Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/719

Rh been published (New York, 1878-82), and "The America's Cup," giving an account of the interna- tional yachting contests (New York, 1885). He has also published a " History of American Yacht- ing " in the monthly magazine " Outing," which was issued in book-form (New York, 188(5).

COFFIN, Timothy Gardiner, lawyer, b. in Nan- tucket, Mass., 1 Nov., 1788 ; d. in New Bedford, Mass., 19 Sept., 1854. He early engaged in a sea- faring life, but, receiving severe injuries from a fall, turned his attention to the law. He was graduated at Brown in 1813, was admitted to the Bristol bar in 181G, and obtained the foremost rank in the profession, trying his intellectual strength against such opponents as Webster and Choate. He was judge advocate of Massachusetts militia under Gen. Lincoln. As a nisi prius lawyer he had few equals.

COFFIN, Tristram, colonist, b. in Brixton, Devonshire, England, in 1605; d. in Nantucket. Mass., in 1081. He is considered the ancestor of all the persons bearing this name in the United States. In 1642 he came to America with his wife and a number of relatives and lived in Haverhill, Mass., and in 1059 took up his residence in Nan- tucket, of which colony he was the founder and the first chief magistrate. The character of Tris- tram, his wisdom in civilizing the Indians, and his numerous descendants, entitle him to mention, especially as Judith, daughter of his son Stephen, was the grandmother of Benjamin Franklin. His life was published by Allen Coffin (Nantucket, 1881). — John, loyalist, b. in Boston, Mass., in 1756 : d. in Kings county, N. B., in 1888. He was de- scended from Tristraan through James and Will- iam, who, born in Nantucket, settled in Boston about 1730. He was educated at the Boston Latin- school, and, for his services in the battle of Bunker Hill, was appointed ensign on the field by Gage. He raised 400 men in New York, who became known as the Orange rangers, and commanded them at the battles of Long Island and German- town. He exchanged into the New York volun- teers in 1778, and took part at San Lucie and Bry- ar's Creek in 1779, at Camden in 1780, and in 1781 at Hampton, Hobkirk's Hill, and Eutaw Springs. In all these -engagements Coffin's cavalry is men- tioned with praise, and his daring, judgment, and estimable character as a cavalry officer are highly commended. Cornwallis sent him a handsome sword in acknowledgment of his services, enclos- ing his commission as major, thanking him for his carriage and conduct on many occasions, and es- pecially giving him acknowledgment for distin- guishing himself at Eutaw. The promotion he had earned was deferred by his feeling obliged to report the want of firmness in battle of a scion of the royal house. He settled at his manor of Al- wington. New Bmnswick, and became prominent in developing that province. When the occasion came he resumed his military rank, and was appointed major-general. At his death he was the senior general in the British army. All of his branch of the name were refugee loyalists. Notwithstanding his choice of sides in the revolution, he never lost his interest in the " old thirteen," and he remem- bered that he was " Boston-born " from first to last. One of his many sayings was, " I would give more for one pork-barrel made in Massachusetts than for all that have been made in New Bruns- wick since its settlement." — His uncle, John, con- structed a fortress at Quebec in 1775, and its first volley killed Montgomery and his two aides. This event and the sacking of Montreal are said to have «aved the Canadas to the crown. — His brother, Sir Isaac, Bart., naval officer, b. in Boston, 16 May, 1759; d. in Cheltenham, England, 4 Aug., 1839. In 1773 he was appointed midshipman on board the "Gaspe." After active and faithful service, at the age of eighteen he was appointed lieutenant, and at the age of twenty-two captain of the " Shrewsbury." He took part in Rodney's victory, 12 April, 1782, and in many other engagements along the Atlantic coast and in the West Indies, acquitting himself with credit both in the war of independence and in that with France. He was appointed admiral in 1802 and created a baronet in 1804 for his long and faithful services. After his retirement from active service he married Eliza- beth, daughter of William Greenly, of Titley Court, Gloucestershire. In 1818 he was returned to par- liament for Ilchester, Devonshire, and took an act- ive part in the debates on naval affairs and kindred subjects. He never forgot that he was an Ameri- can by birth, and was untiring in his efforts to pro- mote the interests of his native land. Racers sent over by him to improve our breed, fish to multiply in our waters, plants and trees for our garden and orchards, maps and new inventions for merchant and naval marine, nautical schools, and the Coffin academy at Nantucket, were but a few of his bene- factions. He was a man of the world, of elegant manners and graceful ways, and a very pleasant companion, and at the same time in his fondness for frolic and in his happy temperament a brilliant instance of the traditional commodores of the Brit- ish navy. When the reform bill was in jeopardy in 1832, the king placed his name at the head of his list of new peers as Earl of Magdalen to carry the bill through the lords. It would have been an empty honor, as Sir Isaac had no lineal heir to in- herit. See his life, by Thomas Coffin Amory (Boston, 1886). — His cousin. Sir Thomas Aston, loyalist, b. in Boston, Mass., 31 March, 1754; d. in London, 31 May, 1810, was graduated at Harvard in 1772, and at one period of the revolution private secre- tary to Sir Guy Carleton. He was made a baronet, 19 May, 1804, and in the same year secretary and comptroller of accounts of Lower Canada. He was also at one time commissary-general in the British army. — Another cousin, Nathaniel, physician, b. in Portland, Me., 3 May, 1744; d. there, 18 Oct., 1826, was the son of Dr. Nathaniel Coffin, who went from Newburyport to Falmouth (now Portland) in 1738. He studied medicine with his father, and in London at Guy's and St. Thomas's hospitals un- der Akenside, Hunter, and McKenzie. On his re- turn he began his profession, and within a year, on the death of his father, succeeded to his extensive business. In 1775, when Capt. Mowatt was about to destroy the town (then called Falmouth), Dr. Coffin with two others visited his ship and en- deavored to persuade him, inisuccessfuily, however, to abandon the project. He became specially emi- nent as a surgeon, and for many years tlischarged the duties of hospital surgeon for marine patients in his district. Bowdoin conferred on him the honorary degree of M. D. in 1821, and he was the first presi- dent of the Maine medical society.

COFFIN, William Anderson, painter, b. in Alleghany City, Pa., 31 Jan., 1855. He was graduated at Yale in 1874, and remained in the United States for three years, preparing to become an artist. In October, 1877, he went to Paris and spent four months as a student with Jacquesson de la Chevraise, and three years with Leon Bonnat. Returning to America in 1880, he remained nearly a year and then went again to Paris. In October, 1882, he opened a studio in New York. He exhibited two pictures in the Paris salon of 1879. two