Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/385

 WEST

WESTCOTT

and under Dr. Smith received " such a sketch of the taste and character of the spirit of antiquity, as would have all the effect of the regular educa- tion requisite to a painter." He joined the expedi- tion for the relief of General Braddock in 1755,

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and on his return painted in Philadelphia, 1756- 58, and in NewYork, 1758-60. He visited Rome, Italy, 1760-63, settling in 1763 in London, Eng- land, where he was married in 1765 to Elizabeth Shewell. His painting, Agrippina Landing with the Ashes of Germanicns, for Dr. Drummond, the Archbishop of York, gained for him a presenta- tion to King George III., and subsequent paintings by order of the Crown won for him great popu- larity and favor. He was one of the founders of the Royal Academy in 1768, and in 1792 succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as its president, which post he held till 1815. He declined the honor of knight- hood tendered him about 1792. In 1780 he pro- jected a series of pictures on the progress of re- vealed religion, to be in four divisions; the Antediluvian, the Patriarchal, the Mosaical and the Prophetical, and to consist of thirty-six sub- jects. Twenty-eight paintings were completed, when on the illness of the king he was removed from the office of painter to the crown, and suspended work on the series. He later began a new religious series composed of: Christ Heal- ing the Sick (1802). which hangs in the Pennsyl- vania Hospital; The Descent of the Holy Ghost on Christ at Jordan; The Crucifixion; The Asceyision; The Inspiration of St. Peter; and Death on the Pale Horse. Among his other im- portant works are: Cimon and Iphigenia; An- gelica and Medora; The Parting of Hector and Andromache; Return of the Prodigal Son; The Departure of Regidus from Rome; The Death of General Wolfe. The Death of Epaminondas; The Death of Chevalier Bayard; Cyrus Liberating the Family of the King of Armenia; Segestes and his Daughter before Germanicns; Edward III. embracing his Son on the Field of Battle at Cressy; The Installation of the Order of the Garter; The Black Prince receiving the King of France and his Son, Pi~isoners at Poictiers; St. George and the Dragon; Queen Philippa interced-

ing li'ith Edward for the Burgesses of Calais; King Edward forcing the Passage of the Somme; King Edward crou-ning Sir Eustace de Ribau- mont; The Treaty of Penn; Battle of La Hogue; Christ Rejected; and many illustrations of Shakespearian scenes. He was buried in St. Paul's cathedral. His portrait was painted by ( Teorge H. Harlow and by Sir Thomas Lawrence, and a copy of the latter by Charles R. Leslie, and a portrait by Washington Allston, are owned by the Boston Athena?um. A commemorative tablet was unveiled at his birthplace, known as the

West House," in Swarthmore, Pa., in June, 1898. He did in London. March 11, 1820.

WEST, Joseph Rodman, soldier and senator, was born in New Orleans, La.. Sept. 22, 1822; son of Charles Shute and Ann Edwards (Smith) West. He matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1836, and withdrew in 1837. He served as a captain of volunteers during the war with Mexico, and in 1849 removed to California. In 1861 he was editing a paper in San Francisco, and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 1st California volunteers. He was promoted colonel in 1862; brigadier-general of volunteers, Oct. 25, 1862, his service being confined to the southwest, and was mustered out as brevet ma- jor-general in 1865. He settled temporarily in Texas, and later removed to New Orleans, La., where he was deputy U.S. marshal, auditor of customs, and administrator of improvements. He was a Republican senator from Louisiana, 1871-77. serving on the committees on appropri- ations and railroads, and was U.S. commis- sioner of the District of Columbia, 1882-85. He was married to Jeanne Josephine Fadeuilije. He died in Washington, D.C., Oct. 31, 1898.

WESTCOTT, James Diament, senator, was born in Alexandria, Va., May 10, 1802; son of James Diament Westcott. His maternal grand- father was an artillery officer in the Revolution, Shortly after his birth, the family removed to New Jersey. The son practised law, 1824-29; held a clerkship in Washington, D.C., for some time, and was secretary- of the territory of Florida, 1830-34. He served in the territorial legislature of Florida in 1832, and was attorney- general for the middle district of Florida, 1834-36. When Florida was admitted to statehood in 1845, Westcott was elected Democratic senator, taking his seat, Dec. 1, 1845, with David Levy Yulee as his colleague, and he drew the short term expiring March 3, 1849. He settled in New York in 1850; and practised law there until 1862, when he re- moved to Canada, His son, James Diament AVestcott, Jr., was a major in the C.S.A., attor- nej'-general of Florida, 1885-86, and subsequently justice of the supreme court, 1886. Senator Westcott died in Montreal, Canada, Jan. 12, 18S0.