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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Fitch, John 1743-1798 (search)
Fitch, John 1743-1798 Inventor; born in East Windsor, Conn., Jan. 21, 1743; was an armorer in the military service during the Revolution, and at Trenton, N. J., manufactured sleeve-buttons. For a while, near the close of the war, he was a surveyor in Virginia, during which time he prepared, engraved on copper, and printed on a press of his own manufacture, a map of the Northwest country, afterwards formed into a Territory. He constructed a steamboat in 1786 that could be propelled eight miles an hour. A company was formed (1788) in Philadelphia, which caused a steam-packet to ply on the Delaware River, and it ran for about two years when the company failed. In 1793 he unsuccessfully tried his steam navigation projects in France. Discouraged, he went to the Western country again, where Fitch's steamboat. he died in Bardstown, Ky., July 2, 1798, leaving behind him a history of his adventures in the steamboat enterprise, in a sealed envelope, directed to My children and futu
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), France, early relations with. (search)
from Virginia, sought personal safety in flight, under the pretext of needed attention to private affairs. Ever since Minister Adet's proclamation the Democrats, or friends of the French, had worn the tricolored cockade. When, in the spring of 1798, President Adams took strong ground against France, a decided war spirit was aroused throughout the country; addresses poured in on the President; and everywhere were seen evidences of a reflex of opinion which sustained the President. In Philaden made ready for sea under such commanders as Dale, Barry, Decatur the elder, Truxton, Nicholson, and Phillips. Decatur soon captured a French corsair (April, 1798). So many American armed vessels in West India waters, in the summer and autumn of 1798, astonished the British and French authorities there. At the close of that year the American navy consisted of twenty-three vessels, with a total of 446 guns. It was much strengthened during the year 1799 by the launching and putting into commis
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Fries, John 1764- (search)
Fries, John 1764- Rioter; born in Bucks county, Pa., in 1764. During the window-tax riots in Northampton, Bucks, and Montgomery counties, Pa., in 1798-99, Fries headed the rioters, liberated several prisoners whom the sheriff had arrested, and in turn arrested the assessors. Fries was arrested and tried on the charge of high treason, pronounced guilty, and sentenced to be hanged in April, 1800. President Adams issued a general amnesty which covered all the offenders.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Fulton, Robert 1765-1815 (search)
dying languages and sciences, and invented a torpedo. This he offered to the French and English governments, but both rejected the invention, and in December, 1806, he arrived in New York. He went to Washington, where the models and drawings of his torpedo made a favorable impression. In 1807 he perfected his steamboat for navigating the Hudson, having been aided by Robert R. Livingston, with whom he had been acquainted in Paris. Livingston had made experiments in steamboating as early as 1798, when he was granted the exclusive privilege of navigating the waters of the State by steam. Fulton was finally included in the provisions of the act, and in September, 1807, the Clermont, the first steamboat that navigated the Hudson, made a successful voyage from New York to Albany and back. She travelled at the rate of 5 miles an hour. See Livingston, R. R. At this time, Fulton regarded his torpedo as the greater and more beneficial invention, as he believed it would establish the l
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Gamble, Hamilton Rowan 1798- (search)
Gamble, Hamilton Rowan 1798- Statesman; born in Winchester, Va., Nov. 29, 1798; admitted to the bar of Virginia in 1817; went to Missouri in 1818, where he practised his profession and served the State in various capacities. In 1861 the State Constitutional Convention appointed him provisional governor in place of Claiborne F. Jackson, who had joined the Confederates. He served in this office until his death in Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 31, 1864.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Gaston, William 1778- (search)
