Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/130

APPLETON.APPLETON. published by the Appletons comprises school text-books, medical and scientific works. Spanish books for the Central and Southern American trade, the literature concerning the civil war, poems, novels; covers, in fact, the whole range of literature. The works of Darwin, Huxley, Spencer, and Tyndall were first printed in America by this firm under royalty agreement with the authors. Owing to the theological prejudices of the time, the publication of these books brought odium upon the Appletons. They were also the first to produce in New York the works of Mme. Muhlbach, one of the most popular novels published by the house being her "Joseph II. and His Court," the sale of which was rivalled by Disraeli's "Lothair," of which eighty thousand copies were sold. Among the firm's illustrated publications are: "Picturesque America," "Picturesque Europe," "Picturesque Palestine," and "The Art of the "World." In the selection of names for the Hall of Fame, New York university, October, 1900. Mr. Appleton received seven votes for a place. He died in New York city, March 27, 1849. APPLETON, Daniel Sidney, publisher, was born in Boston, Mass., April 9, 1824, fourth son of Daniel and Hannah (Adams) Appleton. In 1843 he was graduated at Yale college, studied one year in the Yale law school, and entered his father's business. He acted as manager of the London branch until 1849, when he was recalled to the United States by the illness of his father, on whose death he was admitted to partnership and assumed direction of the mechanical departments of the house, acting also as its financial adviser. Failing health caused him to sever his connection with the firm some years before his death, though he continued to hold an advisory interest. He was a member of the Union, the Century, the University, and the New York yacht clubs, and a director in several financial institutions. He died Nov. 13. 1890. APPLETON, Francis H., agriculturist, was born in Boston, Mass., June 17, 1847. His family removed to Salem while he was still an infant, and he was there reared and educated, his home being with his maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Silsbee, an East India merchant. His paternal grandfather was William Appleton of Boston. Mr. Appleton entered St. Paul's school at Concord, N. H., in 1859, was graduated from Harvard college in 1869, and becoming interested in agriculture settled himself at Peabody, Mass., where he cultivated an extensive farm. He was reporter on agriculture for the Massachusetts commissioners at the Vienna exposition in 1873, and from 1873 to 1875 was curator at the Bussey institute. He became a trustee of the Peabody institute, of the Massachusetts society for promoting agriculture, and of the Massachusetts agricultural college, and president of the Essex county agricultural society; a member of the local farmers' club, of the state board of agriculture, of the board of control of the state experiment station, an active member of the Massachusetts horticultural society, of which he was vice-president, and secretary of the Bay State agricultural society. In 1887 he was elected secretary of the state board of agriculture, but declined the office. He represented the town of Peabody in the lower house of the state legislature of 1891 and 1892, and in the latter year was a delegate to the national Republican convention. In 1896, he became president of the New England agricultural society, and in the same year was appointed inspector of rifle practice by Governor Wolcott. APPLETON, George Swett, publisher, was born at Andover, Mass., Aug. 11, 1821, third son of Daniel and Hannah (Adams) Appleton. He attended Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and later went to Europe, where he studied for four years at the University of Leipsic, Germany, after which he travelled, becoming proficient in the Italian, German and French languages. He was a connoisseur of painting and accumulated a fine collection of masterpieces of art. Upon his return to America he was for several years engaged in the book publishing business in Philadelphia. In 1849 he returned to New York and was admitted to partnership with his brothers in the firm of D. Appleton & Co. His eminent attainments as a scholar and connoisseur of art were of great service to the firm; of which, in fact, he was the literary counselor. He instituted and carried on the monthly issue of Appleton's Art Journal for many years; developed the resources of the house for publishing foreign classics in the original and in English, and text-books to facilitate the study of foreign languages; and planned the Popular Science monthly. Mr. Appleton died at his home in Riverdale, on the Hudson, July 7, 1878. APPLETON, James, temperance reformer, was born at Ipswich, Mass., Feb. 14, 1785, son of Samuel and Mary (White) Appleton. He was prominent in public affairs, being elected when quite young to the Massachusetts legislature. He held the rank of colonel in the Massachusetts militia during the war with Great Britain, at the close of which he was appointed brigadier-general. He then removed to Portland, Me., and in 1836 was elected to the Maine legislature, where he served one term, and later was an unsuccessful candidate for governor. His speeches on total abstinence, and on the abolition of slavery were able and influential. In 1853 he returned to his native town, where he died Aug. 25, 1862.