Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/47

Rh lie schools, at the academy at Fall River, and the high-school at New Orleans. After leavine school, he was engaged for a year in his stepfather’s counting-room in New Orleans, and then removed to Boston, and entered as a clerk in the house of Beebe, Morgan & Co. In 18(Hi he became a member of the commission firm of J. S. and K. Wright & Co., and subsequently removed to New York, to take charge of the business of the firm in that city. In 1881 the name of the firm was changed to Bliss, Faby & Co. He was a member of the Pan-American conference, and president of the Protective tariff league. He was chairman of the Republican slate committees of New York in 18j<7-'8. and treasurer of the national Republican committees in ltSd2-'0. He declined to be a candidate for the nomination for governor of New York in 1885, or to have his name presented to the convention for that place in 1891. He was chairman of the busi- ness men's committee of New York city in the in- terest of the nomination of ex-President Arthur for president in 1884, and chairman of what was known as the committee of thirty in 1893. Mr. Bliss was appointed secretary of the interior by President McKinley, 5 March, 1897. He resigned in December, 181(8, returning to New York, and was succeeuring the In-it year of the war Col. HIiss commanded a brigade in Grant's Virginia campaign. He liecame a briga- dier-general in 189.5, and was in command of the de|tartnient of Texas for two years. In May, 1807, he was advanced to major-general, and retireil at bis own request, after more than forty years of continuous and faithful service.

'''BLODGETT. Henry Williams'''. jurist, b. in Amherst, .Mass., 21 July, 1821. His parents re- moved to niinois alMiut 18:M. When seventeen years of age Henry attended the Amherst acad- emy one year, whence he returned to Illinois and engage)) in teaching and sulisequently in land- survryinjr until twenty-one years of age. He stu<lii'd law in Chicago with Jonathan Y. Scam- mon and Norman U. Judd, was admilteil to the bar in 1845, and began practice in Waukegan. Ill., where ho still resides. In 1844 ho voted the Anti-slavery ticket, and he has since lieen an adherent of the Antislavery and Kepublican parties. In 18.52 he was electml to the general assembly of Illinois, being the first avowed antislavery member that ever occupied a seat in that IxmIv, and in the following year was elected to the state s<-nate. .s a legislator he was one of the ablest and most useful, and was largely instrumental in shaping the legislation of the commonwealth and in promoting the development of the resources of Illinois. In 1855 and for several years subsequently he was associated with the legal department of the Chicago and Northwestern railway, of which he was one of the projectors. He was the pioneer in the buildinir of the Chicago and Milwauki-e railroad, and was identified with it in the capm-ities of attorney, director, and president. Later he was solicitor of the Michigan S<iulhem. Fort Wayne. Kock Island, and Northwclern ronils, and he retired when the busi- ness reached such pro(iortions that it was impos- sible for one man to attend to it. In 1870 he was appointed by President Grant a judge of the U. S. district court for the northern district of Illinois, which ollice he resigned in 1892, and in the fol- lowing year he served as a member of the impor- tant Bering sea commission which met in Paris.

'''BLODGETT. Rufus''', senator, b. in Dorchester, N. H., 9 Oct., 1834. He studied in local schools and academies, and at the age of eighteen was ap- prenticed to the Amoskeag locomotive works, at Jianchester, N. H., where he learned the trade of a machinist. In 1866 he removed to New Jersey and engaged in the railroad business. From 1874 till 1884 he was superintendent of the New Jersey southern railroad, and in the latter year was ap- pointed sucrintendent of the New York and Ijong Branch railroad, which place he still holds. Senator Blodgcit is also president of the Long Branch city bank. He was a member of the New Jersey legislature in 1878-'80, and was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1880. !n 1887 he was elected as a Deniocnit to the U. S. senate, and was succeetled by James Smith, Jr., who took his seat in March. 1803.

BLOOMFIELD, Sir Thomas, Bart., British soldier, b. in Kngland, 16 June, 1744: d. in Kent, England. 24 Aug.. 1822. He was educated at the Royal military academy in Wofilwicli. where he was appointed a cadet in 1758. and early obtained his commission in the army. His first service was at the bombanlinent of Havre de Grace, and later he took part in the blockade of France. In 1762 he went to the West Indies, and was present at the capture of Martinique and Havana, and later at that of Pensacola and Mile. After various services he returned to England. and in 1771 became aide-de-camp of the ma.>iter-general of ordnance, which place he continued to hold until 1776, when he was ordered to Canada. The appointment of major of brigade was tendered him on his arrival in America, and he was employed in the constniction of floating lialteries on the I^ake-s. He returned to Kngland in November, 1770, but, having constructed a gun anil carriage suitable for Imth land and water service, he went again to Canada early in 1777, and served under (len. John Burgoyne until he was wounded in the Saratoga campaign of 1777. After his recovery he returned to Kngland in 1779. and resumed his duties as aide-de-camp to I^>«1 Townshend. In 1780 he WHS app<iinted inspector of artillery, which post, with the inspectorship of the royal foundry, ne held until his iieath. His last and most important military service was at the siege <pf Copenhagen in 1807, where he commanded the British and German artillery under the I-^rl of Cat heart. He was rewarded with the thanks of parliament. and was made a baronet. He attained the rank of general in the British army.

BLUE, Victor, naval officer. b. in North Carolina. Dec. IWJo, and appointed to the naval academy, Sept.. 1883. lie served as assistant engineer from 1889 to 1892, and was appointed ensign. 12 Dec.. 1892. He served on the "Alliatice" and the "Thetis." and was assigned to duty at the naval academy. 2H S«'iit.. 1896. During the war with Spain in 1H98 he was ordered to the gunltoat "Suwanee"; <m Saturday. 11 June, he landed before Santintio and proceeded with guides to the hills overlooking the citv and harbor, where he distinctly saw and Ifxateii the Spanish fleet in the harlmr; he travelled about seventy-two miles through the enemy's coimtry. and his report dispelled the last lingering doubt there mav have been as to the presence of Admiral Cervera s fleet