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[Page 226]
      Converse, Amasa, born in Virginia, in 1795; was graduated at Dartmouth in 1822. After completing a theological course, he was for some years a pastor in the south, whence he removed to Philadelphia, and founded the "Christian Observer," a Presbyterian weekly organ of old school doctrine and southern political sympathies. When the civil war began he removed his paper to Richmond, Virginia, and after the war to Louisville, Kentucky, where it continued to be the organ and exponent of the Southern Presbyterian church. He died at Louisville, Kentucky, December 9, 1872.

[Page 226]
      Chew, Robert Smith,, born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in 1811, son of Robert Smith Chew and Caroline French, his wife. He entered the service of the government in his youth, and had served in the state department more than forty years, when he was advanced to the chief clerkship on the appointment of William Hunter as second assistant secretary of state, in July, 1866. He died at Washington, D. C.,August 3, 1873; father of Richard S. Chew, born September 4, 1843, died April 10, 1875, who was a lieutenant in the United States navy and served on the Minnesota when she was attacked by the Merrimac and in the fight in Mobile Bay; uncle of Robert Smith Chew (son of John James Chew, clerk of Spottsylvania county, Virginia), who was a colonel of infantry in the Confederate army.

[Pages 226-227]
      Speed, John M., born in Mecklenburg county, Virginia, May 5, 1815, son of John H. and Susan M. Speed; he was a cousin of James Speed, attorney-general in Lincoln's cabinet. He was a graduate of William and Mary College; became a lawyer at Lynchburg, Virginia, attained eminence in his profession, and occupied various high positions in the state. He married Catherine Page Waller, whose brother, William Waller, married Elizabeth, daughter of President Tyler.

[Page 227]
      Corbin, Thomas G., born in Virginia, August 13, 1820, son of Hon. Francis Corbin and Anna M. Beverley, his wife. He was appointed a midshipman in the United States navy, May 15, 1838; served on the coast survey, and in the Brazilian and Pacific squadrons; was commissioned lieutenant, June 10, 1852, and employed in the survey of the river Plata during 1853-55. He was attached to the United States steamer Wabash, of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, in 1861-63, and at the battle of Port Royal, November 7, 1861, taking part in the capture of Forts Beauregard and Walker. He was commissioned commander, July 16, 1862, and was commandant at the naval academy in 1863. In 1864-65 he commanded the United States ship Augusta; served as fleet-captain of the West Indies squadron in 1865-66; was commissioned captain, July 25, 1866; made his last cruise in command of the flagship Guerriere, of the South Atlantic squadron, in 1868; and afterward served on ordnance duty at Philadelphia. He was retired January 5, 1874, and died in 1886. He was a grandson of Col. Richard Corbin, of the colonial council (q. v. vol I, 158).

[Pages 227-228]
      De Vere, Maximilian Schele, a native of Sweden, born in Wexio, November 1, 1820. He came of a distinguished family, whose representatives in Sweden and Prussia hold high rank in church and state. At an early age he evinced the greatest aptitude for scholarship, particularly in the languages, in which he acquired a familiar knowledge with unusual ease, and he was known as an eminent linguist even before he attained his majority. His higher studies were pursued in the Universities of Berlin and Bonn, and the former conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1841, when he was but twenty-one years of age. He subsequently received the degree of Juris Utriusque Doctor, or Doctor of Civil and Canon Law. Following the completion of his university work, he became connected with the Prussian military and diplomatic service, in which he rendered valuable service to the government. He came to the United States in 1843, first residing in Boston, Massachusetts. Son afterward he entered upon a course of study in modern Greek, at Harvard College In the following year (1844) he accepted the position of professor of modern languages in the University of Virginia, and occupied his chair for more than a half-century (fifty-one years), acquitting himself with distinguished ability. His resignation, in 1895, was a step necessitated only by advanced age. After his retirement from the professorship he removed to Washington City, where he died in 1898. Professor De Vere (or Schele, as he was familiarly known to the students of the University,) performed an enormous amount of labor in many fields of literature and scholarship. In philology — especially his published studies of the English language, it origin and development — his work was of highly original character, an in advance of similar effort elsewhere. All his writings were characterized by clearness and literary finish, and comprise an interesting bibliography. His principal works were: "Outlines of Comparative Philology," 1853; "Stray Leaves from the Book of Nature," 1856; "Studies in English," 1867; "Grammar of the Spanish Language," "Grammar of the French Language," 1867; "Americanisms," 1871; and "The English of the New World," 1873. He was the author of a number of historical romances, of which "The Great Empress" is, perhaps, the best known. His published translations from the French and German were numerous and excellent, and among these were Spielhagen's romances, which were speedily and successfully translated by him as they appeared in German. His "Semi-Centennial Catalogue of the University of Virginia," published in 1878, has an enduring value. This volume also contained his article on "Mr. Jefferson's Pet," which was originally published in "Harper's Magazine," and is reproduced in the work mentioned. Throughout his life he was a constant contributor to review and encyclopedias. Professor De Vere was twice married, each time to a daughter of Judge Alexander Rives, of Albemarle county, Virginia, a distinguished jurist. His second wife, who was Miss Lucy Rives, survived him, but is now deceased.

