Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/344

308 agitation that led to the civil war Mr. Merrimon took a decided stand for the Union, but the procla- mation of President Lincoln calling for 75,000 men decided him to join the Confederate army, in which for a short time he was attached to the com- missary department as captain. In 1866 he was chosen judge of the superior courts by the legisla- ture, and as such held the first regular sessions on his circuit under circumstances of considerable peril, a police force having to be organized in sev- eral counties by the sheriff to preserve the peace. When Gen. Edward R. S. Canby. in command of the U. S. forces, issued military orders to the courts. Judge Merrimon resigned his commission. In 1872 he was nominated for governor, but was defeated by a small majority. He was chosen U. S. senator, serving from 1873 till 1879, and in 1890 became chief justice of the state.

MERRITT, Anna Lea, artist, b. in Philadel- phia, Pa., 13 Sept., 1844. Her maiden name was Anna Massey Lea. She was twenty-one years' of age before she turned her attention to painting, and subsequently studied under Prof. Heinrich Hoffmann, of Dresden, and Henry Merritt, of Lon- don, whom she married in April, 1877. In 1871 she went to London to reside, and the same year exhibited " A Scene on the Grand Canal, Venice," and " Portrait of a Young Lady." Of her pictures since exhibited, " Eve Overcome by Remorse " has attracted the most attention. She was represented at the Philadelphia centennial exhibition, and re- ceived a diploma and medal. After the death of her husband, Henry Merritt, an artist and author, she published a memorial of him entitled " Henry Merritt's Art Criticism and Romance, with Recol- lections and Twenty-three Etchings " (London, 1879). To supply a portrait of her husband she studied the art of etching, which led to her adopt- ing it as a profession. She has also etched " Two Portraits of Mary Wolstonecraft," " View on the Thames," " Portrait of Sir Gilbert Scott," and " El- len Terry as Ophelia." She has exhibited at the London academy " The Pied Piper of Hamelin " (1872) ; " St. Cecilia " and " A Bacchante " (1875) ; "A Girl with Doves" (1876); "Camilla" (1883); and various portraits. At present she resides in London, but frequently visits New York city and Philadelphia, where she has painted a number of portraits. She is a relative of Henry C. Lea {q. v.).

MERRITT, Edwin Atkins, consul, b. in Sud- bury, Vt., 26 Feb., 1828. He was thrown on his own resources at an early age, and removed in 1841 to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and became a surveyor. After holding local offices he was elected to the lower branch of the legislature as a Repub- lican in 1859, and re-elected in 1860. At the be- ginning of the civil war he became quartermaster of the 60th New York regiment, served with the Army of the Potomac, and in Sherman's Georgia campaign acted as commissary of subsistence. On 1 Jan., 1865. he was made quartermaster-general of the state of New York, and he superintended the Soldiers' home in New York city. He also estab- lished free agencies for the collection of bounties, back pay, and pensions that were due New York volunteers. In 1869-70 he was naval officer of the port ot New York. In 1875 he was the unsuccess- ful Republican candidate for state treasurer. In December, 1877, he became surveyor of tlie port of New York, and in 1878 he was appointed collector in place of Chester A. Arthur. He was U. S. consul-general in London in 1881-'5.

MERRITT, Timothy, clergyman, b. in Bark- hamsted, Litchfield co.. Conn., in October, 1775; d. in Lynn, Mass., 2 May, 1845. He began preach- ing in 1794. and served as a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church in various parts of New England. While at Maiden, Mass., in 1831, he was an editor of " Zion's Herald," published in Boston, and from 1832 till 1835 he resided in New York city as assistant editor of " The Christian Advocate and Journal." While in Boston he es- tablished a monthly entitled " A Guide to Chris- tian Perfection." Mr. Merritt was an able writer, an eloquent preacher, an accomplished debater, and occupied a high place among the Methodist ministers of his time. He atoned for early de- ficiencies by subsequent vigorous intellectual dis- cipline. He published " Christian Manual " (New York, 1824); "Memoir of Miss S. H. Bunting" (1833) ; " Convert's Guide and Preacher's Assist- ant " (1841) ; " Discussion against LTniversal Salva- tion " ; " On the Validity and Sufficiency of Infant Baptism " ; and " Lectures and Discourses on Universal Salvation," with Rev. Wilbur Fiske. D. D.

MERRITT, Wesley, soldier, b. in New York city, 16 June, 1836. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy, 1 July, 1860, assigned to the dragoons, and promoted 1st lieutenant, 13 May, 1861, and captain, 5 April, 1862. He took part in Gen. George Stoneman's raid toward Riclimond in April and May, 1863. and was in command of the reserve cavalry brigade in the Pennsylvania cam- paign of the same year, being commissioned briga- dier-general of volunteers in June. For gallant and meritorious services during the battle of Gettysburg he was brevetted major. Still in com- mand of his brigade, he took part in the various engagements in central Virginia in 1863-'4, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel and colonel in the regular army, and major-general of volunteers, for gallantry at the battles of Yellow Tavern, Hawes's Shop, and Winchester respectively. On 13 March, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier - general and major-general in the regular army for bravery at the battle of Five Forks, and his services during the final Virginia campaign, and on 1 April was commissioned major-general of volunteers. After the war he was employed chiefly on frontier duty until 1882, when he was placed in charge of the U. S. military academy at West Point. He be- came lieutenant-colonel of the 9th cavalry in 1866, colonel of the 5th cavalry in 1876, brigadier-gen- eral in 1887, major-general in 1895, and governor of the Philippines in Mav, 1898.

MERRITT, William, navigator, b. in England about 1640; d. in 1708. He arrived in New York about 1671 in command of a ship, and afterward became a merchant. He was made lieutenant of Stephen Cortlandt's company in March, 1681, elected a member of the common council in 1684, and commissioned quartermaster in Julv of the latter year. From 1679 till 1682, in 1685, 1687, and again in 1691, he, with others, farmed the excise. In 1687 he served as alderman, and in May, 1689, he was appointed one of a committee to provide materials for the fortification of the city. During the occupation of the gubernatorial office by Jacob Leisler, Alderman Merritt and his son. John, were arrested by that official apparently for having received at his house "five armed strangers." During his confinement of twenty-one days Merritt used every effort to obtain permission to visit his dying grandchild, but the request was not granted. He was again alderman from 1690 till 1695, and served as a member of the general assembly in 1691. He was commissioned major in Gov. Benjamin Fletcher's expedition, and reached Schenectady, N. Y., with the city detachment, 18 Feb., 1693. He was appointed justice in New York