Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/489

* WEITLING. 413 WELCH. und Freiheit (1842), and Das Evangelium eines arnien ti under s. WEITZEL, vlt'sel, Godkkky (ISSoSl). An Ameiiiiin soldier, born in Cincinnati, Oliio. He gradnated at West Toint in 1855, and was as- signed to the corps of engineers, in April, 1801, on the outlireak of th(Civil War, he was sent to aid in the defense of Fort Pickens, Florida. In Febrnary, 18(12, he became chief engineer on the stall' of General lUiller, with whom he was sta- tioned for some time at New Orleans. In Au- gust, 1802, lie was raised to the rank of brigadier- general of volunteers, and from October, 1802, to April, 18G3, he commanded in the Lafourche campaign. In Ajiril and May, 180.3, he com- manded General Banks's advance guard, and later commanded a division at the siege of Port Hud- son, where his gallantry earned him the brevet of lieutenant-colonel in the Kegular Army. Dur- ing Jlay. 1804, he commanded a ilivision before Richmond, was then appointed chief engineer of the Army of the James, and constructed the forti- fications at Bermuda Hundred, James River, and Deep Bottom. From September to December, 1804, he commanded the Eighteenth Army Corps. He was second in command of the first Fort Fisher expedition, and was then given command of all the troops north of the Appomattox River. On April 3, 1805, he occupied Richmond. On JIareh 13, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general and major-general in the Regular Aniiy, and soon afterwards he was assigned to the command of the Rio Grande District in Texas. On March 1, 18C6, he was mustered out of the volunteer ser- vice and was commissioned major of engineers. From that time until his death he was employed in the construction of fortifications and in river and harbor improvements. He Avas promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of engineers in 1882. WEIZSACKER, vits'ek-er, Karl (1822-00). A German theologian. He w'as born at Oehringen, Wiirttemberg. anil studied theology at Tiibingcn and Berlin. In 1851 he became Court preacher at Stuttgart, and four years afterwards he was appointed superior consistorial counselor there. In 1861 he was called to the chair of theology- at Tiibingen and in 1894 he became councilor of State. His publications include Untersnchiinqen iiber die evangelische Oeschichte (1864). Das aposiolische Zeitaltcr der christlichen Kirche (1886-93), and Das neve Testament iihersetzt (1875). He was also editor of the Jahrhiicher fur deutsche Theologie from 1855 to 1878. WEKA. A native (Maori) name for the peculiar New Zealand rails of the genus Ocy- dronius. which, although provided with wings, are xmable to make any effective use of them, on account of the wide-angled relation between the scapula and coraeoid. They are brown, rail- like birds; one species frequents the seashore and feeds on shellfish and the like found among the kelp, while the other inhabits the interior of the South Island. These birds are rapidly dis- appearing. Consult Buller, Birds of Netr Zea- land (London. 2d ed., 1888). See Flightless Birds : and Plate of R.ils. etc. WEKEELE, vfi'ker-le, Alexander (184,8—). An Hungarian political leader, born at Moor, in the County of Stuhlweissenburg. .After pursu- ing the study of law he received a post in the Ministry of Finance in 1870, holding at the same time the position of privat-docent in financial and administrative law at the University of Hudapest. He became Ministerial Councilor in 1SS4 and two years later was made I'niler-.See- retary of State in the .Ministry of Finance and was elected to the Lower House of the Diet. In 18S0 he was summoned by Koloman Tisza to the ollice of Minister of Finance, to the duties of which he devoted himself with such success that in the following year he was able to sniimit to the national legislature a budget minus the cla.s- sie deficit. This he was enabled to ell'cct through a skillful reconversion of the public debt. He also dealt successfully with the problems of ex- cise. Government iiioiio|iolies. and the regulation of the coinage. In Xovember. 1S92, he succeeded Szapary as president of the Ministerial Council and made the chief feature of his programme the enactments of legislation looking toward the es- taldisliment of a more liberal r<^gime in religious allairs. Laws providing, among other things, for the recognition of the Jewish religion, making civil marriage compulsory, and leaving the re- ligious education of children of mixed marriages to the decision of the parents were passed by large majorities in the Lower House, but met with the most determined opposition in the Table of JIagnatcs. After a protracted struggle, in the course of which Wekerle enlisted on his side the support of the Crown, the ilagnates were com- pelled to give their assent to the greater part of the Ministerial programme. Recognition of the Jewish faith, however, was refused. In spite of his victory, Wekerle found his position untenable, owing to the hostility of the Court, and resigned in December, 1894, but remained in ottice till the following January, when he was succeeded by Banffy. In 1897 he was made president of the Hungarian Court of Administration. WELCH, AsHBEL (1809-82). An American civil engineer. He was born in Nelson, Madison County. N. Y. In 1835 he became chief engineer of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. During the thirty-nine years that he had charge of this important waterway and the railroads laid in connection with it. he devised for the New York and Philadel]ihia Railway a system of safety signaling (1805). doubled the capacity of the canal locks by fitting them with steam (1868), built the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and was elected to the presidency of the United Railroads and Canals of New Jersey (1867). After the acquisition of this system by the Penn- sylvania Railroad (1871) he became consulting engineer to many important enterprises. WELCH, Philip Hexby (1849-89). An .•merican humorist, born at Angelica. N. Y. In 1882 he Joined the staff of the Rochester Post- Express, and in 1884 removed to New York City, where he was connected with the Sun. His publications, such as The Tailor-MaHe Girl (1888), Said in Fun (1889). and his Miscel- laneous writings placed him among the foremost of the younger American humorists. His humor, though it often verged on satire, was usually amiable, and much of his caricaturing of sot eiety life in New York City was exceedingly clever. WELCH, William Henry (18.50 — ). An American pathologist, born at Norfolk, Conn.