was arrested, and for two years imprisoned. Soon after his release in 1801 he went to Baltimore with his brother Benjamin, and in March, 1802, founded at Northumberland, Pa., the " Republican Argus," which gave him great influence with the democratic party. From 1807 until November, 1829, he conducted, at Philadelphia, the "Democratic Press," the leading paper in the state until, in 1824, it opposed the election of Jackson. He was for twenty years an alderman of Philadelphia. In 1854 he published "Recollections of the Life of John Binns; Twenty-nine Years in Europe, and Fifty-three in the United States." He was also the author of "Binns's Magistrate's Manual" (1850).
BIRCH, Thomas, artist, b. in London, England, about 1779 ; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 14 Jan.,
1851. He emigrated to the United States in 1793,
established himself in Philadelphia about 1800,
and began the painting of portraits. A visit to the
capes of Delaware in 1807 turned his attention to
marine views, in which he acquired a high reputation. During the war of 1812 he executed a series
of historical paintings, representing the naval victories of the United States. He also painted landscapes, particularly snow scenes. The Harrison collection in Philadelphia contains his paintings of
the engagements between the "United States" and
the " Macedonian," and between the "Constitution" and the "Guerriere." Three of his marine views are in the Claghorn collection.
BIRD, Robert Montgomery, novelist, b. in
Newcastle, Del., 6 Feb., 1805; d. in Philadelphia,
Pa., 22 Jan., 1854. He was educated for the medical profession, and, after taking his diploma in Philadelphia, practised for one year, but early turned his attention to literature, contributed to
the "Monthly Magazine" of Philadelphia, and
wrote three tragedies—"The Gladiator," "Oraloosa," and "The Broker of Bogota"—all of which have been popular on the stage, especially the first, the principal character of which was one of the favorite personations of Edwin Forrest. His first
novel, "Calavar," appeared in 1884, and was succeeded by "The Infidel" (Philadelphia, 1835), the scene of which, as well as that of his first story, was in Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest; "The Hawks of Hawk Hollow"; "Sheppard Lee";
"Nick of the Woods" (1887), the scene of which is
laid in Kentucky about the close of the revolution; "Peter Pilgrim" (1888), a collection of tales and sketches, including one of the earliest descriptions of the Mammoth Cave; and "Robin Day" (1889). They are marked by picturesqueness of description,
and an animated narration. In 1839 Dr. Bird retired to his native village, but for a few years previous to his death edited the "North American Gazette" at Philadelphia, of which he became a joint proprietor.—His son, Frederick Mayer,
clergyman, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 28 June, 1838,
was graduated at the university of Pennsylvania
in 1857, and at the union theological seminary in
New York in 1860, was ordained as a Lutheran
minister, and served during the civil war as a chaplain in the army. He took orders in the Protestant Episcopal church in 1868, and became rector in Spottswood, N. J., in 1870. and subsequently in Indiana and Iowa. In 1881 he accepted the professorship of psychology. Christian evidence, and rhetoric
in Lehigh university. He collected a large hymnological library, and was the main editor of the "Lutheran Hymn- Book" (Baltimore, 1864), and collaborator with Bishop Odenheimer in "Hymns of the Spirit" (New York. 1871). He has published
"Charles Wesley seen in his Finer and Less Familiar Poems" (1866), and a series of articles on hymn writing, which appeared in the New York " Independent " in 1886 and previous vears.
BIRDSALL, William Randall, physician, b. in Greene, N. Y., 1 Jan., 1852; d. in New York, 7
June, 1892. He was graduated in medicine at the
university of Michigan, entered upon practice in
New York city, subsequently studied neurology in
Europe, and after his return was engaged as a clinical teacher on nervous diseases. Besides articles in medical journals and cyclopaedias, he wrote "Electro-Therapeutics and Electro-Diagnosis."
BIRGE, Edward Asahel, naturalist, b. in Troy, N. Y., 7 Sept., 1851. He was educated at the Troy
high school in 1869, and graduated at Williams in
1873, after which he studied at Harvard, where, in
1878, he received the degree of Ph. D. In 1875 he
was appointed instructor of natural history and
zoology in the University of Wisconsin, and subsequently became professor in that department. He has contributed papers to scientific journals, and edited the revision of Prof. James Orton's "Comparative Zoology " (New York, 1882). and also
wrote the article on "Entoraostraca" in the "Standard Natural History" (Boston, 1884).
BIRGE, Henry Warner, soldier, b. in Hartford, Conn., 25 Aug., 1825; d. in New York city, 1
June, 1888. When the civil war began he was an
aide on the staff of Gov. W. A. Buckingham. On
the day of the president's first call for troops (15
April. 1861) he began organizing the first regiments of Connecticut's quota. On 23 May he was
appointed major of the 4th Connecticut volunteers,
which was the first "three-years' regiment" of state
troops mustered into the service of the United
States. He served in Maryland and Virginia until
November, 1861, when he was appointed colonel of
the 13th Connecticut infantry; joined Gen. Butler's army in New Orleans in March, 1862, and was placed in command of the defences of the city. In September he commanded his regiment in a movement in the La Fourche district, and in December,
when Gen. Butler was succeeded by Gen. Banks,
he was assigned to a brigade, which he commanded
through the first Red river campaign and the siege
of Port Hudson (April to July, 1863). Before the
surrender of this stronghold Gen. Birge volunteered to organize and lead a volunteer battalion to carry the confederate works by assault. Such was his reputation among the rank and file that his
own regiment, the 13th Connecticut, volunteered
almost in a body, and the full complement of 1,000
men was ready within two days. The assault was
planned for the night of 10 July, but the news of
the fall of Vicksburg was received, and Port Hudson surrendered 8 July, 1863. He was promoted brigadier-general 9 Sept., 1863. In 1864 he accompanied the second Red river expedition, and after the engagements at Sabine Cross-Roads, Pleasant
Hill, and Cane river, returned to Alexandria and
was sent to take command at Baton Rouge, La,,
which post was threatened by the confederates. In
July, 1864, he was ordered north with the 2d division of the 19th corps, joining Gen. Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley in August, and being present in all the battles of the ensuing campaign. In February and March, 1865, he was in command of
the defences of Savannah, Ga., where he remained
until November, when he resigned his commission.
His services were recognized by the brevet of major-general of volunteers, and by a vote of thanks from the legislature of his native state.
BIRKBECK, Morris, traveller, b. in England; d. in 1825. He purchased 16,000 acres of land in Illinois, founded the town of New Albion, and resided there. When the state was organized in
