PROMINENT PERSONS
261
the same year wrote a work on the French
revolution of that period, in conjunction
v/ith G. G. Foster. In 1852 he removed to
Virginia, remaining five years, then went to
New York, where he wrote the "Logan
Grazier" and other poems, descriptive of
life and character in that 'region. In 1859
he settled in New Jersey, and practiced med-
icine many years. Politics engaged a share
of his attention, and in 1863-64 he was mem-
ber of the New Jersey legislature. William
and Alary College (Williamsburg, Virginia)
conferred on him the degree of Doctor of
Laws in 1876. He wrote several novels,
mostly pseudonymous, and more than
twenty dramas, of which "The Mormons"'
is the only one printed. He wrote "Ben
Bolt," a popular song, which first appeared
in the "New York Mirror," in 1843, ^"d the
"Gallows-Goers," which had a large circu-
!;.tion during the agitation of the question
of capital punishment from 1845 to 1850.
H is other publications are : "Walter W'oolfe,"
Philadelphia, 1842; "MDCCCXLIV, or the
Power of the S. F.," a political satire;
"Poems" (suppressed) ; "Ambrose Fecit, or
the Peer and the Painter ;" "American Bal-
lads ;" "Book of Battle Lyrics," and "Jacob
Schuyler's Millions." He also wrote numer-
ous pamphlets, and contributed lyrics and
essays to various periodicals. He died in
1902,
Elliott, Wyatt M., born in Campbell coun- t_\ , Virginia. February 25, 1823, son of Thomas Elliott and Elizabeth Bonduvant, his wife. When eight years old, he was taken to the home of his maternal uncle, Thomas M. Bondurant, in Buckingham county, and at the age of sixteen entered the \'irginia ^Military Institute, at its organiza-
tion, and was made captain of the first com-
pany of cadets. He graduated in 1842, re-
turned to Buckingham county, and taught
school for two years, meantime reading law
under Col. W. P. Bock. In 1846 he went to
Richmond, where for twenty years he was
connected with the "Whig" newspaper. He
was chosen captain of the "Richmond
Grays" in 1847, and which he commanded
until the second year of the late war, an in-
cident of this service being guard duty at
Harper's Ferry, at the execution of John
IJrown. During the war he retained a nomi-
nal relation to the "Whig," but in 1862 re-
signed his captaincy of the Grays and re-
cruited a battalion of six companies (Fif-
teenth Virginia), of which he was commis-
sioned lieutenant-colonel. He commanded
the same under Gen. Ewell until he was
captured at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, and
thence taken to Johnson's Island, being lib-
erated by President Johnson in July follow-
ing. Returning to Richmond, he resumed
his connection with the "Whig," continuing
until December, 1866, when he removed
with his family to Appomattox county. He
was a member of the house of delegates,
1871-73, and in 1875 was elected to the state
senate. In 1884 he was made clerk of the
United States circuit and district courts at
Lynchburg.
McCaw, James Brown, was born in Rich- mond. \'irginia, July 12, 1823, and repre- sented a line of distinguished physicians. His grandfather, James Drew McCaw, was a nephew of the celebrated Dr. James Mc- Clurg (q. v.), who brought him up and sent him to the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1792. He settled in Rich- mond, where in 1799 he was pronounced