Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/103

AMES.AMES. force and eloquence of his speech, so electrified and entranced the assembly, that when he had finished, the Republicans at once moved an adjournment, fearing to put the question to a decision, lest the strong feelings aroused should render the members incapable of exercising their calm judgment. The state of Fisher Ames's health obliged him to retire to private life, at the close of his fourth term in Congress. For a time he practised law, and then devoted his time to the management of his farm and fruitery. He continued to contribute essays and articles on various topics, which were then agitating the public mind, to the newspapers. The relation of French politics to those of America was one of the questions which called forth some of his most brilliant productions. When Governor Sumner was in office Mr. Ames accepted a seat in the council of the commonwealth, and delivered a eulogy on Washington, before the Massachusetts legislature. He was chosen president of Harvard college in 1804, but this honor he was obliged to decline on account of his ill health. His writing was epigrammatic and witty, his style graceful and refined; he was a brilliant conversationalist and a delightful correspondent. His writings were collected and published, with a memoir by the Rev. J. T. Kirkland, in 1809; and in 1854, his son, Seth Ames, issued a more complete edition in two volumes, and several of his congressional speeches were published by a grandson in 1891. He died in Dedham, Mass., July 4, 1808. AMES, Frederick Lothrop, capitalist, was born in Easton, Mass., June 8, 1835, the only son of Oliver and Sarah (Lothrop) Ames, his mother being a sister of George Van Ness Lothrop, United States minister to Russia. Frederick prepared for college at Phillips Exeter academy, and was graduated from Harvard university in 1854. He became a member of the firm of Oliver Ames & Sons in 1863, and its treasurer in 1876, but he had already engaged in extensive enterprises on his own account, especially in railroads; and he became one of the ablest advisers and directors in such enterprises, finally holding directorships in about threescore railroad companies. His business energies extended to many other fields, making him president of two banks and director in leading telegraph, trust and other companies. He was courteous and dignified, a man conversant with, and interested in the great questions of the day, with decided literary and artistic tastes. He was devoted to the welfare of Harvard university, giving large sums of money to the Arnold arboretum and the botanical department, serving as fellow and trustee of the university, and as a loyal son was devising liberal things for her benefit, the fulfilment of which only his death prevented. He was interested in horticulture, owned extensive green-houses at North Easton, and his collection of orchids was unsurpassed in variety, value and condition. His interest in architecture exercised a marked influence on the public and private buildings in Boston. At North Easton he directed the erection of the Ames free library building, built at his own expense; the railroad station, and his gate lodge, of moss-covered, irregular-shaped stones, all three being Richardson's designs. He was a liberal patron of fine arts, and possessed superb collections of paintings, tapestries, jades and crystals. In politics Mr. Ames was a Republican. He was once elected to the state senate, but cherishing no political aspirations his tastes disinclined him to accept any further office. His charities were large, and he not only gave freely of his money, but of his time and influence. He was president of the home for incurables, a trustee of the children's hospital, of the Massachusetts general hospital, and of the McLean insane asylum, and was constant and faithful in performing his duties to these institutions. His death occurred Sept. 13, 1893. AMES, James Barr, educator, was born in Boston, Mass., June 22, 1846; son of Samuel T. and Mary H. (Barr) Ames; and grandson of James Barr, M.D. He was graduated from Harvard A.B. in 1868, LL.B. 1872, and taught school in Boston, Mass., 1868-69. He was a tutor in French and German at Harvard, 1871-72; instructor in history, 1872-73; assistant professor of law, 1873-77; professor of law, 1877-79; Bussey professor of law from 1879, and dean of Harvard law school from 1895. He was married, June 29, 1880, to Sarah Russell. He received the degree LL.D. from the University of the City of New York and the University of Wisconsin in 1898, and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1899. He compiled legal collections and contributed to the Harvard Law Review. AMES, Joseph, artist, was born in Roxbury, N. H., July 16, 1816. During his boyhood and youth he painted portraits, gaining a local reputation, and later went to Boston, Mass., where he established a studio. He went abroad to pursue his studies, working principally in Rome, where he painted a portrait of Pius IX, which attracted