Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/573

encouraged by his uncle. Matthew Simpson, after whom lie was named. The latter was a thorough scholar, generally informed, was in the state sen- ate ten years, and for seven years a judge of the county court. He was familiar with Greek and Hebrew, and conferred upon his nephew many ad- vantages that boys usually did not have at that early day in the west. When he was about sixteen years of age Mat- thew left home and became a student in Madison college, Pa., which has since been incorporated with Alleghany col- lege at Meadville. His progress was

rapid and he became

a tutor before he was nineteen years old. He soon began the study of medicine, and in 1833 entered upon its practice, but was drawn to the ministry and entered the Pittsburg conference of the Methodist Episcopal church on trial in 1834. He was made third preacher of St. Clairsville circuit in Ohio. Here his success was marked, and the following year he was removed to Pittsburg. In 1837 he was transferred to Williamsport. and the same year elected vice-president and professor of natural sci- ence in Alleghany college. He was chosen presi- dent of Indiana Asbury (now De Pauw) univer.-it v, Greencastle. Ind.. in 1839. This post he filled with great popularity for nine years. His eloquence made HIM in great demand in tin' pulpit and mi the platform. His personal qualities gave him an extraordinary influence over students, and made him efficient in raising money for the endowment of the college. In 1844 he was elected to the gen- eral conference, and in 1848 he was re-elected. He appeared in 1852 in the conference as the leader of his delegation, and at this conference he was made bishop. In 1857 he was sent abroad as a delegate to the English and Irish conference of the Wes- leyau connection, and was also a delegate to the World's evangelical alliance which met in Berlin. His preaching and addresses upon this tour at- tracted great attention, particularly his sermon before the alliance, which extended his fame as a pulpit orator throughout the world. After its ad- journment he travelled through Turkey, Palestine. Egypt, and Greece. In 185!) he removed from Pittsburg to Evanston, 111., and became nominally president of Garrett biblical institute. Subse- quently he removed to Philadelphia. His powers as an orator were displayed during the civil war in a manner that commanded the admiration and gratitude of the people. President Lincoln re- garded him as the greatest orator he ever heard, and at his funeral in Springfield Bishop Simpson officiated. He made many addresses in behalf of the Christian commission, and delivered a series of led i ires that had much to do with raising the spirit < if the people. His official duties took him abroad in ISTOand in 1875. In 1S74 he visited Mexico. At the Ecumenical council of Methodists in Lon- don he was selected by the representatives of all branches to deliver the opening sermon. After the news of the death of President Garfield he de- livered an address at Exeter hall. He was selected by the faculty of Yale to deliver a series o ad- dresses before the students of the theological de- partment, which were published as Lectures on Preaching" (New York, 18711). In later years his appearance was patriarchal. His eloquence was simple and natural, but increasing in power from the beginning to the close. It was peculiar to him- self and equally attractive to the learned and the ignorant. When he was at his best few could re- sist his pathetic appeals. Though his eloquence is the principal element of his fame, he was a man of unusual soundness of judgment, a parliamentarian of remarkable accuracy and promptitude, and one of the best presiding officers and safest of counsel- lors. He was present in the general conference in Philadelphia in 1884. Though broken in health so as not to be able to sit through the sessions, his mind was clear and his farewell address made a profound impression. Bishop Simpson published ' Hundred Years of Methodism " (New York, 1876), and " Cyclopaedia of Methodism" (Philadelphia, 1878 ; 5th ed., revised, 1882). After his death a vol- ume of his " Sermons " was edited by Rev. George R. Crooks, D. D. (1885). A window in his memory is to be placed by American admirers in City Road chapel. London, where John Wesley pi-cached.

SIMPSON. Michael, soldier, b. in Paxhing, Lancaster co.. Pa., 19 May, 1740 ; d. in York county, Pa., 1 June, 1813. He received a good education, and was a farmer. After the defeat of Braddock he was commissioned an ensign in the provincial ser- vice, and was in the expeditions of Forbes and Bouquet to the Ohio. At the beginning of the Revolution he was appointed lieutenant in the 1st Pennsylvania battalion, and was attached to the Quebec expedition under Arnold in 1775. He was promoted captain, commanded a company at the liattle of Long Island, and also participated in the I Kittles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandy wine, German- town, and White Plains. He was retired from ser- vice on the rearrangement of the Pennsylvania line in January. 1781. After the war he retired to a farm on Susquehanna river, where he owned the ferry on the York county side of the river that was gen- erally known as Simpson's ferry. He was appoint- ed brigadier-general of Pennsylvania troops under orders for the establishment of a provisional army. He was a warm friend of Washington, who tarried at his residence over night while returning from the western expedition in 1794.

SIMPSON, Stephen, b. in Philadelphia. Pa., 24 July, 1789 ; d. there, 17 Aug., 1854. His father, George Simpson (1759-1822), was an assistant commissary-general in the Revolution, one of the chief officers of the Bank of North America, the first bank in the Union, subsequently cashier of the Bank of the United States from its establishment in 1791 till its close in 1811, and then cashier of the Girard bank. These various posts he. held during forty years. Through his patriotism and close connection with the finances of the country he was of great service to the government in the war of 1812 by obtaining from moneyed men loans to carry on the contest. The son was a note-clerk in the Bank of the United States, but resigned and soon afterward attacked the bank, its policy and transactions, in a series of able but vindictive articles. signed " Brutus." He then volunteered in the army, and with his brother George, an officer, fought at the battle of New Orleans in the only company in which any men were killed. On his return he became editor and proprietor of "The Portico." and in 1822. with John Conrad, established "The Columbian < HiMTvcr." a Deni'ieratie paper in the interests of Andrew Jackson, also resuming the letters of " Brutus, whose authorship was thus acknowl-