After his death there were shown at the academy his “Mother's Visit,” “Storming of Teocalli, Mexico,” and “Settlement of Maryland by Lord Baltimore,” together with portraits of Gen. Grant, Gen. Burnside, and several artists. His “Mary Stuart hearing the First Mass at Holyrood after her Return from France” was at the Paris exhibition of 1867. Besides his “Westward Ho!” as it is sometimes called, he had received other commissions from the government, which were only in the “cartoon” state at his death. One of these, “Civilization,” was intended for the senate-chamber. He had also made a sketch in pencil of an historical painting of the largest size, entitled “The Emancipation.” One of the artist's most successful works is “Lafayette in Prison at Olmutz Visited by his Relatives” (1861). — His eldest son, Eugene H. C., entered the U. S. navy 4 March, 1863, and was commissioned lieutenant in 1871, which rank he still (1887) holds.
LE VAN, William Barnet, engineer, b. in
Easton, Pa., 3 June, 1829. He was educated in his
native town, and then served an apprenticeship as
a machinist and draughtsman in the Novelty iron-works,
New York city. Subsequently he became
an engineer in the service of Howland and Aspinwall,
then the largest steamship-owners in the
United States, and later formed a similar connection
with the Collins steamship line. In 1854 he
settled in New York as a consulting engineer, but
in 1857 removed to Philadelphia, where he has
since been engaged in designing, constructing, and
superintending different kinds of machinery,
especially those of his own invention. These include
his grate-bar, which is of such durability as to out-last
three sets of the ordinary bars, and also effects
a great saving in fuel. In 1859 he introduced a
steam-engine governor that is now well known for
its simplicity, efficiency, and economy. His more
recent inventions are a self-recording steam-engine
indicator and glass water-gauge, an improved
stationary engine, a telescopic hydraulic lift, and an
improved boiler and brick settings. For many
years he held the office of Philadelphia agent of
the Corliss steam-engine company of Providence,
R. I., and did much toward introducing their
engine among manufacturers. Mr. Le Van is a
member of the Franklin institute and of the
American society of mechanical engineers, to the
journal and proceedings of which he has
contributed papers of technical value. He is also the
author of “Useful Information for Engineers,
Boiler-Makers, and Firemen, with Facts and
Figures” (Philadelphia, 1876), and “The Steam-Engine
Indicator and its Use” (1884).
LEVERETT, Sir John, colonial governor of Massachusetts, b. in England in 1616 ; d. in Boston, Mass., 16 March, 1679. He emigrated to Boston at the age of sixteen with his father, Thomas, who, in 1633, became an alderman of that place. John early held various offices of public trust, was captain of a militia company, and a successful merchant. He returned to England in 1644, took the side of parliament in the struggle between that body and the king, and, as commander of a company of foot-soldiers, gained military distinction and the friendship of Cromwell. After his return to Boston he was a delegate to the general court in 1651-'3, and again in 1663-'4. He was one of the governor's council in 1665-71, major-general in 1663-73. and deputy governor in 1671-'3, becoming governor at the latter date. His administration is important in colonial history as the era of the war with King Philip, which Gov. Leverett's skill and energy were instrumental in conducting to a fortunate issue. In 1676 he was knighted by Charles II. in acknowledgment of his services to the New England colony during this contest. See "Leverett Memorial" (Boston, 1856). — His grandson, John, lawyer, b. in Boston, 25 Aug., 1662 : d. there, 3 May, 1724, was a judge, speaker of the colonial legislature, member of the council, and president of Harvard from 1707 until his death. His attainments in learning were extensive, and he received the honor of membership in the Royal society, which was then rarely given to colonists. He was commissioner to the Indians in 1704, and to Port Royal in 1707.
LEVERETT, Frederick Percival, scholar, b. in Portsmouth, N. H., 11 Sept., 1803 ; d. in Boston, 6 Oct., 1836. He was a descendant of Sir John Leverett, noticed above. He was graduated at Harvard in 1821, and the same year appointed usher in the Boston Latin-school, of which he became principal, and he afterward opened a private classical school. He published editions of Caesar's "Commentaries," Juvenal, and the "Viri Romae," to be used as text-books in schools. His principal work was his lexicon of the Latin language, which was compiled from the lexicons of FacciolatL Forcellini, Scheller, Lunemann, and Freund. The last sheet of this work went to press on the morning of his death (Boston, 1837).
LEVERIDGE, John, lawyer, b. in New York city, 15 Sept., 1792; d. there, 17 Feb., 1886. He was educated in a private school, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1811. During the war of 1812 he served as a private. In 1844-'5 he was corporation council under Mayor Harper. He was a founder of the St. Nicholas club and of the old Public-school society, and was said to be the oldest active member of the American bar.
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LE VERT, Octavia Walton, author, b. in Bellevue, near Augusta, Ga., about 1810; d. in Augusta, Ga., 13 March, 1877. She was a granddaughter of George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Her father, George, removed to Pensacola in 1821, as territorial secretary under Gen. Jackson, upon whose retirement he acted for a time as governor. His daughter acquired some knowledge of Greek, Latin, and science, and became an Italian, French, and Spanish scholar. She was asked to name the capital of Florida, and selected the Seminole word Tallahassee, meaning “beautiful land.” She was presented to Gen. Lafayette when he visited Mobile, who, in speaking of her, said: “A truly wonderful child! She has been conversing with intelligence and tact in the purest French. I predict for her a brilliant career.” She spent the winter of 1833-'4 in Washington, D. C., and during the congressional debates upon the removal of the deposits from the U. S. bank wrote such accurate reports that it is said Clay, Calhoun, and Webster frequently called her to read their speeches from her portfolio. In 1836 she married Dr. Henry S. Le Vert, whose father was fleet surgeon under Rochambeau, and present at the siege of Yorktown, and resided with him in Mobile. In
