Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/232

 PARTRIDGE

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xey of the north-eastern boundary. In the latter part of 1819 he founded in Norwich, Vt., the American Literary Scientific and Military acad- emy of which lie was superintendent and pro- fessor of mathematics, pliilosophy and niilitarj' science. The first class of one hundred students entered Sept. 4, 1820, and on Aug. 22, 1825, the institution was removed to Middletown, Conn., and had an attendance of two hundred and ninety- seven students. Failing to obtain a charter from Connecticut he removed the military school back to Norwich, Vt., in 1829, where he had conducted a flourisliing seminary, 1825-29, as a preparatory school for his niilitar\- academy. In November, 1831, lie obtained a charter from the legislature of Vermont for the Norwich university with full power to confer degrees and to possess all other powers and immunities belonging to the colleges and universities of the United States. He was elected its first president, which office he resigned in 1843, owing to differences with the other trustees as to the management of the university, and Truman B. Ransom was elected president. He was married in April. 1837, to Ann Elizabeth, daughter of John Swasey of Claremont, N.H., who with their son, Capt. Heniy V. Partridge, U.S. v., survived him. Capt. Alden Partridge was surveyor general of Vermont, 1822; a repre- sentative from Norwich to the state legislature, 1833, 1834, 1837 and 1839; the unsuccessful Demo- cratic candidate for representative in the 22d, 24th 25tli and 26tli congresses, and the unsuccessful Independent candidate for representative in the 31st congress in 1848. He established a military school at Portsmouth, Va., 1839, known as the Vir- ginia Literary, Scientific and Military institute, and others at Bristol, Pa., 1842, at Pembroke, N.H., 1847, and at Harrisburg. Penn., 1850; was camp instructor of Pennsylvania volunteer militia at Reading in 1842, and in 1853 opened at Brandy- wine Springs, Del., what he hoped to make a National school of education in the arts of peace and war. The buildings burned in the autumn of 1853 and he planned to remove to Bristol, Penn. He returned to his family at Norwich, Vt., where he was stricken with what proved a fatal illness. He is the author of: An Excur- sion (1822); Lectures on Education (1825); Lectures on National Defence (1827); Journal of a Tour of Cadets (1827). He died in Nor- wich. Vt., Jan. 17. 1854.

PARTRIDGE, Frederick William, soldier and diplomatist, was born in Norwidi, Vt., Aug. 19, 1824; son of Capt. Cyrus (17sf3-l842j and Mary (Loveland) (1786-186G) Partridge; grandson of Capt. Isaac Partridge of the Revolution and of Joseph and Mercy (Bigelow) Loveland; great- grandson of Capt. Samuel Partridge of the Colon- ial wars, and of David and Mercy (Lewis) Bige-

low, and a descendant of Thomas Bigelow, the immigrant, and of Elisha and Lucy (Sparks) Lovel, who immigrated to Glastonbury, Conn. Frederick William Partridge attended the dis- trict .school; the Norwich Literaiy, Scientific and Military academy, and Dartmouth college one year; studied law at Albany, N.Y., and in the office of Franklin Pierce of Concord, N.H., and had charge of the Harrisburg Military col- lege. Pa., established by his cousin, Capt. Alden Partridge (q. v.), 1845-47. In January, 1847, he enlisted in the U.S. army and went to Mexico as special commissioner of President Polk to visit the seat of war and report his impressions of the conduct and progress of the campaign to the secretary of war. Having no credentials, as his mission was secret, he was captured by the Amer- ican army as a sp3', ordered to be imprisoned at San Juan de Ulua, commanded by his cousin, Lieut. Henry S. Burton. 1st artillery, and after his release returned to Washington without ac- complishing his mission. He resigned from the army in 1847 and was located on a farm in Ken- dall county. 111., 1847-55, during part of which time he was captain of a company of militia. He was married in 1852 to Mary, daughter of William Pauline of East Aurora, N.Y. He con- tinued his law studies under Isaac N. Arnold in Chicago, 1855-57. In 1857 he removed to Sand- wich, 111., and in 1861 became senior captain in the 13th Illinois volunteer regiment. He was made major of the regiment in June, 1861, lieu- tenant-colonel in December, 1862, and colonel, June 18, 1864, for gallantry at Lookout Mountain, and was brevetted brigadier-general for acts at Missionary Ridge. He was wounded at Chick- asaw Bayou, Miss., at Chattanooga, and at Ring- gold Gap. He was mustered out with his regi- ment, July 18, 1864, practised law in Sandwich and had an office in Chicago. He was postmaster of Sandwich; clerk of the circuit court, and U.S. consul-general at Bangkok, Siam, 1869-76, when he saved the life of the son of the king and did much to promote the safety of Christian mis- sionaries in the kingdom. He returned to the United States in 1876 by way of Singapore and the Suez Canal, visiting the chief cities of Europe. He served as U.S. examiner of pensions at Rush- ville, Ind., and Tiffin, Ohio, 1882-89. He died at Sycamore, 111., Jan. 22, 1899.

PARTRIDGE, George, delegate, was born in Duxbury, Mass., Feb. 8, 1740; son of George and Hann.-ih (Foster) Partridge: grandson of John and Hannah (Seabury) Partridge and of Dea- con Foster of Plymouth, Mass., and a great- grandson of George and Sarah (Trac}') Par- tridge. George Partridge came to America from Kent county, England, about 1636, and receiv- ed a grant of land at Powder Point, Dux-