Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/163

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CASSIX.


CASWELL.


few years later he was admitted to the bar, in 184U was appointed librarian of the New York state library, and held the office until 1843, when he purchased a share of the Albany Daily Atlas, of which he became editor. In 1856 the Atlas was joined to the Argus, both names being re- tained until 1865, when the name Argus was resumed, and a stock company organized. In 1868 he succeeded his brother-in-law, Peter Cag- ger, deceased, as secretary of the Democratic state committee. In 1867 he was made a mem- ber of the state constitutional convention, and in 1872 was one of a committee of sixteen ap- pointed to revise the constitution. He died in Albany, N. Y., Jan. 23, 1873.

CASSIN, John, naval officer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1758, of Irish parentage. He was appointed lieutenant in the U. S. navy, Nov. 13, 1799, was promoted commander, April 2, 1806, and captain July 3, 1812. During the war of 1812-'15 he was stationed on the Dela- ware river, and placed in command of the forces which defended Philadelphia. He died in Charleston, S. C, March 24, 1822.

CASSIN, John, ornithologist, was born near Chester, Pa., Sept. 6, 1813. He removed to Philadelphia in 1834. Becoming deeply inter- ested in natural history, he abandoned his busi- ness life in 1850 and gave his entire attention to ornithology. Among his published writings are : Birds in Outlines of General Zoology (1851) ; Notes on North American Birds in the Collec- tion of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila- delphia, and the National Museum, Washing- ton (1856) ; Mammalogy and Ornithology (1858) ; The Birds of North America (with Spencer F. Baird and otliers, 1858) ; Tliird Study of the Icteridce (1867) ; and in the U. S. goverimient reports, Ornithology of the U. S. Exploring Ex- pedition (\M~)) ; Oniitliology of Gillies's Astrono- mical Expedition to Chili (1855) ; Ornithology of the Japan Expedition (1856), and Rapacious and Wading Birds (1858). He died in Philadel- phia, Pa., Jan. 10, 1869.

CASSIN, Stephen, naval officer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 16, 1783; son of John Cassin. He was appointed a midshipman in the navy, Feb. 21, 1800, and was promoted lieutenant, Feb. 12, 1807. On Sept. 11, 1814, he was made master, and on March 3, 1825, captain. He received a gold medal for his gallant action at the battle of Lake Champlain. He was placed on the reserved list Sept. 13, 1855, and died in Georgetown, D. C, Aug. 29, 1857.

CASTLE, Frederick Augustus, physician, was born in Fabius, N. Y., April 29, 1842; son of Orvin E. and Clarinda O. (Pratt) Castle. His American ancestors were William Castle, an early settler near Stratford, Conn. ; Thomas Cad-


well, one of the first settlers in Hartford, and Mathew Pratt, who appeared in Weymouth, Mass., in 1623. His great-grandfather, Selah, Castle, was a captain ; another great-gran dlather, Phineas Cadwell, a corporal during the revolu- tionary war; and another great-grandfather, Mathew Pratt, of (Old) Braintree, was one of the "Boston tea-party." He studied medicine at the Albany medical college, and during 1862-"63, was a medical cadet in the U. S. army, at the Carver hospital in Washington. He was acting assistant surgeon in the navy from 1863 to 1865, and, at the close of the war, entered the Bellevue hospital medical college, where he was graduated in 1866. He began general practice in New York city, and held various responsible positions- in the Bellevue hospital medical college ; among them, assistant demonstrator of anatomy; assist- ant to the professor of ob.stetrics and the dis- eases of women and children, and lecturer on similar subjects and on pharmacology. He wa& editorially connected with the Medical Record (1872-'76) ; was the editor of Neio Remedies, after- wards known as American Druggist (1873-'92), and edited TT'ood's Household Practice of Medi- cine. Hygiene and Surgery (2 vols., 1880). He compiled the first and second decennial cata- logues of trustees, officers and alumni of the Bellevue hospital medical college, and is the author of many contributions to medical jour- nals. He edited the American edition of Jl/n?'- relVs Manual of Pharmacology (1896), and was a member of the committees for revising the U. S. Pharmacopoeia after 1880; physician to the Presbyterian hospital; treasurer for the trus- tees, and trustee of, the New York academy of medicine (1883-'96), and secretary of the Grolier club.

CASWELL, Alexis, educator, was born in Taunton, Mass., Jan. 29, 1799; son of Samuel Cas- well, a descendant in the fourth generation from. Peregrine White, who was born on board the Mayfloicer. He was prepared for college at Bristol academy, and was graduated in 1822 from Brown university. From 1822 to 1825 he was a tutor in Columbian college, Washington, D. C, and from 1825 to 1827 was professor of ancient language.s. in that college. In the latter year he was or- dained to the Baptist ministry and preached at Halifax, N. S., during 1827-'28. In 1828 he was pastor of the first church in Providence, R. I. , and from 1828 to 1850 held tlie chair of mathemat- ics and natural philosophy in Brown university. He was transferred to the chair of mathematics and astronomy in 1850 and served in this position until 1863, when he resigned to attend to liis pri- vate interests. In 1868, soon after the resigna- tion of Presidfnt Sears, Dr. Caswell was elected president of Brown university, and retained the