BEAD. 734 READE. I'rinlemps (1874), and of Hotman's Tigre BEAD, George (1733-98). An American pa- triot, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence. He was born in Cecil County, Jld., received an academic education at Chester, Pa., studied law, and in 1752 was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia. Two years later he estab- lished himself in practice in Newcastle, Del. From 17G3 to 1774 he was Attorney-General for the Crown for the counties of Kent, Delaware, and Sussex. In 1774 he was elected to the first Continental Congress. He was conservative, and at first stoutly opposed the idea of independ- ence, but finally became convinced that independ- ence was the only course, and affixed his signa- ture both to the petition to King George and to the Declaration. Thenceforward he was en- thusiastic in his support of the colonial cause, ami as chairman of the first Naval Committee (1775-77) was largely instrumental in the estab- lishment of the first American Na-y. In 1776 he framed the new Constitution of Delaware, presided over the convention which adopted it, and became Vice-President and acting President (Governor) of the new State. He codified the Delaware laws, and in 1782 became a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Ad- miralty Cases. He was a delegate to the An- napolis Convention of 1786 and to the Constitu- tional Convention in the following year. He was elected United States Senator in 1789 and again in 1791, but resigned in 1793 to become Chief Justice of Delaware, which post he con- tinued to hold until his death. Consult W. T. Kead, Life and Correspondence of George Read (Pliihulelphia, 1870). BEAD, .Tonjj Mebedith. .Jr. (1837-961. An American diplomat and writer. He was born in Philadelphia, graduated at Brown Universitv in 1S5S, and at the Albany Law School in 1859, and was admitted to the bar. From 1860 to 1806 lie was Adjutant-General of New York State, and was an active political organizer. Three years later he was appointed the first United States Coiisnl-General to France and Algeria, where he organized the American consular service, and where, during the Franco-German ^Yar, he acted as Consul-General for the German States. In 1873 he was transferred to Greece as United States Minister to that country; and there he displayed such skill and energy, especially dur- ing the critical period which followed Russia's defeat of Turkey in 1878. that he earned the thanks of his Government. In 1879 he resigned and aided Greece in securing the territory which had been ceded to her by Turkey. His later years he spent mostly in Paris, engaged in study and research, He was a member of several societies and published a number of works, in- cluding Military Reports and Sufjgestio-ns (1861); Historical rnqiiiry Concerninfi Henri/ Hudson (1864-66): Charles Reade at Home (1873) : The English Ancestry of JVashington (1894): and Historic Studies in Vaud. Berne, and Snroi/, from Roman Times to Voltaire, Rousseau, and Gibhon (1897?). BEAD, Nathan (1759-1840). An American inventor. He was born in Warren, Mass., grad- uated at Harvard in 1781, and was tutor there from 17S3 to 1787. In 1788 he conceived the idea of utilizing the steam engine for propelling boats and carriages, and. with that end in view, began a series of experiments which resulted in the invention (178'J) of the vertical multi- tuljular fire-bo. boiler (patented August 20, 1791) now in general use. In 1790 he estab- lished the Salem Iron Foundry for the manufac- ture of anchors and chain cables, and in 1798 patented a machine for cutting and heading nails at one operation. He was a member of Congress from 1800 to 1803, and in 1807 re- moved to the vicinity of Belfast, Me., where he was for some years Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Among his inventions ere: a pumping engine, a threshing machine, a method for equalizing the action of windmills, and a plan for utilizing the force of the tide, by means of reservoirs. Consult Sathan Read: His Inven- tion of th^ Uultituliular Boiler and Portaile High-Pressiure Engine (New York, 1870), by his nepliew, David Read. BEAD, Opie Percival ( 1852— ) . An Ameri- can author and editor, born in Nashville, Tenn. He edited the Kansas Gazette from 1878 until 1881, In 1883 he established the Arkansaw Traveller, of which he was editm- until 1893. His works include: .1 Kentucky Colonel (1889) ; Ennnett Bonlore (1893); A Tennessee Judge (1893); ily Young Master (1896); Bolanyo (1897) ; The Wires of the Prophet (189^' ■ In the Alamo (1901) ; and several plays. BEAD, TiroMA.s Biciiaxan (1822-72). An American poet and artist, born in Chester Coun- ty, Pa., March 12^ 1822. Apjirenticed to a tailor, he ran away, learned cigarmaking in Philadelphia, sign painting in Cincinnati, other trades in other cities, published newspaper verse in Boston (1843), and for tlie rest of his life gave himself up to painting, visiting Europe several times, and finally residing in Rome. He achieved fair success in this art and somewhat in sculpture, but he is best known as a poet, espe- cially for his stirring f<heridan's Ride, and his charming stanzas entitled Drifting. His first volume, Poems, appeared in 1847. Lay» and Ballads followed the next year; 7*716 Neic Pas- toral, an elaborate description of Pennsylvania life (1854) ; The House hy the Sea (1856) ; and several other volumes attest his energy. In 1848 he compiled a volume entitled Female Poets of America, which was illustrated by engravings of portraits painted by himself. He also wrote a prose romance, and was conspicuous in his gen- eration for versatility of talents, which, if con- centrated, might have won him permanent fame. He died in New York City. May 11, 1S72. Con- sult his Poetical Works (Philadelphia, 1865 and 1867). EEADE, CHABLE.S (1814-84). An English novelist and playwright, born at Ipsden House, in Oxfordshire, .Jvme 8, 1814. He entered Mag- dalen College, Oxford, graduating A.B, in 1835 and M.A, in 1838: was elected lay fellow of his coilege (1835) ; made dean of art's at Magdalen (1845), and vice-president (1851) ; in the mean- time had studied at Lincoln's Inn, and was ad- mitted to the bar (1843). Reade never married, but formed a platonic friendship with an actress named Laura Seymour. He passed .several years at his rooms in Magdalen, made many tours abroad, but lived mostly in London. Combative bv nature, he was eiigaged in numerous lawsuits. He died at Shepherd's Bush, April 11, 1884. Reade began his literary career as a play- wright, and to the end continued to write plays
