Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/600

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CHAMBERLIN
CHAMBERS

CHAMBERLIN, Thomas Crowder, geologist, b. near Mattoon, Ill., 25 Sept., 1843. He was graduated at Beloit in 1866, and took a course in science at Michigan university in 1868-'9. He was professor of natural science at the state normal school, Whitewater, Wis., from 1869 till 1878, when he was given the chair of geology at Beloit. This he retained till 1884, and lectured at the college two years longer, also filling the chair of geology at the Corcoran school of science, Columbian university, Washington, D. C, from 1885 till 1886. In 1886 he was chosen president of the University of Wisconsin, to enter on duty in June, 1887. Prof. Chamberlin was assistant state geologist of Wisconsin from 1873 till 1876, and chief geologist from 1876 till 1881, when he took charge of the quaternary department of the U. S. geological survey. He "was sent to Paris in 1878 by special act of "the Wisconsin legislature to take charge of educational exhibits and to attend the international congress of geologists. While abroad he made a special study of the Alpine glaciers and their de- posits. In 1886 he was chosen vice-president of the American association for the advancement of science for the section of geology and geography. He has published " Outline of a Course of Oral In- struction" (Whitewater, Wis., 1872); Annual Re- ports of the Wisconsin Geological Survey for the years 1876 to 1879 inclusive (Madison, Wis., 1877- "'80); and " Geology of Wisconsin " (4 vols., with 3 folio atlases of colored maps, Madison, 1877-'83). Among his numerous scientific papers are : " Extent and Significance of the Wiscdusiu Kettle-Moraine" ("Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy," 1876-'7); " Le kettle-moraine et les mouvements qiii lui ont donne naissance " (Paris, 1878); " Requisite and Qualifying Conditions of Artesian Wells " (" Fifth Annual Report U. S. Geological Survey," 1883-'4); and " An Inventory of Our Glacial Drift " (the vice-presidential address before the American association at Buffalo, 1886).


CHAMBERS, Alexander, soldier, b. in New York state about 1832. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1853, and made second lieutenant of" infantry. He served first in garrison at Fort Columbus, N. Y., in 1853-4, and on fron- tier and other duty until 3 March, 1855, when he was promoted second lieutenant, took part in hos- tilities in Florida against the Seminoles, 1856-'7, was promoted first lieutenant, 19 Jan., 1859, and participated in the march to New Mexico in 1860. He became captain in the 18th infantry, 14 May, 1861, and colonel of the 16th Iowa volunteers, 24 March, 1862; served in the Tennessee and Missis- sippi campaign, 4 April to 19 Sept., 1862, having been twice wounded in the battle of Shiloh, and was promoted brevet major 7 April for his merito- rious services during that action. He was present at the siege of Corinth, and brevetted lieutenant-colo- nel, 19 Sept., 1862, for gallant conduct at the bat- tle of luka, where he was wounded severely; took part in the Vicksburg campaign, and was promoted brevet colonel, 4 Jul}', 1863, for meritorious ser- vices during the siege; was a brigadier-general of volunteers, 11 Aug., 1863, and was in garrison at Vicksburg from August, 1863, till 1 Feb., 1864, when he participated in Gen. Sherman's march to Meridian. He was at Omaha as judge-advocate of the district of Nebraska from January till 7 June, 1866, and in the department of the Platte from 7 June, 1866, till transferred to the 27th infantry, 21 Sept., 1866. On 5 March, 1867, he became major of the 22(1 infantry.


CHAMBERS, Charles Julius, author, b. in Bellefontaine, Ohio, 21 Nov., 1850. He was graduated at Cornell in 1870, and soon became engaged in journalism, travelling as a special correspond- ent of the New York " Herald " in the West In- dies, Europe, the United States, and Canada. In 1872 he equipped and led a canoe expedition to Itasca lake, the supposed source of the Mississippi river, of which he published an interesting ac- count. In 1875, during a period of popular ex- citement concerning alleged abuses of the insane in certain public and private institutions, Mr. Chambers volunteered to simulate insanity, and personally observe the workings of one of the sus- pected institutions from the inmate's point of view. He was pronounced insane by two reputable physicians who were not in the plot, and pre- sumably acted in good faith. He was admitted as a patient to the institution in question, spent several weeks there, and published an account of his experiences, under the title of "A Mad World" (New York, 1876). This excited much interest, and provoked bitter rejoinders on the part of those interested. He is the author of two novels : " On a Margin " (New York, 1884), and " Lovers Four and Maidens Five " (Philadelphia, 1886). He is a frequent writer for periodicals.


CHAMBERS, Ezekiel Forman, senator, b. in Kent county, Md., 28 Feb., 1788: d. in Charleston, Md., 30 Jan., 1867. He was graduated at Washing- ton college, Md., in 1805, studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1808. He performed military service in the war of 1812, and subsequently at- tained the rank of brigadier-general of militia. Though elected in 1822 to the state senate against his will, he took an active part in the legislation of that body, and in 1825 arranged a system for the more effectual recovery of slaves. In 1826 he was elected U. S. senator from Maryland, and in 1833 re-elected. He distinguished himself as one of the ablest debaters and antagonists in that body. In 1834 he was appointed chief judge of the second judicial district and a judge of the court of appeals, which places he held till 1857, when the Maryland judiciary became elective. In 1850 he was a mem- ber of the constitutional convention of the state. In 1852 President Fillmore offered him the post of secretary of the navy on the resignation of See. Graham, but the condition of his health compelled him to decline. Yale conferred on him the degree of LL. D. in 1833, and Delaware in 1852.


CHAMBERS, George, jurist, b. in Chambers- burg, Pa., in 1786; d. there, 25 March, 1866. He was graduated at Princeton in 1804, studied law under Judge Duncan, of Carlisle, was admitted to the bar in 1807, and at Chambersburg soon rose to the front rank of his profession. He was elected a member of congress in 1833, and re-elected in 1835. He was also a member of the convention that formed the present constitution of Pennsylvania. In 1851 Gov. Johnston appointed him one of the judges of the supreme court of Pennsylvania. He was much interested in the early history of his state and county, and published some of his re- searches in his " Tribute to the Scotch-Irish," and had embodied others in a manuscript history pre- pared for the Pennsylvania historical society, which was destroyed when the Confederates burned Cham- bersburg in 1864. In 1861 he received the degree of LL. D. from Washington college, Pa.


CHAMBERS, Henry, senator, b. in Lunenburg county, Va., about 1785; d. in Mecklenburg county, 25 Jan., 1826. He was graduated at William and Mary college in 1808, studied medicine, and settled in Alabama, where he practised until the war of 1812, when he served as surgeon on Gen. Jackson's staff. Later he settled in Huntsville, and in 1819