Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/291

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DURAND
DURAO
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plantes in Paris in 18G8. A separate gallery has been devoted to the collection in that institution, and it was called " Herbaria Durandi " after the donor. Dr. Durand was a contributor to scientific journals, and a member of scientific societies in the United States and Europe.


DURAND, Marie, singer, b. in Charleston, S. C, about 1850. She was educated in New York, studying music with Signor Achille Errani, and made her first appearance in Chicago as Zerlina in " Don Giovanni." After continuing her musical studies for some years, she appeared at the impe- rial opera in St. Petersburg, and then sang in Fi'ench opera in Brussels. Returning to the United States, she was seen in New Orleans, but went to Italy and sang at Milan and elsewhere. She was induced to leave light soprano parts and devote herself to those great dramatic representa- tions in which she has since achieved distinction, such as Selika in " L'Africaine." Later she became known for her brilliant performances in " Les Huguenots," "Norma," "Robert le Diable," and " Roi de Lahore." In 1883 she made her first ap- pearance at the royal Italian opera in London, in the role of La Gioconde, of which she was the first exponent outside of Italy. She was then engaged for the entire opera season in St. Petersburg, but in April, 1884, returned to London to sing in Co- vent Garden.


DURANG, Charles, dancer, b. in Philadelphia in 179G ; d. there, 15 Feb., 1870. He made his first appearance in the Chestnut street theatre in 1803, and subsequently performed in almost every theatre in the United States. Mr. Durang was actor, author, stage-manager, prompter, ballet-master, and finally opened a dancing academy. He was the author of a " History of the Philadelphia Stage from 1752 to 1854," which appeared serially in the Philadelphia " Journal."


DURANQUET, Henry, Jesuit, b. in Clermont, Auvergne, 22 April, 180!) ; d. in Woodstock, Ind., 30 Dec, 1891. He studied theology in Prance, became a Jesuit in 1836, and in the same year embarked for the United States, landing at New Orleans in 1837. For the next ten years he taught in the college of Grand Coteau. He came to New York in 1847 and taught for the next five years in St. John's college, B^ordham. After 1858 he was chaplain of the Tombs prison and the institutions on Blackwell's Island, and was the first Roman Catholic missionary appointed to that office. His success in persuading criminals condemned to death to repent was noteworthy. He wrote many articles on missionary life for the French magazines, and published in the " Messenger of the Sacred Heart" a series of papers embodying his reminiscences of New york prisons. At the time of his death he was engaged on a volume of tlie same character.


DURANT, Charles S.„ aeronaut, b. about 1805; d. in Jersey City, 2 March, 1873. He made a bal- loon ascension in 1833 from the Battery in New York, which was one of the first ever made by a native American. Subsequently he made fourteen others, on one occasion descending into the Atlan- tic ocean. Mr. Durant was the author of several books of a scientific character, one of which was a " Treatise on Shells and Sea- Weeds."


DURANT, Henry Towle, philanthropist, b. in Hanover. N. H., 20 Feb., 1822; d. in Wellesley, Mass., 3 Oct., 1881. His name was originally Henry Welles Smith. He was graduated at Harvard in 1841, and subsequently studied law with Gen. Butler. In 1846, having been admitted to the bar, he entered on the practice of his profession in Boston, and soon became prominent. After changing his name to Durant he was associated with Rufus Choate and other noted lawyers of the time, and was very successful with cases committed to his care. Meanwhile he became connected with John H. Cheever in the formation of the New York belt- ing and packing company, and also in the purchase of iron-mines in northern New York, both of which enterprises proved exceedingly profitable. In 1863 his only son died, and during the boy's illness he determined thenceforth to consecrate his life to the cause of the Christian religion. Finding that " the law and the gospel were diametrically opposed," he disposed of his law business, although it was ex- ceedingly profitable. He made New York city his residence for some time, and became impressed with the necessity of providing a college where

women could obtain a superior education. His plans were put into execution and Wellesley col- lege resulted. This institution, built and equipped at an expense of $1,000,000, was opened in Septem- ber, 1875, and has since been maintained at an ex- pense of $50,000 per annum, furnished through the liberality of Mr. Durant. The college buildings are beautifully situated in the midst of a park of 300 acres in Wellesley, about fifteen miles west of Boston. While undenominational, the institution is distinctively and positively Christian. After 1864 he became a lay preacher, and held a great number of meetings, not only in Boston and its neighborhood, but in many towns of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Failing health led to his discontinuing public exhortation, but his interest in Christian enterprises continued throughout his life. He left a large property at his death, and the work of the college is continued by his widow.


DURANT, Thomas Jefferson, lawyer, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 8 Aug., 1817; d. in Washington, D. C, 4 Feb., 1882. He removed to New Orleans at the age of seventeen, and was appointed a clerk in the post-office there. After studying law he was admitted to the bar and became prominent in his profession. He was elected state senator, afterward appointed U. S. district attorney for Louisiana, and then became attorney-general of the state. He was a Union man during the civil war and a recog- nized leader of those who supported the national fovernment. When New Orleans was captured by 'arragut in 1862 the office of governor was ten- dered "to Mr. Durant, but he declined it on the ground that he could not be governor and at the same time be subordinate to military authority. In 1865 he left New Orleans and settled in Washington, where he soon took high rank as a lawyer. He practised before the supreme court, and at the time of his death was counsel for the United States be- fore the Spanish and American claims commission.


DURAO, Jose da Santa-Rita, Brazilian poet, b. in Infecyaoado, a parish of Marianna, province of Minas-Geraes, in 1737; d. in Lisbon, Portugal,