Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/416

390 In his early life Gen. Sanford had some experience as a manager, but having lost both of his theatres by fire, he abandoned that field of speculation.

'''SANFORD. David''', clergyman. b. in New Mil- ford, Conn.. 11 Dec., 1737; d. in Medway, Mass., 7 April. 1S10. He was graduated at Yale in 1755 and studied theology, but. instead of entering the ministry, removed to Great Harrington. Mass., where he settled mi a farm. Subsequently, through his brother-in-law. Samuel Hopkins, a clergyman, his attention being again turned to the pulpit, he resumed his studies, and on 14 April, 177'!. was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Medway, Mass., where he passed the remainder of his life, with the exception of a brief period, dur- ing which he served as a chaplain in the Revolution- ary army. As an orator Mr. Sanford possessed un- usual gifts. As a preacher he especially excelled in "tracing the windings of the human heart, in tearing from the hypocrite his mask, in rousing the slumbering conscience, and in quickening the sluggish affections." He early resisted the oppres- sion of Great Britain, and relinquished his salary for a time. He was occasionally blunt and severe, especially when he met with those that came short of his own high standard of clerical dignity and devotion. Thus, when a licentiate with clownish manners and a rustic garb asked what system of divinity he would recommend, he replied : " Lord Chesterfield's divinity to you!" On another occa- sion, on hearing that a young preacher had refused a call on the ground that there was an extensive pine-swamp in the place, he exclaimed : " Young man, it is none of your business where God has put his pine-swamps." Mr. Sanford never wrote his sermons, and the only publications bearing his name are two " Dissertations " issued in 1810, one " On the Nature and Constitution of the Law given to Adam in Paradise," and the other " On the Scene of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane."

SANFORD, Ezekiel. author, b. in Ridgefield, Fairfield co.. Conn., in 1796; d. in Columbia, S. C., in 1822. He was graduated at Yale in 1S15. and in 1819 published "A History of the United Stairs before the Revolution, with Some Account of the Aborigines" (Philadelphia). Of this work Nathan Hale (q. v.) wrote in the "North American Re- view" in September of that year: " V havi- pro- ceeded far enough, we trust, to support our charge of gross inaccuracy in the work before us." The same year Mr. Sanford projected an expurgated edition of the British poets with biographical prefaces in fifty volumes, twenty-two of which he had published when his health failed (Philadel- phia), and the remainder of thr srrio was edited by Robert Walsh, for many years U. S. consul in Paris. Sanford left in manuscript a satirical novel entitled " The Humors of Eutopia."

'''SANFOKD. Henry Shelton''', diplomatist, b. in Wondbury, Conn., 15 June, 1823; d. in Healing Springs, Ya., 21 May. 1891. He entered Washing- ton college, but was not graduated, and afterward studied at Heidelberg, where he received the degree of J. U. D. He was secretary of the U. S. legation in Paris in lN4!l-';>3, and then charge d'affaires till April, ls.-)4. lie resigned on the question of citizen's dress for diplomatic uniform, refusing to conform to Minister Mason's course, which led, on Senator Charles Sumner's motion, to the pres- ent law, enforcing Sec. Marcy's circular instruc- tion recommending citizen's dress as a diplomatic uniform. From 1861 till 1869 he was U. S. minis- ter to Belgium, where he negotiated and signed the Scheldt treaty, a treaty of commerce and navi- gation, a consular convention (the first ever made with Belgium), a trade-mark, and naturalization conventions. In 1S77 he was one of the founders of the International African association (now the Independent state of the Congo), and became a member of the executive committee, representing on it the English-speaking rar.-.. As its plenipo- tentiary at Washington he secured recognition of its flag in April. 1SS4, and he was sent as a dele- gate of the U. S. government to the Berlin Congo conference of 1885-'6, which opened to free-trade and neutrality a territory of 1,000.000 square miles, with a population of 50.000,000. In 1870 Mr. Sanford founded the city of Sanford. Fla.. and en- gaged in orange-culture, introducing into Florida various new cultures, notably that" of the lemon. Trinity gave him the degree of LL. D. in 184!!. Various official reports of his have been published by congress, including one on "Penal Codes in Europe " (Washington, 1854). and the " Averdslood Correspondence," also published by congress, which treated very fully of several important questions of international law.

SANFORD, Joseph, clergyman, b. in Vernon, Vt., (i Feb., 1797; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 25 Dec., 1831. He was graduated at Union in 1820, ami at Princeton theological seminary in 1823, ordained as pastor of a Presbyterian church in Brooklyn. N. Y., in October of "that year, and from 1829 till his death was pastor of a church in Philadelphia. He was distinguished for his power to move the sympathies and emotions of his audiences. See his "Memoirs," by Robert Baird (Philadelphia. ls:W>.

SANFORD, Nathan, senator, b. in Bricge- hampton, Suffolk co., N. Y., 5 Nov., 1777: d. in Flushing, N. Y., 17 Oct., 1838. He was educated at Y'ale college, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1799. and began practice in New York city. He was appoint- ed to several local offices, and on the accession of Presi- dent Jefferson was made U. S. com- missioner in bank- ruptcy. From 1803 till 1816 he was U. S. district attor- ney. This was the period of the com- mercial difficulties with France, of the " embargo," and of the war of 1812, involving great embarrass- ment to American commerce. To the discussion of the difficult legal questions arising out of the occurrences of this time, Mr. Sanford brought unusual ability, extensive learning, and a liberal spirit. While holding this office, he was twice elected to the New York assembly, of which he was chosen speaker in 1811. From 1812 till 1815 he was a member of the state senate, which then, in addition to its legislative functions, sat as a court for the correction of errors. He was elected U. S. senator from NVw York as a Democrat, and served from 4 Dec., isio. till 3 March, 1S21, when he was sent as a delegate to the State constitutional convention. There he proposed amendments, which were adopted, abolishing the property qualification for the elective franchise. On the adoption of the new constitution lie was appointed to the office of chan-