Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/61

Rh mines of Mexico, and afterward travelled all over Europe. After the fall of Iturbide lie became min- ister of foreign affairs, retiring when Iturbide re- turned to power in 1825. At this period he found- ed the museum of antiquities and natural history. Under Bustamente, Alaman became foreign minister again in 1830 and in 1887. He introduced European machinery and established a bank for the encouragement of industrial undertakings. He allied himself with Santa Anna when the latter returned to power in 1853, and became minister for foreign affairs and the chief instrument in the reactionary policy of fettering the press, restoring the property of the Jesuits and imposing insupportable burdens on the people. He was the author of the famous "Historia de Mejico" (1849-'52). ALAMINOS, Antonio (ah-lah-mee'-nos), first naval officer of the Spanish fleet that discovered the peninsula of Yucatan in 1517. He distinguished himself by his services under the commands of Grijalba and Hernan Cortes, and was the first to pass the Bahama channel. ALARCON, Hernando d' (ah-lar-kon'), Spanish navigator, b. early in the 16th century. He sailed from New Spain in May, 1540, with two ships and a tender along the western coast of America, under instructions from Mendoza, the viceroy, to aid the land expedition of Coronado, which set out at the same time, in search of the seven cities of Cibola. He made a careful survey of the shore-line of the Californian peninsula, previously supposed to be an island, and returned to New Spain in 1541, having failed to meet the land expedition according to the plan. He also discovered the Colorado river, ascended that difficult stream for 100 miles, and took possession of the country in the name of Charles V., distributing crosses among the natives as a missionary of the church, telling them that he was the " messenger of the sun." His charts and observations, supplementing those of Ulloa, accurately represented the configuration of California. ALARCON Y MENDOZA, Juan Ruiz d', Mexican dramatist, b. in Tasco, Mexico, about 1580; d. in Spain, 4 Aug., 1(539. Pie was educated in Spain, and in 1609 became a lawyer in his native country. In KilO he was appointed teniente corregidor of the city of Mexico, and later president of the royal council of the Indies. In 1028 he published eight dramas, and in 1634 twelve more. "La verdad sospechosa," of which Corneille's "Menteur" was an adaptation, and "Las paredes oyen," which still keeps the stage in Spain, are his most famous plays. A new edition of his works was printed in Madrid in 1848-'52. ALBA, Fernando d'. See .  ALBANI, Marie Emma Lajeunesse, singer, b. at Chambly, near Montreal, in 1851. Her parents were French-Canadians. She was educated with her sisters in the convent of the Sacred Heart in Montreal, and was left motherless at an early age. Her first musical training came from her father, a skilful musician. In 1864 he removed to Albany, N. Y., where her singing in the cathedral attracted much attention. A concert was given for her benefit, and with the proceeds she was sent to Europe to complete her musical education. After studying two years in Paris, where she found a patroness in Baroness Lafitte. under the tuition of Duprez, and then in Milan under Lamperti, she made her début as an opera-singer in Messina in 1870. The name Albani was adopted out of compliment to the city where her musical promise was recognized and generously encouraged. She sang at Malta, and then, during the winter of 1871-'72, in the theatre of La Pergola at Florence. Ambroise Thomas's "Mignon," which had been damned in four Italian theatres, became a success with her, as were all the parts with which she identified herself. When her fame was established in Italy she appeared in the royal Italian opera in London. She sang in St. Petersburg with great success, and became a favorite in Paris and in the United States, as well as in London. She married Ernest Gye, the manager, in 1878. In 1883 she made a tour" of the United States, and in May, 1886, sang the ode written by Tennyson for the opening of the colonial exhibition in London. ALBEAR, Francisco, general, b. in Havana, Cuba, in 1816, He distinguished himself as an engineer by the construction of several remarkable public works in Cuba, specially the Vento aqueduct, which supplies the city of Havana with water. He is the author of several memoirs on scientific subjects, among them one on the conveyance of water to supply large cities, which was awarded a first prize at the centennial exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876.  ALBEMARLE, Duke of (George Moxck), soldier, b. in Potheridge. Devonshire, 6 Dec, 1608; d. in London, 3 Jan., 1670. He was one of the proprietaries of Carolina, and afterward became palatine by appointment of Charles II. He was a successful general in Great Britain and on the continent. The early settlements along the coast of South Carolina were at first named in his honor; but Albemarle sound is all that now perpetuates the name in America. The family became extinct with the death of his son. Monck, or Monk, displayed ability in civil government as well as in military affairs, and he was never checked by principle in selecting his methods. He possessed strong nerves, common sense, and an imperturbable temper. His life has been written by Frangois P. G. Guizot, Thomas Skinner, and others. ALBRIGHT, Jacob, clergyman, b. near Potts- town i\a., 1 May, 1759; d. in 1808. He was of German parentage (the name originally being Albrecht), and was brought up as a tile-burner. Beginning a religious life in 1790, and being successful as an exhorter, he soon became a Methodist minister. He made many converts, almost exclusively Germans, and in 1800 a separate church organization was created for them, Albright being their first presiding elder. He was appointed bishop in 1807. His denomination is now known as the "Evangelical Association," but in many places its adherents are named "Albrights." ALCALA, Galiano Dionisio (al-kah-lah'), a brigadier-general of the Spanish naval troops, b. in Cabra, Spain, in 1762; d. in the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct., 1805. He made several exploring expeditions by order of the Spanish government, among them one to the straits of Magellan in 1785, and another to find a new passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean. Commanding the ship "Bahama," in 1805, he fought bravely against the Fnglish in Trafalgar until a cannon-ball killed him. His professional writings were many, the best known being his treatise called "Método de hallar la latitud en el mar por las atturas del sol." ALCANTARA, Francisco Linares (al-can-tah'-rah). Venezuelan statesman, b. in Furmero in 1830; d. 30 Nov., 1879. After attaining the highest rank in the army, he was appointed governor of the state of Aragua, and a few years later, in 1877, he was elected president of Venezuela. The period of his administration is generally known in that country under the name of El Bienio (the two years). ALCEDO, Antonio (ahl-thay'-do), soldier, b. in Quito, Ecuador, in 1735 ; d. in Madrid in 1812. He