high office until September, 1766, and during his short administration repaired the fortifications of the city of Havana, laid the foundations of the great fortress known as “La Cabaña,” organized the department of finances, the police, the militia, the hospitals, and in 1764 founded “La Gaceta de la Havana.” One of the most important streets in Havana is called for him “Calle de Ricla.”
FINCH, Francis Miles, poet, b. in Ithaca,
N. Y., 9 June, 1827. He was graduated at Yale in
1849, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in
Ithaca. In 1881 he was elected an associate judge
of the court of appeals of the state of New York.
On the establishment of Cornell university, he was
chosen secretary of its board of trustees. In July,
1853, he read a poem at the centennial celebration
of the Linonian society of Yale, in which several
lyrics were introduced, including one on Nathan
Hale, the patriot spy of the Revolution. This at
once achieved wide popularity. He has also writ-
ten other well-known lyrics, including " The Blue
and the Gray," and a college smoking-song, begin-
ning " Floating away like the fountain's spray."
FINCK, Henry Theophilus, journalist, b. in
Bethel, Shelby co., Mo., 22 Sept., 1854. He was
graduated at Harvard in 1876, and in 1877-'8 was
a resident graduate at Cambridge, as student of
sociology. The Harris fellowship having been
awarded to him, he studied physiological psychology
at Berlin, Heidelberg, and Vienna from 1878 till
1881. He is on the editorial staff of the New York
“Evening Post” and “Nation,” his chief writings being musical criticisms, which are characterized
by a strong leaning toward the Wagnerian school.
He has published a philosophical work entitled
“Romantic Love and Personal Beauty” (New
York, 1887); “Chopin and other Musical Essays”
(1889); “The Pacific Coast Scenic Tour” (1890);
“Spain and Morocco” (1891): “Wagner and his
Works” (1893); “Lotus Times in Japan” (1895);
and “Paderewski and his Art” (1895).
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FINDLAY, William, governor of Pennsylvania, b. in Mercersburg, Pa., 20 June, 1768; d. in Harrisburg, Pa., 12 Nov., 1846. After receiving a common-school education, he became a farmer, and early took part in politics as a Democrat. His first office was that of brigade-inspector of militia. He was elected to the legislature in 1797 and 1803, and in 1807-'17 was state treasurer. He was governor from 1817 till 1820, and in the latter year was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election. Party spirit ran high during his administration, and in 1817 his opponents secured the appointment of a committee to investigate the late treasurer's conduct of his office. This investigation, though Gov. Findlay offered no witness in his behalf, resulted in a report that his conduct had been “not only faithful, but meritorious and beneficial to the state.” The building of the state capitol was begun during Gov. Findlay's administration, and its corner-stone was laid by him. He was elected to the U. S. senate in 1821, and served one term, and in 1827-'40 was treasurer of the U. S. mint at Philadelphia. — His brother James, soldier, b. in Mercersburg, Pa., about 1775; d. in Cincinnati, Ohio, 28 Dec., 1835, removed to Cincinnati in 1793, was a member of the territorial legislative council in 1798, and after the admission of Ohio to the Union was often in the legislature. He served under Gen. William Hull at Detroit in the war of 1812 as colonel of the 2d Ohio regiment. He was U. S. receiver of public moneys for the Cincinnati district from the first establishment of public land offices till 1824, and was then elected to congress as a Jackson Democrat, and served four terms, 1825-'33. He was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio in 1834. — Another brother, John, d. in Chambersburg, Pa., 5 Nov., 1838, was a member of congress from Pennsylvania in 1821-'7. — William's son, John King, jurist, b. near Mercersburg, Pa., 12 May, 1803; d. in Spring Lake, N. J., 13 Sept., 1885, was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1824, and assigned to the 1st artillery. He was assistant professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology at West Point from 29 Aug. till 4 Nov., 1824, of geography, history, and ethics till 17 April, 1825, and was on topographical duty till 13 May, 1828, when he resigned, and in 1831 was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar. He was recorder of Lancaster in 1841-'5, judge of the Philadelphia district court in 1845-'51, and president of the 3d judicial district of Pennsylvania in 1857-'62. After this he practised his profession in Philadelphia. Judge Findlay was a captain of militia in 1840-'5 and 1852-'6. He published an enlarged edition of Archbold's “Law of Nisi Prius” (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1852). — John King's nephew, John Van Lear, b. near Williamsport, Md., 21 Dec., 1839, was graduated at Princeton in 1858, and became a lawyer in Baltimore. He has been collector of internal revenue there, a member of the legislature, and orator for his state on “Maryland day” at the Centennial exhibition in 1876, and was elected to congress as a Democrat, serving from 1883 till 1887.
FINDLEY, Thomas Maskell, educator, b. in
West Mahoning, Pa., 29 Sept., 1847. He was
graduated at Monmouth college, Illinois, in 1874,
and at Princeton theological seminary in 1879, hav-
ing previously taught for two years. He was or-
dained pastor of the Presbyterian church at In-
dianola, Iowa, 22 June, 1880, and on 10 Oct.,
1883, was appointed president of the University of
southern Dakota, at Pierre, which he had founded
and organized. In 1885 he became pastor of the
9th Presbyterian church, St. Paul, Minn. Some
of Mr. Findley's articles contributed to the news-
paper press have been widely copied.
FINDLEY, William, politician, b. in the north
of Ireland about 1750 ; d. in Unity township, West-
moreland CO., Pa., 5 April, 1821. He came to
Pennsylvania in early life, served in the Revolu-
tion, and at its close removed to the western part
of the state, where he soon became active in poli-
tics. He was a member of the legislature and of the
State convention that adopted the Federal consti-
tution, which he actively opposed as a step toward
centralization. He was eleven times elected to con-
gress, serving in 1791-9 and 1803-17. Mr. Findley
was an earnest supporter of Thomas Jefferson, and
a fluent speaker. He published a " Review of the
Funding System " (1794); "History of the Insur-
rection of the Four Western Counties of Pennsyl-
vania "(Philadelphia, 179G) ; and several pamphlets
on matters of political interest.
FINDLEY, William Thornton, clergyman, b. in West Middletown, Pa., 3 June, 1814. He removed with his parents to Ohio in 1834, was gradu-
