Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/111

 HARPER

HARPER

important works, finally assuming charge of the literary department. After his marriage he made his residence in Brooklyn. His health was always delicate and he made frequent voyages to Europe. He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., Feb. 14, 1870.

HARPER, Joseph Wesley, publisher, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 16, 1830; son of Joseph Wesley and Hannah (Peck) Harper. He was prepared for college at Anthon's grammar school, and was graduated at Columbia, A. B., 1848, A.M., 1851. In 1850 he entered the publishing house of Harper & Brothers, of which his father was a member, and learned the entire detail as printer, book binder and manager. He was admitted as a partner in 1869 and assumed charge of the literary department. He was a trustee of Columbia colLege, 1873-96, and head of the stand- ing committee on buildings and grounds. He was a vestryman of St. Thomas's P.E. church, a member of the Century association, of the Uni- versity and Metropolitan clubs, and of the New York and the Long Island historical societies. In 1894 he retired and was succeeded by his son, Henry Sleeper Harper, who in 1896 became the treasurer of Harper & Brothers corporation. He died in New York city, July 21, 1896.

HARPER, Robert Qoodloe, statesman, was born in Spottsylvania county, Va., in 1765. His parents removed to GranviUe, N. C., and he was brought up to hard work on his father's farm. When fifteen years old he joined the Revolution- ary patriots, serving in a troop of horse in General Greene's army. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1785, A.M., 1788, supporting himself during his college course bj^ teaching in the lower classes. He studied law in Charleston, S.C, was admitted to the bar in 1786 and practised in the interior districts of the state. He was a representative in the state legislature and in the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th U.S. congresses, 1793-1801. He then removed to Baltimore, Md., having married a daughter of Charles Carroll of Carroll- ton, and he became a celebrated practitioner before the courts of Maryland. He defended Justice Samuel Chase of the U.S. supreme court in his trial for impeachment in 1805. In 1813 he was commissioned a colonel in the U.S. army and during his term of service arose to the rank of major-general. He was elected to the U.S. senate as succe.s.sor to Col. Samuel Smith in 1815. and in 1816 upon becoming a candidate for Vice- Pre.sident on the Federalist ticket, he resigned his seat in the senate. He was an early member of the American colonization society and after re- signing his seat in the senate he devoted much of his time to its interests. Harper, near Cape Palmas, Africa, was named in honor of his mem- ory. In 1825 he was a candidate for representa- tive in the 19th congress, but died before the

election. He received the degree of LL.D. from the College of New Jersey in 1820. He published Sdect Works, including letters, pamphlets and addresses (1814), and Letter on Colonization (1818). He died in Baltimore, Md., Jan 15, 1825.

HARPER, William, senator, was born on the island of Antigua, W.I., Jan. 17, 1790. His father, an Euglish Methodist preacher and follower of John Wesley, was sent with his wife to Antigua as a missionary, and after the birth of their son William removed to Baltimore, Md., and subse- quently to Columbia, S. C. William was graduated at South Carolina college in 1808, was admitted to the bar in 1811, practising in Columbia, S.C, 1811-18, and in Missouri Territory, 1818-23. He was elected territorial chancellor in 1819 and a member of the state const itutioral convention of 1821. He resigned from the bench in 1823 and returned to Columbia, S C, where he was supreme court reporter, 1823-25; U.S. senator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator John Gaillard and he held the office until the legisla- ture met and elected William Smith to fill the vacancy, Senator Harper's term of service extend- ing from March 28 to Dec. 7, 1826. He then practised law in Charleston, S.C, 1826-28, was a representative in the state legislature and speaker of the house, 1828 ; chancellor of the state, 1828-30; judge of the court of appeals, 1830-35, and again chancellor, 1835^7. He was a mem- ber of the nullification convention of 1832 and ol the convention that rescinded the measure in 1833. He died in Columbia, S.C, Oct. 10, 1847. HARPER, William Rainey, educator, was born in New Concord, Oliio, July 26, 1856; the oldest son of Samuel and Ellen Elizabeth (Rainey) Harper ; grandson of Samuel and Sarah (White) Harper, and of William Rainey, who came from Ireland about 1831 ; and a descend- ant of Robert and Jennet Harper, wlio came to America from Ireland in 1795. He was graduated from Muskingum college in 1870, and spent the next three years in private study. He then entered the graduate department of Yale and after two years devoted chiefly to the study of Indo-European languages, he received the degree of Ph.D. in 1875. He was principal of Masonic college, Macon, Tenn., 1875-76; tutor in the pre- paratory department, Denison university, Gran- ville, Ohio, 1876-79; and principal of the same, 1879-80. He was professor of Hebrew and the cognate languages in the Baptist Union theologi- cal seminary, 1879-86 ; principal of the Chautau- qua college of liberal arts, 1885-91, and was elected principal of the Chautauqua system in 1891. In 1886 he was appointed to the chair of the Semitic languages in Yale and in 1889 was, in addition, chosen Woolsey professor of biblical literature. He was also instructor in Hebrew in