Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/45

Rh laws that provided for observance of the Sabbath, laws that provided for observance of the Sabbath, received President-elect, then on his way to Washington, and the Prince of Wales, and presided over the great Union war meeting. He was president of the national commercial convention in Baltimore in 1871, in 1873 was a member of the last constitutional convention of Ohio, and in 1877 was elected governor as a Democrat. He was a member of the Disciples or Christian church, was president of the Ohio state missionary society from 1859 till 1869, succeeded Alexander Campbell as president of the general Christian missionary convention, and held office till 1875. Gov. Bishop was connected with many of the benevolent interests of his city and state, and gave largely of his means to the institutions of his church, and to educational and charitable enterprises.

BISPHAM, George Tucker, lawyer, b. in Philadelphia. Pa., 24 May, 1838. lie was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1858, adopted the profession of law, was admitted to the baroftheU..S.supreme court, and established a large and lucrative practice. lie is solicitor of the Girard trust company. Philadelphia savings fund society, Pennsylvania railway, and many other important corporations. Mr. liispham is professor of equity jurisprudence in the University of Pennsvlvania, and IS the author of "The Principles of Equity" (Philadelphia, 1874). He has e«lited James Hill on "Trustees" (18(i7); John Adams on "Equity" (1868): and Williain V. Kerr on " Ueeeiver»" (1872).

BISSELL, Edward Cone, clergyman, b. in Schoharie. N. Y., 2 March. 18:12. He was graduated at Amherst and at Union theological seminary, and was pastor of Congregational churches in Westhanipton. Mass.. in San Francisco. and in Winchesler. Mass. He then IxMame a missionary under the American iKiard in Austria, and since 1881 has been profes-sor of Hebrew in Hartford Theological seminary. During the civil war he raised and oramanded a com|iany in the !i'2d Massachusetts regiment, which served under Gen. Banks at Port Hudson. He is the author of " Historic Origin of the Bible" (New York. 187:1); "The Apocrypha of the New Testament," a revised translation, with introduction anil notes. which forms a volume of the (Jld Testament in the American haiige series (1880): and "The Pentateuch, its Origin and Stnicture: An F'xamination of Kecent Theories" (ISWi).

BISSELL, Willian Shannon, lawver, b.in Xew I-ondon. Oni'ida oo.. N. V., :!1 Dec. '1847. When five years old his parents removed to Muffalo, where he attended the public s<-hools : prepared for college at a private school in New Haven, and subsequently graduati-d from Yale. At the age of twenty-one he commenced the study of law with Lanlng, (Cleveland & Folsom in Buffalo; in 1872 formed a partnership with layman K. Bass. and about a year later. Grovcr Clevelaml being admiltwi. the firm name was changed to Bass. Cleveland & Bissell. Upon the removal of Lyman K. Bu-ss to Cnlonido and the elin-tion of Grover Cleveland as governor of New York, the Hrm was reorganized and for several years Ijorc the name of Bissell. Sicard & Qoodyear. The special character of his practice has lK>en that of counsel for corporations. He is a director in several railroad companies: always refused public office. but wrved as pnsidential elect ro-at-large in 1884. and »a< a delegate to several state conventions. In 18iM) Mr. Bisstdl was a member of a commission to projiose amendments to the judiciary article of the constitution of the state of New York : and was appointed postmaster-general. 6 March. 18«:i, in Mr. Cleveland's cabinet.

BISSHOPP, Cecil. British soldier, b. in London, England, 25 June, 1783; d. in Stamford, Canada, 11 July, 1813. He was the son of Sir Cecil Bisshopp,' afterward baron de la Zouche. The son entered the army at sixteen years of age, represented Newport, Isle of Wight, in parliament, and was attached to the British embassy at St. Petersburg, whence he returned to England in 1803. He then served in Flanders, Spain, and Portugal, came to Canada at the beginning of the second war between Great Britain and the United States, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, and was actively engaged on the Niagara frontier. In July, 1813. he planned an attack on Black Rock, near Buffalo, where the Americans had a dockyard and large storehouses. With about 300 men, before daylight on 11 July, he crossed the river in Iwats, surprised and took possession of the place, and priceeded to bum and plunder as rapidly as possible, setting fire to the navy-yard buildings and a schooner that lay at the wharf and carrying off a quantity of stores. But btffore he could accomplish all this Gen. Peter B. Porter collected a small force and attacked the invaders, and after an encounter of twenty minutes the British retreated. When their boats pushed off the Americans renewed their fire, fatally wounding Bisshopp.

BLACK, Frank Swett. governor, b. in Limington, York co.. Me., 8 March, 18.'>3. where his father, Jacob Black, was a farmer. After graduation at Dartmouth in 1875. he movc<l to Johnstown. N. Y., and studied law; lack of means, however, forced him to accept the position of olitor of " The Johnstown Journal." An editorial displeasing to the owner caused his dismissal; he then move<l to Troy, and became a reporter on "The Troy Whig," After a few months he became clerk in the registry department of the local post-ofiice, continuing the study of law all this time, and in 1879 he was admitted to the bar. He formed a partnership, but after a year retired and established his own office. He made a reputation as a lawyer of standing, with a good practice, taking no great interest in ilitics until 1894. In 1888 and in 1892 he had en a successful speaker during the presidential campaigns. In 1894 ho was nominated for congress by acclamation by the Itcpublicans of the 19th district, ami was electecl by a large majority. In Aug., 1890, he was n<>rninate<l governor by the Ronublican party, being successful at the election in November. and holding office during 1897-'8.

BLACK, John, Canadian clergyman, b. in Dumfries. S<'otland, 8 Jan., 1818: d. in Kildonan, Manitoba. 11 Vvh., 1882. He emigrated to this cfiuiitry with his imrents, was educated at Delaware aca<leniv. Delhi, N. Y., and studied theology at Knox college. Toronto. He was licensed to preach in the Presbyterian church in 1848, ordained in 1851, and the same year removed to the Red River wttlement, Manitoba, where he was the only Presbyterian clergyman till 1862. lie was first miMlerator of the presbytery of Manitoba in 1870. and declined the iniHleratorship of the general lussembly of Canada in 1K81. t^ueen's university gave him the degree of D. D.

BLACKSTON, Timothy Bailer, railway president. b. In Branford, Conn., 28 March, 1829. He entered the railway service as rodman on the survey of the New York and New Haven railway in 1847. finding employment on various roads, until he became. In 1801. president of the Joliel iind Chicago railway, and three years later president of the Chicago and Alton railway, in which office he continued for thirty-five years, when he resigned and retired to private life.