Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/64

 HAMBLEN

HAMILTON

he devoted his time to philological studies. He is the autlior of several legal volumes; The 'Jlicul- oijy of the Bihh' ^1800); Thi- Book Vallnl Joh (IHTo). He .lit- I in Lyons Farms. N.J., Aug. 29, 1877.

HAMBLEN, Herbert Elliott (Frederick Benton Williams'"), author, was born in Ossipee, N.H., Dec. 24, 1849; son of Andrew H. and Mary Susiin (Small) Hamblen. He received a common school education in New York city; went to sea, attaining the position of chief mate, 1804-78; was a railroad engineer, 1880-94, and was employed as an aqueduct engineer by the city of New York after 1894. In 1896 he was brought into contact with W. S. Booth, librarian of the east side settlement. New Y'ork city. Mr. Booth urged him to write out some of his experiences and the book On Many Seas was the result. Among his other works are The General Manager's <S/ori/ ( 1898); Tom Benton's Uick {ISQ^); The Story of a Yankee i?oy (1898); We Win (1899); Scotty (1899); The Yarn of a Bucko Mate (1899), and numerous short stories for magazines.

HAMBLIN, Joseph Eldridge, soldier, was born in Yarmouth, Mass., in 1828. He engaged in business in New Y^ork city, where he was a member of the 7th regiment N.Y^S.M., and in 1861 he accompanied that regiment to Washing- ton. D.C. At the expiration of the thirty days' service of that regiment he was made adjutant of the oth New York volunteers and soon after was transferred to the 65th N.Y. volunteers as lieutenant -colonel and was assigned to the 1st brigade. Col. Alexander Shaler, 3d division. Gen. John Newton, 6th corps. Gen. John Sedgwick, army of the Potomac, Gen. Josepli Hooker. He commanded his regiment in the Chancellorsville campaign and greatly distinguished himself at Hazel Run, May 2, 1862, by literally obeying the order of General Newton to " brush away the enemy's pickets." He was promoted colonel and led hLs regiment at Gettysburg during the entire engagement. He was with Grant's army from the Wilderness to Petersburg and was with Siieridan's army in the Valley, where he com- manded the 2d brigade at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19,

1864, and was severely wounded, his brigade los- ing 404 officers and men. Upon his recovery he commaniled the 2d l)rigade in the Appomattox campaign with the full rank of brigadier general. For his action at Cedar Creek he was brevetted brigadier-general and for Sailor's Creek, April 6,

1865, major-general of volunteers. He was mus- tered out of the volunteer army, Jan. 15, 1866. He died in New York city, July 3, 1870.

HAMBLIN, Thomas Sowerby, actor mana- ger, was iKjrn in Pentonville, near London, Eng- land, May 14, 1800. While at school he became interested in the stage from taking part succe.ss- fully in an amateur performance of "Hamlet,"

and changing his plan of entering mercantile life, he soon found employment as a super and occa- sional dancer in the Adelphi theatre, London. He was later engaged for small parts at Drury Lane and then received more important assign- ments in various English and Irish cities. He was married to Elizabeth Blanchard, an actress, and soon after emi- grated to the United States, making liis

American d6- "Rst bowery theatre, mew yoKK.

but at the Park theatre. New York, Nov. 1, 1825, as Hamlet. He travelled as a star for five years and in 1830 joined James H. Hackett in the management of the old Bowery theatre. Hackett soon retired and Hamblin retained his connection with the Bowery, with the ex- ception of a few years, until his death. Twice the theatre was burned, with heavy loss to Mr. Hamblin. In 1848 he leased the Park theatre and managed it in connection with the Boweiy imtil Dec. 16, 1848, when it, too, was burned. He often appeared as a star, his chief parts being Hamlet, Rollo, Pierre, Macbeth and Othello. He was four times married, his fourth wife being the actress Mrs. Sliaw, said to have been the best Desdemona and Ophelia of her day. He died in New Y'ork city, Jan. 8, 1853.

HAMER, Thomas Lyon, representative, was born in Pennsylvania in 1800; the son of a farmer. He removed to Oliio in 1817, where he taught school and was admitted to the bar in 1821, practising in Georgetown, Ohio, 1821-46. He was a representative in the state legislature for several terms; was speaker of the house during one term; was a representative in the 23d, 24th and 25th congresses, 1833-39, and while in con- gress obtained for U. S. Grant his appointment as a cadet at West Point. He volunteered in the Mexican war as a private, June 30, 1846, and was commissioned brigadier-general by President Polk the next da\'. He commanded his brigade at the battle of Monterey in the division of Gen. William O. Butler, and when that officer was wounded succeeded to the command of the division. His nearest male representative was jiresented by congress with a sword given in token of his bravery on the battlefield. He died in Monterey, Mexico. Dec. 3, 1846.

HAMILTON, Alexander, statesman, was born in the Island of Nevis, We.st Indies, Jan. 11, 1757; son of James Hamilton, a St. Catherine or Kitts merchant; and grandson of Alexander Hamilton of The Grange, Scotland. His mother was probably a French lady, daughter of Doctor