Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/323

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EDDY
EDEN
301

Universalist historical society, and Tufts college gave him the degree of S. T.'D. in 1881. In July, 1886, he became editor of the " Universalist Quar- terly." Dr. Eddy has published a •' History of the fiOth Regiment," New York State Volunteers" (Philadelphia, 1864); "Universalism in America, a History " (2 vols., Boston, 1884-6) ; and several sermons, including three on President Lincoln, with the title " The Martyr to Liberty " (1865). He has in press " Alcohol in History."


EDDY, Samuel, jurist, b. in Johnston, R. I., 31 March, 1769; d. in Providence, R. I., 2 Feb., 1839. He was graduated at Brown in 1787, and studied law, but was not long in active practice. He was clerk of the Rhode Island supreme court in 1790-3, secretary of state in 1798-1819, and in the latter year was elected to congress as a Democrat without opposition, serving three terms till 1825. He was chief justice of the state supreme court in 1827-35. Brown gave him the degree of LL. D. in 1801. Judge Eddy contributed to the collections of the Massachusetts historical society, and published " Reasons for My Opinions " (Providence, 1818).


EDDY, Thomas, philanthropist, b. in Phila- delphia, Pa., 5 Sept., 1758 ; d. in New York city, 16 Sept., 1827. His parents, who were Friends, emi- grated from Ireland about 1753. Thomas received a limited education, and in his thirteenth year was apprenticed to a tanner, but remained with him only two years. On 4 Sept., 1779, he went to New York, being resolved to become a merchant, though his possessions only amounted to ninety-six dollars, and he was totally ignorant of business. He be- gan by buying small quantities of goods at auc- tion, and soon established a trade, but failed in 1784 through an unfortunate speculation, and about 1790 entered the insurance business, in which he made a large fortune. In 1796, with Philip Schuyler and Ambrose Spencer, he pre- pared a bill for establishing a penitentiary system, which was passed. Mr. Eddy had sole charge of the erection of the first building, and served as its director for four years, substituting cleanliness and discipline for former abuses. To Mr. Eddy is due the plan of providing a separate cell for each con- vict, instead of confining several together, fie was chosen one of the governors of the New York hospital in 1793, induced the legislature to make liberal grants in its aid, and in 1815 was one of the founders of the Bloomingdale insane asylum. In 1793, with John Murray, he was appointed by the society of Friends to visit the Indians in New York state, and did much to improve their condition. He labored earnestly for the construction of the Erie canal, being second only to De Witt Clinton in his efforts, and was also one of the originators of the New York savings bank and the New York Bible society. His labors in these various direc- tions earned for him the title of the " American Howard." Pie published a work on the " State Prison of New York " (1801). See " Life of Thomas Eddy" by Samuel L. Knapp (New York, 1834).


EDDY, Thomas Mears, clergyman, h. in New- town, Hamilton co., Ohio, 7 Sept., 1823 ; d. in New York city, 7 Oct., 1874. He was educated in Greensborough, Ind., classical seminary, and in 1842-53 was a Methodist circuit preacher in that state. He was agent of the A merican Bible society in the latter year, and presiding elder of the In- dianapolis district till 1856, when he was appointed editor of the " Northwestern Christian Advocate " in Chicago. He retained this post till 1868, and, after holding pastorates in Baltimore and Wash- ington, was elected one of the corresponding secre- taries of the missionary society by the general con- ference of 1872, of which he was a member. Dr. Eddy was a copious writer for the press, and, be- sides occasional sermons, published '"Patriotism of Illinois," a history of the state during the civil war (2 vols., Chicago, 1865). '


EDDY, Zachary, clergyman, b. in Stockbridge, Vt., 19 Dec, 1815; d. in^ Detroit, Mich., 15 Nov., 1891. He was ordained as a minister of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church in 1835, and was for several years a home missionary in western New York and Wisconsin. He was pastor of Congre- gational churches in Warsaw, N. Y., in 1850-'5, and Northampton, Mass., in 1857-67, of the Brooklyn Heiglits Dutch Reformed church in 1867-'71, and afterward of Congregational churches in Chelsea, Mass., Detroit, Mich., and Augusta, Ga., where he stayed for many years. Williams gave him the degree of D. D. in 1860. Dr. Eddy published " Im- manuel, or the Life of Jesus Christ " (Springfield, Mass., 1868) ; and was the principal compiler of " Hymns of the Church " (1869), and joint editor of " Carmina Sanctorum " (New York, 1884).


EDEN, Charles, governor of North Carolina, b. in 1673 ; d. in North Carolina, 17 March, 1722. He was appointed governor on 13 July, 1713, and his administration was marked by the ar- rest of the pirate Edward Teach, called " Black- Beard." Eden had offered Teach the royal pardon if he would give himself up, whereupon he sur- rendered with twenty of his followers, and for a time occupied himself as a good citizen, but soon returned to his old habits. Eden was even sus- pected of an intimacy with him, and Edward Mosely, a prominent colonist, declared that the governor could raise an armed posse to arrest honest men, but could not raise a similar force to apprehend Teach. For his accusations, Mosely was arrested, fined £100, and debarred from hold- ing office for three years ; and in 1719 the governor gave to the council a full account of his dealings with the pirate, which was approved by them. An expedition against Teach was finally sent out by the government of Virginia, and the pirate was killed in a hand-to-hand combat with its com- mander, Lieut. Maynard. In 1720 the town of Edenton was named for the governor. His tomb- stone, which stands on Salmon creek, Bertie co., N. C, bears an inscription to the eifect that " He brought the country into a flourishing condition, and died much lamented."


EDEN, Sir Robert, governor of Maryland, b. in Durham, England ; d. in Annapolis, Md., 2 Sept., 1786. He was the second son of Sir Robert Eden, Bart., and succeeded Horatio Sharpe as royal governor of Maryland in 1768. He was more disposed to moderation than any of the other British officers, advised the repeal of the tax on tea, and, when the colonels of militia demanded the arms and ammunition of the province, readily gave them up. His course had much to do with the attitude of the Maryland patriots, who hoped and labored for conciliation long after the other colonies had given up all idea of it. Eden was allowed to remain undisturbed in Maryland after his authority had ceased, till in April, 1776, despatches were intercepted addressed to him by Lord George Germain, which implicated him in transactions hostile to the liberty of the country. These were sent by Gen. Charles Lee to congress, and he also ordered the Baltimore committee of safety to arrest Eden, which order was presently confirmed by congress. Its execution, however, was prevented by the provincial council of safety at Annapolis, and the governor was allowed to embark for England, where he was created a baronet on 19