Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/326

298 college, Columbus, Ohio, in 1849, and practised medicine in Darke co. until 1856, when he settled in Anderson co., Kansas. He took a prominent part in the contest over the introduction of slavery into Kansas, and was a member of the convention that framed the constitution of the state. In July, 1861, he entered the army as lieutenant-colonel of the 8d Kansas volunteers. He commanded the cavalry in Gen. James Lane's brigade, and on 8 April, 1863, was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the command of the military department of Kansas. On 23 Oct., 1863, in the battle of Old Fort Wayne, his Kansas and Cherokee troops routed the confederate force concentrated at Maysville, on the western border of Arkansas. On 38 Nov. he attacked and defeated Marmaduke's forces at Cane Hill, Ark. On 7 Dec, 1863, he encountered and defeated, with the aid of Gen. Herron, the confederates under llindraan at Prairie Grove, and thereby checked the advance of the southern troops into Missouri. On 38 Dec. he captured Fort Van Buren on Arkansas river. He was promoted to be major-general, 39 Nov., 1863. In June, 1863, being relieved of the command of the department of Kansas, he took the field with the army of the frontier. On 16 July, 1863, he defeated Gen. Cooper at Honey Springs ; and on 38 Oct., 1864, at Newtonia, Mo., with the assistance of Gen. Sanborn's cavalry, his troops gave the final blow to Price's invasion of Missouri. During the latter part of the war he was military commandant of the district of south Kansas. After he was mustered out he settled in Leavenworth, Kansas.

BLYDEN, Edward Wilmot, negro author, b. in St. Thomas, West Indies, 3 Aug., 1833. His parents were of pure negro blood, of decided character and strong religious feeling. Young Blyden received the rudiments of an education in the secular schools of the island; but the stimulus for higher training came from the late Rev. J. P. Knox, of Newtown, L. I., who was temporarily in charge of the Reformed Dutch church at St. Thomas. At the instance of this gentleman, young Blyden came to New York in 1845, seeking entrance into some American college. But so hostile to negroes was the feeling in the schools of the country that he gave up his purpose, and was about returning to his island home. At this juncture the New York colonization society offered him a free pas- sage to Liberia, West Africa, which country he reached in January, 1850. He at once entered the Alexander high school, then under the charge of the Rev. David Wilson, and began acquiring a classical education with a view to the ministry of the Presbyterian church. He was graduated at this school in 1858, and soon afterward became its principal. Very early in life Dr. Blyden developed a decided talent for languages, and he has since become distinguished in that branch of learning. At the age of ten, during a brief residence in Venezuela, he acquired the Spanish language. At the Alexander high school he became proficient in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and to these he added French and Italian at a later period. In 1876 he undertook Arabic, and went to the Orient to improve his knowledge of that language. His attainments have placed him in many responsible positions in the young republic of Liberia. As a preacher and teacher he has filled the positions respectively of Presbyterian pastor, principal of the Alexander high school, professor, and in 1880 president, of Liberia college, commissioner to the general assembly of the American Presbyterian church in 1861, and again in 1880. At the age of nineteen he was editor of the " Liberia Herald," and since then he has been government commissioner to the colored people of the United States. He has held the offices of secretary of state and of the interior several times. Twice he has been appointed minister to the court of St. James. He has published "Liberia's Offering" and "From West Africa to Palestine" (1873). His contributions to periodicals include "The Negro in Ancient History," "Liberia, its Status and its Field," "Mohammedanism and the Negro Race," "Christianity and the Negro Race," "Islam and Race Distinctions," and "Africa and the Africans."

BLITHE, James, clergyman, b. in Mecklenburg CO., N. C, 38 Oct., 1765 ; d. near Hanover. Ind., 30 May, 1843. He was graduated at Hampden-Sidney in 1789, studied theology under the Rev. Dr. Hall, and was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church in Pisgah, Ky., 25 July, 1793. When the Kentucky academy, for which he had secured contributions in the eastern states, was merged into the university of Transylvania, he was called to the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy. He received the degree of D. D. from Princeton in 1805. In 1813 he began the publication of the "Evangelical Record and Western Review," which only reached the second volume. He was president of Transylvania college for several years, but resigned about 1818 and established a seminary for young ladies, continuing his connection with the college as professor of chemistry in the medical department, and filling at the same time a pastoral charge as associate pastor of the church in Lexington. In 1833 he accepted the presidency of South Hanover college, which he resigned in 1836. He was subsequently pastor of the New Lexington church.

BLYTHE, Samuel, British naval officer, b. in 1784; d. 4 Sept., 1813. He commanded the brig "Boxer," which engaged the American cruiser "Enterprise," commanded by Lieut. Burrows, off Portland, Me., on 4 Sept., 1814. Capt. Blythe's ship, having been riddled with shot, was captured and taken into Portland. The commanders of both vessels fell at the first exchange of shots, and were buried side by side with military honors in Portland. Their death was made the subject of one of Longfellow's tenderest poems.

BOARDMAN, David Sherman, lawyer, b. m 1768; d. in New Milford, Conn., 3 Dec, 1864. He was graduated at Yale in 1793, was admitted to the bar in 1795, and soon took a high rank in the profession. For several years he was chief justice of the supreme court of Connecticut. Judge Boardman was a friend of Fitz-Greene Halleck, and also of the poet's father.

BOARDMAN, Elijah, senator, b. in New Mil- ford, Conn., 7 March. 1760; d. in Boardman, Ohio, 8 Oct., 1833. After receiving a classical education, he turned his attention to business pursuits, and was very successful. For several terms he was a member of the lower branch of the Connecticut legislature, and for some time a member of the executive council. In 1821 he was elected to the U. S. senate from Connecticut, and served in the 17th congress. His death occurred at Boardman, Ohio, a town in which he was largely interested.

BOARDMAN, George Dana, missionary, b. in Livermore, Me., 8 Feb., 1801; d. in Burmah, 11 Feb., 1831. He was the son of a clergyman, was graduated at Waterville in 1822, studied at Andover theological seminary, and was ordained in the Baptist church, with the intention of becoming a missionary, at West Yarmouth, Me., 16 Feb., 1825. He married Sarah Hall, 4 July, and on the 16th sailed for Calcutta, where he arrived 2 Dec.,