Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/331

 COLBY

GOLDEN

a systematic contributor from his earnings to philanthropic causes. Brown university, the Baptist missionary union, Waterville college and Newton theological institution were his most conspicuous beneficiaries, and Waterville college became Colby universitj' in acknowledgment of

COUbr U/M'V£R<>ITY

"i^^

his princely gifts at a time of desperate need. He was treasvirer of Newton theological institu- tion, 1844-G8 : president of the board of trustees, 1870-79 ; a trustee, 1848-79 ; and trustee of Colby univei'sity, 1865-79. His son, Henry Francis Colby, born in 1842, was graduated from Brown in 182, became a Baptist clergyman, and was elected president of the board of trustees of Denison university in 1890. Gardner Colby died in Newton Centre, Mass.. April 2, 1879.

COLBY, Harrison Gray Otis, naval officer, was born at New Bedford, Mass. , Jan. 28, 1846 ; son of Harrison Graj^ Otis and Jane Standish (Parker) Colby ; grand.son of John Avery Parker, and a descendant in the eighth generation from Myles Standish. He was graduated at the U.S. naval academj' in 1867, and while a cadet served on the U.S.S. Dacotah, 1864-65. He was ordered to the flagship Piscataqiia, Admiral Rowan, Asiatic squadron, serving 1867-68; was promoted ensign Dec. 18, 1868, and master March 21, 1870. He was detailed to the yacht America as executive officer in 1870, when that vessel took part in the international races with the Cambria, and was for a short time in command of the America. He Was at the Boston navj- yard, 1870-71, and with the U.S.S. Worcester carried provisions sent by the citizens of Boston to the suffering French in 1871. He Avas promoted lieutenant Marcli 21, 1871 ; served on North Atlantic and European .sqliad- rons, 1871-74; on torpedo duty, 1874; with Lieu- tenant Lull in charge of a party on the survey- ing expedition to Panama, 1874-75; on U.S.S. Tenneftsee, flagship of Admiral Rej'nolds, Asiatic squadron, 1875. and was sent home sick. He was naval attache of the U.S. Centennial commis- sion, Philadelphia, Pa., 1870; was stationed at the naval observatory. Washington, D.C., 1876- 77; served on board the U.S.S Marion and the U.S.S. Trenton as flag lieutenant to Admiral Le Roy, 1877; commanded the U.S. coast and geo-

detic survey schooner Eagre, 1880-82 ; was execu- tive officer of the training ship Saratoga, 1882-85 ; assistant inspector of the 20th lighthouse district, 1885-89: executive officer of the U.S.S. Yorktown, and commanded that vessel for three months during the absence of the commanding officer, 1889-91. He organized the naval militia of the United States, 1891; was promoted lieutenant commander, Nov. 20, 1891 ; w-as assistant to the in.spector of the 2d lighthou.se di-strict, 1891-95; commanded the U.S. coast and geodetic survey- steamer Blake, 1895-96 ; hydrographic inspector, U.S. coast and geodetic survey of Washington, D.C., 1896-97; inspector, 2d lighthouse district, 1897-98; commander of the 2d division, coast de- fence system. May, 1898; promoted commander, April 27, 1898; commanded the U.S.S. Hannibal June 7, 1898; on gunboat and patrol duty at Porto Rico, 1898; detached from the Hannibal when that vessel went out of commission, Oct. 23, 1898, and became inspector of 2d lighthouse district. He was ordered to command the U.S.S. Concord, Asiatic squadron, at Manila, in March, 1899, but the order was revoked March 17, 1899, and he was ordered to the command of the U.S.S. JIarblehead at Santiago, Cuba.

COLCOCK, William Ferguson, representative, was born at Beaufort, S.C, Nov. 4, 1804; son of Judge Charles Jones and Mary Woodward (Hut- son) Colcock; grandson of John and Mellicent Jones) Colcock, and of Col. Thomas Hutson; and great-grandson of John Colcock, Avho came from England to America in the earh- colonial days and settled in South Carolina. His father w^as a judge for life in the circuit court, and president of the state bank ; and his grandfather, John Colcock. was a lawyer, a member of the state assembly, and clerk of the council of safety during the Revolution. William was graduated with first honors at South Carolina college in 1823, was admitted to the bar, and represented Prince AVilliam"s parish in the state legislature for several years, being speaker of the hou.se. He was a representative from Beaufort district in the 31st and 32d congresses, 1849-53; was collec- tor of the port of Charleston, 1858-61 ; was a delegate to the Democratic national convention held at Charleston, 1860, and was one of the leaders of secession in that body. He died at McPhersonville, S.C, June 13, 1889.

COLDEN, Cadwallader, philosopher, was born in Dunse, Scothmd, Feb. 17, 1688; son of the Rev. Alexander Colden. He was graduated at the University of Edinburgh in 1705, studied medicine and was a physician in Philadelpliia, Pa., 1708-15. He then spent one year in London, England, where he met the leading literary and scientific men of the time. He was the first