Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/407

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EVANS
EVANS
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ciety a paper on " Chromates of Copper." and was elected one of its fellows. He afterward investi- gated the adulteration of drugs and food, and for his microscopical labors in this connection was made a fellow of the Royal microscopical society. He was also, in 1869, president of the Pharma- ceutical society of Great Britain. In 1866 he entered the wholesale drug business in Montreal, Canada, but continued to live in England till 1877. He retired from active connection with the business in 1884, and became chief analyst for the Dominion government.


EVANS, John, colonial governor of Pennsylva- nia, b. about 1678. He was of Welsh origin, and in February, 1704, became deputy-governor of the province, under the proprietor, William Penn. He was not a Quaker, and was doubtless selected out of deference to the court party, who did not be- lieve in the peace principles of that sect. His ad- ministration was marked by quarrels with the assembly, and especially with the speaker of the house, David Lloyd, who headed the popular party. Disregarding the convictions of the Qua- kers, Evans, for the first time in the history of the colony, made a 'public call for troops, with the de- sire of assisting the other colonies against the French and Indians. The call met with no re- sponse, whereupon the governor, resorting to a discreditable ruse, arranged to have a messenger ride into Philadelphia on the day of the annual fair, announcing, with apparent consternation, that the French had arrived in the Delaware and were marching on the city. Evans then rode through the street with drawn sword, entreating the people to arm, and for a time great excitement prevailed. Valuables were hastily thrown into wells, and many people fled to the forests ; but the Quakers, on whom Evans had wished to make an impres- sion, continued quietly at their devotions, as it was the day for their " weekly meeting." The gov- ernor also built a fort at Newcastle, and unlawful- ly demanded tribute of all vessels passing up the river. Evans had a good deal of learning and re- finement, but his habits were unsuited to the Quaker city. Watson, in his " Annals of Phila- delphia," says that in 1702 " Solomon Cresson, go- ing his round at night, entered a tavern to sup- press a riotous assembly, and found there John Evans, Esq., the governor, who fell to beating Cresson." Evans was finally recalled in February, 1709. and was succeeded by Col. Charles Gookin.


EVANS, John, geologist, b. in Portsmouth, N. IL, 14 Feb., 1812 : d. in Washington, D. C, 18 April, 1861. His father, Richard Evans, was a judge of the New Hampshire supreme court. After taking his degree at St. Louis medical college, he served, under Dr. David Dale Owen, on the geo- logical surveys of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. He first attracted notice, both here and abroad, by his discovery and description of a large deposit of fossil bones of extinct species in the " Mauvaises Terres " of Nebraska. He was afterward commissioned by the U. S. government to carry on the geological surveys of Washington and Oregon territories, and was subsequently ge- ologist to the Chiriqui commission. At the time of his death he was preparing an elaborate report on his surveys of Washington and Oregon.


EVANS, Josiah James, jurist, b. in Marlborough district, S, C, 27 Nov., 1786; d. in Washington, D. C, 6 May, 1858. He was graduated at South Carolina college in 1808, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1811, and gained a high reputation as a lawyer. He was chosen to the legislature from Marlborough district in 1812-'13, and in 1816 from Darlington district, whither he had removed in that year. He was state solicitor for the northern circuit in 1817-'29, was elected circuit judge in 1829, and, on the abolition of the court of appeals in 1835, became a judge not only in the first but also in the last resort. He was elected to the U. S. senate as a state-rights Demo- crat in 1852, and served from 1853 till his sudden death from heart disease. The highest tributes were paid to his character by both political friends and opponents. In 1856 Judge Evans made a speech in the senate in vindication of South Caro- lina, in reply to Charles Sumner.


EVANS, Lewis, geographer, b. about 1700 ; d. in June, 1756. During an active career as a sur- veyor he collected materials for a map of the Brit- ish colonies in North America, and in 1749 pub- lished one of the middle colonies, embracing New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and the adjacent In- dian coimtry. A second edition appeared in 1755, containing also Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and a part of New England. The map was repub- lished in 1776, with large additions, by Gov. Pow- nall. Evans also published " Geograjihical, His- torical, Political, Philosophical, and ^leelianical Es- says" (2 series. Philadelphia, 1755; London, 1756). In the last series he replied to some strictures on a statement questioning the English title to Fort Frontenac, which had appeared in the first.


EVANS, Nathan George, soldier, b. in Ma- rion, S. C, 6 Feb., 1824; d. in Midwav, Ala.. 30 Nov., 1868. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1848, assigned to the 1st dra- goons, and served on frontier duty and against the Indians. He was made 1st lieutenant in the 2d cavalry, 3 March, 1855 ; captain, 1 May, 1856 ; and distinguished himself in a fight with Comanche Indians, 1 Oct., 1858, killing two of them in per- sonal combat. He resigned on 27 Feb., 1861, en- tered the Confederate service as colonel, and com- manded a brigade at Bull Run. He was then pro- moted to brigadier-general, and commanded the Confederate forces at Ball's Bluff, 19 Oct., 1861. He also commanded in the actions at James Island, S. C, and Kinston, N. C, in 1862. and subsequent- ly became major-general. He led a division at Hatcher's Run, and surrendered with Gen. Lee. In 1861 the South Carolina legislature voted him a gold medal for gallantry at Leesburg.


EVANS, Nathaniel, poet, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 8 June, 1742 ; d. in Gloucester county, N. J., 29 Oct., 1767. After studying at the Philadelphia academy, he was apprenticed to a merchant, but afterward entered the College of Philadelphia (now University of Pennsylvania). He was not gradu- ated, but received the degree of M. A. in 1765. He then went to England, was ordained in the established church, and returned in December, 1765, as a missionary of the Society for propagat- ing the gospel in foi-eign parts. Mr. Evans pub- lished an edition of Thomas Godfrey's poems, with a memoir (1767). After his death, selections from his writings, entitled " Poems on Several Occa- sions," with other pieces, including one of his ser- mons, were published with a memoir by his friend, the Rev. Dr. William Smith (Philadelphia, 1772).


EVANS, Oliver, inventor, b. in Newport, Del., in 1755: d. in New York city, 21 April, 1819. He was apprenticed to a wheelwright, and before he had reached the age of manhood the construction of a land-carriage to be propelled without animal power began to occupy his attention. At the age of twenty-two he invented a machine for making card-teeth. Two years later he entered into business with his brothers, who were millers, and in a