1884 has been professor of history, literature, and political economy in that institution. He has re- ceived the degree of D. D. from Lafayette college. His principal works are " History of Minnesota" (Philadelphia, 1858) ; '• Terra Mariae, or Threads of Maryland Colonial History " (1867) ; " Virginian Company of London " (Albany, 1868) ; " English Colonization of America " (London, 1871); "Pound- ers of Maryland " (Albany, 1876) : '• Virginia Ve- tusta, the Colony under James the First" (1885); "Virginia Carolorum " (1886) ; and " Concise His- tory of Minnesota " (Minneapolis, 1887). He has written many articles for historical magazines, and has been a frequent contributor to the publica- tions of the Minnesota historical society. — Another brother, Thomas Hewson, soldier, b. in Philadel- phia, Pa., 9 April, 1826 ; d. there, 12 March, 1885, passed two years in the University of Pennsyl- vania, and was then appointed to the U. S. military academy, where he was graduated in 1847. He was assigned to the infantry, and served on fron- tier duty till the civil war, with the exception of the years 1853-7, when he was assistant professor of drawing at West Point. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, 31 July, 1850, and captain, 1 April, 1857, and, after doing duty in the mustering and organization of regiments early in the civil war, became, on 17 Feb., 1862, colonel of the 23d Penn- sylvania volunteers. He served through the penin- sular campaign, where he was brevetted major, U. S. army, for gallantry at Malvern Hill, commanded a brigade in the Maryland campaign, where he guarded the crossings of the Potomac in Septem- ber and October, 1862, and on 29 Nov. was com- missioned brigadier- general of volunteers. He was in the Rappahannock campaign, received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel for his services at the battle of Chancellorsville, was engaged at Gettysburg after a forced march of thirty-live miles, and took part in the succeeding operations of the Army of the Potomac till the autumn of 1864, being brevet- ted colonel for gallantry at Spottsylvania. He was acting inspector-general in Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign, and at the close of the war received the brevets of brigadier-general, U. S. army, and major- general of volunteers. He then served in various capacities till 1869, when he was made lieutenant- colonel of the 1st infantry and commanded the gen- eral recruiting depot at Governor's island, N. Y., till 1871, when, having been transferred to the 6th cavalry, he commanded that regiment on the fron- tier, operating against the Cheyenne Indians in 1874-'5. He was commandant of cadets at the U. S. military academy from 1875 till 1879, when he became colonel of the 8th cavalry, and on 2 April, 1883, he was retired for "disability in the line of duty." He was a very handsome man, and was popularly known as " Beau Neill."
NEILL, William, clergyman, b. near McKees-
port, Alleghany co.. Pa., in 1778 ; d. in Philadel-
phia, 8 Aug., 1860. His parents having been killed
by Indians while he was a child, he was brought up
by relatives. He was educated in the academy
that afterward became Jefferson college. Pa., and
at Princeton, where he was graduated in 1803. He
afterward was a tutor there till October, 1805, when
he was licensed to preach by the presbytery of New
Brunswick. He held pastorates at Cooperstown,
N. Y., in 1805, then at Albany, N. Y., till 1816, and
in Philadelphia till 1824, when he became president
of Dickinson college, and so remained till 1829.
He was secretary and general agent of the Presby-
terian board of education in 1829-'31, a minister at
Germantown, Pa., in 1831-'42, and after that date
resided in Philadelphia till his death. Union col-
lege conferred on him the degree of D. D. in 1812.
He edited " The Presbyterian " for several years,
contributed papers to religious periodicals, and
published " Lectures on Biblical History " (Phila-
delphia, 1846) ; " Exposition of the Epistle to the
Ephesians " (1850) ; " Divine Origin of the Christian
Religion " (1854) ; and " Ministry of Fifty Years,
with Anecdotes and Reminiscences " (1857).
NEILSON, John, soldier, b. in New Brunswick,
N. J., 11 March, 1745 ; d. there, 3 March. 1833. He
was educated at Philadelphia, and afterward en-
gaged in mercantile pursuits at New Brunswick in
1769-'75. He raised a company at the beginning
of the Revolution, became its captain, was appointed
colonel of the 2d regiment of Middlesex militia in
August, 1776. On "21 Feb., 1777, he was made
brigadier-general of militia, and in 1779 he was
placed in command of the New Jersey militia in
the northern part of the state. He was a delegate
from New Jersey to the Continental congress in
1778-9, and afterward to the State convention to
ratify the Federal constitution. In 1787 he had
been elected a delegate to the Federal convention,
but failed to attend. In 1800 and 1801 he repre-
sented New Brunswick in the state assembly, after
which he retired from public life. He was one of
the share-holders of Alexander Hamilton's manu-
facturing company, established in 1792 at Pater-
son, N. J., of which William Duer was elected
governor and Col. John Bayard deputy governor.
NEILSON, John, Canadian journalist, b. in
Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, 17 July,
1776 ; d. in Quebec, 1 Feb., 1848. When he was
fourteen years of age he joined his brother Samuel
in Quebec, and in 1797 he took charge of the
" Quebec Gazette." He was elected to the provin-
cial assembly for Quebec county in 1818, in 1822
and 1828 was a delegate to London to oppose the
reunion of Upper and Lower Canada, and on 29
March, 1830, received the thanks of the house of
assembly for his services while in England. In
1835 Mr. Neilson was again sent on a mission to
the home government. In 1840 he was elected to
the parliament of Canada, and in 1844 he became
speaker of the legislative council.
NEILSON, Lillian Adelaide, English actress,
b. near Saragossa, Spain, 3 March, 1850 ; d. in
Paris, 15 Aug., 1880. She was born of English
parents, and spent the early part of her life in Lon-
don. In 1865 she made her debut at the theatre in
Margate as Julia in " The Hunchback," and in
July of the same year appeared as Juliet at the
Royalty theatre, London. Thereafter she acted in
the larger houses of London and other cities with
success, and became an attractive performer. Her
iirst visit to this country was in November, 1872,
when she played Juliet at Booth's theatre, New
York city, and afterward made the usual dramatic
tour through the country with pecuniary profit.
She returned to the United States in 1875, 1877,
and 1879, each time with success. In 1872 Miss
Neilson married in England a Mr. Low, from whom
she afterward was divorced. Without much power
or originality, Miss Neilson was a fine representa-
tive of the youthful heroines of Shakespeare.
NEILSON, William George, metallurgical engineer, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 12 Aug., 1842. He was graduated at the Polytechnic college of Pennsylvania in 1862, and at once directed his attention to the manufacture of iron and steel. After filling
several professional engagements, he became connected with the Elizabethtown forges in 1869, and in 1870 with the Pennsylvania steel company. In 1871 he was appointed general manager of the Logan iron and steel company, and in 1877 manager
