Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/141

Rh the Paris exhibition in 1855, and at the Dublin exhibition in 1864, he represented Canada in the capacity of chief commissioner. His contributions to literature were “Historical Sketches of O'Connell and his Friends” (Dublin, 1845); “Irish Writers of the Seventeenth Century” (1846); “Memoir of the Life and Conquests of MacMurrough, King of Leinster” (1847); “Irish Letters” (New York, 1852); “Life of Edward Maginn, Coadjutor Bishop of Derry” (Montreal, 1857); “Canadian Ballads” (1858); “Popular History of Ireland” (New York, 1862); and “Speeches and Addresses on the British American Union” (London, 1865). A volume of his poems, with an introduction by Mrs. D. J. Sadlier, appeared after his death (New York, 1870).  McGEE, W J [he has no Christian name], geologist, b. in Dubuque county, Iowa, 17 April, 1853. He was self-educated, and in early life invented and patented several improvements on agricultural implements, subsequently he turned his attention to geology, and made important investigations in that direction, including researches on the loess of the Mississippi valley, the examination of the great quaternary lakes of Nevada and California, and the study of a recent fault-movement of great scientific interest in the middle Atlantic slope. In 1881 he received the appointment of geologist on the U. S. geological survey, and in that capacity he visited in 1886 the city of Charleston for the purpose of studying the earthquake disturbances in its vicinity. He is a member of many scientific societies in the United States, and has published nearly fifty scientific papers in the proceedings of the societies of which he is a member, and in various technical journals.  MACGEORGE, Robert Jackson, Canadian clergyman, b. in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1811. His father, Andrew, was a well-known solicitor in Glasgow. Robert was educated at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, in 1839 was ordained a minister of the Episcopal church of Scotland, and in 1841 he removed to Canada, where he was appointed incumbent of Trinity church, Streetsville. During his connection with this congregation he did much missionary work at adjoining stations. While in Canada he edited the “Church,” a weekly newspaper, and the “Anglo-American Magazine.” In 1858 he returned to Scotland, and was placed in charge of the Episcopal church in Oban. Mr. Macgeorge was for some time synod clerk, and in 1872 was appointed dean of Argyll and the Isles. In 1881 he resigned his charge, as well as his office of dean and canon of the cathedral. He has written numerous songs which have been set to music, and is also the author of a volume of “Tales, Lyrics, and Sketches” (Toronto, 1858).  McGILL, Alexander Taggart, clergyman, b. in Cannonsburgh, Pa., 24 Jan., 1807; d. in Princeton, N. J., 13 Jan., 1889. He was graduated at Jefferson college, was a tutor, and then removed to Georgia, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. He was appointed by the legislature to survey and map the northwest corner of the state, and after this work was completed in 1831 he returned to Cannonsburgh for the purpose of fitting himself for the ministry. After studying in the Associate Presbyterian seminary, where he was graduated in 1835, he was ordained at Carlisle, Pa., and was pastor of three small churches in Cumberland, Perry, and York counties till 1838, when he connected himself with the old-school Presbyterian church. Soon afterward he became pastor of the 2d Presbyterian church of Carlisle, and in 1842 professor of church history in Western theological seminary, Alleghany, Pa. In 1848 he was moderator of the general assembly, which met in Baltimore. In the winter of 1852 he filled a professorship in the Presbyterian seminary at Columbia, S. C., and in 1853 returned to his former chair in Allegheny. In 1854 he was transferred to the professorship of ecclesiastical, homiletic, and pastoral theology at Princeton theological seminary, and in 1883 he was retired as emeritus professor. He received the degree of D. D. from Marshall college, Mercersburg, Pa., in 1842, and that of LL. D. from Princeton in 1868. Many of his sermons and speeches have been printed. He was a frequent contributor to reviews, and, besides assisting in the composition of other works, was the author of a volume on “Church Government," and two on “Church Ordinances," which he prepared for the press.—His son, George McCulloch, surgeon, b. at Hannah Furnace, Centre co., Pa., 20 April, 1838; d. near Fort Lyon, Colorado, 20 July, 1867, was graduated at Princeton in 1858 and at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1861. He was commissioned assistant surgeon in the U. S. army to date from 16 April, 1861, in June, 1863, was made medical inspector, and in May, 1864, was acting medical director of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac. For gallantry at Meadow Brook he received the brevet of captain. In June, 1864, he was made acting medical inspector of the Army of the Potompn, and served as such until January, 1865. At the close of the war he was brevetted major. During the cholera year of 1866 he attended the victims of the epidemic on Hart's and David's islands. New York harbor, receiving the brevet of lieutenant-colonel. He was then ordered to the west, and while he was on the march from Fort Harker, Kansas, to Fort Lyon, the cholera broke out. Incessant labor then, which earned for him the brevet of colonel, with grief at the death of his wife, was the cause of his death.—Another son, Alexander Taggart, jurist, b. in Allegheny City, Pa., 20 Oct., 1843, was graduated at Princeton in 1864, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practised in Jersey City, N. J. He was elected to the legislature in 1874, re-elected the following year, and was prosecutor of the pleas of Hudson county in 1878-'83 and then president of the county courts till May, 1887, when he was chosen chancellor of the state of New Jersey.  McGILL, James, Canadian philanthropist, b. in Glasgow, Scotland, 6 Oct., 1744; d. in Montreal, Canada, 19 Dec., 1813. He received his early education in his native place, and came to Canada before the American Revolution. For some time after his arrival he engaged in the northwest fur-trade, but afterward settled in Montreal, and, in partnership with his brother, Andrew McGill, became one of the chief merchants in that town. He was for many years a member of the Lower Canadian parliament for West Montreal, and afterward a member of the legislative and executive councils. He was lieutenant-colonel and subsequently colonel of the Montreal city militia, and at the beginning of the war of 1812 became brigadier-general, and was prepared in that capacity to take the field. In addition to many other benefits that he conferred upon Montreal, he was mainly instrumental in founding the university that bears his name, and bequeathed to it property that was valued at £30,000 and £10,000 in cash. Owing to the growth of the city, the land has increased greatly in value, and, in consequence of this fact and other bequests and donations that have been received, it is now the most richly endowed university of the Dominion.