[Page 228]
      Dowell, Greensville, born in Albemarle county, Virginia, September 1, 1822; received his literary education at the University of Louisville, and his medical education at Jefferson Medical College, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He was actively engaged in the practice of his profession in various states, but finally settled in Galveston, Texas, and for fifteen years preceding his death served in the capacity of professor of surgery in the Texas Medical College. During the early part of the war between the states he served as surgeon in the Confederate army. For a period of twelve years, from 1863 to 1875, he was editor and publisher of the "Galveston Medical Journal," originated the Dowell system for hernia, and was the author of several books on that subject and also on yellow fever. He died in Galveston, Texas, in 1881.

[Pages 228-229]
      Davidson, John Wynn, born in Fairfax county, Virginia, August 18, 1824; after his graduation from the United States Military Academy, in 1845, he was assigned to the First Dragoons, and in the following year accompanied Gen. Kearny to California, in charge of a howitzer battery, and during the Mexican war he served in the Army of the West, participating in the combats of San Pasqual, San Bernardo, San Gabriel, and Mesa. In 1850 he served as a scout, on June 17, at Russian River, and from that year until the beginning of the war between the states continued on frontier and garrison duty. On March 30, 1854, he fought the battle of Cieneguilla, New Mexico, against the Apache and Utah Indians, in which he not only lost three-fourths of his command, but was severely wounded. On January 20, 1855, he was promoted to the rank of captain; on November 14, 1861, to April, and on February 3, 1862, was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers. In the same year he commanded a brigade in Smith's division, and received two brevets for gallant conduct, that of lieutenant-colonel for the battle of Gaines' Mills, and that of colonel for Golding's Farm, and he also participated in the battles at Lee's Mills, Mechanicsville, Savage Station, and Glendale. From August 6, 1862, until November 13, 1862, he commanded the St Louis district of Missouri; from the latter named date until February 23, 1863, commanded the Army of Southeast Missouri, and from the latter named date until June 6, 1863, again commanded the St. Louis district, cooperating with Gen. Steele in his Little Rock expedition and directing the movements of troops against Pilot Knob and Frederickstown, and in the pursuit of the enemy during Marmaduke's raid into Missouri. From June until September, 1863, he led a cavalry division, commanded in the actions at Brownsville, Bayou Metre, and Ashley's Mills, Arkansas, and took part in the capture of Little Rock. On June 26, 1864, he was made chief of cavalry of the military division west of the Mississippi, and on November 24, 1864, led a cavalry expedition from Baton Rouge to Pascagoula. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general in the regular army for the capture of Little Rock, and major-general for his services during the war. On December 1, 1866, he was made lieutenant-colonel of the Tenth Cavalry, was acting inspector-general of the department of the Missouri from November, 1866, until December, 1867, and professor of military science in Kansas Agricultural College from 1868 to 1871. He commanded various posts in Idaho and Texas, also the district of Upper Brazos, Texas, in 1877-78, and was made colonel of the Second Cavalry, March 20, 1879. He died at St. Paul, Minnesota, June 26, 1881.

