Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/60

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was twice married; first, to Priscilla, daughter of the Hon. Joliii Marshall of Boston, and secondly, to Amelia, daughter of Edward Thompson of Philadelpliia. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Brown university in 1860. He is the author of: Plan for the Admin- istration of the Girard Trust (ISS'S); Views on the SusjH'usion of the Writ of Habeas Corpus (1863); The Laic of Evidence (1864); Jefferson Davis and his Complicity in the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln (1866). He died in Philadel- phia, Pa., Nov. 29, 187 4.

READ, John Meredith, diplomatist, was born in Philad.^lphia, Pa., Feb. 21, 1837; son of John Meredith Read (q.v.). He attended a military school and Brown university; was graduated from the Albany Law school in 1859; studied international law in Europe, and was ad- mitted to the bar in Philadelpliia in 1839. He removed to Al- bany, N.Y., in 1860, and was adjutant- general of the state, with the rank of brig- adier-general, 1860- 66, receiving the thanks of the war department for his efficiency in equip- ping and forwarding New York volun- teers. He was U.S. consul-general for France and Algeria, 1869-73, and during the Franco-German war he was acting consul-general for Germany, 1870-72. General De Cissy, French minister of war, ap- pointed him president of a commission to con- sider the advisability of teaching the English language to French soldiers. He was U.S. min- ister-resident to Greece, 1873-79, and in his official position he secured the release of the American ship Arynenia, and obtained a revoca- tion of the order prohibiting the sale of the Bible in Greece. During the Russo-Turkish war he discovered a single port open in Russia to foreign commerce, and his report to the U.S. government led to sending a grain fleet from New York to that port, resulting in great gains to American commerce. He received the thanks of the U.S. government for his effectual protec- tion of American citizens in Greece, and in 1881 was created a knight of the grand cross of the Order of the Redeemer, the higliest degree in the gift of the Greek government, by King George. He was president of the social science congress, Albany, N.Y., in 1868; vice-president of the social science cungreis, Plymoutli, England, in

1872; a trustee of the Albany female academy and of Cornell university, 1865-73. The honorary degree of A.M. was conferred on him by Brown in 1866. He is the author of: Relation of Soil to Plants and Animals (1860); First Annual Dis- course before the Delatvare Historical Socicti/ (1864); Historical Inqniry concerniiKj Henry Hudson (1866); and many articles on legal, arclK\?ological and historical subjects. He died in Paris, France, Dec. 27, 1896.

READ, Opie, author, was born in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 22, 1852; son of Guilford and Eliza- beth (Wallace) Read; grandson of James and Lydia Read and of James and Eiizabetli Wal- lace, and a descendtint of the Reads and Wal- laces who settled in North Carolina and Virginia early in the seventeenth century. He attended schools in Gallatin, Tenn., and engaged in news- paper work in Franklin, Ky. He removed to Little Rock, Ark.; was editor of the Arkansas Gazette, 1878-81; was connected with the Cleve- land Leader, 1881-83, and established the Arkan- sas Traveler, a humorous paper that gained him a wide rej)utation in 1883. He conducted this paper until 1891, wlien he removed to Chicago and engaged in literary work. He was married, June 30, 1880, to Ada, daughter of Lucinda and Philo Benham of New York. He is the author of: Len Gansett (1888); A Kentucky Colonel (1889); Enimett Benlore (1891); A Tennessee Judge (1893); Wives of the Prophet (1894); The Jucklins (1895); My Young Master (1896); ,4?-- kansas Planter (1896); Bolanyo (1897); Waters of Caney Fork (1899); The Starbucks (1902).

READ, Thomas, naval officer, was born in Newcastle, Del., in 1740; son of Col. John (tlie immigrant) and Mary (Howell) Read, and grand- son of Henry Read, an English gentleman. He received a liberal education, and was appointeil commodore of tiie Pennsylvania navy, Oct. 23, 1775, being the fust American naval officer to receive tiiat rank. He successfully defended the entrance to the Delaware river, and was appoint- ed to the iiighest grade in the Continental navy, June 7, 1776, and assigned to the command of the 32-gun frigate George Washington, still on the stocks on the Delaware river. While waiting- for his vessel to be launched and fitted for service, he was appointed captain in the Continental army by the committee of safety, and joined General Washington before tiie army crossed the Dela- ware. He commanded a battery made up of guns intended for his frigate, in the battle of Trenton, and for his part in that battle received the formal thanks of all the general officers who took part. He subsequently resigned liis com- mission and retired to his estate near Borden- town, N.J., and in 1787 was induced by Ro1)en Morris to take command of the frigate Alliance,