Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/24

4 the pronunciation of names in "Worcester's Dictionary." A memorial of Dr. Abbot was published by the alumni of Harvard divinity school in 1884.

ABBOT, Francis Ellingwood, author, b. in Boston, 6 Nov., 1836. He was graduated at Harvard in 1859, and from 1870 to 1880 was editor of "The Index," a Boston journal of free thought. He has written much on metaphysical subjects, and has published in book form "Scientific Theism" (Boston, 1886).

ABBOT, Henry Larcom, soldier, b. in Beverly, Mass., 18 Aug., 1831. He was graduated at West Point in 1854, and made brevet second lieutenant of topographical engineers. His first service was in the office of the Pacific railroad surveys in Washington, whence in 1855 he was transferred to the Pacific railroad survey of the route between California and Oregon, and afterward served on the hydrographic survey of the delta of the Mississippi river. During the civil war he was principally engaged as a military engineer, and rose by successive steps until brevetted brigadier-general, U. S. army, 13 March, 1865, and made lieutenant-colonel of engineers, 31 March, 1880. He served in various actions, and was wounded at Bull Run in 1861. Since the close of the war he has been engaged in superintending the defences of the East river; in command of the engineer post and depot at Willet's Point, N. Y., and of the engineer battalion and the engineer school of application, the latter of which he has created. He was a member of the expedition to Sicily to observe the solar eclipse in 1870, member of the engineer board on the U. S. military bridge equipage and drill, of one on a plan for the protection of the alluvial region of the Mississippi against overflows, and of various other boards connected with fortifications and river and harbor improvements. He invented and developed the U. S. system of submarine mines for coast and river defence, 1869 to 1886. He has published "Vol. VI., Pacific Railroad Reports" (Washington, 1857); "Physics and Hydraulics of the Mississippi," jointly with Capt. A. A. Humphreys (Philadelphia, 1861); "Siege Artillery in the Campaign against Richmond" (Washington, 1867): "Experiments and Investigations to develop a System of Submarine Mines for defending Harbors of the United States" (1881); jointly with boards and commissioners, "United States Bridge Equipage and Drill" (1870); "Reclamation of the Alluvial Basin of the Mississippi River" (1875); "Report of Gun-Foundry Board" (1884); and "Report of the Board on Fortifications or other Defences" (1886).

ABBOT, Joel, physician, b. in Fairfield, Conn., 17 March, 1766; d. in Washington. Ga., 19 Nov., 1826. He received an academic education, and then studied medicine, his father's profession. In 1794 he removed to Washington, Ga., and began practice. In 1809 he was elected to the legislature, and, after holding various local offices, was elected to the fifteenth congress (1816), and successively re-elected until 1825. In 1820 he was appointed by the Georgia medical society as its representative in preparing the "National Pharmacopœia."

ABBOT, Joel, naval officer, b. in Westford, Mass., 18 Jan., 1793; d. in Hong Kong, China, 14 Dec., 1855. He was appointed midshipman at the outbreak of the second war with England, and was orderd to the frigate "President" as aid and signal officer to Com. Rodgers, who, impressed by his zeal and efficiency, recommended him to Com. Macdonough, then in command of the naval forces on Lake Champlain. Learning that the British had accumulated a large supply of spars at Sorel, Macdonough sent for Midshipman Abbot and asked him if he was willing to die for his country. "Certainly, sir; that is what I came into the service for," was the answer. Macdonough then told him what he wished done, and young Abbot, disguised as a British officer, entered the enemy's lines, taking the risk of being hanged as a spy in case of capture, discovered where the spars were stored, and destroyed them. Such were the hardships and dangers encountered during this expedition that when he reported to his commanding officer he was in a state of prostration, from the effects of which he was long in recovering. For this exploit and for gallantry in action off Cumberland Head, 11 September, 1814, he was promoted lieutenant, and congress voted him a handsome sword. During the remainder of the war he had no further opportunity for distinction, though at one time he quelled a formidable mutiny. In December, 1818, he was placed in charge of a 30-gun pirate craft, the "Mariana," captured by Com. Stockton off the African coast. On the voyage to Boston part of his crew mutinied, and the piratical prisoners succeeded in wrenching off their irons, during a terrible gale. Notwithstanding this seemingly hopeless state of affairs, Lieut. Abbot regained command of his crew, kept the mutineers at bay, and brought his ship safely into port. In 1838 he was promoted commander, serving on the various foreign squadrons, and from 1839 to 1842 was in command at the Boston navy-yard. In 1852 he commanded the "Macedonian" in the Japan expedition, succeeding Com. Perry as flag-officer of the squadron. During this critical period of our relations with China he was often called upon to perform delicate diplomatic duties, discharging them to the complete satisfaction of the government. He probably shortened his life by devotion to the interests of commerce in personally superintending the placing of buoys and a light-ship in the harbor of Shanghai, which for the first time then had its channels and sailing-courses properly defined.

ABBOT, Joseph Hale, educator, b. in Wilton, N. H., 26 Sept., 1802; d. in Cambridge, Mass., 7 April, 1873. He was graduated at Bowdoin college in 1822, was tutor there in 1825-'27, and from 1827 to 1833 professor of mathematics and teacher of modern languages in Phillips Exeter academy. He then taught a school for young ladies in Boston, and subsequently became principal of the high school in Beverly, Mass. He was a member, and for several years recording secretary, of the American academy of arts and sciences, to whose "Transactions" he contributed numerous scientific papers. He paid much attention to the solving of pneumatic and hydraulic problems, and published ingenious and original speculations on these subjects. In the "Ether Controversy" he was an advocate of the claims of Dr. Charles T. Jackson, and wrote warmly in his behalf. He was associated with Dr. Worcester in the preparation of