Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/171

BABBITT.BABCOCK. B.

BABBITT, Isaac, inventor, was born at Taunton, Mass., July 26, 1799. His early occupation was that of a goldsmith. He investigated and experimented with alloys until he produced britannia-ware, in 1824, the first manufactured in America. In 1834 he engaged with the Alger iron works, Boston, and while there perfected his most important invention, "Babbitt" metal, an alloy of four parts copper, eight of antimony, and twenty-four of Banca tin, used for reducing the friction of axles in heavy machinery. He was awarded for the invention a gold medal by the Massachusetts mechanics' association, and the sum of twenty thousand dollars by Congress. He patented the formula in England in 1844, and in Russia in 1847. He subsequently made a fortune as a manufacturer of soap. He died in Somerville, Mass., May 26, 1862. BABBITT, Lawrence Sprague, soldier, was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 18, 1839, son of Edwin B. Babbitt, and grandson of Lawrence Sprague. He was graduated from the military academy at West Point in June, 1861, with the rank of 2d lieutenant of artillery, and was with his class ordered immediately to Washington, D. C., to assist in drilling volunteers. He participated in the action at Blackburn's Ford, July 18, 1861, and in the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, for his conduct in the latter being brevetted 1st lieutenant. He was promoted to the full rank, March 3, 1863, in March, 1865, was brevetted captain, and in November was assigned to the command of the Vancouver arsenal in Washington territory. He was promoted captain Dec. 22, 1866, and in April, 1871, was made commanding officer in the St. Louis arsenal. He acted as chief ordnance officer, department of the Columbia, in the spring of 1877, and participated in the Indian campaigns of 1877 and 1878. He was promoted major May 10, 1878, and commanded Fort Monroe, Va., arsenal from 1880 to 1888. From 1888 to 1891 he commanded the San Antonio, Texas, arsenal, being promoted lieutenant-colonel Sept. 15, 1890, and in 1891 he was transferred to the Benicia arsenal in California. BABCOCK, Charles, educator, was born at Ballston, N. Y., in 1829. He was graduated from Union college in 1847, and studied and practised architecture. From 1858 to 1862 he taught in St. Stephen's college, Annandale, N. Y., and later was ordained to the Episcopal ministry. From 1862 to 1871 he served as a missionary in Orange county, N. Y., and was then appointed professor of architecture at Cornell university, and organized the department, providing for it a thorough course of study. His practical knowledge of architecture was turned to account in several of the buildings on the Cornell campus, notably Sage hall for women, and Sage chapel, which were endowed and presented to the university by Henry W. Sage. In 1896 he was appointed director of the college of architecture in Cornell university, upon the reorganization of the old architectural department into the new college of architecture. BABCOCK, James Francis, chemist, was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 23, 1844; son of Archibald and Fanny F. (Richards) Babcock. He was graduated at the Boston high school and took a course at Lawrence scientific school, Harvard university. He opened a chemical laboratory in Boston in 1863 and was successful in acquiring distinction in his profession, being frequently called upon as an expert in patent litigation and in important state criminal cases. He was professor of medical chemistry in the Massachusetts college of pharmacy, 1869-'74, and held a similar chair in the Boston university, 1874-'80. He was state assayer of Massachusetts, 1875-'85. He investigated, gave expert testimony on, and wrote exhaustive reports relating to various food adulterations. He invented Babcock's chemical fire extinguisher, which was used in many large manufactories. He is the author of the article "Blood Stains" in Hamilton's "Legal Medicine." He died in Dorchester, Mass., July 20, 1897. BABCOCK, Joseph Weeks, representative, was born at Swanton, Vt., March 6, 1850; grandson of Joseph Weeks, who was a representative in the 24th and 25th congresses. He removed to Iowa with his parents in 1856, where he received a common-school education at Mt. Vernon and Cedar Falls. In 1881 he settled at Necedah, Wis., and began business as a lumberman, and in 1896 he was manager of one of the largest lumber companies that have made the Northwestern pine regions famous. After filling several local offices he was elected to the Wisconsin assembly in 1883, served as chairman of the committee on incorporations, and was re-elected in 1890, and in this capacity was instrumental in passing a number of laws which proved beneficial to the state. He was elected a representative to the 53d Congress in November, 1892, and in March, 1894, was appointed chairman of the national Republican congressional committee. He was re-elected to the 54th, 55th, 56th. 57th and 58th congresses. Speeches on "History of Money and Financial Legislature in the United States" and "Three Evenings with Silver and Money" were published in pamphlet form by him in 1896.