Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/293

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MATHESON
MATHEW

lished department of chemistry and mineralogy, and to him were submitted the proof-sheets of Webster's chemistry, then in process of publication. He also invented an apparatus for drawing water from the lowest depths of the Hudson river, and noting its temperature. After his graduation in 1828 he remained at West Point as acting assistant instructor of artillery during the annual encampment, and was then stationed at the school of practice at Jefferson barracks until April, 1829. From June, 1829, he was for six years the acting assistant professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology at West Point. He was then ordered on topographical duty as assistant geologist to George W. Featherstonhaugh, to examine the country from Green Bay to the Coteau de Prairie. This survey was the basis of a report and a topographical map of St. Peter's river valley. He then joined his regiment at Fort Gibson, and marched into the Choctaw country. In 1836 he resigned from the army, and thereafter devoted himself exclusively to science. While still in the army, and acting as an instructor at West Point, he published several papers on chemistry and geology, in the “American Journal of Science and Arts.” He also prepared a small work on geology for the use of schools (Washington, 1833), and a treatise on “Diluvion,” for the use of the cadets. With the consent of the secretary of war he acted, in 1833, as professor of chemistry, geology, and mineralogy in the Wesleyan university, Middletown, Conn., and in 1834 that institution gave him the degree of A. M. In 1836 he was appointed geologist of the first district, or twenty-one counties, of the state of New York. This work required seven years, and his final report was a quarto of 671 pages, with forty-six colored plates, a great undertaking for the early days of geological research. From 1837 to 1840 he also superintended the geological survey of the state of Ohio, and made elaborate reports (2 vols., Columbus, 1838). In 1838-'9 he made a report upon the geological reconnoissance of the state of Kentucky. In 1842 he became professor of natural science in Ohio university, and in 1845 was its acting president. He was acting professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology in Marietta college in 1846, and from 1847 till 1850 vice-president and professor of natural science in Ohio university. During his professional life, between the years 1846 and 1850, he acted as geologist and mining engineer to various companies on Lake Superior, and a part of his labors is recorded in thirty-three analyses of ores. Eight reports were also made upon mines in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia. From 1850 till 1854 he was the agricultural chemist for the state of Ohio, and editor of the “Western Agriculturist.” In 1853 he was appointed geologist of Lieut. Williamson's party of exploration across the Sierra Nevada for the Pacific railroad, but declined through physical disability. From 1837 till his death he gathered a cabinet of minerals that finally numbered 22,000 specimens. He was a member of many scientific and historical societies, and for fifteen years a trustee of Granville college, Ohio. Brown gave him the degree of LL. D. in 1853.


MATHESON, Roderick, Canadian senator, b. in Ross-shire, Scotland, in December, 1793 ; d. in Perth, Ontario, 13 Jan., 1873. He was educated at Inver- ness, emigrated to Canada, and served in the war of of 1812 in the Glengarry light infantry. He was at the actions at York, Sackett's Harbor, Fort George, Lundy's Lane, and Fort Erie, and was wounded at one of these engagements. He was subsequently appointed colonel commanding the 1st military district of Ontario. Col. Matheson became a mem- ber of the legislative council in 1847, and in 1867 a member of the Dominion senate.


MATHEW, Edward, British soldier, b. in Eng- land in 1729; d. in Claville Lodge, Hants, Eng- land, 26 Dec, 1805. He was ensign in the Cold- stream guards in 1746, captain and lieutenant- colonel in 1702, colonel in 1775, and aide-de-camp to George III. the same year. He came to the United States in 1776 in command of a brigade of guards, with the rank of brigadier-general, par- ticipated in the capture of Fort Washington, led the party that was sent to destroy Gosport, Va., and after his return accompanied Sir Henry Clin- ton up the Hudson. He was colonel of the 65th regiment in 1779, appointed major-general the same year, and in 1780 was stationed at or near New York, but returned to England the same year. He was commander-in-chief of the forces of the West Indies in November, 1782, governor-general of Granada and the southern Carribean islands in 1783. and in 1797 was given the rank of general.


MATHEW, Theobald, apostle of temperance, b. in Tliomastown, County Tipperary. Ireland, 10 Oct., 1790; d. there, 8 Dec, 1856. He was edu- cated in the College of Maynooth, and entered a Capuchin convent at Kilkenny, where he remained until after his ordination in 1814, when he took charge of a chapel in Cork. His urbane manners and charitable disposition soon acquired for him great influence. He interested himself warmly in the condition of the lower classes, and organized a religious association for visiting the poor and the sick, which he induced many young men to join. In 1838 a Quaker first directed his attention to the necessity of suppressing intemperance, and soon afterward he was invited to Cork to join in devising a crusade against drunkenness. A total abstinence society was formed, of which he was chosen president. Thirty-five persons took the pledge at once, and the following day several hun- dred joined the society. In the course of five months he administered the pledge at Cork alone to 150,000 people, and no small part of this success was due to Father Mathew's personal influence. He was then invited to all parts of Ireland, and was followed by great crowds. After visiting every town in Ireland he went to England, where he was received with enthusiasm. His benevolences had involved him deeply in debt, and, although he received a pension of £300 from the queen, most of it was applied to paying an insurance on his life for the benefit of his creditors. His brother, a wealthy distiller in Ireland, also assisted him financially, until his business was ruined by the progress of the temperance movement. After his tour of England he visited the United States, arriving in New York in July, 1849. He made a successful visit to that city, and did good service in Boston, but alienated a number of its citizens by his refusal, for diplomatic reasons, to join the anti-slavery societies. In Washington he was admitted to a seat on the fioor of congress, an honor that had not previously been conferred on any foreigner but Lafayette. Beginning with Richmond he made a tour of the southern states, subsequently visiting Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. In his farewell address to the citizens of the United States, he said that he had obtained 600,000 signatures to the temperance pledge in this country. A statue to his memory has been placed in the central square of Salem, Mass.. the gift of Thomas Horgan to that town. See " Biography of Father Mathew," by John Francis McGuire (New York, 1864).