Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/422

 MITCHELL

MITCHELL

biblical interpretation, theological department, Sliiirtleff college, Alton, 111., 1863-70, and of Hebrew and Old Testament literature after the schools became the Biiptist Union Theological seminary, Chicago, 111., 1870-76. He was pro- fessor of Hebrew at Regent's Park college, Lon- (Ijn, England, 1876-77 ; president of the Baptist Theological school at Paris, France, 1878-82, and president pro tempore of Roger Williams univer- sity, at Nashville, Tenn., 1884-85. In the winter of 1883-84 he reorganized the colored schools of the soutli under the American Home Missionary society, and in 1887 he was president of Leland university, New Orleans, La., 1887-1900. He was married first in 1854 to Maria, daughter of Sendel and Eliza Morton of Middleboro, Mass. ; she died in February, 1888, and he was married secondly in 1890, to Marcia Savage of Bath, N.Y. He received from Colby the degree of A.M. in 1863, and that of D.D. in 1870. He de- livered a course of lectures on '• Biblical Science and Modern Discovery," before tlie Lowell Insti- tute, Boston, in 1883, and also lectured before the Hebrew school, Morgan Park, 111., in Wor- cester, Mass., and in Brooklyn, N.Y., 1884-85. He edited : The Present Age, Chicago, III., 1883- 81 ; Banjamin Davies's Hebrew Lexicon (1880), and Mitchell's edition of Gesenius's Hebrew Grammar (1883). He is the author of Guide to the Authenticity, Canon and Text of the New Testavfient (1881); Lea Sources du Nouveau Testament (Paris, 1882), and an Elementary Hebrew Grammar and Reading Book (1884). He died ill New Orleans, La., March 2, 1900.

MITCHELLt Elisha, educator, was born in Washington, Conn., Aug. 19, 1793 ; son of Abner and Ph(Bbe (Eliot) Mitchell, and great-grandson of the Rev. Jared Eliot (q. v.) . He was graduated from Yale, A.B., 1813, A.M., 1816 ; taught school on Long Island, 1813-16 ; was tutor at Yale, 1816-17 ; studied at Andover Theological sem- inary, 1818, and was licensed to preach. He was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at the University of North Carolina, 1817-25 ; professor of chemistry, geology and mineralogy, 1826-27, and chairman of the faculty, 1835-36. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Hills- borough, N.C., in August, 1821, and combined the work of the ministry with that of his profes- sorship. He was state surveyor for many years, and in that capacity visited and made observa- tions of the various sections of North Carolina. He determined that the highest mountains in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains are those of the Appalachian range, in North Carolina, and that the highest peak is Black Dome. While endeavoring to find the exact alti- tude of this peak he lost his life by falling over a precipice, some forty feet, into a pool of water.

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His remains were taken to Asheville for burial, but in response to the wishes of the mountaineers they were buried on the highest point of Black Dome mountain in 1858, Bishop Otey of Tennessee pronouncing the funeral oration. The peak was subsequently named Mitchell's Peak, in his honor, and the Elisha Mitchell Scien- tific Society of the University of North Carolina was estab- lished to his memory. The honorary degree of D.D. was confer- red on him by the University of Ala- bama in 1838. He contributed many monographs on the subjects of mineralo- gy, botany and chem- istry to the American Journal of Science, and is the author of Report on the Geology of North Carolina (1826-27); The Elements of Geology (1842); Manual of Chemistry. The date of his death is June (probably 27), 1857.

MITCHELL, George Edward, soldier and representative, was born in Cecil county, Md., March 8, 1781 ; son of Dr. Abraham and Mary (Thompson) Mitchell, and grandson of Dr. Ephraim Thompson of Maryland. Dr. Abraham Mitchell was a native of Lancaster county, Pa. ; settled previous to 1767 at Elkton, Cecil county, Ind. ; practised medicine there, and during the Revolutionary war converted his house' into a hos- pital for the Continental soldiers. George studied medicine under his father and at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated June 5, 1805. He practised with his father at Elkton, 1806-12 ; was repre- sentative in the state assembly, 1808, and a member of the executive council of Gov. Edward Lloyd, 1809-12. He raised a company of volun- teers in Cecil county, 1812 ; was appointed major of the 3d U.S. artillery. May 1 ; was at Camp Albany, N.Y., May to November, 1812, and in command of Sacket Harbor, 1^12-13. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel, March 3, 1813 ; took part in the Canada campaign, and com - manded Fort Niagara during the latter part of 1813. He commanded the rear-guard of the sec- ond division of the Northern army while on its march from French Mills to Sacket Harbor, in February, 1814, and the fortifications at Oswego, N.Y., April to May, 1814, and on May 5 and 6 boldly defended Oswego from the Brit- ish, but was finally forced to retreat. He re- ceived the thanks of his superior oflScer for his