Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/375

 BORLAND.

BOSTWICK.

and a member of the American pliilosopliical society in 1872. He accompanied General Grant in his tour around the world 1877-"T8, and died in Philadelphia, Feb. 5, 1880.

BORLAND, Solon, senator, was born in Vir- ginia. He was educated as a physician in North CaroHna and practised at Little Rock, Ark. When the Mexican war broke out he was commissioned major in Yell's cavalry, and in January, 1847, was taken prisoner. He afterwards served as aide-de-camp to General Worth until the capture of the city of Mexico, Sept. 14, 1847. On his re- turn to Arkansas he was appointed U. S. senator by the governor to fiU the unexpired term of Ambrose H. Sevier, resigned, and at the expira- tion of the term in 1849, he was elected for a full senatorial term, but resigned March 3, 1853, to accept from President Pierce the position of min- ister to Nicaragua, having also in charge. Costa Rica, Guatemala, Hondviras, and San Salvador. He served for a year, when he returned to the United States and resigned. He was assaulted while at San Juan de Nicaragua, on his way home, while attempting to prevent the arrest of a man charged with murder. This incident led to the bombardment and destruction of Greytown, by the U. S. sloop-of-war Cyane, July 13, 1854. On his return Mr. Borland decUned the governorship of New Mexico, proffered by President Pierce, and he resumed the practice of medicine at Little Rock. When the state legislature passed the ordinance of secession, May 6, 1861, he organized troops under direction of Governor Rector, and took possession of Fort Smith. He afterwards raised the 3d regiment, Arkansas cavalry, was commissioned colonel, and was subsequently piomoted brigadier-general. He was serving in the Confederate army in Texas when he died, Jan. 31. 1864.

BOSBYSHELL, Oliver Christian, soldier, was born at Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 3, 1839. He was -educated in the public schools of SchuylkiU county. Pa., and started life as a telegraph messenger boy. When the civil war broke out he enlisted at Pottsville, April 16, 1861, for thirty days, and on April 18, as he marched through Baltimore amidst a turbulent mob, was assaulted, and claimed to be the first soldier wounded in the war. The same evening he arrived with his com- pany in Washington city. The commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 1891, presented each of these first defenders with a medal of honor. At the ex- piration of his term he re-enlisted, was com- missioned 2d lieutenant, and was advanced to the rank of major, gaining distinction at the battles of New Berne, second Bull Run, Chan- tilly. South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericks- burg. In the spring of 1863 he was made provost -marshal at Lexington, Ky. He was then ap-

pointed acting assistant adjutant-general of his brigade, and served in the East Tennessee cam- paign, in the battles of Blue Springs, Campbell's station, and at the siege of Knoxville. Li 1864 he served with Grant in the campaign from the Wilderness t o Peters- burg as acting assistant adjutant-general of the 1st brigade, 4th (colored) division, 9th army corps, which shared in the Petersburg mine fight of July 30, 1864. He com. manded his regiment in the battle at the Weldon railroad, and had charge of the left wing at Pop- lar grove church, on Sept. 30, 1864. He was mustered out of service Oct. 1, 1864. Returning to Pottsville, Pa., he engaged in the banking business, and in 1869 was appointed register of deposits in the United States mint at Philadel- phia. He was made assistant coiner in 1872, and in 1877 was appointed coiner. In 1879 President Harrison appointed him to the superintend- ency of the mint, which position he resigned in 1894. In 1878 he was elected major of the 2d regiment national guard of Pennsylvania, was promoted to heutenant-colonel in 1879, and made colonel in 1890. He was elected commander of Post 2, G. A. R. of Philadelphia, in 1879. He was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania society of the sons of the revolution. In 1884 he became one of the directors of the Fidehty mutual life association, in 1887 was elected vice- president of the company, and in 1894 became its treasurer.

BOSTWICK, Arthur Elmore, Librarian, was born at Litchfield, Conn., March 8, 1860; son of Dr. David Elmore and Adelaide (McKinley) Bostwick. His first American ancestor, Arthur Bostock (or Boswick), came to America from Chesliire, England, about 1630, and settled in Southampton (L. I.), N. Y., afterwards remov- ing to Connecticut. Arthur Elmore Bostwick was prepared for coUege at the Litchfield (Conn. ) institute, and was graduated at Yale college in 1881, receiving the Ph.D. degree in 1883. He was the first holder of the SiUiman fellowship in physics. He was substitute instructor at Yale in 1883-"84, and teacher in the Montclair, N. J., high school. 1884-'86. From 1886 to 1888 he was on the editorial staff of Appleton's cyclopaedia of American biography. In 1890 he became assist- ant editor of the Forum, and from 1892 to 1896 was associate editor of the Standard Dictionary. In 1893 he accepted the position of scientific