Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/379

Rh tains in the United States east of the Rocky mountains are those of North Carolina. Black Dome, or Mitchell's High peak, he found to be the highest of the group, and while endeavoring to ascertain its exact altitude he was overtaken by a storm, and fall- ing over a preci- pice into a pool was drowned. His body was first taken to Ashe- ville for burial, but in 1858, in response to the desires of the mountaineers, it was re-entombed on the highest pointof the moun- tain, and his last resting-place is shown in the ac- corapanyingillus- tration. A large number of citizens were present, and Bishop Otey, of Tennessee, pronounced the funeral oration. He received the degree of D. D. from the University of Alabama in 1838, and con- tributed various articles to the "American Journal of Science." He also published reports on the geol- ogy of North Carolina (1826-'7), and " Elements of Geology, with an Outline of the Geology of North Carolina" (1842). The Elisha Mitchell scientific society of the University of North Carolina has re- centlvbeen established at Chapel Hill in his honor.

MITCHELL, Hinckley Gilbert, clergyman, b. in Lee, X. Y., 22 Feb.. 1846. He was graduated at Wesleyan in 1873 and at the school of theology of Boston university in 1876, and afterward studied Old Testament exegesis in the University of Leip- sic, where in 1879 he received the degree of Ph. I). On his return he entered the ministry of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and in 1879-'80 was sta- tioned in Fayette, N. Y. In 1880 he returned to Wesleyan university as tutor in Latin and in- structor in Hebrew, and in 1881 was called to be instructor in Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis in Boston university, where in 1884 he was made professor of these subjects. Dr. Mitchell is secre- tary of the Society of biblical literature and exe- gesis, whose " Journal " he publishes. He is the author of " Final Constructions of Biblical He- brew " (Leipsic, 1879) ; " Hebrew Lessons " (Boston, 1884) ; and " Hebrew Introduction" (Andover, 1884).

MITCHELL, James C., lawyer, b. in Mecklen- burg county, N. C, about 1790; d. near Jackson, Miss., 7 Aug., 1843. He removed to eastern Ten- Bessee at an early age, was admitted to the bar, and attained note in his profession. He served two terms in congress in 1825-'9, and was an un- successful candidate for re-election. While in con- gress his eccentric humor made him popular, and he was intimate with Gen. Samuel Houston, whom he resembled in personal appearance. The two were often known as " the couple." Afterward Mr. Mitchell became a circuit judge in Tennessee ; but about 1837 he removed to Hinds county. Miss., where he engaged in agriculture and took some part in local politics. He was the author of " Mitchell's Justice."

MITCHELL, James Tyndale, jurist, b. in Belleville, 111., 9 Nov., 1834. He was graduated at Harvard in 1855 and at the law department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1857, was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia, where he was soon af- terward chosen assistant citv solicitor, and held the office three years. From 1861 till 1887 he ed- ited the "American Law Register." In 1871 he was elected a judge of the district court of Phila- delphia, and in 1875, under the new constitution, he was transferred to the bench of the court of common pleas, which place he still (1888) holds, having been re-elected in 1881 by the unanimous request of both political parties. Under a resolu- tion of the legislature, he was appointed by Gov. Robert E. Pattison one of three commissioners to report what acts of the Colonial assembly have not been printed, and made a report in 1886 which led to the act of 1887 authorizing their publication under the direction of the commissioners. He is a vice-provost of the Law academy of Philadelphia and president of the council of the Pennsylvania historical society. In 1872 he received the degree of LL. D. from jeflferson medical college. He has edited " Williams on Real Proiiertv " (Philadelphia, 1872), and is the author of "A History of the Dis- trict Court " (1875), and of " Mitchell on Motions and Rules " (1879).

MITCHELL, John, physician, b. in England ; d. there in March, 1768. He studied medicine and came to this country about 1700, settling in Ur- bana, near Richmond, Va. Dr. Mitchell acquired considerable reputation by his researches in bot- any, and gave much valuable information on American flora to Linnaeus, who bestowed Mitch- ell's name on the " Mitchelia repens." Among his researches in this science are " Dissertatio brevis de Principio Botanicorum et Zoologorum," dedi- cated to Sir Hans Sloane, and dated Virginia, 1738, and " Nova Plantarum Genera," dedicated to Peter Collinson (1741). These were afterward collected and published (Nuremberg, 1769). Mitchell was a fellow of the Royal society and contributed to its " Transactions " " Essay on the Causes of Different Colors of People in Different Climates," in which he argues that influence of climates and modes of life are sufficient to account for differences of color (1744) ; " Essay on the Preparations and Uses of Various Kinds of Potash" (1748); and "Letter Concerning the Force of Electrical Cohesion." Among his manuscript papers was one on the " Yellow Fever in Virginia in 1737-'42," with cor- respondence with Benjamin Franklin, which was published, with additional papers on this subject, by Dr. Benjamin Rush in the fourth volume of the "American Medical and Philosophical Register" (1755). He is also credited with the authorship of " A Map of the British and French Dominions in North America" (London, 1755); "The Contest in America between Great Britain and France " (anonymous, about 1757) ; and " The Present State of Great Britain and North America" (1767).

MITCHELL, John Hippie, senator, b. in Washington county, Pa., 22 J une, 1835. He was educated at Witherspoon institute, subsequently studied law, and soon after his admission to the bar went to California and followed his profession, first in San Luis Obispo and then in San Francisco. In 1860 he removed to Portland, Oregon, where in 1861 he was elected corporation attorney. He was elected to the state senate in 1862 and served for four years, becoming its presiding officer in 1864. In 1873 he was elected as a Republican to the U. S. senate, serving from 4 March, 1873, to 3 March, 1879, he was afterward elected again for six years, and was again re-elected 20 Jan., 1891. Senator Mitchell has held the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Oregon militia, and in 1867-71 was professor of medical jurisprudence in Willamette university, Salem,