Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/407

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

COPPINGER


CORBIN


Paris's History of the Civil War in America (1877). He published Elements of Logic (1857) ; Gallery of Famous Poets (1858) ; Elements of Bhetoric (1859) ; Gallery of Distinguished Poetesses (1860); The Field Manual for Battalion Drill {1862) ; The Field 3Ian- nal of Evolution of the Line (1862); A Manual of Courts Martial (1863) ; So7igs of Praise in the Chris- tian Centuries (1864) ; The Select Academic Speaker (1865) ; Grant and His Campaigns (1866) ; Life and Services of Gen. U. S. Grant (1868) ; English Litera- ture Considered as an Interpreter to English History (1873) ; History of the Conquest of Spain by the Arab- Moors (1881) ; The Classic and the Beautiful (1888- 92); and General Thomas (1893). He died at South Bethlehem, Pa., March 22, 1895.

COPPINGER, John Joseph, soldier, was born in Queenstown, Ireland, Oct. 11, 1834. He was a lieutenant in the army of Pope Pius IX. and for his defence of the La Rocca gateway', September, 1860, he was made a chevalier by the Pope. He immigrated to the United States in 1861 and joined the U.S. army as captain in the 14th in- fantry, Sept. 30, 1861. He fought at Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run. On Jan. 27, 1865, he was promoted colonel of the 15th New York cavalry in the volunteer service, was wounded in April, 1865, near Appomattox and was honorably mus- tered out of the volunteer service, June 17, 1865. He was transferred in the regular army to the 23d infantry, Sept. 21, 1866 ; was promoted major, 10th infantry, March 20, 1879 ; lieutenant-colonel, 18th infantry, Oct. 31, 1883; colonel,* 23d infantrj', Jan. 15, 1891, and brigadier-general, April 25, 1895. He received brevet commissions as major, June 12, 1864, for gallant and merito- rious services in the battle of Trevilian station, Va. ; as lieutenant-colonel, Oct. 19, 1864, for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., and as colonel, Dec. 1, 1868, for zeal and energy while in command of troops operating against hostile Indians in 1866, 1867 and 1868. He commanded the department of the Platte, with headquarters at Omaha, Neb., and on the declaration of war with Spain in 1898, he was made major-general of volunteers and com- manded the 4th corps U.S. volunteers stationed at Mobile, Ala., Tampa, Fla., and Huntsville, Ala. While at Camp Wheeler, Huntsville, lie was retired by operation of law on account of age, Oct. 11, 1898. He was honorably discharged from the volunteer service, Oct. 31, 1898. He was married to a daughter of James G. Blaine of Maine.

CORBETT, Henry Winslow, senator, was born in Westboro, Mass., Feb. 18, 1827; son of Elijah and Melinda (Forbush) Corbett ; grand.son of Elijah Corbett, and a descendant of early settlers in Massachusetts from England. His


parents located in Washington county, N.Y, where the son received an academic education ac Cambridge academy and became a merchant's clerk, in Cambridge, N.Y., 1840-43, removing to New York city in 1844, where he engaged as a clerk in business until 1850. He then shipped around Cape Horn a stock of goods to Portland, Ore., and there became a prom- inent merchant and banker. He was a delegate to the Re- pviblican national convention of 1860, and in 1866 was elected to the United States senate, taking his seat March 4, 1867, and serving the full term which expired March 3, 1873. In business he was em- inently successful. He was an early advocate of building the Northern Pacific railroad, and promoted the various railroad and transportation interests of the state. One-tenth of his income he devoted to charity. He was a founder of the Children's home; of the Boys' and Girls' aid society, of the Art association, and was a large contributor to the Portland library association, and various other worth}' objects of Portland, Ore. At the expiration of Senator Mitchell's term in 1897 a deadlock in the Oregon legislature had prevented the election of a U.S. senator and Governor Lord appointed Mr. Corbett to fill the vacancy until the legislature should again convene and elect a senator. The senate commit- tee c n privileges and elections decided adversely to Mr. Corbett 's claim, and on Feb. 27, 1898, the senate, by a vote of fifty to nineteen, confirmed the action of the committee and Mr. Corbett was not allowed to take his seat, thus leaving Oregon represented by one senator until September, 1899. An extra session was then called. At a caucus of a majority of the Republican members, Mr. Cor- bett was declared the nominee of the partj'. After balloting for five daj-s without an election, Mr. Corbett withdrew his name in the interests of harmony in the party. He was elected to offices in Portland, which city is indebted to him for substantial structures and improvements. He died there. Marcli 31, 1903.

CORBIN, Austin, financier, was born in New- port, N.H.. July 11, 1827; son of Au-stin and Hannah M. (Wlieeler) Corbin ; grandson of Dr. James Corbin ; and a descendant of Clement Corbin "and Dorcas, his wife," who came to America in the 17th century. He was graduated