Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/435

 LETCHER

LEUTZE

settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he enpjaged in teaching drawing and painting, 1816-27, and in 1827 he joined the .socialistic colon}', established by Robert Owen at New Harmony, Ind, In 1834 he removed to New Orleans, La., and in 1837 sailed from there to France, where lie spent the remainder of his life as a teacher of painting. His most important scientific work was done in America, he being the first to study the ichthy- ology of the Great American lakes. He was a member of the American Philosophical society', and of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and was appointed curator of the newly established Museum of Natural History at Havre, France, in 1845. He is the author of numerous important scientific papers and of many contributions to scientific journals in France and the United States. He died in Havre, France, Dec. 12, 1846.

LETCHER, John, governor of Virginia, was born in Lexington, Va., March 28, 1813. He was of Welsh and Scotch ancestry. He learned the trade of a tailor, attended Washington college, 1832-33. and became a lawj-er in Lexington. He was a presidential elector in 1848; a member of the state constitutional convention of 1850; a Democratic repre- sentative from the nintli Virginia district inthe 32d, 33d, 34th and 35th congre.ss- es, 1851-59; and governor of After the state decided to join its fortune with the Southern Confederacy, he used his influence in vigorously prosecuting the war. He was a prisoner in the hands of the Federal government for several months in 1865, and upon his release he resumed tl>e practice of Ian- in Lexington. He was a representative in the Virginia legislatui-e, 187.5-77, and while in at- tendance at tiie state capital he was stricken with paralysis and remained an invalid up to the time of his death, which occurred at Lex- ington. Va.. Jan. 20. 1884.

LETCkiER, Robert Perkins, governor of Ken- tucky, was born in Goocliland county, Va., Feb. 10, 1788. He became a lawyer in Lancaster county, Ky.; was several times a repre.sentative in the state legislature and served as speaker of the house. He was a Democratic representative in the 18th-23d congresses, 1823-35; was a ])re.s- iilential elector on the Harri.son and Johnson ticket in 1836; was governor of Kentucky, 1840- 44, and was U.S. minister to Mexico, 1849-52. He died in Frankfort. Ky., Jan. 24, 1801.

LEUTZE, Emanuel, painter, was born in Gmiind.Wiirtemburg. Germanj', May 24, 1816. He immigrated to the United States with his parents about 1820 and they first settled in Philadelpliia, Pa., and later removed to Fredericksburg. Va.

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He received a classical education and early dis- played artistic talents which led him to adopt painting as a profession. Through the sale of his painted portraits and various drawings, he was enabled to visit Europe in 1841, where he studied under Less- ing at the academy in Dusseldorf. He made a study of his- torical painting of American subjects, and his first canvas " Coin m Ij u s b( • f or e the Council of Sala- manca '' was purchas- ed by the Dusseldorf Art Union, and an other, "Columbus in Chains," for which he received a gold medal at the Brussels Art Exhibition, was

purchased by the Art Union, New York. He studied the school of Cornelius and Kaulbach in Municli in 1843, studied Titian and Michael Angelo in Venice and Rome, and made a tour of Italy in 1844, and then returned to Dusseldorf, where he married Julia, daughter of Col. Henry Lottner, of the Pru.s.sian army, in November, 1845. He made several trips to the United States, and finally opened a studio in New York city, in 1859. He was admitted to a membership in the National Academy of Design in 1800, and was commissioned by the government the same year to paint the large mural picture in fresco at the head of the stairway leading to the Representa- tive gallery in the capitol at Washington, D.C., entitled " Westward the course of Empire takes its Way.'' He freque:itly visited the art centers of Europe and painted French, German, Spanish, as well as American historical subjects. During his residence in Germanj' he painted: Keics from Le.rinrjton; Mrs. Schuyler Firing the JMteat Fields; Columbus Before the Queen; Landing of the Norsemen in America; Cromn-ell and his Daughter; Hie Court of Queen Elizabeth; Henry VIII. and Avne Boleyn; The Iconoclast; John Knox and Mary Stuart; Washington Crossing the Delaware; Washington at the Battle of Mon- mouth; Sergeant Jasper; Washington at Prince- ton; The Storming of Teocalli, Me.vico; Lafayette in Prison at Olmufz. Visited by his Relatives; Elaine, exhibited at National Academy; Mary Stiiart hearing the First Mass at Holyrood after her Return from France (Paris Exposition, 1867); Tlie Mother's Visit; Settlement of Maryland by Lord Baltimore; Christmas flummeries, and numerous portraits owned by pi-ivate individuals and exhibited at the National Academy after his