Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/262

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
240
DUCACHET
DU CHAILLU

DUCACHET, Henry William, clergyman, b. in Charleston, S. C, 17 'Feb., 1790; d. in Philadel- phia, Pa., 18 Dec, 1865. He was educated in Pliiladelphia, and after studying medicine practised for some time in New York city. In 1825 he be- came an Episcopal clergyman and had charge of a parish in Salem, Mass. Subsequently he resided in Norfolk, Va., and in 1834 became rector of St. Stephen's church in Philadelphia, where he re- mained until his death. He represented the diocese of Pennsylvania in the general convention on sev- eral occasions, and was for many years secretary of the diocesan convention. He likewise filled the office of rector of the Burd orphan asylum, an in- stitution which owes its origin to his exertions.


DUCALVET, Pierre, French-Canadian political agitator, b. in Canada about 1715 ; lost at sea in January, 1786. By trading in fur he had acquired great wealth before the British conquered Canada, and remained in the country after that event. Being a Huguenot, he did not suffer from the disabilities resulting from the legal changes introduced into Canada after the peace of Versailles in 1763. His Roman Catholic compatriots, however, did so. and it was in his endeavors to relieve them of these grievances that Ducal vet came prominently into notice. In pursuance of this, object he declared open war against the legislative council, and Sir Frederick Haldimand, the gov- ernor of Canada ; demanded for the Canadians the same rights as British subjects, and drew up a plan of a constitution, nearly the same as that which was granted in 1791. He also prosecuted Sir Fred- erick Haldimand in England, and the latter re- taliated by procuring his imprisonment for treason. Ducalvet published in London a " Letter to the Canadians " and " Appeal to the Justice of the State," the latter addressed to tlie king and the Prince of Wales. He was lost at sea while on his way to England to continue the prosecution of Haldimand. Though he was in many respects a captious political agitator, his motives were un- doubtedly pure, and he sacrificed his fortune in the cause of what he regarded as justice.


DUCASSE, Jean Baptiste, governor of Santo Domingo, b. in Beam, France, in 1650 ; d. in Bourbon L'Archambault in July, 1715. He early went to sea and soon entered tiie service of the Senegal company, by whom, in 1678, he was sent to San Domingo. Later he commanded the Banniere, en- gaged by this company in transporting negroes from Africa to the West Indies. In 1691 he was appointed governor of Santo Domingo. On his arrival he found the business interests of the island in a wretched state, but under his skilful management order was soon established, and the affairs of the colony became prosperous. Agriculture flourished and the native products were largely exported. In the mvasion of the island by the English and Spanish fleets he defended it, and. after he had expelled the enemy, directed the attention of the inhabitants to the cultivation of sugar and tobacco. In 1700 he was sent to Spain to negotiate a treaty between that country and France. Two years later, while in command of a French squadron, he defeated an English fleet much larger than his own, under the command of Admiral Benbow. His ser- vices in the French navy gained for him successive promotions till he became lieutenant-general, in which capacity he commanded the marine force during the siege of Barcelona. Soon afterward he resigned his command on account of failing health.


DUCATEL, Julius Timoleon, chemist, b. in Baltimore, Md., 6 June. 1798; d. there, 25 April, 1849. He was educated at St. Mary's college, and then became associated in business with his father, long the principal pharmacist in Baltimore. His experience in this direction developed a fondness for the study of the natural sciences, and he turned to Paris, where for several years he. was occupied m this pursuit. Soon after his return to Baltimore he became professor of natural philosophy in the Mechanics' institute, and later professor of chem- istry and geology in the University of Maryland. His ability as a scientist and his success as a lec- turer afterward led to his election to the chair of chemistry in the medical de])artment of the uni- versity. From 1832 till 1841 he held appointments in connection with the State geological survey, at first in the preliminary work, and then as geologist. Meanwhile he had been made professor of chemis- try, mineralogy, and geology in St. John's college, Annapolis, but he resigned both of these posts in 1839 in order to devote more time to his speciality of geology. In 1843 he made a geological explora- tion of the upper Mississippi in connection with an expedition sent to that region, and in 1846 visited the Lake Superior district for persons interested in the industrial development of that country. He delivered an interesting series of lectures on his re- turn, giving an account of his experiences. Prof. Ducatel was a member of scientific societies at home and abroad, and regularly contributed scien- tific articles to the "Baltimore Times "and the "American Farmer." His principal woik was a " Manual of Toxicology " (Baltimore, 1848).


DUCEY, Thomas James, clergyman, b. in Lis- more, Ireland, 4 Feb., 1843. When five years old he came to the United States, and, after spending some time in a law office, was adopted in 1859 by James T. Brady. He studied at the college of St. Francis Xavier, New York, and then entered the theological seminary, Troy, N. Y., in 1864. He was ordained priest in 1868, and attached to the church of the Nativity in 1869. While here the tone of his sermons excited the animosity of members of the Tweed ring, who complained to Archbishop McCloskey, and endeavored to have the young priest sent out of the city. He was supported, however, by his superiors in his denunciation of civic corruption. He was transferred to St. Michael's in 1872, and in 1873 began the work of organizing societies of Roman Catholic young men. With this object he purchased property, and for three years maintained the work to which he had devoted himself out of his own resources. In 1880 he founded the church of St. Leo at a cost of $200,000. He was one of the first to warn the public of the extent of municipal corruption in New York in 1885, declaring it worse than ever before. Father Ducey was assistant chaplain to the Tombs for some years, having volunteered for this office in addition to his other duties. He is now (1898) employed in founding a home for indigent servant women.


DU CHAILLU, Paul Belloni (du-sha-yu), traveller, b. in Paris, France, 31 July, 1835. He early went to live in the French settlement at the mouth of the Gaboon, on the west coast of Africa, where his father held a consular appointment, and was at the same time engaged in commerce. He was educated in one of the Jesuit institutions in that country, and acquired a knowledge of the native languages, learning from trading expeditions much of their habits and mode of life. In 1853 he came to the United States with a cargo of ebony, and soon after published in the New York "Tribune" a series of articles on the Gaboon country, which elicited much attention. After becoming a citizen of the United States, he sailed in October,