SEARS, Edward I., editor, b. in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1819 : d. in New York city. 7 Dec.. 1876. He was graduated at Trinity college, Dub- lin, in 1839, came to this country in 1848, and for many years was professor of languages in Manhattan college. He became editor and pro- prietor of the " National Quarterly," a literary magazine, in 1860, and conducted it until his deal li. He was a writerof cultivated taste and pure and expressive style, and contributed regularly to English and American reviews. He published, un- der the pen-name of " H. E. Chevalier," " Legends of the Sea " (New York, 1863).
SEARS, Isaac, patriot, b. in Norwalk, Conn.,
in 1729; d. in Canton, China. 28 Oct., 1786. His
ancestor. Richard, emigrated to this country from
Colehester. England, in 1630. Isaac commanded
a privateer against the French in 1758-'61, but lost
his vessel in "the latter year, and then engaged in
the West Indian and European trade, making New
York city his home. On the passage of the Mamp-
act he ardently engaged in the patriot cause and
became an active member of the Sons of liberty.
In November, 1775, with a troop of horse, he went
to the printing establishment of James Rivington,
editor of the " Royal Gazette. destroyed his pres-.es.
and carried off his type, which was afterward
converted into bullets. He was a member of the
Provincial congress of New York in 1783 and of
the assembly in the same year. He lost his fortune
by the war, and in 1785 became supercargo on a
merchant ship, contracting the fever from which
he died on his first passage to China.
SEARS, Robert, publisher, b. in St. John, New
Brunswick, 28 June, 1810; d. 17 Feb., 1892. His
father was one of the loyalists of the Revolution.
He served an apprenticeship in the printing busi-
ness at St. John, and in 1832 emigrated to New
York city, where he opened a small printing-office
in Park row. In 1839 he began the publication
of illustrated works, which were sold almost en-
tirely by subscription. He was a liberal patron
and friend of the earlier wood-engravers, did much
to develop that art, then in its infancy, and was
one of the earliest pioneers in arousing and foster-
ing that taste for pictorial representation which
has grown to such large dimensions. He was also
one of the first to recognize the value of judicious
advertising. He expended many thousands of dol-
lars in making his publications known throughout
the United States, and in 1847 procured an exten-
sive recognition of the merits of American wood-
engraving from the British public by presenting a
complete set of his publications to Queen Victoria
and receiving her personal thanks for the same.
Among his publications are " Illustrations of the
Bible" (New York, 1840); "Bible Biography"
(1843); "Wonders of the World " (1847); "Picto-
rial History of the United States," his most im-
portant work (1847); and "Description of tin-
Russian Empire" (1854.)
SEATON, William Winston, journalist, b. in
King William county, Va., 11 Jan.. 1785; d. in
Washington, D. (,'., 16 June, 1866. He was a de-
scendant of Henry Seaton (of the Scottish family of
that name), an adherent of the fortunes of the Stu-
arts, who came as a political exile to Virginia at tin-
end of the 17th century. His mother, whose maid-
en name was Winston, was a cousin of Patrick Hen-
ry. He was taught by a brother of the Earl of Fin-
later, a Scotchman, who for several years kept an
academy at liielmiond. When eighteen years of age
he engaged ardently in politics, and became assist-
ant editor of a Richmond paper. He next edited i he
Petersburg " Republican," but, soon purchased the
"North Carolina Journal," published at Halifax,
which was then the capital of the state. When
Raleigh became the capital, he removed thither
and connected himself with the " Register," edited
by Joseph Gales, Sr., whose daughter he married.
In 1812 he removed to Washington and joined the
" National Intelligencer." in company with his
brother-in-law, Joseph Gales. Jr., which partner-
ship lasted till the death of the latter in 1860.
From 1812 till 1820 Messrs. Seaton and Gales were
the exclusive congressional reporters as well as edi-
tors of their journal, one taking charge of the pro-
ceedings in the senate and the other in the house
of representatives. Their " Register of Debates "
was considered a standard authority. After the
death of Mr. Gales. Mr. Seaton was sole editor and
manager of the "National Intelligencer" until it
was sold a short time before his death. In 1840
he was elected mayor of Washington, and he held
that office for twelve successive years. Together
with Mr. Gales, he published " Annals of Con-
gre; : Debates and Proceedings in the Congress
of the United States from 3 March, 1798, till 27
May, 1824 " (42 vols.. Washington, 1834-'56) ; " Reg-
ister of Debates in Congress from 1824 to 1837 "
14 vols. in 29, 1827-'37) ; and " American State
Papers, selected and edited by Walter Lowne and
M. St. Clair Clarke" (21 vols., 1832-'4). See his
" Life." by his daughter (Boston, 1871).
SEA WELL. Washington, soldier, b. in Vir-
ginia in 1802 ; d. in San Francisco. Cal., 9 Jan.,
1888. He was graduated at the U. S. military
academy in 1825. assigned to the 7th infantry, and
from 1832 till 1834 was disbursing agent of Indian
affairs, from which post he was transferred to that
of adjutant-general and aide-de-camp on Gen. Mat-
thew Arbuekle's staff. He was promoted captain
in July. 1836, saw service against hostile Indians
and in the war with Mexico, and was promoted
major of the 2d infantry, 3 Starch, 1847. He be-
came lieutenant-colonel of the 8th infantry, 23 Feb.,
1852, colonel of the 6th infantry, 17 Oct., 1860,
and was retired from active service, 20 Feb., 1862,
in consequence of disability resulting from expo-
sure while in the line of duty. He was chief mus-
tering and disbursing officer of the state of Ken-
tucky from March. 1862. till September, 1863. and
of the Department of the Pacific from October,
1863, till January, 1864, and was appointed com-
missary of musters and superintendent of recruit-
ing service of the Department of the Pacific in
. He was acting assistant provost-marshal at
San Francisco from November, 1865, till June,
1866, and was brevetted brigadier-general, U. S.
army. 13 .March, isu.'i. for long and faithful ser-
vices. Gen. Seawell was with the 2d infantry at
Monterey, Cal., in ixi'.i. ami was consequently one
of the California pioneers. At the time of his
death he was next to the eldest general on the re-
tired list. He had lived on the Pacific coast since
, and owned one of the largest ranches in Cali-
fornia, in Sonoma county.
SEBASTIAN, William King, senator, b. in Vernon, Tenn., in 1814; d. in Memphis Term., 20 May, 1865. lie was graduated at Columbia college, Tenn., studied law. was admitted to the bar.
and practised his profession at Helena, Ark. He was prosecuting attorney in !*!"> '7. circuit judge in 1840-2, and in the latter year was appointed a Ol the stale supreme court. He was president of ill,, stale senate in is Hi. a presidential in ! S K and was elected a U. S. senator from Arkansas as a Democrat in place of Chester A-hle, d> a-ed. >erinir from 1S47 till 1S.">3. He was re-elected for the term that ended in 1859, and
