Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/328

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well as American professional and scientific journali. Dr. Dunglison died in Philadel- phia, April I, 1869.

French, Benjamin franklin, born at Rich- mond, Virginia, June 8, 1799, studied law, but was obliged lo abandon it by reason of impaired health. From his early manhood he contributed to newspapers and maga- zines. In 1830 he removed to Louisiana, there engaghig in planting and commerce; he continued his literary work and collected an extensive library, presenting this subse- quently to the Fiske Free Library of New Orleans. He removed to New York in 1853, retiring from business, and devoted himself to historical writing. He published "Bio- graphia Americana," New York, 1825; "Memoirs of Eminent Female Writers," Philadelphia, 1827; **Beauties of Byron, Scott and Moore," New York, 1828; *'His- torical Collections of Louisiana," 1846-58;

    • History and Progress of the Iron Trade of

tl-e United States." 1858; and "Historical Annals of North America," 1861. He died a\ New York City. May 30, 1877.

McGuffey, William Holmes, born in Washington county. Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 23. 1800. He received his education at Washington College, in that state, at the time when that institution was distinct from Jefferson College, with which it became amalgamated at a later time. In his young manhood his parents removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, and immediately after his graduation, in 1826, he went to that state, and was at once appointed professor of an- cient languages m Miami Lniversity, at

Oxford. .After a period of six years he was transferred to the chair of moral philosophy. In 1829 he became a regularly licensed min-


ister of the Presbyterian church, and throughout his life he frequently engaged in preaching in different churches. In 1836 he was chosen president of Cincinnati Col- lege, and three years later (in 1839) he was called to the same position in the Ohio Uni- versity. In 1843 he became a professor in the Woodward high school in Cincinnati. In 1845 he came to the chair of moral phil- osophy and political economy in the Uni- viTsity of Virginia, which he occupied until his death at Charlottesville, May 4, 1873. Professor McGuffey came to his widest fame through his series of Eclectic Readers and Spellers, which were for many years the most popular works in their department throughout the country, and which passed through several revised and expanded edi- tions from time to time.

Foote, Henry Stuart, born in Fauquier county. Virginia, September 20, 1800, son 01 Richard Helm Foote and Jane Stuart, his wife, daughter of Rev. William Stuart. He was graduated from Washington College, Lexington. Virginia, in the class of 1819, where he had studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1822. and two years later went to Tuscumbia, Alabama, where he became the editor of a Democratic newspaper. In 1826 he removed to Jackson. Mississippi, where his legal practice became an extended one, was prominent in political affairs, and was chosen a presidential elector in 1844. I" 1847 he was chosen a United States senator, as a Conservative, acted in favor of the com- promise measures of 1850. and was chair- man of the committee on foreign relations. In the fall of 1852 he resigned his seat in the senate, in order to canvass his state as a candidate of the Whig party for the office


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