RICKOFF, Andrew Jackson, educator, b. in Mercer county, N. J., 23 Aug., 1824. After receiving his education in Woodward College. Cincinnati. he taught, and has been superintendent of schools in Portsmouth, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, Ohio, and Yonkers, N. Y. The credit is awarded him of reorganizing the schools both of Cincinnati and Cleveland, and largely influencing the school systems in Ohio. The radical changes that he car- ried into effect in organization and methods of instruction have been widely approved by adoption throughout the north and west. The 'system of schools in Cleveland was commended, by the English commissioners to the International' exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, as superior to any other in the United States. At this exposition Mr. Rickoff received a medal as the designer of the best plans for school-buildings. In their report to the government, the French commissioners pronounced these buildings the best in the country. Since 1888 Mr. Rickoff has held charge of Felix Adler's workingman's school, established in 1880. He is the author of many school-books, and has edited a series of six readers, which are extensively used.
RICORD, Jean Baptiste (ree-cor), physician, b.
in Paris, France, in 1777; d. in the island of Guadeloupe,
W. I., in 1837. He was educated in France
and in Italy, whither his father had fled during the
French revolution, and subsequently accompanied
the latter to this country, and settled in Baltimore,
Md. After graduation at the New York college of
physicians and surgeons in 1810, he went to the
West Indies to make researches in botany and natural
history, and travelled and practised medicine
extensively in the islands until he returned to New
York. He was an accomplished scholar, musician,
and painter, and a member of various learned
societies in France and the United States. Many of
his writings were signed “Madiana,” the name of
his homestead in France. In addition to
contributions to scientific and other journals, Dr. Ricord
published “An Improved French Grammar” (New
York, 1812), and “Recherches et expériences sur
les poissons d'Amérique,” illustrated by his own
pencil (Bordeaux, 1826). He left many
manuscripts, which have not been published. — His wife,
Elizabeth, educator, b. in New Utrecht, L. I., 2
April, 1788; d. in Newark, N. J., 10 Oct., 1865, was
the daughter of Rev. Peter Stryker. She was
educated by private tutors, married Dr. Ricord in
1810, and accompanied him in his expeditions to
the West Indies. In 1829 she opened a young
ladies' seminary in Geneva, N. Y., of which she
was principal until 1842. The great religious
revival that spread through western New York in
1832 originated in her seminary. In 1845 she
moved to Newark, where she became interested in
works of charity, and was a founder of the Newark
orphan asylum, and its directress until her death.
She contributed largely to magazines and journals,
was the author of “Philosophy of the Mind”
(Geneva, 1840), and “Zamba, or the Insurrection,
a Dramatic Poem” (Cambridge, Mass., 1842). — Their
son, Frederick William, author, b. in Guadeloupe,
W. I., 7 Oct., 1819; d. in Newark, 12 Aug., 1897. He
was educated at Hobart and Rutgers, and studied
law in Geneva, N. Y., but did not practise his
profession. He taught for twelve years in Newark,
N. J., was a member of the board of education
of that city from 1852 till 1869, serving as president
in 1867-'9. He was state superintendent of
public schools of New Jersey in 1860-'3, sheriff
of Essex county in 1865-'7, mayor of Newark in
1870-'3, and associate judge of the various county
courts of Essex county in 1875-'9. He was long
librarian of the New Jersey historical society.
Judge Ricord received the degree of A. M. from
Rutgers in 1845 and Princeton in 1861. He was
one of the editors of the “New Jersey Archives,”
and had published a “History of Rome” (New
York, 1852); “The Youth's Grammar” (1853);
“Life of Madame de Longueville,” from the French
of Victor Cousin (1854); “The Henriade,” from
Voltaire (1859); “English Songs from Foreign
Tongues” (1879); and “The Self-Tormentor, from
the Latin of Terentius, with more English Songs”
(1885). He had ready for publication “The
Governors of New Jersey,” which gives the history of
the state from its settlement to the Revolution. —
Jean Baptiste's brother, Alexander, physician, b.
in Baltimore, Md., in 1798; d. in Paris, France, 3
Oct., 1876, was educated in his native city, removed
to France in order to study under Cuvier, and
received his diploma as doctor in medicine in Paris
in 1824. He was assistant surgeon in the French
navy, and correspondent of the Academy of medicine,
but devoted his life chiefly to natural history,
received the decoration of the Legion of honor in
1845, and contributed largely to scientific journals.
— Another brother of Jean Baptiste, Philippe,
French surgeon, b. in Baltimore, Md., 10 Dec., 1800;
d. in Paris, France. 22 Oct., 1889, was the grandson
of a distinguished physician of Marseilles, and the
son of a member of the Compagnie des Indes,
who came to the United States in 1790 in the hope
of retrieving his fortunes. After pursuing a course
of scientific studies with his brother, Jean B.
Ricord, Philippe began the study of medicine in
Philadelphia. In 1820 he visited Paris, taking with
him a collection of animals and plants as a present
to the National museum. In March, 1826, he
received the degree of M. D., and began to practise at
Olivet, near Orléans, afterward removing to Croüy-sur-Ourcq.
In 1828 he returned to Paris, and
delivered a course of lectures on surgery, and in 1831
he was appointed surgeon-in-chief to the Hôpital
des vénériens du Midi. At this hospital, from
which he retired on account of age in 1860, he
gained a great reputation as a specialist. By a
decree bearing date, 28 July, 1862, he was appointed
physician in ordinary to Prince Napoleon, and on
26 Oct., 1869, he was named consulting surgeon to
Napoleon III., whom he had assiduously attended
during a recent illness, and who in return had
presented him with a snuff-box and 20,000 francs. He
was promoted commander of the Legion of honor,
12 Aug., 1860, and grand officer, 23 June, 1871, for
services as president of the ambulance corps during
the siege of Paris. He also received many foreign
decorations. Besides writing the works mentioned
below. Dr. Ricord devised and first performed many
surgical operations, several of which have since
been “crowned” by the Academy of sciences. Dr.
Rieord in his eighty-ninth year was still engaged
in the practice of his profession, daily visiting
his numerous patients, and during his office hours
receiving the crowds that came to consult him.
For many years he was known in Paris as “the
great American doctor,” and he ever cherished
a warm affection for his native land. He
published “De l'emploi du speculum,” treating of his
invention of the “bivalvular speculum” (Paris,
1833); “De la blennorrhagie de la femme” (1834);
“Emploi de l'onguent mercuriel dans le traitement
de l'érésipèle” (1836); “Monographie du
chancre,” being a thorough explanation of his
system (1837); “Théorie sur la nature et le traitement
de l'épididymite” (1838); “Traité des maladies
vénériennes” (8 vols., 1838; new ed., 1863);
“De l'ophthalmie blennorrhagique” (1842); “Cli-
