Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/572

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532
NORRIS
NORRIS

in July, 1874, joined the Davis administration in 1875, and in May, 1876, became minister of public works. In October, 1878, with Joseph Royal, he formed an administration, becoming premier and provincial treasurer. On 27 Aug.. 1886, Mr. Nor- quay resigned the treasurership, and he was ap- pointed railway commissioner on 10 Sept. He was elected to the Manitoba parliament for St. Andrews in 1874, and re-elected in 1878, 1879, 1883, and 1886. He was the onlv member that held a seat in the legislative assembly of Manitoba continuously from its inception till near the end of the year 1888. He represented the province on several delegations to the federal government at Ottawa, and secured the enlargement of its boundaries, and an increase of the subsidy from the Dominion. The acts relat- ing to municipalities, drainage, and county courts are among the principal measures that have re- sulted from his legislation. His vigorous railway extension policy has been of great benefit to Mani- toba, though in pursuance of it, in 1887, in connec- tion with the construction of the Red river valley railroad, it led him into conflict with the Dominion government. This road would connect Winnipeg with the northern boundary of Minnesota, and was regarded as infringing upon the charter rights of the Canada Pacific railway, which had been granted a, monopoly of traffic for twenty years from the date of its opening. Notwithstanding the interdict of the Dominion government. Premier Norquay and the Manitoba legislature determined to build the Red river valley railway, and in the mean time the dispute was referred to the British privy council. In January, 1888, Mr. Norquay and the members of his administration resigned.


NORRIS, Edward, clergyman, b. in Glouces- tershire, England, in 1589 ; d. in Salem, Mass., 10 April, 1640. He was a teacher and preacher in ins native to'5Ti until 1640, when he emigrated to the Massachusetts colony, and from 18 March of that year till his death was pastor of the church in Salem. He was one of the most tolerant men of his age, declined to join in the persecution of the Gortonists or Anabaptists, and, when a severe platform of church discipline was adopted by the assembly of ministers in ' 1648, persevered in his own rules of conduct for the Salem church, and in consequence of his moderation was greatly revered by all his fellow-townspeople. He appeared as a writer on the political events of the day in 1653, and favored the war with the Dutch settlers as a " just and proper undertaking." During the witch- craft delusion he withstood popular clamor and used his influence to resist the persecutions. He published a treatise on " Asking for Temporal Blessings" (London, 1636); a "Reply to John Task's True Gospel Vindicated " (1637) ; and " The New Gospel not the True Gospel" (1688).


NORRIS, Isaac, proprietor, b. in London, Eng- land, 21 July. 1671; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 4 June, 1735. His father, Thomas, removed to Ja- maica when the son was seven years old. Isaac went to Philadelphia in 1690 to arrange for the re- moval of the family to that city, but on his return found that they had all perished in the great earthquake at Port Royal. He then went back to Philadelphia, entered into business, and became one of the wealthiest proprietors in the province. While he was in England in 1706 he assisted William Penn in his difficulties and rescued him from imprisonment. On his return, two years later, he was elected to the governor's council, and from that time until his death continued in public life. He was in the assembly for many years, speaker of the house in 1712, justice for Philadel- phia county in 1717, and, on the organization of the high court of chancery, became a master to hear cases with the lieutenant-governor. He was elected mayor of Philadelphia in 1724, and on the death of David Lloyd was unanimously chosen justice of the supreme court, but declined and re- mained in the county court. Although a strict Quaker, he lived in great luxury for that age and drove a four-horse coach on which was emblazoned a coat of arms. He owned the " slate-roof house," which was the residence of William Penn during his second visit to Pennsylvania, and a dwelling on Fair Hill, which was one of the handsomest buildings of that day, and which was subsequently burned by the British during the Revolution. For many years he was one of the chief representa- tives of the proprietaries, and by the will of Penn he was named a trustee of the province of Penn- sylvania. In 1694 he married Mary, daughter of Thomas Lloyd, president of the council. — Their son, Isaac, statesman, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 3 Oct., 1701 ; d. in Fair Hill, near Philadelphia, 13 June, 1766, engaged in business till 1743, and ac- quired a large fortune in addition to what he in- herited. He was a common councilman and al- deimian, a member of the assembly in 1734, and chairman of its most important committees. He was a Quaker of the strictest sect, and endeavored to keep the policy of Pennsylvania consistent with the principles of his religion. On the prospect of war with France and Spain in 1739, he opposed the organization of volunteer companies and prep- aration for the defence of the province. His fol- lowers, in opposition to the war party, were known as the " Norris party," and his subsequent election to the assembly was the occasion of violent political struggles between the Quakers and other residents of the city. He was one of the com- missioners to treat with the Albany In- dians in 1745 and 1755, and he and his colleagues ef- fectedthepur- chase of sev- eral million acres compris- ing the south- western part

of Pennsylvania. He was

elected speaker of the assembly in 1751, and held that office fifteen years. In the first year of his administration the old state-house bell was ordered from England, and Norris proposed the inscription "Proclaim liberty through- out the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." (See illustration.) During his speakership the contest was waged between the people and the proprietaries on the subject of taxation and legislative control of the Penn family estates. Norris, at the head of the Quakers, joined the opposers of privilege, and in a debate in the assembly declared "No man shall ever stand on my grave and say, 'Curse him, here lies he who betrayed the liberties of his country!'" He was appointed with Benjamin Franklin a commissioner to England in 1757 to solicit the removal of grievances that were occasioned by the proprietary instructions, but declined on account of the failure of his health. Although he opposed the