[Pages 229-230]
      Monteiro, Aristides, came of a Castilian family in the paternal line and of English ancestry on the maternal side. His father, Francis Xavier Monteiro de Barros, was a man of great learning and literary attainments, who after taking an active part in an effort to establish a republic in Portugal, was forced to flee from that country. He settled in Virginia about 1823, and devoted the remainder of his life to science and literature. At his death in December, 1848, he left eight sons and a daughter. Dr. Aristides Monteiro, the seventh son, was born in Goochland county, Virginia, January 12, 1829, and soon after his father's death entered the medical department of the University of Virginia. The following year he became a student in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, where he was graduated in March, 1851. He began the practice of medicine in his native county, and in 1857 he removed to Albemarle county. He was at first surgeon of the Tenth Virginia Cavalry Regiment in West Virginia, and was then attached to Hillary P. Jones' battalion of artillery, with which he served through the Seven Days' battles of the Chickahominy, and then proceeded into Maryland. He was afterward with Nelson's battalion of artillery until the battle of Sharpsburg, and next was ordered to serve with Maj. Richardson's battalion, which was disbanded at Staunton, Virginia. With Col. Alexander's battalion he served through the Gettysburg, Chickamauga and Knoxville campaign until the spring of 1864 and next was stationed at the general receiving hospital of the Army of Northern Virginia. After two months he was transferred to Wise's brigade and remained as surgeon of the Twenty-sixth Regiment until Col. Mosby sought his services, and with that intrepid leader he remained until the command was disbanded, April 21, 1865. He resumed the practice of medicine in Albemarle county, Virginia, and in 1866 went to Chesterfield, that state, and in 1870 to Manchester. In 1882 he removed to North Carolina, where his practice covered a wide area, and while living in Columbia, Tyrrell county, he was elected to the medical staff of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, remaining in charge of the male department of that institution until May, 1887. While in Manchester, Virginia, he engaged in the banking and drug business, was a member of the city council, and for nearly ten years he was president of the board of health. He was married, October 4, 1853, to a daughter of John S. Cocke, of Albemarle county, Virginia.

[Pages 230-231]
      Minor, Charles Landon Carter, born December 3, 1835, at Edgewood, Hanover county, Virginia, son of Lucius H. Minor, Esq., and Catherine Frances Berkeley, his wife. His paternal grandfather was Gen. John Minor, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who married Lucy Landon Carter, of Cleve, and his mother's father was Dr. Carter Berkeley, of Hanover county, who married Miss Frances Page, daughter of Gov. John Page of Rosewell. He was taught at home by his father and later attended a private school in Lynchburg, Virginia, where one of the teachers was Professor Peters, afterwards of the University of Virginia. He entered the University of Virginia, and graduated in 1858 with the degree of Master of Arts. Just before taking his degree he had made an engagement to teach with Professor Lewis Minor Coleman at Hanover Academy, which was prevented by Professor Coleman's appointment to the chair of Latin in the University of Virginia. He then became assistant respectively of Mr. William Dinwiddie in Albemarle county, the Rev. Dr. Philips at the Diocesan school, the Virginia Female Institute in Staunton, Virginia, and with Col. Leroy Broun in Albemarle county, Virginia. When the civil war began, he entered the Confederate army as a private in Munford's Second Virginia Cavalry Regiment, and saw active service at Manassas, in the valley campaign under Stonewall Jackson, and in the battles around Richmond. In 1862, by competitive examination, he was appointed lieutenant and then captain of ordnance, and was assigned to Gen. Sam Jones, then commanding the department of Southwest Virginia. He followed Gen. Jones to Charleston, South Carolina, when he took command of that department in June, 1864, and some months later was assigned to duty as executive officer at the Richmond Arsenal under Gen. Gorgas, where he remained until the close of the war. After the war he opened a private school at his old home in Hanover county, but soon accepted the presidency of the Maryland Agricultural College. He subsequently opened a school in Lynchburg, from which he was elected to a chair in the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tennessee, whence he returned to Virginia to accept the presidency of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College just opened at Blacksburg. Here he remained for eight years, doing much to establish that institution upon the firm basis which it has since occupied. In 1880 he purchased the Shenandoah Valley Academy at Winchester, Virginia, where he did a fine work for years but an epidemic of scarlet fever and the loss of his wife caused him to leave Virginia to accept the charge of St. Paul's School, in Baltimore, in 1888. He afterwards became associate principal with his old friend and kinsman L. M. Blackford, at the Episcopal High School, near Alexandria, Virginia. In Baltimore, during the latter years of his life, he devoted much time to political and historical subjects, writing for the press, mainly of the times of the civil war. He published in pamphlet form "The Real Lincoln," a second and enlarged edition of which, in book form, he was about to publish at the time of his death. In 1874, he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from William and Mary College. In 1860, he married Miss Frances Ansley Cazenove, daughter of Lewis Cazenove, Esq., of Alexandria, Virginia, of which marriage, which was singularly happy, two children survived him. Fannie, wife of the Rev. James F. Plummer, of Washington, D. C., and Anne Cazenove, wife of the Rev. Andrew G. Grinnan, of Weston, West Virginia. Dr. Minor died July 13, 1903, at the home of his brother-in-law, R. M. Fontaine, Esq., in Albemarle county, Virginia.

