STOCKTON. 586 STODDARD. Pield Stockton, of the United States Na'T, who took possession of California for the United States. In its early days it was the starting and outfittinr; point for miners bound for Cala- veras, Tuolumne, and ilariposa counties. Popu- lation, in 18!W, 14,424; in 1000, 17,506. STOCKTON, Francis Richabd (1834-1902). A popular American writer of humorous tales, born in Philadelphia. In earlj' life he was a wood-en.craver and designer, in which capacity he contributed pictures to periodicals. Mean- while he Inisied himself also with literary and journalistic work. He was first employed on the Philadelphia Morning Post, and in 1872 gave up designing definitively to join the New York Hearth and Home. Soon Be joined the staff of the Ccnturii Maijnzme. (then Scrihncr's Monthly) and in 1873 was made assistant editor of the newly founded magazine for children, the Saint icholas, remaining here till about 1880. He was a prolific writer. His books for children in- clude: Tiny-a-Ling Htories (1870) ; Roundabout Rambles (1872);' What Might Have Been Ex- peeled (1874) ; Tales Out of 8chool (1875) ; A Jolly Feltou-ship (1880); The Floating Prince (1881) ; The Story of Vitcau (1884) ; and Per- sonalhi Conducted (1880). Even more numerous are his longer works: they are well known for the agreeable impossibility of the situations they narrate. The chief are: Rudder Grange (1870), which brought bim into prominence; The Lady or the Tiger? (1884), perhaps his most popular storv; Y/ie Late Mrs. Sull (1886) ; The Christ- mas' Wreck (1880); The Casting Au:ay of Mrs. Lrclcs and 3[rs. Aleshine (1880); The Bee-Man of Orn (1887); The Hundredth Man (1887); The Dusantes (1888); Amos Kilbright (1883); The Great War Syndicate (1880); The Stories of Three Bur'ilars (1880): The Merru Chanter (1800) ; Ardi's Clarcrden (1800) ; The House of Martha (1801); The Sgnirrel Inn (1801); The Clocks of Rondaine (1802); The Watchmaker's Wife (1803); The Adventures of Captain Horn (1895) ; The Great Stone of Sardis (1807) ; The Girl at Cobhurst (1808); Afloat and Ashore (1900); and The Captain's ToU-Gate, with memoir by his wife (1003). In the character of his humor Stockton stands alone. His situations are whimsical and his characters grotesque; usually, however, the eccentricity is not merely superficial, and the story, quietly rather than boisterou.sly amusing, and told with apparent sincerity, produces an illusion that pleasingly conceals its absurd premises and its logical though equally absurd conclusions. STOCKTON, RlciiABD (1730-81). An Ameri- can lawyer, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was born near Princeton. N. J., graduated at the College of New Jersey (Princetim) in 1748, was admitted to the bar in 1754, visited England in 1766- 67, where he made the acquaintance of many distinguished men. and in 1774 became a judge of New Jersey's Supreme Court. He at first ad- vocated a reconciliation between the colonies and England, and in December, 1774, wrote to Lord Dartmouth, proposing a scheme of colonial self- government ; but he soon began to take an active part in the opposition to the British Ministry and as a member of Congress in 1770 voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence. In September, 1776, he was sent by Congress, with George Clymcr of Pennsylvania, to inspect the northern army. STOCKTON, Robert Field (1795-1800). An American naval olficcr, grandson of Kichard Stockton (q.v.). He was born at Princeton, N. J., studied for a time at Princeton, and in 1811 became a midshipman in the United States Navy. He joined Commodore Rodgers on the frigate President in 1812, was for a lime an aide to the Secretary of the Navy, took ])art in the defense of Baltimore, and was promoted to be lieutenant in Scptcniljer, 1814. In 1815 he dis- tinguished himself in the Algerine War on board the Spitfire. He returned to the United States in command of the Erie in 1821, and in the fall of the same year sailed in the Alligator for the African coast, where he negotiated success- fully for the land upon which the American Colonization Society founded Liberia (q.v.). During the early part of the Mexican War he commanded the Pacific Squadron. To his energj', and that of General Fremont, with whom he co- operated, was largely due the success of the American operations on the coast. He captured Los Angeles and San Diego, fought several bat- tles, organized a civil government for California, and installed rrOmont as Governor, relinquish- ing the connnand to Shubrick in 1847. He re- signed from the navy in 18.50. and was a I'nited States Senator from New Jersey in 1851-53. Having resigned in 1853, he was for some time president of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Company. Consult Life and Speeches of Robert Field Stockton (1856). STOCKTON-ON-TEES. A seaport in the County of Durham, England, 11 miles east-north- east of Darlington, on the left bank of the Tees ("Map: England, E 2). The broad and handsome High Street is nearly a mile in length. A new town known as South Stockton has sprung up on the right bank of the river, the two being con- nected by an iron bridge of three arches, built in 1887. Shipbuilding, chiefly in iron, is carried on; and blast furnaces, foundries, engine works, extensive potteries, and iron works are in opera- tion. Sailcloth, ropes, and linen are manufac- tured ; and there are corn mills and spinning mills. xt Stockton the Tees is navigable for vessels of large tonnage. The moated Norman castle, long an episcopal residence, was taken for the Parliament in 1644. and totally destroyed by the Roundheads in 1G52. At the Restoration it had become so poor a place that it contained only 120 houses. Its growth and prosperity date from the development of the iron and steel industry. The Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first to commence the conveyance of passengers and goods, was opened September 27. 1825. Popula- tion, in 1801. 40.700; in 1901, 51.500. STOD'DARD, Cii.rles AuorsTrs (1833—). An American Presbyterian clcrgv'man, born in Boston, Mass.' He was educated at Williams College, at the University of Edinburgh, at the Seminary of the True Church of Scotland, and at the I'nion Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1859. He was pastor of the Wash- ington Heights Presbvterian Church, New York City, until 1803. In 1869 he became connected with the New York Observer, and in 1885 suc- ceeded Samuel I. Prime as editor. His publica- tions include: Across Russia from the Baltic to the Danube (1891); SpanisJi Cities, with
