Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/42

CRANE and outfit left were thereafter known as Crane college in honor of the late president. His brother, Adoninini Judson Crane (born 1817, died 18(57) was graduated at Union, 1838; served in the Virginia legislature; was U.S. district attorney for Virginia; and was married to a great-granddaughter of John Adams, second president of the United States. Dr. Crane was a member of the American Philological society. He received the degree of D.D. from Howard college, Alabama, and that of LL.D. from Baylor university. Texas. He published among other works. Literary Discourses, and Life of Sam Houston. He died in Independence, Texas, Feb. 27, 1885.

CRANE, William H., actor, was born in Leicester, Mass., April 30, 1845; son of Amaziah Baits and Mary Sophia Crane; grandson of Abner Crane, and a descendant of one of three brothers by the name of Crane, who came to America in the seventeenth century. He first appeared on the

professional stage, July 13, 1863, at Utica, N.Y., his engagement being with the Holman opera company, where he took the part of the orator in "Child of the Regiment." He was with the company seven years playing in "Fra Diavolo" as Beppo; in " Faust " as Mephisto; in "Ours" as Hugh Challoner, and in the " Elixir of Love " as Dr. Dalemara. He afterward created the part of Le Blanc in " Evangeline " while leading comedian in the Alice Gates opera company. In 1874 he became a member of a stock company and played at Hooley's theatre, Chicago. Ill., Niblo's garden, New York city, 1870, and at the Park theatre. New York city, in 1877, where he appeared with Stuart Robson in "Our Boarding House." The intimacy thus formed lasted twelve years and " Crane and Robson " appeared on the same bill, their greatest success artistically and financially being the "Henrietta." In 1889 they dissolved the partnership, making their lust appearance together, April 13, 1889, at the Chicago opera house. On Sept. 17, 1889, Mr. Crane appeared at the same house in the title role in " The Senator," in which he made the greatest success of his professional career and established his reputation as a comedian. He also appeared as Col. Win field Farragut in "For Money"; as Jonathan Silsbee in "On Probation"; as John Hackett in " Brother John"; as Hon. Benjamin Franklyn Lawton in "The American Minister"; as Sylvanus Urban in "The Pacific Mail" in 1892; as Major Fairfax in " A Virginia Courtship " in 1898; as Col. Amory West in " Worth a Million " in 1898-99, and as Professor Thomas Holden in " The Head of the Family " the same season. In his "stock days" Crane appeared in all of the standard and classical comedies. With Mr. Robson he made elaborate revivals of "Twelfth Night," "She Stoops to Conquer," "Comedy of Errors," and "The Merry Wives of Windsor," appearing in the last-named play as the obese knight, Sir John Falstaff. As a star Crane had in 1899 presented twelve plays, all by American authors, and it is claimed for him that he did more for the native author the any other actor in the United Slates. His latest success is as "David Harum."

CRANE, William Montgomery, naval officer, was born in Elizabethtown, N.J., Feb. 1, 1776; son of Gen. William Crane, an officer of the Continental army, who died in 1814. The son entered the U.S. navy as midshipman in 1799, was promoted lieutenant, 1803, commander, 1813, and captain in 1814. He commanded the Vixen at the attack upon Tripoli and was on board the Chesapeake when she encountered the Leopard. In 1812 he commanded the Nautilus when captured by the Southampton. On being exchanged he was ordered to join Chauncey's fleet on the lakes, and commanded the Madison and the Pike. He commanded the Mediterranean squadron in 1827, his flagship being the Delaware, and in his official position acted as joint commissioner with the U.S. consul at Smyrna in the negotiations with the Ottoman government. In 1841 he was navy commissioner and in 1842 chief of the bureau of ordnance and hydrography. He died by his own hand in Washington, D.C., March 18, 1846.

CRANE, Winthrop Murray, governor of Massachusetts, was born in Dalton, Mass., April

23, 1853; son of Zenas Marshall and grandson of Zenas and Lucinda (Brewer) Crane. He was educated in the public schools and at Williston seminary, and in 1870 entered his father's paper mill, working his way from the lowest position to superintendent of two of the mills, and having charge of the manufacture of the silk fibre banknote paper for the government. He acquired and inherited