Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/344

 L)U CIIAILLU

DUCHESNE

over S.IHM) miles with no white man for com- pjiniou. Ill the journey he secvired rare birds, reptiles and quadruiK'ds never before seen or classified. He included in his collection several gorillas, which animal had never before been studied by scientists and was at the time unknown to white men. He returned to New York in 1859 and exliibited liis trophies, many of which were afterward secured by the British musemn. His discoveries changed the accepted maps of that section of Africu and his statements published at the time were received with distrust. This led to a controversy between Professor Gray of the British museum and Prof. Richard Owen, the latter defending the traveller. He thereupon decided to make a second expedition to verify his previous observations, first pursuing a course of scientific study to enable him to take accurate nieasui-ements, make astronomical calculations and produce jjhotographs of the places visited. AVhile so preparing himself a French government expedition explored the Ogobai river and con- firmed Du Chaillu's reports. Capt. Richard F. Burton verified his statements as to the existence and methods of the Fan tribe of cannibals. He nevertheless carried out his original project and sailed for England in August, 1863. On endeav- oring to land at the mouth of the Ogobai river he lost his scientific instruments, including his camera, and was forced to await a new supply from England, spending his time in studying the habits of the gorilla. In September, 1864, with ten Commi negroes, he returned to the jungle and made careful observations. He also discovered tribes and countries hitherto un- known. Being robbed of all his outfit save his written journals, which gave his astronomical observations, he was obliged to discontinue his journey in September, 1865. He then visited England and returned to the United States where he published his journal and lectured for a number of years, extending his lecture tour to England, Scandinavia, Lapland and Finland, and finally making his home in New York city. On Jan. 30, 1><1)3, the council of the American geo- graphical society presented him with a silver loving-cup in commemoration of the twenty- fifth anniversary of his return from Africa. He died in St. Petersburg. Rassia, April 29, 1903. His published works include: Explora- tions and Adventures in Equatorial Africa (1861. 2d edition, 1871); A Journey to Ashango Lfiud (1867); Stories of the Gorilla Country (1868); Wild Life Under the Equator (1869); Lost in the Jungle (1869); My Apingi Kingdom (1870); The Country of the Dioarfs (1871); The Land of the Mid- night Sun (1881): The Viking Age (1887); Irar, the Viking (1893); The People of the Great African Forest; The Land of the Long Night.

DUCilE, Jacob, clergyman, was born in Phil- adeli)lua, Pa., in January, 1737; son of Jacob and Mary (Spence) Duch6. His father immigrated to America with William Penn and became mayor of Philadelphia. The son was prepared for college at Clare Hall, Philadelphia, and was a tutor in 1753. On May 25, 1754, he entered the College of Philadelphia, afterward the University of Pennsylvania, anil was graduated in 1757 valedictorian of the first class to be graduated. He then went to England and studied theology at the University of Cambridge until 1759, when he was licensed by the bishop of London as an assistant minister, serving in Christ church, Philadelphia, 1759-75. He was professor of ora- tory in the College of Philadelphia, 1759-78; rector of Christ church and St. Peter's, Philadel- phia, 1775-77; and a trustee of the College of Philadelphia, 1761-78. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he took sides with the patriots and made the opening prayer at the assembling of the 1st continental congress, Sept. 7, 1774. He was chosen chaplain to con- gress, July 9, 1776, and on Oct. 8, 1777, he wrote an extraordinary letter to General Washington, which was delivered by Mrs. Ferguson and which Washington transmitted to congress. "The object of this letter," says a biographer, "was to cast a general odium on the Whig cause, to induce Washington to apostatize and resign his command of the army, or, at the head of it, to force congress to desist from hostilities and to rescind the Declaration of Independence."' The result of the letter was the banishment of its author and the confiscation of his estate. His house was bought by Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Duch6 went to England and during the Revolution- ary war was chaplain to the Asylum in St. George's Fields, London. He returned to Phila- delphia in 1790. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of the Hon. Thomas Hopkinson. In 1768 he was elected a member of the American philosophical society. He received the degree of D.D. His published works include: Letters nf 7'amor Cdspifiina (1774), and Discourses (1779). He died in Pliiladdpliia. Pa.. Jan. 3, 1798.

DUCHESNE, Philippa Rose, pioneer, was born in France in 1769. She received a thorough edu- cational ti-aining which included higher mathe matics and the classics. Her confes.sor at the convent where she was sent to prepare for her first communion had been a missionary in Louisiana, and his account convinced her of the needs of the women and girls in that region. After devoting herself for a time to the care of prisoners and the education of street children in Grenoble, she organized in 1801 a community of women who devoted themselves to teaching