Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/360

 WEARE

WEBB

civil war. and during that time he was firm in liis faitli in the Union and in his allegiance to the constitution. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the College of New Jersey in 1849. He dieil in Wasiiington. D.C., July 5, 1867.

WEARE, Meshech, jurist, was born in Hamp- ton, N.H., June 16. 1713. He was graduated from Harvard, A.B., 1735. A.M., 1738; was admitted to the bar, and was a representative in the state legislature for several years, serving as speaker of the house in 1752. He was a commissioner to the colonial congress held at Albany in 1754; was ap- pointed justice of tiie supreme court of New Hamp- shire, and chief-justice in 1777; was a member of the executive council; chairman of the committee of safety, and in 1776 was elected president of New- Hampshire, serving till 1784. He raised and equipped the forces sent under General Stark to oppose Burgoynes progress. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He died in llainplon Falls. N.H., Jan. 15. 1786.

WEAVER, Aaron Ward, naval officer, was born in the District of Columbia, July 1, 1833; son of Lieut. William Augustus (1797-1846) and Jane (Van Wyck) Weaver; grandson of William and Rachel Van Wyek of Columbia county, N.Y. The Van Wycks came from Holland to Dutchess county early in the eighteenth century. His father was midshii)man on the frigate Chesapeake when she was captured hy the Shannon, June 1, 1813; was discharged from the naval service, Nov. 27, 1824, and was employed in the state department, Washington. D.C. Aaron Ward Weaver was appointed midshipman in the U.S. navy, May 10, 184S; served on the St. Lords and on the Congress, Coast of Brazil, 1848-50: was graduated from the U.S. Naval academy in 1854; promoted passed midshipman, June 15, 1854; com- missioned master, Sept. 15. 1855; lieutenant, Sept. 16. 1855, and served on the steamer Fulton, West Indies; steamer Walker, Mississippi Sounds; steamer Arctic, Newfoundland, surveying for the first Atlantic cable; sloop Marion, off the west coast of Africa, 1858-59, and Susquehanna, on the Mediterranean, 1859-61. In 1861 lie was assigned on blockade duty on board the Susquehanna, the first war vessel to arrive home after the attack on Fort Sumter; took part in the bombardment of Forts Hatteras and Clark: in the battle of Port Royal and the capture of Forts Beaureguard and Walker. He took part in the engagement with the batteries on Se wells Point, Va.; was commis- sioned lieutenant-commander, July 16, 1862, and commanded the steam gun-boat Winona in the Western Cfulf blockading .squadron. He took part in the engagements below Port Hudson be- fore and after its surrender; commanded the gun- boat Chippewa in the North Atlantic blockading squadron, and took part in the first attack on

Fort Fisher. He commanded the monitor Maho- pac in the final attack on Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. and in tiie fall of Richmond. He was mar- ried, Februar}-, 1864, to Ida. daughter of Alplieus and Harriet Hyatt of Baltimore, Ud. He was stationed at the Boston navy yard after the war; was promoted commander, July 25, 1866, and was senior oflicer of the double-turreted monitor TeiTor in Havana harbor, 1870-71, during the ex- citement following the execution of the Si>anisli students. When war was threatened with Spain, owing to the Virginias a^ixh- in 1873. he was in command of the iron-clad Dictator. He was com- missioned captain, Aug. 8, 1876; was equipment officer at Norfolk navy yard, 1879-80, and captain of the navy yard, 1880-81. He commanded the steam sloop Brooklyn on the South Atlantic station, 1881-84; was a member of the naval and retiring board, 1885-86, and president of the board, and commandant of the Norfolk naval sta- tion, 1890-93. He was promoted commodore. Oct. 7, 1886, and rear-admiral, June 27. 1893, and was retired on his own request, after forty years of service ,Sept. 26, 1893.

WEAVER, James B., soldier, was born in Day- ton, Oliio. June 12, 1833. He attended the common schools; was graduated from the Law school of Ohio university, Cincinnati, in 1854, aiid practised law in Iowa. He was married, in 1858, to Clara Vinson. At the outbreak of the civil war he en- listed in the 2d Iowa infantrj^ as a private, and attained the rank of major, Oct. 3, 1862. He was commissioned colonel, Oct. 12, 1862, and brevetted brigadier-general, March 13, 1865. for "gallantry on the field." He resumed his law practice at Des Moines, Iowa; was district-attorney for tiie 2d judicial district of Iowa. 1866-70: and was as- sessor of internal revenue for the 5th Iowa dis- trict by appointment of President Johnson, 1867- 73. He edited the Iowa Tribune and was a rep- resentative in the 46th congress, 1879-81, and a National and Democratic candidate for the 49th and 50th congresses, 1888 and 1889. In June, 1880, he was nominated for President of the United States by the National Greenback-Labor party at Chicago, 111., and received 307,740 votes and in 1892 was tiie candidate of tiie People's part\- for President, receiving 22 electoral votes.

WEBB, Alexander Stewart, soldier and edu- cator, was born in New York city, Feb. 15, 1835: son of Gen. James Watson and Helen Lispenard (Stewart) Webb. He received his primarj' edu- cation at Colonel Ciiurchill's Military school. Sing Sing, N.Y., 1844-50; was graduated at the U.S. Military academy, numlier 13 in a class of 34 graduates, in 1855. and lirevetted 2d lieutenant of artiller>'. July 1. 1855. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant and assigned to the 2d U.S. ar- tillery, Oct. 20, 1855; was married. Nov. 2«. 1855,