this constituency until the union of the provinces, when he was returned for the house of commons. For a brief period in 1862 Mr. Abbott was solicitor-general in the Sandfield Macdonald-Sicotte administration. He was subsequently elected to the senate, and on the death of Sir John Macdonald he became premier. After serving a short period he retired, owing to ill-health. Sir John was regarded as one of the best authorities in Canada on commercial law, and he added largely to his reputation by his "Jury Law Consolidation Act" for Lower Canada.
ABBOTT, John Stephens Cabot, author, b. in Brunswick, Me., 18 Sept., 1805; d. in Fair Haven, Conn., 17 June, 1877. He was a brother of Jacob Abbott, and was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1825, and at Andover Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Congregational minister in 1830, and successively held pastorates at Worcester, Roxbury, and Nantucket, Mass. Like his elder brother, he had the narrative faculty in a remarkable degree, and, like him, he was a prolific writer. His first published work, "The Mother at Home" (1833), commanded a large sale, and was followed by "The Child at Home," and at short intervals by other books of a semi-religious character. In 1844 he resigned his pastorate and devoted himself to literature, his favorite field of work being professedly historical. His principal books are "Practical Christianity"; "Kings and Queens, or Life in the Palace"; "The French Revolution of 1789"; "The History of Napoleon Bonaparte" (2 vols.); "Napoleon at St. Helena"; "The History of Napoleon III." (1868); 10 volumes of illustrated histories; "A History of the Civil War in America" (2 vols., 1863-1866); "Romance of Spanish History" (1870); and "The History of Frederick the Second, called
Frederick the Great" (1871). Several of these have been translated into foreign languages.
ABBOTT, Joseph Carter, journalist, b. in Concord, N. H., 15 July, 1825; d. in Wilmington, N. C., 8 Oct., 1882. He studied at Phillips Andover academy, and subsequently under private instruction, covering the usual college course. He then read law in Concord, and was admitted to the bar in 1852, at which time he had already edited the "Daily American" for six months. He continued to edit this journal until 1857, and in the meantime (1855) he was appointed adjutant-general of New Hampshire, and in that capacity effectively reorganized the State militia. In 1859-'61 he assumed the editorship of the Boston "Atlas and Bee," but continued to discharge his duties as adjutant-general. He early joined the "Know Nothing" party, and during all these years was a frequent contributor to the magazines, being particularly interested in historical matters. He was a member of the commission for adjusting the boundary between New Hampshire and Canada. When the civil war broke out he showed great energy and efficiency in raising and organizing troops until, yielding to the desire for active service, he obtained a commission as lieutenant-colonel of the 7th regiment, New Hampshire volunteers. On various occasions he distinguished himself, but especially at the attack on Fort Fisher, N. C., where his brigade stormed successively several positions where the Confederates made a stand. He was promoted colonel 22 July, 1863, and commanded his regiment in active service until the summer of 1864, when he was placed in charge of a brigade and brevetted brigadier-general. After the war he removed to Wilmington, N. C., where he was a member of the constitutional convention, was elected U. S. senator by the Republicans for a partial term ending in 1871, served as collector of the port under President Grant, and was inspector of ports under President Hayes.
ABBOTT, Lyman, clergyman, b. in Roxbury, Mass., 18 Dec, 1835. He is the third son of Jacob Abbott, was graduated at the University of the City of New York in 1853, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and went into partnership with his brothers, Benjamin V. and Austin, in 1856. Becoming convinced that he was better qualified for the pulpit than for the bar, he studied theology with his uncle, the Rev. John S. C. Abbott, and entered the ministry in 1860. His first pastoral charge was the Congregational church in Terre Haute, Ind., where he remained until, in 1865, he was chosen secretary of the American Union (Freedmen's) Commission. This office called him to New York city, and occupied him until 1868. During a part of this period he was also pastor of the New England church in New York city, but he resigned in 1869 to devote himself to literature and journalism. He was joint author with his brothers of two novels (see Austin Abbott), and for several years he edited the "Literary Record" of "Harper's Magazine," at the same time conducting the "Illustrated Christian Weekly." This last-named duty he resigned to take charge of the "Christian Union," an independent weekly journal, in the editorship of which he was associated with Beecher. For several years he has been pastor of Plymouth church and editor of "The Outlook." His works include "Jesus of Nazareth: His Life and Teachings" (New York, 1869); "Old Testament Shadows of New Testament Truths" (1870); "A Dictionary of Bible Knowledge" (1872); "A Layman's Story" (1872); an "Illustrated Commentary on the New Testament," in four volumes (1875 et seq.); a Life of Henry Ward Beecher (1883); "For Family Worship," a book of devotions (1883); and "In Aid of Faith" (1886). He is also the author of several pamphlets, the most important being one on "The Results of Emancipation in the United States" (1867). He has edited two volumes of "Sermons by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher," and "Morning and Evening Exercises," selected from the writings of the same author.
ABBOTT, Robert Osborne, surgeon, b. in Pennsylvania in 1824; d. in Brooklyn, N. Y., 16 June, 1867. He entered the army in 1849 as assistant surgeon, and in that capacity accompanied Magruder's battery to California. He subsequently served in the East, and also in Florida and Texas. During 1861 he was assistant to the chief medical purveyor in New York. In 1862 he was made medical director of the fifth army corps, and later in the same year was appointed medical director of the department of Washington, having charge of all the hospitals in and about the capital, together with all the hospital transports. The incessant and arduous duties of this office, which he held until November, 1866, seriously impaired his health. A six months' sick-leave failed to restore it, and he died a victim of over-work.
