Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/259

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with the southern states and the West Indies, 1836- 45, and while thus engaged, publicly chastised James Gordon Bennett, Sr., for an offensive article in the Herald, after which encounter the two men became fast friends. He then became in- terested in politics and as a friend of President Polk com- manded considerable influence during his administration. He invested in mineral lands in Virginia and North Carolina and while prospecting in these states to deter- mine and locate such property he discov- ered in Virginia the largest American diamond ever foimd, which was cut and presented to James Gordon Bennett. In New Jersey he discovered the largest and finest American ruby ever found, which became the property of the Academy of natural sciences in Philadelphia. He became a citizen of Philadel- phia, Pa., in 1846 and died there, June 9, 1899.

DEWING, Maria Richards (Oakey), artist, was bom in New York city, Oct. 27, 1855. She studied art at the National academy of design, under John Lafarge, and in 1876, under Thomas Cou- ture. Her chief works consist of figures and flowers. She was married to Thomas AVihner Dewing, the artist. She painted Violets (1878) ; Mother and Child (1880) ; Portrait of a Boy (1875); Portrait of Mr. Oakey (1877) • Sleeping Child (1878).

DEWING, Thomas Wilmer, artist, was born in Boston, Mass., May 4, 1851. He was a pupil of Lefebvre and Boulanger in Paris, 1876-79, and on liis return from France opened a studio in Boston. He became a member of the Society of American artists in 1880, was awarded the Clarke prize at the National academy in 1887, and in 1888 wa.s elected a National academician. In 1889 he received the second class medal at the Paris ex- position. Among his pictures are : Young Sorcerer (1877); The South Wind (1878); The Musician (1878) ; Morning (1879) ; Tlie Lady in Yelloic ; The Prelude (1883) ; The Garden (1884) ; Tobias and the Angel (1887); and The Days (1887). He also be- came a well-known mural decorator, and in 1892 decorated the ceiling of the cafe in the Hotel Im- perial, New York city. He received a gold medal at the Pan-American exposition, 1901.

DE WITT, Charles, delegate, was born in King.ston, N.Y.. in 1728. He was a member of the Colonial assembly, 1768-76; a delegate to the Provisional convention of 1775 ; a member of the

Provincial congress. 1776-77 ; of the constitutional committee, 1776; of the committee of safety, 1777; a delegate from New York to the Continental con- gress, 1783-85, and a member of the assembly, 1781-86. He died in Kingston, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1787.

DE WITT, John, clergyman, was born in Catskill, N.Y., in August, 1789; son of John and Mary (Braisted) De Witt. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1809, and was or- dained a minister of the Reformed Dutch church in 1811. He was pastor at Lanesborough, Mass., 1811-12, and at Albany, N.Y., 1813-23 He then accepted the chair of ecclesiastical history in the Theological seminary of the Reformed Dutch church. New Brunswick, N.J., which he retained until his death. In 1825 he proposed the revival of the old Queen's college, which some years be- fore had been suspended, under the new name "Rutgers college." He carried this through with great energy, giving gratuitous service in rhetoric and belles-lettres, in addition to his duties as theological professor. He was married in 1810 to Sarah, daughter of Tjerck Schoon- maker of Saugerties, N.Y. He died in New Brunswick, N.J., Oct. 11, 1831.

DE WITT, John, clergyman, was born in Al- bany, N.Y., Nov. 29, 1821; son of the Rev. John and Sarah (Schoonmaker) Dewitt, and grandson of John and Mary (Braisted) De Witt. He was graduated from Rutgers college in 1838 and from the Theological seminary of the Reformed Dutch church. New Brimswick, in 1842. He was pastor at Ridge way, N.Y.. 1842-44; Ghent, N.Y., 1845- 48; Canajoharie, N.Y., 1848-49, and Millstone, N.J., 1850-63. In 1863 he was made professor of Old Testament and New Testament exegesis in the Theological seminary at Ne%v Brunswick. He was a member of the Anglo-American Bible re- vision company from 1872. He received the degree of D.D. from Rutgers in 1857; that of LL.D. from Lafayette in 1880; and that of L.H.D. from Columbia in 1888. His published works include : The Sure Foundation (1857); The Praise Songs of Israel (1882); A Xew Rendering of the Psalms, loith Notes (1887) ; What is Inspiration (1894).

DE WITT, John, clergyman, was born in Har- risburg. Pa., Oct. 10, 1842; son of William Rad- cliffe and Mary (Wallace) De Witt. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B. in 1861, and A.M. in 1864, studied at Princeton theo- logical seminary, 1861-64, and was graduated at Union theological seminary in 1865. He was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry, June 9, 1865, and was pastor at Irvington, N.Y., 1865-69, of the Central Congregational church, Boston, Mass., 1869-76. and of the Tenth Presbyterian church. Philadelphia, Pa., 1876-82. He held the chair of church history in Lane theological semi-