Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/470

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EMMKT


EMMET


Robert Emmet, justice of the New York superior court ; unci great -grjinddaugiiter of Tliomas Addis Emmet, tlie Irish jwitriot. She was educated at the Pelluim Priory, N.Y., and studied art in New York city under WiUam M. Ciuise, 187!)-80, and in Paris, 1SS.>-*<1). In l!^7y she received a first prize medal in London for lieads jiainted on china and in 1871) the first prize in Prang's Christmas card competition. She received the silver medal, 2d claas, at the Paris exix>sition in 1889 for pjiint- ing, and a medal from the art department at the World's fair in Chicago in 1893. She painted one of the decorations of the Woman's building at Chicago. She was elected a member of the American water color society, of the New York water color club, and of the Society of American artists. She illustrated Pretty Peggy (1880) and Mrs. Burton Harrison's Old Fashioned Tales (18.84).

EMMET, Thomas Addis, lawyer, was born in Cork, Ireland, April 24, 1764; son of Dr. Rob- ert Emmett, who was for many years state phy- sicmn in Ireland. He was an elder brother of Robert Emmett, the Irish pitriot, executed in Dublin in 1803. He was educated at Trinity col- lege. Dublin, studied medicine in Edinburgh, and gained hLs M.D. degree in 1784. He gave up his medical practice in 1789 on the death of his elder brother, Christopher Temple Emmet, who had become a distinguished member of the Irish bar, and after studj-ing two years at the Temple and attending the courts of Westminster, Lon- don, he returned to Dublin where he was ad- mitted to practice in 1791 and soon attained distinction as a barrister. In 1795 he joined the society of United Irishmen and in a short time became a leader. He was arrested as a conspira- tor and confined in Kilmainham jail, Dublin, March 12, 1798. After several months' imprison- ment he was summoned before a committee of the Irish hoase of commons, where he stated that an alliance had been proposed between the so- ciety and the French government, but without implicating his fellows. The object of the move- ment was stated and his aid with other leaders was sought by the government to influence cer- tain bands of the insurgents to surrender under the promise of a general amnesty. The British government pledged that the leaders held as .state prisoners should then be permitted to emigrate to the United States, but instead of doing so the government violated its pledge and they were impri.soned in Fort George, Scotland. On their relea.se in 1802, after the treaty of Amiens, Mr. Emmet spent two years in Brus.sels and Paris, and in 1804, with his wife. Jane Patten, who had share<l his iinpri.sonment. and with his elder children, he sailed for New York, reaching that port, Nov. 11, 1804. Shortlv after his arrival he


was, through the influence of George and DeWitt Clinton, Daniel E. Tompkins and cithers, ad- mitted to the bar by a special act and gained a large clientage. He was a Democrat and was att(jrney general of the state in 1812. He v.-rote sketclies of Irish history while imprisoned in Scotland, which were published in 1807. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Hamilton college in 1822 and from Coliunbia in 1824. His eldest son, Robert (1792-1873), was a justice of the New York superior court and a noted lawj'er; John Patten (1797-1842) was pro- fessor of chemistry and natural history in the university of Virginia; Thomas Addis (1798-1863) was master in Chancery and his younger son, William Colville, born in New York, was ad- mitted to the bar, but did not practice. Mr. Emmet was attacked with apoplexy while in attendance at court and died at his home in New York city, Nov. 14, 1827.

EMMET, Thomas Addis, physician, was born in Charlottesville, Va., May 29, 1828; son of Prof. John Patten and Mary Byrd (Tucker) Emmet ; and grandson of Thomas Addis and Jane (Patten) Emmet. He took a partial course in the University of Virginia and was graduated in medicine at the Jef- ferson medical col- lege, Philadelphia, in 1850. He was ap- pointed|in theautvmin of 1850 a resident physician in the Emi- gi-ant refuge hospital. Ward's Island, N.Y., and after fifteen months became a vis- iting physician, serv- ing in this position until the autumn ' ., ^

of 1855. He began ^^rU^tX 2^^,..^ ^

the practice of med- ^^ __--^i— p>-=»

icine in New York

city in 1852. He was married in 1853 to Cath- erine Rebecca Duncan of Montgomery, Ala. After his service at Ward's Island, New York, he was assistant surgeon to the Women's hospital, 1855-62, and .surgeon-in-chief, 1862-72. On en- larging the Women's hospital and increasing the staff. Dr. Emmet became vi.siting surgeon in 1872. After 1859 he made a specialty of the diseases of women and contributed numerous jjapers re- lating to that specialty to various American and foreign medical journals. Upon the in- ception of the Irish national federation in Ire- land for gaining Home Rule by constitutional measures. Dr. Emmet was chosen the president of that organization in America. He is the author of a number of papers on medical sub-


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