end of his term declined a renomination. While in congress, though a Republican, he opposed the elec- toral commission and the declaration of the election of Rutherford B. Hayes to the office of president of the United States. In 1877 he was installed as president of Amherst college, which office he re- signed in 1890. In 1872 he visited India by invita- tion, and delivered a course of lectures. In 1874 he was appointed by the governor of Massachu- setts one of a commission to revise the laws of that state on taxation. During the early years of his presidency of Araherst he inaugurated the "Amherst system" of college self-government, by which the students have a large share in maintain- ing discipline, and which has been productive of good results. President Seelye had been a trustee of the Clarke institute for deaf-mutes, and of Smith college for women, and had served on the board of visitors of Andover theological seminary. He received the degree of D. I), from Union college in 1862, and that of LL. D. from Columbia in 1876. In addition to articles in various reviews, sermons and addresses, and contributions to religious maga- zines, he had published a translation of Dr. Albert Schwegler's " History of Philosophy " (New York, 1856) ; "Lectures to Educated Hindus " (Bombay,
; republished by the Congregational publish-
ing society. Boston, 1873, under the title "The Way, the Truth, the Life " ; also translated into Hindustani, Japanese, and German) ; " Christian Missions " (New York. 1875) ; and revised and edit- ed Hickok's " Moral Science " (Boston, 1880). His brother, Lanrens Clark, educator, b. in Bethel, Conn., 20 Sept., 1837, was graduated at Union college in 1857, studied at Andover theological seminary in 1857-'9, and was at Berlin and Heidel- berg universities in 1860-'2. He afterward trav- elled in Europe, Egypt, and Palestine, and in 1863 was ordained pastor of the North Congregational church at Springfield, Mass., where he remained two years. He was professor of English literature ami oratory at Amherst from 1865 till 1873, and in
became president of Smith college for young
women (which he had organized) at Northampton, Mass. His various contributions to reviews in- clude articles on college education and on Celtic literature. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by Union college in 1875.
SEEMAN, Berthold, German traveller, b.
in Hanover, Germany, 28 Feb., 1825 ; d. at the
Jabali mine, Nicaragua, 10 Oct., 1871. He was
educated at the lyceum of his native city, took his
degree at the University of Gottingen, and was
appointed in 1846 naturalist on board the British
government vessel " Herald " on an exploring ex-
pedition round the world. He subsequently served
on three arctic voyages (1846-'51), and published
" A Narrative of the Voyage of the ' Herald,' and
Three Cruises to the Arctic Regions in Search of
Sir John Franklin" (London, 1852). Then ap-
peared " Popular History of Palms " (1855). and
" Botany of the Voyage of the ' Herald ' " (1857).
He was appointed in 1860 by the colonial office
one of the royal commissioners to the Fiji islands
to ascertain their fitness for British colonization,
the results of which appeared in " Viti. an Account
of a Government Mission to the Viti, or Fiji
Islands" (1862). He also issued "Popular No-
menclature of the American Flora." ' Paradisus
Vindobonensis." and "Twenty-four Views of the
Coast and Islands of the Pacific." He accom-
panied Capt. Bedford Pirn on his travels to Central
America, and, in collaboration with him, wrote
" Dottings on the Roadside in Panama. Nicaragua,
and Mosquito" (1869). He was editor of the
- ' Bonplandia" and of the "Journal of Botany,
British and Foreign." Dr. Secman contributed argrly to scientific, literary, and political journals in London. The " Flora Vitiensis " he completed only a short time before his death.
SEPTON, John, actor, b. in Liverpool, Eng-
land, 15 Jan., 1805 : d. in New York city, 19 Sept.,
1868. He began the study of law, but preferring
- he stage, entered upon his professional career at
the age of sixteen. He came to this country in 1827, played for two seasons at the Walnut street theatre, Philadelphia, and gained great popularity in New York as Jemmy Twitcher in the " Golden Farmer." He was stage-manager at the Astor place opera- house during the Macready riot, and afterward held the same post at Richmond, at the Walnut street theatre, Philadelphia, at Charleston and Colum- bia, S. C., and at New Orleans, La. His last ap- pearance was at the Broadway theatre in October, 1867. In certain comic parts he had no superior either in this country or in England.
SEGAR, Joseph E., member of congress, b. in
King William county, Va.. 1 June, 1804 ; d. in 1885.
He received a common-school education, and in
1836 was elected to the state house of representa-
tives, where he served for several terms. He was
elected to congress as a Unionist from Virginia,
serving from 6 May, 1862, till 3 March, 1864, and
was chosen U. S. senator from Virginia in the
place of Lemuel J. Bowden, deceased, but was not
admitted to a seat. He was appointed arbitrator
on the part of the United States under the United
States and Spanish claims convention of 1877-
SEGHERS, Charles John, archbishop, b. in Ghent, Belgium, 26 Dec., 1839 ; d. in Alaska, 28 Nov., 1886. He studied for the priesthood in the ecclesiastical seminary of Ghent, and afterward in the American college, Louvain, was ordained a priest at Mechlin in 1863, and went to Vancouver's island as a missionary, rising to be vicar-general. During these years he alsojabored for the conversion of the Indians in British North America, In 1871 he was made administrator of the diocese, and on 29 June, 1873, he was consecrated bishop of Vancouver's island. His accession to the episcopate gave a great impulse to Roman Catholicism in the northwest. He was the first missionary of his church who attempted the conversion of the Alaskan Indians. In 1878 he visited that territory and all the adjacent islands, travelling on snowshoes and afterward going on dog-sleds or canoes among the tribes in the interior and along the coast. Toward the end of the year he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Oregon and reached Portland on 1 July, 1879. He spent a year in exploring Washington territory. Idaho, and Montana, and published a series of letters in Roman Catholic periodicals in the eastern states, describing his adventures. In 1881 he succeeded to the arch-bishopric, but for several years he had been anxious to resign his see in order to devote himself to the conversion of the Alaska Indians, and he visited Europe in 1883 to obtain permission from the pope. His resignation was at length accepted, and he was reappointed bishop of Vancouver's island, retaining his title of archbishop. On his return he stopped at Baltimore, Md.. to take part in the 3d plenary council in 1884, and he reached Victoria early in the following year. He then set about re-establishing among the Alaska Indians the missions that had come to a stand -still during his absence in Oregon. He left Victoria in July, 1886. for Alaska in company with two Jesuits and a guide named Fuller, according to some accounts an Englishman, according to others an American.
