Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/19

 HABERSHAM

HACKETT

the war held the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was delegate to the Continental congress, 1785-86 ; speaker of the state assembly, 1785-90 ; a member of the state convention that ratified the Federal constitution, 1788; mayor of the city of Savannah, 1792; and postmaster -general in the cabinets of Presidents Washington, Adams and Jefferson, 1795-1801. He resigned, Nov. 28, 1801, on receiv- ing the offer of the office of U.S. treasurer from President Jefferson, which he declined. He was president of the Savannah branch of the U.S. bank, 1802-15. He married, May 19, 1776, Isabella Rae. He died in Savannah, Ga., Nov. 17, 1815.

HABERSHAM, Richard Wylly, representa tive, was born in Savannali, Ga., in 1786; son of James Jr., and Esther (WylljO Habersham ; and grandson of Gov. James and Mary (Bolton) Habersham. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1805, A.M., 1808; practised law in Savannah, Ga. ; was U.S. district attorney and resigned in 1825 to prevent a disruption between the administration and Governor Troup, and in 1835 removed to Habersham county and worked gold mines owned by his family. He was a representative in the 26th and 27th congresses, 1839-42. In congress he induced the Georgia del- egates to vote for the approjiriation that enabled S. F. B. Morse to construct his first telegraph line. He opposed the tariff bill of 1842. His sis- ter Esther married Stephen Elliott of Charleston. He died in Clarkesville, Ga., Dec. 2, 1842.

HACKETT, Horatio Balcli, clergyman, was born in Salisbury, Mass., Dec. 27, 1808. He was graduated from Amherst in 1830 and from Andover theological seminary in 1834, afterward continuing his theological studies in Germany. He was a tutor at Amherst, 1831-32, and in 1835 accepted the chair of Latin and Greek languages and literature. He was transferred to the chair of Hebrew literature in 1838 and in 1839 resigned to become professor of biblical literature in New- ton theological institution. He was ordained to the Baptist ministry, Dec. 8, 1839. He made several trips abroad and in 1868 resigned his chair at Newton to engage in literary work. In 1870 he became professor of Biblical literature and New Testament exegesis in the theological seminary at Rochester, N.Y. He received the degree of S.T.D. from the University of Vermont in 1845 and from Harvard in 1861; and that of LL.D. from Amherst in 1862. He published Plutarch's De Sera Minimis Vindicta, with notes (1814); translation of Winer's Chaldee Gram- mar (1845); Hebrew Grammar and Hehreiv Header (1847); Commentary on the Acts (1851)'; Illustra- tions of Script lire Suggested bij a Totir Through the Hohj Land (1855) ; Memorials of Christian Men in the TlTrj- (1864) ; and several translations. He died at Rochester, N,Y., Nov. 2, 1875.

HACKETT, James Henry, actor, was born in New York city, March 15, 1800. His father was a native of Holland who had been a lieutenant in the life guards of the Prince of Orange, and his mother was the daughter of the Rev. Abraham Keteltas, a New York clergyman. He fitted for college at a Long Island academy and in 1815 entered Co- lumbia, where he re- mained but a year, leaving to study with a New York lawyer. In 1819 he was mar- ried to Katlierine Duffield Lee Sugg, an actress and the daughter of an Eng- lish ventriloquist. Miss Lee-Sugg at the time was playing at the Park theatre in New York city. After her marriage she retired from the stage and removed with her husband to Utica, N.Y., where for several years he engaged in business on a large scale, having a branch in New York city, and finally failed. This failure caused Mrs. Hackett to return to her profession. She reap- peared at the New York Park theatre on Feb. '^7, 1826, as the countess in "Love in a Village." Mr. Hackett, having a fondness for the drama, applied to the management for a trial as an actor and on March 1, 1826, he made his debut as Justice Woodcock in " Love in a Village,'* a benefit to Mrs. Hackett. His second appearance, in which he made his first great hit, was as one of the Dromios in the " Comedy of Errors" in October, 1826, John Barnes playing the twin brother, his imitation of Barnes's voice and mannerisms being so nearly perfect that the audience were unable to tell them ajiart. He next appeared in the title role of '* Sylvester Daggervvood " and introduced in the part suc- cessful impei'sonations of Charles Mathews, Edmund Kean and other actors. In November,

1826, his success became assured by his imper- sonation of a Yankee and a Frenchman. In December he sailed for England and on April 6,

1827, appeared at the Covent Garden theatre, London, as Sylvester Daggerwood, playing the part as he had played it in New York. His success was indifferent, though his imitations were commented upon as good. Before returning home he made his success substantial by playing the whole character of Richard III. in imitation of Edmund Kean. In 1830 Hackett joined for a short time with Thomas S. Hamblin in the man- agement of the Bowery theatre and subsequently