Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/58

 RAYNER

READ

RAYNER, Isidor, representative, was born in Baltimore, Md.. April 11, 1850; son of William S. and Amalie R^iyner. He was graduated at the University of Virginia and was admitted to the Baltimore bar in 1871. He was a representative in the Maryland legislature, 1879-80; chairman of the Baltimore delegation ; state senator, 1887- 91 ; and a Democratic representative from the fourth district of Maryland in the 50th, 52d, and 53d congresses, 1887-89 and 1891-95, serving on the committees of foreign affairs, coinage, and commerce. He was elected attorney -general of Maryland in 1900, and was the leading counsel for Rear-Admiral Winfield Scott Schley in his famous trial before the court of inquiry in No- vember, 1901.

RAYNER, Kenneth, representative, was born in Bertie county, N.C., in 1808; son of the Rev. Amos Rayner, a Baptist clergyman and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was educated at the Tarborough academy, was admitted to the bar in 18'29. but engaged in planting in Hertford county, and was a member of the state constitu- tional convention of 1835. He was married in 1841. to Susan, daughter of Col. William Polk of Raleigh. X.C.. an oflScer of the Revolution. He represented Hertford county in the state legisla- ture, 1835. 1836, 1838. 1839, 1846, 1848, and 1851 ; was a Whig representative in the 26th, 27th, and 2Sth congresses, 1839-45 ; a presidential elector for Taylor and Fillmore in 1849, and after the close of the civil war removed to Mississippi. He was a judge of the court of commissioners of Alabama claims, 1874-76, and was solicitor of the U.S. treasury, 1877-84. He is the author of : The Life and Services of Andrew Johnson (1866). He died in Washington, D.C., March 4, 1884.

REA, John, representative, was born in Pennsylvania in 1755. He served in the Revo- lutionary war ; was a representative in the state legislature for several years ; was a Demo- cratic representative from the Chambersburg district in the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th congresses, 1803-11 ; was defeated in 1810 for the 12th con- gress, and was elected to the 13th congress, 1813- 15. He died in Chambersburg, Pa., Feb. 6, 1829.

READ, Daniel, educator, was born in Mari- etta. Ohio, June 24, 1805 ; son of Ezra Read of Urbana, Ohio. He was graduated at Ohio uni- versity, A.B., 1824, A.M., 1827, and was married to Alice Brice of Athens, Ohio. He was principal of the preparatory department of Ohio univer- sity, 1824-35 ; was admitted to the bar in 1836 ; was professor of ancient languages in Ohio uni- versity, 1836-38 ; of Latin and political economy, 1839-42 ; professor of languages in Indiana State university, 184.3-56 ; acting president of the uni- versity, 1853-54, and a member of the Indiana state corr^titutional convention in 1851. He was

professor of mental philosophy, logic, rhetoric and English literature in the University of Wis- consin, 1855-66, and president of the University of the State of Missouri, 18G6-76. He was a government visitor to the U.S. military academy in 1840, and received the degree LL.D. from Indiana Asbury (now De Pauw) university, in 1853. He died in Keokuk, Iowa, Oct. 3, 1878.

READ, George, signer, was born in Cecil county, Md., Sept. 18, 1733 ; son of John and Mary (Howell) Read. John Read came from Ireland ear- ly in the eighteenth century, and settled in Cecil county, where, with six associates, he founded and laid out Charlestown. He spent his last years in Newcastle county, Del. George attended the schools of Chester and New London ; studied law with John Moland of Philadelphia, Pa., and en- tered upon its practice at New Castle, Del., March 6, 1754. He was married in 1763 to Gertrude, daughter of the Rev. George Ross of New Castle, and sister of George Ross, the signer. He was the first attorney-general for Delaware, 1763-75 ; a member of the gs'neral assembly, 1765-77 ; a delegate from Delaware to the Continental con- gress, 1774-77, and president of the convention that framed the first constitution of the state of Delaware in September. 1776. He voted against the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, but finally signed the instrument and was its firm supporter. He declined the presidency of the state in 1776, and was elected its vice-president, becoming acting-presi- dent upon the capture of President John Mc- Kmly in October, 1777, and serving until March, 1778. He was appointed justice of the court of appeals in admiralty cases in 1782 ; was a dele- gate to the commercial convention held at Annapolis, Md., in 1786 ; president of the Dela- ware deputies to the United States constitutional convention held at Philadelphia, and a signer of the instrument, Sept. 17, 1787. He was elected with Richard Bassett, U.S. senator from Delaware, 1789-93 ; drew the short term expiring. March 3, 1791 ; was elected for a full term, but resigned in 1793 to take his seat as chief justice of the state of Delaware, having been appointed by Gov. Joshua Clayton, Sept. 18, 1793. He died in New- castle, Del.. Sept. 21. 1798.

READ, George Campbell, naval officer, was born in Ireland about 1787 ; came to the United States with his parents in childhood, and was warranted midshipman in the U.S. navy, April 2, 1804. He was promoted lieutenant, April 25, 1810 ; was 3d lieutenant on the Constitution in the fight with the British frigate Guerriere, Aug. 19, 1812, and was honored by Capt. Isaac Hull, as the oflicer to receive the sword of Capt. .James R. Dacres. He was lieutenant on the United States in the capture of the Macedonian, Oct. 25,