Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/223

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY


Keith, Richard, born in 1757, was a citi- zen of Virginia. He served in the revolu- tionary army with the rank of major. He was one of seven who cut their way through the British cavalry at Charleston, South Carolina, May 6, 1780, and escaped. He commanded a rifle corps in the action with Colonel Simcoe, at Spencer's Ordinary, Vir- ginia. Januar>' 25, 1781 ; at Jamestown, July 6 , he served under Lafayette. He was elect- ed surxeyor of Georgia in January, 1784. He died in 1792.

Dade, Francis Langhom, was born in Virginia. He was killed by Indians near Fort King, Florida, December 28, 1835. He was appointed third lieutenant in the Twelfth Infantry on March 13, 1813, became first lieutenant in 1816, captain in 1818, and brevet major in 1828. When killed he was on the march to Fort King with a detach- ment, which was nearly destroyed by a treacherous attack of the Seminole Indians. A beautiful monument was erected at West Point to his memory and that of his com- mand.

Peticolas, Phillippe S., born at Mezieres, France. March 22, 1760, son of Colonel Nich- olas Peticolas, a veteran French soldier. After a partial collegiate course, a mere lad, his innate spirit of adventure led him to enlist as a soldier in the command of the Prince of Deux Points, under whom he served for eight years, in the army of the King of Bavaria. In the latter part of his soldier life, he acquired a taste for miniature painting, in which art he acquired a remark- able proficiency. Leaving the army, he went to San Domingo to take possession of an estate there left him by a deceased brother. In 1790 he came to America, locating first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where, among


other portraits, he painted one of Washing- ton, and gave lessons in music and painting. He next resided in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from whence he made several visits to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, as a por- trait painter. About 1835 be was induced by Joseph Gallego (an uncle of Count Fer- dinand de Lesseps), the founder of the famous Gallego flouring mills, to make his home in Richmond, Virginia. He was highly esteemed as a citizen. In 1840 he was a warden and a member of the building committee of St. James' Episcopal Church. He died in Petersburg in 1843.

Call, Daniel, born about 1765. was a brother-in-law of Chief Justice Marshall. He published ** Reports of the Virginia Court of Appeals'* in six volumes (1790- 1818) ; and a second edition was edited by Joseph Tate (1824-33). He died in Rich- mond, May 20, 1840.

Gait, Alexander D., born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1771. son of Dr. John M. Gait (q. v.). He was educated at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, and at Ox- ford, England. He was also a private pupil of Sir Astley Cooper, and attended the Lon- don hospitals from 1792 to 1794. He was associated with his father and succeeded him as physician to the Hospital for the In- sane at Williamsburg. His private practice was even larger than his father's. He, too, was a philanthropist, but received little credit from the poor, whom he treated gra- tuitously, and who believed that the state paid him for his services to them. He was one of the board of directors of William and Mary College, and a distinguished surgeon in the war of 1812. He married a cousin. Miss Mary D. Gait.


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