Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/464

* •WEBB. 388 WEBB. for several years in Xew York and Orange, and together with Lowell Mason (whose daughter he married), edited and arranged many musical publications. WEBB, -James Watson (1802-84). An Ameri- can journalist. He was born in Claverack, N. Y. In 1819 he entered the United States army as sec- ond lieutenant of artillery, was stationed in the West, and in 1S27 resigned his commission. The same year he became editor of the New York Morni'itg Courier, and having united with this the Enquirer, edited the Morning Courier and Neic York Enquirer until 1861. He was in 1843 appointed engineer-in-chief of the State of Xew York, with rank of major-general, and in 1801 Minister and Envoy Extraordinary to Brazil. In 1865 he negotiated the secret treaty with the French Emperor for the removal of French troops from Jlexico, and in 1869 resigned. After his return from Brazil he lived in New Y'ork till his death. He published: Altowan, or Incidents of Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountains (1846) : Slavery and Its Tendencies (1856) ; and National Currency, a pamphlet (1875). WEBB, .John Richmond (e.l6G7-1724). An English general, born probably at Rodbourne Cheney, Wiltshire, an old possession of the fam- ily. He distinguished himself under ilarH)or- ough at Blenheim and at Oudenarde. where he commanded the left. He Ijecame brigadier-general in 1704 and major-general in 1706. His clever victory at Wynendaele in I7(J8 over a French force three times as large as his own was credited by the Whigs at home, notably Addison, to Cado- gan, a junior officer, an injustice which heightened rather than lowered the popularity of Webb, who readily took the cue from his Tory friends and played the part of one persecuted for politics' sake. In 1709 he became lieutenant-general and ■was severely wounded at Malplaquet. From 1712 to 1715 he was general and commander of the land forces in Great Britain, but the Whigs turned liim out, and in 1722 by charging him with membership in a Jacobite society forced his retirement from public life. His character as the big. handsome soldier and simple politician is excellently portrayed in Henry Esmond by Thackeray, who through his paternal grand- mother was descended from Richmond Webb, the Oeneral's second cousin. WEBB, Sami-el Blatchley (175.3-1807). An American soldier, born at Wethersfield, Conn. He was educated imder the supervision of his step-father, Silas Deane. early joined the Patriot Party, and .as lieutenant in the Second Connecti- cut Company, joined the Continental Army at Canil)ridge. He serveil with great gallantry and was wounded at I'unkor Hill, and on .July 22, 1775, became aide-de-camp to General Pitnam, with the rank of major. In 1776 (.June 21st) he was chosen by Washington as his private secre- tary and aide, with the rank of lieutenant-colo- nel, and as such wrote the order (.July 9) for promulgating Mie Declaration of Independence in New York City. He participated in the battles of Long Island, Wliite Plains. Trenton, and Brandywine, lieing wounded at White Phiins and Trenton, and on Decemtier 10, 1777, during an expedition to Long Island, was taken prisoner. Exchanged in December, 1780, he was transferred to the Third Connecticut Regiment in January, 1781, and in September, 1783, was brevetted. brigadier-general. He was one of the sixteen offi- cers who on June 19, 1783, founded the Society of the Cincinnati. In 1789 he removed to Claverack, N. '., where he died. WEBB, Sidney ( 1859 — ). An English author and barrister, born in London. He was educated in Switzerland, Germany, and at the City of London College. In 1878 he entered the English civil service, where he was employed in many capacities. He was called to the l)ar in 1885. He became a lecturer in the London School of Economics and Political Science and a member of the senate and the economic faculty of London Uni- versity. His publications include: Socialism in England ( 1890) ; The London Programme ( 1891 ) : The Eight Hours Day (1891). which he wrote in conjunction with Harold Cox; and Labor in th^ Longest Reign (1897). More important, how- ever, are The History of Trade Unionism (1894), and Industrial Democracy (1897), written in collaboration with his wife. The History, which is based upon an extensive survey of original trade union records, is the most complete work extant on the progress of English labor organiza- tions. Industrial Democracy aims to show the structure and spirit of the contemporary trade union world. His wife, Beatrice Potter Webb, became known for her minute knowledge of work- ing class life obtained from a careful study of social conditions in Lancashire and East London, where she assisted Charles Booth in his great investigation of The Labor and Life of the People. In 1888 she gave her experiences in sweating dens to the House of Lords' Committee on Sweating. Besides collaborating with her husband, she pub- lished The Coiiperative Movement in Great Britain (1891). WEBB, Thomas (1724-96). A British sol- dier and Methodist lay (ireacher. Of his early life little is known except that he was a man of wealth and education. He was for several years lieutenant of the Forty-eighth Regiment of Foot. He lost an eye and nearly lost his life in the storming of Louisburg, Nova Scotia. 1758: was one of the few officers surviving with Washing- ton from Braddock's defeat, 1755; and scaled the Heights of Abraham with Wolfe, 1759. He was converted under the preaching of John Wes- ley, 1765, united with the Methodists and began preaching. Soon after, when the .lohn Street Church was erected in New York City, in 1768, he was one of the chief contributors. . At this time lieing placed on the retired list, though with full pay, he began the life of an itinerant. When Siiiut George's was purchased in Pliiladelphia he helped this church also with a liberal con- tribution. In 1772-73 he visited England to secure aid for the struggling churches and preached in England and Ireland. He returned to England with the last preachers who left .America at the breaking out of the War of (he Revolution. He settled at Portland, m^ar Bristol. Imt preached everywhere as opportunity ofl'ered. He labored among the French prisoners at Win- chester, 1776-82, and also among the sailors of Portsmouth. lie was a liberal contributor to the beautiful Portland Chapel, built in 1792, and was buried under the chancel of this church. WEBB, Thomas E. (1827—). An Euglish judge, born at Cornwall, and educated at Kings-