PIERCE, Lovick (1785-1879). A minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was born in Halifax County, N. C.; entered the South Carolina Conference in 1805, though he began to preach the year before; he was chaplain in the army during the War of 1812; at the close of the war he retired from the ministry and studied and practiced medicine. In 1823 he reëntered the ministry and filled the chief appointments of the Church; he represented his conference in numerous general conferences. He was known as one of the most eloquent preachers of his time.
PIERIDÆ. A family of butterflies noted for mimicry. See Mimicry.
PIERIDES, pī̇-ĕr′ĭ-dēz (Lat., from Gk. πιερίδες). (1) A name given the Muses from their birthplace, Pieria in Thessaly. (2) According to late mythology the nine daughters of Pierus, King of Emathia, whom he named after the nine Muses. When they were defeated by the Muses in a musical contest, they were changed into magpies.
PIERNÉ, pyâr′nā̇′, Gabriel (1863—). A French organist and composer, born at Metz. He was graduated at the Paris Conservatory, where he won many important prizes, including the Prix de Rome in 1882. He became organist at Sainte Clothilde in 1890, succeeding César Franck, and subsequently devoted himself largely to composition. He produced several operas (notably a four-act opera Izéil, 1894), all of which are highly regarded.
PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA, pyā′rō̇ dĕl′lȧ frȧn-chĕs′kȧ. An Italian painter. See Francesca, Piero della.
PIERO DI COSIMO, dē̇ kō̇′sē̇-mō̇ (1462-1521). An Italian painter of the Florentine school. He was born in Florence and was a pupil of Cosimo Rosselli, from whom he derived his name and whom he assisted in painting the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Afterwards the influence of Leonardo da Vinci becomes apparent in his works, of which “Perseus Delivering Andromeda” (Uffizi, Florence), “Holy Family” (Dresden), “Venus with Cupid and Mars” (Berlin), “Coronation of the Virgin” (Louvre), and “Death of Procris” (National Gallery, London) are the most remarkable. A special feature of his pictures is the fine landscape backgrounds. He was the first master of Andrea del Sarto. For his biography, consult Knapp (Halle, 1899).
PIEROLA, pē′ā̇-rō′lȧ, Nicholas de (1839—). A Peruvian politician, born at Camaná. He was educated for the law and served as Minister of Finance during Balta's administration (1869-72). He was implicated in the revolts against Prado in 1874 and 1877, and when, in the war with Chile, Prado deserted his post, Pierola assumed the leadership of the Revolution, and was proclaimed supreme chief at Lima, in the closing days of 1879. In 1881 he was defeated and obliged to retire into the interior. Four years later he made an unsuccessful attempt to seize the Presidency, and was banished in consequence. In 1894 he headed another revolt, overthrew President Cáceres, was himself elected President in 1895, and held the office until the expiration of his term, September 10, 1899.
PIER′PONT, Francis Harrison (1814-99). An American political leader, born in Monongalia County, Va. (now West Virgina). He supported himself while studying and graduated at Alleghany College (Pennsylvania) in 1839. He began the practice of law at Fairmount, Va., about 1845. He was a pronounced abolitionist, and was an elector on the Whig ticket in 1848. After Virginia seceded, representatives from 40 western counties met in convention at Wheeling June 11, 1861, organized the ‘Restored Government of Virginia,’ and elected him Governor. He was recognized by President Lincoln and raised troops for the Federal Army. In the fall he was elected by the loyal people for the unexpired term of two years, and then for a full term of four years. When West Virginia was admitted to the Union as a separate State in June, 1863, he removed his capital to Alexandria, under the protection of the Federal Army. When Richmond was evacuated he removed there, and acted as Governor of the entire State until 1868. He then returned to Fairmount and sat in the West Virginia Legislature in 1870. President Garfield appointed him collector of internal revenue, in which capacity he served until the consolidation of his district.
PIERPONT, John (1785-1866). An American poet. He was born in Litchfield, Conn., April 6, 1785, and graduated from Yale College in 1804, after which he taught school for a few years. He then studied law and practiced at Newburyport, Mass. After unsuccessful business ventures in Boston and Baltimore, he studied theology in the Harvard Divinity School, and in 1819 was ordained over the Hollis Street Congregational (Unitarian) Church in Boston. His advocacy of anti-slavery, temperance, and other reforms caused his withdrawal from that parish in 1845, after which he became pastor of the Unitarian Church at Troy, N. Y., and of the First Church (Unitarian) at Medford, Mass. During the Civil War he was appointed, though seventy-six years old, as chaplain of a Massachusetts regiment, but was soon transferred to the United States Treasury Department, where he remained till his death at Medford, Mass., August 26, 1866. He published, among other volumes: Airs of Palestine (1816; republished and enlarged as Airs of Palestine, and Other Poems in 1840) and Anti-Slavery Poems (1843). Some lines on his dead son are also notable for their pathos. He was a genuine poet, though his work is rather slight.
PIERRE, pēr. A city, the county-seat of Hughes County and the capital of South Dakota; situated near the centre of the State, on the Missouri River, and on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad (Map: South Dakota, E 5). It has a Government industrial school for Indians, and is the commercial metropolis of an extensive stock-raising and farming district. It is the largest stock market in the State, the annual shipments of cattle averaging 1000 cars. Underlying the city are supplies of natural gas, which is used for lighting and heating and for industrial purposes. Pierre was settled in 1880, and incorporated three years later. It is governed under a charter of 1900, which provides for a mayor, elected biennially, and a council. The water-works, gas plant, and electric light plant are owned by the municipality. Population, in 1890, 3233; in 1900, 2306.
PIERREPONT, pēr′pŏnt, Edward (1817-92). An American lawyer and diplomat, born at
