Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/500

460 MUNN, Orson Desaix, publisher, b. in Monson, Mass., 11 June, 1824. He received his education at the academy in his native town, and, deciding on a business career, entered a book-store in Springfield. After two years of this experience he returned to accept a more important commercial trust in Monson, but soon found his way to New York. In 1846, with Alfred E. Beach, son of Moses Y. Beach (q. v.), he bought the &ldquo;Scientific American,&rdquo; then in the first six months of its existence. The purchase price of this property was less than $1,000, and it included a subscription-list of 200 names. Its founder, Rufus Porter, was continued as editor, and the enterprise, placed on a sound business basis, at once proved a success. It was the first popular scientific journal in the United States, and it is now the oldest, having a recognized standing throughout the civilized world. Its function has been the publication of the record of the progress of art and science both at home and abroad. In 1876 the demand upon its space was so great, owing to the increased interest that resulted from the World's fair in Philadelphia, that a &ldquo;Scientific American Supplement&rdquo; was successfully begun, and has since steadily grown in circulation. An &ldquo;Architect and Builders'&rdquo; edition, published monthly, was established in 1885. Among the earliest requests made to the publishers of the &ldquo;Scientific American&rdquo; was for advice concerning the procuring of letters-patent for new inventions, there being at that time no professional patent solicitors. This department of the business developed with great rapidity, and a branch office for it was soon opened in Washington, D. C. For many years Munn and Co. enjoyed a virtual monopoly of this class of business, and upward of 100,000 applications for patents have been made by this house. Mr. Munn has strictly adhered to a principle that he laid down early in life, never to invest a penny in any patented invention.

MUNOZ, Juan Bautista (moon-yoth), Spanish historian, b. in Museros, near Valencia, in 1745 ; d. in Madrid in 1799. He studied rhetoric and mathematics in Valencia, and in 1770 was appoint- ed cosmographer of the council of the Indies. In 1779 King Charles III. commanded him to write a general history of America, but the council of the Indies opened their archives reluctantly, and the viceroys of South America refused to communicate official documents that proved frequent abuses of authority over the Indians, which it was to their interest to conceal. Muiioz tried his best to over- come all difficulties and made several voyages to South America for that purpose. He composed only the first part of his intended work, the publi- cation of which was prohibited by the council of the Indies, but Charles IV. interposed his authority and the work was printed. It is entitled " Historia general de las Indias 6 Nuevo Mundo " (Madrid, 1793). The University of Valencia bought his other manuscripts, but they were burned with the librarv during the French bombardment of 1812.

MUÑOZ-CABRERA, Ramon, Bolivian journalist, b. in Cochabamba in 1819 ; d. in Lima, Peru, in 1869. He was studying in the University of Buenos Ayres, when, on account of discussing publicly the conduct of the dictator Rosas, he was forced to flee to Montevideo, where he was employed as clerk in the department of the interior. He returned afterward to his country and was protected by Gen. Belzu, who, when he overthrew the government of Velasco in 1848, appointed Muñoz minister to the Argentine Republic He was re- fused recognition by Rosas, and retired to Chili, where he issued a protest. While he was in Chili he edited the "Mercurio" in Valparaiso. Returning, after Rosas's downfall, to the Argentine Republic, he was editor of "La Tribuna" and "La Crónica " of Buenos Ayres, and " El Constitutional," of Mendoza. In 1858 he returned to Chili and resumed the direction of the " Mercurio " till the end of 1859, when he went to Bolivia. He was appointed prefect of Cobija in 1861, but in 1864 returned to La Paz and resumed his journalistic labors. In 1865 he was appointed minister to Chili, and as such adhered to the treaty of alliance against Spain. On his return to his country he was appointed inspector of guano in Mejillones, and afterward elected deputy for Cobija. But his opposition against Melgarejo's government soon obliged him to take refuge in Peru, where he died. He published " Cienfuegos," an historical poem (Montevideo, 1840) ; " La guerra de los quince alios en el Alto Peru " (Lima, 1868) ; and " La vida y escritos de Bernardo Monteagudo " (1869).

MUNOZ DE COLLANTES, Juan Miguel Lopez, Spanish adventurer, b. in Burgos in 1499 ; d. in New Granada in 1542. He served in Italy, and was a captain when, in 1528, he accompanied to South America, Garcia de Lerma, governor of the province of Santa Marta. who sent him in 1530 to conquer the district of Bonda. Munoz after- ward explored the valley of Baritica, where he dis- covered gold, crossed the Andes, and advanced to Pesigueyca, capital of the Taironas, who repelled the invaders. In the following year he set out again for Pesigueyca, but was again driven back. In a third expedition in 1532 IMunoz captured the city, but, being unable to hold it, burned it and began a difficult retreat, in which the Spaniards suffered great losses. In the division of the country Muiioz received for his share the district of Eupari, which he conquered in 1535, and. continuing his march toward the southwest, founded in 1536, on the banks of Cauca river, the city of Santiago de Call. Joining afterward Sebastian de Benalcazar, he conquered for the latter the province of Arma, where he founded in 1539 the city of Santiago de Arma. When Felipe de Urre set out in 1541 for the discovery of the fabulous El Dorado, which legends placed in the west of New Granada, Munoz accompanied the expedition as commander of the cavalry, and died on the journey.

MUNOZ-GAMERO, Benjamin (moon-yoth-gah-may'-ro), Chilian naval officer, b. in Santiago in 1820; d. in Punta Arenas, 2 Dec, 1851. He entered the navy in 1836 as midshipman, and served in the first and second campaigns against the Peru-Bolivian confederation. On his return he was promoted lieutenant, and in 1842 ordered by the government to serve for instruction in the British navy. In April, 1844, he re-entered the Chilian navy and commanded successively the "Magallanes" and "Janequeo." In 1849 he was commissioned to survey the southern parts of the republic, and thoroughly explored the lakes Llanquihue, Todos Santos, and Coyutue, and the Petrohue, Coyutue, and Peulla rivers. He was promoted captain in 1850, and in January, 1851, appointed governor of the Chilian colony of Magallanes. He studied the Indian language, and began to make a Patagonian dictionary, but it remained unfinished at his death. On 21 Nov., 1851, there was a mutiny at Punta Arenas, but Muiioz. with the chaplain and a few loyal followers, escaped in a boat. It was driven by a storm on the coast of Tierra del Fuego, and the party, being attacked by the Indians, had to return to the main-land, where they were discovered and pursued by the insurgents. At last, driven by hunger near the fort,