Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/473

Rh 1839). His " Crania Egyptica, or Observations on Egyptian Ethnography, derived from the History of the Monuments," with numerous plates and illustrations (4 vols., 1844), was principally based on a collection of ninety-eight heads that were obtained by George R. Gliddon from the tombs and catacombs of Egypt. He also published " Observations on the Ethnology and Archaeology of the American Aborigines " in "Silliman's Journal" (1846); an essay on " Hybridity in Plants and Animals considered in reference to the Question of the Unity of the Human Species," in the same (1847); and an "Illustrated System of Human Anatomy, Special, General, and Microscopic" (Philadelphia, 1849).— His son, James St. Clair, soldier, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 24 Sept., 1829 ; d. in Petersburg, Va., 17 June, 1864, was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1851, entered the engineer corps, and was assistant professor of engineering at the U. S. military academy in 1855-7. He explored the Chiriquin country. Central America, for a railroad route across the isthmus in 1860 by authority of congress, and on his return took charge of the work on the Washington aqueduct. He superintended the fortifying of Tortugas, in March, 1861, was promoted captain in that year, and in May, 1862. reported to Gen. Don Carlos Buell as chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio. In October he became chief engineer of the Army of the Cumberland, and commanded the bridge brigade of that army, becoming brigadier-general of volunteers, 29 Nov., 1862. He constructed the intrenchments about Murfreesborough, Tenn., participated in the capture of Chattanooga, was wounded at Chickamauga, and superintended the engineering operations under Gen. William S. Rosecrans. He was promoted major of engineers in July, 1863, was chief engineer of the 9th army corps in the Richmond campaign of 1864, and was engaged in the battles of North Anna, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church, and the assault on Petersburg, Va., where he was killed while leading the attack. He had received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel for gallantry at Stone River, and colonel for Chickamauga. and after his death was given that of brigadier-general, U. S. army, for Petersburg. He published "An Essay on Instruction in Engineering" (New York, 1856); "An Essay on a New System of Fortifications" (1857); "Memoir on Fortification" (1858); "Dangers and Defences of New York City" (1859); and "Life of Maj. John Saunders, of the Engineers" (1860). — Another son, Thomas George, physician, b. in Philadelphia, 8 Aug., 1835, was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated in the medical department there in 1856. He practised general surgery in Philadelphia for the next three years, actively engaged during the civil war in the establishment of military hospitals, and was a surgeon at Satterlee hospital, and consulting surgeon to the U. S. army hospital. Chesnut Hill, Pa. He has also held offices in numerous other hospitals, including the Orthopedic, of which he was the originator. In 1876 he was appointed a commissioner to erect the State insane asylum for the southern district of Pennsylvania, and was chairman of the committee on plans and buildings. He was chosen president of the Pennsylvania society for the restriction of vivisection in 1880, and vice-president of the Pennsylvania society for the prevention of cruelty to children the same year, was appointed a commissioner of state public charities in 1883. and chairman of the committee of lunacy in 1886. He is a member of numerous foreign and domestic professional bodies, and has successfully performed numerous difficult surgical operations. He introduced the ward-carriage into the Pennsylvania hospital in 1866, the bed-elevator and carriage in 1874, and in 1876 received the Centennial medal that was awarded for his hospital ward dressing-carriage. He has published numerous professional papers in the "American Journal of the Medical Sciences" and the "Pennsylvania Hospital Reports": "Lecture on the Transfusion of Blood and its Practical Application" (New York, 1877); with Dr. William Hunt, "Surgery of Pennsylvania Hospital" (Philadelphia. 1880): and "Transfusion of Blood and its Practical Application " (New York, 1887).

MORTON, Thomas, adventurer, b. in England about 1575; d. in Agamenticus, Me., in 1646. He was a lawyer of Clifford's inn, London, and in 1622 came to New England with a party of emigrants, many of whom returned the following year. The remainder scattered about Plymouth settlement, and, according to Morton, &ldquo;were very popular while their liquor lasted, but were afterward turned adrift.&rdquo; He went home, but returned in 1625 with Capt. Wollaston, an English adventurer, who settled part of his followers in Virginia, and a few others under Morton at Mount Wollaston (now Braintree), Mass., where the latter founded the town, and henceforth styled himself &ldquo;mine host of Mare-Mount.&rdquo; There he relates that on May-day, 1626, he &ldquo;brewed a barrel of excellent ale, provided a case of good bottles to be spent with other good cheer, and prepared a song fitting to the time and occasion. We also brought the May-pole to the place appointed, with drums, guns, pistols, and there erected it with the help of Salvages that came hither for purpose to see the manner of our revels.&rdquo; This proceeding caused great scandal to the Plymouth colonists, and, according to Nathaniel Morton (q. v.), the first chronicler of Plymouth, &ldquo;they fell into great licentiousness of life, in all profaneness, and the said Morton became a lord of misrule, and maintained a school of atheism, spending &pound;10 worth of liquors in a morning, setting up a May-pole, and drinking, frisking, and dancing about it like so many fairies or furies.&rdquo; Morton also instructed the Indians in the use of fire-arms, for which violation of the law he was arrested by Capt. Miles Standish, by order of the governor. But, although guarded by six men, he escaped in the dead of night, while his watchers were asleep. Of this episode Thomas Morton says: &ldquo;When the word was given that the bird had flown, the grand leader took on furiously and tore his clothes for anger. The rest were eager to have torn their hair from their heads, but it was so short it would give them no hold.&rdquo; He was subsequently recaptured and sent to England, the May-pole was cut down, and the name of the place changed to Dagon. He returned the next year, and was forced to submit to the search of his house, under the suspicion that it was filled with stolen corn. In 1630 he was again arrested for &ldquo;mischievous behavior,&rdquo; his dwelling was torn down, and he was seized and transported, and, arriving in London, was so &ldquo;metamorphosed by his long voyage that he looked like Lazarus in the painted cloth.&rdquo; He visited Massachusetts for the fourth time in 1643, but, having published his &ldquo;scandalous book,&rdquo; as the colonists called it, was imprisoned one year in Boston, after which he removed to Maine, where he died in poverty. This work, &ldquo;The New England Canaan&rdquo; (Amsterdam. 1637), is a description of the country and the Indians, and full of ridicule of the Puritan creed and customs. Morton's history is embodied in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story of &ldquo;The Maypole of Merry Mount.&rdquo;