Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/719

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GILPIN
GREER

tion of the state in 1873, but resigned before the work was completed, and he also declined the office of chief-justice of New Jersey. Mr. Gilchrist was especially versed in constitutional law, and he was employed in many notable cases. His interpreta- tion of the fifteenth amendment to the national constitution secured the right of suffrage to colored men in New Jersey. He was the author of the riparian-rights act, and was counsel for the state in the suit that tested its constitutionality. From this source the fund for maintenance of public schools in New Jersey is now chiefly derived. He also secured to the United States a half million dollars left by Joseph L. Lewis to be applied in payment of the national debt. His large law library, en- riched with thousands of marginal notes, was sold at auction in New York six months after his death. — His wife, Fredericka, b. in Oswego, N. Y., in 1846, is a daughter of Samuel Raymond Beardsley (q. v.). She has published " The True Story of Hamlet and Ophelia," a minute study and completely new in- terpretation of Shakespeare's play (Boston, 1889).


GILPIN, William, governor of Colorado, b. in Newcastle county, Del., 4 Oct., 1812. He was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1833, studied at the U. S. military academy, and served in the Seminole war, but resigned his com- mission and removed to Independence, Mo., in 1841, where he practised law, which he had studied under his brother. He was secretary of the general assembly in 1841-'3. On 4 March, 1844, with a party of 125 pioneers, he founded Portland, Ore., about four miles above its present site, and drew up the articles of agreement for a territorial government. He afterward re-entered the army, serving through the Mexican war as major of the 1st Missouri cavalry, and in 1848 he made a suc- cessful expedition against the hostile Indians of Colorado, which resulted in a peace for eighteen years. In 1851 he returned to Independence, and in 1861 he was appointed first governor of Colo- rado. Gov, Gilpin has published "The Central Gold Region" (Philadelphia, 1859) and "The Mis- sion of the North American People" (1873). In the latter he showed by charts the practicability of establishing a railroad around the world on the 40th parallel of latitude, on which are located nearly all the great cities of both continents.


GOMARA, Francisco Lopez de (go-mah'-rah), Spanish historian, b. in Seville, or, according to some authorities, in Gomera. Canary islands, in 1510 : d. in Seville in 1560 or 1576. His parents had destined him for a military career, but he took holy orders, and was employed for several years as professor of rhetoric at Alcala. Desiring to acquire a personal knowledge of the New World, he went to Mexico about 1540, and remained there four years, part of the time as secretary of Hernan Cortes. On his return he resided for some time in Italy, and became intimate with Saxo Grammaticus and Olaus Magnus. His work is entitled " Pri- mera y segnnda parte de la historia general de las Indias con la conquista de Mejico y de la Nueva Espana" (Medina, 1553; Antwerp, 1554). It had great success, passing in quick succession through two editions, and was translated into Italian by Gravalis (Rome, 1566) and by Lucio Mauro (Ven- ice, 1566). and into French by Martin Fumee (Paris, 1606). The second part, which is a history of the life of Cortes, has been reprinted by Busta- mante (Mexico, 1826). Gomara's style is clear and fluent, but, unfortunately, the second part of his work seems to have been written from notes, which were not complete or exact, and often supplied by a fervid imagination. In the royal library of Madrid there are two of his works in manuscript, " Historia de Horuc y Aradin Barbaroja, reyes de Argel " and " Anales del Em perador Carlos V,"the publication of which has not been permitted by the royal government, because they depict the em- peror's character in an unfavorable light.


GOODSELL, Daniel Ayres, M. E. bishop, b. in Newburg, N. Y., 5 Nov., 1840. He was edu- cated at the University of the city of New York, but left before graduation to enter the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a dele- gate to every general conference from 1876 till 1888, and at the one in New York city in May. 1888, he was elected bishop. Wesleyan university conferred on him the degree of S. T. D. in 1880. Bishop Goodsell has been literary editor and edito- rial contributor of the New York " Christian Ad- vocate " since 1880, and was an editorial contribu- tor of the " Methodist Review " until May, 1888.


GOODWIN, Isaac, author, b. in Plymouth, Mass., 28 June, 1786 ; d. in Worcester, Mass., 16 Sept., 1832. He was educated in Plymouth, studied law there, practised his profession, and held local offices in Stirling and Worcester, Mass, From 1813 till 1832 he was a member and coun- cillor of the American antiquarian society of Worcester. Besides many addresses and orations, he published "History of the Town of Stirling. Mass." (Worcester, 1815); "The Town Officer" (1824) ; and " The New England Sheriff " (1830).— His son, John Abbott, author, b. in Stirling, Mass., 21 May, 1824; d. in Lowell, Mass, 21 Sept., 1884, was educated at the Rensselaer polytechnic institute in the class of 1847, but was not gradu- ated. He was in the Massachusetts legislature in 1854-'7 and 1859-'61, serving in the last years as speaker of the house, held local offices in Lowell, and delivered many speeches. Among his publi- cations are " The Pilgrim Fathers neither Puritans nor Persecutors " (Lowell, 1875) and " The Pil- grim Republic " (Boston, 1888).


GOTTHEIL, Gustave, clergyman, b. in Pinne, Poland, 28 May, 1827. He is of Jewish parentage, was educated according to the rabbinical code, attended lectures in the University of Berlin and at the institute for Hebrew literature, and in 1855 became assistant minister to the celebrated Dr. Samuel Holdheim of the Berlin reform temple. He was called to Manchester, England, in 1860, and to Temple Emanuel, New York city, in 1873. Dr. Gottheil is a liberal in his religious opinions, and a leader in the reform branch of the Hebrew church. He has been active in educational, social, and charitable reforms, contributing many papers on these subjects to the reviews. He is the author of " Hymns and Anthems " (New York, 1887).


GREER, David Humniell, clergyman, b. in Wheeling, W. Va., 20 March, 1844. He was graduated at Washington college, Pa., in 1862, studied theology at the Protestant Episcopal seminary at Gambier, Ohio, was ordered deacon in Christ church. Clarkesburg, W. Va., in June, 1866, and remained in charge of that parish for a year. He was ordained priest at Alexandria, Va., in 1868, and became rector of Trinity church, Covington, Ky. He went abroad in 1871, and on his return was elected rector of Grace church, Providence, R. I., and entered upon his work there on 15 Sept., 1872. He organized several missions in connection with the parish church, founded St. Elizabeth's home for incurables in 1882, and was deputy from the diocese to four successive general conventions. He accepted the rectorship of St. Bartholomew's church, New York city, in 1888. He is a broad-churchman, and an eloquent extemporaneous preacher.