Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/259

MacNeven  that his examination was garbled, and subsequently published an authentic version of it. The United States had at first been chosen as the place of his banishment, but, owing to the difficulties raised by Rufus King, United States minister at London, whom MacNeven never forgave for his interference (, Pieces of Irish Hist., Introduction), he and his fellow-prisoners were, in March 1799, removed to Fort George in Scotland. During his detention he was treated with consideration by the governor, and amused himself by teaching French to his friend Emmet's children.

He was liberated at the treaty of Amiens in 1802, and on 4 July landed at Ouxhaven, at the mouth of the Elbe. He spent the summer and autumn in making a tour on foot through Switzerland, and after visiting his relations in Bohemia proceeded in the following year to Paris. In 1803 or 1804 he entered the French army as captain in the Irish brigade, but being disappointed in his expectation of an invasion of Ireland, and feeling no inclination for a military life, he resigned his commission, and, sailing from Bordeaux, landed at New York on 4 July 1805. He immediately resumed the practice of his profession, and in 1808 was appointed professor of midwifery in the College of rhvsicians and Surgeons. He exchanged this chair for that of chemistry in 1811, and in 1812 he was appointed resident physician. To chemistry he added materia medica from 1816 to 1820. In 1826 he resigned his professorship to assist in the establishment of the Duane Street school, where he lectured on materia medica till the school was discontinued in 1830. He was appointed hospital inspector during the cholera epidemic in 1832, and in 1840 was reappointed resident physician. Meanwhile he took a warm interest in Irish affairs, and as the founder in 1816 of a free labour office in Nassau Street for Irish emigrants, and the president in 1828-9 of the 'Friends of Ireland' society, he laboured to promote the welfare of his countrymen in America. He belonged to the democratic party, and in 1834 he was grossly abused by his partisans in the public press for denouncing President Jackson's removal of the deposits from the United States Bank as 'unwise and unstatesmanlike.' The last time he addressed a public meeting was on St. Patrick's day 1837, when he drew an interesting comparison between the constitutional agitation of O'Connell and the tactics of the United Irishmen. He had a severe illness in 1838, and in April 1839 he retired from practice. He died, as he had lived, a sincere Roman catholic, on 12 July 1841, at the residence of his son-in-law, Thomas Addis Emmet [q. v.], and after an imposing funeral service in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, was buried at Bowery Bay, Long Island, in the burial-ground of the flicker family.

MacNeven married, on 15 June 1810, Mrs. Jane Margaret Tom, widow of John Tom, merchant, of New York, and daughter of Samuel Kicker of New Town, Long Island, by whom he had several children. MacNeven was a good classical scholar and a proficient in modern languages. An engraved portrait, from a drawing by Herbert (United Irishmen, 2nd series), represents him as handsome and intelligent.

In addition to numerous contributions to the public press MacNeven published: 1. 'A Translation of A. F. von Geissau's Essay on the Construction of a Mine Auger,' London, 1788. 2. 'A Ramble through Switzerland in. . . 1802,' Dublin, 1802. 3. 'Pieces of Irish History,' New York, 1807. 4. 'An Exposition of the Atomic Theory,' New York, 1820. He also edited W. T. Brande's 'Manual of Chemistry,' New York, 1829.

 MACNICOL, DONALD (1735–1802), presbyterian divine and author, born in 1736, was nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle, who introduced Sir Walter Scott to the highlands (, Life of Scott, p. 38). He studied at the university of St. Andrews, where he graduated in 1756. In 1763 he was appointed parish minister of Saddell, Argyllshire, and was in 1766 transferred to Lismore. He married in 1771 and had two children. He died at Lismore on 28 March 1802.

His 'Remarks on Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey to the Hebrides,' London, 1779, was a vigorous defence of the highlands against Johnson's attack, and caused Johnson to 'growl hideously.' He wrote the article on Lismore in Sinclair's 'Statistical Account of Scotland,' vol. i.

 MACNISH, ROBERT (1802–1837), author and physician, was born in Glasgow on 15 Feb. 1802. Both his father and grand-father were medical men, and Macnish followed the hereditary profession. Having obtained the degree of magister chirurgin from the university of Glasgow at the early 