Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/654

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LARDNER
LARNED

a verdict of £8,000 was entered against him. He married this lady after her husband's death. Dur- ing five years' residence in this country he deliv- ered in the chief cities a series of lectures, which were published and have passed through many edi- tions. On his return to Europe in 1845 he settled in Paris, where he resided until his death. He published " Popular Lectures on the Steam-En- gine " (London, 1828), edited the " Cabinet Cyclo- paedia " (134 vols., 1830-*44), to which he contribut- ed numerous articles, and was the author of many other works on scientific and technical subjects, in- cluding hand-books on physical science (1851-'6).


LARDNER, James L., naval officer, b. in Pennsylvania in 1802 ; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 13 April, 1881. He entered the U. S. navy as a mid- shipman on 10 May, 1820, and was commissioned as lieutenant on 17 May, 1828, while serving as navi- gating officer of the "Vincennes" in a cruise around the world. From 1845 till 1848 he com- manded the receiving-ship at Philadelphia, and in May, 1850, sailed in command of the brig " Por- poise " for the coast of Africa, where he remained three years. He was commissioned commander on 17 May, 1851, and captain on 19 May, 1861, as- signed to the steam frigate " Susquehanna," of the North Atlantic blockading squadron, and was present at the capture of Port Royal. For his services on that occasion, and in the blockade of South Carolina and Georgia, a vote of thanks was carried in the house of representatives at the recommendation of President Lincoln, but it was lost in the senate. He commanded the Eastern Gulf blockading squadron from May, 1862, till the December following, when he was prostrated by yellow fever at Key West. In May, 1863, he took command of the West India squadron, which was withdrawn in October, 1864. He was promoted to the rank of commodore on 16 July, 1862, and rear-admiral on 25 July, 1866, when he was re- tired from active service.


LAREAU, Edmond, Canadian author, b. in St. Gregoire, Iberville, Quebec, 12 March, 1848. He was educated at the College of Sainte Marie de Mannoir, and was graduated in law at Victoria college and McGill university. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and was an unsuccessful candi- date for the Dominion parliament in 1882, but was elected to the legislative assembly of Quebec in 1886. He has been professor of civil law in McGill university since 1876, was at one time editor of " Le Pays " and " Le National," and is a member of the " Societe de legislation " of Paris. He has contributed largely to periodicals, and among other works is the author of " Histoire du droit Cana- dien" (Montreal, 1872); "Histoire de la littera- ture Canadienne" (1874); "Melanges historiques et litteraires" (1877); "Histoire abregee de la litterature " (1884) ; " La code civil annote " (1885).


LA RIBOURDE, Gabriel de, French missionary, b. in Burgundy in 1610 ; d. on the banks of the Illinois, 9 Sept., 1680. He was the last sur- vivor of a noble Burgundian family, and entered the order of St. Francis in 1640. He was ap- pointed master of novices at Bethune, and held successively the highest offices in the order. He came to Canada in 1670, and was soon afterward made superior of the Recollet Franciscans in the colony. Later he was sent to Fort Frontenac, where he built a rude chapel and began a mission. He was induced by Hennepin to join La Salle's party, reached the mouth of St. Joseph's river in November. 1679, and with two other Recol- lets built a bark cabin, the first Roman Catholic church in the lower peninsula of Michigan. Leaving this post in December, the Recollets reached the country of the Illinois Indians and raised a cabin for a chapel at Fort Crevecceur, near the present city of Peoria. Here he was adopted by the Illinois chief, Asapista, and followed the tribe in their summer hunts. He had hardly any success in converting the Indians. In September, 1680, the Illinois were attacked by the Iroquois, and fled. Father Gabriel and his two companions set out to reach Green Bay in a bark canoe with- out any provisions. The boat began to leak, and they were forced to land. While his companions were repairing it, Father Gabriel retired to the shade of a neighboring grove to recite his breviary. It was supposed that, tempted by the beauty of the scenery, he took a walk along the banks of the river. When his companions sought him in the evening no trace of him could be found. It was learned afterward that he had come upon some Kickapoos, who killed him and threw his body into a hole. An account of his death is given in Hen- nepin's " Nouvelle decouverte."


LARIMER, William, politician, b. in West- moreland county, Pa., 24 Oct., 1809; d. near Leav- enworth, Kan., 16 May, 1875. He removed to Pitts- burg in 1834, and became a banker and merchant, treasurer of the Ohio and Pennsylvania, and after- ward president of the Pittsburg and Connellsville, railroad. He took an active part in the anti- slavery movement, assisted in the organization of the Liberty party, and supported James G. Birney for president in 1840. After that he acted with the Whigs and was a political leader in Pennsylva- nia. In 1855 he went to Nebraska, was a zealous Republican, and served in the territorial legisla- ture in 1856. He removed to Kansas in 1858, but in October of that year led a party of gold-seekers to the Pike's Peak country. He built the first house in Denver, Col., and was U. S. commissioner and judge of probate. In the beginning of the civil war he raised a regiment of volunteers in Col- orado and was commissioned colonel, but resigned and returned to Kansas, where he re-entered the army as a captain of cavalry in 1863. He served in Kansas, Indian territory, and Arkansas, and was mustered out in August, 1865. The remainder of his life was passed on a farm in the vicinity of Leavenworth. In 1872 he earnestly supported his friend Horace Greelev for the presidency.


LA RIVIERE, Alphonse Alfred Clement, Canadian statesman, b. in Montreal, 24 July, 1842. He was educated at Jacques Cartier normal school and St. Mary's college in his native city, was con- nected with the Dominion land-office at Winnipeg from October, 1871, till 1875, and founded the as- sociation St. Jean Baptiste de Manitoba in 1872, and La societe de colonization de Manitoba in 1874. He is superintendent of Roman Catholic schools and joint secretary of the board of educa- tion, and is a member of the council of the Univer- sity of Manitoba. He was elected by acclamation for St. Boniface to the provincial legislature in 1878. re-elected in 1879, and was appointed provincial secretary in 1881. He was re-elected in 1882, and again in 1886, and was appointed minister of agriculture, statistics, and health, 6 Sept., 1883, which portfolio he resigned in August, 1886, and became provincial treasurer. He has been presi- dent of the board of arts and manufactures for the province of Quebec, was for a time special correspondent of " La Minerve," of Montreal, and is now chief editor of "Le Manitoba."


LARNED, Augusta, author, b. in Rutland, Jefferson co., N. Y., 16 April, 1835. She was educated at Watertown and Potsdam seminaries and