Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/34

 STEVENS

STEVENS

him to Peacliam academy and the University of Vermont, and he was graduated from Dartmouth college in 1814. He removed to Pennsylvania, studied law. supporting himself in the meanwhile by teaching in an academy in York, and prac- tised in Gettysburg. He attained high rank as a lawyer, and supported tlio Anti-Masonic jiarty in 1829. He was a representative in the Pennsyl- vania legislature, 1833-33 and 1837-38; and a member of the state constitutional convention of 1838, but refused to affix his name to the pro- posed constitution, as it was constructed on partisan lines. He removed to Lancaster in 1842, and practised law there. 1842-49. He Avas a Whig representative in the 31st and 32d con- gresses, 1840-00; and opposed the compromise measures advocated by Henry Clay in 1850. He practised law in Lancaster, 1853-55, and was a representative in the 36th. 37th, 38th, 39th and 40th congresses, 1859-68. He was one of the fore- most advocates of emancipation; and, as cliair- man of the committee of ways and means, on July 7. 1861. obtained the passage of a bill au- thorizing the secretary of the treasury to borrow $250,000,000; anotlier to appropriate $160,000 for tliearmy. and a naval appropriation of $30,000,000. He also advocated the issue of legal tender paper currency, and in spite of a strenuous opposition on the part of the Democratic members, he saw the bill through the house and senate. On Feb. 22, 1868, he proposed that " Andrew Johnson, Presi- dent of the United States, be impeached of higli crimes and mis<iemeanors in office." The resolu- tion of impeachment was passed, Feb. 22, 1868, and he was made chairman of the committee of impeachment. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Jefferson college. Pa., in 1849, and by the University of Vermont in 1867. He died in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the humble cemetery at Lancaster. His epitaph, prepared by himself, reads: "I re- pose in this quiet and secluded spot, not from any natural preference for solitude, but finding other cemeteries limited as to race bj' charter rules, I have chosen tliis, that I might illustrate in my death the principle which I advocated through a long life. Equality of man before his Creator." He died in Washington, D.C.. Aug. 11, 1868.

STEVENS, Thomas Holdup, naval officer, was born in Middletown. Conn.. May 27, 1819; son of Master-Commandant Tliomas Holdup Stevens, U.S.N. He was warranted midshipman, Dec. 14, 18.36; advanced to passed midshipman, July 1. 1842, and was commissioned lieutenant. May 10. 1849. He served in the geological coast sur- vey, 1852-55, and in 1861 commanded the Ottawa in Admiral du Font's South Atlantic squadron. With a division of gun-boats, he engaged Com- modore Tatnall before Port Royal, Nov. 4,1861,

and forced him to find protection under the guns of the fort. He served in the battle of Port Royal ferry. June, 1862, the engagement in Sa- vannah, January, 1862, and the taking of Fort Clinch, March 3, 1862, later occupying several towns on St. John's river. He was transferred to the command of the Maratanza. ]\Iay. 1862, and. operating on the James, took part in Mc- Clellan's Peninsular campaign. He was pro- moted commander, July 16, 1862. and with the Monitor, which had fought the Mennmac in Hampton Roads, he protected McClellan's rear during Ids retreat from the Peninsula. He joined Wilkes's flying .squadron, and did effective blockade service. In 1863, he participated in the attacks on Chai'leston, leading the boat attack on Fort Sumter, Sept. 10, 1863, and later commanded the Onei- da in the Western Gulf squadron. Dur- ing Farragut's en- trance in Mobile Bay he commanded the Whmebago. He was promoted captain, July 26, 1866; com- modore, Nov. 20, 1872; rear-admiral,;^:^ Oct. 27, 1879, and was^^^ retired. May 27, 1881. His son, Thomas Hol- dup Stevens, became commander in the U.S.N. He is the author of the article Boat Attack 07i Fort Sumter in " Battle and Leaders of the Civil War." He died in Rockville. Md.. May 15, 1896.

STEVENS, Walter Husted, engineer, was born in Penn Yan, N.Y., Aug. 24, 1827. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy, July 1, 1848; was assigned to the corps of engineers; was commissioned 2d lieutenant. May 28. 1853, and 1st lieutenant, July 1, 1855. He was engaged in work at Galveston, Texas, at the time of Twiggs's surrender, and because of his conduct at that time was dismissed from the U.S. army, May 2, 1861. He immediately joined the Con- federate army, and was appointed chief engineer to General Beauregard, then operating in Vir- ginia. He was commissioned colonel, made chief engineer of the Army of Northern Virginia, and in 1862 was given charge of the fortifications of Richmond, and was later promoted brigadier- general. After the war, he became an engineer on the Mexican railway, and was its superinten- dent at the time of his death in Vera Cruz, Mexico, Nov. 12. 1867.

STEVENS, Walter Le Conte, educator and author, was born in Gordon county, Ga., June 17, 1847; son of Dr. Josiah Peter and Ann (Le

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