instruction he established normal schools and French and English educational journals, and obtained the passing of important school acts. In 1866, commissioned by the government, he visited the schools and colleges of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. In 1878 he was appointed professor of Roman law at Laval university, and he was subsequently elected dean of the faculty. lie is a member of the Royal society of Canada, and has been its president, as well as president of several other learned societies in Canada. Mr. Chauveau has also had a brief military career. While superintendent of public instruction, and during the " Trent " difficulty in November, 1861, he raised among the officials of his department and the pupils of the Jacques Cartier normal school a company of chasseurs Canadiens, of which he was gazetted captain. This company formed the nucleus of one of three battalions formed in Montreal during the Fenian invasion, of which Mr. Chauveau became lieutenant-colonel. At an early age he wrote poetry, which was favorably received.- Among his most popular poems are "Joives naives," "Donnaconna," and "Jupitre a M. de Puibusque." His best-known prose works are "Charles Guerin, Roman de Ma3urs Canadiennes" (1852); "Voyage de S. A. le Prince de Galles en Amerique" (1861); " L'instruction publique an Canada " (1876) ; " Souvenirs et legendes," partly in prose and partly in verse (1877) ; " Fran9ois Xavier Garneau, sa vie et ses oeuvres " (1888) ; and " Notice sur le publication des registers du conseil souverain et du conseil superieur." He has also been a prolific contributor to current literature.
CHAUVENET, William, mathematician, b. in
Milford, Pa., 24 May, 1820 ; d. in St. Paul, Minn.,
13 Dec, 1870. After preliminary studies in Phila-
delphia, he was graduated at Yale in 1840. Soon
after leaving college, he became assistant to Prof.
Alexander D. Bache, and aided him in his meteor-
ological observations at Girard college, Philadel-
phia. In 1841 he was appointed professor of
mathematics in the navy, and for a few months
served on the U. S. steamer " Mississippi," and a
year later succeeded to the chair of mathematics
at the naval asylum in Philadelphia. He was very
active in the movement that led to the establish-
ment of the J. S. naval academy at Annapolis.
At first he was professor of mathematics and as-
tronomy there, and later of astronomy, navigation,
and surveying, and always the most prominent of
the academic staff. In 1855 he was offered the
professorship of mathematics, and in 1859 that of
astronomy and natural philosophy at Yale, but
both honors were declined. During the same year
he was elected to the chair of mathematics in
Washington university, St. Louis, Mo. Here he
at once gained the esteem and confidence of those
with whom he was associated, and in 1862 he was
chosen chancellor of the university. In 1864 his
health began to fail, and he spent some time in
Wisconsin and Minnesota, but again resumed duties
in 1865. He was obliged to resign the offices held
by him in 1869, and then spent some time in travel,
but without avail. He was a member of numerous
scientific societies, and in 1859 general secretary of
the American association for the advancement of
science, with which he had been connected since
its first meeting. He was also one of the original
members of the National academy of sciences, and
at the time of his death its vice-president. Besides
numerous contributions to the " American Journal
of Science," " Proceedings of the American Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science." Gould's
" Astronomical Journal," and the " Mathematical
Monthly," he was the author of " Binomial Theo-
rem and Logarithms for the Use of Midshipmen
at the NavafSchool" (Philadelphia, 1843); "Trea-
tise on Plane and Spherical Trigonometry " (1850) ;
" Manual of Spherical and Practical Astronomy "
(1863) ; and " Treatise of Elementary Geometry "
(1870). See the " Memoir of William Chauvenet,"
with full bibliography, contained in the " Bio-
graphical Memoirs of the Academy" (Washington,
1877). — His son. Regis, chemist, b." in Philadelphia,
Pa., 7 Oct., 1842, was graduated at Washington
university in 1862, and at Lawrence scientific
school of Harvard in 1867, after which he settled
in St. Louis, and, with Andrew A. Blair, estab-
lished an analytical laboratory. In the practice
of his profession he soon became distinguished,
and was called to act as chemical expert to numer-
ous corporations. From 1872 till 1875 he was
chemist to the Missouri geological survey, and for
some time held a similar relation to the city of
St. Louis. In the year 1883 he became professor
of chemistry and president of the Colorado state
school of mines in Golden.
CHAVANNES, Jean Baptiste (shav-ans),
Haytian patriot, b. in La Grand Rivière du Nord about
1748; d. in Port au Prince, 23 Feb., 1791. He was
the son of rich mulatto parents, and received a
good education. In 1778 the expedition under
d'Estaing, sent to assist the American army, was
in Hayti, and Chavannes joined it as a volunteer.
He distinguished himself during the operations in
Virginia and New York, and specially during the
retreat from Savannah in December, 1778. The
independence of the American colonies having
been accomplished, Chavannes returned to his own
country. When Vincent Ogé landed near Cape
Français, 23 Oct., 1790, intending to create an
agitation amongst the colored people in favor of their
political rights, Chavannes sided with him and
wanted all the slaves to be declared free; but Ogé
did not dare to follow his advice, and informed
the assembly of his intention to take the opposite
course. The mulattoes raised a force of about
1,000 men, which was defeated by the colonists.
Ogé, Chavannes, and a few others took refuge in
the Spanish part of the island, and the Haytian
assembly asked for their extradition, according to
treaty. The jurist Vicente Faura made a powerful
plea in their favor, and the king of Spain gave
him a decoration; but the audiencia of Santo
Domingo decided against the refugees, who were
delivered to the Haytian authorities, 21 Dec., 1790.
Two months later Chavannes and Ogé were
sentenced to be hammered to death, and the sentence
was executed in the presence of the provincial
assembly and authorities of Port au Prince.
Chavannes showed great courage during his terrible
torture, and protested to the last moment against
the oppression of the colored people.
CHAVERO, Alfredo (chah-vay'-ro), Mexican archæologist. He has made many interesting investigations relative to Mexican antiquities, and written “Historia Antigua de Mexico,” also several works on Aztec archæology, especially on old
monuments. While making excavations in the pyramids of Cholula, he discovered some idols that are now in the National museum of Mexico. He has been a member of congress since 1869, and has also supported Presidents Juarez, Lerdo, González, and Diaz in succession, notwithstanding their different policies. On 25 June, 1879, the government of Diaz ordered the execution of nine citizens
of Vera Cruz who were suspected of conspiracy. This act was severely criticised, and great indignation was shown against Mier y Terán, who had