[Pages 231-232]
      Nash, Herbert Milton, born in Norfolk, Virginia, May 29, 1831, son of Thomas Nash and Lydia Adela Herbert, his wife. The former, born May 12, 1805, died August 9, 1855, and the latter, born in 1805, passed away in September, 1849. The Nash family was founded in Virginia by Thomas Nash and his wife Anne, who with their servants settled in Norfolk county, Virginia, in 1665. They were adherents of the church of England, and Thomas Nash received land grants in the Virginia colony. The fourth Thomas Nash, great-grandfather of Dr. Nash, was a vestryman of St. Bride's parish in Norfolk county from 1761 until his death in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The fifth Thomas Nash, son of the foregoing, was born in 1758, and when little more than a youth was wounded in the battle of Great Bridge. He subsequently served his country during the revolutionary war, and in the war of 1812. His eldest son served in the artillery at Craney Island and took part in the repulse of Admiral Cockburn's fleet. Thomas Nash, the sixth, sacrificed himself by exposure during the epidemic of yellow fever in Norfolk, Virginia, in August, 1855. The Herbert family, from whom Dr. Nash is descended in the maternal line, settled in Norfolk county, Virginia, in 1650, and for one hundred and fifty years its men were prominent in public and business affairs. The grandfather, Maximilian Herbert, was sent to England in his youth to study mathematics and the principles of scientific ship construction, and became connected with ship building, an industry for which Norfolk was noted from 1780 until 1825, and even later. Dr. Herbert Milton Nash attended the classical school of the late James D. Johnson, and the Norfolk Military Academy, pursuing the study of mathematics, under Col. John B. Strange, who was killed at Crampton's Gap during the civil war. In 1851 Dr. Nash entered the University of Virginia, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in June, 1852. He received clinical instruction in New York City in both medicine and surgery during the twelve months following, and began practice in Norfolk in 1853. He was the last survivor of the physicians who encountered the yellow fever epidemic of 1855. In April, 1861, he was appointed assistant surgeon of the state forces of Virginia, and attached to the post at Craney Island until May, 1862. After the evacuation of Norfolk, in May, 1862, he served with Lee's army through all the campaigns. He was disabled and captured in a cavalry charge of the enemy upon the Confederate reserve artillery on the evening of April 8, 1865 — the evening before the surrender of the entire army — and was paroled a few days afterward. Returning to Norfolk in 1865, Dr. Nash again entered civil professional life, and soon regained civil professional life, and soon regained a good practice. He gave special attention to plastic surgery and gynecology, and was the pioneer of such work in his city. He was a member of the Norfolk Medical Society since its organization, and several times served as president. He became a member of the Virginia State Medical Society, was formerly its president, and was an honorary fellow. He was a member of many other societies and had an extended reputation. Dr. Nash was married, in February, 1867, to Mary A., daughter of Nicholas Wilson Parker, of Norfolk, Virginia, and his wife, Elizabeth Boush, a representative of one of the oldest families of southeastern Virginia.

