Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/120

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92
BIAS
DODGE


wife, Maria Richards, whose maiden name was Oakcy, b. in New York, 37 Oct., 1855, studied at the National academy and under Jolin Lafarge, and, in 1876, Thomas Couture. She has painted numerous figure and flower pieces, among which are " Violets " (1878) and " Mother and Child " (1880), and a number of portraits, including " Por- trait of a Boy " (1875) ; " Portrait of her Father " (1877); and " Sleeping Child " (1878).

DIAS, Pedro (de-ahss), Portuguese missionary, b. in Gouvea, near Viseu, in 1621 ; d. in Bahia, Brazil, 25 Jan., 1700. He served as a captain in Africa, but on his return to Lisbon became a Jesuit and was sent to Bahia. He visited nearly the whole of Brazil, founded several missions, be- friended the Indians, among whom he lived for several years, and was afterward friar of a con- vent at Bahia. lie wrote "Arte da lingoa de An- gola " (Lisbon, 1697) ; " Arte da lingoa Brazileira," which contains a vocabulary for five Indian dia- lects (1698); and " Viageur da Bahia" (1699), be- sides severAl manuscript prayers and sermons in the aboriginal language, which are preserved in the archives of the Jesuits at Rome, and several ecclesiastical works.

DIAS, Roberto (de-as), Brazilian explorer, b. in Bahia, Brazil, about 1540; d. near I5ahia in 1591. He claimed descent from the noted Diogo Alvarez Correa or Caramurii, and owned a large estate near Bahia. In one of his excursionsthrough the province he discovered some rich silver-mines, and went to Madrid to report to King Philip II., carrying considerable plate that had been manu- factured at Salvador from samples of the ores that he discovered, as he claimed. He asked for the title of marquis of Minas, promising to reveal the location of the mines, but Philip II. gave the title to the newly appointed governor of Brazil, Fran- cisco de Souza. Dias returned to Brazil, and when Souza asked him to serve as guide to the mining district Dias conducted him through unexplored countries, where Souza lost many men, and returned exhausted to Bahia, threatening Dias with impris- onment, but the latter died a few months later without having revealed his secret. Some silver ores have recently been discovered in the province of Bahia, which tend to confirm Dias's story.

DICKINSON, Donald McDonald, cabinet officer, b. in Port Ontario, Oswego eo., N. Y., 17 Jan., 1847. He was graduated at the University of Michigan in 1867, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and has been engaged in many impor- tant cases. He became chairman of the Demo- cratic state committee of Michigan in 1876, and in 1880 was chairman of the Michigan delegation in the Democratic national convention. Since 1884 he has represented Michigan on the national Democratic committee. On 17 Jan., 1888. he be- came postmaster-general of the United States in Cleveland's administration.

DIGBY, Robert, English naval officer, b. near London, England, 20 Dec, 1732; d. at Minterne Magna. Dorsetshire, England, 25 Feb., 1814; broth- er oif Henry, seventh baron and first Earl Digby. He entered the English navy in 1744, and attained the rank of po.st-captain in 1755. He commanded the " Kamilies,"one of the leading ships in the in- decisive action between Admiral Keppel and Orvil- liers in 1778, and in 1780 was second in command to Admiral Rodney in the victorious engagement with Don Juan de Langara off Cape St. Vincent. In 1781, when rear-admiral of the red, he received a commission for commanding in North America, where he arrived on 24 Sept. with the " Prince George," the " Canada," and the " Lion," accom- panied by Prince William Henry, afterward King William IV. of England, then a midshipman in the royal navy. He was about to attack the fleet of the Count de Grasse, acting under Admiral Graves (whom he was unwilling immediately to relieve), when news was brought them, near Cape Charles, of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown several days before. Graves soon afterward sail- ing, agreeable to his instructions, to the West In- dies, he took command on the American coast.

DIONNE, Narcisse Eutrope, Canadian author, b. at St. Denis, Quebec, 18 May, 1848, and educated at Laval university. He took a course in theology, but, relinquishing divinity for medicine, he was graduated M. D. in 1873, and went to Athabasca, where he practised his profession for two years. Then he went to Quebec, and accepted a leading position on the editorial staff of " Le Courrier du Canada." He has published "Le Torabeau de Champlain," " Etats-Unis, Manitoba et Nord- Ouest, ' " Pete Nationale des Canadiens-Fran^ais a Windsor, Ontario," " Ilistorique de I'eglise de Notre-Dame des Victoires," "Jacques Cartier," " Les Lieutenant-Gouverneurs de Gaspe," " Mis- Cou : Hommes de mer et hommes de Dieu," " La Nouvelle France — de Cartier a Champlain," " Sam- uel Champlain: sa vie et ses oeuvres," "C. P. Painchaud, fondateur du College de Ste. Anne," "Vie de C. P. Painchaud," and " Mgr. de Forbin- Janson : sa vie — son Oiuvre en Canada." Prom 1880 until 1884 he was editor-in-chief of " Le Courrier," and afterward conducted " Le Journal de Quebec." In 1886 he returned to his post on the " Courrier," which he held until 29 Sept., 1892, when he was appointed librarian of the legislature of Quebec. He is titulary member of the Aca- demie des Muses Santonnes, France, and a fellow of the Royal society of Canada.

DOBELL, Richard Reid, Canadian merchant, b. in Liverpool, England, in 1837 ; came to Canada in 1857, and engaged extensively in the timber trade, founding one of the largest exporting com- mercial houses in Quebec. He married ElizaVjeth Frances, eldest daughter of the late Sir D. L. Mac- Pherson, of Toronto. Mr. Dobell has always taken great interest in the prosperity of his adopt- ed country, and has held many prominent posi- tions in the business life of Canada. He was an unsuccessful candidate for parliamentary honors in 1895, but in 1896 he was elected a member of the house of commons for Quebec West, and on the formation of the Liberal administration he was sworn of the privy council and appointed a member of the cabinet without portfolio.

DODGE, Henry Lee. merchant, b. in Mont- pelier, Vt., 31 Jan., 182.5. He entered the Unil versity of Vermont in 1842, but on account of il- healtli was compelled to leave without graduation. In 1847-'9 he studied law, but abandoned it to seek his fortune on the Pacific coast. He arrived in San Francisco, 1 June. 1849, and after working in the mines he obtained the appointment of clerk in the alcalde's court, and was made clerk of the "ayuntamiento" or town council of San Fran- cisco, both of which offices he retained until the organization of the state government. During his incumbency the sale of beach, water, and town lots occurred. The making and delivering of the deeds and the receipt of the purchase-money, ag- gregating more than $1.000.()00. devolved upon Mr. Dodge. He joined his brother in opening a wholesale provision house, which business connec- tion he has continued for thirty years. In 1863 he was elected to the state senate for four years, in 1877 he was appointed by President Hayes a mem-