Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/110

 CALDWELL.

CALHOUN.

CALDWELL, Merritt, educator, was born in Hebron, Oxford county, Me., Nov. 29, 1806. Immediately after his graduation at Bowdoin college in 1828 he was elected principal of the Wesleyan seminary at Readfield, Me., succeed- ing his brother Zenas. He was elected vice- president of Dickinson college. Pa., in 1834, retaining the position during the remainder of his life, and filling the chairs of mathematics 1834-'37, and metapliysics and English literature 1837-'48. He was a delegate to the world's con- vention which met in England in 1846 and formed the evangelical alliance, and he was also a delegate to the world's temperance convention. He wrote The Doctrine of the English Verb (1837) ; Manual of Elocution (1846) ; Philosophij of Christian Perfection (1847), and Christianity Tested by Eminent Men (1852). His memoir was publislied by S. M. Vail, D.D. He died in Port- land, Me., June 6, 1848.

CALDWELL, Samuel Lunt, educator, was born in Newburyport, Mass., Nov. 18, 1820. He was graduated at Waterville college in 1839 and was principal of the Hampton Falls, N. H., academy, and head master of the grammar school of Newburyport. In 1842 he entered the theological seminary at Newton, Mass., and was graduated in 1845. He was called to the First Baptist church of Bangor, Me. , in 1846, his pastor- ate there covering a period of twelve years. From 1858 to 1873 he was pastor of the First Baptist church of Providence, R. I., when he became professor of church history in the New- ton theological seminary. In 1878 he accepted the presidency of Vassar college, and filled the oflSce for eight years. He was a fellow of Brown university from 1859 to the time of his death. In 1885 he removed to Providence, R. I., and occupied his time with writing and lecturing. He received the degree of D.D. from Colby in 1858, and that of LL.D. from Brown university in 1884. His publications include an indepen- dence day oi'ation (1861) ; a Memorial of Prof. R. P. Dunn (1867) ; an oration entitled Lit- erature in Account rvith Life (1885), two lec- tures in The Newton Lectures (1886), and ser- mons ; and he contributed frequently to peri- odical literature. He also edited volumes iii. and iv. of Publications of the Narragansett Club (1865). He died in Providence, R. I., Sept. 26, 1889.

CALDWELL, Zenas, poet, was born in He- bron, Me., March 31, 1800; brother of Merritt Caldwell. After his graduation from Bowdoin college, in 1824, he was appointed first principal of the Elaine Wesleyan seminary, holding the position until his death. He is the author of a volume of prose and poetry, published in 1855. lie died Dec. 21, 1826.

CALEF, or CALFE, Robert, author, was born in the latter lialf of the .seventeenth cen- tury. He was a Boston merchant who, with hi& plain common sense arguments in More Won- ders of the Invisible World, did much to dispel the witchcraft delusion. His book created a great stir. It was first published in London in 1700, and Cotton Mather, who, with other pastors figured in the narrative, instituted proceedings against the author for slander. Increase Mather, then president of Harvard college, cau.sed the wicked little volume to be burned in the college yard ; and a number of the members of the Old North church published a defence of their old pastors, the Mathers, entitled. Remarks upon a Scandalous Book against the Government and Ministry of Neiv England. Dr. Elliott says : " It is worthy of observation that Hutchinson — wha was nearly related to the Mather family — speaks of R. Calef as a man of fair mind who substantiates his facts." He died in 1720.

CALHOUN, Edmund R., naval officer, was born in Chambersburg. Pa., May 6, 1821. He entered the navy as midshipman, April 1, 1839, receiving his appointment from Missouri. He served in the Brazil and Mediterranean squad- rons until 1845, when he was assigned to the naval school at Philadelphia. In July, 1845, he was appointed passed midshipman and was made master Jan. 6, 1853, resigning June 27 of that year. He re-entered the navy as acting lieuten- ant Sept. 24, 1861 ; was commissioned commander Nov, 17, 1862; captain, March 2, 1869; commo- dore, April 26, 1876, and rear admiral, Dec. 3, 1882, when he was retired from active service. He served in the Mexican war in the first attack on Alvarado, imder Conner, and in the assault on Tabasco, under Perry. In 1861-'62 he com- manded the steamer Hunchback of the North Atlantic blockading squadron, and took part irk the battle of Roanoke Island, the capture of New- bern and the engagements below Franklin in the Blackwater river in October, 1862. In 1863> he commanded the steamer Ladona, and after- wards the monitor Weehawken, of the South Atlantic squadron, in her various engagements with Forts Sumter, Wagner and Beauregard in 1863. In 1864-'65 he commanded the monitor Saugus of the North Atlantic squadron, and engaged Hewlett's battery on the James river June 21, and again Dec. 5, 1864, also taking part in the bombardment of Fort Fisher. From the close of the war until 1876 he was in command of the Asiatic and South Pacific stations, and on April 17, 1877, he took command of the navy yard at Mare Island, California, where he re- mained until Jan. 15, 1881. He was then on special duty until his retirement in December, 1882. He died in W^ashington, D. C, Feb. 17, 1897.