Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/492

464 He effected a settlement of the long-standing northwestern boundary dispute, giving the island of San Juan to the United States, and successfully resisted an effort by Great Britain to change the terms of the extradition treaty by municipal legis- lation. In the settlement of the Alabama ques- tion he procured the acceptance of a doctrine by the Geneva tribunal, securing the United States against claims for indirect damages arising out of Fenian raids, or Cuban filibustering expeditions. In November, 1873, he negotiated with Admiral Polo, Spanish minister at Washington, the settle- ment of the "Virginius" question. He was for some years president of the New York historical society, and was president-general of the New York society of the Cincinnati. — Hamilton's son, Nicho- las, b. in New York city, 17 Feb., 1846, was graduated at Columbia in 1867, and at Harvard law-school in 1869. He was appointed assistant secretary of the United States legation at Berlin on 1 July, 1871, and became secretary of the lega- tion in July, 1874. He was afterward appointed minister to Switzerland and Belgium.

FISHBURN, William, soldier, b. in 1760; d. in Walterborough, S. C., 3 Nov., 1819. He was on the staff" of Gen. Anthony Wayne, to whom he was aide-de-camp at the capture of Stony Point, and afterward attained the rank of major-general. He was a member of the convention that framed the constitution of South Carolina, and subse- quently a member of the legislature.

FISHER, Alexander Metcalf, educator, b. in Franklin, Mass., in 1794; d. 23 April, 1822. He was graduated at Yale in 1813, spent one year in the divinity-school, and was a tutor in the college from 1815 till 1817, when he became professor of mathematics, natural philosophy, and astronomy. This chair he held imtil his death by drowning in the shipwreck of the " Albion " off the Irish coast. He contributed papers on mathematics and physics to Silliman's " Journal of Science."

FISHER, Alvan, artist, b. in Needham, Mass., 9 Aug., 1792; d. in Dedham, Mass., 16 Feb., 1863. He was intended for a mercantile career, but began the study of painting at the age of eighteen with an ornamental painter named Pennyman. In 1814 he began as a portrait-painter, and soon afterward undertook barn-yard scenes, winter landscapes, and cattle-pieces. In 1825 he went to Paris to study. He subsequently returned to portrait - painting, which he practised for many years in Boston. One of his best works is a portrait of Spurzheim, paint- ed after death, from recollection, in 1832.

FISHER, Charles, Canadian statesman, b. in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in September, 1808; d. there, 8 Dec, 1880. He was graduated at King's college. New Brunswick, studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar. He was elected to parliament in 1837, and in March, 1865, was rejected for advo- cating a union of the British provinces. He was re-elected soon afterward, was a member of the executive council in 1848-'51, and was appointed in 1852 a commissioner to codify the provincial statutes. He was attorney-general in 1854-'61, and in April, 1866. He was a delegate, on the question of union, in 1864, and again in 1866, to London, where its terms were arranged ; and in July, 1865, was a delegate to the Trade convention at Detroit.

FISHER, Charles Harris, physician, b. in Killingly, Windham co.. Conn.. 30 June, 1822; d. there, 21 Oct., 1893. He obtained a classical educa- tion and studied medicine under Alfred C. Post, of New York, in the University medical college in New York city, at Harvard, and the medical department of Dartmouth college, where he was graduated in 1848. He established himself at Seituate, R. I., giving special attention to surgery and uterine diseases, and, after practising there for thirty years, removed to Providence. He served in the state senate in 1869-'70 and 1877-'9, became a member of the state board of education in 1870, and the same year was appointed chairman of the Rhode Island fish commission. He was also presi- dent of a bank for many yeai's, and chairman of various library and benevolent associations, and superintendent of public schools. On the establishment of the state board of health, in 1878, he was appointed a member, and became secretary. In 1880 he was made state registrar and commis- sioner of public health on the creation of those offices. He prepared the annual reports of the vital statistics of Rhode Island from 1878 to 1885, and those of the state board of health since 1879.

FISHER, Clara, actress, b. in London, Eng- land, in 1811. She first appeared in burlesque plays in London at the age of six, and thereafter, for about five years, acted in the principal theatres of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1822 she returned to Drury Lane theatre, London, performing the characters of boys and soubrettes. In 1828 Miss Fisher came to the United States and made her appearance at the New York Park theatre in oper- ettas, burlesques, and extravaganzas, most of her characters being in extreme contrasts, and requir- ing rapid changes of costume. With the many she was particularly successful in the delivery of Scot- tish heroic song. Her " Hurrah for the Bonnets of Blue " and " All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border " were great favorites. Of her ballads, " The Dashing White Sergeant," " Buy a Broom," " Since then I'm doomed," and *' Home, Sweet Home." be- came universally popular. In this manner, for several years. Miss Fisher travelled throughout the Union with great popularity. Children were named for her, and young ladies affected her lisp and manner. Eventually, however, her budget of songs was too often rehearsed, her half dozen plays were worn to weariness, and she had nothing new to offer. In 1834 she was married to James C. Maeder, an Irish musician, and then betook herself to playing parts in the legitimate drama with only qualified success. At the instigation of her hus- band, she ventured to appear in opera, but beside skilled vocalists her voice showed great imperfec- tion, both as to quality and education, and she was soon compelled to retire. Her last appearance on the stage was in 1851, in New York city. It is difficult to account for the " Clara Fisher craze" of 1830, for it was founded on limited dramatic ability and moderate personal attractions. Hers were only the comparatively small accomplish- ments of ballad singing, romping, and dancing, in plays that were adapted to her capability.

FISHER, David, politician, born in Somerset county. Pa., 3 Dec, 1794; d. near Mt. Holly, Cler- mont CO., Pa., 7 May, 1886. He removed to Ohio, where he grew up a pioneer farmer, and received but a scanty education. He became a lay preacher and a newspaper contributor, and in 1842 entered the Ohio house of representatives. In 1846 he was elected as a Whig to the National house of repre- sentatives, serving from 6 Dec, 1847, till 3 March, 1849. He was an ardent protectionist in politics, and was noted as a philanthropist.

FISHER, Ebenezer, clergyman, b. in Charlotte, Me., 6 Feb., 1815; d. in' Canton, N. Y., 21 Feb., 1879. He became a Universalist clergyman, and in 1858 was chosen to be the first president of the theological school connected with St. Lawrence university, at Canton, N. Y. He published " The