Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/787

Rh ume of poems entitled " Life and Time — A Birth- day ^Memorial of Seventy Years " (New York, 1H65).

iPETERS, Christian Henry Froderich, astronomer, b. in Coldenblittel, Schleswif^, 19 Sept., 1813 ; (i. in Clinton, N. Y., 18 July, 1890. lie was educated at the University of Berlin, where in 18o6 he received the degree of Ph. D.,and then continued his professional studies in Copenhagen. In 1838 he accompanied Baron Sartorius von Walthershausen to Sicily, where, until 1843, he was engaged on the survey of Mount Etna. The published results of this work are said to afford the most exhaustive de- scription that has been given of any mountain. On the completion of this survey, Dr. Peters was en- gaged in Naples, for several years, in the geodetic survey of that kingdom, but at the close of the revolution of 1848 he left Italy and went to Tur- key, devoting himself to the pursuit of his chosen science. In 1853, on the recommendation of George P. Marsh, he came to the United States with let- ters from eminent scientists, which procured for him a place on the U. S. coast survey. At first he was stationed at the Cambridge observatory, and later at the Dudley observatory in Albany. In 1858 he was called to Hamilton college as the first director of the Litchfield observatory, and in 1867 he was made professor of astronomy in addition to his directorship. His scientific work included observations on comets and solar spots, many of which are as yet unpublished. In his study of the sky for the mapping of the stars he had been the first discoverer of forty-seven asteroids. Under the auspices of the regents of the University of the state of New York he determined the longi- tude of several places in the state of New York, in- cluding the western boundary-line. He had charge of one of the parties sent out to Des Moines. Iowa, to observe the solar eclipse of 7 Aug., 1869. and also led the government expedition that was sent to New Zealand to observe the transit of Venus, 9 Dec, 1874, and on that occasion he was the most successful of all the observers at that station, se- curing 237 photographs of the transit. Dr. Pe- ters was a member of scientific societies, and in 1876 was elected to the National academy of sciences. In 1887 he received the decoration of the cross of the Legion of honor from the French government. Besides articles in various scientific journals, he published in 1882 a first series, twenty in number, of his " Celestial Charts," which give an accurate picture of the parts of the sky that they depict, and which will serve hereafter as a sure basis for studying changes in the heavens. A second series was completed in 1888, but was unpublished when he died.

PETERS, Edward Dyer, metallurgist, b. in Dorchester, Mass., 1 June,'l849. He was educated at the Freiberg mining-school, Saxony, in 1869, and has since devoted himself to copper-smelting. In 1870 he was appointed territorial assayer of Colorado, which office he held for two years, and after filling various other places he returned to Massachusetts, and in 1877 was graduated at Har- vard medical school. Continuing his metallurgical practice, he held the superintendency of the Orford sulphur and copper company in 188{)-'2, and of the Parrot silver and copper company in 1884-'5. Mr. Peters is a member of the American institute of mining engineers and of other scientific societies. In addition to various professional papers, he has published " Modern American Methods of Copper Smelting " (New York. 1887).

PETERS, George Nathaniel Henry, clergy- man, b. in New Berlin, Union co.. Pa., 30 Nov., 1825. He was graduated at Wittenberg college. Springfield. Ohio, in 1850, and was pastor of Lu- theran churches in Woodbury, Springfield, Xenia, and Plymouth, Ohio, but has been retired for many years. He is a conservative preniillenarian.and, in addition to numerous articles, has published "The Theocratic Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ," the result of thirty years' labor (3 vols.. New York, 1884).

'''PETERS. Hugh''', clergyman, b. in P'owey, Corn- wall, Kngland, in 1598 ; d. in London, England, 1 Oct., 16(iO. After graduation at Cambridge in 1022 he took orders and preached for some time at the Church of St. Sepiilchre. London, but was com- mitted to prison by Archbishop Laud for nf)n-con- formity. Obtaining his release, he removed to Rotterdam, where he was pastor of an independent congregation with Dr. William Ames for several years, and in 1635 he came to New England with his brothers William and Thomas. On 21 Dec, 1636, he became pastor of the 1st church in Salem, Mass., succeeding Roger Williams, whose doctrines he disclaimed and whose adherents he excommuni- cated. In 1637 he was appointed an overseer of Harvard. He took an active part in mercantile and civil affairs, and suggested coasting and foreign voyages, and the plan of the fisheries. In March, 1638, he was appointed by the general court to assist in collecting and revising the colonial laws. In 1640 he associated Edward Norris with him in the pastorate of his church. He received from his church 200 acres of land in what is now Northfield as a reward for his services, and his farm was known as Peters Neck. On 3 Aug., 1641, he was sent to England with Rev. Thomas Welde and William Hibbins to procure an alteration in the laws of excise and trade, and, probably owing to their in- fluence, an act of parliament was passed in 1643 relieving all commodities that were carried between England and New England from the payment of "any custom, subsidy, taxation, imposition, or any other duty " till the further order of the house of commons." In England he joined the Parliament- ary party and became a preacher in the army. He had interviews with Charles I. in regard to his " New England business," in which, said Peters, " he used me civilly, and I offered my poor thoughts three times for his safety." In 1651 he was ap- pointed by parliament a commissioner to amend the laws, an office for which he was eminently un- qualified. He said that he " went there to pray rather than to mend laws." In 1654 he was made one of the " fryers " of ministers, and in 1658 preached to the English garrison in Dunkirk. In 1660 he accompanied Gen. Monk from Scotland to London, preached before him on a fast-day. and it is said " troubled the general with a long sermon." After the restoration of Charles II., Peters was committed to the Tower, and indicted for high treason as having been concerned in the death of Charles I. It was alleged that he was one of those that stood masked on the scaffold wiien the king was beheaded, and, to render him more odions, it was reported that he was the executioner. During his imprisonment in Newgate he wrote several let- ters of advice to his daughter, which were pub- lished uniler the title of " A Dying Fatiier's Legacy to an Onlv Child" (London. 1660), of which his great-nephew, Samuel, said : "It was printed and published in Old and New England, and myriads of experienced Christians have read his legacy with ecstasy and health to their souls." Notwithstand- ing this prediction, the work is now very rare and almost forgotten. Alter exeoition his head was stuck on a pole and ])laccd on London bridge. His preaching was popular with the multitude, owing to his coarse but striking iuuiges. His private