May, 1856, and in 1857-60 was chief engineer in charge of surveys of the proposed ship-canal from the Gulf of Darien to the Pacific. After his promotion to captain, 9 Sept., 1861, he was chief topographical engineer successively of the de- partments of the Cumberland and the Ohio, and the Armies of the Ohio and the Cumberland. He was transferred to the regular engineer corps on 3 March, 1863, promoted major, 22 April, 1864, and was engaged on the defensive works connected with the Wilderness campaign, the siege of Peters- burg, and the subsequent actions of the Army of the Potomac. He received the brevet of lieuten- ant-colonel, 1 Aug., 1864, and those of colonel and brigadier-general in the regular army on 2 April, 1865, for services at Petersburg and throughout the war. Afterward he served on various engi- neering boards, was superintendent of public build- ings in the District of Columbia in 1867-'71, and then had charge of river and harbor improvements on the Pacific coast and in the states of New York and New Jersey. At the time of his death he held the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to which he had been promoted on 16 Oct., 1877.
MIDDLESWARTH, Ner, congressman, b. in
New Jersey about 1780 ; d. in Beavertown, Pa., 2
June, 1865. At the beginning of the century he
removed to Pennsylvania, and settled in what is now
Snyder county, penniless, friendless, and without
education. He served in the war of 1812, after
which he was elected to the legislature for many
years, and also served as its speaker. He had much
influence in local politics, was a Democrat until
1829, and then became an anti-Mason. He was after-
ward elected to congress as a Whig, serving from 5
Dec, 1853, till 3 March, 1855. He was opposed to
liberal progress and to education. His speeches
in congress consisted of brief, terse sentences, and
commanded profound attention.
MIDDLETON, Christopher, navigator, b. in
England ; d. 24 Jan., 1770. He sailed from Eng-
land in May, 1741, and, after spending the winter
at the entrance of Churchill river in Hudson bay,
went to Wager river and penetrated to 88° west
longitude. Afterward he steered to the north-
west and reached Repulse bay, which he named in
consequence of being prevented by ice from mak-
ing further progress. On 9 Aug. he returned to
England, where a violent controversy took place
between him and Arthur Dobbs. a gentleman of
fortune, at whose instance Middleton had under-
taken the expedition. Further researches vindi-
cated Middleton, and he was presented with a medal
and elected a member of the Royal society.
MIDDLETON, Edward, colonist, b. in Twickenlmm, England ; d. in Charleston, S. C, about 1685. He inherited large property in England, but removed from London to Barbadoes, and thence with his brother Arthur in 1678 to Carolina, soon after the founding of that colony, where
they received large grants of land in Berkeley county. Edward took an active part in the affairs of the province and was a member of the grand council under the lords-proprietors. 1678-'80, which office was also held by his brother Arthur in 1683. In 1683-'4 he was one of the assistant judges of the province. He evinced decided re-
publican tendencies and opposed the governors in
favor of popular rights and privileges. His coun-
try-place, known as the " Oaks," on Goose creek, is
still remarkable for a fine avenue of live-oaks that
are said to have been planted by him. — His sou. Ar-
thur, governor of South Carolina, b. in South
Carolina in 1681 ; d. there. 7 Sept., 1737, was edu-
cated in England. In 1704 he was a member of
the commons house, voted for the establishment,
of the Church of England in the colony, and was
one of the commissioners that were appointed to
carry out the act. In 1711 he was appointed naval
officer for South Carolina, and from 1711 till 1717
was a member of the council of the province and
afterward speaker of the commons. In 1715 he
was sent as commissioner to Virginia to solicit the
aid of that province in the Yemassee war. and later
was sent to England to seek relief from the crown.
He was active in the movement for the transfer of
the colony from the government of the lords to
that of the crown, and in 1719 headed, as president
of the popular convention, the revolution that
threw off the proprietary government. In 1721 he
was made president of council, and from 1725 till
1731 he was governor of the colony, and thereafter
remained president of the council until his death.
He was a bold supporter of the royal author-
ity, and " equally careful to promote loyalty to
the king as the freedom and safety of his fellow-
subjects." His administration was marked by war
and by negotiations with the Spanish in Florida
and the French in Louisiana.- — Arthur's youngest
son, Thomas, soldier, b. in 1719 ; d. in Beaufort,
S. C, 17 Dec, 1766, was a member of the commons
house for St. James parish until his marriage,
when he removed to Granville county. In 1752 he
sat as member from St. Bartholomew's, and after-
ward until his death for St. Helena or Prince
Williams. In 1750 he was a captain in the Berke-
ley county regiment. He passed the years 1758
and 1754 travelling in Europe. In 1759 he com-
manded the gentlemen volunteers in an expedition
into the mountains of the Cherokee country. In
1760 he was made colonel of the regiment of
South Carolina provincials, in which William
Moultrie, Francis Marion, Isaac Huger, and other
Revolutionary officers began their militaiy career.
He commanded this regiment in the campaign
against the Cherokees and in the battle of Etchoee.
A controversy as to rank between Col. Grant, of
the English array, who commanded the regulars,
and himself, intensified by the subsequent events
of the campaign, led to a personal encounter and
duel. Col. Middleton 's conduct in this matter was
highly approved by public opinion, and his popu-
larity rose to a great height. — His only son, Will-
iam, was a member of the legislature for St. Helena. — The eldest son of Arthur, William, politician, b. in South Carolina in 1710 ; was a member of the commons and in 1742 speaker of that body. In 1742 he was appointed to the council. In 1750 he was an incorporator of the Charleston library society. In 1754 he resigned his seat in council and removed to his estates in Suffolk, England. In 1756 he was appointed agent for the colony, which office he declined. In 1774 he headed the Carolinians in England who petitioned parliament against the Boston port bill, and was an active sympathizer and abettor of the American movement. — William's eldest son. Sir William Middleton, bart., continued the family in England. — His youngest son, John, returned to Carolina and fought through the Revolutionary war on the American side as an officer in Lee's legion.— The second son of Arthur, Henry, b. in South Carolina in 1717; d. in Charleston, 13 June, 1784, was early elected to the commons, and was speaker of that body in 1745-'7, and represented St. George's in 1754-'5. In the latter year he was a commissioner of Indian affairs and was appointed to the council, of which body he was a member until 1770, when he resigned. In 1774 he was sent as a delegate to the Continental congress, and in October was made
