Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/654

620 war he espoused the cause of the seceding states, and in 1863 delivered an address urging the arming of the slaves and their emancipation, conditioned on the recognition of the Confederacy by Prance and England. Since the war he has been for some time reporter of the state su- preme court. His historical works comprisethe"His- toire de la Loui- siane " (2 vols.. New Orleans, 1847) ; " Romance of the Histo- rv of Louisiana" (New York, 1848); " Louisiana, its Colonial History and Romance " (New York, 1851) ; "Louisiana, its History as a French Colony" (2 vols., 1851-2) ; and " History of the Spanish Domi- nation in Louisiana from 1769 to December, 1803" (1854). The complete " History of Louisiana," re- vised and brought down to 1861, afterward ap- peared (8 vols., 1866). He is the author of " Philip II. of Spain," a biography, with an introduction by George Bancroft (New York, 1866) ; " Fernando de Lemos, Truth and Fiction," a novel (1872) ; and "Auberi Dubayet," sequel to the foregoing (Bos- ton, 1882). He has also published a drama, " The School for Politics " (1854), " Dr. Bluff," a comedy in two acts, and several literary and political ad- dresses, among which are two lectures on " The Influence of the Mechanic Arts."

GAYLE, John, statesman, b. in Sumter dis- trict, S. C, 11 Sept., 1792 ; d. in Mobile, Ala., in July, 1859. He was graduated at the University of South Carolina, studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1813 he removed to Mobile, where he began to practise his profession. He was a member of the territorial legislature in 1817, solic- itor of the 1st judicial district in 1819, judge of the state supreme court in 1823, a member of the state house of representatives, and its speaker in 1829. From 1831 till 1835 he served as governor of Alabama. He was a presidential elector in 1836 and in 1840. He was afterward elected to congress as a Whig, and served in 1847-'9. He became judge of the U. S. district court of Alabama in 1849. He had brilliant talents.

GAYLER, Charles, dramatist, b. in New York city, 1 April, 1820 ; d. m Brooklyn, N. Y., 28 May, 1892. He early began journalistic work, and in 1848 edited the Cincinnati "Evening Despatch." He also at this time wrote for the stage. In 1850 he returned to New York and became connected with the press. He produced upon the Ameri- can and London stage more than one hundred plays, comedies, dramas, burlesques, etc., the ma- jority of which have received favorable recogni- tion. Among these are " The Gold-Hunters " (1849); "Taking the Chances" (1851) ; "The Love of a Prince " ; " The Son of the Night " ; " The Magic Marriage " ; "A Mistress of Arts " ; " The Connie Soogah " ; " The Refugees " ; " The Ameri- can Cousin at Home " ; " Our Female American Cousin " ; " Olympiana " ; " The Robbers of the Rhin-o " ; " The Romance of a Very Poor Young Man " ; " The Life Shadow " ; " Aspasia " ; " The Child-Stealer " ; " Night and Morning " ; " The Wizard's Tempest " ; " Out of the Streets " ; " Dust and Diamonds " ; " With the Tide " ; " Fritz " ; " Inflation " ; " Brora Bones " ; " Sleepy Hollow " ; " Jacquine " ; " Lord Tatters " ; " Kissing the King " ; " Jalma " ; " The Bohemian " ; " Under the Ring " ; and " Miss MoUie." He has also written several novels, among which are " Montagone," " The Romance of a Poor Young Girl," " Out of the Streets," " Pet," and •' The Cousin Germain."

GAZZANIGA, Signora, vocalist, b. in Voghera, Sardinia, in 1825. She studied in the Milan mu- sical conservatory, and made her earliest appear- ance in 1844 at the opera-house in Venice. After various engagements in the principal cities of Italy, she married in 1850 the titular Italian marquis di Malispina. During the year 1857 she came to the United States, and appeared in Phila- delphia on 23 Feb. with an Italian opera-company. On 13 April she performed in New Y'ork city, where she at once became a great attraction, and retained her jiopularity for several years. But afterward, when younger artists had replaced her, she was left to the representation of parts of secondary im- portance. Gazzaniga successfully taught vocal mu- sic for several years in New York city and Phila- delphia, and then, with a competence, retired to professional obscurity in her native land.

GEAR, John Henry, governor of Iowa, b. in Utiea, N. Y., 7 April, 1825. He removed to Fort Snelling in 1836, and in 1843 became a citizen of Burlington, Iowa, where he has since been en- gaged as a merchant. He was an original member of the Republican party of Iowa, and in 1868 was elected mayor of Burlington. From 1874 till 1876 he served as speaker in the general assembly of Iowa, and for two sessions was the presiding officer of the state house of repi'esentatives. He held the office of governor from 1878 till 1882.

GEARY, John White, soldier, b. near Mount Pleasant. Westmoreland co., Pa., 30 Dec, 1819 ; d. in Harrisburg, Pa., 8 Feb., 1873. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent. The son entered Jefferson college, but, on account of his father's loss of property and sudden death, was compelled to leave and contribute toward the support of the family. After teaching he became a clerk in a commercial house in Pittsburg, and afterward studied mathematics, civil engineering, and law. He was admitted to the bar, but never practised his profession. After some employment as civil engineer in Kentucky, he was appointed assistant superintendent and engineer of the Alleghany Portage railroad. When war was declared with Mexico, in 1846, he became lieutenant-colonel of the 2d regiment of Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and commanded his regiment at Chapultepec, where he was wounded, but resumed his command the same day at the attack on the Belen gate. For this service he was made first commander of the city of Mexico, and colonel of his regiment. He was appointed in 1849 to be first postmaster of San Francisco, with authority to establish the postal service throughout California. He was the first American alcalde of San Francisco, and a "judge of the first instance." These offices were of Mexican origin, the " alcalde " combining the authority of sheriff and probate judge with that of mayor, and the judge of the first instance presiding over a court with civil and criminal as well as admiralty jurisdiction. Col. Geary served until the new constitution abolished these offices. In 1850 he became the first mayor of San Francisco. He took a leading part in the formation of the new constitution of California, and was chair- man of the territorial Democratic committee. In 1852 he retired to his farm in Westmoreland county, Pa., and remained in private life until 1856,