Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/160

ATKINSON.ATLEE. ATKINSON, Thomas, third bishop of North Carolina and 58th in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Dinwiddie county, Va., Aug. 6, 1807. He was educated at Yale and afterwards at Hampden-Sidney college in Virginia, where he was graduated in 1825. He studied law and practised for nine years, when he turned to the church, pursued his theological course, and was admitted to the diaconate, Nov. 18, 1836. He was consecrated to the priesthood in St. Paul's, Norfolk, Va., May 7, 1837, where he served for a short time as assistant minister, and for a period of two years as rector. His next charge, 1839-1843, was St. Paul's, Lynchburg. In 1843 he became rector of St. Peters, Baltimore, and in 1852 rector of Grace Church in the same place. Here Dr. Atkinson remained barely a year, being elected to the episcopal office in 1853. He was consecrated bishop of North Carolina at St. John's chapel. New York, Oct. 17, 1853. During the civil war Bishop Atkinson took an active part in the measures adopted to establish the Episcopal church in the confederate states, but when reconstruction took place he was one of two southern bishops who took their seats in the general convention of 1865. In December, 1873, Rt. Rev. Theodore Benedict Lyman was given to the venerable prelate as assistant. In 1846, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Trinity college; in 1863 the University of North Carolina conferred upon him the Doctorate of Laws, and in 1867, on the occasion of his visit to England to attend the Lambeth conference, he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from the university of Cambridge, England. The life of Bishop Atkinson was one of devout consecration to the charges he had assumed. He was a preacher of great eloquence. His published works were sermons on special occasions, lectures, charges, etc., a charge on "Sacramental Confession," and a pamphlet in reply to the criticism of the Roman Catholic bishop of Richmond on the above charge. He died at Wilmington, N. C., Jan. 4, 1881. ATKINSON, William Parsons, educator, was born in Boston, Aug. 12, 1820. He was graduated from Harvard college in 1838, and soon after his graduation began to teach. He was appointed professor of English and history by the Massachusetts institute of technology at its organization in 1868, becoming sole instructor in English studies. As a teacher he was very successful, being by nature and education peculiarly adapted to the profession. He was a fellow of the American academy, and editor of the Massachusetts Teacher. In 1889 he tendered his resignation to the institute of technology, and in accepting it the executive committee expressed their deep regret and their appreciation of his services. He delivered many able lectures before literary societies, his last course consisting of five lectures before the young men's Christian union, Boston, on the "Boyhood of Famous Authors." He wrote many valuable works, among which are "Classical and Scientific Studies," and "The Great Schools of England," a lecture on "The Right Use of Books," "History and the Study of History; three Lectures," and a lecture on "The Study of Politics." He died March 10, 1890. ATKINSON, William Yates, governor of, Georgia, was born in Oakland, Meriwether county, Ga., in 1856; son of John P. Atkinson. He was prepared for college at the Senoia high school, and was graduated from the University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., in 1877. He was admitted to the bar in 1878, and settled himself in the practice of his profession at Newman, Ga. In 1879 he was appointed solicitor-general of the Coweta circuit, by Governor Colquitt, and held the office for three years. In 1886 he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature on the Democratic ticket, was four times re-elected, and in 1892 was chosen speaker of the house. In 1890 he was elected president of the state Democratic convention, and chairman of the state Democratic executive committee in 1890 and in 1892. He became a trustee of the University of Georgia in 1890, and was governor of Georgia, 1895-"99. He was a founder of the Georgia Normal and Industrial college at Milledgeville. He died at Newnan, Ga., Aug. 8, 1899. ATLEE, Samuel John, delegate, was born in Trenton, N.J., in 1739; son of William and Jane (Alcock) Atlee, who settled in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1734. Samuel studied law, was a captain in the French and Indian war and was married April 19, 1762, to Sarah Richardson. He became colonel of the State battalion of musketry in March, 1776; was captured by the British at the battle of Long Island, and held a prisoner until Oct. 1, 1778. He served in the Continental congress, 1778-82; as supreme executive councilor of Lancaster county in 1783, and in the Pennsylvania assembly in 1782 and 1785-'86. He was a commissioner to the Indians in 1784. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 25, 1786. ATLEE, Washington Lemuel, surgeon, was born in Lancaster. Pa., Feb. 22, 1808; son of Col. William Pitt and Sarah (Light) Atlee. He was graduated at Jefferson Medical college, in 1829; engaged in practice at Mountjoy, Pa., 1829-'33, and at Lancaster, Pa., 1834-'44. He was professor of medical chemistry in Pennsylvania college, 1845-'53; resumed practice in the latter year, and became president of the Philadelphia County Medical association in 1874; of the Pennsylvania Medical association in 1875; and vice-president of the American