Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/280

236 SAENZ, Pena Luis (sah-enth), president Ar- gentine Republic, b. in Argentine, 87 Dec, 1824. lie studied at the University of Buenos Ayres, graduating in 1845. He acquired an extensive law practice, and in 1870 was elected senator of Buenos Ayres province. In 1873 was chosen rep- resentive to the national congress, and its presi- dent in 1874. The following year he was ap- pointed vice-governor of the province, and a senator again at the expiration of his term of office. Elected as a representative in 1880, he did accept the place of member in the supreme court of justice of Buenos Ayres province, of which he was afterward president, and later presi- dent of the national supreme court. In October, 1893, he became president of the republic.

SAINT-SIMON, Claude Anne, duke de, French soldier, b. in the castle of La Fave, near Kuflfer. 16 March, 1740: d. in Madrid, 3 Jan., 1819. He was a cousin of the noted author of the " Mc- moires" and of count de Saint-Simon, the re- former (q. v.). He studied in the school of artil- lery at Strasburg, served in Flanders, was in 1758 captain of the body-guard of King Stanis- las of Poland, and was promoted, 2 Jan., 1770, to brigadier-general. He was colonel of the Turenne regiment in 1779, and asked permission to go to this country with count de Roehambeau, but in- stead was sent, toward the close of 1779, with his regiment to Martinique, sustaining during the voyage three actions with Ijord Rodney. On 1 March, 1780, he entered the Spanish service as major-general and was sent to the United States with a division of 3,000 men to co-operate with count de Roehambeau. He fought during the campaign of 1780-'l in the south, received several wounds, and contributed to the capture of York- town, where he led one of the columns to the as- sault. He was deputy to the stales-general in 1789, emigrated to Spain in 1793, and, re-entering the Spanish army as lieutenant-general, fought against the French in 1794, being severely wounded while defending Truns, and in 1796 was promoted captain-general and governor of Castile. He de- fended Madrid against Napoleon in 1808, was im- prisoned at Besan(on till 1814, created a duke by king Ferdinand VII., and retired in 1817.

SALOMON, Louis Étienne Fé1icité, presi- dent of Hayti, b. in Aux Cayes in 1820; d. in Paris, 19 Oct., 1888. He was of pure African parentage, but of a wealthy family, and received an excellent education. In 1838 he entered the public service, and in 1843 joined the revolution against Boyer. He rose to the grade of colonel in the army, and in 1848 became minister of finance, foreign relations, instruction, and justice. After the proclamation of the empire he was created duke de St. Louis du Sud. and he became general- in-chief in 1855. On the fall of Soulouque in 1859, Salomon went to France and later to St. Thomas, whence he participated in the revolution- ary attempt of 1862, and was sentenced to death in his absence. In 1867 he was appointed by Sal- nave minister to England, France, and Siiain, but Pi-esident Nissage Saget dismissed him in 1870, forbidding his return to Hayti. and in 1873 he was again condemned to death in his aljsence as an instigator of the rebellion of Gonaives. He re- turned in 1876, and was again exiled in March, 1878, but in 1879 went again to Hayti and was elected president on 23 Oct., being chosen again in for another term of seven years. Although he was practically a dictator, his administration was beneficial to the country. Ilonest management of the finances was introduced, and the public credit was raised in such manner that the revenue increased and the balance due to the French govern- ment since 1825 was paid. A na- tional exhibition was held in 1881, the country joined the Postal union, and government bonds were stead- ily redeemed from the augmented revenue. Revolu- tionary attempts increased after his re-election, and the harsh measures that he employed to crush them, added to the general dissatisfaction, culminated in an insurrection on 4 Aug., 1888. Salomon was besieged in his palace by the rebel- lious garrison, and on 10 Aug. took refuge on board a Bril ish man-of-war. Thence he went to Santiago de Cuba, and by way of New York to Paris. He was a fine-looking man, six feet four inches tall, with jet-black skin and snow-white hair.

SAM, Tiresias Agustin Simon, Haytian sol- dier and statesman, b. in Cape Haytien in 1834. After he finished his studies he entered the mili- tary service, in which he attained prominence. He entered politics in July, 1879. when he took part in the revolt which compelled Gen. Boisron ('anal to withdraw from the presidency. He was then appointed a member of the provisional gov- ernment until Gen. Salomon was appointed presi- dent in October of the same year. During his administration Gen. Sam was in command of the district of Cape Haytien. Soon afterward he was elected a representative, and later became secre- tary of war and navy. When Gen. Salomon was deposed Gen. Sam retired to private life. Some years afterward President Hippolyte appointed him secretary of the army and navy. vV hen in 1896 President Hippolyte died suddeidy. and as in Hayti there is no vice-president, the election of president was referred to the national assembly, this body elected, by a two-thirds vote. Gen. Sara as president of the republic. He began, 15 May, 1896, his presidential term, which ends in May. 1903. Gen. Sam is an accomplished man, has travelled through Europe, and works earnestly for the advancement of his country.

SAMPSON, William Thomas. naval officer, b. in Palmyra, Wayne co., N. Y.. 9 Feb.. 1840. His father was a day laborer, who immigrated from the north of Ireland in 1836 and settled at Pal- myra, on the Erie canal. The boy was born on what is known as the Mormon Hill farm, the property, it is said, on which Joseph Smith made the excavations which resulted, according to his statements, in the finding of the golden plates of the book of Mormon. Young Sampson attended the local public schools, and in his spare moments