Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/110

 HARPER

HARPER

HARPER, George McLean, eilucator, was born atSliippensburg. Pa., Dec.;}l, 18;J; son of William Wylie and Nancy (McLean) Harper; Knindson of the Rev. Dr. James and Christine (Wylie) Har per. and of William and Naticy (Johnston) McLean, and a descendant of William McLean of Londonderry, IreUind, who immigrated to Adara.s county. Pa., about 1731. He was gradu- ated from the College of New Jersey, Princeton, in 1884; Wiis employed on the New York 7V/6- une in 1884, and studied in Europe, 1885-87. He was connected with Scrihiier's Mayazine, 1887- 89; was instructor at Princeton, 1889-91: assist- ant professor of French, 1891-94; and became pro- fessor of Romance languages in 1894. He edited several French texts, among them some of Sainte- Beuve's essiiys, and Victor Hugo's Hernani, and contributed articles to the magazines and periodi- cals. He is the author of The Let/end of the Holy Grail TISO:?); and of .several essays.

HARPER, James, publisher, was born in New- town. N.Y., April 13. 1795: son of Joseph and Eliziibeth (KoUyer) Harper, and grandson of James Harper, an Englisli Methodist, who came to America about 1740 and settled in Newtown, Long Island, N.Y., where he was a schoolmaster. When sixteen years old James was ap- prenticed to Paul and ^ ^ > Thomas Seymour.

/^ " printers, in New York

C ^^- city, and became a

=«^* . ^ skilled pressman. In

V - 1817 with his brother ' ^,^ John he established a

^^ small printing office ':^ in Dover street. New ./ York, where they ':'./' ';■■ ' / printed books to or- , der, and in April, 1818, Locke's "Es- say Upon the Hu- man Understand- ing" appeared, bearing the imprint, J. & J. Harper. When two younger brothers, Joseph Wesley and Fletcher, were admitted as partners in 18:13, the firm name was changed to Harper & Brotliers. James Harper superintended the mechanical operations of tiie establislmient and during his business career daily visited all the departments. In 1844 he was elected mayor of New York on the Native American ticket, llar- per's Monthly Mngazine was published at his sug- gestion He was a prominent Methodist, a strong temperance advocate, and a member of the volunteer fire department. He died at St. Luke's hospital. New York city, from injuries received by l)eing thrown from his carriage while riding in Central Park, March 27, 1869.

HARPER, John, publisher, was born in New- town, N.Y., Jan. 22, 1797; son of Joseph and Elizabeth (KoUyer) Harper, and brother of James Harper (1795-1869). He was apprenticed to Jonathan Seymour, a printer in New York city, became a skilful compositor and pressman, and joined his

brother James a in 1817 in the ^^S% printing busi- ness as J. & J. Harper. When the firm be- came Harper & Brothers in 1833 he became the financial man ager and pur- chaser of the stock, material and machinery. On Dec. 10. 1853, their ex tensive estab lishment was burned to the ground and their loss was insurance.

TOE QRlOU^Ak ESTABLISHMEAT.aZ CLIFF STR{£^ IA( 16E5

$1,000,000, with only $250,000 He continued in the active manage- ment of the business, constructing a new set of fire-proof buildings between Cliff street and Franklin square. Upon the death of his brother James in 1869 he retired from active business. He died in New York city, April 22, 1875.

HARPER, Joseph Morrill, representative, was born in Limerick, Maine, June 21, 1787. He attended the public schools, studied medicine and about 1810 began to practise at Canterbury, N.H. In the war of 1812 he was assistant surgeon in the 4th infantry. He served in the state legisla- ture, 1826-27 and 1829-31, being president of the senate from 1830 till February, 1831, when he became governor of New Hampshire, ex officio, through the resignation of Governor Harvey, and held the office till June, 1831. He was a Demo- cratic representative in the 22d and 23d congresses, 1831-35; president of the Mechanics' bank, Con- cord, N.H., 1842-56. and afterward lived on a farm in Canterbury, N. H. where he died Jan. 15, 1805.

HARPER, Joseph Wesley, ]iubli.sher, was born in Newtown. N.Y,, Dec. 25, 1801; son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kollyer) Harper, and brother of James Harper (1795-1869), He learned the trade of printer in the establishment of J. & J. Harper, acquired special skill as a proofreader, and became foreman of the composing room. In 1833 he wa.s admitted a partner in the firm of Harper & Brothers. He attended to the corre- spondence and read the final proofs of the most