,
until he died, May 23, 1861.
[Page 267]
Anderson, David, a native of Scotland; a Blandford tombstone has
the following inscription: "Sacred to the memory of David Anderson., a native of Scotland, and
for many years a respectable merchant of this place, who departed this life June the 18th, 1812,
aged 52 years. He was long a member of the Common Hall and Chamberlain of the Town of Petersburg.
Upright, honorable, kind and benevolent and the munificent founder of the Anderson Seminary. The
Corporation of Petersburg have inscribed this record rather to mark their gratitude for his
beneficence that to commemorate his virtues. Believing that when this stone shall have mouldered
into dust the institution which he founded will still preserve his name as a benefactor of
Petersburg and a friend of man."
[Page 267]
Adams, Robert H., born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1792. He
graduated at Washington College, Lexington, Kentucky, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in
Knoxville, Tennessee, and afterwards in Natchez, Mississippi, where he settled in 1819. He was a
member of the Mississippi legislature in 1828, and in 1830 was elected to the United States
senate to fill a vacancy. He died at Natchez, Mississippi, July 2, of the same year.
[Pages 267-268]
Walton, William Claiborne, born in Hanover county, Virginia,
November 4, 1793. He was the son of a blacksmith, and received but few advantages of early
education, but afterward studied at Hampden-Sidney College, and was licensed as a preacher of the
Presbyterian church, October 22, 1814, at Fredericksburg. He afterward preached at Smithfield and
Berryville, Virginia, at Washington, D. C., for a short period in 1821, and in February, 1823,
became pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, Baltimore. In May, 1827, he was installed as
pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church at Alexandria, which charge he retained till 1832. In
November, 1830, he was deputed by the Presbytery of the District of Columbia to attend the annual
meeting of the synod of Virginia, and in 1832 he was chosen missionary agent and evangelist for
the Presbyteries of East and West Hanover. Subsequently he became pastor of the Free church,
Hartford, Connecticut. He was remarkably successful as an evangelist, and contributed in a
considerable degree to the revival of religion in the Presbyterian, Congregational, and other
churches during 1861, whereby more than 100,000 persons were brought into church communion. He
published a small volume of sermons, besides separate discourses, and a sketch of the life of his
daughter Margaret Ann. A poem commemorative of him was written by Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney after
his death, and his life was published by Joshua N. Danforth (New York, 1837). he died in
Hartford, Connecticut, February 18, 1834.
[Page 268]
Dabney, Charles William, born at Alexandria, Virginia, March 19,
1794. He became United States consul at Fayal, Azores, in 1826, and won the affection of the
Islanders in a remarkable degree by his efforts for their welfare. In the famines that visited
the island from time to time during his residence, some of which were very severe, he furnished
the inhabitants with food, assisted them to replant their fields, advised and suggested the
culture of new and more varied crops, encouraged the despondent, and restrained the
over-sanguine. During the whole of his residence in the island he acted the art of a wise and
judicious father to the people, and wherever he went, their blessings and gratitude were
manifested. He died in Fayal, March 12, 1871.
[Pages 268-269]
Ellis, Powhatan, son of Josiah Ellis and Jane Shelton, his wife,
born in Amherst county, Virginia, about 1794, and graduated from William and Mary College in
1813. Mississippi was a territory when he settled in it; he obtained a high reputation there as a
lawyer, and in 1818 was elevated to the supreme court of the state, being one of the first judges
to be so distinguished. He remained in office until 1825, when he was appointed by the governor
to serve out the unexpired term of David Holmes in the United States senate. The legislature
elected Thomas B. Reed for this office, who displaced Mr. Ellis after he had served four months.
At the next election, however, he was chosen senator for the full term, but only served from
December 3, 1827, to July 16, 1832, when he resigned to take his seat on the bench as United
States judge for the district of Mississippi. While in the senate he joined Thomas H. Benton and
William Smith in opposing the ratification of the treaty of 1828 with Mexico, which established a
boundary line intersecting the Red and Arkansas rivers, thus leaving only Florida and Arkansas
for the expansion of slavery. While on the bench he delivered more opinions than any contemporary
judge. President Jackson appointed him chargè d'affaires in Mexico, January
5, 1836, and on December 28, he closed the American legation. President Van Buren appointed him
minster to Mexico, February 15, 1839, in which office he was superseded by Waddy Thompson, April
21, 1842. Upon his return he took up his residence in Virginia, where he died at Richmond, March
18, 1863.
