Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/132

APPLETON.APPLETON. Exeter academy and was graduated at Harvard college in 1813. President Monroe appointed him secretary of the legation at Brazil, and later he represented the United States at Madrid, Stockholm and Naples as chargé d'affaires. He negotiated a treaty with Sweden which was made the basis of subsequent relations between the two governments. He was for a time U. S. chargé d'affaires at Naples. He resided chiefly in France, his father having left him a large property in that country. He died at Rennes, France, March 4, 1865. APPLETON, Nathan, manufacturer, was born in New Ipswich, N. H., Oct. 6, 1779, son of Isaac and Mary (Adams) Appleton. He received an ordinary education, studied for a time at Dartmouth, but left college to become a clerk in the importing house of his brother Samuel, who admitted him to partnership on the attainment of his majority. In association with other prominent business men, he established the Waltham cotton mills in 1813. where he introduced the first power loom used in the United States. Later they purchased water privileges at Pawtucket Falls, founded the Merrimac manufacturing works, and formed the nucleus of a manufacturing centre, which in 1821 became the city of Lowell, Mass. He was also instrumental in founding the Hamilton mills. In 1815 he was elected to the state legislature, where he served several terms. In 1830, he was elected a representative in the 22d Congress, and was again elected in 1840 to the 28th Congress. He was a member of the Massachusetts historical society, and of the academy of Science and Arts. He published "Remarks on Currency and Banking" (1858); and several essays and speeches on kindred subjects, as well as an account of the origin of Lowell and the growth of the cotton industry. He was noted for his benevolence, which his great wealth gave him ample means to indulge. An interesting account of his life has been written by Robert C. Winthrop. He died July 14, 1861. APPLETON, Samuel, philanthropist, was born at New Ipswich. N. H., June 22, 1766, son of Isaac and Mary (Adams) Appleton. As one of the twelve children of a farmer not over well-to-do, he was compelled to begin work at an early age, and had little opportunity for education. But so well did he employ his leisure moments, that at the age of seventeen he taught the village school. When twenty years of age he set out for Maine, where, in the woods, two miles from any dwelling, he cleared some land and built a hut. He carried all his implements and provisions to his cabin on his back over a road that he had blazed out for himself. Here for two years he lived alone. The logs he cut in Maine woods brought him money enough to open a store in New Ipswich, and he prospered so well that in 1794 he removed to Boston, where he engaged in the importing business. In 1813, in connection with his brother Nathan, Francis C. Lowell, Patrick T. Jackson, Paul Moody and others, he established cotton mills at Waltham and Pawtucket Falls. In 1823 he retired from business, and thenceforth devoted his entire income to benevolent uses. At his death nearly one-half of his great estate, over two hundred thousand dollars, was bequeathed to different charitable objects. He died in Boston July 12, 1853. APPLETON, Thomas Gold, author, was born in Boston, Mass., March 31, 1812, son of Nathan and Maria (Gold) Appleton. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1831, after which he spent many years in foreign travel. He was a noted connoisseur and a liberal patron of the arts, his gifts to the Boston and Cambridge museums and the Boston public library being especially munificent. His water-color sketches of scenes on the river Nile prove him an artist of talent, while his writings, in both prose and verse, are characterized by a graceful ease and elegance of style that lends a charm even to their charming subjects. A list of his publications includes: "A Sheaf of Papers" (1874); "A Nile Journal," illustrated by Engene Benson (1876); "Syrian Sunshine" (1877); "Windfalls" (1878); and "Chequer Work," a volume of tales and essays (1879). His "Life and Letters," prepared by Susan Hale, was published in 1885. He died in New York, April 17, 1884. APPLETON, William, representative, was born at Brookfield, Mass., Nov. 16, 1786, son of Joseph Appleton, a clergyman. His early mercantile training was acquired in a country store. He went to Boston in 1807, where he engaged in commercial business and accumulated a large fortune. From 1832 to 1836 he was president of the United States branch bank, and of the Provident institution for savings. He held the position of president of the Massachusetts general hospital and was prominent in other philanthropic enterprises. By his will he left the sum of $30,000 to the Massachusetts hospital, also liberal legacies to similar institutions. He was elected a representative to the 32d Congress in 1850 on the Whig ticket, and was re-elected to the 33d Congress. He was also a member of the special session of the 37th Congress called in July, 1861, and resigned his seat in August, 1861. He died Feb. 20, 1862. APPLETON, William Henry, publisher, was born in Haverhill, Mass., Jan. 27, 1814, eldest son of Daniel and Hannah (Adams) Appleton. He was educated in the public schools of Haverhill, and removed to New York in 1825. He became a clerk in his father's store in 1830, was made head of the book department, and in 1835 went to