Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/315

 DOUGLAS

DOUGLAS

tutional measures for redressing wrongs. As early as 1853 his name had been prominent in the Democratic national convention of Baltimore for presidential candidate and in 1856 it was again presented to the national convention assembled at Cincinnati, but when the majority of the delegates declared their preference for James Buchanan, Senator Douglas telegraphed from Washington for his friends to withdraw his name and in no case to have it used in a contest under the two-thirds rule. The convention had adopted a platform that fully covered the prin- ciples always advocated by him and he came into the canvass of 1856 fully competent to give hearty support to the Democratic party. His triumphant re-election to the senate in 1860 had paved the way for his presidential aspirations and the national convention at Charleston stood ready to place him at the head of the ticket. The withdrawal of the delegates from the southern states prevented his nomination and resulted in the breaking up of the convention. When the convention reassembled at Balti- more he received tlie nomination of a factional ticket, John C. Breckenridge receiving the nomi- nation of the southern Democrats and John Bell that of the so-called Union party, and the election in 1860 resulted in Breckenridge receiving 73 electoral votes. Bell 39, and Douglas 13. In the popular vote he stood next to Lincoln, receiving more than both Breckenridge and Bell combined. After the election Senator Douglas used his in- fluence in maintaining the Union sentiment and he counselled the upholding of all constitutional measures used by the President in putting down the rebellion. He was a zealous champion of President Lincoln and in his declining daj's he dictated messages to his constituents and to the Democrats of the entire country, counselling them to preserve the union of the states. He was a regent of the Smithsonian institution and received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Middlebury college, Vt., in 1851. He was married in 1847 to Martha, daughter of Col. Robert Martin of Rockingham county, N.C. She died, Jan. 19, 1853, and in November, 1856, he was married to Adele, daughter of James Madison Cutts of Wash- ington, D.C., who survived him and who was married in 1863 to Gen. Robert WiUiams, U.S.A. His son, Stephen Arnold, the sixth in line, became a prominent Chicago lawj-er and political orator, and his elder son, Robert Martin, became a su- preme court judge in North Carolina. His Life was written by James W. Sheahan and by Henry M. Flint as campaign documents in 1860. He died in Chicago, 111., June 3, 1861.

DOUGLAS, Wniiam, soldier, was born at Plainfield, Conn., Jan. 27, 1742; son of John and Olive (Spaulding) Douglas. In 1758 he engaged

as a soldier in the French and Indian war, rising to the rank of orderly sergeant and taking part in the capture of Quebec. After the war he went to sea and later became a shipmaster, con- tinuing successfully in the business until the Revolutionary war, when he raised and became captain of a company. In the fall of 1775 he was placed in command of the flotilla on Lake Champlain with the rank of commodore, and in 1776 raised a regiment in Connecticut and was appointed its colonel. He saw active service in the engagement of Long Island, Philipse Manor, Croton river, White Plains and Harlem Heights. His health became completely undermined by exposure and labor and he returned to his home. He was married, July 5, 1767, to Hannah, daughter of Stephen Mansfield of New Haven, and sister of Col. Jared Mansfield, U.S.A. They had two sons, William and John. He died at Northfield, Conn., May 28, 1777.

DOUGLAS, William Bradley, banker, was born in Troy, N.Y., Dec. 36, 1818; son of Alanson and Anna (Sutherland) Douglas. He acquired a thorough preparatory education and became a, clerk in his father's bank. He was married, June 3, 1841, to Charlotte Cornelia Dickinson, daughter of Orange and Soijhia (Rathbone) Ferris of Duchess county, N. Y. In 1843 he became caslaer of the Bank of Ithaca, N.Y., and in Janua;}', 1850, was elected president of the Mercanii!© bank. New York city. He retired from active business in 1856 and removed to Geneva, N.Y., where he was made a trustee of Hobart college and of the General theological seminary of New York city. He was a large contributor to the endowment fund of Hobart college and ,built the chapel for that institution. He removed to Rochester, N.Y., in 1870, where he built St. Andrew's church, the rectory, chapel and Doug- las Hall. He was also elected a trustee of the Rochester Church home. He was a member of the standing committee of the diocese of we.stern New York, 1857-64 ; trustee of the church fund, 1858-66; of the parochial fund, 1864-68; of De Lancey divinity school, 1860-66; and of the Cathedral chapter, 1880-98. His benefactions were divided between church institutions and individuals whom he helped in making a start in life or in recovering from fallen fortune. He died at Avon, N.Y., Oct. 19, 1898; Mrs. Douglas died in Rochester, N.Y., July 15, 1899. Two children survive them : the Rev. George William Douglas, D.D., who married Cornelia de Koven, daughter of the Hon. Hugh Thompson Dickey of New York; and Mary Hawley, who married Frank Addison Ward of Rochester, N.Y.

DOUGLAS, William Kirtland, educator, wag born in New Haven, Conn., May 29, 1827; son of John and Annie (Carter), grandson of Capt.