Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/554

 534 WEBSTER WEED edition of 3,000 copies was published, in 2 vols. royal 8vo. In the interval several edi- tions of the dictionary, abridged to a greater or less degree, had been prepared either by Mr. Webster or members of his family. While preparing his great work, he removed his resi- dence to Amherst, Mass., and was one of the founders of Amherst college, and for several years president of its board of trustees. He also represented the town for several years in the legislature. In New Haven he had been repeatedly a member of the legislature of the state, and judge of one of the state courts. He returned to New Haven in 1822, and in 1823 received from Yale college the degree of LL. D. In the beginning of 1843 he pub- lished "A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects," and an elabo- rate treatise " On the supposed Change in the Temperature of Winter," which he had read before the Connecticut academy of sciences 44 years before. His last literary labor was the revision of the appendix to his dictionary, which he completed only a few days before his death. (See DICTIONARY, vol. vi., p. 95.) Of his " Elementary Spelling Book," in its various editions and revisions, more than 70,000,000 copies had been sold down to January, 1876. The annual sale of the dictionaries has been for some years over 800,000 copies. Besides the works named above, Dr. Webster published in early life a " History of the United States," which he revised about 1838 ; " Letters to a Young Gentleman commencing his Education" (8vo, New Haven, 1823); "Manual of Useful Studies" (New Haven, 1832); "The Prompt- er ;"and a "History of Animals." WEBSTER, Thomas, an English painter, born in London, March 20, 1800. He became a student of the royal academy in 1820, exhibited a portrait group in 1823, and in 1841 was elected an associate, and in 1846 an academi- cian. He is known by his pictures of children and of school life. Among the best of these are his " Smile " and " Frown," engraved for the art union in 1841, " Going to School " (1842), " See-Saw," and " Slide " (1849). The national collection contains his " Sickness and Health" (1843), "Dame's School " (1845), and " Village Choir " (1847). Among his other paintings are "The Peddler" (1844), "Good Night" (1846), "Dotheboys Hall" (1848), "School Playground" (1852), "The Race" (1855), "Hide and Seek" (1856), and "The Tempter" (1857). WEDDKRBIRN, Afenndfr, Baron Loughbo- rough and earl of Rosslyn, a British jurist, born in Edinburgh, Feb. 13, 1733, died in Berkshire, Jan. 3, 1805. He was admitted to the bar at the age of 19, in 1753 became a member of the Inner Temple, London, and in 1757 was called to the English bar and rapidly gained a high reputation. He obtained a seat in parliament, and on Jan. 26, 1771, was ap- pointed solicitor general in the ministry of Lord North, in which office he was conspic- uous for his defence of Lord Clive. In Jan- uary, 1774, when the petition of Massachusetts for the removal of Hutchinson and Oliver was laid before the privy council, Wedderburn de- fended those functionaries in a speech in which he made an insulting attack upon Franklin, the agent of the petitioners. He was a strong support to the ministry of Lord North during the revolutionary war. In 1778 he was made attorney general, and in 1780 chief justice of the court of common pleas, when he was raised to the peerage. In April, 1783, he assisted in forming the famous coalition ministry, in which he was appointed first commissioner of the great seal ; and after its dissolution he re- mained out of office until Jan. 27, 1793, when he became lord high chancellor under Mr. Pitt. On hia resignation of that office in 1801, he was created earl of Rosslyn. WEDGE. See MECHANICS, vol. xi., p. 328. WEDGWOOD, Josiah, an English potter, born in Burslem, Staffordshire, July 12, 1730, died at Etruria, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Jan. 8, 1795. He received but little education, and about the age of 10 worked at the wheel in his brother's pottery in Burslem. He estab- lished an independent business in 1759, entered upon the manufacture of ornamental pottery, and brought himself into notice by the produc- tion of a peculiar cream-colored ware known as " queen's ware." He next opened a ware- house in London, and produced numerous imi- tations of antique vases, medallions, &c. He made 50 copies of the Portland vase, sold at 50 guineas each, introduced many original and beautiful designs, including several by Flaxman, and experimented with various kinds of clay and coloring substances, raising British pottery to the position of a fine art. As early as 1771 he removed his factories to Etruria, a village erected by himself, where he built a handsome seat. He cultivated natural philosophy with great ability, and contributed papers to the " Transactions " of the royal society, of which he was a fellow. His life has been written by Eliza Meteyard (2 vols., London, 1865-'6). See also her " Memorials of Wedgwood " (new ed., 1875), and " Wedgwood Handbook " (1875). WEDNESDAY (Anglo-Saxon, Wednesday), the fourth day of the week, named from Woden (A. S.) or Odin, the principal god of Scandina- vian mythology. WEED, Thurtow. an American journalist, born at Cairo, Greene co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 1797. He learned printing in the office of Machy Cros- well at Oatskill. In the war of 1812 he served on the northern frontier as a private and as quartermaster sergeant. After becoming of age he established the "Agriculturist" at Nor- wich, Chenango co., N. Y., and during the next ten years edited various journals, the last being the "Anti-Masonic Enquirer," published in Rochester. During the anti-masonic excite- ment in New York in 1826-'7, he identified himself with the party opposed to the masons, and was twice elected by it to the lower house