N< IRTON. NOURSE. 443 NORTON, Charles Eliot, son of Andrews and Catherine (Eliot) Norton, was born in Cambridge, Middlesex county, November 16, 1827. His father was a theologian — born in Hingham, in 1786, died in Newport, R. I., in 1852. He was graduated from Harvard in 1804 ; was a writer of reputation, and had few, if any, equals in the United States as a biblical critic and scholar. Mr. Norton was graduated from Harvard in the class of 1846, and began a commer- cial career in an East India house, Boston. Three years later he went to the East Indies as supercargo of a ship in that trade. He traveled extensively in that country, and making a tour of Europe, he returned home in 185 1. He again visited Europe in 1885, remaining until 1857, and once more in 186S, remaining until 1S73.. In company with Dr. Ezra Abbot, he edited his father's " Translation of the Gospels with Notes " (two volumes), and his " Internal Evidences of the Genuine- ness of the Gospels." The papers of the Loyal Publication Society, issued during the civil war, were edited by him, and from 1864 to '68 he was joint editor with James Russell Lowell of the " North American Review." Among his own publications are " Con- siderations on some Recent Social Theo- ries," "The New Life of Dante," transla- tion with essays and notes, "Notes of Travel and Study in Italy," "A Review of a Trans- lation into Italian of the ' Commentary ' by Benvenuto da Imola on the ' Divina Commedia" "The Soldier of the Good Cause," "William Blake's Illustrations of the Book of Job, with Sketch of the Artist's Life and Works," " List of the Principal Books relating to the Life and Works of Michael Angelo, with Notes," and " Historical Studies of Church Build- ing in the Middle Ages : Venice, Siena, Florence." He edited in 1S83 the "Cor- respondence of Carlyle and Emerson," and in subsequent years the " Correspondence of Goethe and Carlyle," and " Carlyle's Reminiscences and Letters." He was elected to the professorship of history of art in Harvard College in 1875, which chair he still occupies. Mr. Norton has acquired an enviable reputation as a writer, and is an acknowledged authority on matters pertaining to the highest cul- ture. Professor Norton was married in 1862 to Susan, daughter of Theodore and Sara (Ashburner) Sedgwick. His wife died in 1S72. Of this union were six children. NOURSE, HENRY STEDMAN, son of Stedman and Patty (Howard) Nourse, was born in Lancaster, Worcester county, April 9, 1 83 1. He studied in the common schools, in Lancaster Academy, and was for two terms in the Leicester Academy. Then he entered Harvard College and graduated in the class of 1853, receiving the degree of A. M. in 1855. For a year after graduation he was pro- fessor of ancient languages at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., and for three years thereafter he was principal of the academy at Taunton. In 1857 he abandoned teaching for the profession of civil engineering, and entered the office of Whitwell & Henck, of Boston, by whom he was engaged upon the Back Bay improvements at their inception. In 1859 he was employed in building the ex- tension of the Delaware Railroad, and after the war in building the Eastern Shore Railroad of Maryland, and the Susque- hanna Bridge. As resident engineer, in 1866, '67 and '68, he built the Pennsylvania Steel Works, near Harrisburg, Pa., and was superintendent of themuntil 1874. They were the second steel works to successfully manufacture Besse- mer steel in the United States, and they still rank as among the largest in the country. On the 12th of September, 1870, at Lan- caster, Mr. Nourse was married to Mary B. (Whitney) Thurston, daughter of John and Mary B. (Holt) Whitney. Their only children died in infancy. Mr. Nourse is a member of the Ameri- can Antiquarian Society. During the rebellion he served in the 55th Illinois infantry as adjutant. He was wounded at Shiloh, was promoted to captain in 1862, appointed commissary of musters 1864, and was mustered out in 1865, after par- ticipating in many battles. He was rep- resentative from the 5th Worcester district in 18S3, and senator in 1SS5 and '86. He was made trustee of the Worcester Lunatic Hospital in 1888, and has heid many local town offices. His present residence is in Lancaster, where he spends his time in cultivating a small farm, and in writing. He is the author of " Early Records of Lancaster," "The Story of the 55th Regiment, Illinois Infantry," "A History of Lancaster and Clinton," and "Military Annals of Lan- caster." Mr. Nourse is' a lineal descendant of Rebecca Nourse, who was hung as a witch, at Salem, in 1692.
