Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/601

Rh epidemic of 1878, when ho closed his place of business and devoted his time to the sick and suf- fering. In 1884 he was chief superintendent of the World's fair that was held in New Orleans. He refused a nomination for the governorship.

OGDEN, John Cosens, clergyman, b. in New Jersey about 1740 ; d. in Chestertown, Md., in 1800. He obtained orders in the Church of England, and his chief work was of a missionary character. He was rector of the Episcopal church in Portsmouth, N. H., in 1786-93, and supplied five towns with reg- ular services and ten or twelve others occasionally. Bishop White, in his •' Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal Church," speaks of him in connection with action that was taken in Vermont for obtain- ing consecration for Dr. Samuel Peters. Mr. Ogden published several occasional sermons, letters, ad- dresses, etc., also " An Excursion into Bethlehem and Nazareth in Pennsylvania, in the Year 1799, with a Succinct History of the Society of the United Brethren, commonly called Moravians" (Philadelphia. 1800; 2d ed., 1805).

OGDEN, Robert, patriot, b. in Elizabethtown, N. J., 16 Oct., 1716 ; d. in Sparta, N. J., 1 Jan., 1787. He was a member of the king's council for New Jersey, and in 1751 became a member of the legislature, to which he was rechosen on each' suc- ceeding election, becoming in 1763 speaker of the house. In 1765 he was sent as a delegate to the Continental congress that convened in New York on 25 Oct. of that year, when a " Declaration of Rights and Grievances " was drawn up, with an address to the king and a petition to each house of parliament. These proceedings were approved and signed by all of the members except Timothy Ruggles and Mr. Ogden, who maintained that the proceedings were to be submitted to the several provincial assemblies, and. if sanctioned, to be for- warded by them as their own acts. The conduct of Mr. Ogden gave ofEence to the people of New Jer- sey, he was burned in elfigy, and in consequence of this he resigned his membership in the assem- bly. In 1776 he was chairman of the Elizabeth- town committee of safety. — Robert's son, Mat- thias, soldier, b. in Elizabethtown. N. J., 22 Oct., 1754; d. there, 31 March, 1791, joined the army under Washington at Cambridge, and accompa- nied Benedict Arnold in his march through the Kennebunk woods in the winter of 1775, participat- ing in the attack on Quebec, where he was wound- ed. He was made lieutenant-colonel of the 1st battalion of the first establishment on 7 March, 1776, and subsequently colonel of the 1st regiment of the New Jersey continental line, which he com- manded until the close of the war. Col. Ogden was taken prisoner at Elizabethtown in November, 1780, and originated and commanded the unsuc- cessful attempt to capture Prince William Henry (subsequently William IV.), in March, 1782. He was granted leave of absence by congress to visit Europe in 1783, and while in France received the honor of " le droit du tabouret " from Louis XVI. At the close of the war he received the brevet of brigadier-general, to date from 20 Sept., 1783. He was a member of the legislative council in 1785, and in 1789 a presidential elector. — Matthias's son, Francis Barber, inventor, b. in Boonton, N. J., 3 March. 1783 ; d. in Bristol, England, 4 July, 1857, served under Gen. Andrew Jackson as aide-de-camp at the battle of New Orleans, on 8 Jan., 1815. Mr. Ogden devoted attention to me- chanical science, and is credited with having first applied the important principles of the expansive power of steam and the employment of right an- gular cranks in marine engines. In 1813 he re- ceived a patent for low-pressure condensing en- gines with two cylinders, the steam working ex- pansively and the cranks being adjusted at right angles, and in 1817 the first engine ever construct- ed on this principle was built by him in Leeds, Yorkshire. He submitted his plan at Soho tO' James Watt, who declared at once that it would make " a beautiful engine " and that the combina- tion was certainly original. The first screw pro- peller that was introduced into practical use and carried into successful operation was brought out by John Ericsson on Thames river in May, 1837. and was called the " Francis B. Ogden." The first pro- peller in the waters of the United States was the "Robert F. Stockton," an iron boat, which was built at Liverpool under the supei'intendenee of Mr. Ogden. He was U. S. consul at Liverpool in 1829-'40, and at Bristol in 1840-'57.— Matthias's brother, Aaron, soldier, b. in Elizabethtown, N. J., 3 Dec, 1756; d. in Jersey City. 19 April, 1839, was graduated at Princeton in 1773, and then taught, also taking an active part in the early struggles of the patriots. In the winter of 1775-'6 he was one of the party that boarded and cap- tured off: Sandy Hook the " Blue Mountain Valley." a British ves- sel laden with muni- tions of war and bound for Boston, and suc- cessfully carried her into Elizabethport. He was made paymaster of the 1st battalion on 8 Dec, 1775, held a similar office in the second establishment, and was then captain of the 1st New Jersey regiment commanded by his brother, Matthias Ogden. Capt. Ogden was present at the battle of the Brandywine, and was brigade-major in part of the advanced corps of Gen. Charles Lee at Monmouth, serving also as an assist- ant aide-de-camp to Lord Sterling on that field. In 1779 he accompanied Gen. William Maxwell as aide in the expedition of Gen. John Sullivan against the Indians, and took part in 1780 in the battle of Springfield, N. J., where his horse was shot under him. On the resignation of Gen. Maxwell, Ogden was appointed to a captaincy of light infantry under Lafayette, and was serving in that capacity when he was called on to perform a delicate service. Washington placed in his hands a packet of papers directed to Sir Henry Clinton, containing an offi- cial account of the trial of Andre, the decision of the board of inquiry, and the letter written by Andre to his general, and ordered him to go to Lafayette for further instructions, after he should arrange his escort of men that were known for their tried fidelity. Lafayette, who was stationed nearest to the British lines, instructed Ogden ta travel so slowly that when he should reach Paulus Hook (now Jersey City) it might be so late that he would be asked to stay all night. He was then to communicate to the commandant of the post,, as if incidentally, the idea of an exchange of Andre- for Benedict Arnold. As was anticipated, Ogden was invited to spend the night, and in the course of the evening Andre became the subject of con- versation. In reply to the question, " Is there no way to spare Andre's life?" Ogden assured the- commandant that if Sir Plenry Clinton would give