Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/226

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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formed a medical society at Lexington, whose organization and code of ethics are said to have formed the basis of the medical associations now existing in America. In 1790 he advocated the gradual emancipation of slaves in Kentucky. He was a contrib- utor of various papers to philosophical soci- eties and medical journals. He died near Huntsville, Alabama, January 12, 1830.

Edwards, Benjamin, born in Stafford county. \'irginia. He obtained a common school education, and became a planter and merchant in Maryland. He was a member of the state convention that ratified the Fed- eral constitution; a member of the state general assembly ; and filled the unexpired term of Uriah Forrest in Congress, 1794-95. William Wirt was a tutor in his family, and was aided by him to an education. He died in Stafford county, Virginia, November 13, 1826.

Macaulay, Alexander, Jr., son of Alex- ander Macaulay and Elizabeth Jerdone, his wife, was born at Yorktown, Virginia, Feb- ruary 20, 1787. Being of an adventurous turn he visited Columbia in 181 1 and took part in its struggle for independence. He captured a Spanish camp at Popayan and was made lieutenant-colonel in the army of the patriots. At Pasto an armistice was patched up, and on his way back to Popa- yan he was treacherously attacked near Cotambuco and taken prisoner. By an order of the Spanish president. Don Torribes Mon- tes. he was executed in the city of Pasto in the month of January, or the beginning of February, 1813. A writer in the Washing- ton Intelligencer," in 1816. states that Ma- caulay was the idol of the people of Vene- zuela and New Grenada, and his name was

hung by the side of Doiivar in golden let- ters, in the saloon of the Cabildo of Popa- yan. When taken out to execution he ad- vanced before his fellow prisoners and said to them, "Let me be the first to receive death, in order that I may show my fellow patriots how a republican can die."

Russell, William, born in Culpeper county, 1758, died in Fayette county, Ken- tucky, July 3, 1825. He went with his father to join Daniel Boone on the frontier. He v/as a lieutenant in the revolution; was at King's Mountain, where he was the first to reach the summit, and received a sword from the enemy. As captain he served against the Cherokees and effected a treaty with them. He went to Kentucky at the end of the war, and commanded the ad- vance in movements against the Indians, under Wayne, commanding a regiment of Kentucky volunteers. He was in the Vir- ginia legislature which separated Kentucky from the parent state; on organization of the Kentucky government he was sent to its legislature, serving until 1808, when President Madison made him colonel of the Seventh United States Infantry. He suc- ceeded Gen. William H. Harrison in com- mand of the Indiana, Illinois and Missouri frontiers in 181 1, and commanded an expe- dition against the Peoria Indians, 1812. He was in the Virginia legislature in 1823, and declined a nomination for governor. He was son of William Russell, lieutenant-colo- nel of the Culpeper militia in 1754.

Wickham, John, born in Southold, Long Island, New York, June 6, 1763. He was intended for the army, but after studying at the military academy at Arras, France, he returned home and settled in Williamsburg,

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