Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/199

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LAW
LEDUC
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Gray was entitled to his property if he could prove ownership. Public indignation meetings were held in Massiichusetts, and pending a stay in the court proceedings Gray offered to free Latimer for f 800, but hearing that the jail would be stormed and the slave released he offered to free him for |l400, which was quickly raised. Gray then attempted to secure Latimer's return to Virginia for trial on a charge of larceny, but extradition papers were refused.

LAW, Sallie Chapman, phihinthropist, b. in Wilkes county, N. C., 27 Aug., 1805 ; d. at Memphis, Tenn., 28 June, 1894. .She was known throughout the south during the civil war, and was called the mother of the confederacy. She was a mother in- deed in the highest Christian sense. Her life had been closely connected with many of the leading actors in the war, in which she took part in a quiet way. She was an active worker in the Confederate hospitals, and when nothing more could be done in Memphis she went into the army and rendered substantial aid and comfort to the soldiers in the field. As evidence of the regard in which she was held, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had 30,000 troops to puss in review before her, an honor accorded to no other woman during the civil war.

LAWRENCE, Charles Brush, jurist, b. in Ver- gennes, Vt., 17 Dec, 1820; d. in Decatur, Ala., 19 April, 188:J. He was the sou of Judge Viele Law- rence, of Vermont, and after studying for two years at Middlebury, was graduated in IMl at Union. He studied law with AI|)honso Taft in Cincinnati, Ohio, and entered on practice in St. Loui.s. Mo. Subsequently he removed to Quincy. 111., where he formed a partnership with Archibald Williams. In 1850 he was elected judge of the 10th circuit, and in 1804 was chosen to the supreme court of Illinois, where he was chief justice for three years. Hetir- ing from the bench, ho practised law in Chicago until his death. He wa.* president of the Bar asso- ciation. President Grant made him a member of the Louisiana commission, and the bench and bar of Illinois urged his appointment to the V. S. su- preme court. The degree of LL. I), was conferred upon Juilge Ijiwrence bv I'nion in 1876.

LAWRENCE. William. P. E. bishon, son of Amos Lawrence, b. in Boston. .Mass., ,30 >Iay, 18.50, was graduatefl at Harvard in 1871, and at the Episcopal theological school, Cambridge, in 187.5. Harvard gave him the degree of doctor of divinity in 1893. lie was rector of Grace church, Lawrence, professcir of homiletics and pastoral care in the Episcopal theological school, preacher at Harvard, overseer of Harvard, and dean of the theological school. Dr. Lawrence was consecrated seventh bishop of the P^piscopal church in Ma-ssacliusetts in October. 1893. His published works are a " Life of Amos Lawrence" (Boston, 1889) and a volume entitled "Visions and Service" (1896).

LAWTON, Henry Warp. soldier. b. in Manhat- tan. Lucas CO., Ohio, 17 JIarch, 1843. He left a Methodist college at Fort Wayne before graduation to enter the volunteers. Sulise(|uently he attendetl Harvard law-school, but again left before complet- ing his course to enter the regular army. At the outlireak of the rebellion he enlisted in Indiana, and was ap|)ointe<l sergeant in Company K of the 9th Indiana infantrv, 18 .pril. 1801. which position he hchl until 29 July following. On 20 Aug., 1861, ho was appointed 1st lieutenant in the 30th Indiana infantry. He was promoted captain on 17 May, 1862, lieutenant-colonel on 1,5 Nov.. 1864. He whs mustered out of the volunteer service, 2.5 Nov., 186.5, and on 28 July, 1860, was ap[K>inted 2d lieutenant in the 41st infantry. He was made 1st lieutenant on 31 July, 1867, serving as regimental quarter- master from 1 June, 1868, to 11 Xov., 1869, when he was transferred to the 34th infantry, of which he was quartermaster from 11 Nov., 1869, to 1 Jan., 1871. On this latter date he was transferred to the 4th cavalrv ; here he served as quartermaster from 1 May, 1872, to 20 Jlarch, 1875, and 1 Sept., 1876, to 20 March, 1879. He was made captain on 20 March, 1879, major and inspector-general on 17 Sept., 1888, and lieutenant-colonel and inspector- general, 12 Feb., 1889. In the war with Spain he was made a brigadier-general on 4 May, 1898, and was in command of the 2d division of the 5th army- corps during the Santiago campaign. In this cam- paign he was in command of the advance of the army, and his troops were the first to land at Dai- quiri. He was also in command at the battle of El Caney. After the fall of Santiago Gen. Law- ton was appointed commander of the district, and was made a major-general. He returned to the United States in the autumn, and accompanied the president during his southern tour. In December ne was given a command in the Philippines, where duritig the year 1899 he was contiimously engaged in active campaigning against the enemy.

LEACH, John, naval oliHcer, b. in Salem, Mass., about 174;i: d. at sea, 9 Oct., 1804. He was a descendant of Lawrence Leach {g. c), and be- longed to a race of sea-captains. He went to sea early in life, soon rose to the command of a vessel, and sailed principally from New England to foreign ports. During the Kevolutionary war he was a brave and successful commander of privateers, among them the schooners " Doliihin " and " Greyhound," the brigs " Eagle " and " Frank- lin," and the ship "Brutus." With the "Dol- phin," carrying 6 guns and 25 men, he captured a war-vessel with 20 guns and 110 men; and with the " Franklin," manned by 90 men, after a short but desperate engagement, he capture<l an Eng- lish brig, with 169 men. After the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Salem.

LECLERCQ, Charles, actor, b. in England in 1823; d. in New York city, 19 Sept., 1895. He was the son of a well-known English actor, and a brother of Carlotta ami Rose Leclercq. He came to this country in 1870, and, after supporting Charles Fechf er as Caderousse in " Tlie Count of Monte Cristo," he joined the company at Daly's theatre, with which he remained for fourteen years, representing manv characters acceptably.

LEDUC. William Gates. soldier, b. in Wilkes- ville, Gallia co., Ohio, 29 March, 1823. He was graduated at Kenyon college, admitted to the bar in 1849, and settled in St. Paul. He was active in inducing emigration to Minnesota, prepared and obtained the first charter fur a railroad in the territory, and organized the Wabash bridge com- pany to build the first bridge over Mississippi river. He removed to Hastings in 1836, and was the first in the territory to make and ship spring wheat flour, which subsequently became one of the chief prtxlucts of the state. He entered the army in 1861 as a captain, became lieutenant- colonel and chief quartermaster, served with the Army of the Potomac till the Gettysburg cam- paign, and subsequently in the west. He was Drevetted brigadier-general of volunteers in 1865. He then returneil to Minnesota, engaged in rail- road enterprises, anil was appointed commissioner of agriculture. During his occupation of this olTlce he established a tea farm in South Carolina, successfully experimented in producing sugar from sorghum canes and beets, and founded what has since been enlarged as the bureau of animal industry and the division of forestry.