In his early life Gen. Sanford had some experience as a manager, but having lost both of his theatres by fire, he abandoned that field of speculation.
SANFORD. David, clergyman. b. in New Mil-
ford, Conn.. 11 Dec., 1737; d. in Medway, Mass.,
7 April. 1S10. He was graduated at Yale in 1755
and studied theology, but. instead of entering the
ministry, removed to Great Harrington. Mass.,
where he settled mi a farm. Subsequently, through
his brother-in-law. Samuel Hopkins, a clergyman,
his attention being again turned to the pulpit, he
resumed his studies, and on 14 April, 177'!. was
ordained pastor of the Congregational church at
Medway, Mass., where he passed the remainder of
his life, with the exception of a brief period, dur-
ing which he served as a chaplain in the Revolution-
ary army. As an orator Mr. Sanford possessed un-
usual gifts. As a preacher he especially excelled in
"tracing the windings of the human heart, in
tearing from the hypocrite his mask, in rousing
the slumbering conscience, and in quickening the
sluggish affections." He early resisted the oppres-
sion of Great Britain, and relinquished his salary
for a time. He was occasionally blunt and severe,
especially when he met with those that came short
of his own high standard of clerical dignity and
devotion. Thus, when a licentiate with clownish
manners and a rustic garb asked what system of
divinity he would recommend, he replied : " Lord
Chesterfield's divinity to you!" On another occa-
sion, on hearing that a young preacher had refused
a call on the ground that there was an extensive
pine-swamp in the place, he exclaimed : " Young
man, it is none of your business where God has
put his pine-swamps." Mr. Sanford never wrote
his sermons, and the only publications bearing his
name are two " Dissertations " issued in 1810, one
" On the Nature and Constitution of the Law given
to Adam in Paradise," and the other " On the
Scene of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane."
SANFORD, Ezekiel. author, b. in Ridgefield,
Fairfield co.. Conn., in 1796; d. in Columbia, S. C.,
in 1822. He was graduated at Yale in 1S15. and
in 1819 published "A History of the United Stairs
before the Revolution, with Some Account of the
Aborigines" (Philadelphia). Of this work Nathan
Hale (q. v.) wrote in the "North American Re-
view" in September of that year: " V havi- pro-
ceeded far enough, we trust, to support our charge
of gross inaccuracy in the work before us." The
same year Mr. Sanford projected an expurgated
edition of the British poets with biographical
prefaces in fifty volumes, twenty-two of which he
had published when his health failed (Philadel-
phia), and the remainder of thr srrio was edited
by Robert Walsh, for many years U. S. consul in
Paris. Sanford left in manuscript a satirical novel
entitled " The Humors of Eutopia."
SANFOKD. Henry Shelton, diplomatist, b. in
Wondbury, Conn., 15 June, 1823; d. in Healing
Springs, Ya., 21 May. 1891. He entered Washing-
ton college, but was not graduated, and afterward
studied at Heidelberg, where he received the degree
of J. U. D. He was secretary of the U. S. legation
in Paris in lN4!l-';>3, and then charge d'affaires
till April, ls.-)4. lie resigned on the question of
citizen's dress for diplomatic uniform, refusing to
conform to Minister Mason's course, which led,
on Senator Charles Sumner's motion, to the pres-
ent law, enforcing Sec. Marcy's circular instruc-
tion recommending citizen's dress as a diplomatic
uniform. From 1861 till 1869 he was U. S. minis-
ter to Belgium, where he negotiated and signed
the Scheldt treaty, a treaty of commerce and navi-
gation, a consular convention (the first ever made
with Belgium), a trade-mark, and naturalization
conventions. In 1S77 he was one of the founders
of the International African association (now the
Independent state of the Congo), and became a
member of the executive committee, representing
on it the English-speaking rar.-.. As its plenipo-
tentiary at Washington he secured recognition of
its flag in April. 1SS4, and he was sent as a dele-
gate of the U. S. government to the Berlin Congo
conference of 1885-'6, which opened to free-trade
and neutrality a territory of 1,000.000 square miles,
with a population of 50.000,000. In 1870 Mr.
Sanford founded the city of Sanford. Fla.. and en-
gaged in orange-culture, introducing into Florida
various new cultures, notably that" of the lemon.
Trinity gave him the degree of LL. D. in 184!!.
Various official reports of his have been published
by congress, including one on "Penal Codes in
Europe " (Washington, 1854). and the " Averdslood
Correspondence," also published by congress, which
treated very fully of several important questions of
international law.
SANFORD, Joseph, clergyman, b. in Vernon,
Vt., (i Feb., 1797; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 25 Dec.,
1831. He was graduated at Union in 1820, ami at
Princeton theological seminary in 1823, ordained
as pastor of a Presbyterian church in Brooklyn.
N. Y., in October of "that year, and from 1829 till
his death was pastor of a church in Philadelphia.
He was distinguished for his power to move the
sympathies and emotions of his audiences. See his
"Memoirs," by Robert Baird (Philadelphia. ls:W>.
SANFORD, Nathan, senator, b. in Bricge-
hampton, Suffolk co., N. Y., 5 Nov., 1777: d. in
Flushing, N. Y., 17 Oct., 1838. He was educated
at Y'ale college, studied law, was admitted to the
bar in 1799. and
began practice in
New York city.
He was appoint-
ed to several local
offices, and on the
accession of Presi-
dent Jefferson was
made U. S. com-
missioner in bank-
ruptcy. From 1803
till 1816 he was
U. S. district attor-
ney. This was the
period of the com-
mercial difficulties
with France, of
the " embargo,"
and of the war
of 1812, involving
great embarrass-
ment to American
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commerce. To the discussion of the difficult legal questions arising out of the occurrences of this time, Mr. Sanford brought unusual ability, extensive learning, and a liberal spirit. While holding this office, he was twice elected to the New York assembly, of which he was chosen speaker in 1811. From 1812 till 1815 he was a member of the state senate, which then, in addition to its legislative functions, sat as a court for the correction of errors. He was elected U. S. senator from NVw York as a Democrat, and served from 4 Dec., isio. till 3 March, 1S21, when he was sent as a delegate to the State constitutional convention. There he proposed amendments, which were adopted, abolishing the property qualification for the elective franchise. On the adoption of the new constitution lie was appointed to the office of chan-