[Page 269]
Christian, John B., son of Robert Christian and Mary Browne, his
wife, born in New Kent county, Virginia, about 1794, studied at William and Mary College in 1816.
Was a member of the legislature and in 1832 was judge of the general court of Virginia. He
married Martha Semple, daughter of Judge James Semple by his first wife, Anne Contesse Tyler,
sister of President Tyler. He was a brother of Letitia Christian, first wife of President John
Tyler. He was buried at "Oak Grove," New Kent county, February 23, 1856.
[Page 269]
Semple, James, descended from Rev. James Semple, minister of Long
Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Scotland, and son of Rev. James Semple, minister of St. Peter's Church, New
Kent county, Virginia, was born in New Kent county, September 7, 1768, studied law, was a member
of the legislature and a judge of the general court. In 1819 he became professor of law in
William and Mary College, and held the office till his death in 1831. He married (first) Anne
Contesse Tyler, sister of President Tyler; (second) Joanna McKenzie, daughter of Dr. William
McKenzie and Joanna, his wife, aunt of President Tyler. By his second marriage Judge Semple was
father of Dr. George William Semple, of Hampton, Virginia, and Maj. Henry Churchill Semple, of
Alabama.
[Page 269]
Brown, Aaron Venable, born in Brunswick county, Virginia, August
15, 1795. He graduated at Chapel Hill University North Carolina, in 1814; removed with his
parents to Tennessee in 1815; studied law, and when admitted to practice became the partner of
James K. Polk. From 1821 till 1832 he was almost continuously a member of the state legislature.
He was elected to congress in 1839, and re-elected to congress in 1841 and 1843. On retiring from
congress, in 1845, he was elected governor of Tennessee, serving until 1847. He was a delegate to
the southern convention at Nashville in 1850, and was the author of "the Tennessee platform,"
brought forward at that time, a document that aroused much comment. In 1852 he was a delegate to
the Democratic national convention in Baltimore, and reported the platform that was adopted. The
last office he held was that of postmaster-general in President Buchanan's cabinet. Among the
measures adopted during his administration of this office was the establishment of a new and
shorter oceanic and mail-route to California, by way of Tehauntepec, and of the trans-continental
mail-routes from St. Louis westward, prior to the construction of the railroads. He was for
twenty years one of the most trusted leaders of the Democratic party. A volume of his speeches
was published in Nashville in 1854. He died in Washington, D. C., March 8, 1859.
[Pages 269-270]
Weaver, William Augustus, born in Dumfries, Virginia, in 1797. He
entered the navy as a midshipman, February 4, 1811, and made his first cruise in the
Chesapeake, which was captured by the frigate Shannon, after a short engagement off
Boston, June 1, 1813. Midshipman Weaver was severely wounded in this battle and was taken to
Halifax as a prisoner with the rest of the officers and crew who survived. He was promoted to
lieutenant after the war and commanded the schooner Tom Bowlin in 1816 and the schooner
Spark, in 1817, in the Mediterranean squadron. He served on the ship Franklin,
in 1818-24, in the Mediterranean and the Pacific squadrons. By a misunderstanding as to his leave
of absence, he was obliged to abandon the naval service, November 27, 1824, after which he was
employed by the government in the state department, where his knowledge of modern languages made
his services specially valuable. He was secretary of the commission to adjust the claims of the
Spanish citizens, was commissioner to Mexico in 1834, and superintendent of the census of 1840.
He died at Dumfries, Virginia, in 1846.
[Page 270]
Arnold, Thomas Dickens, born in Spotsylvania county, Virginia, May
3, 1798. He was a farmer boy, and his education was obtained almost entirely by his own efforts,
and to aid himself, he taught the farmer's children. When war was declared in 1812, his strong
physique and sturdy appearance permitted his enlistment, although he was but fourteen years of
age. During the march to Mobile a young soldier, the only son of a poor widow, was tried by
court-martial for straggling and was shot by order of Gen. Jackson. The circumstance made a deep
impression upon young Arnold's mind. He denounced the act as unwarranted tyranny, and in after
years showed his hostility to President Jackson. He was admitted to the bar in Knoxville,
Tennessee, in March, 1822, quickly attaining distinction in his profession. He was elected to
congress in 1831 on the Whig ticket, after he had been twice defeated. Taking a partisan stand on
the political issues of the day, he was reckless in his criticism, and generally opposed the
administration. On May 14, 1832, he made a speech against Senator Houston, and Maj. Morgan A.