[Page 232]
      Saunders, Fleming, born in Campbell county, Virginia, July 18, 1829, a son of Judge (general court) Fleming Saunders and Alice Watts, his wife, and a descendant of John Saunders, a native of England, who died in York county, Virginia, in 1700. Fleming Saunders was prepared for college at the New London Academy, matriculated at the University of Virginia, from which he was graduated in the class of 1852 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He pursued the study of law at the same institution for one year, then, as his father' health had become impaired, he abandoned his legal studies in order to take charge of the extensive plantation. He was an old-line Whig, and opposed to secession, but cast his fortunes in with those of his state when the latter seceded, and at once enlisted in the Confederate army. His career as soldier was characterized by the thoroughness evident in all that he undertook, and after the surrender at Appomattox he received the personal commendations of Generals Robert E. lee and Stonewall Jackson. At the close of the war he resumed his agricultural duties. Mr. Saunders married, July 30, 1874, Mary Gwathmey.

[Page 232]
      Coke, Richard, born in Institute, Virginia, March 13, 1829, son of John Coke and Elizabeth Hankins, his wife; was educated at William and Mary College; studied law, and after admission to the bar removed to Waco, Texas, and practiced his profession. He served as a private and afterward as captain in the Confederate army. In June, 1865, he was appointed district judge, an in 1866 elected judge of the supreme court of Texas. A year later, General Sheridan removed him, in the ground that he was an impediment to reconstruction. In 1873 he was elected governor of Texas, and in 1876 was reëlected. Elected as a Democrat to the United States senate, he resigned the governorship to take his seat in the senate, March 4, 1877. In 1833 he was elected for another tem, to expire March 3, 1889.

[Pages 232-233]
      Taylor, William Henry, M. D., born at Richmond, Virginia, May 17, 1835, a son of William Taylor and his wife, Emeline Pearson. William Taylor, who was in the commercial business, was for a time recorder of Richmond, later a member of the city council, a member of the state legislature, and treasurer of Henrico county. Dr. William Henry Taylor commenced his education in various schools of his native city, and in 1854 matriculated at the Medical College of Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1856 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He at once established himself in the practice of his profession at Richmond, where he was successfully engaged until the outbreak of the civil war, when he volunteered his services. He became assistant surgeon of the Eighth Regiment, Virginia Infantry, and after a time was appointed surgeon of the Nineteenth Regiment, Virginia Infantry, with which he was associated until the close of the war. From his earliest years he had displayed decided preference for scientific study and research, and now decided to abandon medical practice in favor of chemistry, an idea which he has followed since that time. He was chosen state chemist for Virginia when that office was established, remaining its incumbent until it was abolished in 1906. For a time he was also the official chemist for the State Department of Agriculture for Virginia. He was a member of the Richmond Board of Health for about twenty years, and since 1872 has been coroner of the city. He has filled the chairs of chemistry, toxicology and medical jurisprudence in the Medical College of Virginia, and has served as chairman of the faculty. Upon the opening of the Richmond high school Dr. Taylor was chosen as teacher of physics and chemistry, holding this position for twenty-eight years, until June, 1991. At the author of books on scientific subjects, Dr. Taylor has gained a reputation, among his publications being: "The Book of Travels of a Doctor of Physic," 1871, not long after his return from Europe; "Outlines of physics," 1895; "Outlines of Every-Day Chemistry," 1899; Fundamental Facts and Principles of Chemistry," 1901; "Outlines of Medical Jurisprudence," 1904; and a number of scientific monographs. For a time he was editor of one of the departments of "The Old Dominion Journal of medicine and Surgery," He gives his political support to the democratic party, and is a member of the Medical Society of Virginia. Dr. Taylor has never married.

