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* THOMAS. 235 THOMAS. well, London. The remainder of his life was spent in retiieniont. He was greatly admired as a preacher, and had a large circle of readers for his monthly, The HoiHilht, ur 1 oi'cc for the Truth (1852-82), and for his collection of writ- ings called The Homilist Librari/ (1882-89). He compiled a liturgy for evangelical churches ( 1856), and a hymn-book( 1800) , which contained some fair hymns of his own composition. THOMAS, Edith Matild. (1854—). One of the most widely known of contemporary American poets. She was born in Chatham, Ohio, and was educated at the normal school of Geneva, Ohio. She began writing early for the local newspapers, and was encouraged by Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson in 1881 to send verse to more important periodicals. Her first volume appeared in 1885, entitled .1 Kew Year's Masque and Other Poems. Other books are: The Round Year (1886), prose; Lyrics and Sonnets (1887) ; Babes of the Year (1888), prose; Babes of the Nation (1889), prose; Heaven and Earth (1889), also prose; The Inverted Torch (1890); Fair Shadou^ Land (1893) ; In Sunshine Land (1894) ; In the Younfi World (1895); and A Winter Swalloir, and'Other Verse (1896). THOMAS, George Hexry (1816-70). A dis- tinguished American soldier, born in Southamp- ton County, Va. He graduated at West Point in 1840; served in the Mexican War, and distin- guished himself at Jlonterey and Buena Vista. After the close of the Mexican War he served a year in Florida, three years as cavalry and artillery instructor at West Point, and then for five years in Texas as major in the Second Cavalry. On the outbreak of the Civil War, though he was by birth and associations a Southerner, he adhered to the Union cause; was lieiitenant-colonel, and afterwards colonel of the Second Cavalry: commanded a brigade in the first Shenandoah campaign: and on Januarv 19, 1862, be won the battle of Jlill Springs,' Ky. He was in command of the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee during the siege of Cor- inth, where he was in full command during a great part of .Tunc. 1862. He then commanded the centre of the Army of the Cumberland, and although appointed to supersede Buell as com- mander of the whole army, asked to be allowed to remain in a subordinate position. He rendered conspicuous service at Perryville and Stone River (q.v.), and commanded the Fourteenth Army Corps in the campaign of middle Tennessee in the summer of 1863. At the Battle of Chieka- mauga (q.v.), September 19-20, 1863, Thomas stood firm, and resisted the concentrated attack of a victorious enemy, gaining justly the title of 'the rock of Chickamauga.' Soon after he reluc- tantly succeeded to the post held by Rosecrans, and commanded the Army of the Cumberland at Missionary Ridge, and in the campaign of 1864 up to the capture of Atlanta. When Sherman marched thence to the sea. Thomas was sent into Tennessee, where, in the battle of Nashville. De- cember 15 and 16, 1864, he crushed the army of H6od. He was at once appointed a major- general in the Regular Army, and Congress tendered him a vote of thanks. In 1865- 66 General Thomas commanded the Military Division of the Tennessee, including Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Missis- VOL, XIX -10. sippi, and the Department of the Tennessee, in- cluding the same States, the following year. From .June, 181)9, vmtil his death, he was in com- mand of the -Military Division of the Pacific, with headquarters at San Francisco. His Life was written by Van Home (New York, 1882). THOMAS, George Hoisma.v (1824-68). An English painter and illustrator. He was born in London, where he was a pupil of Bonner. For a time he lived in the United States, and did some work as an illustrator and in designing bank notes. He represented the Illustrated Lon- don Xews during the Crimean War (1855-56), and upon his return to England he enjoyed the patronage of the royal family. The best-known of his illustrations are to iie found in Uncle Tom's Cabin and in Wilkie CoUins's Armadale. THOMAS, Isaiah (1749-1831). An Ameri- can printer, born in Boston. Mass. He began business as a printer at Newburyport in 1767, and in 1770. in partnership with his former employer, established the Massachusetts Siyy, becoming the sole editor at the end of three months, and conducting the paper first at Bos- ton and then (after 1774) at Worcester until 1801. His paper soon became the organ of tlie Whig or Patriot Part}', and fearlessly attacked the measures of the British Ministry. At Worcester and later at Walpole, N. H., he en- gaged in book publishing, issuing a number of reprints of standard English works, besides Bibles, hymn-books, and most of the school books then in general use, and publishing a magazine called The Farmers' Museum. In 1788 he opened a bookstore and publishing house in Boston, and from 1789 to 1796 published The Massachusetts Magazine. He issued the New England Almanac from 1775 to 1801, wrote an excellent History of Printing in America ( 1810), and founded (1812) the American Antiquarian Society, to which he gave a large library and a liberal endowment. Consult the Memoir prepared by Benjamin F. Thomas, his grandson (Boston, 1874). THOMAS, John (1725-76). An American soldier, born at Marshfield, Mass. He studied medicine, and became eminent as a physician. In 1746 he served as surgeon in a regiment sent to Nova Scotia, and in 1747 acted first as sur- geon and then as lieutenant under Shirlej'. In 1759 he became a colonel of provincials, and in 1760 led a regiment at Crown Point and was at the capture of Jlontreal. He was appointed a brigadier-general in .June, 1775, and a major- general in the following March. During the siege of Boston he was stationed on the Roxbury side, and on the night of March 4, 1776, with 3000 men, occupied Dorchester Heights, thus render- ing Boston imtenable for the British, who evacu- ated it on the 17th. He then was appointed to succeed Montgomery in Canada, and took com- mand before Quebec on May 1st; but, finding the army small in numbers and weakened by dis- ease, he ordered a retreat. Contracting the smallpox, he died near Montreal on May 30th. THOMAS, John (1826—). A Welsh harpist, born at Bridgend, Glamorganshire. He early showed remarkable musical talents; was a skill- ful piccoloist at the age of six years, and at eleven years of age competed as a harpist at the Abergavenny Eisteddfod for one of four triple harps which were offered as prizes. He waa the