Heard, who had had some connection with the western army. In this speech he used this expression
"capable of any crime," and indulged in severe personalities. On leaving the capitol, heard fired
upon him with a horse pistol, wounding him in the arm, and then struck him with a cane. Arnold
knocked his assailant down, wrenched away the pistol, and carried it off as a trophy, while Heard
was left for several hours where he fell. The admirers of Mr. Arnold presented him the next day
with a highly wrought sword-cane with the inscription, "Presented to Thomas D. Arnold for his
brave defense against the attack of Morgan A. Heard." In 1836 he was elected brigadier-general of
Tennessee militia, and in 1841 was returned to congress, serving from May 31, 1841, till March 3,
1843, when he retired from political life and devoted himself to the practice of law. He had a
notable controversy with William G. Brownlow. He died in Jonesboro, Tennessee, May 26, 1870.
[Pages 270-271]
Poindexter, George, son of Thomas Poindexter, born in Louisa
county, Virginia, in 1799, of Huguenot descent, was early orphaned, and became a lawyer. In 1802
he removed to Mississippi territory, and became a leader of the Jefferson party. He was appointed
attorney-general of the territory in 1803, and conducted the prosecution of Aaron Burr. His
violent denunciations of the Federalists resulted in a challenge from Abijah Hunt, whom he killed
in the duel that ensued. He was elected to the legislature in 1805, and in 1807 was a delegate to
congress, serving until 1813, when he was appointed United States judge for the territory of
Mississippi, and he so administered the law as to settle many conflicting land grant titles, and
repress the classes. He aided in the preparations for the war of 1812, and joined Gen. Jackson,
to whom he served as an aide at the battle of New Orleans. In the Mississippi constitutional
convention of 1817 he was chairman of the committee to draft a state constitution, and when
Mississippi was received into the Union he was its first representative in congress, and proved
an able defender of President Jackson. After serving one term in congress, he was elected
governor of Mississippi, and under authority of the legislature, he completed and published the
"Revised Code of the Laws of Mississippi," (Natchez, 1824), In 1821 he returned to the bar, and
continued practice until 1830, when he was appointed to the United States senate to fill a
vacancy, then being elected, and serving until 1835. During his senatorial service, became
estranged from Jackson, occupying ground midway between Clay and Calhoun, but leaning towards the
latter. He strenuously opposed the appointment of the president's personal friends to office in
Mississippi, and voted for Clay's resolution of censure. In 1835 he located in Louisville,
Kentucky, but subsequently returned to Mississippi, and died at Jackson, that state, September 5,
1853.
[Page 271]
Bowlin, James Butler, born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in
1804. He was early apprenticed to a trade, but abandoned it, and taught school while acquiring a
classical education. In 1825 he settled in Greenbrier county, where he studied law, was admitted
to the bar, and began practice. He moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1833, and there followed his
profession, also establishing the "Farmers' and Mechanics' Advocate." In 1836 he was a member of
the state legislature, and for some time its chief clerk. A year later he became district
attorney for St. Louis, and in 1839 was elected judge of the criminal court. Afterward he was
elected to congress as a Democrat, and served from December 1, 1843, to March 3, 1851. From 1854
till 1857 he was minister resident in Colombia, and from 1858 till 1859 commissioner to Paraguay.
[Pages 271-272]
Webb, Thomas T., born in Virginia, about 1806. He entered the navy
as a midshipman, January 1, 1808, and was promoted to lieutenant, December 19, 1814. He served in
the navy during the war of 1812, cruised in the frigate Macedonian, of the Mediterranean
station in 1815-18 during the Algerine war, was attached to the Norfolk navy yard in 1818-21,
cruised in the sloop John Adams, in the West Indies in 1821-24, served in the
receiving-ship Alert, at Norfolk in 1825-26, and at the navy-yard, Pensacola, 1818-29.
He commanded the schooner Shark in the West Indies in 1830-32, was promoted to
master-commandant, March 8, 1831, and commanded the sloop Vandalia, on the coast of
Florida, in 1835-36. In 1837 he was on leave, and in 1838-41 he commanded the receiving ship at
Norfolk. He was promoted to captain, March 8, 1841, and was on waiting orders until his death at
Norfolk, Virginia, April 11, 1853.
[Page 272]
Kennon, Beverley, commodore in the United States navy, son of Col.
