protected by our criminal laws. One of his most important measures was the introduction of the " Weather Bulletin," in 1869, at the suggestion of Prof. Cleveland Ablse. for the purpose of collecting and comparing weather reports from all parts of the country. — His daughter, Anna Laurens, is known as a writer on political topics.
DAWES, James W., senator, b. in McConnels-
ville, Ohio, 8 Jan., 1845. In 1856 he removed with
his parents to Newport, Wis., where he received a
common-school education. After studying law at
Fox Lake, Wis., he was admitted to the bar in 1871.
He was engaged in mercantile business until 1877,
and since that time has practised his,profession.
He was a member of the Nebraska constitutional
convention in 1875, and was chosen a U. S. senator
from that state in 1876. He was chairman of the
Republican state central committee of Nebraska
from 1876 till 1882. In 1880 he was a delegate to
tlie Republican national convention at Chicago,
and was a member of the National republican com-
m i ttee for Nebraska for a term of four years. Since
1875 lie has been trustee and secretary of Doane
college at Crete, .Neb. He was elected governor of
Nebraska in 1883, and re-elected in 1884.
DAWES, Thomas, patriot, b. in Boston, 5 Aug.,
1731 ; d. there, 2 Jan., 1809. He was a mechanic,
and had received a common-school education. Dur-
ing the controversy with Great Britain he was made
colonel of the Boston regiment in 1773, serving
until 1778. He often presided at the town-meet-
ings of Boston. He was a member of the house
and of the senate, as well as state councillor, and
also a member of the Academy of arts and sciences.
— Flis son, Thomas, jurist, b. in Boston, 8- July,
1757; d. there, 22 July, 1825, was graduated at
Harvard in 1777. He was a member of the State
constitutional conventions of 1780 and 1820, and
of that which adopted the Federal constitution in
1789. Pie was judge of the supreme court of Mas-
sachusetts from 1792 till 1803, judge of the mu-
nicipal court from 1803 till 1823, and judge of
probate until his death. His literary productions
were popular, and his witticisms proverbial. He
published an "Oration" (July, 1787), an "Oration
on the Boston Massacre," and the " Law Given on
Mount Sinai" (1777). He was a member of the
Academy of arts and sciences. — His son, Riifus,
poet, b. in Boston, '26 Jan., 1803; d. in Washington,
D. C, 30 Nov., 1859, entered Harvard in 1820, but
was refused a degree, owing to his supposed partici-
pation in a breach of discipline. He resented this
accusation, which was afterward pi'oved to be un-
just, by publishing a satirical poem on the faculty.
He studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but
never practised. He contributed poems to the
" United States Literary Gazette," published in
Cambridge, and conducted for a time a weekly
paper in Baltimore, called the "Emerald." He
|)ul ilished " The Valley of the Nashaway, and other
Toems " (1830) ; " Geraldine," a composition resem-
bling " Don Juan " in form and treatment (1839) ;
'• Athena of Damascus," a tragedy founded on the
siege of Damascus by the Turks, A. D. 634 (1839) ;
" Nix's Mate," a spirited and successful rom.ance
(1840) ; an " Ode on the Death of Walter Scott " ;
also several songs and poems, some of which were
sung at the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker
Hill jnonument. Mr. Dawes held a government
ofEice in one of the departments in Washington
during the latter years of his life. He was a Swe-
denborgian, and frequently preached.
DAWES, William, patriot, of Lexington. He
was despatched to Lexington, with Paul Revei'e,
on 18 April, 1775, and rode through Roxbury, Revere going by way of Charlestown. In the morning
of 19 April the message from Warren reached
Adams and Hancock. Revere and Dawes, joined
by Samuel Prescott, from Concord, rode forward,
calling the inhabitants. At Lincoln they were sur-
prised by a party of British officers, and both
Dawes and Revere were seized and taken to Lex-
ington. Prescott made his escape to Concord.
DAWSON, Benjamin Frederick, physician,
b. in New York city. 28 June, 1847; d. there, 3
April, 1888. He studied at Columbia, served in
1864-'5 as assistant surgeon in the U. S. array,
and was graduated at the College of physicians
and surgeons in 1866. He then settled in New
York, making a specialty of obstetrics and diseases
of women and childi'en. He invented a new gal-
vanic battery for galvano-caustic surgery in 1876,
the superior qualities of which have done much
to advance that branch of surgery. In 1868 he
founded the " American Journal of Obstetrics and
Diseases of Women and Children," which he edited
until 1874. Among his publications are a trans-
lation, in conjunction with Prof. Joseph Kamerer,
of Klob's " Pathological Anatomy of the Female
Sexual Organs" (1868); an American edition of
Barnes's " Obstetric Operations," with additions
(1870); and several monographs entitled "The Use
and Comparative Merits of the Bichloride of Me-
thyline as an Anaesthetic (1874) ; and "Relations
between Alimentation and the Gastro-intestinal
Disorders of Infants and Young Children " (1875).
DAWSON, George, journalist, b. in Falkirk,
Scotland. 14 March, 1813; d. in Albany, N. Y., 17
Feb., 1883. Though without the advantages of
early schooling, he obtained an education through
his own exertions. At five years of age he was
brought to this country by his parents, and at
eleven was placed in a printing-office in Niagara
county, N. Y. In 1826 he removed to Rochester
and found employment in the office of the " Anti-
Masonic Inquirer," edited by Thurlow Weed. In
1830 he accompanied Mr. Weed to Albany, and be-
came foreman in the office of the " Evening Jour-
nal." From 183() till 1839 he was editor of the
Rochester daily " Democrat," and from 1839 till
1842 of the Detroit daily " Advertiser," when he
returned to Rochester and resumed the editorial
charge of the " Democrat." In 1846 he became as-
sociate editor of the Albany " Evening Journal,"
and, on Mr. Weed's retirement in 1862, assumed
control of the paper as senior editor and proprie-
tor, remaining in that relation until 1877. He was
postmaster of Albanf from 1861 till 1867. In 1850
he travelled in Europe. Though ardently devoted
to the republican party, Mr. Dawson was far above
the narrow partisan. He was an able and zealous
advocate of all patriotic and philanthropic enter-
prises, and especially of free schools. He was a
devout Christian, especially active in the benevolent
works of the Baptist denomination, to which he
belonged. He gave much time and attention to
the subject of Sunday-school missions, in connec-
tion with which he was teacher, superintendent,
and lay preacher. He was the author of "The
Pleasures of Angling " (New York, 1876).
DAWSON, Henry Barton, historian, b. in Gosberton. Lincolnshire, England, 8 June, 1821 ; d. in Morrisania, N. Y., 23 May, 1889. He came to New York in 1834. In 1840 he contributed to the daily press, and in 1845-6 undertook the editorship of the " Crystal Fount," a temperance newspaper. His first historical composition was a " History of the
Park" and its vicinity, which was published in the "Corporation Manual " (1855). In 1858 he began the publication, in serial form, of his "Battles
