Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/59

 READ

READ

1812, and commanded the Chippeica of the flying squadron under Com. Oliver H. Perry, 1813. He was promoted commander. April 27, 1816, and captain, March 3, 1825. He commanded the East India squadron in 1840, the African squadron in 1846, and the Mediterranean squadron subse- quently. He was placed on the reserved list, Sept. 13, 1855, was governor of the Naval asylum at Philadelphia, Pa., 1861-62, and was promoted rear-admiral on the retired list, July 16, 1862, He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 22, 1862.

READ, Mollis, missionary, was born in New- fane, Vt., Aug, 26, 1802, He was graduated from Williams college, A,B., 1826, A.M., 1829 ; at- tended Princeton Theological seminary, 1826- 28 ; was a missionary at Bombay, India, 1830-35, and an agent of the A. B.C. for F.M., 1835-37, He preached in Babylon, L.I., 1837-38; Derby, Conn., 1838-43 ; was agent of the American Tract society, 1843-44, and pastor at New Pres- ton, Conn,, 1845-51. He taught school at Orange, N.J., and was agent of the Society for the Con- version of the Jews, 1851-55 ; was stated supply at Cranford, N.J., 1855-64, and was agent of the Freedman's Relief association. He is the author of: Journal in India (1835); Babajee the Chris- tian Brahmin (1837); TJie Hand of God in His- tory (1848-52); Memoirs and Sermons of W. J. Armstrong, D.D. (1851); Palace of a Great King (1855); Commerce and Christianity (1856); India and its People (1858); The Coming Crisis of the World (1858); The Negro Problem Solved (1864); Footp)rints of Satayi {18QQ). He died in Somer- ville, N.J., April 7, 1887.

READ, Jacob, senator, was born in South Car- olina in 17 ).'. He received a liberal education; studied la\v in England, 1773-76, and established himself in practice in Charleston, S.C, in 1776. He was appointed major of a regiment of South Carolina volunteers, and was taken prisoner early in the war and t-u.iJined at St. Augustine, Fla., 1778-82. He was ;i representative in the South Carolina legislature ; a delegate to the Continen- tal congress, 1783-85 ; a Federalist U.S. senator, 1795-1801, and judge of the U.S. court for the district of South Carolina, 1801-16. He died in Charleston. S.C, July 17. 1816.

READ, John Joseph, naval officer, was born in New Jersey, June 17, 1842. He was appointed a cadet in the U.S. Naval academy, Sept. 21, 1858, and was ordered into active service in May, 1861 ; promoted ensign, Nov. 25, 1862 ; lieutenant, Feb. 22, 1864, lieutenant colonel, July 25, 1866; commander, Dec. 11, 1S77 ; captain, April 27, 1893. and rear-admiral. Nov. 29. 1900. During the civil war he served on the flagship Hartford, West Gulf blockading squadron, under Admiral Farragut, in the battles from Southwest Pass to Vicksburg, 1863 ; stationed with the South IX. — 4

Atlantic blockading squadron, 1862-64 ; on the steamer R. R. Cuyler, North Atlantic squadron, 1864-65 ; De Soto and Rhode Island, Atlantic squadron, 1865-67; flagship Susquehanna, North Atlantic squadron, 1867-68 ; Michigan on the Lakes, 1869; Guerriere, European station, 1870-72 ; Richmond, North Pacific station, 1873-76, and South Pacific station, 1876-77. He was in com- mand of the bureau of yards and docks, 1877-79 ; lighthouse inspector, 1879-83, 1886-90, and 1892- 93 ; in command of the Michigan, 1883-86 ; of the Iroquois. March, 1891-July, 1892 ; inspector, on temporary duty at Newport, R.I., from May, 1893, until August, 1894, when he was assigned to the command of the receiving ship Independ- ence. He commanded the flagship Olympia, Asiatic squadron, 1895-97 ; was on waiting orders, November, 1897-98 ; commanded the re- ceiving ship Richmond, League Island navy yard, 1898-1900 ; and on April 1, 1900, was placed in command of the U.S. navy yard at Ports- mouth, N.H., his date of retirement by operation of law being June 17, 1904.

READ, John Meredith, jurist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 21, 1797 ; son of the Hon. John and Martha (Meredith) Read. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1812, A.M., 1816.; was admitted to the bar in 1818, and established himself in practice in Philadelphia. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1822-24 ; city solicitor of Phila- delphia, 1824-27 ; member of the select council, 1827-30 ; U. S. attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, 1837-41 ; solicitor for the U.S. treasury, 1841-45, and attorney-general of the state in 1846. He was nominated hv President Polk as associate justice of the U.S. supreme court, but owing to the opposition of the Southern senators to his free-soil views, he re- quested the President to withdraw his name. He advocated the annexation of Texas, and sup- ported President Jackson in opptbing the cliarter for the Bank of the United States. In 1856 he joined the Republican party, and delivered a speech on the " Power of Congress over Slavery in the Territories," which was used as a campaign document during the canvass. He was elected by the Republican party justice of the supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1858. serving, 1858-72, and as chief justice, 1872-73. He was proposed as the Republican candidate for President in 1860, with Abraham Lincoln for vice-president, but the arrangement was defeated by Simon Cameron in the Republicui state convention lield in Pennsylvania in 1860. He received sixty votes for the nomination for President at the Chicago convention of 1860. but withdrew in favor of Abraham Lincoln. He was made a member of the American Philosophical society in 1863. He