Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/252

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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line between Georgia and Florida, and in 1^35 was appointed one of the first com- missioners under the Cherokee treaty by President Jackson ; he served as a member of the first board of public works of Georgia, and as state surveyor laid out nearly all the early lines of railway in Georgia; he was a delegate to the southern commercial con- vention in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1858; his death occurred in Athens, Georgia, De- cember 28, 1870.

Nicholson, John B., was born in Rich- mond, Virginia, in 1783. He was appointed a midshipman in the United States navy, July 4, 1800; was promoted lieutenant May 20, 181 2, and was fourth lieutenant on the frigate United States, when that vessel cap- tured the British frigate Macedonian, near the Island of Madeira, October 25, 181 2. He was first lieutenant of the Peacock, under Captain Warrington, in the engagement with the brig Epervier, April 29, 18 14, and was given command of the captured Eper- vier, taking her safely into port. He com- manded the brig Flambeau, under Commo- dore Decatur, on the declaration of war with the Barbary powers, February 23, 181 5. He was promoted commander, March 5, 1817; captain, April 24, 1828, and was sub- sequently commissioned a commodore. He d«ed in Washington, D. C, November 9, 1846.

Massie, Thomas, son of Major Thomas Massie and Sarah Cocke, his wife, was born ill 1783; chose medicine as his profession; studied under James Drew McCaw, of Rich- mond : graduated in Philadelphia ; went - abroad and studied in the schools of Edin- burgh. London and Paris; practiced in Chillicothe, Ohio, where his father and rela-

tives, Gen. Nathaniel Massie and Henry Massie, owned large landed interests; re- turned to X'irginia; was surgeon in the war of 1812; member of the house of delegates, 1824-1827 and 1829-30; member of the Vir- ginia convention of 1829-30; a trustee of Washington College; died at "Blue Rock," Nelson county, Virginia, May 7, 1864 — ^**a most polished, literary and interesting man."

Gushing, Jonathan Peter, born in Roches- ter, New Hampshire, March 12, 1783. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1817, and at once came south, and while in Rich- mond agreed to temporarily take the place of a sick tutor at Hampden-Sidney College. He was soon made a professor, and when Dr. Hoge died in 1820 he succeeded him in the presidency. With his accession ended the formative period of the institution, which now began its rapid growth into the proper functions and domain of a college. He secured an endowment, and built the present college edifice and the president's residence. He graduated an unusually large number of men who became famous. He ^ became vice-president of the Virginia His- torical and Philosophical Society at its in- corporation in 1831, with Chief Justice Mar- shall as president. Dr. Cushings health was shattered by an accidental discharge from an electric battery, while he was ex- perimenting before his class. He died April 25. 1835.

Bankhead, James, was born in Virginia. 1783, son of James Bankhead, a revolution- ary officer. His tastes pointed to a military life and he joined the army as captain of the Fifth Infantry, June 18. 1808, and rose by successive steps to the rank of lieutenant- colonel of the Third Artillery, April 26,

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