Gaston, William 1778- Jurist; born at Newbern, N. C., Sept. 19, 1778; graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1796, and was admitted to the bar in 1798, when he soon became the leading lawyer in his State. Serving in his State legislature, he was elected to Congress in 1814, and remained in that body until 1817. The laws and judicial organization of his State bear marks of his wisdom. He was judge of the Supreme Court of North Carolina from 1834 till his death, in Raleigh, N. C., Jan. 23, 1844. Judge Gaston was an advocate of free suffrage for colored men.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Georgia, (search)
Georgia, The latest settled State of the original thirteen. It framed its first State constitution in 1777, its second in 1789, and a third in 1798, which was several times amended. On June 2, 1788, Georgia ratified the national Constitution. The settlers on the frontier suffered much from incursions of the Creek and Cheroatthews1787 George Handley1788 Under the federal Constitution NameRemarks George Walton1789-90 Edward Telfair1790-93 George Matthews1793-96 Jared Irwin1796-98 James Jackson1798-1801 David Emanuel1801 Josiah Tattnall1801-2 John Milledge1802-6 Jared Irwin1806-9 David B. Mitchell1809-13 Peter Early1813-15 David B. Mi1798-1801 David Emanuel1801 Josiah Tattnall1801-2 John Milledge1802-6 Jared Irwin1806-9 David B. Mitchell1809-13 Peter Early1813-15 David B. Mitchell1815-17 William Rabun1817-19 Matthew Talbot, acting1819 John Clark1819-23 George M. Troup1823-27 John Forsyth1827-29 George R. Gilmer1829-31 Wilson Lumpkin1831-35 William Schley1835-37 George R. Gilmer1837-39 Charles J. McDonald1839-43 George W. Crawford1843-47 George W. B. Towns1847-51 Howell Cobb1851-53 Hersc
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Giles, William branch 1762-1830 (search)
Giles, William branch 1762-1830 Legislator; born in Amelia county, Va., Aug. 12, 1762; was a member of Congress in 1791-1803, with the exception of two years. Originally a Federalist he soon affiliated with the Democrats; attacked Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, accusing him of corruption; he also opposed the ratification of the treaty with Great Britain in 1796, and opposed the proposed war with France in 1798. He was appointed United States Senator in 1804, and was subsequently elected, serving until March 3, 1815, when he resigned; governor of Virginia in 1826-30, resigning to take part in the Constitutional Convention. He died in Albemarle county, Va., Dec. 4, 1830.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Hail, Columbia, (search)
Hail, Columbia, A stirring, patriotic song written in the spring of 1798. when war between the United States and France seemed inevitable. Mr. Fox, a young singer and actor in the Philadelphia Theatre, was to have a benefit. There was so little novelty in the playhouse that he anticipated a failure. On the morning before the appointed day he called upon Joseph Hopkinson (q. v.), a lawyer and man of letters, who indulged in writing verses, and said: Not a single box has been taken, and I fear there will be a thin house. If you will write me Mr. Fox singing Hail, Columbia! some patriotic verses to the air of the President's March I feel sure of a full house. Several people about the theatre have attempted it, but they have come to the conclusion it can't be done. I think you may succeed. Hopkinson retired to his study, wrote the first verse and chorus, and submitted them to Mrs. Hopkinson, who sang them with a harpsichord accompaniment. The tune and words harmonized.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Hamilton, Alexander 1757- (search)
st. Hamilton wrote the larger half of that work. He was called to the cabinet of Washington as Secretary of the Treasury, and was the founder of the financial system of the republic. Having finished the great work of assisting to put in motion the machinery of the government of the United States, and seeing it in successful working order, he resigned, Jan. 31, 1795, and resumed the practice of law; but his pen was much employed in support of the policy of the national government. When, in 1798, war with France seemed probable, and President Adams appointed Washington commander-in-chief of the armies of the republic, Hamilton was made his second in command, with the rank of major-general. On the death of Washington (December, 1799), Hamilton A. Hamilton succeeded him as commander-in-chief, but the provisional army was soon disbanded. On Sept. 3, 1780, Hamilton wrote to Duane, a member of Congress from New York, and expressed his views on the subject of State supremacy and a
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