Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/156

Provoost is among those " upon the adamant of whose fame the river of Time beats without injury," or that he should rank with those eminent found- ers of the American church, Seabury and White, or with the epoch-makers Hobart and Whitting- ham, it may be asserted that for elegant scholar- ship he had no peer among his American contemporaries, lie was so indifferent to literary reputation that not even a sermon of his appears to have been printed, al- though his accomplish- ments in belles-lettres were many and admira- ble, as may be inferred

from Dr. Hobart's remarks at the first meeting <>f the diocesan convention after the bishop's death: " The character of Bishop Provoost is

one which the enlightened Christian will estimate at no ordinary standard. The generous sympa- thies of his nature created in him a cordial concern in whatever affected the interests of his fellow- creatures. Hence his beneficence was called into almost daily exercise, and his private charities were often beyond what was justified by his actual means. As a patriot he was exceeded by none. As a scholar he was deeply versed in classical lore and in the records of ecclesiastical history and church polity. To a very accurate knowledge of the Hebrew he added a profound acquaintance with the Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian, and other languages. He made considerable progress also in the natural and physical sciences, of which botany was 1 1 is favorite branch." See "The Centennial History of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of New York " (New York, 188(5), and an address on " Samuel Provoost. Fir>l I!i-li<>]> <>[ New York," by Gen. Jas. Grant Wilson (1887).

PRUD'HOMME, John Francis Eugene, engraver, b. on the island of St. Thomas, W. I., 4 Oct., 1800 : d. in Washington, 28 June, 1892. He came to this country in 1807 with his family, who settled in New York in the spring of 1809. When about fourteen years old he turned his attention to engraving, and was a pupil of Thomas Gimbrede, his brother-in-law, but the latter shortly afterward became teacher of drawing at the U. S. military academy, which left Mr. Prud'homme to pursue his own course. At the age of seventeen he essayed en- graving portraits, and produced several fine plates for Longacre and Herring's " National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans." He also en- graved some plates for the annuals that were fash- ionable at that time, notably " Friar Puck," after John G. Chapman; "The Velvet Hat," after Joseph Innskeep ; and " Oberon," after a miniature by Miss Anne E. Hall. In 1852 Mr. Prud'homme entered a bank-note engraving establishment in New York, and from I860 till 1885 he was employed as an or- namental designer and engraver at the bureau of engraving and printing in Washington. He was early elected member of the National academy of design, became academician in 1846, and in 1 834 '53 was its curator. Mr. Prud'homme was a tasteful designer, a good draughtsman, and excellent en- graver, in the very fine stipple manner introduced by Caroline Watson toward the end of the I8th century. He resided in Georgetown. D. C., pursu- ing his profession, and until his death was the oldest living American engraver.

PRUYN, John Van Schaick Lansing, lawyer, b. in Albany, N. Y., 22 June, I8ll ; d. in Clifton Springs, N.'Y., 21 Nov., 1877. He was graduated at Albany academy in 182G, became a student in the office of James King, and was admitted to the bar in 1832. At once he took high rank in his profession as one of the attorneys in the once-cele- brated James will case. In 1835 he became a direc- tor of the Mohawk and Hudson railroad and its counsel, and in 1853, when the railroads between Albany and Buffalo were united, forming the pres- ent New York Central, he conducted the proceedings and drew up the consolidation agreement, in some respects the most important business instrument that was ever executed in the state of New York. He was associated in the Hudson river bridge case, finally arguing it alone, was sole trustee of the estate of Harmanns Bleecker, and was the financial officer of the Sault Ste. Marie canal, which he carried through many difficulties. In 18(il he was elected state senator as a Democrat, having accepted the nomination on condition that no money should be used in the election. At the close of his term he gave the year's salary to the- poor of Albany. He was a new capitol commis- sioner from 1865 till 1870, and in 1869 laid the first stone of the new building. He was a member of congress in 1863- '5 and 1867-9, serving upon sev- eral important committees, and as a regent of the Smithsonian in- stitution. At the first election of General Grant to the presidency he was one of the tel- lers of the house

of representatives and suggested such legislation as would have remedied the

existing difficulties in counting the presidential vote. He was a regent of the University of the state of New York for thirty-three years, during the last fifteen of which he was chancellor. The establishment of the university convocation and the regents' examinations were largely if not almost wholly due to his efforts. The regents are trustees of the State museum of natural history and the State library, and the present value of these collections is largely owing to Mr. Pruyn's personal interest and supervision. Mr. Pruyn was also president of the board of trustees of St. Stephen's college, Annandale, of the State board of charities, of the State survey, and of the Albany institute. He was also a member of various his- torical and other societies, and of the Association for the codification of the law of nations. Mr. Pruyn received the degree of M. A. from Rutgers in 1835, and from Union college in 1845, and that of LL. D. in 1852, from the University of Rochester. His cousin, Robert Hewson, diplomatist, b. in Albany, N. Y., 14 Feb., 1815: d. in Albany, N. Y., 26 Feb., 1882, was graduated at Rutgers in is:!3, studied law with Abraham Van Vechten, and in 1836 was admitted to the bar. He was corporation counsel of Albany, a member of the city govern- ment, and in 1855 became adjutant-general of the state. He was a Whig in polities, and served in the assembly in 1848-'50, and again in 1854, when he was elected speaker. It is said that no appeal