Henry Appleton, his eldest son (b. 27 Jan., 1814; d. in Riverdale, N. Y., 19 Oct., 1899). This was in Exchange place. He soon abandoned the sale of dry-goods, and removed to Clinton Hall, Beekman street, and there gave his attention solely to the importation and sale of books. In 1835 W. H. Appleton was sent to represent the house in London, and in the following year the father visited Europe and founded a permanent agency at 16 Little Britain. His first publishing venture was a collection of religious extracts entitled “Daily Crumbs from the Master's Table,” a 32mo volume, of which 2,000 copies were sold. This was followed by another book of the same size and character, and in 1832, the cholera year, by “ A Refuge in Time of Plague and Pestilence.” In January, 1838, W. H. Appleton was taken into partnership, and the firm removed to 200 Broadway. In 1848 the father retired, and W. H. Appleton then formed a copartnership with his brother, John Adams Appleton (b. in Boston, Mass., 9 Jan., 1817; d. at his residence on Staten Island, 13 July, 1881). Three other sons became partners. Daniel Sidney, the fourth son, b. in Boston, 9 April, 1824, d. in New York, 12 Nov., 1890; George Swett, b. in Andover, Mass., 11 Aug., 1821, d. at Riverdale, N. Y., 7 July, 1878; Samuel Francis, the youngest son, b. in Boston, 26 April, 1826, d. in New York, 25 Oct., 1883. The business was removed from 200 Broadway to the old Society library building, corner of Leonard street and Broadway, and subsequently the growth of the city necessitated many removals farther up-town. In 1881 the retail, jobbing, and importing departments were abandoned, in order that sole attention might be given to the publications of the house, and the business was removed subsequently to its present location, 72 Fifth avenue. In 1853 a printing-office and bindery were established in Franklin street, New York; but the publishing business increased to such an extent that in 1868 the manufacturing department was removed to Brooklyn, where buildings were erected that cover nearly a whole square. The publications of the house extend over the entire field of literature. Its “American Cyclopaedia” is the largest and most widely circulated work of its kind ever produced in this country. The first edition was issued in 1857-'63; and a revised edition, which was practically a re-writing of the entire work, with the insertion of thousands of illustrations and other improvements, in 1873-'76, additions and corrections being added from time to time. The “Annual Cyclopaedia,” published in similar style and forming an appropriate continuation of the greater work, is now in its thirty-sixth year. Its illustrated books include “Picturesque America,” “Picturesque Europe,” and “Picturesque Palestine,” besides valuable art collections. Its textbooks embrace every subject taught in American schools; medical books form a special department, and books in Spanish for the South and Central American markets form another. Nearly all the noted scientists of Europe and the United States are represented in the list, which also in general literature includes the names of Bancroft, Bryant, CiMipor, Dickens, Disraeli, Scott, and other standard authors. The literature of the civil war is represented on both sides, by Generals Sherman, Sheridan, and J. E. Johnston, Admirals Farragut and Porter, Jefferson Davis, William H. Seward, and biographies of Lee, Chase, “Stonewall” Jackson, A. S. Johnston, and other distinguished participants. The business is conducted by a company incorporated in 1897, consisting of William W. Appleton, president; Daniel Appleton, 1st vice-president; Edward D. Appleton, 2d vice-president; Sidney Appleton, secretary and treasurer. The above, with Charles A. and Robert Appleton, constitute the board of directors of the company.
APPLETON, James, temperance reformer, b.
in Ipswich, Mass., 14 Feb., 1786; d. there, 25 Aug.,
1862. When a young man he was elected to the
legislature of his native state, and during the war
with Great Britain he served as a colonel of
Massachusetts militia, and after the close of the war was
made a brigadier-general. During his subsequent
residence at Portland, Me., he was elected to the
legislature in 1836-'37, but he returned finally to his
native town, where he died. By his speeches and
publications he exercised great influence upon public
sentiment in favor of total abstinence. In his
report to the Maine legislature in 1837 he was the first
to expound the principle embodied in the Maine
law. See his “Life,” by Sydney Howard Gay.
APPLETON, Jesse, educator, b. in New
Ipswich, N. H., 17 Nov., 1772; d. in Brunswick, Me.,
12 Nov., 1819. After graduation at Dartmouth
college he spent two years in teaching at Dover
and Amherst, then studied theology, and was
ordained pastor at Hampton, N. H., in February,
1797, notwithstanding his Arminian tendencies,
which were considered heretical at that time. At
his suggestion the “Piscataqua Evangelical Magazine” was published, and while at Hampton he
served as trustee of Phillips Exeter academy, and
was a member of the academy of arts and sciences.
His daughter married President Franklin Pierce.
He was in great demand as a preacher on occasions
of importance. A volume of his addresses, with a
biographical sketch by the Rev. Dr. Nichols, of
Portland, was published in 1820. Two years later
his lectures and occasional sermons were published,
with a memoir by the Rev. B. Tappan. These
and other writings were collected in a two-volume
edition, entitled “The Works of Jesse Appleton,
D. D.” (Andover, 1836).
APPLETON, John, lawyer, b. in Beverly, Mass.,
11 Feb., 1815; d. in Portland, Me., 22 Aug., 1864.
He was graduated at Bowdoin college in 1834, in
1837 began the practice of law in Portland, and
soon afterward became editor of the “Eastern
Argus.” At this time he was register of probate for
Cumberland co. In 1845 he was appointed chief
clerk of the navy department, subsequently chief
clerk of the state department, and in 1848 was sent
out to Bolivia as chargé d'affaires for the United
States. On his return in 1849 he resumed his law
practice in Portland, and he was elected to congress
in 1850. In 1855-'56 he was secretary of legation
in London, in 1857 assistant secretary of state, and
in 1860 became minister to Russia.
APPLETON, John Howard, chemist, b. in Portland, Me., 3 Feb., 1844. He was graduated at Brown University in 1863, the following year became instructor in chemistry there, and in 1868 was elected professor of chemistry and applied arts. Since 1872 he has filled the chair of chemistry only.
