Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/134

110 tions. Mr. Baring was raised to the peerage as Lord Ashburton in 1835, and in 1842 he was sent as special minister to the United States to negotiate a treaty adjusting the northeastern boundary. Daniel Webster was at that time secretary of state. The two countries were on the verge of war, but through the friendly consultations of these two statesmen an amicable arrangement was reached, which was ratified 9 Aug., 1842, and is known as the "Ashburton Treaty." See Broughham's "Speech in the House of Lords on the Ashburton Treaty" (London, 1843); Featherstonhaugh's "Observations upon the Treaty of Washington" (London, 1843); and Lord Palmerston's "Speech in the House of Commons on the Ashburton Treaty," quoted in Daniel Webster's works.

ASHBY, Turner, soldier, b. at Rose Hill, Fauquier co., Va., in 1824 ; killed in action near Harrisonburg, 6 June, 1862. He was a grandson of Capt. Jack Ashby, who commanded a company in the 3d Virginia regiment in the revolutionary war. During early life lie was a grain-dealer in Markham, Va., and afterward a planter and local politician. On the breaking out of the civil war he raised a regiment of cavalry, and, being a fine horseman, a soldier by nature, and possessed of remarkable personal daring, he soon distinguished himself. He was made a brigadier-general in the confederate provisional army in 1862, but met his death shortly afterward in a skirmish preceding the battle of Cross Keys, Va.

ASHE, John, soldier, b. in Grovely, Brunswick co., N. C, in 1720; d. in Sampson co., 24 Oct., 1781. He was a member of the colonial assembly for several years, and its speaker from 1762 to 1765. He warmly opposed the stamp-act, and by the aid of an armed force compelled the stamp-inaster to resign. In 1771 he assisted Gov. Tryon in suppressing the outbreak of the regulators, although afterward he became a zealous whig. He warmly espoused the cause of the colonists at the beginning of the war, and in 1775, at the head of 500 men, participated in the attack and destruction of Fort Johnson, for which he was publicly denounced as a rebel. He was a member of the first provincial congress of North Carolina, and subsequently raised and equipped a regiment at his own expense. On 23 April, 1776, he was appointed brigadier-general of the Wilmington district, and in the latter part of 1778 joined Gen. Lincoln's army in South Carolina. Early in the following year he was sent to drive the British from Augusta, but on 4 March, at Brier creek, he was surprised and totally defeated by the enemy under Gen. Prevost. He then returned to Wilmington, but was captured by the British when, in 1781, that town fell into their hands. Both he and his family were cruelly treated, and he died from the effects of small-pox contracted while in prison.—His brother, Samuel, jurist, b. on Cape Fear river, N. C, in 1725; d. in Rocky Point, 3 Feb., 1813. He was the brother of Gen. John Ashe, and a lawyer by profession. He was a member of the council of safety and of the provincial congress of North Carolina during 1774-'6, and in 1777 was appointed chief justice, which office he held till 1796, when he became governor of the state. Although principally employed in civil capacities, yet in some of the emergencies of the times he served as a soldier.—Samuel's son, John Baptista, soldier, b. in Rocky Point, N. C, in 1748; d. in Halifax, N. C, 27 Nov., 1802, became a captain in the continental army at the outbreak of the revolutionary war, and served continuously until the battle of Eutaw. where he especially distinguished himself and received the rank of colonel. He was a member of the house of commons of North Carolina in 1786, and also of the state senate in 1789 and 1795. He was a delegate to the last continental congress in 1787-'8, and member of the first and of the second congress, 1789-'93. In 1802 he was elected governor of North Carolina, but died before his inauguration.

ASHE, Thomas, author. He is supposed to be the " T. A., gent.," who visited this country as a clerk on board his majesty's ship "Richmond," and on his return to England, in 1682, published "Carolina; or a Description of the Present State of that Country, and the Natural Excellencies thereof: namely, the Healthfulness of the Air, Pleasantness of the Place, Advantages and Usefulness of those Rich Commodities there, Plentifully Abounding, which much Increase and Flourish by the Industry of the Planters that Daily Enlarge that Colony." This description is reprinted in "Historical Collections of South Carolina" (New York, 1836).

ASHE, Thomas, author, b. near Dublin, Ireland, 15 July, 1770; d. in Bath, England, 17 Dec., 1835. For a short while he served in the English army, and then filled a clerical position in Dublin. He spent several years in foreign travel, and published accounts of his experiences, among which, besides his "Memoirs and Confessions" (3 vols., 1815). are "Memoirs of Mammoth and other Bones found in the Vicinity of the Ohio" (1806); "Travels in America in 1806" (1808); and "A Commercial and Geographical Sketch of Brazil and Madeira" (1812). He also wrote several novels.

ASHLEY, Chester, senator, b. in Westfield, Mass., 1 June, 1790; d. in Washington, D. C., 27 April, 1848. At an early age he was removed to New York and settled in Hudson, where he received a liberal education, studied law, and was admitted to its practice. In 1817 he went to Illinois, and after two years he settled in Little Rock, then a mere landing, in the territory of Arkansas. On the death of William S. Fullerton he was elected to fill the vacancy in the U. S. senate, and took his seat 4 Dec. 1844. He was reelected in 1846.

ASHLEY, James Monroe, congressman, b. near Pittsburg, Pa., 14 Nov., 1824; d. in Alma,Mich, 16 Sept., 1896. His education was acquired while a clerk on boats. Later he worked in printing-offices, and became editor of the “Dispatch,” and afterward of the “Democrat,” at Portsmouth, Ohio. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Ohio in 1849, but never practised. Subsequently he settled in Toledo, where he became interested in the wholesale drug business. He was elected to congress as a republican in 1859, and was reëlected four times, serving continuously from 5 Dec., 1859, till 3 March, 1869. He was for four terms chairman of the committee on territories, and it was under his supervision that the territories of Arizona, Idaho, and Montana were organized. He was nominated for the 41st congress, but was defeated, and in 1869 was appointed governor of Montana. In 1866 he was a delegate to the loyalist convention held in Philadelphia.

ASHLEY, William H., congressman, b. in Powhatan co., Va., about 1778; d. near Booneville, Mo., 26 March. 1838. He received a public-school education, and in 1808 migrated to Upper Louisiana (now Missouri), where he became a brigadier- general of militia. He was an enterprising fur-trader, and in 1822 organized a company, 300 strong, which penetrated to the Rocky mountains and formed trading relations with the Indian tribes. He realized a handsome fortune from this venture. He was lieutenant-governor of Illinois in 1820. and he represented Missouri in congresses in 1831-'7.