Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/550

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518
SHUBRICK
SHUCK

ane” and “Levant,” 23 Feb., 1815, and executive in her subsequent escape from a British fleet. He received a silver medal, and was included in the vote of thanks by congress to Stewart and his officers, and South Carolina gave him thanks and a sword for his services. He was commissioned master-commandant, 28 March, 1820, and captain, 21 Feb., 1831, commanded the West India squadron in 1838-'40, and was chief of the bureau of provisions and clothing in 1845-'6. On 22 Jan., 1847, he arrived on the coast of California in the “Independence,” and assumed command-in-chief of the U. S. naval force in the Pacific. He captured the city of Mazatlan, 11 Nov., 1847, and, landing the naval brigade, held it against superior forces. He also took Guaymas, La Paz, and San Blas, which places, together with other ports in Mexico and California, he held until the close of the war. He commanded the “Princeton” in 1853, with a small squadron, to protect the fisheries in a dispute with the British, was chief of the bureau of construction in 1853, chairman of the light-house board in 1854- '8, and in 1858 was appointed to command a fleet of 19 vessels with 200 guns and 2,500 men, flying the flag of a vice-admiral, to operate against Paraguay for firing upon the U. S. steamer “Water-Witch.” He reached Asuncion, 25 Jan., 1859, and by display of force obtained apologies and pecuniary indemnity on 10 Feb. The president highly commended his zeal and ability in the conduct of this mission, and the president of the Argentine Confederation presented him with a sword. In 1861 unsucessful efforts were made to induce him to join the Confederates in behalf of his native state. In December, 1861, he was placed on the retired list, but he continued on duty as chairman of the light-house board from 1860 till 1870. — Another brother, Edward Rutledge, naval officer, b. in South Carolina in 1794; d. at sea, 12 March, 1844, entered the navy as midshipman, 16 Jan., 1809. He served during the war of 1812-'15 on the “President,” in the long cruises of Com. John Rodgers, and became lieutenant, 9 Oct., 1813. He was commissioned commander, 24 April, 1828, had charge of the sloop “Vincennes” in the West Indies in 1830-'3 and became captain, 9 Feb., 1837. He took command of the frigate “Columbia,” 22 July, 1842, on the Brazil station, and died at sea. — Another brother, Irvine, naval officer, b. in South Carolina in 1798; d. in Wilmington, Del., 5 April, 1849, entered the navy as midshipman, 12 May, 1814, served in the “President” under Decatur when that vessel was captured by the British, 15 Jan., 1815, was in the “Guerrière” in the Algerine war in 1815, when Decatur captured the Algerine frigate, and assisted in suppressing piracy in the West Indies while attached to the sloop “Hornet” in 1821-'3. He was commissioned lieutenant, 13 Jan., 1825, was executive officer of the “Potomac,” on the Pacific station, in 1831-'4, and commanded the landing-party from that vessel on 6 Feb., 1832, in the attack on the Malay town of Quallah Battoo, Sumatra, which he destroyed to avenge the capture and plunder of the American ship “Friendship” the year before. He was highly commended for ability and gallantry in the conduct of this expedition. After being commissioned commander, 8 Sept., 1841, he took charge of the “Saratoga,” on the Brazil station, in 1844-'7, and was inspector at the Philadelphia navy-yard in 1848-'9. —

Irvine's son, Thomas Branford, naval officer, b. in Wilmington, Del., 3 June, 1825; d. in Vera Cruz, Mexico, 25 March, 1847, was off Vera Cruz in the steamer “Mississippi” when he was sent on shore, 23 March, 1847, in charge of one of the gmis in the naval battery in the works against that city. He was killed while in the act of pointing this gun during the bombardment of Vera Cruz. A monument called the Midshipmen's Monument (see engraving) was erected at Annapolis in the grounds of the naval academy, to commemorate his death and that of Passed Midshipmen Henry A. Clemson, John R. Hynson, and Midshipman Wingate Pillsbury, who were drowned when the brig “Somers” was capsized and lost in a squall off Vera Cruz in December, 1846.


SHUCK, John Lewis (shook), missionary, b. in Alexandria, Va., 4 Sept., 1*12: d. in Barnwell, S. C., 20 Aug., 1863. He was educated at the Vir- ginia Baptist seminary (now Itidimond college), and on 22 Sept., 1835, embarked with his bride for China. He began his labors in Macao, where he baptized the first Chinese converts, met with success also at Hong Kong, whither he removed in 1842, and subsequently settled al Canton. In 1844 he came to the United States with his Chinese assistant, and visited various parts of the country in the interest of the missions. He returned to China in 1846. and settled at Shanghai, where he preached for years with good results, having completely mastered the Chinese idioms. When the' < 'hinese were attracted in considerable numbers to California after the discovery of gold, the missionary board selected Mr. Shuck for that field, and he labored there for seven years, retiring in 1861 to Barnwell. where he preached to the neighboring churches during the remainder of his life. He published " Portfolio Chinensis, or a Collection of Authentic Chinese State Papers" (Macao, l*4(h. His wife, Henrietta Hall, b. in Kilmarnock. Va.. 28 Oct., 1817; d. in Hong Kong. 27 Nov.. 1*44. was the daughter of a Baptist minister. She soon learned Chinese alter arriving at the field of her intended labors, and was an earnest lea. her of I'hri-linnily among the heat lien till her death. She was the author of "Scenes in China, or Sketches of the Country. Religion, and Customs of the Chinese" (Philadelphia. 1*52). Jeremiah B. Jeter published her "Life" (Boston, 1*48). Their son, I, t:vis 11 u.i . < Icr-.v man. b. in Singapore. India. 3 Aug.. is::r>. was urailuated at Val,e Foresl university, X. ('.. in l*5ii. laught (or some cars. studied theology, and since 1 1** : 1 ha- been pastor of a I!ap- ti-t church ill Charleston. S. C.