Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/374

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
350
EMMET
EMMONS

in Brussels, whence he saw his brother, Robert, undertake the rash enterprise that led to his death. He came to the United States in 1804, in- tending to go to Ohio, but, by the advice of Gov. George Clinton, remained in iSTew York city, where he spent the rest of his life, attaining great emi- nence at the bar. He identified himself with the Democratic party, and became attorney-general of the state in 1812. Mr. Emmet was a hard worker, devoting more than thirteen hours a day to study and business, mingling but little in society, and resorting to mathematics for diversion. He ex- celled as an advocate. " His mind," says Judge Story, " was quick, vigorous, searching, and buoy- ant. He kindled as he spoke. His rhetoric was never florid, and his diction, though select and pure, seemed the common dress of his thoughts, as they arose, rather than any studied effort at adorn- ment." He was seized with an apoplectic fit in the court-room, and died on the same day. He is buried in Marble cemetery in Second street, be- tween First and Second avenues. New York city, next to the vault occupied for twenty-seven years by the remains of President Monroe, and a monu- nient to his memory stands in St. Paul's church- yard. While in prison in Scotland, Mr. Emmet wrote sketches of Irish history, particularly of events in which he had taken part, which he afterward published in connection with Dr. Will- iam J. McNevin, under the title " Pieces of Irish History " (New York, 1807). His memoirs were written by Charles G. Haynes (London, 1829). — His son, Robert, lawver, b. in Ireland about 1792 : d. in New Rocheile,N. Y., 15 Feb., 1873, came to this country with his father, was admitted to the bar, attaining high rank in his profession, and be- came a justice of the state superior court. At the time of the contemplated Irish insurrection of 1848 he was one of the directory formed in New York for the purpose of aiding it, and made an eloquent address at a mass-meeting held on June, 1848. — Another son, John Patton, chemist, b. in Dublin, Ireland, 8 April, 1797; d. in New York city, 13 Aug., 1842, also came to New York with his father. He left school in 1813 on account of his health, was at the U. S. military academy in 1814-'7, spent a year in Naples, and on his return studied medicine in New York for four years with Dr. William J. McNevin. He received his degree at the College of physicians and surgeons, and prac- tised in Charleston, S. C, in 1822-'4, also giving popular lectures on chemistry there. In the latter year he accepted the chair of chemistry and natu- ral history in the University of Virginia, where his lectures were noted for simplicity of style and beauty and novelty of illustration. Several months before his death his health, which had never been good, failed completely, and after a visit to Florida he returned to New York to die. Dr. Emmet was a good draughtsman, and did some work as a sculp- tor, including an excellent bust of his father. He also occasionally attempted musical composition. His chemical papers, published in " Silliman's Jour- nal," include " Iodide of Potassium as a Test for Arsenic " (1830) ; " Solidification of Gypsum " (1833) ; a description of a new mode of producing electro- magnet currents (1833) ; an inquiry into the cause of such currents, in which he concludes that it is induction (1835) ; and one on " Formic Acid " (1837). — Another son, Thomas Addis, b. in Ireland in 1798 ; d. in Astoria, L. I., 12 Aug., 1863, also came to this country with his father, was well known as a lawyer, and for many years filled with credit the office of master in chancery. — Robert's son, Tliomas Addis, engineer, b. in New York city, 4 June, 1818 ; d. in Carmel. Putnam co.. N Y.. 12 Jan., 1880, en- tered Columbia in 1834, but left in the following year and became a civil engineer. He was en- gaged in the construction of various railroads, but was employed chiefly on the Erie. From 1870 till his deatli he was an assistant in the Croton aque- duct department, and superintended the construc- tion of the large reservoir near Brewster's, N. Y. He was one of the twelve founders of the American society of civil engineers. — John Patton's son, Thomas Addis, physician, b. at the University of Virginia, 29 May, 1828, took a partial course there, and was graduated in medicine at Jefferson medi- cal college, Philadelphia, in 1850. He began prac- tice in New York city in 1852. and in 1862 became surgeon-in-chief to the Women's hospital, of which he had been assistant sui'geon since 1855. He re- tained this office till 1872, and since then has been visiting surgeon. Dr. Emmet is a member of vari- ous medical associations. Since 1859 he has made a specialty of the diseases of women, and has in- troduced new operations and methods of treatment that are important in the history of medical science. He has contributed largely to the literature of that branch of medicme, his important papers in medi- cal journals numbering neai'ly forty. His publica- tions in book-form are " Vesico-vaginal Fistulas " (New York, 1868) ; " Risse des Cervix Uteri als eine haiifige und nicht erkannte Krankheitsursache " (Berlin, 1875); " Treatment and Removal of Fibroids from the Uterus by Traction " (New York, 1875) ; and " Principles and Practice of Gynecology " (Philadelphia, 1879 ; 3d ed., revised, 1884). The last-named work has passed through three editions in London, has been translated into German (Leip- sic, 1881), and is now (1887) in course of translation into French. Dr. Emmefs later papers include one on " Certain Mooted Points in Gynecology," read before the British medical association in August, 1886, and "Pelvic Inflammations," before the American gynecological society, Baltimore, in Sep- tember, 1886. — Robert's grandson, Robert Tem- ple, soldier, b. in New York city. 13 Dec, 1854, is the son of William J. Emmet. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1877, assigned to the 9th cavalry, and served with distinction as com- mander of Indian scouts through the four-years campaign against the Apaches. — His twin-sister, Rosina, artist, was educated at Pel ham Priory, Westchester co., N. Y., and studied art under William M. Chase in 1879-'80, and in Paris in 1885-'6. She received the first prize in Prang's Christmas-card competition in 1879, and a first prize medal in London in 1878, for heads on china. She has illustrated a book for children, entitled "Pretty Peggy," collecting and arranging for it the poems and music (New York, 1880), and Mrs. Burton Harrison's " Old- Fashioned Tales " (1884). She is a member of the Society of American artists, and has exhibited many paintings, both in oil and water-colors. In 1887 she married Arthur H. Sher- wood, of New York.


EMMONS, Ebenezer, geologist, b. in Middlefield, Berkshire co., Mass., 16 May, 1799 ; d. in Brunswick, N. C. 1 Oct., 1863. He was graduated at Williams in 1818, and, after studying medicine and the natural sciences in various places, received his diploma from the Berkshire medical institute, Pittsfield, Mass., in 1830, and in 1833 became professor of natural history at Williams, being one of the first in the country to occupy such a chair. Here he made important contributions to the botany, geology, and mineralogy of the northern states, and prepared a report on the " Quadrupeds of Massachusetts." He was then appointed geologist-in-