PATTERSON
PATTERSON
PATTERSON, Robert, soldier, was born in
Cappagh, county Tyrone, Ireland, Jan. 12, 1792.
His father immigrated to the United States in
1789 to escape punishment for complicity in the
Irish rebellion, and settled in Delaware county,
Pa. Robert attended the public schools and was
employed in a Philadelphia counting house.
Upon the outbreak of the war of 1812 he was
commissioned 1st lieutenant of infantry and
toward the end of the war served on Gen. Joseph
Bloomfield's staff. He returned to Philadelphia,
was married to Sarah Ann Engle, and engaged in
mercantile pursuits and in establishing cotton
mills. He was a member of the convention that
met at Harrisburg March 4, 1824, and was com-
missioner of internal improvements in Pennsyl-
vania, 1827. In 1836 he was the Democratic
elector for the first congressional district of
Pennsylvania, and in 1837 was president of the
electoral college that declared Martin Van Buren
the President elect. He was commissioned major-
general of volunteers in 1847, and served through-
out the war with Mexico. He commanded a di-
vision at the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17-18,
1847; led the advance brigades in the pursuit, and
entered and captured Jalapa. He was honorably
mentioned in Gen. Winfield Scott's reports. He
was major-general of the Pennsylvania militia,
and on April 15, 1861, volunteered for three
months' service, was mustered in as major-gen-
eral of volunteers, and was given command of
the military department composed of the states
of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and the
District of Columbia. He crossed into Virginia
June 15, 1861, at Williamsport, and was instructed
to Avatch the troops under Gen. Joseph E, John-
ston at Winchester, Va. V/hen McDowell was
preparing to engage the enemy at Bull Run. Jul}'
21, 1861, Patterson, not receiving promised orders
from Gen. Winfield Scott, failed to detain John-
ston Vjy giving him battle, and Johnston marched
to the assistance of Beauregard, Patterson tak-
ing no part in the battle of Bull Run. He was
honorably mustered out of service on the expira-
tion of his commission, July 27, 1861, and resumed
the charge of his important cotton manufactures.
He was a member of the original board of trus-
tees nominated in the charter of Lafayette col-
lege; was senior member of the board, 1826-35;
again a trustee, 1874-81, and president of the
board of trustees, 1876-81. He is the author of:
Narrative of the Campaign in the Shenandoah
(1865.) He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 7, 1881.
PATTERSON, Robert Maskell, educator, was born in Philadelpliia. Pa., March 23, 1787: son of Robert and Ame Hunter (Ewing) Patterson. He was graduated from the University of Pennsyl- vania A.B., 1804; A.M.. 1807; M.D., 1808. He studied the physical sciences in London and
Paris, and was appointed acting U.S. consul-
general at Paris in 1809. He was professor of
natural philosophy and mathematics at the
University of Pennsylvania, 1813-28; succeeded
his father as vice provost of the university
1814-28; was professor of natural philosophy at
the University of Virginia, 1829-35, and a trustee
of the university, 1836-54. He was director of
the U.S. mint, 1835-51. He was a founder of
Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, and one of
its vice-presidents; a founder of the Musical
Fund society of Philadelphia, and its president,
1838-53: a member of the American Philosophical
society, Philadelphia, 1809-54; delivered the dis-
course at its centennial celebration in 1843, and
was its president, 1849-54; and a member of
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1839-54.
He was married to Helen Hamilton, daughter of
Thomas Leiper. of Philadelphia, and their son
Robert (1819-1854) became a successful banker,
and the pioneer trust safe deposit and insurance
organizer in Philadelphia. He is the author of:
Early History of the American Philosojihical So-
ciety: a Discourse at its 100th Anniversary (1843).
He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 5, 1854.
PATTERSON, Robert Mayne, clergyman, editor and author, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 17, 1832; son of John and Margaret (Mayne) Patterson, who were of Scotch extraction, and born near Belfast, Ireland, coming to America early in the nineteenth century. He completed the public and high school coui'se, being gradu- ated with the first honor in 1849, and was an official reporter of the U.S. senate, 1850-55. He was graduated from Princeton Theological sem- inary in 1859, and was ordained by the pres- bytery of Philadelphia, Aug. 25, 1859. He was married in 1861 to Margaret Baxter Maclay, daughter of the Rev. James and Sarah Nourse, of Washington, Pa., and his wife died in 1863. He was married secondly, in 1867, to Rebecca Thomas, daughter of Joseph and Amy Malen, of Chester Valley, Pa. He was pastor at Great Valley, Pa., 1859-67; of the South church, Phila- delphia, 1867-81; and in 1881 returned to the Great Valley church, uniting with his pastoral duties the editorship of the Presbyterian Journal which he conducted, 1881-94. He was a member of the committee to revise and publish the " Digest of the Acts of the Assembly " (1871); a member of the council that met in London in 1875 to form an international Presbyterian alli- ance; a delegate to the pan-Presbyterian coun- cils in Philadelphia, 1880. Belfast. Ireland, 1884, Edinburgh, 1888; moderator of the synod of Pennsylvania 1890, and member of fourteen General Assemblies. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by the College of New Jersey in 1875, and that of LL.D. by La-
