Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/55

Rh of the house in 1833. He read law and medicine each for a year, and was for a time with his uncle at Ballyhaise as an accountant. In 1888 he entered the General theological seminary in New York, graduating in 1841. He was one of the founders of Nashotah mission, afterward Nashotah theological seminary, in Wisconsin, where he went in September, 1841. During the following winter he contributed to an English publication an article on the church's duties to her emigrants, which attracted much attention. From the foundation of the seminary he was the professor of systematic divinity. Dr. Adams published "Mercy to Babes" (New York, 1847); "Christian Science" (Philadelphia, 1850); and "A New Treatise on Baptismal Regeneration" (New York, 1871), and contributed largely to periodical literature, writing principally on theological topics.

ADAMS, William Forbes, bishop, of the American Episcopal church, b. in Ireland, 2 Jan., 1833. He came to the United States at the age of eight, and was ordained deacon 15 Dec. 1859, and priest in July of the following year. While rector of a parish in the diocese of Louisiana he was nominated in the house of bishops, 2 Nov., 1874, and elected missionary bishop of New Mexico and Arizona. He was consecrated in St. Paul's church, New Orleans, 17 Jan., 1875, and entered upon his work; but, in consequence of physical infirmity, his resignation was offered and accepted, 15 Oct., 1877. He is now (1807) bishop of Easton, Maryland, where he was transferred hi 1887.

ADAMS, William Taylor, author, b. in Medway, Mass., 80 July, 1822; d. in Boston, 27 March, 1897. He was for twenty years a teacher in the public schools of Boston, fourteen years a member of the school committee of Dorchester, and one year a member of the legislature. He devoted most of his life to writing for the young, with whom he had a warm sympathy. His career began in 1850, and he produced a thousand stories in newspapers, exclusive of his books. In eai'lier life he edited the "Student and Schoolmate," and in 1881 "Our Little Ones," but he was best known as an editor by his " Oliver Optic's Magazine for Boys and Girls." He published his first book in 1858, " Hatchie, the Guardian Slave, or the Heir of Bellevue." which had a large sale, and was followed by "In-doors and Out," a collection of stories. The "Riverdale Series" (6 vols.) for boys was completed in 1862. His other works, mainly in series, include "The Boat Club," "Woodvdle." "Young America Abroad," "Starry Flag." "Onward and Upward," "Yacht Club," and "Great Western." His published works comprise about one hundred volumes. He wrote two novels for older readers, "The Way of the World" and "Living too Fast."

ADET, Pierre Auguste, French diplomatist, b. in Nevers in 1763; d. in 1832. He left the artillery service to devote himself to the study of chemistry, and afterward engaged in politics and became minister to the United States in 1795. In 1797 he broke off diplomatic relations, presenting the note of the Directory declaring that France would treat neutrals as they allowed themselves to be treated by the English. "Before returning to his own country he issued an address to the American people, intended to inflame them against the policy of their government.

ADLER, Felix, author, b. in Alzey, Germany, 13 Aug., 1851. He is the son of a Hebrew rabbi. He was graduated at Columbia college in 1870, and subsequently studied at Berlin and Heidelberg, obtaining the degree of Ph. D. After his return to the United States he was professor of Hebrew and Oriental literature at Cornell university from 1874 to May. 1876. when he established a new religious society in New York, called the Society of ethical culture, to which he speaks regularly on Sundays. He published in 1877 a series of discourses expounding his views, under the name of "Creed and Deed," followed by a volume entitled "The Moral Instruction of Children" (New York, 1891).

ADLER, George J., philologist, b. in Germany in 1821: d. in New York, 24 Aug., 1868. He was brought to New York at the age of twelve, and was graduated at the university of New York in 1844, in which institution he was professor of German from 1846 till 1854. He compiled a German-and-English dictionary, the first edition of which appeared in New York in 1848, and also a German grammar and other text-books, and published a lecture en- titled "Poetry of tlie Arabs of Spain" (New York, 1868); "Wilhelm von Humboldt's Linguistic Studies" (1868): and a translation, with notes, of Fauriel's "History of Provengal Poetry." He was insane, with occasional lucid intervals, for the last eight years of his life, and died in Bloomingdale asylum.

ADRAIN, Robert, mathematician, b. in Carrickfergus, Ireland, 30 Sept., 1775; d. in New Brunswick, N. J., 10 Aug., 1843. He took part in the Irish rebellion of 1798, received a severe wound, and escaped to America. He taught school in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, contributed to scientific journals, and from 1810 to 1813 was professor of natural philosophy and mathematics in Rutgers college, then until 1825 in Columbia college, and from 1827 to 1834 was professor of mathematics in the university of Pennsylvania. He edited Hutton's &ldquo;Mathematics,&rdquo; published essays on the figure and magnitude of the earth and on gravity, and was editor from 1825 to 1829 of the &ldquo;Mathematical Diary.&rdquo; &mdash; His son, Garnett B., lawyer, b. in New York city, 20 Dec., 1816; d. in New Brunswick, N. J., 17 Aug., 1878. He was graduated at Rutgers college in 1833, and in 1837 was admitted to the bar. He was elected to congress from New Jersey in 1856, and reëlected in 1858, serving in the house as chairman of the committee on engraving.

AGASSIZ, Alexander, naturalist, b. in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 17 Dec., 1835. He is the only son of Louis Agassiz by his first wife, and he followed his father to the United States in 1849. His early education was received abroad, and after his arrival in this country he prepared for Harvard, graduating in 1855. Then he studied engineering at the Lawrence scientific school, wherein 1857 he received the degree of B. S., after which he took a further course in the chemical department, and also taught in his father's school for young ladies. In 1859 he went to California as an assistant on the coast survey, and was engaged on the northwest boundary. He collected specimens for the museum at Cambridge, and visited the