Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/269

 HIGGINSON

HIGGINSOX

Saulsbury, Democrat, taking his seat Mai'ch 4, 1889. He was succeeded, March 4, 1895, by Richard R. Kenney and resumed the practice of law in AVilmington. In the senate he was a member of the committees on District of Columbia, inter- state commerce, manufactures, privileges and elections, and relations with Canada. He re- ceived the honorary degree of LL.D. from Yale in 1891.

HIGGINSON, Ella (Rhoads), author, was born at Council Grove, Kan., in 1863; daughter of Charles Reeves and Mary Ann Rhoads, and a descendant of James and Hannah Rhoads, of Indiana. She was educated first at home ; later at a seminary in Oregon City, Oregon, and at a private school, and commenced her literarj' career as a contributor of short stories and verse to the magazines. She is the author of : The Floiver That Grew in the Sand (1896) ; Fro7n the Land of the Snoiv Pearls (1897); A Forest Orchid (1898), all books of short stories ; and When the Birds Go North Again, a book of verse (1898).

HIGGINSON, Francis, clergyman, was born in England in 15SS. He was graduated from St. John's college, Cambridge, and became a clergy- man of the established church, holding a parish at Claybrooke, Leicester, as assistant to his father, also a clergyman ; but afterward joined the ranks of the Puritans. In 1629 he embarkedwith the expedition of the Massachusetts Bay company to New England, as "teacher" (pastor) of the church to be founded at Salem, Mass., where he was or- dained, this being the first ordination occurring in New England. He wrote New England's Plan- tations (1630), and also a Journal of his voyage, which has been often reprinted. See his Life by Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1891). He died in Salem, Mass., Aug. 6, 1630.

HIGGINSON, Francis John, naval oflacer, was born in Boston, Mass., July 19, 1843 ; son of Ste- phen and Agnes (Cochrane) Higginson, grand- son of Stephen and Louisa (Storrow) and a descen- dant of the Rev. Francis Higginson (1588-1630). He was graduated from the U.S. naval academy at Annapolis in 1861, and served in the civil war. He was wounded in the expedition from the Colorado that destroyed the Confederate priva- teer Judith. He afterward acted as signal mid- shipman to Capt. Theodorus Bailey on board the Cayuga wlien Farragut's fleet passed Forts Jack- son and St. Philip, La., April 24, 1862. He was promoted lieutenant, Aug. 1, 1862, took part in the blockade of Charleston, S.C, and in the bom- bardment of Fort Sumter, by the U.S. squad- ron under Rear-Admiral Dahlgren. He also had command of a division of boats in the boat attack on Fort Sumter, under Captain Stevens. Later he was on board the Housatonic when she was destroyed by a torpedo, and was in command

of the launches used in interrupting communica- tions by night between Charleston and Morris Island. He was promoted lieutenant-commander, July 25, 1866 ; commander, June 10, 1876, and captain, Sept. 27, 1891. On July 22, 1897, he was

placed in command of the 3Iassachusetts. He served in Commodore Sampson's fleet in the war with Spain, 1898, taking part in the blockade of Santiago, and commanded the naval force which convoyed General Miles to Port Rico and covered his landing. On Aug. 10, 1898, after the battle of Santiago, he was advanced to tlierankof com- modore. He was made rear-admiral, March 3, 1899, and was advanced tliree numbers for services during the Spanish war. In 1901 lie was placed in command of the North Atlantic Squadron.

HIGGINSON, John, clergyman, was born in Claybrooke, Leicester, England, Aug. 6, 1G16 : son of Francis Higginson (1588-1630). He came to America as a boy with his father and succeeded him in his church in Salem, having previously been assistant to the Rev. Henry Whitfield, at Guilford, Conn., whose daughter he married. He was one of the leading clergymen in New England, being seventy-two years in the minis- try ; published various sermons and furnished the attestation to Cotton Mather's 3Iagnalia, which was prefixed to the first volume of that work. He was pronounced by the critic R. W. Griswold, to be " incomparably the best writer " among the American Puritan divines. He died in Salem, Mass., Dec. 9, 1708.

HIGGINSON, Stephen, delegate, was born in Salem, Mass., Nov. 28, 1743 ; son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Cabot) Higginson, and a descendant of the Rev, Francis Higginson (1588-1630). He be- came a merchant and a shipmaster, and accumu- lated a considerable fortune. In 1774 he visited England, and wliile there appeai-ed bj' request at the house of commons to expi-ess his opinion as to the Revolutionary feeling in Massachusetts. He was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1782-83 ; and navy agent at Boston, 1797-1801. He was active in the suppression of Shays's re-