Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/293

 WADLEIGH

WADSWORTH

and commenced practice at Milford, where he was married, Jan. 6, 1853, to Ann Maria, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hale) Putnam. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1S55-56, 1859-69 and 1869-72, and a U.S. senator from New Hampshire, elected as a Republican, 1873-79, serving as a member of the committees on patents, military affairs and elections. He re- sumed the practice of law in Boston, Mass., where he died. Jan. 24, 1891.

WADLEIQH, George Henry, naval officer, was born in Dover, N.H., Sept. 28, 1842 ; son of George and Sarah (Gilman) Wadleigh ; grand- son of Elijah and Rhoda (Smith) Wadleigh, and of James and Elizabeth (Robinson) Gilman, and a descendant of John Wadleigh of Wells, Maine, 1635. He attended public and private schools ; was appointed acting inidshipman, U.S. navy, Sept. 26, 1860 ; promoted midshipman in July, 1862 ; graduated from the U.S. Naval academy, Newport, R.I., and was commissioned ensign, May 28, 1863. He was ordered to the steam-sloop Lackaivanna, West Gulf blockading squadron, and was on active blockade duty until the end of the war, being present at the attack on Fort Powell, March 2, 1864 ; at the battle of Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864, and in subsequent operations resulting in the surrender of Fort Morgan, Aug. 23, 1864. He was ordered to the steam-sloop Richmond, in March, 1865 ; promoted master, Nov. 10, 1865, being attached to the Ticonderoga, European station, 1865-69 ; lieutenant, Nov. 10, 1866, and lieutenant-commander in March, 1868. He was married, Oct. 12, 1869, to Clara, daughter of John R. and Abigail (Green) Robinson of San Francisco, Cal. He was at the Naval academy, 1869-70 ; on torpedo duty, 1870-71 ; executive officer on the Shaivmut, Canonicus, Ohio, St. Mary's and Pensacola, 1871-78, and at the Ports- mouth (N.H.) navy yard, 1879-81, being pro- moted commander in March, 1880. He com- manded the steam-sloop Allicmce, during the summer of 1881, on a special Arctic cruise in search of the Jeannette, reaching a latitude of 80° 10' ; was light-house inspector, 1883-86 ; was stationed at the Boston navy yard, 1887-89 ; com- manded the Michigan, northwestern lakes, 1889- 91 ; was on special ordnance duty, Boston navy yard, 1892-94, and commanded the receiving- ship Richmond, 1894, being promoted captain in July, 1894. He was in command of the cruiser Minneapolis, on the coast of Asia Minor for the protection of American missionaries, 1895-97, re- ceiving the thanks of the missionaries for his services ; was successively inspector and captain of the Boston navy yard, 1897-98 ; commanded the flagship Philadelphia, Pacific station, during the Spanish war and the annexation of the Hawaiian islands, 1898, and the receiving-ship

Wabash, 1898-1901. He was promoted rear-ad- miral, Feb. 9, 1902, and appointed commandant of the naval station, Philadelphia, Pa., and was president of the board of inspection and survej', 1902, retiring on his own application after forty years of service. June 7, 1902.

WADSWORTH, Alexander Scammell, naval officer, was born in Portland, Maine, May 7, 1790 ; son of Peleg (q.v.) and Elizabeth (Bartlett) Wadsworth. He was warranted midshipman, April 2, 1804 ; promoted lieutenant, April 21, 1810 ; was an officer on board the ship that con- veyed U.S. Minister Joel Barlow to France, in 1811, and was attached to the Constitution as 2d lieutenant in July, 1812, rendering efficient service under Capt. Isaac Hull during the famous sixty-hour chase of the Constitution by the British squadron off New York, and also in the capture of the Guerriere. Aug. 19, 1812. For his conduct in these engagements Lieutenant AVads- worth was awarded a silver medal ; presented with a sword by the citizens of Portland, and in Captain Huirs public letter, posted in the Ex- change Coffee House, Boston, Mass., was accorded generous credit for his share in the first undertak- ing. He served as 1st lieutenant on the Adams in 1814, which took refuge from the British in Penobscot bay, where her guns were used for arming a hastily constructed fort, from which the crew was able to resist the enemy ; was pro- moted master-commandant, April 27, 1816, for gallantry during the war of 1812, and was in command of the Prometheus, Mediterranean squadron, 1816-17, and of the John Adams, 1818- 19 and 1821-22, sent out against the pirates in the West Indies. He was stationed at the Washing- ton navy yard, 1823-25 ; was inspector of ord- nance, 1825-29, being promoted. captain. March 3, 1825, and was in command of the Constellation, 1829-82. As commodore he commanded the Pa- cific squadron, 1834-36 ; was a member of the board of navy commissioners, 1837-40. and in- spector of ordnance, 1841-50. He died in Wash- ington, D.C., April 5, 1851.

WADSWORTH, Benjamin, educator, was born in Milton, Mass., in 1669 : son of Capt. Samuel and Abigail (Lindell) Wadsworth, and grandson of Christopher Wadsworth, .^^s-s?^

who married Grace Cole : settled, as early as 1633, in Duxbury, Mass., where he served as constable, 1634, anil where he died, 1677. Captain V.'. Wadsworth removed from ^^' Bridgewater, Conn., to Mil- *- -

ton, Mass., in 1660. Benjamin Wadsworth at- tended the common schools ; was graduated from Harvard college A.B., 1690, A.M., 1698: mean- while prepared for the ministry, and was licensed