Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/715

This page needs to be proofread.

CANNES CANNING 705 presents a splendid appearance from the river. In the hills which surround the town are found beds of cannel coal, lying in nearly horizontal strata 4 or 5 ft. thick, and easily accessible. Fire clay, limestone, and fine sandstone for building purposes are found interstratitied with the coal. Before the establishment of the American cannel coal company, which was in- corporated in 1836, Cannelton contained only four or five log cabins. CANNES, a seaport of France, department of Alpes-Maritimes, on the Mediterranean, 15 m. S. W. of Nice ; pop. in 18G6, 9,618. The cli- mate is unhealthy in the summer, but in the winter it is a favorite resort for invalids from England and the north of France. Napoleon landed here on his return from Elba, March 1, 1815. Up to 1837 Cannes was a poor fishing village, but in that year Lord Brougham took up his nj3idon",3 here, and contributed greatly Chateau of St. Ursula at Canne to the growth of the town. lie died here, May 7, 1868, and was buried in the cemetery, his grave being marked by a large granite cross. Opposite the town is the island of Ste. Margue- rite, in the citadel of which the " man in the iron mask" was confined from 1686 to 1698. The surrounding country is fruitful in vines, olives, and oranges, and a brisk trade is carried on in fruits, sardines, and anchovies. CANNING. I. George, a British statesman, born in London, April 11, 1770, died at Chiswick, Aug. 8, 1827. His father, a London barrister of an ancient family, was disinherited upon his marriage with Miss Mary Anne Costello in 1768, and died shortly before the birth of his son. His mother went upon the stage, where she met with little success. He was sent to Eton at the expense of his uncle, Stratford Canning, a London merchant, father of Strat- ford Canning, afterward Viscount Stratford de Hedcliffe. He manifested decided literary tal- ent, wrote a poem on the " Slavery of Greece," and edited the "Microcosm," a school period- ical. From Eton he went in 1787 to Christ Church, Oxford, where he gained several prizes for Latin poetry, and took a high posi- tion as an orator. From Oxford he went to Lincoln's Inn to study for the bar ; but by the advice of Sheridan, Burke, Fox, Grey, and other whigs, he turned his attention to politics, coming out, however, as a tory, and entering parliament (1793) under the auspices of Pitt. He did not address the house till the following year (January, 1794), when he at once made a marked impression. In 1796 he took office as under secretary of state; in 1797 he began with others the publication of the political pa- per, the " Anti-Jacobin; " in 1798 he engaged in Wilberforce's plan for the abolition of the slave trade; in 1799 he was appointed one of the commissioners for managing the affairs of India; in 1800 he married Joanna, youngest daughter of Gen. John Scott, with a fortune of 100,000; and in 1801, on the dissolution of Pitt's cabinet, he re- tired from office. On Pitt's return to office in 1804 he was made treasurer of the navy. After a brief retire- ment in 1806, occa- sioned by the death of Pitt, he reappeared in office in 1807, as secre- tary of state for foreign affairs, in the duke of Portland's cabinet, and distinguished himself by his state papers. In 1809 he was involved in a quarrel with one of his colleagues, Lord Castlereagh, which led to aduel, and afterward to the resignation of both and the dissolution of the cabinet. During the session of 1812 he advocated the Catholic emancipation bill, in- troduced by Mr. Grattan. After parliament was dissolved in 1812 he was returned from Liverpool, and again in 1814, 1818, and 1820. In 1814 ho was sent as ambassador to Portu- gal; in 1816 he became president of the board of control; and in 1820, to avoid participating in the trial of Queen Caroline, he resigned his place and travelled upon the continent. In 1822 he was named governor general of India, and was preparing to leave England, when the suicide of Lord Castlereagh recalled him to the post of secretary of state for foreign affairs (Sept. 16, 1822). While in this position, in 1825, in defiance of the policy of the holy alli- ance, he resolved to recognize the indepen- dence of, and open diplomatic intercourse with, the several South American republics, and soon carried his intention into effect. In 1827 he was made premier, but when the appoint-