[Page 233]
      Fox, William Fayette, born in King William county, Virginia, May 1, 1836, son of Richard Woolfolk Fox and Mary Elliot Trant, his wife. he pursued his education in the old field schools of Virginia, in Rumford Academy, King William county, in Richmond College, Richmond, Virginia, and the University of Virginia. After the completion of his own education, Professor Fox devoted his talents and energies to the instruction of others. He was a teacher in Columbia, Virginia, in 1859-60, and then taught successively in a private school near Marion, College, and in private schools of King William county, Virginia, Essex county, Virginia, and in Richmond, Virginia. In 1871 he accepted a position as principal in the public schools of Richmond, serving until February, 1889, when he was made superintendent. He was the author of a work entitled "Civil Government of Virginia," and was for a number of years editor and proprietor of the "Educational Journal of Virginia." Professor Fox was married, December 22, 1870, to Elenia Pemberton Carter.

[Pages 233-234]
      McGuire, John Peyton, Mr. McGuire, who has so long been known as head of the McGuire's School for Boys, located in the city of Richmond, Virginia, was born at "The Parsonage," in Essex county, Virginia, September 30, 1836, son of the Rev. John P. McGuire, who was one of the most faithful and successful ministers of the Protestant Episcopal church in Virginia. His grandfather, Colonel William McGuire, of Winchester, Virginia, was a lieutenant of artillery in the revolution, having enlisted at the age of thirteen, and being in most of the battles from Boston to Eutaw Springs, at which last battle he was disabled permanently. After the revolution, he studied law, and became the first chief justice of the territory of Mississippi. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. The wife of this William McGuire was Mary Little, daughter of William Little, of Frederick county, Virginia. The mother of John P. McGuire was Maria Mercer Garnet, daughter of James M. Garnett, of Essex county, who, with his son and grandson, were members of congress from Virginia, and grand-daughter of Judge James Mercer, an officer in the French and Indian wars, who was subsequently a member of the Virginia convention of 1775 and 1776. He was a member of the committee of safety of Virginia, and an admiralty judge under the Virginia constitution. John P. McGuire was educated at his father' school at "The Parsonage," taught by various teachers, and at the Episcopal high school, near Alexandria, Virginia, of which his father was principal from 1852 until the breaking out of the war between the sections. In this school he took the gold medal for general excellence in conduct and school work. From the high school he entered the University of Virginia, and for two years studied under Dr. Gessner Harrison, Dr. Albert Taylor Bledsoe, Professor Francis H. Smith and Dr. Schele De Vere. Upon leaving the university in 1856 he entered the Episcopal high school as one of the assistants, remaining there until the school was closed by the war. During a portion of the war period he served as first lieutenant and instructor in the Confederate States navy, on the school ship Patrick Henry, commanded by Captain William H. Parker. In September, 1865, he opened a limited school of twenty-four boys in Richmond, especially preparatory to the University of Virginia. From this small beginning, gaining favor by its university and college record, the present large school has grown. Mr. McGuire published addresses upon various subjects of interest, notable among which are "The Siege of Yorktown" and "The Virginian of 1781 and 1861," "The Cause and Consequences of the War uniting to justify the position of the South in all the Sectional Strife," and besides these some writings for school use, in algebra, Latin and English. By addresses and critical essays, he contributed largely to the success of the efforts to banish false histories from the schools of Virginia and the rest of the south. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, of which organization he was first vice-president; and of the executive committee of the Historical Society of Virginia. He was married twice. His first wife was Clara Mason, daughter of Commander Murray Mason, an officer in the United States and Confederate States navies. His second wife was Susan Rose Morris, daughter of Dr. John Morris, of Goochland county, Virginia. Of his first marriage were three children, John P. McGuire, Jr., associate principal of McGuire's School; Clara Forsythe, wife of the Rev. Claudius F. Smith, of Washington, D. C., and Murray Mason McGuire, a lawyer of Richmond.