Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/371

tion, Timothy Ruggles had been the leader of the kind's party "in the" general court: and when the British troops left Boston in 1775 he went with them, but there is no evidence, however, that he took an active part in the war against his country- men. It has been said of him that "he applauded the spirit which led to the Revolution, but regard- ed the violent efforts practised to effect the separa- tion of the provinces from the mother country as impolitic and premature." Gen. Ruggles : s prop- erty was confiscated by the government of Massa- chusetts, but Great Britain gave him land in Nova Scotia, and after the close of the Revolutionary war lie settled there and spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. In his new home, as before in Hardwick, he rendered lasting ser- vice to his neighbors by the use of scientific meth- ods in farming and by" the introduction of choice breeds of cattle and horses. He was more than six feet in height, careful in his dress, and had an expressive countenance. He was commanding and dignified in appearance and fearless in demeanor. Hfs wit was ready and brilliant, his mind was clear, comprehensive, and penetrating. He was a forcible and convincing public speaker. Though abstemious, he was at the same time profuse in hospitality. As a military officer he was noted for ,. 1 bravery and excellence of judgment, as well as for knowledge of the art of warfare. " There were few men in the province," wrote Joseph Wil- lard, " more justly distinguished than Ruggles, and few who were more severely dealt with in the bitter controversies preceding the Revolution." " Had lie been so fortunate," wrote Christopher C. Baldwin, " as to have embraced the popular sentiments of the time, there is no doubt he would have been ranked among the leading characters of the Revo- lution." See an article by Christopher C. Baldwin on Timothy Ruggles in the " Worcester Magazine " (1826), and addresses before the Members of the bar of Worcester county, Mass., by Joseph Wil- lard (1829), Emory Washburn (1856), and Dwight Foster (1878); also Emory Washburn 's "Sketches of the Judicial History of Massachusetts from 1630 to the Revolution in 1775" (Boston, 1840).

RUGGLES, William, educator, b. in Roches- ter. Mass., 5 Sept., 1797 ; d. in Washington, I). (.'.. 10 Sept., 1877. He was graduated at Brown in 1820, in 1822 became a tutor in Columbian college, D. C., and in 1827 was advanced to the chair of mathe- matics and natural philosophy. He remained in this office until his death, completing the term of fifty-five years as teacher in one institution. Prof. Ruggles was a generous contributor to charitable objects, especially those of the Baptist denomina- tion. To Karen theological school, in Burmah, he gave during his life $15,000, and at his death he left it a legacy of $25,000. He received from Brown the honorary degree of LL. D. in 1852.

RULISON, Nelson Somerville. P. E. bishop, b. in Carthage, X. Y., 24 April, 1842; d. in Mann- heim, Germany, 1 Sept., 1897. His early education was obtained at the Wesleyan academy, Gouverneur, N. Y. He entered the Episcopal general theologi- cal seminary. New York city, was graduated in 1866, and ordained deacon in Grace church, Utica, N. Y.. 27 May, 1866, by Bishop Coxe, and priest, in the Church of the Annunciation. New York city, 30 Nov., 1866, by Bishop Horatio Potter. The first year of his ministry he served as assistant minister in the Church of the Annunciation, New York city. In 1867 he became rector of Zion church, Morris, N. Y. Three years later he went to Jersey City, founded and built St. John's free church, and la- bored there for nearly seven years. He accepted a call to St. Paul's church. Cleveland, Ohio, in 1876, and held that post for eight years. He received the degree of D. D. from Kenyon college, Ohio, in 1N?!>, was clerical deputy from Ohio in the general conventions of 1880 and 1883, and president of the standing committee of the diocese of Ohio for six years. He was elected assistant bishop of central Pennsylvania in the summer of 1884, and was con- secrated in St. Paul's church, Cleveland, 28 Oct., 1884. Bishop Rulison had published several ser- mons that he had preached on special occasions, and contributed freely to current religious litera- ture in verse as well as prose. He wrote also a History of St. Paul's Church. Cleveland. Ohio " (Cleveland, 1877). He became bishop in 1895.

RUMFORD, Benjamin Thompson, Count, scientist, b. in Woburn, Mass.. 26 March, 1753 ; d. in Auteuil, near Paris, France. 21 Aug., 1814. He received a common-school education and excelled in mathematics and mechanics. In 1766 he was apprenticed to John Appleton, a merchant in Salem. and continued his studies by devoting his leisure to the study of algebra, trigonometry, and astronomy, so that at the age of fifteen he was able to cal- culate an eclipse. Later he began the study of medicine under Dr. John Hay in Woburn, and at- tended a few lee-

tures at Cambridge, but spent most of

his time in manufacturing surgical instruments. Subsequently he returned to Boston, and there engaged as a clerk in the dry-goods business. The depressed condition of affairs soon threw him out of employment, and, with his friend Loam mi Baldwin, he attended the lectures in experimental philosophy that were delivered by Prof. John Winthrop at Harvard. The experiments were repeated by the two students with improvised apparatus on their return from the lectures. He also taught for a short time in Bradford. Mass., and later in Rumford (now Concord), N. H. In 1771 he married Sarah Walker Rolfe, a widow of ample means, about thirteen years his senior. Gov. John Wentworth, of New Hampshire, recognizing his ability, gave him a commission of major in one of the New Hampshire regiments ; but this act met with opposition from those who resented the appointment of a younger man over their heads. This feeling of hostility increased as the active measures of the Revolution approached, and knowledge of the intention of tarring and feathering him on account of his supposed Tory inclinations caused his abrupt departure from Concord in November, 1774, leaving his wife and infant daughter. He made his way to Boston, where his military feelings led to his intimate relations with Gen. Thomas Gage. It is said that after the battle of Bunker Hill he was favorably introduced to George Washington, who had just assumed command of the American army, and who would have given him a commission in the artillery but for the opposition of the New Hampshire officers. In March, 1775, he returned to SVoburn, where he was arrested, and, after a public trial, was not fully acquitted, although not