Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/290

264 RITTER, Abraham, author, b. in Philadelphia in September, 179->; d. there, 8 Oct., 1860. His father, Jacob, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. and the son became a merchant in his native city. He was for fifty years a member of the board of elders of the Moravian church. He published a " History of the Moravian Church in Philadelphia, 1743-'57" (Philadelphia, 1857), and "Philadelphia and her Merchants" (1860).

RITTER, Frederic Louis, musician, b. in Strassburg in 1834; d. in Antwerp, 4 July, 1891. He was of a Spanish family ; the name was origi- nally Caballero. He began the study of music at an early age under Hauser and Hans M. Schlet- terer. When sixteen years old he received some instruction from Georges Kastner in Paris, whence he went to Germany to continue his studies there. In 1852 he received the appointment of professor of music in the Protestant seminary of Fene- strange, Lorraine. Later he was also called to Bordeaux to conduct a series of concerts. About 1856 he came to the United States. For several years after his arrival he resided in Cincinnati, doing much to advance the cause of music dur- ing his stay in that city. He organized the Ce- rilia and the Philharmonic societies, and under his leadership many works were produced for the first time in this country. In 1861 he went to New York and became conductor of the Sacred harmonic society and of the Arion, a choral society. In 1867 he organized and conducted at Steinway hall the first musical festival that was held in the city. He was appointed professor of music at Vas- sar college the same year, and after 1874 he had iv-iiled in Poughkeepsie. The University of New York conferred the degree of doctor of music upon him in 1878. As a writer on musical topics he is well known on both sides of the Atlantic. Besides numerous articles in English, German, and French periodicals, he had written " A History of Music in the Form of Lectures" (Boston, 1870-'4; 2d ed., London, 1876) ; " Music in England " (New York, 1883); "Music in America" (1883); "Manual of Musical History, from the Epoch of Ancient Greece to our Present Time" (New York. 1886); and "Musical Dictation" (London, 1888). He edited the English edition of " Das Reich der Tone "- "The Realm of Tones" (New York, 1883), for which he wrote the appendix, containing sketches of American musicians. He was also well known as a composer. His instrumental works include sev- eral symphonies and overtures for full orchestra, a septet for flute, horn, and string quintet, string quartets, and compositions for the piano and organ. Many of these have been rendered by the principal orchestral organizations and clubs for chamber music in New York, Brooklyn, and Boston. His sacred music includes the 23d and the 95th Psalm, both for female voices, the 4th Psalm, "0 Salu- taris," and an " Ave Maria." His compositions fur the voice include more than one hundred Ger- man songs, and he had published also a " Practical Method for the Instruction of Chorus Classes," and compiled, with the Rev. J. Ryland Kendrick, D. D., " The Woman's College Hymnal," contain- ing tunes arranged for female voices only (Boston, 1887). His wife, Fanny Raymond, who died in 1890, was a writer on musical topics. She had published translations of Louis Ehlert's " Letters on Music to a Lady " (London, 1877) and Robert Schumann's "Music and Musicians" (1877). Her other writings include the pamphlets " Woman as a Musician " (New York, 1877) ; " Some Famous Songs" (London, 1878); "Troubadours and Min- nesingers " ; " Haydn's ' Seasons ' " (Poughkeepsie, ) : " Madrigals " (1882) ; and a volume of poems, "Songs and Ballads'" (New York, 1888). She was also known as the possessor of an excellent mezzo- soprano voice, and in the winter of 1869-'70 gave a successful series of " historical recitals,"

RITTER, Henry. Canadian artist, b. in Mont- real, Canada, in 1816; d. 21 Dec., 1853. He was designed by his father for a commercial career, but, his love for art early asserting itself, he obtained permission to visit Europe and pursue professional studies. He first went to Hamburg, but finally settled in Dlisseldorf. where he obtained the high- est prizes in the local academies. His favorite sub- jects were connected with the sea. Mr. Ritter possessed a certain originality of invention, his coloring was good, and his execution showed great care. Among his principal works are " Smugglers struggling with English Soldiers" (1839); ' Le Fant'aron"; and "A Marriage Proposal in Nor- mandy" (1842). One of his best works is his " Young Pilot Drowned," which was purchased by the Art society of Prussia. His health having failed, he was not able to complete his largest canvas, " The Poacher," till 1847. His " Indians flving before a Burning Prairie " contains some of his most conscientious drawing. At his death Ritter left unfinished a large number of small pictures. He also made many sketches for purposes of illustration, among them a series for an edition of the works of Washington Irving that was not published until after his death.

'''RITZEMA. Johannes''', clergyman, b. in Holland in 1710 ; d. in Kinderhook. N. Y., 1795. He arrived in New York pending the negotiations for a coetus in connection with the Reformed Dutch church of New York, and was a prominent member in all the meetings of that body. He was senior minister of the Reformed Dutch church of New York city, held pastoral relations there from 1744 till 1784, and frequently preached at Harlem. Philipsburg, Fordham, and Cortlandt. He was one of the origi- nal trustees of King's (now Columbia) college, and a disagreement between him and other members of the coetus regarding a professorship there and other matters led to his withdrawal from that body. He published " Ware Vryheyt tot Vrede " (New York, 1761); "Aan den Eerwarden Do. Jo- hannes Leydt" (Philadelphia, 1763); and " Met een nodige voor Afspraak aan de nederduitse Gemeen- tens in de provincien van Niew-York en Ni^w- Jersey, door Johannes Ritzema " (New York, 1765). His son, RUDOLPH, was graduated at King's col- lege (now Columbia) in 1758, and became a lieu- tenant-colone} in the British army.

'''RIVA AUUERO. Jose''' (re'-vah-ah-goo-ay'-ro), president of Peru, b. in Lima, 3 May, 1783 ; d. there, 21 May, 1858. He belonged to an illustrious family, received an excellent education and went to Spain, where he entered the military service. In 1808 he went to Buenos Ayres, where he became attached to the cause of South American independence. He returned to Lima in 1809, and was appointed comptroller of the court of accounts, but resigned in 1813 to join the Independents. He maintained a correspondence with the patriots of Buenos Ayres and Chili, and in 1820 was appointed colonel. After the landing of Gen. San Martin he was elected, 4 Aug., 1821, first prefect of Lima. For his military services he was rewarded by the unanimous vote of the army with an election as president of the republic, 28 Feb., 1823, and on 4 March congress raised him to the rank of grand marshal. Soon afterward Gen. Canterac, at the head of a strong Spanish army, marched upon Lima, and the government retired to Callao. Riva