Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/325

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MEIGS
MEIGS

admitted- to the bar of New Haven in April, 1783. He resigned the tutorship in 1784, and in conjunction with Daniel Bowen and Eleutheros Dana established a printing-office, and published weekly “The New Haven Gazette,” to which in time he added the sub-title of “Connecticut Magazine,” and ultimately became its sole publisher. To its columns many of the distinguished men of the time contributed, but it was not a financial success, and finally ceased in 1788. In 1784 he was elected city clerk of New Haven, which office he held until 1789, during which year he also delivered a series of philosophical lectures in the chapel of Yale college. He went to Bermuda in 1789 for the purpose of establishing a law-practice, and appeared as the defender of American vessels that were captured by British privateers. This course led him into difficulties, and he was tried for treason, but was acquitted, and in 1794 returned to New York. In that year he became professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in Yale, where he remained until 1801. On the opening of the University of Georgia in 1800, he was chosen the first professor and acting president, continuing in the latter office until 1810, but retaining the professorship of mathematics, natural philosophy, and chemistry a year longer. In 1812 he was appointed surveyor-general, and in 1814 became commissioner of the general land-office of the United States, which office he held until his death. Mr. Meigs was always an active student of the sciences, and showed great interest in their advancement. He advised that meteorological registers be established in each of the U.S. land-offices, and that monthly returns be made. In 1821, having been president of the Columbian institute since 1819, he became professor of experimental philosophy on the establishment of Columbian college in Washington, and delivered there lectures during the last year of his life. His name was on the rolls of several scientific societies. See “Life of Josiah Meigs,” by his great-grandson, William M. Meigs (Philadelphia, 1887). - Josiah's son, Charles Delucena, physician, b. in St. George, Bermuda, 19 Feb., 1792; d. in Delaware county, Pa., 22 June, 1869, was graduated at the University of Georgia in 1809, and began the study of medicine at first as an apprentice, and then at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his degree in 1817. Meanwhile he had settled in Augusta, Ga., and there practised until 1817, when he returned to Philadelphia and attained note in his profession. In 1830 he began to lecture on midwifery at the School of medicine, and continued to do so for several years. He was invited in 1841 to fill the chair of obstetrics and the diseases of women and children in Jefferson medical college, and remained there until 1861. In 1818 he received the honorary degree of M.D. from Princeton. Dr. Meigs was a member of the medical societies and of the scientific organizations in Philadelphia, to which he frequently contributed papers. In 1827 he became a fellow of the Philadelphia college of physicians, of which he was censor in 1841-'8, and vice-president in 1848-'55. He was one of the original editors in 1826 of the “North American Medical and Surgical Journal,” and delivered various public addresses and lectures. His literary work was very great. Besides contributing memoirs of Dr. Samuel G. Morton (1851) and of Dr. Daniel Drake (1853) to the “Transactions of the Academy of Natural Sciences,” he translated Velpeau's “Elementary Treatise on Midwifery” (Philadelphia, 1830); Colombat de L'Isere's “Treatise on the Diseases and Special Hygiene of Females” (1845); and “L'Abbaye de Typhanies,” a novel. He was author of “The Philadelphia Practice of Midwifery” (1838); “Woman, her Diseases and Remedies” (1847); “Obstetrics, the Science and Art” (1849); “Observations on Certain Diseases of Children” (1850); “Treatise on Acute and Chronic Diseases of the Neck of the Uterus” (1854); and “On the Nature, Signs, and Treatment of Child-Bed Fevers” (1854). See “Memoir of Dr. Charles D. Meigs,” by John F. Meigs (1872).

Charles Delucena's son, Montogomery Cunningham, soldier, b. in Augusta, Ga., 3 May, 1816; d. in Washington, D.C., 2 January, 1892, and was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1836 with an appointment in the artillery, but in 1837 was transferred to the corps of engineers. He was advanced to 1st lieutenant in 1838 and captain in 1853. Meanwhile he was occupied in the building of Fort Delaware, in the improvement of harbors in Delaware river and bay, and in various other works along the Atlantic coast until 1841, when he became superintending engineer of the construction of Forts Wayne, Porter, Niagara, and Ontario, and so continued during 1841-'9. He then spent the year of 1849-'50 in Washington, D.C. in the engineer bureau, after which he served again as superintending engineer on the building of Fort Montgomery, where he was sent in 1852, but his orders were changed to Washington, D.C., and he was given control of the survey for the aqueduct before he took charge of this work. In November, 1852, he returned to Washington, under orders to take charge of designing and constructing the Potomac aqueduct, also superintending the building of the new wings and iron dome of the capitol extension, and the extension of the U.S. general post-office, and completion of Fort Madison in Annapolis, Md. He was sent to Florida in October, 1860, to take charge of the building of Fort Jefferson, but in 1861 was appointed to organize an expedition to relieve Fort Pickens, Fla., which was besieged by the Confederate forces. On 14 May, 1861, he was promoted to colonel of the 11th infantry, and on the 15th was made quartermaster-general of the U.S. army with the rank of brigadier-general, which post he continued to hold until his retirement in 1882. During the civil war he was engaged in directing the equipment and supply of the armies in Washington, although he was present at the battle of Bull Run in July, 1861, and during 1863-'4 was specially engaged in providing transportation and supplies for the forces at Chattanooga, being present during the investment and bombardment of that city, and the subsequent battle in November, 1863. During the overland campaign in 1864 he had, by orders of the War department, for a short time personal charge of the base of supplies of the Army of the Potomac at Fredricksburg and Belle Plain. He commanded a brigade of quartermasters men and other troops during the threatened invasion of Washington in July, 1864, and was brevetted major-general on 5 July, 1864. Subsequently he visited Savannah, Ga.,