ciety, and was long manager and corresponding secretary of the New York historical society. He was also the first president of the Huguenot society, organized in 1855 in New York. In connection with his political career, Mr. Jay has delivered numerous addresses on questions connected with slavery, and also bearing on its relation to the Episcopal church, of which he is a leader among the laity. His speeches and pamphlets, which have been widely circulated, include “America Free, or America Slave” (1856); “The Church and the Rebellion” (1863); “On the Passage of the Constitutional Amendment abolishing Slavery” (1864); “Rome in America” (1868); “The American Foreign Service” (1877); “The Sunday-School a Safeguard to the Republic”; “The Fisheries Question”; “The Public School a Portal to the Civil Service.”
JAYNE, David, physician, b. in Monroe county,
Pa., 22 July, 1799; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 5
March, 1866. He was the son of Ebenezer Jayne,
a Baptist clergyman, who was the author of a
Baptist hymn-book, and of various polemical es-
says. The son studied medicine and practised in
New Jersey until 1836, when he settled in Phila-
delphia and continued his professional work in
connection with a drug business. He also began
the manufacture of medicines, which business
grew to large proportions and made him wealthy.
As early as 1849 he began to erect extensive gran-
ite and marble buildings in Philadelphia, and he
continued to do so till the end of his life. At the
time of his death he was about completing one of
the finest residences in Philadelphia. Dr. Jayne is
said to have been the first person to publish al-
manacs as a means of advertising, and these he
printed in all the modern languages of Europe and
Asia, including even some of the minor dialects
of India. — His son, Horace, scientist, b. in Phila-
delphia, 5 March, 1859, was graduated at the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania in 1879, in medicine in 1882.
He subsequently spent nearly two years abroad,
studying biology in the university at Leipsic, and
under Haeckel at Jena. On his return he was
chosen lecturer in biology in the University of
Pennsylvania, and subsequently professor of ver-
tebrate morphology in the same institution, which
place he now (1887) holds. He has written " A
Revision of the Dermestidae of North America,"
" Abnormities observed in North American Coleop-
tera," and " Origin of the Fittest."
JEFFERS, William Nicholson, naval officer,
b. in Gloucester county, N. J., 6 Oct., 1824 ; d. in
Washington, I). O, 23 July, 1883. He entered the
navy as a midshipman, 25 Sept., 1840, took part in
the capture of Upper California in 1842, and at
the beginning of the Mexican war was ordered to
the steamer " Vixen," and was present in all the
naval actions in the Gulf of Mexico. He was
promoted to master in June, 1854, and commis-
sioned lieutenant in January, 1855, and while in
command of the " Water Witch " rescued the
Spanish steamer " Cartagena," for which service
the queen of Spain presented him with a sword.
He was also present at the engagement with the
fort at Paso de la Patria, which caused the expe-
dition under Com. Shubrick to Paraguay. At the
beginning of the civil war he was on sick-leave at
his home, but at once applied for service, and was
detailed on ordnance duty at Norfolk. He com-
manded the " Philadelphia " on Potomac river in
April and May, 1861, the " Underwriter " during
the brilliant operations in the sounds of North
Carolina during January and February, 1862, and
the " Monitor " in the action with Fort Darling on
15 May of that year. He was commissioned com-
mander in March, 1865, captain in July, 1870, and
in April, 1873, became chief of the bureau of ord-
nance. He was made commodore, 26 Feb., 1878,
and in 1875 introduced a system of bronze and
steel boat howitzers. In 1876 he doubled the power
of the Dahlgren 11-inch smooth-bore by converting
it into an 8-inch rifle, and the details of a breach-
loading system for every calibre up to 12-inch. He
published " Short Methods in Navigation " (1849) ;
•' Theory and Practice of Naval Gunnery " (New
York, 1850) ; " Inspection and Proof of Cannon "
(1864) : « Marine Surveying " (1871) ; " Ordnance
Instructions for U. S. Navy " (1866, 1880), and nu-
merous pamphlets on naval subjects.
JEFFERSON, Joseph, actor, b. in Plymouth,
England, in 1774; d. in Harrisburg, Pa., 6 Aug.,
1832. He was the son of Thomas, a comedian
connected with Drury Lane theatre, London, who
for some time managed the play-house in Richmond,
England. Jefferson's first appearance in
the United States was made at the Federal street
theatre, Boston, in 1795. On 10 Feb., 1796, he
joined the John street company in New York
city, continuing there until 1803. Within the same
year he went to Philadelphia, where he was
connected with the Chestnut street theatre for
twenty-seven years, except for brief visits to
neighboring cities. He resigned from this post in
1832. In Philadelphia his talent for comedy was
rated beyond that of any other performer. As a
comedian his manner was altogether free from
grimace and extravagance. Jefferson's rôles were
many, and almost equally well sustained. — His
son, Joseph, actor, b. in Philadelphia in 1804; d.
in Mobile, Ala., 24 Nov., 1842, was trained for a
scene-painter, but eventually became an actor and
manager. In 1826 he married Mrs. Burke, a
popular stage vocalist. From 1835 till 1837 Jefferson
was connected with the Franklin and Niblo's
garden theatres in New York city. He appeared
at many places during his career, but attracted
little notice. His best personations were old men's
characters. The son resembled his father in
appearance, but, besides being constitutionally timid
before an audience, he inherited none of the
latter's ability. He was unselfish and improvident,
and engaged in constant struggles for a livelihood.
—
|
|
His son, Joseph, the third of that name, b. in Philadelphia, 20 Feb., 1829, at the age of three years figured as the child in Kotzebue's drama of “Pizarro, or the Death of Rolla,” and later represented “The Living Statues” at the theatre in Washington, D. C. In 1843, after the death of his father, the lad joined a party of strolling players, who made their way through Texas, and during the war with Mexico followed the U. S. army into Mexican territory. On his return to the northern states he was engaged to play small parts at several minor theatres, and unsuccessfully undertook to conduct the dramatic performances at Peale's museum in Philadelphia. In 1849 he married Miss Lockyer, an actress, and joined the company of the Chatham street national theatre in New York city, taking a part in the farce of “Somebody Else.” Thereafter he led a strolling company through the southern states, and for brief terms managed the theatres in Savannah, Ga., and Wilmington, N. C. From 1850 until 1856 Jefferson was employed as actor and stage-manager in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington. During the latter part of 1856 he visited Europe for his health, and on his return became stage-manager of the theatre in Richmond, Va. Up to this time Jefferson had merely attained the standing of a respectable stock-actor. In 1857 he
