Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/301

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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the same year wrote a work on the French revolution of that period, in conjunction v/ith G. G. Foster. In 1852 he removed to Virginia, remaining five years, then went to New York, where he wrote the "Logan Grazier" and other poems, descriptive of life and character in that 'region. In 1859 he settled in New Jersey, and practiced med- icine many years. Politics engaged a share of his attention, and in 1863-64 he was mem- ber of the New Jersey legislature. William and Alary College (Williamsburg, Virginia) conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws in 1876. He wrote several novels, mostly pseudonymous, and more than twenty dramas, of which "The Mormons"' is the only one printed. He wrote "Ben Bolt," a popular song, which first appeared in the "New York Mirror," in 1843, ^"d the "Gallows-Goers," which had a large circu- !;.tion during the agitation of the question of capital punishment from 1845 to 1850. H is other publications are : "Walter W'oolfe," Philadelphia, 1842; "MDCCCXLIV, or the Power of the S. F.," a political satire; "Poems" (suppressed) ; "Ambrose Fecit, or the Peer and the Painter ;" "American Bal- lads ;" "Book of Battle Lyrics," and "Jacob Schuyler's Millions." He also wrote numer- ous pamphlets, and contributed lyrics and essays to various periodicals. He died in 1902,

Elliott, Wyatt M., born in Campbell coun- t_\, Virginia. February 25, 1823, son of Thomas Elliott and Elizabeth Bonduvant, his wife. When eight years old, he was taken to the home of his maternal uncle, Thomas M. Bondurant, in Buckingham county, and at the age of sixteen entered the \'irginia ^Military Institute, at its organiza-

tion, and was made captain of the first com- pany of cadets. He graduated in 1842, re- turned to Buckingham county, and taught school for two years, meantime reading law under Col. W. P. Bock. In 1846 he went to Richmond, where for twenty years he was connected with the "Whig" newspaper. He was chosen captain of the "Richmond Grays" in 1847, and which he commanded until the second year of the late war, an in- cident of this service being guard duty at Harper's Ferry, at the execution of John IJrown. During the war he retained a nomi- nal relation to the "Whig," but in 1862 re- signed his captaincy of the Grays and re- cruited a battalion of six companies (Fif- teenth Virginia), of which he was commis- sioned lieutenant-colonel. He commanded the same under Gen. Ewell until he was captured at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, and thence taken to Johnson's Island, being lib- erated by President Johnson in July follow- ing. Returning to Richmond, he resumed his connection with the "Whig," continuing until December, 1866, when he removed with his family to Appomattox county. He was a member of the house of delegates, 1871-73, and in 1875 was elected to the state senate. In 1884 he was made clerk of the United States circuit and district courts at Lynchburg.

McCaw, James Brown, was born in Rich- mond. \'irginia, July 12, 1823, and repre- sented a line of distinguished physicians. His grandfather, James Drew McCaw, was a nephew of the celebrated Dr. James Mc- Clurg (q. v.), who brought him up and sent him to the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1792. He settled in Rich- mond, where in 1799 he was pronounced