Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/183

Rh of his church in Canada, with the exception of the metropolitan. Bishop Medley, of Fredericton, N. B.

McMURRICH, John, Canadian merchant, b. in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1804 ; d. in Toronto, 13 Feb., 1883. He was engaged for some time in business in Glasgow, and in 1885 came to Canada, where he subsequently became a partner in a large mercantile firm in Toronto. In 185G, when the legislative council became elective, Mr. McMurrich was an unsuccessful candidate for the Saugeen di- vision, but in 18(52 he was elected for that constitu- ency by a large majority. In 1864 he declined a renomination, and in 1867 he was elected to the Ontario assembly for North York, but, on suffering defeat in 1871, he retired from political life. He was a Liberal in politics.

McMURTRIE, Henry, educator, b. in Phila- delphia in 1793 ; d. there, 26 May, 1865. He was graduated at the medical department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1814, and became pro- fessor of anatomy and physiology in the Central high-school of Philadelphia. He was the author of valuable text-books, including a " Lexicon Scien- tarium : a Dictionary of Terms used in the Various Branches of Anatomy, Astronomy, Botany, Geol- ogy, Geometry, Hygiene, Mineralogy, Natural Phi- losophy, Physiology, Zoology, etc." (Philadelphia, 1847). He also pufslished a translation of Cuvier's "Animal Kingdom" (1832). — His cousin, Richard Coxe, lawyer, b. in Cumberland county, N. J., 24 Oct., 1819, studied law in Philadelphia, where in 1840 he was admitted to the bar. Shortly after- ward he served for a year as captain's clerk in the U. S. navy, then entered on the practice of law, in which he early attained prominence, and is now (1888) one of the recognized leaders of the Phila- delphia bar. He was a vice-provost of the law academy of Philadelphia from 1864 till 1881. He was for several years one of the guardians of the poor, and is now a director of the department of charities and corrections of Philadelphia. Pie pub- lished, with George W. Biddle. a " General Index, etc." (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1857) : and " A Reading on Article XVI., Sec. 7, Constitution of Pennsyl- vania " (1885) ; and has written on legal subjects for several magazines.

McMURTRIE, William, chemist, b. in Belvidere, N. J., 10 March, 1851. He was graduated at Lafayette in 1871 as a mining engineer, and received in course the degree of Ph. D. in 1875. In 1872 he was appointed assistant chemist to the U. S. department of agriculture in Washington, and in 1873-'8 he was chemist-in-chief. He was then appointed superintendent of agricultural products in the U. S. section of the World's fair in Paris in 1878, and at the same time commissioned agent and representative of the U. S. department of agriculture to the exposition. Since 1882 he has filled the chair of chemistry and mineralogy in the University of Illinois, and he is also chemist to the state board of agriculture. Prof. McMurtrie is a member of scientific societies, and in 1884 received from the French government the title of chevalier du merite agrieole. He published reports from the division of chemistry of the department of agricul- ture, which were issued annually and under the di- rection of the commissioner ; " Report on Culture of the Sugar-Beet " (Washington, 1879) ; " Report on Culture of Sumac " (1879) ; " Report on Statistics of Grape Culture in the United States " (1880) ; and " Report upon Examination of Wools and other Animal Fibres" (1887).

MacNAB, Sir Allan Napier, bart., Canadian soldier, b. in Newark (now Niagara). Ont., 19 Feb., 1798 ; d. in Toronto, 8 Aug.," 1862. His grand- father was Capt. Robert MacNab, of the " Black Watch." His father was Lieut. Allan MacNab, of the 3d dragoons, who afterward came to this country as an officer in the Queen's ranger hus- sars, under Col. Simcoe. The rangers ^ took an active part in the Revolution- ary war. At the close of the American war Lieut. MacNab re- tired on half-pay to Upper Canada with his young wife, the daughter of Capt. William Napier, commissioner of the port and harbor of Quebec. Shortly after the birth of Allan Napier the family removed to York (now Toronto),  where the father became clerk in the office of William Jarvis, provincial secretary, and the son was sent to the home district- school. As a pupil he did not win high honors, being fonder of play than of study. He was but fifteen years of age when the American invasion of Canada took place, in April, 1813, and he and his father at once volunteered, and were sent to the front with a small regular and militia force. The town was ill prepared to withstand a siege, and the British and Canadian troops were driven back on Kingston. During the retreat, which was success- fully accomplished, young MacNab attracted the notice of his commander, and through the latter's influence he was subsequently appointed a mid- shipman on board the " Wolfe," the flag-ship of Sir James Lucas Yeo. He accompanied Yeo's expedi- tion to Sackett's Harbor and other points along the southern side of Lake Ontario ; but the navy had no charm for him, and he relinquished his place after a few months' service and joined the 100th foot, then commanded by Col. John Murray. He took an active part in several movements, and his prominence in the advanced guai'd at the storming of Fort Niagara won for him an ensigncy in the 49th regiment and honorable mention in the despatches. Eleven days later he was found at Fort Erie, and on the night of 29 Dec. he took part in Sir Phineas Riall's exploits against Buffalo and Black Rock. At the close of the hostilities of that season, on the Niagara frontier, he went to Montreal, joined his new regiment, and at the affair at Plattsburg led the advanced guard at the Saranac bridge. After the defeat of the British forces young MacNab, greatly chagrined, is said to have broken his sword and vowed that he would never draw blade again under such a leader as Sir George Prevost. After the proclamation of peace, MacNab returned to his home in York on half-pay. He now began to look about him for a career. Military life was out of the question, he was not well educated, and his capacity was not large. He was a fine specimen of manhood, and a thorough aristocrat in every way. In politics he was a born Tory of the severest school. The infiuence of friends secured for him an articled clerkshiji in the office of the attorney-general, and a situation as copying-clerk in one of the government offices. At the Michaelmas term of 1826 he was called to the bar of Upper Canada. In May, 1821. he married Elizabeth, daughter of Lieut. Daniel Brooke, of Toronto. On being called to the bar, MacNab