Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/29

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ABBOT ABBOTSFORD 9 1828. He graduated at Harvard university, and in 1794 became minister of the Congrega- tional society in Haverhill, where he remained eight years. In 1802 he took charge of a par- ish in Beverly, and passed the remainder of his life as pastor in that place. He was en- tirely free from sectarian bitterness. He was the author of a series of " Letters from Cuba " (8vo, Boston, 1829), and a number of sermons. ABBOT, Benjamin, LL. D., an American teach- er, for 50 years principal of Phillips acad- emy at Exeter, N. H., born about 1763, died at Exeter, Oct. 25, 1849. He graduated at Harvard college, and took charge of the acad- emy, which he conducted till 1838. ABBOT, Charles, Lord Colchester, from 1802 till 1817 speaker of the British house of com- mons, born Oct. 14, 1757, died May 8, 1829. He served through a long and useful career in parliament, occupying at different times offices of honor and emolument. He was the author of one or two treatises on juridical reform. In 1817 he retired from the speakership, and was raised to the peerage as Baron Colchester. ABBOT, George, archbishop of Canterbury, born at Guildford, Oct. 29, 1562, died at Croy- don, Aug. 5, 1633. In 1597 he was appointed master of University college, Oxford, and was three times vice chancellor. In 1604, when by order of King James the translation of the Bible was commenced, Abbot was one of the eight divines to whom the whole of the New Testament except the Epistles was intrusted. In 1609 he was made bishop of Lichfield and Coventry; in January, 1610, bishop of Lon- don; in November following, archbishop of Canterbury. He steadfastly opposed King James's project of a divorce between Lady Frances Howard and the earl of Essex, and combated the royal decree permitting Sunday sports. Laud was his bitter enemy. While visiting Hampshire for the restoration of his health, he accidentally shot a gamekeeper with the arrow aimed at a deer ; and this mis- fortune, which was made the subject of a judi- cial inquiry and a royal pardon, preyed on his health and spirits during the rest of his days. ABBOT, Gorham hummer, LL. D., an Ameri- can teacher and author, brother of Jacob and J. S. C. Abbott, born in Brunswick, Me., Sept. 3, 1807. After studying theology at Andover he made the tour of the United States and several voyages to Europe, in order to examine the systems and state of public education, as well as the variety, extent, and character of the is- sues of the press. In 1837 he became pastor of the Presbyterian church at New Rochelle, N. Y. ; in 1841-'3 was travelling agent of the "American Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge " ; and in 1843 commenced the " Abbot Collegiate Institute " for young ladies in New York, afterward called the " Spingler Institute." He retired from teaching in 1866. He has written " Pleasure and Profit," " Prayer Book for the Young," " Mexico and the United States, their Mutual Relations and Common In- terests" (8vo, 1869), and edited several educa- tional and periodical works. (See ABBOTT.) ABBOT, Samuel, a wealthy Boston merchant, one of the founders of the Andover theologi- cal seminary, born at Andover in 1732, died April 30, 1812. In 1807 he made a donation of $20,000 toward establishing the seminary, and at his death left it $100,000 in addition. He also gave away large sums for various charitable objects. ABBOTSFORD, the seat of Sir Walter Scott, from which his baronet's title was taken. It Abbotsford.