Richard Kennon (q. v.), and Elizabeth Beverley Munford,
his wife; he was killed by the explosion of a gun on the United States ship Princeton,
February 28, 1844, when Secretaries Upshur and Gilmer, of President Tyler's cabinet, also lost
their lives. He married (first) Elizabeth, daughter of William Dandridge Claiborne, of "Liberty
Hall," King William county; and (second) Brittania Wellington Peter, of Georgetown, D. C.
[Page 272]
Alexander, Thomas Ludwell, born in Prince William county,
Virginia, October 26, 1807, son of Gerard Alexander and Elinor Brent Lee, his wife. he entered
the United States Military Academy in 1826, and graduated in 1830. He joined the Sixth United
States Infantry Regiment as brevet second lieutenant, was promoted to second lieutenant and first
lieutenant in 1837, and to captain in 1838, in same regiment; in 1853 promoted to major, in
Eighth Regiment, and in 1861 to lieutenant-colonel, Fifth Regiment. The earlier years of his
service were passed in what was then the extreme western frontier, in Missouri and Iowa. After
two years of active service he became aide-de-camp to Brig.-Gen. Atkinson, and was with him at
the battle of Bad Ax, August 2, 1832, and was selected by the general to conduct Black Hawk (the
leader of the Sacs and Fox Indians) to Washington City, after his capture. He was in service
against the Seminoles in Florida, from 1839 to 1842. At the end of the campaign, he superintended
the removal of Tiger Tail, the Seminole chief, and his band, to the west, and was stationed in
their midst, at Fort Towson, to hold them in subjection. He afterwards joined Gen. Scott in
Mexico, and moved from the lower Rio Grande to the rendezvous near Vera Cruz, and in the landing
at that place, his colors were the first displayed on the beach. He bore a distinguished part in
the siege of Vera Cruz, the battles of Cerro Gordo and Cherubusco, and the capture of the City of
Mexico. He received the rank of brevet major "for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles
of Contreras and Cherubusco." After the war, he was on duty in Kansas and Minnesota until 1854,
when he organized the Military Asylum at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and remained there until he was
appointed lieutenant-governor of the Soldiers' Home, near Washington City, in which position he
remained until March 8, 1864, when he was retired on account of age. He died, in Louisville,
Kentucky, March 11, 1881. He married (first) Ann Clark Bullitt, of Louisville, Kentucky; and
(second) Maria Brooke Kelly, of New Orleans, Louisiana.
j[Pages 272-273]
Seawell, John Tyler, son of John B. Seawell, and Maria Henry
Tyler, his wife, daughter of Governor John Tyler, was born in Williamsburg in December, 1808. He
was eminent for his oratorical powers and legal attainments; and bore a strong resemblance to his
uncle, President John Tyler. He served often in the legislature and was a strong states rights
man. He was father of the authoress, Molly Elliot Seawell. His brother Machen Boswell, studied at
William and Mary College in 1839-40, studied law and was regarded as one of the best chancery
lawyers in the state. An uncle was Gen. Washington Seawell of the Federal army. (See Seawell
Family in William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. VIII, 54).
[Page 273]
Shuck (Shook), John Lewis, born in Alexandria, Virginia, September
4, 1812. He was educated at the Virginia Baptist Seminary (now Richmond College), and September
22, 1835, embarked with his bridge for China. He baptized the first Chinese converts at Macao,
laboring there with success, also at Hong King, whither he removed in 1842, and subsequently
settled at Canton. In 1844 he came to the United States with his Chinese assistant, and visited
various parts of the country in the interest of the missions. He returned to China in 1846 and
settled at Shanghai, where he preached for years, having completely mastered the Chinese idioms.
When many Chinese were attracted to California after the discovery of gold, the missionary board
selected Mr. Shuck for that field, and he labored there for seven years, retiring in 1861, to
Barnwell, where he preached to the neighboring churches during the remainder f his life. He
published "Portfolio Chinese State Papers" (Macao, 1840). He died August 20, 1863. His wife,
Henrietta Hall, born in Kilmarnock, Virginia, October 28, 1817, was the daughter of a Baptist
minister. She soon learned Chinese after reaching China, and was an earnest teacher of
Christianity among the heathen until her death. She was the author of "Scenes in China, or
Sketches of the Country, Religion, and Customs of the Chinese" (Philadelphia, 1852). Jeremiah B.
