Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/360

 GORGAS

GORMAN

GORGAS, Ferdinand James Samuel, dentist, was born in Winoliester, Va, July 27, isy.j; sou of John S. and Mary A. Gorgas. He was gradu- ated from Dickinson in 1855, and from the Balti- more college of dental surgery in 1856. In 1860 he became professor of dental surgery and thera- peutics in the latter institution and in 1868 was graduated an M.D. from the University of Mary- land school of medicine. In 1866 he became editor of the American Journal of Dental Science. In 1883 he was made professor of dental science and oral surgery and dean of the University of Maryland, dental department. He i-evised Harris's Medical and Dental Dictionary (1864, and sub-sequent edi- tions) ; revised eleven editions of Harris's Prin- ciples of Dental Surgery after the death of the author in 1860; and published Lectures on Dental Science and Tl'erapeutics (1874) ; six editions of Dental Materia Medica and Therapeiitics, the first appearing in 1884; and Questions and Ansicers iov dental istudents.

GORGAS, Josiah, educator, was born in Dau- phin county. Pa., July 1, 1818. He was gradu- ated at the U.S. military academy in 1841, served in the Mexican war, was promoted 2d and 1st lieutenant in the ordnance corps, and in 1855 reached the rank of captain. In 1861 he resigned from ^the U.S. army and was made brigadier- general and chief of the ordnance department of the Confederate army. He engaged in business after the war and in 18T3 was elected vice-chan- cellor of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., holding the office till 1878, when he was elected president of the University of Alabama remaining at the head of tliat institution two years, when he was succeeded by Burwell B. Lewis. He died at Tuscaloosa, Ala., May 15, 1883.

GORHAM, Benjamin, representative, was burn in Cliarlestown, Mass.. Feb. 13, 1775; sou of Nathaniel Gorham, statesman. He was gradua- ted at Harvard, A.B.. 1795, A.M., 1798, was ad- mitted to practice as a lawyer and opened an office in Boston. He was elected a representative in the 16th congress to till the unexpired term of Jonathan Moon, who had resigned. May 15, 1820. He was also a representative in the 17th, 20th, 21st and 23d congresses, and represented his town in the state legislature for several years. He was an uncompromising advocate of a free pre.ss and gave his legal services free to Boston newspaper publishers annoyed by libel suits. He died in Boston, Mass., Sejit. 27, 1855.

GORHAM, John, educator, was born in Bos- ton, Mass., Feb, 24, 1783. He was graduated from Harvard, A?B., 1801, and M.D., in 1804; studied in Edinburgh and returned to Harvard where he was adjunct professor of chemistry and materia medica, 1809-16, and Erving pro- fessor of chemistry, 1816-27. He was elected a

fellow of the American academy of arts and sciences. He published among other works an InaiKjaral Address; a contribution on sugar to Annual Philosophy edited by Robert B. Thomas (1817) and Elements of Chemical Science (1829). He died in Boston, Mass., March 29, 1820

GORHAM, Nathaniel, statesman, was born in Cliarlestown, Mass., May 27, 1738. He was a mer- chant in Charle.stowu ; a member of the colo- nial legislature, 1771-75; a delegate to the provincial congress, 1774-75; a member of the board of war, 1778-81, and a member of the state constitutional convention of 1779. He was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1782-83, 1785-87, and was president of the congress from June 6, 1786, to Feb. 2, 1787. He was a member of the convention that framed the constitution and was for three months chairman of the com- mittee of the whole, and after the convention liad completed its work he used his influence to induce Massachusetts to ratify the constitution. With Oliver Phelps he purchased from the state the tract of land on the Genesee river in New York, ceded to Massachusetts, agreeing to pay 51,000,000 for the same. They surveyed part of the tract, laid out townships, and sold to settlers and speculators, and in 1790 had parted with most of their property, but not having paid Jlas- sachusetts they reliniiuished to that state the land remaining under the Indian title, and Mr. Phelps's son, Nathaniel, who lived on the tract, managed the estate up to the time of his death at Canandaigua, N.Y., Oct. 22, 1826 Nathaniel, Sr., died in Cliarlestown, Mass, June 11, 1796.

GORMAN, Arthur Pue, senator, was born in Woodstock, Howard county, Md., March 11, 1839; son of Peter and Elizabeth A (Brown) Gorman; and grandson of John Gorman who came to Harrisburg, Pa,, from Ireland in 1800, re moved to Oldtown, Baltimore county, Md., and was a cattle drover. Peter Gor- man removed to Laurel, Md., in 1845, was a contractor, and furnished granite for the public buildings in Washington and for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. In 1860 while in Richmond, Va., collecting debts due him, he was imprisoned by Governor Letcher for speaking in opposition to secession, and his im- prisonment cost him his life. His wife was the daughter of John R. Brown of a celebrated colo- nial family of Maryland, a friend of the Howards

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