Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/679

Rh his sister on the lid of a chest, which proved to be a capital likeness. For several years he painted in Fort Niagara and Toronto, finally settling in Rochester in 1834, where he afterward remained. He then devoted himself exclusively to portrait painting, and was eminently successful. In 1848 he was elected to honorary membership in the Na- tional academy of design, and in 1849 became an honorary member of the Albany academy of arts. — His son, Grove Karl, geologist, b. in Roches- ter, N. Y., 6 May, 1843, was graduated at the Uni- versity of Rochester in 1862, and subsequently de- voted his attention to geology, being for a time associated with Prof. Henry A. Ward, the natural- ist, in Rochester. In 1869 he became a volunteer assistant on the Ohio geological survey, and in 1871 received the appointment of geologist to the survey west of the 100th meridian under Lieut. George M. Wheeler. Three years later he was made assistant geologist under Maj. John W. Powell in the geographical and geological survey of the Rocky mountain region, and held this ap- pointment until July, 1879. when he became geolo- gist to the IT. S. geological survey, having charge at first of the division of the Great Basin, and more recently of the Appalachian division. He is a member of scientific societies, and was one of the vice-presidents of the American association for the advancement of science in 1887, having charge of the section on geology and geography. Mr. Gilbert was president of the American society of naturalists in 1885-'6, and in 1883 was elected a member of the National academy of sciences. He has been a large contributor to technical journals and to the proceedings of societies. His papers treat principally of the sculpture of the land by rain and rivers, the genesis of the topography of lake-shores, and the quaternary history of the Great Basin. Many of these have appeared in the volumes of the official reports of the Ohio and the government surveys. He wrote the " Report on the Geology of the Henry Mountains " (Washington, 1877), and edited and partially wrote the " Report on the Geology and Resources of the Black Hills of Dakota " (1880).

GILBERT, Sir Humphrey, English navigator, b. in Dartmouth, England, in 1539 ; lost at sea, 10 Sept., 1583, Pie was a half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. After studying at Eton and Oxford, he chose the military pro- fession, fought in the north of England and Scotland against the Roman Catholics, and was given command of an army sent to subjugate the Irish. For his successful conduct of the cam- paign he was knight- ed and made governor of Munster in 1570. Soon after his return to England he com- manded a fleet that was sent to blockade Flushing. On his re- turn he published a pamphlet entitled " A Discourse of Discov- ery for a New Passage to Cataia." He was one of the most ardent advocates of the theory of a northwest passage, and after aiding Probisher and other mariners with his fortune and influence, determined to become an explorer himself. He obtained letters-patent from Queen Elizabeth, authorizing him to make discoveries during six years in all barbarous countries not in the possession of Christians, and to occupy and dispose of them in favor of English subjects under the crown. His first expedition was undertaken in 1581, but a tem- pest destroyed one of his vessels, and compelled the admiral to return to port with the others, which were badly damaged. He mortgaged his estate to raise money for a new expedition, which started on 11 June, 1583, for Newfoundland. It consisted of two decked vessels and three sloops, manned by 260 men. Walter Raleigh, who commanded the largest ship, became alarmed at the amount of sickness on board, and on the third day put back for Eng- land. Gilbert arrived at the coast of Newfound- land after several narrow escapes from storms and icebergs. He landed at St. John, and, despite the presence of thirty-six vessels of various nationali- ties, took possession of the country in the name of his sovereign. He expelled the Portuguese, who had settled on the island, and published statutes providing that the religion of the country should follow the English rite, that whoever rebelled against the sovereignty of the queen should be punishable with death as a traitor, and that any person who spoke disrespectfully of the queen should have his ears cut oif and his land or vessels confiscated. His colony turned out disastrously. A large number of sailors deserted, others fell sick, and finally Gilbert set sail for Norumbega, after- ward called New England. A tempest dispersed the flotilla, and the principal vessel foundered. Sir Humphrey's vessel went down in a storm off the Azores while on the course to England. Rob- ert Clarke returned to Newfoundland alive, after great sufferings.

GILBERT, John Gibbs, actor, b. in Boston, Mass., 27 Feb., 1810: d. there, 17 June, 1889. He was educated in a public school, and at the age of fourteen placed in a dry-goods store, where he re- mained four years. After some experience in pri- vate theatricals he appeared, 28 Nov., 1828, at the old Tremont theatre, as Jaffier in "Venice Preserved." This was followed by Sir Edward Morti- more in " The Iron Chest," and Shylock in " The Merchant of Venice." But Mr. Gilbert soon became a stock actor, on the pay of three dollars per week, and, dissatisfied with his condition, sought an en- gagement with Caldwell, manager of the New Orleans theatre, and for about four years played "general utility" in the southwestern theatres. Subsequently he acted for five years in Boston, one year in New York city, and again five years in Bos- ton. In 1847 Mr. Gilbert went to London and joined the company of the Princess's theatre, hav- ing been engaged to represent the parts of old men in standard comedies. His first appearance there was as Sir Robert Bramble in " The Poor Gentle- man." After the close of the London season he visited Paris, for the ptirpose of study. In Mr. Gilbert returned to this country, aTid appeared under the management of Hamblin, at the New York Park theatre. His last performance at this place was in the part of Admiral Kingston in " Naval Engagements," the evening before it was destroyed by fire, after a few months of unsuccess- ful management. Thereafter he joined Ilamblin's company at the Bowery theatre. From the latter place, in 1851, he went to Philadelphia for five years, and thence to Boston until 1857, when he returned to Philadelphia, remaining until 1862. In 1862 Mr. Gilbert joined the company of Wallack's thea- tre in New York city, with which he was ever after