Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/226

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DORGAN
DORR

his direction. Dr. Doremus has made a specialty of medical chemistry and toxicology, and has frequently been called into courts as an expert in such matters. He is chemist to the Medico-legal society, and a member of the chemical societies of Berlin, Paris, and New York, and for some time edited the journal of the latter society. He has written frequent papers on sanitary chemistry and methods of analysis, which have appeared in the proceedings of the societies to which he belongs, and he is the author of a “Report on Photography,” contributed to the U. S. government reports on the Exhibition held in Vienna in 1873.


DORGAN, John Aylmer, poet, b. in Phila- delphia, 13 Jan., 1836; d. there, 1 Jan., 1867. lie was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, where he always resided, and was so diligent in his studies as to have prepared himself for entering the Central high school a year before he was old enough for admission. After a four-year's course at this institution, he was graduated with the de- gree of A. B. lie then entered a law office, where he remained until his last illness. He died of con- sumption, and much of his poetry was written while his body was wasting from the inroads of that disease. His writing was done in the intervals of his daily toil, as he never took any vacatioh. In 1862 he published the first edition of his poems, under the title of " Studies." In 1864 he issued a second edition, and a third in 1866. He also con- tributed to the " Atlantic Monthly," and other periodicals. Many of his poems are set in a minor key, but they are characterized by strong and vig- orous thought. Some of his lyrics pass far beyond the work of a beginner, and indicate what their author would probably have accomplished had a longer life Ijeen vouchsafed him.


DORHMAN, Arnold Henry, merchant, b. in Portugal in 1748; d. in Steubenville, Ohio, 21 March, 1813. He proved himself to be one of the strongest friends of American liberty not born on American soil, and put forth such strenuous efforts to relieve our captured seamen that the British government demanded his expatriation. He was originally a merchant, engaged in business in Lisbon, but came to this country in 1783. In view of his services, and the losses he had sustained in his devotion to the young republic, congress voted him a money compensation and a Western township, besides appointed him U.S. agent in Lisbon.


DORION, Sir Antoine Aime, Canadian states- man, b. in Quebec, 17 Jan., 1818 ; d. in Montreal, 31 May, 1891. He was educated at Nicolet college, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1842. He was a representative for Montreal in the Canada assembly from 1854 till 1861, when he was defeated ; and for Hochelaga from t8()2 till 1867. He represented the same county in the commons from the union until the general election of 1872, when he was returned for Naiiierville, which he repre- sented till 1874. He declined a seat in the Canadian cabinet in 1859, but was a member of the executive council of Canada several times, holding the port- folios of commissioner of crown lands from 2 till 4 Aug., 1858, when the government resigned ; pro- vincial secretary from May, 1862, till January, 1863, when he resigned on the question of the Interco- lonial railway ; and attorney-general of Lower Canada and leader of the government (with John Sandfleld Macdonald as premier) from May, 1863, till March, 1864, when the administration retired from office. He was sworn of the privy council, 7 Nov., 1873, and was minister of justice from that date until his appointment, in June, 1874, as chief- justice of the province of Quebec. He was admin- istrator of the province of Quebec in December, 1876, during the last illness of Lieut.-Gov. Caron. Sir Antoine was a leader of the Rouge or French Canadian liberal party of Quebec from his entrance into political life until his retirement. He occupied for years a distinguished place at the bar, and was kniglited in 1877. — His father, P. A. Dorion, repre- sented Champlain in the assemljly of Lower Canada from 1830 till 1838. — His brother, Jean Baptiste Eric (who died in November, 1866), sat in the Canada assembly. — Another brotlier, Pierre Nere, had a seat in the house of commons.


DORION, Jacques Edmond, French Canadian journalist, b. in St. Ours, Lower Canada, in 1827. He came to the United States at an early age, studied medicine, and practiced as a physician. He founded the newspapers " La Ruche Cana- dienne," " La feuille d'erable," " Le eitoyen," " L'Union," the last published at Ogdensljurg, N. Y., previous to 1860. He also edited " Le courrier d'Ottawa " (1861-5). Dr. Dorion founded " La Societe St. Jean Baptist," at Burlington, Vt., at Plattsburgh and Ogdensburgh, N. Y., and in other places in the United States. He is the author of " L'education populaire " (New York, 1853), and of addresses and novels.


DORNIN, Thomas Aloysius, naval officer, b. in Ireland alxsut 1800 ; d. in Norfolk, Va.. 22 April, 1874. He was appointed midshipman, 2 May, 1815, and lieutenant in 1825. After cruising in the Pa- cific, he volunteered in the sloop-of-war " Vin- cennes," bound round the world, and returned in her in 1830. After again, cruising in the Pacific, he was appointed to the command of the storeship " Relief " on the fitting out of the South sea ex- ploring expedition. While in command of the " Shark," in the Pacific, he was commissioned com- mander (1841) and given charge of the sloop " Dale," which he brought home from a cruise in 1843. In 1851 he sailed in command of the " Portsmouth," and during his cruise he was ordered to charter one of the Panama steamers and endeavor to pre- vent the invasion of Mexican territory by William Walker's expedition. In the execution of this de- sign he was completely successful. After discharg- ing his steamer he visited Mazatlan, where he found forty American citizens, who had been peaceably doing business in Guaymas, closely packed in the hold of a schooner, doubly ironed, and chained to the bottom of the vessel. Capt. Dornin at once demanded of the governor their immediate release, and after considerable delay that official finally complied. Dornin then sailed for Acapulco, where he learned that a Mexican war- vessel had declared a blockade and driven off U. S. mail steamers. He pursued and overhauled the vessel, and notified her commander that such pro- ceedings were in violation of a special treaty be- tween the United States and Mexico. The Mexi- can, after making a written protest, abandoned the blockade. After being commissioned as captain (1855), and while in command of the " San Jacinto," Dornin captured two slave-vessels on the coast of Africa with over 1,400 slaves on board, and landed them safely in Liberia. During the civil war he was promoted to the rank of commodore on the retired list (16 July, 1862), and at its close was placed in charge of the fifth light-house district.


DORR, Benjamin, clergvman, b. in Salisbury, Mass., 22 March, 1796 ; d. in" Germantown, Pa., 18 Sept., 1869. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1817, and, after studying both law and divinity, was ordained priest by Bishop Hobart in 1823. He was rector of Protestant Episcopal churches in Lansingburg and Waterford in 1820-'9. and of