Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/75

 JARVI^

JASOX

tu the Itar. He was elected a representative in the stale legislature in 1808, was re-elected in 1870, becoming speaker of the house, and was a presidential elector in 1872. He was married, Dec. 23, 1874, to Mary, daughter of Jolm Wood- son. He was a mem- ber of the state con- stitutional conven- tion in 1875. and in the following year was elected lieuten- ant-governor of North Carolina. In 1879 he became governor by the resignation of Governor Vance,

elected to the U.S. senate, and in 1880 he was elected gov- ernor for the term expiring in 1885. He was appointed U.S. minister to Brazil by President Cleveland, serv- ing 1885-89, and in April, 1894, on the death of Senator Vance, he was appointed by Governor CarrU.S. senator, his term expiring March 3, 1895. He was a delegate at large to the Democratic national convention of 1896. He received the honoraiy degree of LL.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1884, and was elected a trustee of that institution in 1883.

JARVIS, William, diplomatist, was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 4, 1770; the onlj' son of Dr. Charles and (Clapham) Jarvis, and grand- son of Col. Leonard and Sarah (Church) Jarvis. He was educated at Latin schools in Boston, at Bardeutown academy, N.J., 1784-85, and in mathematics by William Waring, of Philadel- pliia, 1785-86. In 1786 he entei'ed mercantile busi- ness in Norfolk, Va., and in 1791 in Boston, ^lass. This venture failing in 1796, he went to Corunna as supercargo, and after two voyages lie luul mastered the science of navigation and was able to buy a third interest in the brig Mary. Although of limited nautical experience, he was given full charge of the vessel by the other owners, and after navigating the brig for four years, and also trading on his own account, he retired from the sea in 1802 with a considerable fortune, which enabled him to li(juidate his obli- gitions made by endorsing commercial papers that caused his failure in 1796. On Feb. 4, 1802, he was appointed by President Jefferson charge d'affaires and consul general at Lisbon, the court of Portugal, and establislied a reputation as a dip- lomatist by his dexterous management of the difficult negotiations with the Portuguese govern- ment; with the commander of the French forces at Lisbon, 1807-OS, and with the British govern-

ment. The revolution released large flocks of merino sheep formerly held by the grandees and Mr. Jarvis took advantage of the opportunity afforded him to purchase in 1809 two liundred of the royal Escurial flock and ship tliem to the United States, where he distributed them among the public men of the various states. These sheep, with the exception of one hundred sent by the former U.S. min- ister. Colonel David Humphreys, to the United States on his leaving Lisbon in 1802, were the first of the breed introduced in the United States, He subsequently in- creased his expor- tation of merinos by purchasing 1700 of the Aguirres flock and 1400 Paulars. Consul Jarvis returned to the United States in 1810 with Ids family, reaching Boston in November. He then reported at Wasliington, where he dined with President Madison, and when asked to receive compensation for his eight years' service, refused, on the ground that his country needed its funds to prosecute a war with Great Britain. In 1812 he purchased a tract of land in Weathersfield, Vt., where he made his home and engaged in agri- culture. He was in Lisbon fourteen months on business, 1813-14, during the war of 1812. return- ing liome in January, 1815. He supported Henry Clay for the Presidency in 1824, 1832 and isil; W. H. Harrison in 1836 and 1840, and General Taylor in 1848. He was married in 1808 to ^laiy Pepperrell, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Bartlett) Sparkill, of Boston, Mass., the cere- mony having been performed in Portugal, first by the U.S. consul at St. Lucor, secondly by a Koman Catholic priest, and tliirdly by a Prot- estant clergyman in Lisbon. 3Irs. Jarvis died at Haverhill, Mass., April 7, 1811. His second marriage occurred in May, 1817, to Ann Bailey, daughter of the Hon. Bailej' and Peggy Leonard (White) Bartlett, of Haverliill, Mass. Consul Jarvis died at Weathersfield, Vt., Oct. 21, 1859. JASON, William Charles, educator, was born at Easton, Md., Oct. 12, 1859; son of William and ]Mary E. (Wing) Jason, and grandson of Arch and ]Mary Jason and of Charles and Frances (Milles) Wing. He attended the public schools at Cambridge and Easton. Md., and was graduated from the Genesee Wesleyan seminary in isss; from Allegheny college at Meadville. P.i.. A.B.. 1888, A.M., 1891, and from the Drew Tlieological