Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/235

Rh charge of some chemical works, but in 1868 he accepted the professorship of mining and met- nlhirgy at Rensselaer polytechnic institute, which chair he filled until 1872, also holding consulting relations to iron and steel works in Troy and vi- cinity. During 187:^"9 he was consulting engineer for iron, steel, and copper works in England, Ger- many, and Russia. Since that time he has been engaged as a consulting mining and metallurgical engineer, with an oflice in New York, where he is also president of the Bower iron company. Prof. Alaynard has had charge of the construction of various mills, dressing works, and plants for treat- ing copper ores in Ireland, Colorado, and Russia. He is a member of the American institute of min- ing engineers, of the Iron and steel institute of Great liritain, and of other scientitic societies.

MAZET, Robert, lawyer, b. in Pittsburg, Pa., 15 May, 1857. He studied in the public schools of Pittsburg, was graduated from the high-school of that place, and then entered Co- lumbia college law-school, from which he was graduated in 1879. He then Ijegan the practice of his profession in New York city. He took an iictive interest in the affairs of the National guard of the state, serving as 1st lieutenant in the 7th re^ment, and also entered into politics, serving as Republican member of the legislature in 181*7-'9. In the spring of 1899 he was appointed chairman of a committee to investigate municipal affairs of New York cit v under the charter of consolidation.

'''MEERSCHAERT. Theophile'''. R. C. bishop, b. in Uussigriii-s, near Uenai.x. llelgium, 24 Aug., 1847. In 1859 he commenced his studies at the college of Renaix, remaining until 1804, when he continued them at Audenardc until 18<>8. He then entered the American college of Louvain, where he was ordained a priest in 1871, but re- mained until 1872, in which year he arrived in New York. He went, in November, to the mis- sions of Jordan river. Wolf river, and Pearl river, and to Autumn .Springs in 1874. In 1875 he was stricken with yellow fever after attending the sick for eight weeks, and again in 1878 while attemlin^ the plague-stricken at Ocean .Springs and Biloxi. In 1879 he served at Hay St. Louis. In 1880 he was called to Natchez, and was made vicar-gen- eral in 1887. and on Bishop .lanssen's transfer to New Orleans was ap|>oiiitcil administrator of the diocese of Natcliez. In 1891 he was appointe<l vicar-apostolic of the Indian Territory, and was consecrated under the title of bishop of Sidymo- runs, arriving in the Indian Territory in Septem- ber. He has since resided at Guthrie, having ex- tensive and laborious missions in Indian and Oklahoma territories, es|)ccially among the Potta- watomics, Shawnees, and Sac and Fox Indians.

MEIKLEJUHN, George D., lawyer, b. at Weyauwega, Waupaca co.. Wis., 26 Aug., 1857. He was educated at Michigan university, Ann Arbor, and was graduated from the law depart- ment in 1880. He settled in Fullerton, Ncli., in 188, where he has since been engageil in the practice of law: was county attorney for Nance •connty three years ; was elected to the senate of the Nebraska legislature in 1884, and re-elected in 1886, Ijeing president of the senate during his second term. Mr. Meiklejohn was chairman of the Republican state convention in 1887-'H: wa.s lieuteiumt-governor of Nebraska in 188K-'90. and, by virtue of liis office, was presi<ling officer of the joint convention to canvass the election returns of 1891, in which an attempt was made to count out the ticket that was duly elected ; he declined a renomination for lieutenant-governor, and was elected to the 53d and 54th congress from the 3d congressional district of Nebraska. He declined renomination for congress, and was appointed as- sistant secretary of war in April, 1897.

MELBA, Helen Porter, singer, b. in Mel- bourne, Australia, 19 May, 1865. She made her first appearance in public in Melbourne when only six. tier parents did not wish her to liecome a professional singer, and it was not until her mar- riage with Capt. Armstrong in 1882 that she was able to attain her wish. In 1886 she appeared in concerts in London, but met with no [larticular success. After further study she again appeared in CJctober, 1887. as Gilda in " Rigoletto '*^ at the Theatre de la Monnaie, in Brussels. She then played Ophelia at the Paris grand opera-house, when a brilliant career wa.s predicted for her by the critics. Bemberg specially wrote "Elaine" for her. Sir Augustus Harris engaged her to ap- pear at Covent garden in " Lucia di Lammer- nioor." She sang subsequently with Jean de Reszke in Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette," and was warmly praised. Among the roles in which she appeared at Covent garden are Lucia, Lakuc, Elsa, Marguerite, and Esmeralda. Gounod personally instructed her in the role of Juliette and Mar- guerite. In January, 1891, she sang at St. Peters- burg with the brothers de Reszke, afterward sing- ing with much success in the principal capitals of . Europe. In 1892 she again appeared in Ijondon, and was then engaged in 1893 to make a tour of the United Slates with the brothers de Reszke. During this tour she estal)lished an enviable repu- tation among the lovers of music in this country. Her next appearance was in England at the Han- del festival in 1894. Her last appearance in the United .States was at the Metropolitan opera-house. New York city, during the opera sea.son of 1897 under the auspices of Walter Damrosch. Her greatest successes during this .sea.son were in "II Barbiere di .Siviglia " and " La Traviata."

MENARD, Pierre, lieutenant-governor of Illi- nois, b. in Quebec, Canada, in 1767; d. in Kaskas- kia. 111., in 1845. He removed to Kaskaskia about 1788, and Itecame a trader in furs and pelts with the Intlians, with all of whom he .sustained friendly relations. He was a U. S. district judge for many years, a memlHjr of the territorial legislature, and presiding officer of the council. On the admission of Illinois to the Union in 1818, he was chosen its first lieutenant-governor. The state constitution of that year provided that the governor and lieu- tenant-governor should be for thirty vears a citizen of the United States, but Col. Menard having been naturalized only two years before, an article was added to the constitution providing I hat any citizen of the United States that had resided in Illinois two years preceding the election should lie eligible to the office of lieutenant-governor. During his occupation of that post a series of laws were ado[ited which have to a great extent become the foundation of all sul)sc(iuent legislation. His offi- cial life ended with his term in 1822, and he sub- sequently devoted himself to his private affairs and to charily. A statue, the gift of Charles P. Chouteau, of St. Louis, was erected to his memory atSpringfield,Ill.. in January, 1888. — His daughter, Berenice, I), in 1801 ; d. in Kansas City, Alo., 20 Nov., ISHH, was the first white woman that lived in Kansas City, arrived in 1819 Auguste Chou- teau. She was a devout Roman Catholic and built the first church erected in Kansas City.

MENDOZA, Gumesindo, Mexican scientist, b. in Aculco, Jilotepcc, in 1829; d. in the city of Mexico, 6 Feb., 1886. Uis early education was at