Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/282

 PROMIXEXT PERSON'S

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Fitzhugh, George, son of Dr. George Fitz- hugh. of King George county, and his wife, Lucy Stuart, \va-' born in Prince William county, X'irginia. July 2. 1807, died in Hunts- ville. Walker county, Texas, July 30, 18S1. He was largely self taught, the only edu- cation he received as a child being gained in what were known as the "field schools" of his native county. That the amount of knowledge thus acquired was probably not great may be inferred from the fact that Fitzhugh, when only nine years old, was frequently left in sole charge of the other pupils during the extended absence of the teacher. In spite of these early disadvan- tages he succeeded in securing a good edu- cation, studied law and practiced his pro- fession for many years in Port Royal, Vir- ginia, making a specialty of criminal cases. During President Buchanan's administra- tion Mr. Fitzhugh was employed in the office of Attorney-General Black, in the land claim department. About this time he made his only visit to the northern states, lectur- ing in Boston, and visiting his relative by marriage. Gerrit Smith. At the house of the latter he met Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe. These acquaintanceships derive their significance from his peculiar political opinions. Mr. Fitzhugh was a frequent con- tributor to the press, writing for the "New York Day Book,*' ** Richmond Examiner." periodicals. He was **an eccentric and ex- treme thinker," claiming that slavery is the natural and rightful condition of society, which when not founded on human servi- tude, tends to cannibalism. Mr. Fitzhugh published *'Sociology for the South, or the Failure of Free Society," (Richmond, 1S54),
 * 'De Bow's Review," and other journals and

and "Cannibals All, or Slaves without Mas- ters,' (1856).

Maupin, Socrates, born in Albemarle county, Virginia, November 12, 1808, a de- scendant of Gabriel Maupin, who came to Virginia in the French Huguenot emigration in 1700; after preparatory studies, he ma- triculated at Washington College, Lexing- ton, Virginia, from which institution he was graduated in 1828, and then entered the medical department of the University of \'irginia, from which he was graduated in the class of 1830, after which he pursued a general literary and scientific course in the sr.me university, receiving the degree of Master of Arts in 1833: his first position was as professor of ancient languages and mathematics at Hampden-Sidney College, which he filled for two years, from 1833 to 1835, *^"d ^^^^ became principal of Rich- mond Academy, serving as such until 1838; then established a private school which he conducted until 1853. ^ period of fifteen years, and he was also one of the founders 01 the Richmond Medical School, in 1838, serving therein in the capacity of professor of chemistry and later as dean: was ap- pointed professor of chemistry and phar- macy in the University of Virginia, in 1853, and became chairman of the faculty the fol- lowing year, continuing as such until his death, which occurred in Lynchburg, Vir- ginia. October 19, 187 1 : he was an active member and promoter of the \'irginia His- torical Society.

Radford, William, was born at Fincastle, \*irginia. March i, 1808.. son of Harriet Kennerly Radford and stepson of Gen. Wil- liam Clark (q. v.). He was warranted mid-

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