Jeter, published her "Life" (Boston, 1848). She died in Hong Kong, November 27, 1844.
[Page 273]
Waller, John, born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, December 23,
1741, was a lawyer and man of education. By reason of his worldly character in early life, he was
styled "Swearing Jack Waller," and "The Devil's Adjutant." He was especially hostile to the
Baptists, and was one of the grand jury that prosecuted the Rev. Lewis Craig, of that
denomination, for preaching without a license. Craig's address to the jury deeply impressed him,
and was the means of his conversion. He soon became a Baptist preacher, traveling extensively,
and attracting crowds of hearers to his zealous ministrations. He preached regardless of the
requirement of the law and was repeatedly arrested. He lay one hundred and thirteen days in four
different jails of Virginia, and was repeatedly punished for his contempt of the authorities. He
was one of the most laborious and successful of the pioneer Baptist preachers of the south,
because of his superior education. His death occurred in Abbeville, South Carolina, July 4, 1802.
[Page 273]
Brooke, Dr. Lawrence, son of Richard Brooke, of "Smithfield," near
Fredericksburg, was born about 1753, and was sent, with his brother Robert, afterward governor of
Virginia, to the University of Edinburg, where in 1776 he took courses in anatomy, surgery and
chemistry. During the American revolution, he went to Paris, and in 1779 was accepted by John
Paul Jones as surgeon of the Bon Homme Richard. He returned to Fredericksburg in 1783
and practiced medicine. He died about 1803.
[Pages 273-274]
Walker, George, born in Culpeper county, Virginia, in 1768. He was
an early settler in Kentucky, where he held a leading place at the bar, and was a member of the
legislature. He was appointed United States senator from Kentucky, in place of George M. Bibb,
resigned, serving from October 10, 1814, till February 2, 1815. He died in Nicholasville,
Kentucky, 1819.
[Pages 274-275]
Dunglison, Robley, born in Keswick, Cumberland, England, January
4, 1798. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in London in 1819, and again, after further
study, at the University of Erlangen, Germany, in 1823. He settled in London in the practice of
his profession, engaging in medical writing as editor of the :London Medical Repository" and of
the "Medical Intelligencer," but after two years he was summoned to America by Thomas Jefferson
to take the professorship of medicine in the University of Virginia, in which he also became the
first secretary of the faculty, and its second chairman. he remained until 1833, when he moved to
the University of Maryland, in Baltimore, the incumbent of the chair of materia medica and
therapeutics, which, in turn, he resigned in 1836 to become professor of the institutes of
medicine in Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Here we continued until his death, more
than thirty years later, during a great part of the time being dean of the faculty. Under his
management the institution made notable progress, and probably then received the impetus which
resulted in its later success. he was an eminent scholar in several branches of learning; a
benevolent, public-spirited character; and an active supporter of charitable institutions. Much
of his time was spent in the service of the Philadelphia Institution for the Blind, of which he
was vice-president, and he will long be remembered for his efforts in promoting the printing of
books in embossed letters for the use of the blind. He was president of the Musical Fund Society
of Philadelphia, and vice-president of the American Philosophical Society. In 1825 he received
the degree of Doctor of Medicine as a mark of honor from Yale, and was granted the degree of
Doctor of Laws elsewhere. Besides translating and editing a large number of works in foreign
languages, he published many original works which have been widely popular. His bibliography
includes: "Commentaries on Diseases of the Stomach and Bowels in Children," London, 1824;
"Introduction to the Study of Grecian and Roman Geography," in association with George Long,
Charlottesville, 1829; "Dictionary of Medical Science and Literature," Boston, 1833, fifteenth
edition, 1858; "Elements of Hygiene," Philadelphia, 1835; second edition entitled "Human Health,"
1844; "General Therapeutics," 1836; sixth edition, 1857; "The Medical Student, or Aids to the
Study of Medicine," Philadelphia, 1837; "New Remedies," 1839; "The Practice of Medicine," 1842.
His most monumental work, however, was his "Human Physiology," of which is extant copies of the
third edition, Philadelphia, 1838, and which first appeared in 1832. This work held a most
important position in the history of American medical science. It was first published before the
author had left the University of Virginia, being designed as a text-book for his students. It
was dedicated to ex-President Madison, who was rector of the institution during a portion of
Professor Dunglison's service. It elicited fervent approbation from foreign as well as American
professional and scientific journals. Dr. Dunglison died in Philadelphia, April 1, 1869.