COFFIN. COGGAN. 133 He was also a contributor to the " Student and Schoolmate." After a short time spent as assistant editor of the " Practical Farmer," he in 1854 was employed on the " Boston Jour- nal." Many of the editorials upon the Kansas and Nebraska struggle were from his pen. He was afterward on the " Atlas," but returned to the " Journal " in 1858. Upon the breaking out of the war, 1S61, Mr. Coffin left the editorial .chair of the '• Journal " and became a correspondent in the field, writing his first letter from Balti- more, June 15, over the signature "Carle- ton." This pen name is too well known to re- quire detailed notice. He is, and ever has been, noted for his rapidity of movement, quickness of perception, and almost uner- ring judgment. In 1866 he was writing from the seat of war between Austria and Italy. He is next found in London as correspondent during Disraeli's contest on the franchise. At the social science con- gress held in Belfast, Ireland, presided over by Lord Dufferin, he gave an address upon American common schools which was warmly commended by the London "Times." He traveled extensively while abroad, and met many notables to become possessed of intimate knowledge of their character and aims. He finally made the tour of the world, and returned through the West in 1869. Mr. Coffin was vice-chairman of the state board of lunacy and charity, 18SS- '89 ; is a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and Ameri- can Association for the Advancement of Science ; was in the Legislature of iSS5-'S6, serving on various committees, and chair- man of the committees on education and woman suffrage. It was through his active work while in the House of Representatives that two important measures were success- fully passed — the bill making all text-books free to the pupils of the public schools, and the bill providing for the appointment of the Boston police commissioners by the governor of the state, instead of by the mayor of the city. He has published " Our New Way Round the World," " Seat of Empire," "Caleb Crinkle," "Boys of '76," "Story of Liberty," " Old Times in the Colo- nies," " Building the Nation," " Life of Garfield," "Drum-beat of the Nation," " Marching to Victory," and "Redeeming the Republic." The degree of A. M. was conferred on him by Amherst College in 1870. COGGAN, MARCELLUS, son of Leon- ard C. and Betsy M. Coggan, was born in Bristol, Lincoln county, Maine, in 1S47. Mr. Coggan followed the sea at an early- age, attending a district school during the MARCELLUS COGGAN. winter terms. When sufficiently advanced, he became a student in Lincoln Academy, New Castle, Maine, where, by teaching in winter and going to sea in the summer, he was enabled to prepare himself for entering Bowdoin College, where he was graduated with honor in 1872. He filled the position of principal of Nichols Academy, Dudley, Mass., and at the same time served as a member of the school board for three years in that town. He studied law in the office of Child & Powers, Boston, being admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1881, and entered upon the practice of law in the office of the firm with whom he had studied, remaining with them till 1886, when he formed a partnership with William Schofield, under the name of Coggan & Schofield. Entering immedi- ately upon his profession, Mr. Coggan built up a lucrative practice, which has steadily increased with the firm from year to year. Mr. Coggan became a resident of Mai- den in 1879, and at once took an active part in the local benevolent and social
