Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/485

 WORCESTER

"WORDEN

Ancient and Modern (2 vols., 1817, rev'd ed., 1823). He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Harvard, 1820, and that of LL.D. from Brown, 1847, and from Dartmouth, 1856; was a member of the Massachusetts Historical society, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the author of the follow- ing: A Gazetterof the United States (1818); Ele- vients of Geography, Ancient and Modern (1819); Sketches of the Earth and its Inhabitants (1823); Elements of History, Ancient and Modern, a text- book (1826); Epitome of History (1827); Outlines of Scripture Geography (1828); His lexicographi- cal work includes an edition of Johnson's " Dic- tionary " ( 1828); an abridgement of Noah Webster's " A.merican Dictionary" (1829); and the original works: Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explana- tory English Dictionary (1830; enlarged edits. 1847. 1849, 1855. ) Universal and Critical Dictionary of the English Language (1846); Dictionary of the English Language (1860), the first published illustrated dictionary, and left in MS. a journal of his European trip in 1831. His "Memoir" was written by Ezra Abbot (1867). He died in Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 27, 1865.

WORCESTER, Noah, author, was born in Hol- lis, N.H., Nov. 25, 1758; son of Noah Worcester; grandson of the Rev. Francis Worcester, pastor at Sandwich, Mass., 1735-45, and later at Hollis, N. H., and greats-grandson of the Rev. William Wor- cester, who emigrated from Salisbury, England, and was the first minister of the church at Salis- bury Mass., in 1638. Noah attended the common schools until 1775; was fifer in the Continental army in 1775, being present at Bunker Hill; taught school in Plymouth, N.H., 1776-77; was fife-major, 1777-78, taking part in the battle of Bennington, Vt., and in September, 1778, purchased the re- mainder of his minority from his father and settled as a farmer and schoolteacher in Plymouth, where he was married in 1779, to Hannah Brown of New- buryport, stepdaughter of his uncle, Francis Worcester. He served as town clerk and justice of the peace of Plymouth; removed to Thornton, N.H., in 1782, and was a representative in the state legislature. He studied theology; was licensed to preach in 1786; ordained to the Congregational ministry in 1787, and was pastor at Thornton, 1787-1802. His wife died in November, 1797, and he was married secondly, at Hanover, N.H.. in May, 1798, to Hannah Huntington of Norwich, Conn. He was first missionary of the New Hamp- shire Missionary society, 1802-10; supplied the pulpit at Salisbury, N.H., 1810-13. and in the lat- ter year removed to Brighton, Mass., where he edited the Christian Disciple, 1813-18. He was also editor of The Friend of Peace, 1819-29. The honorary degree of A.B. was conferred upon him by Dartmouth, 1791, and that of A.M., 1795, X. — 30

and D.D. by Harvard, 1818. He founded the Massachusetts Peace society in 1815. serving as its secretary, 1815-28. He is the author of: Fa- miliar Dialoguehetween Cephasand Bereas (1792); Solemn Reasons for Declining to Adopt the Baptist Tlieory and Practice {180'J); Bible Neics (1810), (which was censured by the Hopkinsonian associa- tion as unsound); Impartial Revieio of the Testi- monies in Favor of the Divinity of the Son of God. (1810). Respectful Address to the Trinitarian Clergy {\S\2); Solemn Revieio of the Custom of War by Philo Pacificiis (ISU); The Atoning Sacrifice (1829); The Causes of Contentions among Cliris- tians (1831); Last Thoughts on Importa)d Subjects (1833). He died in Brighton, Mass., Oct. 31, 1837. WORDEN, John Lorimer, naval officer, was born in Westchester county, N.Y., March 12, 1818. He was appointed midshipman in the navy, Jan. 12, 1835; attended the naval academy in 1840; was advanced to passed midshipman. July 16, 1840; commissioned lieutenant, Nov. 30, 1846, and on April 6, 1861, reported at Washington for active sea service. He was sent overland with dispatches for Captain Adams in command of the fleet off Pensacola, and on his return was cap- tured near Montgomery, Ala. He was paroled, Nov. 14, 1861; was later exchanged at Norfolk, Va., and as soon as his health would permit, re- ported for duty, and on Jan. 13, 1862, was as- signed to Ericsson's Monitor just then completed. He was allowed to pick his crew, iv om. the North Carolina and the Sabine; and without taking time to drill the crew at the guns or to become familiar with the working of the turret, he put to sea, March 6, 1862, and sailed to Hampton Roads, in tow of a large tug. He arrived at Hampton Roads as the Congress was burning^ reported to Captain Marsten and, in spite of orders to sail to Washington, went to the aid of the Minnesota, which was aground. At 7.30 the morning the Merrimac and her consorts started from Sewell's Point for the Minnesota the Monitor got under way, steered direct for the

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enemy in order to hold him away from the Min- nesota, and making no attempt at the wooden vessels, came alongside of the Merrimac. The pilot-house from which Worden commanded his