Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/308

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THANET
THOMAS


ence to his Work in Polyphase Currents and High Potential Lighting," by Thomas Conimer- ford Martin (New York, 1894).

THANET, Octave. See French, Miss Alick.

THATCHER, Solon Otis, jurist, b. in Hornells- ville, N. Y., 31 Aug., 1830; d. in Lawrence, Kan., 11 Aug., 1895. He entered Union, and was gradu- ated in the class of 1855. He then studied at the Albany law-school, from which he was graduated in 1856. He was a delegate to the first state con- vention in New York for the organization of the Repuliliean party. After the Fremont campaign of 1856 he removed to Kansas, settled at Lawrence, and became a leader among the counsellors of the free-state movement. On 5 July, 1859, the new con- stitutional convention, that had been called by popu- lar vote in the preceding March, met at Wyandotte ; Thatcher was chosen temporary presiding chair- man of the convention, and was also made chair- man of the legislative committee. The " Wyan- dotte constitution," chosen by this bodv on 27 July, was ratified by the people on 4 Oct. fol- lowing by a vote of 10,431 to 5,530. In that same year Thatcher was elected the first district judge of the fourth judicial district of Kansas ; he held that office until 1864, when he resigned to become the Republican candidate for governor; he was unsuccessful, however. In July, 1884, he was chosen one of the three commissioners to negotiate treaties with the South and Central American governments ; at the subsequent assembling of the Pan-American congress at Washington he made a detailed report of his work.

THAYER, Gideon French, educator, b. in Watertown, Mass., 21 Sept., 1793; d. in Keene, N. H., 27 March, 1864. His parents both died while he was very young, and he was adopted by Gideon French, a IBoston merchant. He received a com- mon-school education, and at the age of fourteen he entered a store, where he remained for six years. He began to teach in 1814, securing a position as usher in Rufus Webb's school, of Boston. There he remained four years, being compelled to resign on account of hiemorrhage of the Inngs. He went to New Orleans for relief, and returned within two years. In 1820 he opened a private school in Boston. He conducted this institution and others at Milton Hill and at Brookline until 185.5, when he withdrew on account of his health. He took an active interest in the Sunday-schools of Bos- ton, in various educational institutions, and in the municipal affairs of Boston. He was elected presi- dent of the Prescott insurance company, but soon resigned and retired to Keene, N. H.

THAYER, James Bradley, professor, b. in Haverhill. Mass., 15 Jan., 1831, and was graduated at Harvard and also at the Harvard law-school. He was admitted to the bar in Boston, practising there until 1874, when he was appointed professor of law in Harvard, which position he still occupies, receiving from the university in 1894 the honorary degree of LL. D. Prof. Thayer is the author of " Letters of Chauncey Wright, with an Account of his Life " (Boston, 1878) ; " A Western Journey with Mr. Emerson" (1884); " Cases on Evidence " (1892) ; " The Origin and Scope of Constitutional Law " (1893); "Cases on Constitutional Law" (1894); "The Teaching of English Law in Universities" (1895); "The Developement of Trial by Jury" (1896); and "A Preliminary Treatise on Evidence at the Common Law " (1898).

THAYER, Samuel Richard, lawyer, b. in Richmond, Ontario co., N. Y., 12 Dec, 1839, and was graduated from Union college. He studied law, and in 1863 began practice in Minneapolis, where he still resides. He was a delegate to the convention of southern loyalists which met at Philadelphia in 1866, and has been repeatedly a delegate to Republican state conventions, fre- quently preparing the party platform. He was a director of the state normal schools by legislative appointment from 1871 to 1875. President Harri- son appointed Mr. Thayer American minister to the Netherlands, as successor to Robert B. Roose- velt, and he resided at The Hague from March, 1889, to August. 1893, during which period he re- peatedly received the thanks of the state depart- ment, and also was thanked by several American historical societies for services rendered to them. He was the fii'st to suggest the erection of a monu- ment at Delft Haven commemorative of the de- parture of the Pilgrims from that place to Plym- outh, New England. Mr. Thayer is a member of the Mayflower and the Minnesota historical societies, and in 1892 he received the honorary degree of LL. D., from Union college.

THAYER, Thatcher, clergyman, b. in Boston, Mass., 9 Dec. 1811 : d. in Newport, R. I., 17 March, 1894. He was graduated from Amherst and from Andover theological seminary, was ordained in 1839, and installed as pastor of the Congregational church of South Dennis, Mass. In June, 1841, he was called to the United Congregational church of Newport, and assumed charge in the autumn. A busy and energetic pastor, he yet found time to instruct many young men in the higher grades of education. Failing health caused hira to seek rest by a year's travel in PJurope, but in 1873 he re- signed, and was made pastor emeritus. In 1857 he received the degree of I). D. from Princeton, and in 1860 he was elected a meniljerof the board of trustees of Brown university. He took a warm interest in the Newport artillery, serving as its chaplain from April, 1807. until his death. It was largely due to his efforts also that Newport owes its Rogers high-school. His library was one of tlie best private collections in the country.

THAYER, William Wallace, jurist, b. in Lima, Livingston co., N. Y., 15 July, 1827; d. in Portland, Ore., 17 Oct., 1899. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar, practising in Tonawanda for ten years, when in 1862 he removed to the Pacific coast, settling in Oregon. He tiecame a member of the legislature, district attorney of the 3d judicial district, and in 1878 he was elected governor of the state, to which office lie was re- elected. In 1884 Gov. Thayer became chief justice of Oregon, holding the office for six years. He had resided in Portland since 1878.

THOMAN, Leroy Delano, lawyer, b. in Salem, Ohio, 31 July, 1851, received a common-school ed- ucation, and after attending the academy at South Whitley. Ind., for two years, he taught in Illinois, studied law. and was admitted to the bar in 1872 at Columbia City, Ind. In 1873 he removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where he served for some time as probate judge. In 1880 he was the Democratic candidate for governor, but was defeated by William McKinley, and in 1883 he was appointed by President Arthur the Democratic member of the U. S. civil service commission. In 1888 he removed to Chicago, where he has since practised his profession. Judge Thoman has a wide repu- tation as a public speaker, and many of his ad- dresses have been published. He is lecturer on international law in Northwestern university.

THOMAS, Artliur Lloyd, governor, b. in Chicago, 22 Aug.. 1851, and received a common-school education. He was appointed, in 1879, secretary of Utah Territory, occupying the position for eight