Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/282

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256
RILEY
RINGGOLD

to corroborate the story. Another survivor of the shipwreck. Archibald Robbins. published a narra- tive (Hartford, 1842). Riley's son. WILLIAM WILL- SHIRE, published a " Sequel " to his narrative, em- bracing the story of his life, voyages, and travels after the shipwreck (Columbus. 1851).


RILEY, James Whitcomb, poet. b. in Green- field, Ind.. about 1853. He acquired a knowledge of men and a taste fora wandering life by trav- elling with his father, an attorney, and early left school and adopted the calling of a vagabond >i;:ii- writer, sometimes simulating blindness in order to attract custom. For some time he performed in a theatrical troupe, and became proficient in recasting plays and improvising songs. About 1875 he be- gan to contribute to the local papers verses in the western dialect, which he found more popular than serious poetry. He exhibited his imitative powers also by writing a short piece called " Leonainie," which many literary critics were deluded into ac- cepting as a poem of Edgar A. Poe. He finally obtained regular employment in the office of tin. 1 Indianapolis "Journal," and in that paper, and latterly in the magazines, he has published nu- merous dialect and serious poems. His collected works are "The Old Swimmin'-Ilolr. and 'Leven More Poems," by " Benj. F. John-cm, of Boone " (is83j; "The Boss Girl, and other Sketches," con- sisting of stories and poems (Indianapolis, 1886); " Afterwhiles " (1887); "Character Sketches and Poems " (1887) ; and Armazindy " (ls4).


RILEY, John Campbell, physician, b. in Georgetown, D. C., 16 Dec., 1838: d. in Wa-hing- ton, D. C., 33 Fell., 1*711. 11,. was graduated at Georgetown college in 1M~ -tudied in the Na- tional medical college at Washington, taking his degree in 1851, and entered into practice in that city. In 1859 he became professor of materia medica and therapeutics in the National medical college. He was secretary to the National conven- tion for revising the pharmacopoeia, and H the au- thor of a " Compend of Materia Medica and Thera- peutics" (Philadelphia, 1869).


RIMMER. William, artist, b. in Liverpool. England. 30 Feb., 1816: d. in South Milford, Mass., 20 Aug., 1879. His family .migrated to this country in 1818, and he began early to carve figures in gypsum and to paint. In 1846 he be- gan the study of medicine, going to Bridgewater and then to South Boston, and supporting himself by painting. He remained in the profession six- teen years, and it was not until 1860 that lie pro- duced his first important work of art. This was a colossal head of "St. Stephen," carved directly from granite without a model. It was followed by the "Falling Gladiator" (1861), which is now in the Museum of fine arts, Boston, and which at- tracted wide attention. It was remarkable espe- cially as showing his profound knowledge of the construction and movement of the human figure. He was urged to come to Boston and open an art- school, which he did, lecturing also before the Lowell institute and at Harvard on art anatomy. In 1867 he became director of the School of design for women in the Cooper institute, New York city, where he remained four years, after which he re- turned to Boston. His other works include a statue of Alexander Hamilton, in Boston, and " Lions Fighting" (1874). Dr. Rimmer also executed nu- merous paintings, but he felt too deeply the want of opportunity and of a proper appreciation .if Ms advanced ideas to produce many original works. His life was mainly devoted to teaching, lie pub- lished "Elements of Design" (lio-t-ni. 1N73 : re- vised ed., 1879) and "Art Anatomy " (Boston. 1877).


RINALDINI. Benito (ree-nal-dee'-nee), Spanish missionary, b. in Brijia, province of Valencia, 15 June. 1695: d. in Michoacan about 1760. He en- tered the Jesuit order in 1712, and was sent to Mexico about 1730, and assigned to the missions of the Tepehuan Indians. He wrote " Arte para aprender la lengua Tepehuana" (Mexico, 1745).


RIM'ON. Antonio del (reen-con'), Mexican missionary, b. in Tezcoco in 1541 ; d. in San Mar- tin, Texmelucan, 2 March. 1601. He entered the J.-suit order in Tepotzotlan in 1573, taught in their colleges of Mexico and Puebla, and afterward gave his life to the teaching and conversion of the na- tives. Although paralytic, he continued exercising his ministry, was carried by his converts from one village to the other, and died while preaching to the Indians. He wrote " Gramatica 6 Arte de la lengua Mexicana " (Mexico, 1595 ; reprinted by An- tonio Penafiel, 1885).


RINEHART. William Henry, sculptor, b. near Laiion Bridge, Carroll co., Md., 13 Sept.. 1825; d. in Rome, Italy, 28 Oct., 1874. His youth was 1 at the homestead, and he attended school until he was nearly eighteen years of age, when he began to work on his father's farm, but became the assistant of a stone-cutter in the neighborhood. By strict attention to duty he soon excelled his employer, and in 1844 secured an apprenticeship in a Baltimore marble-yard, where he also took up drawing and other studies in his leisure hours. His energy and talent attracted the attention of his employers, who not only advanced him, but built a studio for him on their own premises. Many of the works that he produced during this time still exist in Baltimore. But after several years he decided to devote himself wholly to the art to which he had become attached, and in 1855 went to Italy to continue his studies. While there he executed two bas-reliefs in marble, " Night " and " Morning." On his return, two years later, he opened a studio in Baltimore, where he executed, besides numerous busts, a fountain-figure for the post-office at Washington, and two figures, " Indian "' and " Backwoodsman," to support the clock in the house of representatives. In 1858 he settled in Rome. During the succeeding eight years there came from his studio "Hero and Leander": "Indian Girl" : "St. Cecilia " ; " Sleeping Babes " ; " Woman of Samaria "; "Christ "and the "Angel of Resurrection " (both now in Loudoun cemetery); and the bronze statue, "Love, reconciled with Death." in Greenmount cemetery, Baltimore. He completed also the bronze doors of the capitol, which Thomas Crawford left unfinished at his death. He made visits to this country in 1866 and in 1872. bringing with him in the latter year his statue of CMet'-Ju>ti.-e linger 1!. Taney, which in the same year was unveiled in Annapolis, Md. In 1873 he set sail once more for Italy with a large number of orders. A desire to fill these all in time induced him to remain in Rome longer than usual during the summer, and he fell a victim to malaria. Besides those already inent i. >ned. Rinehart's principal works include "Antigone": "Nymph": "Clytie," which he has called his masterpiece, and which is owned by the IVab.idy institute; "Atalanta"; " Latona and her Children": "Diana and Apollo": "Endymion" (1S74>: and " Rebecca." in the I 'oivoran gallery at Washington.


RINGOLD. Samuel, con^res-man. 1'. in ( 'In-tel-town. Kent co.. .M.I.. l"i Jan.. I7TII: d. in Frederick county. Md.. is Oct., 1^211. lie was educated by private tutors, served in the state senate fur several years, was elected to cungn -~ a-.1 li'iuocrat in 1SIO in place of K-.^cr NeKon. resigncd, served till l>l~i, wa> iv-clecicd in 1810, and