Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/779

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COPELAND
COPLEY
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Cetaeea of the Eastern North American Coast" (1866) ; " Synopsis of the Extinct Cetaeea of the United States" (1867-8); -'Systematic Arrange- ment of the Extinct Batrachia, Reptilia, and Aves of North America " (1869-'70) ; " Systematic Rela- tions of the Fishes" (1871); "Systematic Rela- tions of the Tailed Batrachia " (1872) ; " Extinct Vertebrata of the Eocene Formations of Wyo- ming " (1873); "Cretaceous Vertebrata of the West " (1877) ; and " Tertiary Vertebrata " (1885). To the theory of evolution "he has made impor- tant contributions, among which are " On the Origin of Genera " (1868) ; " Hypothesis of Evolu- tion, Physical and Metaphysical " (1870) ; " Method of Creation of Organic Types " (1871) ; " Evolution and its Consequences " (1872) ; " Consciousness in Evolution " (1875) ; " Relation of Man to Tertiary Mammalia" (1875); "On the Theory of Evolu- tion "(1876) ; " The Origin of Will " (1877) ; " The Relation of Animal Motion to Animal Evolution " (1878) ; " A Review of the Modern Doctrine of Evolution" (1879); "Origin of Man and other Vertebrates " (1885) ; " The Energy of Life Evolu- tion and how it has acted " (1885) ; " The Origin of the Fittest " (1886).

COPELAND, Alfred Bryant, painter, b. in Boston, Mass., about 1840. He studied in the Royal academy at Antwerp, lived in that city for several years, and brought to Boston a large num- ber of original paintings and copies. He became art professor in the University of St. Louis, but about 1877 opened a studio in Paris, where he worked in crayon and oils. He exhibited church interiors in the Paris salon in 1877-'8, and sent to Boston a collection of street scenes in Paris.


COPELAND, Joseph T., soldier, b. in Michi- gan about 18o0. He entered the 1st Michigan cav- alry, which was organized during the summer of 1861, and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel on 22 Aug. He fought through the Manassas cam- paign, returned to Detroit in July, 1862, and or- ganized the 5th cavalry, of which he became colo- nel, 14 Aug., and on 29 Nov., 1802, was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers and assigned to the command of the Michigan cavalry brigade, formed at Washington, 12 Dec. The brigade, forming part of Hooker's cavalry, was in Mary- land after Lee had crossed the Potomac. They were the first Union troops to occupy Gettysburg ; but with the other changes of commanders then carried out, Gen. Copeland transferred his com- mand to Gen. Custer just before the battle, 1 July, 1868. He subsequently commanded a draft ren- dezvous at Annapolis Junction, Md., and at Pitts- burg, Pa., and then the post and military prison at Alton, 111., until the close of the war.


COPLEY, John Singleton, painter, b. in Boston, Mass., 3 July, 1737; d. in London, 25 Sept., 1815. He is commonly called self-taught, but he probably received some instruction from his step-father, Peter Pelham, who died in 1751. Boston was then a small provincial town where art was almost unknown and good instruction unattainable. Young Copley began at an early age to see visions of lovely forms and faces, which nature impelled him to reproduce with such materials as he could procure or make for himself. In the uncongenial atmosphere of colonial Boston such talent was phenomenal, and, as he was really successful in producing likenesses, he soon gained local celebrity by executing portraits of many members of the leading families, as is still attested by almost every notable collection in the city. In 1760 he sent to Benjamin West, in England, without name or address, a portrait, which at once gave him a place among artists of recognized merit. This painting is known as “The Boy and the Flying Squirrel,” and represents the artist's half-brother, Henry Pelham. Through West's influence the picture was exhibited at Somerset house. Its American origin was at once suspected, because the wood of the stretching-frame was made of American pine; but the authorship was not decided until, after long delay, the letter of transmittal reached England. In 1767, on West's nomination, Copley was elected a fellow of the Society of artists of Great Britain. In 1769 he married Susannah, daughter of Richard Clarke, a lineal descendant of Mary Chilton, who came from England in the “Mayflower.” The first years of their married life were passed in Boston, in a solitary house on Beacon Hill, where four children were born, including the son that became lord chancellor of England. During these years correspondence had continued with English admirers, and in 1774 Copley sailed for England, and after a short sojourn there visited Italy, spending a year in studying the old masters, and then settled in London. Here he was joined by his wife, and he thenceforward made it his home. He rose with almost unprecedented rapidity to the height of professional fame. He was patronized by the royal family and the nobility, and met with uninterrupted success. In 1777 he was elected an associate member, and in 1779 a full member, of the Royal academy. When he sent copies of the engraving of his picture, “The Death of Chatham,” to Washington and John Adams, the former wrote, “It is rendered more estimable in my eye when I remember that America gave birth to the celebrated artist who produced it.” Adams said, “I shall preserve my copy, both as a token of your friendship and as an indubitable proof of American genius.” Although he was essentially a portrait-painter, Copley composed some large historical works, of which the “Death of Chatham,” the “Death of Major Pierson,” and the “Siege of Gibraltar” are in the National gallery, London. The first two of these and his “Charles I. demanding in the House of Commons the Five Impeached Members” were engraved and became very popular. Among his other historical works are “Offer of the Crown to Lady Jane Gray” (1808); “King Charles signing Strafford's Death-Warrant”; “Assassination of Buckingham ”; “Battle of the Boyne”; “King Charles addressing the Citizens of London”; “The Five Impeached Members brought back in Triumph”; and “The King's Escape from Hampton Court.” Among his best portrait compositions are “The Daughters of George III.” (Buckingham Palace); “The Family Picture” (Charles Amory, Boston); “The Red Cross Knight” (1788, S. G. Dexter, Boston); “Mrs. Derby as St. Cecilia” (W. Appleton, Boston); and “Mrs. D. D. Rogers” (1789, H. B. Rogers, Boston). Most of Copley's best works were collected by his son, Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst, and were dispersed at his sale in 1864. See A. T. Perkins's “Life of J. S. Copley” (1873); “Memorial His-