Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/731

Rh but felt constrained by his religions convictions to withdraw from it, and to unite in the formation of the American and foreign Bible society, of which he was made treasurer. In 1850 he joined twelve others, laymen and clergymen, in the organization of the American Bible imion, and of this society he remained treasurer until his death. — His son, James Boorman, banker, b. in New York city, 4 March, 1818, has for many years been the head of the firm of James B. Colgate & Co. In association with his partner, Mr. Trevor, he built and presented to the Warburton avenue Baptist church, of Yonkers, its fine house of worship. He has given large sums to Colgate university, Rochester university, Roch- ester theological seminary. New London, N. H., to Peddle institute, N. J., and to Columbian univer- sity, Washington, D. C. In connection with Madi- son university, of whose board he has been presi- dent since 184, he built and liberally endowed Colgate academy. In tlie civil war he was a stanch and effective supporter of the government. — An- other son, Samuel, manufacturer, b. in New Yoi'k city, 22 March, 1822, succeeded to his father's busi- ness, the manufactui-e of soap, in which he has been greatly prospered. He has been a munificent patron of the benevolent enterprises of his denomi- nation, lie is president of the New York Baptist education society, and of "The society foi- the sup- pression of vice," and a member of the board of the American tract society.

COLHOUN, Edmund Ross, naval officer, b. in Pennsylvania, 6 May. 1821 ; d. in Washington, D. C, 17 March, 1897. He entered the navy as mid- shipman in 1839 ; resigned in 1853 ; re-entered the navy as acting lieutenant, 24 Sept., 1861 ; was com- missioned commander, 17 Nov., 1862; captain, 2 March, 1869 ; commodore, 26 April, 1876, and rear- admiral, 3 Dec, 1882, when he was retired from active service. He served in the Mexican war in the first attack on Alvai'ado under Com. Connor, and in the assault on Tobasco under Com. Perry. In 1861-'2 he commanded the steamer " Hunch- back," of the North Atlantic blockading squadron, and took part in the battle of Roanoke Island, the capture of Newbern, and the engagements below Franklin on the Blackwater river in October, 1862. In 1863 he commanded the steamer " Ladona," and afterward the monitor " Weehawken," of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, in her various en- gagements with Forts Sumter, Wagner, and Beau- regard, in the summer of 1863. In 1864-'5 he commanded the monitor " Saugus," attached to the North Atlantic squadron, and engaged How- lett's battery on James river, 21 June, and again 5 Dec, 1864, and took part in the bombardment of Fort Fisher, 25 Dec, 1864, and subsequent days. He was commandant at Mare island navy-yard, Cal., in 1879-80, and inspector of vessels in Cali- fornia at the time of his retirement.

COLHOUN, John, naval officer, b. in Pennsvl- vania in 1802; d. in New York city, 30 Nov., 1872. He entered the navy as midshipman, 25 Jan., 1821, became a passed midshipman, 24 May, 1828, a lieu- tenant, 27 May, 1830 ; a commander, 4 Nov., 1852, was retired in "October, 1864, and subsequently pro- moted to the rank of commodore, 4 April, 1867. He served on the store-ship " Supply," at Vera Cruz, during the Mexican war, commanded the sloop "Portsmouth" on the coast of Africa in 1859-61, brought the frigate "St. Lawrence" home from Key West in 1863, and after his re- tirement served as light-house inspector in 1866-7.

COLLAMER, Jacob, senator, b. in Troy, N. Y., 8 Jan., 1791 ; d. in Woodstock, Vt., 9 Nov.. 1865. In childhood he removed with his father to Burlington, and, earning his own support, was graduated at the University of Vermont in 1810, studied law at St. Albans, made the frontier campaign as a lieutenant of artillery in the militia, and was admitted to the bar at St. Albans in 1813. Until 1833 he practised law in Washington. Orange, and Windsor counties, Vt., and in 1821-'2 and 1827-8 represented the town of Royalton in the assembly. In 1833 he was elected an associate jus- tice of the su- preme court of Vermont, and continued on the bench until 1842, when he declined a re- election. In 1843 he was chosen as a whig to repre- sent the 2d dis- trict in con- gress, was re- elected in 1844 and 1846, but in 1848 declined to be again a candidate. In March, 1849, he was appointed post- master-general by President Taylor, but on the death of the president resigned with the rest of the cabinet. He was soon afterward again elected judge of the supreme court of Vermont, holding that office until 1854, when he was chosen U. S. senator, which office he held at the time of his death. He served as chairman of the committee on post-offices and post-roads, and was also chair- man of that on the library.

COLLES, Christopher, engineer, b. in Ireland about 1738 ; d. in New York city in 1821. He was educated by Pococke, the oriental traveller, after whose death, in 1765, he emigrated to America, lectured in Philadelphia on pneumatigs in 1772, and in 1773 delivered a series of lectures in New York city on inland lock navigation. In April, 1774, he proposed to build a reservoir for New York city. The Revolutionary war having prevented the construction of the reservoir, he suggested a system of pipes to supply the city with water from outside, and offered to carry out the work. In 1775 he lec- tured on gunnery, and was emi>loyed as instructor to the artillery department of the army, until the arrival of Baron Steuben in 1777. Colles was the first to suggest canals and improvements to con- nect Lake Ontario with the Hudson, and surveyed the Mohawk river as far as Wood creek. In 1784 he presented a memorial to the New York legisla- ture recommending that project. The results of his labors were published by Samuel Loudon in 1785. In 1808 Colles published a jtamphlet on in- land navigable communications. He made a tour through Pennsylvania and New York, and in 1789 published a book describing the roads of New York state. In 1796 he settled in New York city, and engaged in the manufacture of baiid-boxes, paper- hangings, rat- and mouse-traps. Prussian blue, and otiier colors, traded in skins and Indian curiosities, supplied Blanchard and Baron with astronomical calculations for their "3Iatheinatical Correspond- ent," made fireworks, and applied his science to other practical purposes ; yet, in spite of his knowl- edge and ingenuity, his honesty, and his estimable