Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/202

164 his corps was relieved by an organized rear-guard, composed of infantry and cavalry corps of Forrest south of Columbia. As soon as Gen. Lee recovered he resumed command of his corps in North Caro- lina, and in time to surrender with the Confederate army under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Since the war he has labored to build up the waste places of the south. By profession he is a planter, and is president of the Mississippi agricultural and me- chanical college. He has had charge of the college since its opening in 1880. Gen. Lee has been only twice called into politics, once as state senator and afterward as a member of the last constitutional convention of 1890, which framed tlie present constitution of tlie state of Mississippi.

LEE, William, physician, b. in Boston, Mass., 12 March, 1841 ; d. in Washington, D. C, 2 March, 1893. He received his early education in private schools of Boston. From 1858 to 1860 he was a civil assistant to a corps of U. S. topographical engineers, and in 1859, while in tliis service, was one of the first white men to cross the great Ameri- can desert from Salt Lake City to Genoa, Nev., In 1863 he received his degree of M. D. from the College of physicians and surgeons. New York city, was resident "physician at Bellevue from 1863-'5, and then removed to Washington, D. C. In 1872 he was appointed professor of physiology in the medical department of Columbian university, and this chair he filled with marked ability until his death. Dr. Lee was an officer or member of many societies, wrote several pamphlets, and contributed to medical journals. He was also the author of " John Leigh of Agawam, Mass., and his Descend- ants of the Name of Lee " (Albany, 1888).

LE FLORE, Basil, b. near CarroUton, Miss., in 1811 ; d. in Goodland, Indian Territory, 15 Oct., 1886. He was of mixed French and Indian blood, but was brought up as a Choctaw, attending the mission school at Brainard, Miss., and subsequent- ly for several years the Johnson Indian school in Kentucky. He emigrated to Indian Territory in 1831, having been pi'eceded by most of his tribe, and soon held a high place in the councils. He was a member of the Methodist church, possessed a good education, and by his adaptation of the refinements of civilized life set a good example to others of his tribe. He became governor of the Choctaw nation in 1800, held office for fifteen years, and later was auditor until his death.

LEGER, Jacques Nicolas. Haytian diplomat, b. in Cayes, Hayti, 20 July, 1859. He is a descend- ant of the negroes who, early in the century, fought in the insurrection which gave Hayti her freedom. His father is a senator in the Ilaytian congress. The son was educated in his native place, and in Paris, where he studied law. He was chief of the bar of Port-au-Prince, secretary of legation, charge d'affaires in Paris, 1881-'6; assistant secretary of foreign relations, 1891 ; mem- ber of the house of representatives and chairman of the committee of foreign relations, 1896 ; and is now (1899) minister to the United States. He is the founder of the " Societe de Legislation " of Port-au-Prince. He has published " Haiti et I'ln- struction Publique" (Port-au-Prince, 1881) ; " Haiti et la Revision (Paris, 1885) ; " La Politique I*jX- terieure d'Ha'iti " (1886) ; and " Kecueil desTraites et Conventions d'Ha'iti" (Port-au-Prince, 1891).

LEHMANN, Lilli, singer, b. in Wilrzburg, Germany, 10 June, 1848. She received her musi- cal education from her mother, Marie Lowe, a cele- brated dramatic soprano, and in 1860 made her debut at Prague in the " Magic Flute," studied under Herman Laube tn Leipsic, sang in Berlin, and was then appointed court singer for life. She appeared in opera and concert in the principal cities of Germany, and gained reputation in light soprano parts ; but her voice subsequently changing with practice, she appeared in grand opera, taking the most difficult roles and receiving enthusiastic receptions throughout Europe. Before Richard Wagner's death, she went to Baireuth, sang under his direction, and became the most successful ex- ponent of his dramat ic heroines. In her personation of Briinhilde in the " Nibelungen " trilogy, Isolde in "Tristan und Isolde," and in Fidelioin Beetho- ven's opera of that name she has attained celeb- rity not only in her rendition of the musical score, but as a tragic actress. She came to this country in 1886, and has continued for many years to ap- pear at the Metropolitan o|)era-house. New York, and in concert and oratorio. In May, 1888, she married Paul Kalisch, a German tenor.

LEITER, Levi Zeigler, merchant, b. in Leiters- burg, Md., 22 Nov., 1834. Here in the town founded by his ancestors he received a good edu- cation and remained until eighteen years of age. He spent one year in Springfieltl, Ohio, arriving in Chicago in 1854. Entering first the house of Downs & Van Wyck, then that of Cooley, Wads- worth & Co., in which he remained through its various changes until January, 1865, when with Marshall Field, who entered the house at the same time, and who with young Leiter had secured an interest in the business in consideration of valuable services, they sold their interest to John V. Far- well, purchasing a controlling interest in the busi- ness of Potter Palmer. This connection continued two years, when they purchased the remaining in- terest of Palmer, the firm then becoming Field, Leiter & Co. By the exercise of rare intelligence, based upon the soundest principles, the business was rapidly increased until it occupied a leading position in the country. Having large real estate and other interests, and desiring to be free from the exacting duties of a larger business, Mr. Leiter sold his share in the house to his partner in January, 1881. He has contributed to the de- velopment of a higher life in Chicago. He never accepted public office, but has given much time to the public as an active director in the Chicago re- lief and aid society, the American Sunday-school union, to numerous clubs, the Chicago art institu- tion, and the Chicago historical society. Mr. Lei- ter's winter residence is in Washington, D. C. — His eldest daughter, Mary Victoria, married, in January, 1895, George Curzon, member of parlia- ment of Great Britain and assistant secretary for foreign affairs, now Lord Curzon. having been elevated to a barony in September, 1898, and appointed governor-general of India. — His son, Joseph, b. in Chicago, 4 Dec, 1868, attended St. Paul's school. Concord, N. 11., and graduated at Harvard university in 1891. After extensive tours in Plurope. he became actively interested in assisting his father in his business affairs. He is a director of the Chicago city railway company, of the Chicago Edison company, the Alley elevated railroad company, and is a member of the staff of the governor of Illinois. Mr. Leiter's fame became wide-spread in 1897-'8 by reason of his unsuccess- ful ojierations in the Chicago wheat-market.

LEMLY, Henry Rowan, soldier, b. in North Carolina. 12 Jan., 1851. and was graduated at the U. S. military academy. He was appointed in 1872 2d lieutenant in the 3d cavalry, and six years later was transferred to the 3d artillery. In 1880 he became 1st lieutenant, and in 1898 he was advanced to the rank of captain, command-