Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/326

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MEILLEUR
MEJIA

supplying and refitting the army under Gen. William T. Sherman, and shipping captured stores, after which he was in Goldsborough, N.C., during March, 1865, directing the opening of communications for again supplying Gen Sherman's armies. After the war he continued in Washington, and in connection with the duties of his office inspected the workings of the department under his control in Texas and the southwest in 1869-'70, in California and Arizona in 1871-'2, the western posts and railroad routes in 1872, and in California and Columbia in 1873-'4. He visited Europe in 1867-'8 for his health, and again in 1875-'6, on special service, to study the constitution and government of European armies, and then was made a member of the commission for reform and reorganization of the army in 1876. Gen. Meigs has also been a member of the board to prepare plans and specifications for the new war department building in 1866, the new building for the National museum in 1876, and in preparing a plan for a hall of records in 1878. Since his retirement he has been architect of the building for the pension bureau in Washington, which was completed during 1887. He is a regent of the Smithsonian institution, and a member of various scientific societies, including the National academy of sciences, to which he was chosen in 1865. He has published annual reports of the quartermasters' department in 1861-'82, and other government reports. - Another son of Charles Delucena, John Forsyth, physician, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 3 Oct., 1818; d. there, 16 Dec. 1882, was educated at private schools, and graduated at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1838. In 1841 he travelled and studied in Europe, after which he engaged in the practice of his profession in Philadelphia, devoting his attention especially to diseases of women and children. In 1843 he lectured on obstetrics at the Philadelphia association for medical instruction, and continued his courses until 1854. He was one of the attending physicians of the hospital from 1859 till 1881. He was a member of the College of physicians, and an active member of the Union league of Philadelphia, which was formed in his office. He was a frequent contributor to medical periodicals, and was the author of “Medical Diseases of Children” (Philadelphia, 1848); “History of the 1st quarter of the 2d century of the Pennsylvania Hospital” (1876); and “Memoirs of Charles D. Meigs, M.D.” (1876) - Montgomery Cunningham's son, John Rodgers, soldier, b. in Washington, D.C., 9 Feb., 1842; d. near Harrisonburg, Va., 3 Oct., 1864, was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1863, standing first in his class, and entered the army as 1st lieutenant in the corps of engineers. He served as engineer on the staffs of various commanders during the campaigns in Maryland and at Harper's Ferry, and was aide-de-camp to Gen. Philip H. Sheridan during the Shenandoah valley campaign in 1864. For the battles of Opequan and Fisher's Hill he received the brevets of captain and major. He attained the office of chief engineer of the Army of the Shenandoah, and while making a military reconnoisance was shot by guerillas.


MEILLEUR, Jean Baptiste, Canadian author, b. in St. Laurent, island of Montreal, 9 May, 1795; d. in Montreal, 6 Dec., 1878. He was educated at the College of the Sulpitians, Montreal, and studied law, but abandoned it for medicine, and was graduated at Castleton medical college, Vermont, in 1825. On his return to Canada he became one of the principal assistants to the “Tessier Journal,” and was elected a member of parliament in November, 1834. In May, 1842, he was appointed superintendent of public instruction by Sir Charles Bagot, and during the fifteen years he held this office he aided in founding forty-five superior educational establishments, with funds from the department. He was afterward postmaster of Montreal till 1862. He was the principal founder of the College of L'Assomption, was a provincial registrar, and a few days before his death received from France the decoration of “Les palmes académiques.” In addition to lectures and editorial work he wrote : “Treatise on Chemistry,” in French (Montreal, 1832); “English Grammar,” written in French (1833); “Treatise on the Rules of Epistolary Art,” in French (3d ed., 1852) and “Mémorial de l'éducation” (1860).


MEIRELLES, Joaquim Candido Soaies de (mi-ray'-les), Brazilian physician, b. in Santa Luzia do Sabara, Nov. 5, 1777; d. in Rio de Janeiro, 13 July, 1868. He made his preparatory studies in the Seminary of Sao Jose in Rio de Janeiro, and in 1819 entered the medical and surgical college. In 1822 he graduated and entered the army as assistant surgeon, and was ordered to the cavalry regiment of Minas-Geraes. He rendered important services to his native province, organizing the military hospital at Ouro Preto, and treating the sick during the terrible epidemic which then raged in the province. In 1825 he went to Europe as a state pensioner, for the purpose of perfecting in France his medical studies. Returning to Brazil, he solicited and obtained in 1828 the charge of a wai-d in the hospital of the Santa Casa da Misericordia, where he gratuitously gave the benefit of his talents to those who needed them. On 24 April, 1830, he organized the Imperial academy of medicine, and is considered the founder of this establishment, of which he was for several years president. In 1840 he supported the proposition to declare the emperor of age, but in 1842, in consequence of political commotions, was ban- ished to Europe. On his return he did not find a tribunal disposed to try him, and he was restored to his offices and honors. Dr. Meirelles had been honored with the title of councillor, and enjoyed the confidence of the emperor, being physician of the imperial household. In 1865, notwithstanding his advanced age, on the invasion of Rio Grande do Sul by the Paraguayans, he followed the emperor to Porto Alegre and the seat of war. participating in the capitulation of Uruguayana. He was an honorary member of many literary and scientific societies in Brazil and abroad.


MEJIA, Tomas (may-hee'-a), Mexican soldier, b. in Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, about 1815 ; d. in Queretaro, 19 June. 1867. Little is known of his earlier years, only that he was of pure Indian race, and born in humble circumstances. He was bred under the influence of the parish priests, and from early life was conspicuous in defence of the Conservative church party, at the head of the natives, over whom he exercised a powerful influence, as he claimed lineal descent from the Aztec emperors of Mexico. Scarcely had the government of Santa-Anna ceased in 1855, in consequence of the revolution that resulted from the plan of Ayutla, when Mejia rose in arms against the Liberal authorities in his native mountains, and soon became so formidable that Ignacio Comonfort sent Gen. Ghilardi at the head of a strong army against Mejia, but obtained little success in the difficult mountain fastnesses. When Mejia descended to the plains to attack the city of Queretaro, he was defeated in Jane, 1856. and "his forces were dispersed, but they soon rallied again in the mountains, and early in 1857 he captured San Luis Potosi, but he was de-